Sony a7R IV Achieved 91% Overall Score and Gold Award at DPReview

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DPReview has published the Sony a7R IV full in-depth review and test results: The new 61MP Sony a7R IV mirrorless camera achieved an Amazing 91% overall score and Gold Award from the experts at DPReview. Currently, the Sony a7R IV got the highest score and is the best camera tested by DPreview.

What we like:

  • Plenty of resolution, good dynamic range and noise performance
  • Excellent autofocus tracking implementation
  • Generous grip, very good button-and-dial feel
  • Large, high-res electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps max burst shooting with AF
  • Class-leading detail in 4K video
  • Excellent AF tracking in video
  • Updated weather-sealing measures
  • Dual UHS-II card slots
  • Great battery life
  • Users can now choose their AF area display color, making it easier to see
  • ‘Focus Priority’ option to focus at wider apertures in low light is welcome
  • Good JPEG sharpening, noise reduction and color
  • Incredible customization options
  • Ports galore
  • Pixel Shift yields up to 240MP images
  • Robust wireless connectivity
  • In-camera charging + power

What we don’t:

  • Large file sizes mean lengthy card write times, even with very fast cards
  • General interface lagginess persists
  • Burst shooting hurts AF accuracy
  • Slightly noisier files than predecessor
  • Touchscreen is under-utilized
  • Exposure settings carry over between stills and video; they shouldn’t
  • 4K video maxes out at 8-bit files
  • 10 fps only gives 12-bit Raws with compression applied
  • Clumsy Raw compression
  • No in-camera Raw conversion
  • Touch-to-track implementation should recall setting between stills and video
  • Can’t switch to video until buffer clears
  • High resolution increases visibility of camera shake and AF misses
  • No Pixel Shift motion compensation
  • Pixel Shift workflow is cumbersome
  • No flash AF assist grid

Conclusion from DPReview:

The Sony a7R IV is among the most capable cameras we’ve tested. It makes a compelling case that the days of choosing between speed-oriented cameras and resolution-oriented cameras are coming to an end. It wouldn’t be our top choice for sports and action purists (all those megapixels result in many megabytes of storage), but for those users that need this resolution on a regular basis and want to be able to photograph fast-moving subjects when necessary, the Sony a7R IV is the best option on the market right now.

Good for
Landscape photographers, wedding and event shooters, studio photographers that specialize in portraits and product photography, and anyone that wants to make really big prints.

Not so good for
Dedicated sports and action shooters, those that must frequently switch from shooting stills to video and back again.

Don’t own the Sony a7R IV yet? Get it at Amazon, B&H, Adorama for $3,498.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a7R IV and Best Memory Cards for Sony a7R IV.

You can read the full Sony a7R IV review at DPReview.