What’s the point of buying an $8,000 medium-format camera if the $2,900 Sony A7 V delivers the same dynamic range?

FujiFilm GFX100II vs Sony A7V vs Hasselblad X2DII comparison page at BHphoto.

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

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Hold on a second, folks! Obviously, this is a provocative question! I know full well that dynamic range isn’t the only factor! There’s also resolution, color accuracy, handling, software, and everything else. But the point I want to make is this:

Full-frame sensors innovate MUCH faster and are MUCH cheaper than current medium-format sensors!

In recent years, we’ve gotten new full-frame sensors with global shutters (Sony A9II) and partially stacked sensors (Sony A7V, Lumix S1II, Nikon Z6II). We’ve gotten huge improvements in autofocus performance, speed, and video quality.

Meanwhile, Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XD cameras have been stuck with the same 100 MP Sony sensor from almost 7 years ago. It’s a great sensor, but the autofocus is really bad, the readout speed is terribly slow, and the image quality is only slightly better (?) than that of high-megapixel full-frame cameras. And now, in the “classic” medium format territory… the dynamic range is nearly matched by a $2,900 Sony A7V:

So I wonder what the future holds for medium format cameras if the sensor can only be updated every… almost 10 years!

I speculate a new Sony medium format sensor is coming, after all there is still yet a market for those kind of cameras. But it will not have all the latest Full Frame tech and it will get “old” very soon.

The only two things that could change this situation are:

  1. If Sony decided to produce a medium format camera, it would probably focus more on renewing medium format sensor technology.
  2. If another company became a direct competitor to Sony in the medium format sensor sector.

By the end of 2026, Leica will announce its new medium format mirrorless system, and I wonder if it will use this Sony sensor or if it will go with a completely different sensor manufacturer. We’ll see…

What are your thought on this?

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Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

 

Canon R6 III conquers Japan’s charts—can Sony A7V flip December?

The Canon R6III has conquered the Japanese charts and is obviously in the lead. We’ll see how the situation changes in December when the Sony A7V hits the shelves.

Mapcamera best selling cameras in November

  1. Canon EOS R6 Mark III
  2. RICOH GR IV
  3. SONY α7C II
  4. FUJIFILM X-E5
  5. Nikon Z5II
  6. Nikon Z R
  7. FUJIFILM X-M5
  8. RICOH GR IIIx
  9. Nikon Z f
  10. SONY α7IV

Yodobashi best selling cameras second half of November

  1. Canon EOS R6 Mark III Body
  2. Canon EOS R5 Mark II Body
  3. SONY α7C II Zoom Lens Kit Silver | Black
  4. SONY α7C II Body Silver | Black
  5. FUJIFILM X-E5 XF23mm Lens Kit Silver | Black
  6. Canon EOS R6 Mark III · RF24-105 L IS USM Lens Kit
  7. Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit
  8. Nikon ZR Body
  9. Nikon Z5II Body
  10. Hasselblad X2D II 100C Body

Yodobashi best selling lenses second half of November

  1. Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 (E-mount)
  2. Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS
  3. Canon RF45mm F1.2 STM
  4. Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
  5. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
  6. Sigma 20-200mm F3.5-6.3 DG | Contemporary (E-mount)
  7. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S
  8. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
  9. Hasselblad XCD 2.8-4/35-100E
  10. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

New Dynamic Range: Canon R6 III Trails Sony A7V by Nearly 2 Stops in Dynamic Range! 😱📉

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

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Bill Claff from PhotonsToPhotos published the Canon R6III dynamic range measurement and the results are clear: The Sony A7V is clearly superior to the Canon with up to nearly 2 stops more dynamic range at around 400 ISO.

  • ISO 50: Sony A7V is nearly 1 stop ahead
  • ISO 100: A7V is nearly 1 stop ahead
  • ISO 200: A7V increases the gap with a little over 1 stop
  • Up to ISO 600: A7V keep increasing the advantage with nearly 2 stops advantage
  • From ISO 800 to ISO 51200: A7V keeps a small 1/4 of a stop advantage across the range.

Basically from ISO 50 to 600 the Sony is way ahead of the Canon. 1-2 stops advantage is a big visible difference.

Now let’s compare the Dynamic Range with electronic shutter:

The Sony A7V overall has the better performance:

  • ISO 50 to ISO 600 the Sony is ahead by 1/4 up to 1/2 of a stop
  • At ISO 800 The Canon is ahead by nearly 1 stop
  • But right after the Sony keeps slightly over performing the Canon again.

Sony really has managed to squeeze out an impressive performance! The Sony A7V is from a pure dynamic range point of view the technical superior camera.

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

PetaPixel: The Sony A7V 33MP partially stacked sensor is the innovation of the year

Petapixel writes:

We routinely knock the lack of meaningful innovation in the camera industry, so when a company does something new and impressive, they deserve kudos. In the rare cases when an image sensor does something altogether new, it is typically reserved for professional shooters with big budgets. The Sony a7 V is decidedly not that type of camera. The Sony a7 V’s impressive new 33-megapixel partially stacked sensor breaks new ground, reaches new heights of performance, and does so in a product squarely aimed at enthusiasts rather than pros.

Here are all the awards:

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

Sony A7 V Is Flying Off Shelves in Germany — New Orders Pushed to Mid-January

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

 

Our reader Daniel  (Thanks!) sent me this

Hi,

yesterday I contacted the German camera reseller Calumet, and they give me a little insight in their A7 V preorders:
They already had 349 preorders for the Sony A7 V, while they only ordered 338 bodies from Sony.
If you now place an order, it wouldn’t be shipped until January.
Also at Foto Koch all open orders are delayed to mid of January.
The A7 V seems very popular.

Third-party sellers on Amazon US are now charging a $600 premium to get the Sony A7 V delivered before Christmas.

Due to overwhelming demand, you now have to pay $600 extra on Amazon (Click here) to have the privilege—and the guarantee—of getting the Sony A7V camera before Christmas. This is via AVC Photo and Amazon correctly writes:

Price higher than typical: Amazon strives to offer customers high quality pricing. We have recently seen better prices on Amazon or from other retailers for this product.

I wouldn’t pay such a premium but it’s your call…

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.