This is a guest post by by Reza Malayeri. All Photos are from by Reza Malayeri and used with his permission.

Tips for Portrait Photography, Using the Sony A7R V
by Reza Malayeri

The Sony Alpha a7R V is the first full frame Alpha camera to feature high-resolution imaging with AI-based autofocus. Sony has put its best technology into the A7R V, calling it the “best-ever image quality for an Alpha body.” In my personal experience, the A7R V shows superior performance when taking portrait photography.

Key Features of the Sony A7R V

With the latest two 50mm announcement we now have 58(!) 50mm E-mount lenses according to this BHphoto database. Still, the new Sony and Sigma additions are welcome as both have very high quality and offer a tiny bit of differentiations: The Sony is super compact while the Sigma is a top choice when it comes to balance performance with price. Check out Chris take on both new lenses!

Sony 50mm F/1.4 GM at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoKoch. FotoErhardt. Calumet DE. WexUK.
Sigma 50mm lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, WexUK.

Preorder links: Sony 50mm F/1.4 GM at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoKoch. FotoErhardt. Calumet DE. WexUK.

Lenstip tested the new Sony lens and concluded:

The Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM was a surprise for me personally and for more than one reason. First, I didn’t expect such a launch, especially as less than two years ago the system got two other 50 mm devices. Second, I didn’t expect that a new 50 mm lens might be optically more complex than its faster brother, the FE 50 mm f/1.2 GM. Thirdly, I didn’t expect such a high price tag, amounting to 1700 Euro.

If you forget about these surprises for a while and focus on the most important thing, you can only praise the new Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM as it is virtually without any flaws. Its physical dimensions are smaller than these of many direct rivals and yet its optical system is able to correct properly chromatic aberration, distortion, coma, and astigmatism. At the same time it is so exceedingly sharp in the frame centre that it is able to beat all resolution records with a healthy margin and, additionally, it offers excellent image quality on the edge of both types of detectors.

Significant vignetting is something we expected up to a point; as a kind of consolation we should add that the Sony still can outperform some of its rivals in this category.

Preorder links: Sony 50mm F/1.4 GM at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoKoch. FotoErhardt. Calumet DE. WexUK.

Asobinet posted this accurate size comparison between the new Sony GM lens and other 50mm lenses:

Sigma 50mm vs Sony 50mm vs Samyang 50mm f/1.4 lens.

Sony 50mm f/1.2 vs Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 vs the new Sony 50mm lens

Sony 50mm vs Sony 35mm GM

TheVerge reviewed the new A7rV and wrote a clear conclusion:

The 61-megapixel full-frame sensor is brilliant, the autofocus tracking is impeccable, the articulating screen is the best around, and yet Sony cameras are still plagued by terrible ergonomics.

It’s time Sony completely rethinks the grips on all of its cameras. They need to be slightly taller, and they desperately need to be made of a higher quality, softer grip material.

We can’t forget that these devices must be designed for humans. Just like every camera has a diopter control to allow the viewfinder to be adjusted to our squishy, inefficient eyeballs, all cameras need a grip that’s going to be comfortable to hold and not feel like a torture device after extended use. Sony, if you can make a camera that can automatically distinguish between birds and bees, you should be more than capable of building one that doesn’t feel crappy to hold.

Any comments on that statement?

Sony A7rV store links:
In US at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FocusCamera, BeachCamera, Buydig.
In EU at Fotokoch, Amazon EU, FotoErhardt, Calumet DE, WexUK. ParkCameras UK.
In Australia at CameraPro, Camerahouse, Sony.

Topaz released the new Photo Ai 2.1 version ($40 off now til Feb 17).

Dpreview tested compared the three major upscale software and concluded:

For my money, the clear winner here overall is Topaz Gigapixel AI. While it’s a bit prone to over-smoothing it generally gives clearly better results than its rivals. And that smoothing can easily be dialed back manually if, like me, you prefer a less-plasticky look.

The big disappointment of the trio was, surprisingly, Adobe. While there’s a more noticeable difference to be found in upsampling from higher-res source photos, in the lower-res shots where it’s potentially most useful, Super Resolution proved to be basically indistinguishable from the Preserve Details 2.0 filter.

Reminder: Topaz Gigapixel is available as standalone or within the now discounted new Photo Ai 2.1 version ($40 off now til Feb 17).

Reminder: New Kickstarter projects:

• The new Spinn CP is now available on Kickstarter (Click here). It’s a different way to carry your camera and an update to their previous CP version. It now comes with two different base plates and a adjustable comfort strap made in five colours. From recycled raw materials.
• The new Korin Anti-Theft bag launched on Kickstarter (Click here). No knife can cut this bag!
• The new Power Junkie 2 is now available on Kickstarter (Click here).
• Clever supply launched the new Camera Sling on Kickstarter (click here).

Engadget reviewed the A7rV and concluded:

Sony is once again on top of the high-resolution full-frame camera market with $3,900 A7R V. Image quality and detail are outstanding, autofocus is second to none and the updated video capabilities are a great addition for hybrid shooters.
As mentioned, Sony’s main rival is the 45-megapixel Canon EOS R5, which offers lower resolution and better video capabilities, but suffers from overheating issues. The 45-megapixel Nikon Z9 is also a more capable video camera, but costs $1,500 more, and Nikon’s $3,000, 45-megapixel Z7 II is $500 less but has inferior autofocus and video.
None of those models come close to matching the A7R V’s resolution, image quality and exceptional AF, though. Given that, plus the massive video improvements, it’s now the best high-resolution full-frame camera on the market, by far.

Sony A7rV store links:
In US at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FocusCamera, BeachCamera, Buydig.
In EU at Fotokoch, Amazon EU, FotoErhardt, Calumet DE, WexUK. ParkCameras UK.
In Australia at CameraPro, Camerahouse, Sony.