ProAV: Sony a7V Interview – Many New Technical Details Discussed
Sony a7V: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
ProAV posted an interview with Sony, going over the Sony a7 V. You can watch the full video above or check out the complete summary of the interview and confirmed specifications below:
Sensor, Processor & Image Quality
- Sensor Architecture: New 33MP partially stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor.
- Readout Speed: 4.5x faster readout than the a7 IV. Rolling shutter is reduced to approximately 15ms (in video and electronic shutter stills), effectively eliminating distortion for most subjects.
- Processor: Bionz XR2 chip is 8 times more powerful than the previous generation, with the AI processing unit integrated directly into the pipeline.
- Image Integrity (OLPF): Sony confirmed the camera retains an Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) to prevent aliasing/moiré when downsampling from the sensor’s native 7K resolution.
- Dynamic Range: Rated for 16 stops of dynamic range.
- ISO Sweet Spot: While not labeled “Dual Base ISO,” testing reveals a “sweet spot” at ISO 8,000, where the second gain stage engages to produce cleaner images than ISO 7,000.
Speed & Autofocus
- Burst Shooting: 30 fps blackout-free with the electronic shutter and 10 fps with the mechanical shutter.
- 14-Bit RAW: Supports full 14-bit RAW readout even at 30 fps (no drop to 12-bit).
- Flash Sync Speed: 1/400 sec (Full Frame) and 1/500 sec (APS-C) with the mechanical shutter.
- Autofocus: 759 Phase-Detection points covering 94% of the frame, performing 60 AF/AE calculations per second.
- Subject Recognition: Uses Human Pose Estimation to track bodies/heads/eyes, plus specific modes for animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes.
- Pre-Capture: Configurable buffer captures up to 1 second of action before the shutter is pressed (adjustable down to 0.03s).
- Custom Focus Areas: Users can create custom-shaped focus boxes (e.g., extremely wide or tall) via the dials to match specific subjects.
Video Capabilities
- 4K 60p: Full-width (1.0x crop) oversampled from 7K.
- 4K 120p: Available with a 1.5x (Super 35) crop.
- Codecs: Supports XAVC S, XAVC HS (H.265), and XAVC S-I (All-I).
- Field of View Priority: A new menu allows choosing between Full Width (1.0x) with standard noise reduction, or 1.1x Crop with active noise reduction.
- Audio Noise Cancellation: First Alpha camera to feature AI-driven audio filtering to remove steady-state environmental noise (like AC hum) in-camera.
- Auto-Framing: AI automatically crops and pans within the 7K frame to follow a subject, acting as a virtual operator.
- Heat Management: New “sigma-shaped” heatsink allows for >1 hour of 4K 60p recording at 40°C.
- Output: Full-size HDMI (Type A) port.
Hardware & Ergonomics
- EVF: 3.69 million dot OLED viewfinder with 0.78x magnification.
- LCD Screen: 3.2-inch, 2.1 million dot 4-axis multi-angle screen (tilts and flips out), inherited from the a7R V.
- Card Slots:
- Slot 1: CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II
- Slot 2: SD UHS-II only.
- Connectivity:
- Dual USB-C: One for Power Delivery (PD), one for Data (10Gbps).
- Wi-Fi: Supports Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) for faster, more stable tethering.
- Weight: Approximately 695g (roughly 40g heavier than the a7 IV).
- Battery Life: Rated for approx. 630 shots (CIPA).
- Lens Compatibility: Sony noted they do not test third-party lenses; maximum burst performance (30 fps) is likely restricted to native Sony glass.
Software & Sustainability
- AI Extended RAW: Uses deep learning (based on Bravia TV texture libraries) to quadruple resolution. This is processed via the Imaging Edge Desktop app and outputs a high-res ARQ file (>100MP).
- Sustainability: Packaging is 100% plastic-free; camera body uses SORPLAS™ recycled plastic. Manufactured in a carbon-neutral factory in Thailand.
Future Outlook & Feedback
- Missing Features: No Open Gate recording, no Internal RAW video, and no XAVC HS 30p at launch.
- Feedback Loop: Sony confirmed the request for XAVC HS 30p has been sent to engineering. Regarding Internal RAW, the manager hinted that Sony is “good at spotting trends” for future updates.
- A7S Line: Sony declined to comment on an A7S IV, noting the S-line now shares a crowded market position with the FX cinema line.
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