Sony A7 IV review

The A7 IV launched as the new 'basic' full-frame Sony, and that framing undersold it. With a 33MP sensor it splits the difference between resolution and speed, and the autofocus — inherited from Sony's higher-end bodies — is the reason this camera remains a default recommendation. Eye and subject detection lock and hold with a confidence that still embarrasses much newer cameras from other brands.

For hybrid work it's a genuine one-body solution. Stills are clean and flexible, and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal video gives you grading latitude that the previous generation lacked. Paired with the deep E-mount lineup — including affordable Tamron and Sigma zooms — you can build a kit for almost any job without compromise.

The compromises that exist are well documented. Rolling shutter is the big one: whip-pan or shoot fast action and you'll see skew. The 4K/60p mode applies a Super35 crop, so your wide lens isn't wide anymore. And while the menus are far better than Sony's old system, the buffer can still feel sluggish after a long burst.

With the A7 V rumoured, some shoppers will want to wait. But the A7 IV's strengths — autofocus, lenses, balance — aren't going to be invalidated overnight, and prices have softened to the point where it's arguably better value than ever. If you need a camera now, this is still the one that does everything competently and nothing badly.