Sony Introduces 61 Megapixel α7R IV

Samuel H said:
* Just for fun, I checked the sonyalpharumors polls. They make one every time a new product is announced. When the a7rIII came out, 41% of voters said they would buy it (link). Now, with a similar number of votes, only 26% say they will buy the a7r4 (link). So yeah, photogs aren't seeing a big improvement either.
(yes, I know most of those people won't actually buy it, or at least not yeat; but it measures hype and there's much less of it now)
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I wonder if file management would have anything to do with it? Specs have a way of enticing buyers to a point, and then specs start creating a niche. :kali:


We are finally starting to see cameras creeping into the important 15+stops dynamic range territory. Whether merely just claimed or actual, it is encouraging to see that trend!
 
James0b57 said:
I wonder if file management would have anything to do with it? Specs have a way of enticing buyers to a point, and then specs start creating a niche. :kali:


We are finally starting to see cameras creeping into the important 15+stops dynamic range territory. Whether merely just claimed or actual, it is encouraging to see that trend!
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The claimed 15EV DR is based on DXO testing method for "print".
 
^ In that test the a7r III scores 14.7 stops of DR, so it's an improvement but probably a small one. As I was saying, this body may not be as big of a letdown for photogs as for video shooters, but even for them, the improvements seem to be small in most cases.
 
^ Definitely. They'd be advertising video DR if this was a significant improvement over the previous a7 slog3 DR. Also: with 15 stops on an 8-bit codec, you'd be just asking for banding.
 
So, after mulling over the news that there'd be no news, we realize that there is news indeed. A7RIV is throwing a monkey wrench into the Canon bragging rights (who still hold ~ 40% of the photo-video market). Their response will be interesting because there has been a talk of a similar full frame 60-70'ish MPX camera in the R-mount. But if it's only R-mount, then the EF kind of goes dead. And, if it's the same Sony sensor - which was announced in September of 2018 - then it means Sony will have an A7SIII. If there is no match with the HiRes sensor, then there likely be no SIII but some sort of a $5,000-$6,000 6K-8K pro camera.

That would work for Panasonic too, as S1H is going to come well under that price bracket.

Nikon is being squeezed out, unless they're given some help in the APS-C sector against Sony 6xxx and Fuji XT's. Even there, they have to decide whether to retain the F-mount or completely move onto Z's.

Fuji's must have been given the rights to the 150 MPX Medium Format sensor, as soon as Sony's exclusive window with Phase One expires. That will likely happen in mid-2020.

And Olympus and Pentax better be looking for buyers.
 
TheDingo said:
Most likely this is based on the still-photo RAW format, and will be quite different when shooting video.
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Samuel H said:
^ Definitely. They'd be advertising video DR if this was a significant improvement over the previous a7 slog3 DR. Also: with 15 stops on an 8-bit codec, you'd be just asking for banding.
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Doesn’t matter. The precedent is set. That is a good thing!
 
DLD said:
So, after mulling over the news that there'd be no news, we realize that there is news indeed. A7RIV is throwing a monkey wrench into the Canon bragging rights (who still hold ~ 40% of the photo-video market). Their response will be interesting because there has been a talk of a similar full frame 60-70'ish MPX camera in the R-mount. But if it's only R-mount, then the EF kind of goes dead. And, if it's the same Sony sensor - which was announced in September of 2018 - then it means Sony will have an A7SIII. If there is no match with the HiRes sensor, then there likely be no SIII but some sort of a $5,000-$6,000 6K-8K pro camera.

That would work for Panasonic too, as S1H is going to come well under that price bracket.

Nikon is being squeezed out, unless they're given some help in the APS-C sector against Sony 6xxx and Fuji XT's. Even there, they have to decide whether to retain the F-mount or completely move onto Z's.

Fuji's must have been given the rights to the 150 MPX Medium Format sensor, as soon as Sony's exclusive window with Phase One expires. That will likely happen in mid-2020.

And Olympus and Pentax better be looking for buyers.
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Reevaluate Canon in January 2020...an Olympic year in Japan sponsored by them...really big things coming.

It's probably one reason Sony got this thing out ASAP.
 
marvinhello said:
The claimed 15EV DR is based on DXO testing method for "print".
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Normally you are right. In fact, I cannot recall a time you were ever off the mark.

So, I trust what you are saying.


I am just happy that people are starting to throw the term 15stops dynamic range around. This is a huge step forward.

Even on the product page, they mention the Bionz image processor can handle up to 15 stops dynamic range.
 
NorBro said:
Reevaluate Canon in January 2020...an Olympic year in Japan sponsored by them...
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The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are also sponsored by Asahi, so, you can hold sixty megapixels in one hand and sixteen ounces in another.
 
Yea, they probably have hundreds of sponsors...just saying Canon is one of them and they aren't going to go unnoticed on the world's stage.
 
NorBro said:
Nothing has changed on the DR video front and that copy gets pasted and/or slightly reworded from one camera to the next.

From Sony: https://alphauniverse.com/stories/sony-announces-a7r4/

View attachment 136184

Or from B&H:

View attachment 136183

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1494679-REG/sony_ilce7rm4_b_alpha_a7r_iv_mirrorless.html (Overview)
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If I had a dollar for every time you pasted a BH link. ;)

I am not trying to claim that the camera can actually achieve 15 stops. I am just glad to see that number being thrown out there these days.

Out side of Arri Alexa and Red Gemini, I don't see that number often. So, even if it is conjecture or clever marketing association, people are still mentioning it.
 
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ha, you're right...their site is just so exceptional.

I also didn't quote you to make it seem like I'm replying to you...and it was general info for anyone who comes along and reads.
 
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NorBro said:
ha, you're right...their site is just so exceptional.

I also didn't quote you to make it seem like I'm replying to you...and it was general info for anyone that comes along and reads.
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All good. :)

Are there any other >15 dynamic range cameras you know of?
 
NorBro said:
Yea, they probably have hundreds of sponsors...just saying Canon is one of them and they aren't going to go unnoticed on the world's stage.
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They have tiers. Canon and Asahi are at the very top group of about a dozen companies. Panasonic is a tier below but they're mentioned in the conjunction with some other products. Canon, presumably, will have an exclusive on the photo gear and lenses for every photographer licensed to cover the event - there won't be any fees but you'd have to use their product only. No Sony, no Nikon, no Zenit TTL.
 
James0b57 said:
All good. :)

Are there any other >15 dynamic range cameras you know of?
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Besides the two companies you mentioned, *I only know of VENICE officially claiming 15+ stops, and Blackmagic's UM 4.6K/G1/G2 stating 15.

*The C300 Mark II officially mentions 15 stops in its marketing material although I will never believe that one.

Everything else that I know of says 14 or 14+ (including VariCam 35/PURE).
 
Since 2015! (NAB 2015 = 4.6K sensor)

[At least on paper...but most would agree that one is darn high up there with the best of them.]

The rest of their cameras have no more than 13 stops.
 
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