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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The Internet has gone crazy over the Sony A7V. And here is another “controversial” take:

And here is a new review from Jan Wegener:

Reminder: Sony A7V finally available for preorder on Amazon (click here). “Arrives before Christmas” :)

The Sony A7V uses a new class leading sensor and it delivers stunning Dynamic Range at low ISO according to PhotonsToPhotos testing. We now have more details about how the camera achieves this:

As reported by Petapixel the Sony A7V uses Dual Gain Output (DGO) when using the mechanical shutter at base and low ISO settings. The good news is that the Sony does NOT use baked-in noise reduction with its RAW files. Petapixel writes:

A camera utilizing Dual Gain Output, DGO, captures two readouts of a single exposure with two different ISO settings. In the case of the S1 II, the camera at base ISO combines an image shot at ISO 100 and a second at ISO 800 and merges the results into a single RAW file. This means the camera can take advantage of the higher saturation capacity at low ISO and the improved deep shadow performance at a higher ISO.

The real limitation is that DGO does not work in electronic shutter mode which leads to about 1 stop dynamic range drop. Why?

DGO increases sensor readout times, which are not an issue when using a mechanical shutter but are problematic when using an electronic shutter, increasing the risk of rolling shutter problems.

I think Sony has found the perfect middle ground: outstanding dynamic range with the mechanical shutter (10 fps is more than enough for most users), and when you really need ultimate speed, you can push it up to 30 fps using the electronic shutter.

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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.

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 wrote that Orders for the Sony a7 V Are Strong Despite Negative Online Discourse. I can confirm through my channels that this is true.

On socials you see many arguing that this camera falls short against the competition. But they miss the point. The Sony is strong and reliable where it matters while others stills struggle (see Canon R6III overheating issues).

PetaPixel reports this comment from a Reddit user:

“Minor upgrade? The hell camera are you comparing it to because it sure as hell ain’t the A7IV. The A7V is like 90% of an A1ii for half the price. Depending on your use case of course but as someone who shoots mostly faster subjects and is photo focused it is an incredible upgrade on all fronts,” the comment reads. “I don’t know how anyone can look at this camera and not see it as a massive upgrade. Okay maybe you shoot portraits and landscape then it’s not? But you were not looking for an upgrade anyway as for those genres the body matters a lot less.”

Yes, I also see this as great new camera from Sony!

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.

DC.watch quickly tested the Sony A7V and writes:

It essentially gives mainstream photographers some of the α1 / α9 III intelligence, but at less than half the price.

Here are the bullet points:

• Model & Positioning
  Sony α7 V is the successor to the α7 IV and sits as Sony’s new all-round full-frame hybrid for photo and video, below the α7R V but with many of its latest technologies.
• Sensor & Image Quality
  33 MP full-frame partially stacked CMOS sensor (same resolution as α7 IV but much faster readout).
  Aimed to deliver cleaner high-ISO performance with around 16 stops of dynamic range in stills.
• Speed & Rolling Shutter
  Electronic shutter up to 30 fps with AF/AE tracking, mechanical shutter around 10 fps.
  Much faster readout (≈1/67.5 s) greatly reduces rolling-shutter distortions compared to α7 IV.
• Autofocus & AI
  BIONZ XR2 processor with dedicated AI unit for subject recognition.
  Tracks people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and airplanes with improved reliability over α7 IV.
• New RAW Features
  Composite RAW: combines multiple frames in-camera for reduced noise or higher dynamic range.
  Single-frame “Extended NR / Extended Hi-Res” via Imaging Edge: deep-learning processing of one RAW file to simulate low-ISO cleanliness or extra detail.
• Video Capabilities
  4K 60p from full-frame (no crop) and 4K 120p in Super 35 mode, using XAVC S / HS / SI 10-bit 4:2:2 up to ~600 Mbps.
  S-Cinetone and log profiles available, active and dynamic-active electronic stabilization and long, effectively unlimited clip length.
• Viewfinder & Screen
  3.69M-dot OLED EVF, blackout-free at high burst rates.
  3.2-inch 2.1M-dot rear LCD with 4-axis multi-angle mechanism (tilt + flip) for both stills and video work.
• Body, Handling & Connectivity
  Body size similar to α7 IV, slightly heavier, with deeper grip and refined controls.
  Two USB-C ports (USB 3.2 10 Gbps + USB 2.0), full-size HDMI, mic and headphone jacks, dual card slots (SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A compatible).
  Wi-Fi with 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 for faster transfers and improved app connectivity.
• Stabilization & Battery
  In-body image stabilization rated around 7.5 stops in the center, improved over α7 IV.
  Uses NP-FZ100 battery; CIPA rating about 630 shots via EVF and 750 via LCD, plus support for USB-PD power/charging.
• Overall Verdict in the Review
  Reviewer sees α7 V as a “no-compromise” general-purpose camera: big speed and usability upgrade over α7 IV, with strong photo quality and very capable video.
  Recommended as the default Sony full-frame choice for most users who want one camera for everything rather than a specialized high-resolution or cinema-focused body.

The french Phototrend website writes:

Overall verdict: a highly capable, versatile stills camera with class-leading AF and strong performance in most scenarios, but a bit “timid” versus rivals for demanding video shooters.

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 A7V vs Canon R6III (full spec comparison on this BH page)

It’s time to make the big discussion: Sony A7V vs Canon R6III. Now one thing has to be made clear: Both are EXCELLENT cameras and nobody should switch system because of “one” camera. But let’s get into the bitty gritty and highlight the differences between the two

1) Sony’s fundamental architectural advantage:

“The Sony A7V uses a more modern, faster sensor architecture (partially stacked vs. Canon’s non-stacked design) and a newer processor with integrated AI. This gives Sony far more headroom for future features added through firmware updates than Canon currently has. In other words, the A7V has significantly greater upward potential that Sony could — and hopefully will — take advantage of. Any missing features today (such as Open Gate) are, at least on paper, well within the camera’s capabilities. Now we just need to push Sony to actually deliver them.”

this is point nearly nobody highlighted: The Canon is based on a regular architecture while Sony has gone all in with a very future proof hardware.

2) Sony is the king of speed:

The devil is always in the detail: While Canon can read out at 13.5ms and the Sony at 15.1ms, the Sony does it in full 14 bit while Canon has to reduce the amount of data with a 12 bit readout. This allows Sony to have an impressive 1+ stop advantage in dynamic range over the Canon! 40fps in lower quality of the Canon is in my opinion not a match for the 30fps 14bit RAW of the Sony.

3) Sony has the edge in still-image quality:

Sixteen stops of dynamic range sounds impressive, and I’m looking forward to proper tests that can confirm whether Sony’s still-image quality now pulls ahead of Canon.

4) Canon wins in video

Canon has 120p uncropped, Open Gate, waveform, false color, 7k. internal RAW recording. Sony’s only advantage is much less overheating issues. Now, Sony has the  margin (speed on the sensor è power on the processor) to improve the video features through future updates. Let’s see if they can close the gap with Canon.

6) Autofocus (to be tested)

Canon has 100% coverage but I suspect Sony will have a more useful, faster and accurate AF system than the Canon. This has to be confirmed via proper testing!

7) Ergonomics and other features

This is mostly a personal preference. The Canon is bigger and maybe easier for some to handle. I personally love the compact size of the Sony A7V. I love their 4 way fully articulating screen. I also found it impressive that the Sony can offer much longer battery life than the Canon

PetaPixel writes:

Before this camera’s announcement, I would have given the best camera of the year to the Canon EOS R6 III. I still might, but the Sony a7 V is easily a contender for this prestigious title.
From a purely photographic standpoint, I think it has minor advantages over the Canon in terms of image quality and focus performance. However, I believe that the Canon is slightly more compelling as a hybrid photo/video product.

Essentially, we have two cameras that are very close in their main specs (33MP resolution, excellent 4K recording), each with its own strengths in specific areas. I feel that Sony has greater potential for growth — but only if Sony recognizes this and is willing to add new features through future firmware updates.

Zach believes that at first glance, the Sony FX2 might seem like an odd release — but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find one of Sony’s most refined video tools yet. It borrows the trusted 33MP full-frame sensor from the A7 IV and packs it into a compact cinema-style body with top-tier autofocus, impressive IBIS, and a surprisingly useful EVF.

While it lacks 4K 120p and suffers from rolling shutter, it nails the fundamentals: great color, strong codecs, dual native ISO, and excellent ergonomics. The FX2 may not be flashy, but it’s quietly becoming a favorite among solo shooters and hybrid creators.

Sony FX2 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK

And also Sydney Diongzon likes the camera: