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The Sony A7 IV is a 33-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera from 2021, and in 2026 it remains one of the best-value hybrid cameras for photos and video, especially at its discounted price. It pairs a sharp sensor with fast, reliable subject-detection autofocus, 10-bit 4K video, and in-body stabilization, and it works with Sony’s huge E-mount lens lineup. Sony replaced it with the A7 V in December 2025 but still sells the A7 IV, so this Sony A7 IV review explains what it does well, where it falls short, and whether you should save money or step up to the newer model.
Quick verdict: The A7 IV is still an excellent all-rounder for enthusiasts, wedding and event shooters, and content creators. Its main weaknesses are a 10 frames per second (fps) burst rate, a cropped 4K at 60 fps mode, and noticeable rolling shutter with the electronic shutter. If you shoot landscapes, portraits, travel, or family video, the discount makes it a smarter buy than the A7 V. If you shoot sports, wildlife, or lots of 4K at 60 fps, pay more for the A7 V. Check the Sony A7 IV price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 33-megapixel full-frame hybrid mirrorless camera that Sony announced on October 21, 2021.
- Price: It launched at $2,499 for the body, and deals have dropped it to about $1,850 to $2,000 in 2025 and 2026. Prices change often.
- Main strength: Fast, accurate subject-detection autofocus with 759 phase-detection points, plus 10-bit 4:2:2 video and 5.5 stops of in-body stabilization.
- Main weaknesses: A 10 fps burst rate, a Super 35 crop for 4K at 60 fps, and a modest 1.03-million-dot rear screen.
- Successor: The Sony A7 V ($2,899 body, December 2025) adds a partially stacked sensor, 30 fps bursts, full-width 4K at 60 fps, and 7.5 stops of stabilization.
Sony A7 IV at a glance
| Spec | Sony A7 IV |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 33-megapixel full-frame back-side illuminated (BSI) Exmor R complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) |
| Processor | BIONZ XR |
| ISO range | 100 to 51,200 (expandable to 50 to 204,800) |
| Autofocus | 759 phase-detection points; real-time tracking with human, animal, and bird eye detection |
| Burst speed | 10 fps (about 6 fps with uncompressed RAW) |
| Stabilization | 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), up to 5.5 stops |
| Video | 4K at 30 fps oversampled from 7K full width; 4K at 60 fps with a Super 35 crop; 10-bit 4:2:2; S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and hybrid log-gamma (HLG) |
| Viewfinder | 0.5-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) electronic viewfinder (EVF), 3.69 million dots |
| Rear screen | 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 1.03 million dots |
| Card slots | Two: one CFexpress Type A or Secure Digital (SD) Ultra High Speed II (UHS-II) slot, plus one SD UHS-II slot |
| Battery | NP-FZ100, about 580 shots per charge (Camera and Imaging Products Association, or CIPA, rating) |
| Ports | Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C), micro-USB, full-size High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), microphone and headphone jacks |
| Weight | About 658g (1.45 lb) with battery and card |
| Launch price | $2,499 body only; $2,699 with the FE 28-70mm lens |
Specs come from Tom’s Guide’s Sony A7 IV review, DPReview’s review, and Sony’s product page.
Design and handling
Sony redesigned the A7 IV’s body around feedback from A7 III owners. It has a deeper grip that fits larger hands, a weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis, a lockable exposure compensation dial, and a dedicated photo, video, and slow and quick motion switch under the mode dial. The biggest upgrade for video shooters is the fully articulating screen, which flips out to face you for vlogging or low-angle shots.
Tom’s Guide praised the secure grip, the more responsive rear joystick, and the sharp 3.69-million-dot EVF, though it found the shutter half-press shallow. The camera also closes its mechanical shutter when you power it off, which keeps dust off the sensor during lens changes. The rear screen is the weak spot: at 1.03 million dots, it looks dated next to the A7 V’s 3.2-inch, 2.1-million-dot panel.
Sony’s touch-friendly menu system, introduced on the A7S III, makes settings easier to find than on older Alpha cameras, but Tom’s Guide still calls the menus complex for beginners.
Image quality
The 33-megapixel sensor gives you more cropping room than the 24-megapixel A7 III while keeping file sizes manageable. Tom’s Guide found its stills sharp and detailed, with natural color straight out of the camera. High ISO noise shows up a little earlier than on the A7 III because of the smaller pixels: Tom’s Guide considered ISO 25,600 usable in a pinch and ISO 51,200 a last resort.
Dynamic range is excellent for a camera in this class, so you can pull lots of detail from shadows in RAW files. If you want even more resolution for landscapes or studio work, a medium-format camera like the one in our Fujifilm GFX100RF review goes much further, at a much higher price.
Autofocus and burst shooting
Autofocus is the A7 IV’s biggest strength. Its real-time tracking locks onto human eyes, animals, and birds, and Tom’s Guide reported reliable tracking of moving dogs and ducks. It also works in video, where you can adjust tracking sensitivity and transition speed. Firmware updates have kept it current, and the A7 V adds artificial intelligence (AI) subject recognition for even stickier tracking.
Burst speed is where the A7 IV shows its age. It tops out at 10 fps, and it drops to about 6 fps if you shoot uncompressed RAW. That’s fine for portraits, events, and kids, but sports and wildlife photographers will want the A7 V’s 30 fps electronic shutter or the Canon EOS R6 Mark III’s 40 fps. The good news: with a fast CFexpress Type A card, the buffer handles more than 800 compressed RAW frames, so the camera rarely stalls.
Video features
The A7 IV was the first model in Sony’s basic A7 line to record 10-bit 4:2:2 internally, and it remains a capable video camera. Full-width 4K at 24 or 30 fps looks very detailed because the camera oversamples it from 7K. Flip to 4K at 60 fps, though, and you get a 1.5x Super 35 crop, which narrows your field of view and makes wide-angle shots harder. Tom’s Guide recorded an hour of 4K at 60 fps without overheating, and there’s no recording time limit.
Other video tools include S-Cinetone color for pleasing footage without grading, S-Log3 for professional color work, focus breathing compensation with supported Sony lenses, focus maps, and a full-size HDMI port. Rolling shutter is noticeable in fast pans at full width, which is one of the main things the A7 V’s faster, partially stacked sensor fixes.
Battery life and connectivity
The NP-FZ100 battery delivers about 580 shots per charge on the CIPA rating, and Tom’s Guide estimated about two hours of continuous 4K video. Real-world shooting often beats the CIPA figure. You can power and charge the camera over USB-C, and it works as a high-quality webcam over USB. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect to Sony’s Creators’ App for image transfer and remote control.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent 33-megapixel image quality
- Fast, accurate subject-detection autofocus
- 10-bit 4:2:2 video with S-Cinetone and S-Log3
- 5.5 stops of in-body stabilization
- Fully articulating screen and comfortable grip
- Huge selection of Sony and third-party E-mount lenses
- Big discounts since the A7 V launched
Cons
- 4K at 60 fps requires a Super 35 crop
- 10 fps burst rate is slow for action
- Noticeable rolling shutter
- Low-resolution 1.03-million-dot rear screen
- Menus can overwhelm beginners
Sony A7 IV vs. A7 V and rivals
The A7 V arrived on December 18, 2025, at $2,899 for the body. It keeps a 33-megapixel resolution but uses a partially stacked sensor with a new BIONZ XR2 processor. According to Tom’s Guide, it adds 30 fps bursts, 4K at 60 fps from the full sensor width, 4K at 120 fps in Super 35 mode, 7.5 stops of stabilization, a 3.2-inch four-axis screen, and battery life of up to 750 shots. TechRadar called the A7 V “a more complete camera in just about every regard” but noted that for landscapes and other slower subjects, the A7 IV is arguably the better buy at its discounted price.
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the A7 IV, its successor, and its main full-frame rivals.
Compare similar full-frame mirrorless cameras on Amazon
| Camera | Resolution (megapixels) | Max burst | 4K at 60 fps | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 IV | 33MP | 10 fps | Super 35 crop | Value hybrid shooting | Check price |
| Sony A7 V | 33MP (partially stacked) | 30 fps | Full width | Action and video | Check price |
| Canon EOS R6 Mark III | 32MP | 40 fps (electronic) | Yes, plus 7K open gate | Canon shooters and video | Check price |
| Nikon Z6III | 24.5MP (partially stacked) | 20 fps (RAW) | Full width | Nikon users and fast action | Check price |
- Sony A7 V: The direct successor fixes the A7 IV’s burst, crop, and rolling shutter weaknesses for $2,899. See the Sony A7 V on Amazon.
- Canon EOS R6 Mark III: Canon’s $2,799 rival, announced in November 2025, adds 32 megapixels, 40 fps bursts, and 7K open gate video. See the EOS R6 Mark III on Amazon.
- Nikon Z6III: It trades resolution for speed and has dropped to around $2,000 in recent sales. See the Nikon Z6III on Amazon.
Whichever body you choose, budget for a fast CFexpress Type A card or UHS-II SD card and a spare NP-FZ100 battery. If you also shoot with an iPhone, our Leica Lux Grip review covers a premium way to make your phone feel more like a camera.
Who should buy the Sony A7 IV?
Buy the A7 IV if you want a full-frame camera that handles portraits, travel, weddings, landscapes, and YouTube video equally well, and you’d rather spend the savings on a good lens. It’s also a great upgrade from an A7 III or a Sony body with a smaller Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) sensor. Skip it if you shoot fast sports or birds in flight, need uncropped 4K at 60 fps, or want the cleanest possible electronic shutter performance. In those cases, the A7 V is worth the extra money.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony A7 IV still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, the Sony A7 IV is still worth buying in 2026, especially at its discounted price of about $1,850 to $2,000. Its 33-megapixel sensor, autofocus, and 10-bit video still compete well, though the A7 V is better for action and 4K at 60 fps.
Has the Sony A7 IV been discontinued?
No, Sony hasn’t discontinued the Sony A7 IV as of November 2026. The A7 V replaced it as Sony’s core full-frame model in December 2025, but Sony and major retailers continue to sell the A7 IV at a lower price.
Does the Sony A7 IV crop 4K video?
The Sony A7 IV crops 4K video only at 60 fps. It records 4K at 24 and 30 fps from the full sensor width, oversampled from 7K, but 4K at 60 fps uses a 1.5x Super 35 crop.
What is the difference between the Sony A7 IV and A7 V?
The Sony A7 V adds a faster partially stacked sensor, 30 fps bursts, full-width 4K at 60 fps, and 7.5 stops of stabilization. It also gets a sharper 3.2-inch screen and longer battery life, and it costs $2,899 versus the A7 IV’s $2,499 launch price.
Final verdict
The Sony A7 IV set the standard for midrange hybrid cameras in 2021, and it still delivers excellent stills, dependable autofocus, and flexible 10-bit video. The A7 V outclasses it for speed and video, but the A7 IV’s discounted price makes it the better value for most photographers who don’t shoot fast action. Check the current Sony A7 IV price on Amazon.