Sony debuts Alpha 7 IV camera and two flashes
Sony Electronics Inc. announced three new additions to its imaging line-up: the Alpha 7 IV interchangeable-lens camera (model ILCE-7M4) with a newly developed 33-megapixel full-frame image sensor, as well as two new flashes – the HVL-F60RM2 and HVL-F46RM. The new Alpha 7 IV will be available in December 2021 for approximately $2,500.00 USD and $3,200.00 CAD.
The Alpha 7 IV features many of Sony’s most advanced imaging technologies, including the latest BIONZ XR™ processing engine and advanced AF capabilities from the flagship Alpha 1 combined with streamlined operability and enhanced reliability for photos and movies, the company said.
“Since its introduction over three years ago, the Alpha 7 III has made tremendous impact in our industry, completely redefining the expectations for what can be accomplished with a ‘basic’, or entry-level full-frame camera,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “Now, it’s time to break through all existing boundaries again. The Alpha 7 IV brings together the best of Sony imaging technologies in both photo and video to deliver a high-end experience to a wider range of customers. This gives today’s creators a new level of freedom to capture, create and share in ways that they’ve never been able to before, no matter the situation in which they find themselves.”
The new Alpha 7 IV has a newly developed 33MP full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor and Wide ISO sensitivity range expandable to ISO 50 – 204,800. The latest BIONZ XR processing engine is the same that is used in Sony’s flagship Alpha 1, delivering high-speed AF, uninterrupted continuous shooting up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking, and a large buffer. The Alpha 7 IV tracks subjects with Real-time Tracking and 759 phase-detection AF points in a high-density focal-plane phase-detection AF system that covers approximately 94% of the image area. Additionally, for the first time, Real-time Eye AF can now track birds’ and animals’ eyes for both still images and movies, in addition to humans. The Alpha 7 IV also has face and eye detection accuracy for humans that is improved by approximately 30% compared to the Alpha 7 III.
Flashes for the Alpha lighting system
The HVL-F60RM2 with GN 60 and 20-200mm coverage and HVL-F46RM with GN 46 and 24-105mm are wireless flashes offering precise control, enhanced high-speed and intuitive operability.
Both flashes have upgraded continuous shooting flash performance, up to 200 consecutive flashes at 10 frames per second for the HVL-F60RM2 and 60 times for the HVL-F46RM. The optimized flash algorithm ensures both flashes are overheat-resistant, and a set of four Ni-MH (Nickel-metal hydride) batteries can power up to 240 flashes with a 1.7 second recycle time for the HVL-F60RM2 and up to 320 flashes with a 2.0 second recycle time for the HVL-F46RM.
Other system benefits of HVL-F60RM2 and HVL-F46RM with an Alpha camera include:
- Flash parameters are controlled directly from the menu of a compatible camera
- Flash control linked to camera face detectionxv
- Automatic correction of white balance based on the color temperature information from the flash
Visual Story is now Supported on Android
“Visual Story” is a mobile application for professional event photographers and video creators to enable immediate and automatic delivery of photos and movies to their clients after an event through gallery creation, utilize AI (artificial intelligence) assistance for easy image selection, upload assets online and more. While the Visual Story app is already available to iOS users, Android users can now also take advantage of the benefits Visual Story provides to professional photographers and videographers.