Sony has officially introduced the long-awaited Sony A7 V after four years since the release of the Sony A7 IV. As a tech lover, I have purchased both of them to compare them using Sony’s official specs and hands-on testing reports. This Sony A7 V vs Sony A7 IV comparison highlights what is truly new and who should upgrade to the new one. In addition, I will try to decode whether the A7 V can reclaim Sony’s “best all-rounder” crown. However, A7 IV is a camera that has dominated the best mirrorless lists since 2021.
Sony A7 V vs Sony A7 IV: Sensor and Image Quality
Both cameras come with a 33MP full-frame sensor. However, the A7 V has introduced Sony’s first partially stacked sensor to bring significantly faster readout speeds. Plus, this improvement reduces rolling shutter, which was one of the biggest complaints about the A7 IV.
Sony also claims an improved 16EV dynamic range, and early testing shows no compromise in low-light performance despite historically lower sensitivity in stacked designs. Moreover, the Sensor of the A7 V has also benefited from sharper colour accuracy and improved white balance, especially in complex lighting.
Winner: Sony A7 V
Autofocus and Shooting Speed
The A7 V brings Sony’s new BIONZ XR2 processor with integrated AI, enhancing subject recognition for humans, vehicles, insects and animals. On top of that, Eye, face, head and body detection are dramatically more accurate than on the A7 IV. The following are the details related to the shooting speed of the Sony A7 V vs Sony A7 IV:
- A7 IV: 10fps
- A7 V: 30fps electronic + pre-capture (up to 30 frames before you press the shutter)
Therefore, A7 V is a major improvement for wildlife, sports, and action photographers.
Winner: Sony A7 V
Stabilisation, Performance and Battery Life
Sony has also upgraded the in-body image stabilisation from 5.5 stops on the A7 IV to 7.5 stops on the A7 V. Hence, it has unlocked handheld long-exposure and low-light possibilities. Moreover, battery life has also improved. Below are the details of the battery life related to both cameras:
- A7 IV: 580 shots
- A7 V: 750 shots
Heat management is also heavily upgraded. Moreover, the A7 V records up to 60 minutes at 40°C, compared to just 10 minutes
Winner: Sony A7 V
Video Capabilities
Both cameras will shoot 4K. However, the A7 V takes a big leap. Below are the top highlights of this camera’s video compatibility:
- 4K 60p with no crop, over-sampled from 7K
- 4K 120p (1.5x crop) added
- Better rolling shutter handling
- Sharper colours and improved AWB
The A7 V also includes High-Res RAW processing with 16 images for ultra-detailed landscape shots.
Winner: Sony A7 V
Design and Usability
The A7 V maintains similar Sony layouts. However, this new variant has some refinement as compared to its predecessors. I have noticed the following design unique features:
- Dual-axis vari-angle LCD (vs single axis on A7 IV)
- Zero-blackout EVF
- Redesigned, deeper grip
- Dual USB-C ports (USB 3.2 Gen2 support)
The dimensions are almost identical. However, the A7 V gives a noticeably smoother handling experience for long experience.
Winner: Sony A7 V
Price Difference
Pricing is the only big advantage I found in the Sony A7 IV. Below are the pricing details related to both cameras:
- Sony A7 IV: $2098
- Sony A7 V: $2899
A roughly $800–$1,000 difference makes the A7 IV still attractive for budget-conscious buyers or casual shooters who do not need high-speed performance.
Winner (Price Only): Sony A7 IV
Final Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
The Sony A7 V wins the battle of Sony A7 V vs Sony A7 IV in every performance category, including improved autofocus, video features, stabilisation, battery life, ergonomics, and overall speed.
It could be the massive upgrade ever for you if you are hybrid creators, wildlife shooters, sports photographers, and videographers. On the other hand, the Sony A7 IV still offer excellent value at such a lower price if you mainly shoot portraits, landscapes or casual travel photography.
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