The brand new A7RV for me as a Panorama Photographer

And so it’s lastly right here: the lengthy awaited Sony A7RV. With the A7RIV announcement in 2019, it’s greater than 3 years later. The A7RIV has been my predominant digicam for my photographs. However I’ve to say: With the various new Sony cameras that did got here out in between (A7IV, A1, A7SIII and so forth), the physique and performance of the A7RIV began to really feel a bit ‘outdated’. I used to be often capturing with the A1 and was having fun with that extra, primarily due to all of the updates, the easier menu, the pace, and easily all the additional capabilities. Now with the brand new A7RV, I really feel like I’m utterly up to the mark once more and it has a number of new nice issues for me as a panorama photographer. And I’m going to clarify you all about it on this article.

DISCLAIMER: I’m a Sony ambassador and have had this digicam months earlier than the unique announcement on October 26. I used to be one of many first photographers in Europe utilizing this digicam and you’ll see me being featured within the authentic launch video. This text is NOT a assessment. It’s merely a sum up of how I exploit the digicam as (now) my predominant physique as a panorama photographer and all the brand new capabilities and options. Additionally: I do attempt to provide you with a number of info, photographs of the digicam, and photographs with the digicam. Nevertheless it’s not full but. I’ll replace this text a number of occasions with new info, primarily as a result of I couldn’t take a look at every part correctly but as a consequence of the truth that there are was no RAW conversion out there but. I needed to do some ‘tips’ to have the ability to edit and see the RAW recordsdata, however they could have affected the recordsdata ultimately. Extra on that later.

Look & Really feel

Let’s get began with having a look on the ‘new’ physique. And by ‘new’ I imply it’s similar to the A1 physique, however with some buttons and dials shifted round. Don’t fear, it has a really comparable really feel to the A7RIV, nevertheless it feels barely beefier, because it’s barely thicker. Identical because the A1. Truthfully, after having used the A1 for fairly a bunch of shoots just lately, I began to actually get pleasure from that physique. It feels tremendous good in my (quite massive) palms. However there was one factor that at all times bothered me: The highest left dial that I wanted to show all the way in which to the opposite facet once I needed to modify to ‘bracketing’ mode quick. The A1 is an excellent quick digicam, however that was the one factor that was not quick for me. With my A7RIV I change to bracketing a lot sooner, merely by means of the fast menu. Fortunately, Sony most likely found out that wasn’t the most effective for panorama photographers (massive target market for the A7RV) and though the physique is just like the A1, that dial just isn’t there on the A7RV, so the switching to bracketing remains to be the identical as on the A7RIV: excellent.

One factor that took a while getting used to after utilizing the A7RIV for years was the brand new placement of the file button. That is now positioned on the C1 spot of the A7RIV (this transformation additionally occurred within the A7IV). Should you discover this annoying, you may simply customise the file button to no matter you had configured that button for in your A7RIV or comparable physique, that had the C1 and C2 buttons proper there on prime. So though it’s totally different, you may set it up just like the outdated approach in case you want. And in case you’re used to the C1 and file button placement on the A1, they’re switched round on the A7RV. Once more, you may set these up the very same because the A1 if you want, by way of the customise button menu.

Let’s proceed concerning the film mode. The A7RV now has a useful new change beneath the principle dial on prime. This change permits you to change tremendous rapidly to film or S&Q mode. We all know this change from the A7IV. What’s very useful about that is which you could utterly customise the entire digicam for video and simply flip that one change to begin capturing video, with all the image profiles and favorite settings going with it. Then whenever you shot a clip and need to change again, merely change again to picture and proceed with picture capturing. And sure, the digicam shoots 8k internally (25 or 30p)

One other bodily change is the Publicity dial. This is identical because the A7RIV, however they eliminated the numbers off of it which is nog massive deal. Should you use Aperture mode in your digicam loads, you merely see the + or – publicity compensation on the display screen and also you don’t actually take a look at the dial. That’s how I used to be principally utilizing it anyway.

Different stuff you’ll instantly discover is which you could now use the CFExpress playing cards (2 slots) and the Digital viewfinder is a lot better. It seems a lot better in case you’re used to utilizing the A7RIV.

Comparability with the A1 and A7RIV

The Flip Display

A completely new bodily factor on the physique I need to speak slightly bit extra about is the brand new flip display screen. As a result of that is very curiously designed and it’s the primary time I’ve seen this on a Sony physique. I heard lots of people have been frightened that it could be just like the A7IV or the A7SIII as they’ve a completely articulating display screen, however the A7RV is totally different. Truly, I used to be a bit frightened myself as a result of I just like the A7RIV flip display screen. However the A7RV is totally different, and it’s nice, for my part. The display screen flips, like the unique A7RIV, however ALSO tilts! I do know, that sounds bizarre and appears a bit bizarre at first, nevertheless it works completely nice and I believe it is going to be nice for everybody. So in case you had an A7RIV, you may simply use it such as you usually would. Or in case you had an AIV, you should utilize it like that. However the good thing is, you should utilize it nonetheless you need. It flips out a bit, after which you may flip it out and rotate.

An instance of how the display screen flips up once I use the digicam near the bottom. This is identical approach I might use my A7RIV

Now when its flipped up, you may flip it out to the proper, making it additionally excellent for vertical capturing

Now the beauty of that is you should utilize it with L-brackets. No points in any respect with flipping the display screen out with an L-bracket, just because it pulls out a bit first, after which flips round, leaving sufficient area for the L-bracket to be in place. This mechanism is definitely nice, and works very effectively. I used to be capable of flip my display screen in each route utilizing an L-bracket. So once I use my digicam horizontally, I exploit the flip display screen just like my A7RIV. After I get low to the bottom, I merely flip it up. Then, once I use my digicam vertically I flip the display screen round and may also get a pleasant view with a low vertical angle. It’s mainly the most effective of each worlds.

See how the display screen pulls out a bit after which flips round. This makes it completely high-quality to make use of with an L-bracket (connected on this picture), each horizontal and vertical.

Listed here are some examples of mushroom shoot earlier this fall the place I can’t actually do with out the flip display screen anymore. The digicam is mainly on the bottom (even too low for a tripod), the place the flip display screen is totally needed:

New issues inside!

You possibly can see that Sony listened to us panorama photographers and put some nice new options for us within the A7RV. Right here’s those that have been finest for myself:

Focus Bracketing

Lastly! I’m positive a few of us had been ready for this for some time already however this digicam now lastly has it: focus stacking! Or the way it’s known as within the digicam: Focus bracketing. It is a approach I typically use within the area to get photographs 100% sharp from the very entrance to the very again of the picture. I typically use it with vast angle lenses the place I get very near my foreground topic, and easily can’t get each the foreground and background in focus, even at f/14 or narrower. This lets you get a 3D-effect in a photograph that I really like myself.

How focus bracketing works within the digicam: You merely choose it within the capturing menu the place you’ll usually choose regular bracketing as effectively. It’s instantly listed underneath that, so very quick to entry. You possibly can then choose what number of photographs the digicam will take. You possibly can truly simply put a really excessive quantity, because the digicam will merely cease taking photographs when it reaches infinity focus. You may as well choose a quantity from 1 to 10 on the gap in between the photographs. It is a bit cryptic and I’ve examined a bunch of numbers, however when utilizing a large focus size (round 12-18mm) you’re principally high-quality placing it at quantity 10 (widest distance), however if you’re capturing with telephoto you might need to put it to five or decrease. When you find yourself focus stacking with a macro lens, I like to recommend a really low quantity.

That is how the main focus bracketing menu seems like on the digicam menu

You then choose the primary focus level, the closest one to the digicam. The digicam will then merely shoot all the main focus factors from the primary chosen focus level to infinity. It will lead to plenty of photographs with totally different focus factors which you could then later stack collectively (in Photoshop or Helicon focus for instance) to get an ideal sharp picture from entrance to again. To have the digicam do the main focus factors for you saves you a number of time doing it your self manually and most significantly: will be sure you don’t neglect any focus factors. Those who often use focus stacking will know what I’m speaking about. It’s very quick to arrange, and you’ll select if you need the main focus stack in a separate folder so you may simply determine it later in your laptop.

Some examples of how I exploit the main focus bracketing in digicam:

A large angle shot of this windmill the place I positioned my digicam very near the vegetation within the foreground and framed the windmill in between. I needed each the foreground and background very sharp.

Choose the closest plant, arrange the variety of photographs, and easily press the shutter. The digicam takes all of the photographs and the above picture is the outcome after stacking the photographs in Photoshop.

Some extra examples the place this method works very effectively and shows a number of depth:

This picture is a good instance of a photograph the place I might typically simply miss focus factors. It was shot on 18mm with the underside left plant tremendous near the digicam. 8 stacked photographs have been used.

Shot in Oregon within the US the place a skinny fog layer separated the weather. This was shot at 14mm with f/10, 7 stacked photographs have been used.

A tiny waterfall in madeira with plenty of totally different layered components: the vegetation, the little department on prime, and the layers within the mid/background with the waterfall. 27mm (with the 24-70 GMII), f/14, 6 photographs.

One other instance of Oregon within the US, which has some very cool wanting timber and forests. Once more I’m utilizing a foreground component to create framing, the place the foreground is totally sharp. This picture consists of 6 photographs at 24mm, f/10.

Now as you may see, I typically use focus stacking with vast angle lenses however the automated focus bracketing lets you use it in additional exact conditions, like macro for instance:

It is a prime down shot of little mushrooms that grew round a yellow leaf. This scene caught my consideration. It required greater than 20 photographs to get every part completely in focus, shot with the Sony 90mm macro prime down.

The main focus bracketing permits me to do extra photographs I envision within the area and makes positive I don’t miss focus factors once more. Earlier than this, I wouldn’t even attempt focus stacking a macro shot.

Replace 23-11-22 : I launched an in depth video about Focus Stacking on the A7RV: Watch it on YouTube!

The contact display screen

To proceed this, I do need to point out that it’s now additionally potential to set ‘touch-shutter’ for the contact display screen. As an alternative of simply focusing with the contact display screen, the digicam can take a photograph instantly on the chosen focus level. That is one other approach to make use of focus stacking in case you don’t must be tremendous correct and simply rapidly need to take 3-4 photographs with totally different focus factors. The contact display screen additionally feels way more responsive and extra like a smartphone. Now you can simply swipe between photographs quick whenever you play them, and zoom in clean and quick on them with hand gestures, identical to you’ll do in your smartphone. It feels a lot sooner than earlier than on my A7RIV.

Longer than 30 seconds.

Sure, lastly Sony realised that we don’t want a most of 30 seconds publicity and not using a distant in Guide capturing. Once you go previous 30 seconds, now you can choose the choice ‘BULB Timer’. You possibly can arrange the bulb timer by way of a easy menu choice that I configured in ‘My Menu’ so I can at all times entry it very quick. Within the BULB timer menu you merely choose the quantity of seconds you need. That approach you may take exposures of any time you need (let’s say 2 minutes) merely throughout the digicam. Then you definately merely press the shutter and the digicam takes the shot. You’ll see a countdown on the show so that you don’t should marvel when it’s completed.

As somebody who typically forgets his distant, that is one thing I’ve been wanting within the Sony cameras for some time already. And I’m positive I’m not the one one.

Some photographs finished with the Bulb-timer:

45 seconds

60 seconds

90 seconds

Different good updates

Higher Picture Stabilisation of 8 stops:

As somebody who very often shoots hand-held for flexibility, this can be a very welcome addition. I did discover the IS was improved and was capable of do hand-held photographs with fairly low shutter speeds. Unsure if that’s actually 8 stops although 🙂

A 50mm shot at f/16 the place I needed to maintain the digicam up fairly excessive to get this crimson tree framed proper in between the branches of the opposite tree. My tripod couldn’t get excessive sufficient so I needed to shoot it hand-held.

AI Autofocus

Sony put a brand new autofocus system on this digicam that appears very promising. I didn’t get to try it out on each topic, however it might not solely observe a number of animals with eye-AF, but in addition vehicles, planes, bugs and extra. Apparently, it might additionally be taught topics by way of AI however I’m unsure how that works but. It will be nice if it might actually be taught on what you autofocus loads on. For instance, if I’m capturing very tiny mushrooms within the forest, I wish to give attention to simply the sting of the highest of the mushroom. Autofocus doesn’t know that, and infrequently focuses on only a barely different a part of the mushroom. Now if it might be taught what I at all times autofocus on and modify on that, that will be actually cool. However unsure if it really works like that 🙂 As I’m scripting this piece earlier than the digicam is definitely introduced, we must look forward to Sony to be a bit clearer on that.

That is how the popularity been seems like, the place you may choose many issues and Sony mentioned they may add much more.

New Pixel Shift

Sony added an replace to the pixel shift perform that now works a lot better with motion. It will make it extra ‘useable’. I truly didn’t use the pixel-shift perform that a lot, simply due to that. Now I’ve to check this out within the area extra to touch upon how effectively this works. With the present RAW recordsdata I wasn’t capable of correctly take a look at this perform but.

Significantly better EVF

Wanting by means of the EVF is SO a lot better in comparison with my A7RIV. The decision has improved and the colors look stunning by means of it. I actually observed a number of distinction.

‘New’ Menu

Clearly, the A7RV has the ‘new’ menu. I say ‘new’ as a result of all latest Sony cameras have already got this menu, however the A7RIV nonetheless has the outdated one.

Picture high quality

The A7RV has plenty of nice updates and the A7RIV actually wanted that replace that’s the A7RV. However what concerning the picture high quality?

For myself, I used to be already glad with the picture high quality of my A7RIV. The updates are what I actually wanted, and Sony delivered. However sure, it seems just like the A7RV makes use of the identical sensor because the IV, however does have some enhancements. The colour accuracy is best, and it must also carry out barely higher in low gentle. Nonetheless, I didn’t actually received to check this in nice element but.

The reason being clearly the RAW recordsdata. There may be merely no RAW converter out but that correctly addressed the recordsdata. I used to be capable of open them with Sony’s Imaging Edge software program, however that approach you may solely export them to .TIF with not the total RAW capabilities. The closet I used to be capable of get to the ‘actual’ RAW was to make use of Exiftool to rename the Exif knowledge to that of the A7RIV. With that, I used to be capable of open the recordsdata in Lightroom and Digicam RAW and edit them how I might usually do. Nonetheless, I’m unsure if the colour and RAW knowledge is as correct correctly when doing that. Due to that, I don’t need to remark an excessive amount of concerning the low gentle and different picture high quality but.

We will after all conclude that the digicam’s picture high quality is identical, and possibly barely higher than that of the A7RIV. For some it is likely to be a disappointment in case you have been anticipating a better megapixel rely. For myself: I’m unsure we want way more than 60 megapixels on a full body sensor proper now, besides if they will actually take care of the noise on increased ISO. Truly, plenty of individuals even want a decrease quantity of megapixel with a better dynamic vary and higher ISO efficiency. I believe that’s why Sony didn’t attempt to put the megapixels once more on this one, For me, that was the proper selection.

This a part of the article shall be up to date as quickly as quickly as the correct RAW converters are there and when I’ve shot some extra low gentle footage as effectively 🙂

Finish phrase

So what do I consider it? I nonetheless love my A7RIV, so for me the A7RV is solely nice. It’s mainly my A7RIV in an up to date physique with tons of latest options on mainly every part. Higher AF, 8k video, Higher Picture stabilisation, plenty of new options which can be tremendous helpful for me as a panorama photographer. For me, it’s mainly what I wanted. I do need to take a look at out the picture high quality extra concerning low gentle efficiency and if we will see an actual distinction, so extra on that later 🙂

Abstract:

• 61 MP with beter shade accuracy and barely higher low gentle efficiency (Sony mentioned).

• New AI Autofocus.

• New physique that appears like A1 and A7IV.

• Completely new flip display screen that works nice for each route and works effectively with L-bracket.

• 2 CFcard specific slots (you should utilize SD-cards as effectively).

• Film change which you could utterly customise all film settings on.

• Higher increased decision EVF.

• Contact display screen improved and now additionally has contact shutter.

• Higher Pixel shift that handles motion higher.

• Focus Bracketing choice: focus stacking for panorama photographers.

• Bulb timer: Longer exposures than 30 seconds merely thought the menu. No distant wanted.

• Many extra issues that I most likely forgot.

I’m most likely forgetting another new options, however within the few weeks I used the digicam I used to be so busy capturing on assignments and workshops that I simply ‘used’ the digicam how I might usually use it and wasn’t too targeted on attempting each single factor within the menu. I can say although, like normally I’ve used the digicam in plenty of totally different and moist circumstances: Alongside the Oregon Coast, on Madeira Island in Portugal, and on foggy Dutch mornings. The digicam typically received soaking moist from rain and by no means had any points. Keep in mind that ‘accent error’ that you’d typically get in wet climate in your A7RIV or different Sony cameras? I didn’t encounter that on this one. Possibly that’s mounted as effectively :). On my few weeks of use, I actually loved the digicam and can immediately get it when it comes out.

I used to be honoured to be one of many few who already had this digicam months earlier than the announcement and that Sony requested me to be featured within the launch movies in Europe. I hope this text was helpful to you and that you just loved studying it. Be at liberty to ask me any questions concerning the digicam and I’ll replace this text very quickly with new RAW picture knowledge, low gentle assessments, video and extra.

Thanks for studying and I’ll go away you with a bunch of extra photographs I shot within the final latest weeks with the A7RV.

Albert

– Preorder the A7RV with my affiliate hyperlink –

Redwoods, US – Sony 12-24 GM – 22mm – f/8 – 1/8s – ISO 200

Macro Widerweb – Sony 90mm Macro – f/2.8 – 1/400s – ISO 320 – hand-held

Madeira – Sony 12-24 GM – 21mm – f/14 – 1/50s – ISO 100 – hand-held

Oregon Coast US – Sony 12-24 GM – 17mm – f/14 – 1/6s – ISO 100 – focus stack

Oregon Coast US – Sony 24-70 GM II – 35mm – f/14 – 0,4s – ISO 80

Madeira – Sony 12-24 GM – 12mm – f/10 – 1/6s – ISO 100

Oregon Coast US – Sony 12-24 GM – 17mm – f/14 – 1s – ISO 50

Macro Mushroom – Sony 90mm Macro – f/14 – 1/6s – ISO 200

Redwoods, US – Sony 12-24 GM – 12mm – f/11 – 1/3s – ISO 100

Oregon Coast US – Sony 24-70 GM II – 60mm – f/14 – 1/80s – ISO 200 – hand-held

Redwoods, US – Sony 12-24 GM – 24mm – f/11 – 1/5s – ISO 100

Madeira – Sony 12-24 GM – 12mm – f/8 – 2,5s – ISO 160

Madeira – Sony 12-24 GM – 21mm – f/8 – 1/30s – ISO 100

Madeira – Sony 12-24 GM – 12mm – f/8 – 1/200s – ISO 100 – hand-held