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Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...

  
 
patotts
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p.2 #1 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Thanks eveyrone for chiming in. I agree with many of the points.

@aCuria - yes, the 24-70/2.8 GM II is perhaps the "best" lens in its class, including the new version of the Nikon (which also is $350 more expensive than the lighter and more compact Sony part...), but the argument for the Nikon 24-120/4 is the convenience and value. It is $1,100 MSPR, less at street value, as it can often be had at a discount, and as a travel lens, one often shoots it at f/5.6 or f/8 anyhow. I surely wouldn't use it if I were a pro doing photo-journalism, weddings, or event photography over a f/2.8 lens.

I was dumb enough to sell my a7RV, thinking I would learn to love the a7CII, and it does have a bunch going for it, but I want a normal-sized mirrorless camera with a good EVF. I wish I could justify all of them, but I cannot at this point. When I bought the a7RV it was "street price" from AD at $2,850. If I were to buy one today again for that price, I would, but there is no way I'm paying $4,200 + tax today.

It leaves me back to square one. a7CII has to go. I doubt the upcoming a7V will have the design and performance that I want, as it doesn't gel with Sony's product segmentation. Sony a1 II would be the camera for me in terms of MPs, ergonomics, AF speed and accuracy + a LOT more stuff I would never use, but I can't justify 7500 euro ($8700 USD) for one.

There is no perfect camera or manufacturer. It is all about understanding your real needs and the compromises you can live with. Such is life.




Oct 15, 2025 at 06:41 AM
aCuria
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p.2 #2 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


I have said many times here that if the size of the camera bag is the same, the camera bodies are effectively the same size. Looks like you have time to the same conclusion.

I get that you don’t like the A7Cii grip, but what exactly are you shooting where the performance of the A7IV / A7RV is insufficient?

Yes, Sony absolutely should update their 24-105/4, and the 70-300 while they are at it

However personally I don’t find this type of lens that compelling for me these days. Somehow it’s not wide enough, not long enough, not fast enough, not light enough and not sharp enough all at the same time. Jack of all trades but master of none. This is why although I did shoot with the 24-105/4L in the past, I eventually sold it.

If the 24-70/2.8GMii is too expensive, I would still just go for the sigma variant ($1300?) over a 24-120/4 but this is me. It could be different for you.



patotts wrote:
Thanks eveyrone for chiming in. I agree with many of the points.

@aCuria@@@@ - yes, the 24-70/2.8 GM II is perhaps the "best" lens in its class, including the new version of the Nikon (which also is $350 more expensive than the lighter and more compact Sony part...), but the argument for the Nikon 24-120/4 is the convenience and value. It is $1,100 MSPR, less at street value, as it can often be had at a discount, and as a travel lens, one often shoots it at f/5.6 or f/8 anyhow. I surely wouldn't use it if I were a pro
...Show more


Edited on Oct 16, 2025 at 10:21 AM · View previous versions



Oct 16, 2025 at 10:08 AM
patotts
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p.2 #3 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Seems like the rumors for the a7V are all pointing to the same direction at this point:

- AI chip, of course. Much welcome.
- a7RV type body (not the pro level one many of us hoped for)
- 4-way swivel LCD (great, but everyone wants a higher-res one)
- 33 MP (probably a new/half-new one, faster read-out
- Still no uncropped 4k/60p (even if Nikon Z6 III and the upcoming Canon R6 III will offers it)
- Higher price

I'm sure it will be a good camera and sell very well, but it's not what I was hoping for - if the rumors are true.




Oct 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #4 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


You forgot the 5,7 MP EVF.


Oct 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
patotts
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p.2 #5 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Nifty Fifty wrote:
You forgot the 5,7 MP EVF.


That would, needless to say, be a very nice bump.



Oct 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
jeffro
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p.2 #6 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


For me, it would be a very compelling camera if it had the EVF and screen of the a7RV but less total pixels. The a7RV gives room to crop sure but also creates a lot of undue file size for the rest of the photos. I would not trade the screen/EVF though, one of the main points of getting the a7RV for me. If Sony ever made the a7RV screen/EVF into a a7CR style body that would be interesting to me also.


Oct 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
patotts
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p.2 #7 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


I might have had the settings wrong, but on my A7R V, I loved the 9MDOT EVF. However, when I had the EVF on the highest quality setting and engaged AF-C, keeping the shutter half-press, the resolution dropped significantly, and it even looked pixelated. It drove me nuts.

There was probably some setting I should have changed that I missed (water under the bridge now, as I no longer own the camera)



Oct 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
j4nu
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p.2 #8 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


patotts wrote:
I might have had the settings wrong, but on my A7R V, I loved the 9MDOT EVF. However, when I had the EVF on the highest quality setting and engaged AF-C, keeping the shutter half-press, the resolution dropped significantly, and it even looked pixelated. It drove me nuts.

There was probably some setting I should have changed that I missed (water under the bridge now, as I no longer own the camera)


That setting is A9III ...



Oct 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #9 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


jeffro wrote:
For me, it would be a very compelling camera if it had the EVF and screen of the a7RV but less total pixels. The a7RV gives room to crop sure but also creates a lot of undue file size for the rest of the photos.


But you can set it to RAW M and get 26MP files, regardless of whether you shoot in FF or crop mode. What's wrong with that?




Oct 16, 2025 at 01:13 PM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #10 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...




patotts wrote:
I might have had the settings wrong, but on my A7R V, I loved the 9MDOT EVF. However, when I had the EVF on the highest quality setting and engaged AF-C, keeping the shutter half-press, the resolution dropped significantly, and it even looked pixelated. It drove me nuts.

There was probably some setting I should have changed that I missed (water under the bridge now, as I no longer own the camera)

Isn't that the case with all Sony viewfinders? With the A7iv, I only notice it with fine structures, and even then, only when I'm paying attention.



Oct 16, 2025 at 01:16 PM
 


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patotts
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p.2 #11 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Nifty Fifty wrote:
But you can set it to RAW M and get 26MP files, regardless of whether you shoot in FF or crop mode. What's wrong with that?



Right, but you are still paying for a 61mp sensor with slow readout speed. I think lots of people will be very happy with what the upcoming a7V will deliver, and 5.7mdot EVF is plenty.

If anything, I wish Sony and other camera manufacturers would understand the importance of having a great rear LCD. I walk my dog in Paris several times a day, and I pass by around 40-50 photo shoots, easily that number (not kidding). Apart from the really high-end modeling work shooting tethered to a team to the laptop, EVERY SINGLE ONE of those photographers is showing work directly to clients (often with unreasonably high expectations) on how the images are looking of the family with the Eiffel tower as a background. Every single one. Every single day. Having a great back LCD to wow clients with would be much welcomed by most photographers, I think (even if you had to carry a spare battery because it sucks up juice).




Oct 16, 2025 at 02:14 PM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #12 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


patotts wroteIf anything, I wish Sony and other camera manufacturers would understand the importance of having a great rear LCD. I walk my dog in Paris several times a day, and I pass by around 40-50 photo shoots, easily that number (not kidding). Apart from the really high-end modeling work shooting tethered to a team to the laptop, EVERY SINGLE ONE of those photographers is showing work directly to clients (often with unreasonably high expectations) on how the images are looking of the family with the Eiffel tower as a background. Every single one. Every single day. Having a great back...Show more

I completely agree with you. I personally consider the viewfinder to be one of the most important parts of a camera, and the same goes for the display if you want to take photos like with a waist-level viewfinder. These two things made me hesitate to buy the A7iv, but the extra cost of over €2,000 for a 7Rv wasn't worth it to me. I wonder why, at the same resolution, Nikon viewfinders seem significantly better to me than Sony's. It must be something to do with the built-in optics. Whatever. I don't think I'll buy an A7v for €3,000 just for the viewfinder and display. And the rest doesn't matter to me personally. The A7iv is perfectly sufficient for me.



Oct 16, 2025 at 03:08 PM
patotts
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p.2 #13 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


If I got the EVF, better LCD quality + the 4-way swivel, FF 4K/60, 33 sensor with fast readout, and pro handgrip design, I would fork out 2899 EURO. But no joy!

Not that it matters once you are investing in a brand with camera and lenses, but I actually think Canon R6 III will become the class-leader and steal that crown away from Nikon Z6 III in most reviews/recommendations (think DP Review, etc).

Having said all of this, 80% of the young "content creators" I see roaming around Paris with their cameras mounted on gimbals shooting engagements, influencer stuff, weddings, etc, etc, are all rooking Sonys at this point. I still observe many classic portrait photographers in Paris using Canons for shoots, but that doesn't seem to be the hybrid coverage.



Oct 16, 2025 at 04:06 PM
LBJ2
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p.2 #14 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


patotts wrote:
Intro/Context (feel free to skip)
I visited the "Salon de la Photo", the big annual photo show/exhibition in Paris, France. It runs for 4 days, tons of lectures and interviews (all in French though), and retailers are there offering special deals (e.g. I got 30% off a Shimoda Side Street 28 I've been meaning to buy anyhow).

I had the chance to play around this stunning combo - the a1 II with the new 28-70/2.0. If I had the cash, I would run and buy one right away, even if I don't need/would use 89.9% of the features of the A1
...Show more

The 28-70/2.0 is a stunning lens. I don't own it myself, but have had the chance to cover events along side others that do. From my vantage point, this lens is a big hit in some professional circles.



Oct 16, 2025 at 04:18 PM
aCuria
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p.2 #15 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...




Nifty Fifty wrote:
Isn't that the case with all Sony viewfinders? With the A7iv, I only notice it with fine structures, and even then, only when I'm paying attention.


No, it’s not the case with all Sony viewfinders.
For example the A9iii does not drop resolution when AF is engaged



Oct 19, 2025 at 08:09 AM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #16 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...



aCuria wrote:
No, it’s not the case with all Sony viewfinders.
For example the A9iii does not drop resolution when AF is engaged


Let me clarify my question: On which Sony cameras besides the 9iii does the viewfinder resolution not decrease when using AF-C?
And do you have an explanation for why the problem occurs on the A1, A1ii and A7Rv, but not on the A9iii, even though it has the same viewfinder?



Oct 19, 2025 at 08:14 AM
patotts
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p.2 #17 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Yes, it has been solved for in the a9 III because of the global shutter.

The a1 II is apparently much improved over something like the a7RV, but there is still a drop in quality (a trade off for making 120 AF/ER calcs per second while providing blackout-free viewing at up to 30 fps).

At any rate, it bothers some people; others don't care. I found it irritating on the a7RV.



Oct 19, 2025 at 08:32 AM
Steve Spencer
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p.2 #18 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


patotts wrote:
Yes, it has been solved for in the a9 III because of the global shutter.

The a1 II is apparently much improved over something like the a7RV, but there is still a drop in quality (a trade off for making 120 AF/ER calcs per second while providing blackout-free viewing at up to 30 fps).

At any rate, it bothers some people; others don't care. I found it irritating on the a7RV.


Keep in mind the A9 III is also pushing less data with it 24 MP sensor than the 50 and 60 MP sensors, so it is easier to keep up the VF quality. That and the ultra fast global shutter allow the camera to keep up the viewfinder resolution. Personally, the drop in resolution never bothered me with my Sony A7r V and I loved the higher resolution for manual focus where I never noticed a drop in resolution, but some people prefer a lower resolution that doesn't drop. I don't have huge preferences, but I prefer the 9.4 M dot EVF, then a 5.8 M dot EVF, and I can be perfectly find with a 3.7 M dot EVF if it has good optics. For me, however, I pretty much refuse to use an EVF with a resolution lower than that. Once you get to the 2.3M dot ones, I find the experience really annoying. Of course this is all preferences, YMMV.



Oct 19, 2025 at 09:12 AM
Nifty Fifty
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p.2 #19 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...



patotts wrote:
Yes, it has been solved for in the a9 III because of the global shutter.

The a1 II is apparently much improved over something like the a7RV, but there is still a drop in quality (a trade off for making 120 AF/ER calcs per second while providing blackout-free viewing at up to 30 fps).

At any rate, it bothers some people; others don't care. I found it irritating on the a7RV.


Post deleted. Sorry, I misunderstood you.

Edited on Oct 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM · View previous versions



Oct 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Ltgk20
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p.2 #20 · Speculation time: Sony a7V body design and...


Getting back to the OP's question, I've seen the rumors that it'll have the same body as the A1, A7Rv, etc. However, thus far in E-mount, I believe when a body change was made, every subsequent camera shared those body changes until new body changes came out. If this is true, then I think it likely the A7V will get the A9iii and A1ii body, likely minus the right control wheels, and possibly the C5.


Oct 19, 2025 at 10:29 AM
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