Sony a7 V: What to know before you buy

Sony a7 V gains pre-burst capture system that first appeared in Sony a9 III
An undated image of Sony a7 V. — Sony
An undated image of Sony a7 V. — Sony

If you're a photographer or videographer, who is planning to upgrade camera gears, then Sony a7 V might be the perfect option for you, as it comes with advanced capabilities to improve your photography and videography, providing sharp and clear images and videos.

The Sony a7 V, priced at $2,900, is an enthusiast-tier camera with a new, full-frame, 33MP 'partially stacked' CMOS sensor, with a focus on high burst rates, capable autofocus and a complete suite of video features. The a7 V features a 33MP sensor, but with extra readout circuitry to improve readout speeds. 

What to expect from Sony a7 V?

Before buying Sony a7 V, you need to know all the essential information about it. 

New sensor

Sony claims that this allows the a7 V to achieve much higher burst rates than its predecessor – 30 fps, up from 10 – and to do so with a full 14-bit readout, rather than requiring Sony's destructively lossy Raw compression. 

The maximum e-shutter speed has been increased to 1/16000 sec, too. The company also promises it won't have the same dynamic range reduction we saw with the Z6III, where increased read noise was evident if you pushed the shadows in post. Though we'll have to see if these claims are borne out in testing.

New processor and autofocus

The as7 V's sensor is paired with a new 'Bionz XR2' processor, bringing Sony's most up-to-date autofocus system to the a7 line. While the previous camera had human and animal recognition, the a7 V gets the autofocus system found on most of Sony's other modern cameras, with support for recognizing six subject types, as well as a configurable 'Auto' mode.

AI-powered features

Apart from autofocus, Sony a7 V's new processor allows for several other features that are based on complex algorithms created by machine learning. The first is Auto Framing: a video mode that crops in and then follows your subject around the frame. This lets you set up a wide-angle shot, then have the camera pan around the scene to make it look like you had a camera operator. 

Video recording upgrade

The faster sensor lets the Sony a7 V capture most of its video modes at up to twice the framerates its predecessor could deliver. It also gains the auto-framing and framing stabilizer modes discussed above.

Is it worth buying Sony a7 V?

As per multiple reviews, the Sony a7 V is considered as the best all-round camera Sony has yet made, outside its pro-grade (and priced) models, excelling at both stills and video capture. Like its immediate peers, it brings a level of performance that exceeds what professionals relied on, less than a decade ago, meaning you get a camera that will support you almost regardless of what you ask it to do.