Sony Introduces 61 Megapixel α7R IV
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filmguy123
Veteran
Ah looks like their response to the S1R. I imagine this will make some happy, and many others frustrated (ie “where’s the A7S III?!”)
Samuel H
Major Contributor
Very nice if you're a photographer, but for video the only improvement is that eye-detect-AF now works in video mode. Which is great and something I've been asking for for a long time, but really, with a p4k in my bag already, I don't see myself going back to an 8-bit codec.
I was hoping for eye-detect-AF, internal 10-bit, and 4k at 60fps. I guessed we'd only get two out of those three. And they still underdelivered. Sigh.
I was hoping for eye-detect-AF, internal 10-bit, and 4k at 60fps. I guessed we'd only get two out of those three. And they still underdelivered. Sigh.
Yup. It's video crippled for useful vidiots.
http://sonyglobal.akamaized.net/is/content/gwtvid/pdf/2019/ILCE-7RM4/brochure-ilce7rm4.pdf
One might think that, at this stage and in this age, 10-bit 150 Mbps Log would be a minimum. Compressed 10-bit Raw or X-OCN would be preferred. The images would probably still be gorgeous. But it's crippled and not even in self-defense.
PS. The 4K in the APS-C crop rather than 6K and it's definitely no 8K. It ships in the fall for the Christmas season, so this is the flagship for the stills shooters.
Unless you bought GFX50 already.
Supposedly, they have three more ready cameras to go. On of them is likely to be A9II, the other a P&S from the RX series. This leaves with a possibility for one video centered model. As Samuel said above, S comes after R.
There are no accidents at this price range. It's a tricked out stills camera. State of the art.
Video. Oi, vey.
filmguy123
Veteran
I know, that's what I was referring to - the a7S III... it never came, and now here they are at IV!
But yes, I would be very, very surprised if Sony didn't have an S IV out this fall to answer the S1/S1H.
NorBro
Major Contributor
What I wrote makes no sense, lol...I meant to add - after 'everything is subject to change' - that they may have decided to hold the product cycle with the a7SIII until after the IV because it was more important to get the updated stills camera released first.
The a7III supposedly threw everything off because of how good it was selling.
And the 10-bit...they need to save features for the a7SIII. Now if that camera doesn't have it then I'd be flabbergasted.
The a7III supposedly threw everything off because of how good it was selling.
And the 10-bit...they need to save features for the a7SIII. Now if that camera doesn't have it then I'd be flabbergasted.
filmguy123
Veteran
Yeah I suspect you are right. My best guess would be they have been engineering the a7S III for a while, and due to ambitions it was taking longer. Then Panasonic came along with the S1, surpassing their 7R III. So what were they to do?
Well, launch a new R IV model to answer (rather than an a7R III "S" or "mkii"), skip the a7S III and just roll that work into the newly branded "a7S IV", aptly named because it's such an advancement over the 2 that it represents a 2 generation leap. So, yes, I would be *shocked* if they skipped 10-bit. I don't even think that's feasibly with the S1H. I actually think they will attempt to answer the S1H more so than the S1, and may even be rethinking their design and chassis. They are in a tough spot because from what I've seen of the S1H and the size, weight, and heat vents - how can the current form factor of the a7S handle that? I don't think demanding film makers will easily pay $3k+ for an A7S IV that doesn't compete extremely well with the S1/S1H. And for people who are demaning on specs, a $1000 price jump from a $3k model to a $4k model that does internal 4k 10-bit 422 is not even noteworthy, especially since it means shedding an external recorder.
My sense is Sony is trying to figure out its play here. Is smaller size/weight enough of an advantage for a FF flagship camera to compromise on specs? Is a $1000 price savings for reduced specs meaningful to this level of customer?
In any case, it's clear they're watching - the new XLR adapter is nice to finally see from Sony.
Well, launch a new R IV model to answer (rather than an a7R III "S" or "mkii"), skip the a7S III and just roll that work into the newly branded "a7S IV", aptly named because it's such an advancement over the 2 that it represents a 2 generation leap. So, yes, I would be *shocked* if they skipped 10-bit. I don't even think that's feasibly with the S1H. I actually think they will attempt to answer the S1H more so than the S1, and may even be rethinking their design and chassis. They are in a tough spot because from what I've seen of the S1H and the size, weight, and heat vents - how can the current form factor of the a7S handle that? I don't think demanding film makers will easily pay $3k+ for an A7S IV that doesn't compete extremely well with the S1/S1H. And for people who are demaning on specs, a $1000 price jump from a $3k model to a $4k model that does internal 4k 10-bit 422 is not even noteworthy, especially since it means shedding an external recorder.
My sense is Sony is trying to figure out its play here. Is smaller size/weight enough of an advantage for a FF flagship camera to compromise on specs? Is a $1000 price savings for reduced specs meaningful to this level of customer?
In any case, it's clear they're watching - the new XLR adapter is nice to finally see from Sony.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Late 2019 and H.264 8-bit max 100Mbps data rate?!?!? That's pretty funny. Sony thinks it's still 2015 as far as their video capability. UHD @ 100Mbps is woefully underfunded.
I don't know too many still shooters who use Sony and I know lots of video shooters who do. But none of them will buy this camera with those specs.
Sony is pulling a Canon here, obviously still protecting their mid-range video cameras. Surprising really, Sony used to the company
that introduced new models literally almost every other month, but they're still plodding along with the FS7 MKII and FS5 MKII and
handicapping their A7 line for video to protect the video cameras.
Won't it be kind of weird if the A7 SIII has some kind of current video specs that can at least meet the GH5/S, XT-3 as far as data and bit rates? That'll
leave the rest of the A7 variants looking like antiques as far as those video specs offered. I'm still impressed that my cheap little XT-3 can do 10-bit H.265
at 400 Mbps, that's so impressive to me.
I don't know too many still shooters who use Sony and I know lots of video shooters who do. But none of them will buy this camera with those specs.
Sony is pulling a Canon here, obviously still protecting their mid-range video cameras. Surprising really, Sony used to the company
that introduced new models literally almost every other month, but they're still plodding along with the FS7 MKII and FS5 MKII and
handicapping their A7 line for video to protect the video cameras.
Won't it be kind of weird if the A7 SIII has some kind of current video specs that can at least meet the GH5/S, XT-3 as far as data and bit rates? That'll
leave the rest of the A7 variants looking like antiques as far as those video specs offered. I'm still impressed that my cheap little XT-3 can do 10-bit H.265
at 400 Mbps, that's so impressive to me.
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NorBro
Major Contributor
Everyone knows I love my Sonys, but they don't stand a video chance against the S1/H right now unless AF is priority #1.
Ever since I briefly owned a GH5s, I saw how much effort Panasonic put in to making a great camera and then I rented a S1 and it was even better.
If the S1H had Sony's AF, there is *nothing left...it would be the perfect camera.
[*There's always something, but you know.]
Ever since I briefly owned a GH5s, I saw how much effort Panasonic put in to making a great camera and then I rented a S1 and it was even better.
If the S1H had Sony's AF, there is *nothing left...it would be the perfect camera.
[*There's always something, but you know.]
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Hmm...interesting idea but is it plastic or metal? If this is plastic, with it's height, I can see it easily getting sheared off or cracked.
As much as I hate cables, putting audio data through the hot shoe is a consumer type move, makes everything ultra proprietary
and not sure how that will hold up in the real world?
NorBro
Major Contributor
I've never cracked plastic in 12 years so I'm not too worried about it, but I know people work in challenging situations out there.
For quick & compact situations, it's a nice little option...more here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu5-U07EK10
hmmm.. well I'm interested in this camera (still waiting on final specs however). As someone who does video but also some stills work - the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode caught my attention right after the slog capabilities in video. While 10 bit would be nice - we all know 8 bit can look just dandy.
Well, it's not like Sony was caught by surprise that S1 came out. They sold Panasonic the main component!
(yes, and since they knew about both the S1 and S1H, the delay in A7SIII was clearly premeditated. Arguably, it'll never come out but the technology will be offered in some sort of a $6,000-$8,000 shoulder camera in the FS-7/FS-5 style)