Why I'm Seriously Considering Upgrading from the Sony A7IV to the New A7V

When Sony dropped the new Alpha 7 V yesterday, I didn’t expect much.
Not because I’m unhappy with my A7IV — far from it.
That camera is my workhorse, my daily companion, the tool behind almost every motorsport, automotive and basketball shot I publish as swdski.

But the A7V caught me off guard.
Not because of shiny marketing phrases.
Not because of “new sensor!” or “improved video specs!”.
But because it brings features that genuinely matter in real-world shooting.

Why I love my A7IV so much

The A7IV feels like home.
The ergonomics, the menus, the way it reacts —
I can operate it with my eyes closed.

It has never limited me.
It’s reliable, robust, strong in colour, and handles everything:
Photo. Video. Low Light. Street. Action.
Just a camera that does the job, every single time.

The only thing that sometimes slows me down

There’s really just one pain point:
When I shoot basketball or fast motorsport sequences at higher burst rates, the buffer fills up.

And suddenly you’re stuck.
The moment unfolds in front of you —
and the camera says, “Hang on, mate.”

Yes, fast cards help.
But when you're right in the action, you don’t want to think about buffer strategies.

A7IV vs A7V – Quick Comparison

📸 Sensor

• A7 IV: 33 MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS

• A7 V: 33 MP Full-Frame, partially stacked CMOS (faster readout)

🎯 Autofocus

• A7 IV: Eye AF + Tracking

• A7 V: AI-based AF + Deep Learning Subject Tracking

🔥 Burst Rate

• A7 IV: 10 fps (buffer can slow down in long bursts)

• A7 V: 30 fps blackout-free

💾 Buffer Performance

• A7 IV: Moderate, may limit continuous action

• A7 V: Much larger and faster

⏱ Pre-Capture

• A7 IV: ❌

• A7 V: ✔️

🎥 Video

• A7 IV: 4K60 (crop)

• A7 V: Improved pipeline, 4K60 no crop (mode-dependent)

👁 EVF & Display

• A7 IV: Good

• A7 V: Higher resolution + smoother

💰 Price (Body)

• A7 IV: ~€2,300–2,400

• A7 V: €2,999

This is where the A7V hits differently

Three things immediately stood out:

1. 30 fps blackout-free

A dream for sports.
Not because you’ll shoot 30 fps all day,
but because you can, when it matters.

2. Pre-Capture — the real gamechanger

Pre-Capture means the camera records frames before you actually press the shutter.
For motorsport or basketball, that means:
You’ll never miss the peak moment again.
And that’s just incredible.

3. Next-gen Autofocus

Sony keeps refining AF every year,
but the A7V takes it to another level.
Deep-learning subject detection + improved tracking =
a massive advantage when everything is fast, chaotic and unpredictable.

And yes — the video specs are nice.
But honestly?
For Reels, social content and YouTube, the A7IV is already more than enough.

The price? Actually spot on

The A7V launches at €2,999.
For what it offers, that’s absolutely fair.
The A7IV still sits around €2,300–2,400, depending on the retailer.

Conclusion: Will I upgrade?

I’m not the “buy every new camera” guy.
But the A7V hits exactly the areas that matter in my work:

✔ More confidence in fast action
✔ Never missing the perfect moment
✔ Faster workflow
✔ A smarter, calmer AF in chaotic situations

And if I’m honest:
Pre-Capture + 30 fps are speaking very loudly right now.

Will I upgrade immediately?
I’ll give it a moment —
but I think we both know where this is heading.