Matt Johnson: “RIP a7S IV?! Why Sony May Not Even Make The Camera!”
Matt explains that Sony absolutely has strong reasons both for and against making an A7S IV, but in the end he believes Sony will make it.
Why Sony might NOT make an A7S IV
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EVF argument is weaker now:
The A7S III’s built-in EVF used to be a big advantage over the FX3.
But Sony has now created a tilting video-centric EVF for the FX2.
Matt thinks this new EVF will spread to future cinema bodies (FX3 II, etc.), reducing the need for an A7S-style hybrid camera.
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No active cooling:
Sony has never put a fan in a non-cinema Alpha body.
With 6K60 and heavy codecs becoming standard, a fan is practically needed, meaning Sony may prefer to push people toward the FX line (FX3 II) instead of releasing an A7S IV.
Why Sony WILL make an A7S IV
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People will definitely buy it:
Even today, filmmakers still buy the A7S III for three reasons:
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It has a usable EVF
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It still shoots photos better than the FX3
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It’s cheaper and goes on sale more often
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Sony wants to sell more sensors:
The A7S line uses the same sensor family as the FX cameras.
More camera bodies = more sensor sales = more revenue for both Sony’s Camera Division and Sensor Division.
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Two different Sony teams = two different incentives:
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Alpha division makes A7 cameras
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Cinema division makes FX cameras
Since they are separate teams with separate roadmaps, both divisions want “their own version” of the next-gen low-light/video sensor.
That alone supports the idea of both an A7S IV AND an FX3 II.
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Final takeaway
Matt believes the A7S line is not dead at all.
The real question is not “Do they need it?” but “Why wouldn’t they make it?”
His conclusion:
Sony will almost certainly release an A7S IV, because demand, pricing, internal structure, and sensor economics all point toward it happening.
