Great all-round image quality; More user-friendly design; Superb autofocus tracking;

Some video modes require a heavy frame crop; Can overheat despite new design;

The Sony a7 IV ($2,499.99, body only) is the eagerly awaited sequel to the popular a7 III from early 2018. This full-frame mirrorless camera isn't trying to be as groundbreaking as its predecessor, instead concentrating on refinements to the successful hybrid formula including a new 33MP full-frame sensor, an upgraded autofocus system with support for Sony's Real-Time Tracking, and 10-bit video for more flexibility with creative color grading. It's a stronger performer than the a7 III (which is still on sale for around $2,000), and earns our Editors' Choice award in the small, but highly competitive enthusiast category.Sony's Generalist Full-Frame The a7 IV is the sequel to the a7 III in concept and execution, but not quite in market position. We loved the a7 III when it debuted years ago, as it pushed the envelope in mirrorless autofocus at a very attractive $2,000 starting price. The a7 III sometimes goes on sale, but Sony hasn't permanently reduced its price. We now recommend t...

With a stabilized 33MP sensor, 10-bit 4K, and fast autofocus, the Sony a7 IV is a compelling full-frame camera for creatives.

Stabilized full-frame imaging and video; 33MP resolution leaves room to crop; 4K60 video with 10-bit color sampling; Tracks subjects at up to 10fps; Configurable controls; Subject recognition for people, animals, and birds; Large lens library

6fps burst shooting at highest quality settings; Omits Pixel Shift multi-shot mode; Rear display not as crisp as competitors; Eye detection focus isn't spot-on with current firmware

All of the Sony a7 IV’s improvements and new technology leads to overall better performance over the Sony a7 III. Some would argue it even bests the Sony a7S III in some regards. While not perfect in any specific area, the Sony a7 IV is more of a jack of all trades.

The a7 IV is an all-round capable camera, supporting the photographer in almost any situation. Its video capabilities live up to a similar standard, making it a hugely flexible imaging tool. Its extreme levels of customization can be daunting but its powerful autofocus system means it can be a very simple camera to use.

Most photographic or video pursuits;

Sports photography;

The a7 IV is an all-round capable camera, supporting the photographer in almost any situation. Its video capabilities live up to a similar standard, making it a hugely flexible imaging tool.

Most photographic or video pursuits

Sports photography

The Sony A7 IV is the best hybrid mirrorless camera you can buy right now. A truly modern all-rounder that largely justifies its price tag, it packs class-leading autofocus, impressive image quality and powerful video features into one versatile body. Dedicated street or sports photographers should look elsewhere, and it isn't the fastest shooter in its class. But for everyone else, the A7 IV is a rock-solid all-rounder with few glaring weaknesses. It might be the only camera you ever need.

Impressive new 33MP sensor; Class-leading autofocus; Vari-angle screen; Powerful video features; ;

Price hike from A7 III; 4K/60p video is heavily cropped; Rivals offer faster burst shooting

Equally suited for stills or video, with a great performance and handling extremely well, the Sony A7 IV has a lot going for it. Yes, it's the most expensive of its peers, by which are meant the full-frame options of up to 33MP, but it is a hybrid camera that does tackle both stills and video in the...

Excellent stills image quality, Smooth high-quality movie shooting, Bionz XR Processor, Dust and moisture resistance, 5 Axis SteadyShot, Human, animal or bird Eye/Face AF tracking, Low noise, 10fps shooting, Ergonomic control layout, High-quality manufacture

Very complex menus that are not always intuitive, Full manual online only

The Sony A7 IV makes a solid upgrade on the A7 III. In fact, it’s one of those rare cameras that makes a significant enough jump to warrant upgrading from one generation to the next. All of our requests for the A7 IV have been granted apart from 4K 60p incurring a crop.

Good combination of speed and resolution, Vari-angle touchscreen, Excellent AF system

CFexpress Type A card required to get the full feature range, Video options could be clearer, Super 35 crop for 4K video at 60p

Fast and accurate autofocus; Good handling and build quality; Very capable with both stills and video;

Some video modes cropped; Fairly heavy build; Fast SD or CFexpress cards required for some modes;

It can no longer be classed as an 'entry-level' full-frame camera, but the Sony A7 IV is a truly modern hybrid that largely justifies its price tag. The new 33MP sensor looks a solid performer for both stills and video, and the A7 IV benefits from Sony's class-leading autofocus skills. It's a shame the 4K/60p video mode is only available with a large crop, but otherwise the A7 IV is shaping up to be a rock-solid all-rounder for most hybrid shooters. It might be the only camera you ever need.

Impressive new 33MP sensor; Class-leading autofocus; Vari-angle screen; ;

Price hike from A7 III; 4K/60p video is heavily cropped