What’s Changed. The Sony Alpha a7R IV offers several improvements over its predecessor. Most notable is the new 61MP rear-illuminated CMOS sensor, which facilitates improved autofocus performance and 26MP images, even if you use an APS-C crop. There’s a new pixel-shift multi-shot mode that captures composite images in greater-than-61MP resolution with some post-production assistance from Sony’s imaging software suite. Finally, you get a higher-res EVF; some repositioned controls; a deeper, more substantial handgrip; a new Multi-Interface Shoe that accepts a digital audio input; and two memory card slots that accept UHS-II.

61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor and BIONZ X Image Processor. The Sony Alpha a7R IV’s 61MP back-illuminated full-frame sensor works in tandem with the BIONZ X processor to deliver incredibly fast performance, excellent image quality, and great low-light response. You get 14-bit RAW 61MP stills with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000, which can be expanded to ISO 50-102400. You also get internal UHD 4K video capture using the sensor’s full width. This combination of sensor and processor enables the a7R IV to keep up with fast-paced shooting applications. You can shoot up to 10 fps at full resolution with full autofocus for up to 68 consecutive frames in either mechanical or electronic shutter mode, and up to 8 fps in live-view mode.

Improved Hybrid Autofocus System. This updated Fast Hybrid autofocus system gives you twice the speed and substantially more reliable tracking compared to previous a7R cameras. It features 567 on-sensor phase-detect autofocus points—which cover about 99.7% of the height and 74% of the width of the frame—along with 425 contrast-detect autofocus points, providing extremely fast, accurate performance. You have the option of Expand Flexible Spot focusing, which uses neighboring focus points to stay focused on fast-moving subjects even if the original point loses focus. The Eye AF feature lets you base focusing on a familiar subject’s eyes, making this camera great for portraiture, while Focus Magnification emphasizes minute details, and Lock-on AF lets you position a frame over moving subjects that you’d like to keep in focus. The a7R Iv has an AF Point joystick and dedicated AF On button in addition to touchscreen AF control.

Five-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization. Borrowed from the a9, the SteadyShot INSIDE image-stabilization system offers up to 5.5 stops of correction on to any lens you mount. This system compensates for five types of camera shake, including angular shake (pitch and yaw), shift shake (X and Y axes), and rotational shake (roll). All five stabilization axes are constantly engaged, even when you’re using third-party lenses, adapters, or lenses with their own built-in image stabilization.

UHD 4K Video Capture. The a7R IV can capture UHD 4K video in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps, which is oversampled 2.4-fold from 6K footage to ensure that there’s no pixel-binning or line skipping. It can also capture Full HD 1080p at up to 120 fps. Both 4K and Full HD resolutions use 100 Mbps XAVC S format in an MP4 wrapper with 4:2:0 sampling. In addition to these high-resolution internal-recording options, the a7R IV offers uncompressed 4:2:2 video output via an HDMI connection. You can store a frame grab from a 4K recording as an 8MP still.

Pixel Shift Multi-Shooting Mode. The a7R IV boasts an improved Pixel-Shift Multi-Shooting mode that shoots sixteen images and moves the sensor between each shot in order to capture full color information for every pixel. This reduces noise and softens the image in a fashion similar to demosaicing. There are a couple of downsides to this feature, though. Firstly, the a7R IV can’t assemble the final images on its own, so you must use the Sony Imaging software suite to process the sixteen RAW images. Secondly, it takes the camera between one and thirty seconds between each shot, meaning there’s a high chance your subject will move between the first and fourth shot.

Other Notable Features. There’s an NTSC/PAL-switchable Slow and Quick Motion mode, an enhanced Zebra function to help you monitor exposure values in high-contrast scenes, a Time Code feature that makes editing easier, hot-shoe and PC-terminal external-flash connections, automatic anti-flicker shutter timing, an advanced metering system, a range of Creative Style modes, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for wireless image sharing and camera control. It records its 14-bit RAW images, JPEGs, and video files to SD memory cards, and uses the rechargeable NP-FZ100 battery that’s rated for 530 shots per charge when you’re using the viewfinder or 670 shots with the rear LCD.

Q & A

Does this rental include the USB cable or software?