Before You Buy the Sony a7 V

While gear reviews can offer a lot of secondhand insight and opinion, there’s nothing like being able to try out the camera for yourself. While there is no way for us to let everyone interested try out the camera physically, this might be the next best thing.

It has been almost a month since the fifth-generation Sony a7 V was announced, and while some buyers have already received their early orders, many are still waiting or on the fence about getting the new camera. While there have been mixed responses about the video features of the a7 V—mainly because a lot of content creators were expecting open-gate shooting on this midrange hybrid camera—a lot of the evident enhancements are more obvious for shooting stills.

New Features for Photography

For someone who came from the Sony a7 IV, looking at the specifications might seem underwhelming, especially if the new sensor and processor are only seen as labels. However, the new Exmor RS sensor that still offers 33 megapixels has a lot more to offer than sharpness. Key updates include:

• A partially stacked sensor design for faster readout

• Up to 30 frames per second with the electronic shutter

• A wider dynamic range of 16+ stops in a single frame

• The new BIONZ XR2 processor for AI-driven autofocus, plus improved white balance and color rendering

Experience the Images

In this video I put together, I’ll show you how the raw files perform with post-processing in Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw. Here, we’ll see how flexible the images are in terms of pulling details from highlights and shadows, how much noise emerges from doing so, and how malleable the colors are for color management and grading. In addition to the demo, you can also download the sample raw files for yourself and access them with the latest update of Adobe Lightroom Classic (desktop) and Adobe Camera Raw.

What the Raw Files Can’t Show 

Of course, there are a lot more aspects about the camera that can’t be experienced by just editing the raw files. For one, while autofocus and AF tracking might be evident in the images, it would take a series of consecutive, high-speed burst stills to show accuracy and consistency. At the same time, other than what I’ve shown in the past review through screen recordings, the no-blackout 30 fps shooting is something that can and should be experienced firsthand. While there are obviously limitations in terms of what we can share about the experience of shooting with this new camera, at least a peek at the raw files might give you a better idea of whether you should order a Sony a7 V—or at least try one out in-store, if available.