Watched your a7IV reviews back to back (original and this one). Really made me comfortable with my decision to jump back into full frame with this camera. Always great content Tom!!
Long term reviews > short term reviews for this reason. When you first get something, you're focused on how it's not the old thing you have/had that you probably love. But you come to appreciate the differences in time and going back to the old thing often reveals what you miss about the new one that you just kind of take for granted now.
I love your backdrop setup. Bright colorful and so different and refreshing from all the other dark TH-cam channels setups. Loved your review on the a7 iv
Nice video. That mode switch lever rocks. On my Canon R6, you can't even program C1 C2 C3 on the top dial with custom video modes, whereas on the original R and R5 you can-- awful imposed limitation. I've noticed hybrid wedding R6 shooters that don't want the R5 resolution getting the R3 which is an unfortunate solution. Sony has been good with customization.
Nice review and thanks for helping to convince me to keep diving deeper into my own a7iv. I have a fx3 as well and my a7iv is my still and b cam. You may have done a video about this, but when you are out making stills and doing short video clips with your a7iv, what strap / bag combo do you use?
I use the PGYTEC MantisPod Pro for my run and gun filmmaking with the FX3 all the time, it has literally replaced 90% of the times I would need to use a gimbal, as it is fantastic for creating a third point of contact against the body while shooting. Great stuff you got yourself a sub!
I think that A7 IV is probably the most well-rounded camera ever, and certainly the Sony camera with the best controls. I think the Canon R5 is the only other camera I've ever tried that compares to its usability, but A7 IV has one more customizable dial, so one better. Both the R5 and A7 IV have completely separated video & photo modes, so you're not stuck trying to shoot video at 1/1000 and you're not struck trying to shoot photo at 1/60 w/ flat colors. As for the A7 IV, other than obvious things like I wish it were faster with a deeper buffer with a less terrible screen and less rolling shutter, I understand those are technical limitations at this midrange budget. Still, I have a couple things for my A7 IV; and I think they're both easily solvable. First, I wish I could assign the Fn button. You can customize every button, except the Fn button. I would love to assign it to the top C2 so I can use it when I'm self-shooting on a tripod. On a Canon, they just have the quick menu accessible from the touchscreen. It's weird that I can't move the Fn button at all. Second, I wish there was some way of reducing its overheating when USB powered. I've never had it overheat when battery-powered, but when bus-powered, it's a different story. I've never been able to record to SD, stream to USB, nor record externally via HDMI for more than about 75 minutes when USB powered, and unlike the APS-C Sony cameras, Sony doesn't officially support dummy batteries for the A7 IV, and I'm not putting a $25 dummy battery in my $2499 camera heh. So, there's no way of ever shooting more than 2 hours in one take, whereas my A7C can record for 6+ hours through USB powering, and in webcam mode, it can go 24+ hours. Hence, I find myself needing to keep my A7C for niche applications like recording a whole music rehearsal or streaming all day (it's also a really awesome camera in its own right). I would love a way to reduce the video quality on the A7 IV through pixel binning, like the Canon R5 does, to produce less heat (Maybe this could enable 4K60? Heh). Canon recently solved their R5 overheating issues through firmware, so Sony should show what they're capable of, instead of botching their 1.10 firmware release like they did. Even so, overall, I think it's an S-tier camera.
I heard that the R5 was a given an update recently. That's great! I haven't heard much about it, but if it solves the overheating problem then that's HUGE news.
I found that on the A7IV if I switch off USB Power in the Settings and plug it in via USB it still keeps the battery charged but the A7IV runs for longer. Indefinitely for me although I've seen the overheat warning once or twice (set to High). I assume it draws a lower current through USB like this, which maybe keeps it cooler? I only tested it capturing via HDMI so no recording or in-camera streaming so I don't know how it might affect other functionality. I did try a dummy battery with similar results and like you prefer to just keep a proper battery in there.
Does your Sony a7iv “body camera” had any wobbling noise when you move from side to side? I’ve own many cameras Nikon, Sony, Minolta & Canon. But I never experience any wobbling noise coming out from a body camera like this Sony mirrorless camera.
Yes! It's the built in image stabilization and it's totally normal. Most mirrorless cameras with IBIS will make that sound and have that feeling. I believe I read that it's safer to leave the IBIS "unlocked" while the camera is off, so that's why it happens.
As mentioned in the video, this wasn’t a definitive statement but just a frame of reference to help give an idea of how much more reach a lens can have.
@@tombuck Almost everyone can judge an angle, close enough. Stick your arms out, and estimate where to hold them to subtend 47 degrees. Near enough to half a right angle? Now, find a lens that affords that angle of view on your camera. Move your arms to a tighter angle. That's what "cropping in" does.
Tom, I literally LOVE your videos and reviews; you transfer so much enthusiasm and you always put your focus on the “real life” practical aspects of the gear you are reviewing. I am always excited when you upload a new video … and your content never ever disappointed me 🤗🤗 Keep going - I really appreciate what you are doing! (A grateful FX3 AND A7IV user because of your content 💪🤝) Michael
I thought I was compromising by getting 2 A7IVs for my video work instead of an FX3 or A7SIII... but I have not regretted my purchase at all. The pictures are beautiful and the video is incredibly sharp. I don't miss the higher end cameras at all even though I frequently use an FX3 at my day job. The A7IV is truly a camera that perfectly balances it's hybrid role and your one of the first reviewers I've seen praise it for that .Thanks!
Thanks Matt! I'm glad you're loving your cameras! I think it's definitely important for people to remember that anything "hybrid" is going to have some compromises, but as long as you're aware of that going in, then it's not an issue. I guess the A1 would be Sony's no-compromise hybrid? Bit it's also like 3x the price of this one 😬
I have 4 a7iv's and 1 a7siii and the a7iv's overheat on me shooting in 4K30 using external monitors during the summer months. With what I film it adds heat to the studio as well. So I added an exhaust system and central air so I can keep my cameras cooler while filming. It was my plan to eventually make my studio 100% climate controlled anyways but I had no choice but to do it sooner. My a7siii never overheats so if I knew what I know now I would have bought 2 more a7siii's and 2 FX3's, I was just trying to save a few bucks but look how that turned out!!! ha ha I will say that the features on the a7iv's are the best you can get from Sony right now, IMO!!! Plus the image is a little better than the a7siii and FX3!!! I know people will ask, yes everything was turned to high temp, set on airplane mode, and everything you can open was open, even the card slot and I even tried using only 1 card. I use dummy batteries too but no luck they would all fail at different times during the shoot. I just wish Sony would raise the threshold of the overheating limit some. Great video!!!
Very interesting! I like that you just went 100% to the max and climate controlled your studio. I bet that makes things so much better. I upgraded our A/C several years ago, and it sure didn't feel like an exciting way to spend a ton of money at the time, but I'm grateful for it every day 😁
I really like the A7IV but I am still having issues with using the Monitor+ and Imaging Edge apps when I am recording to my Atomos Ninja V, which is somewhat annoying.
Ohhhhhhhhh THATS why they say you can crop and not lose quality. Cuz it’s actually a 7k camera ooo perfect. So I can use a prime lens and crop no problem. That’s actually really cool. I wonder if then I could just get a 24mm lens and keep it on super 35 forever. That way when I want a cool wide shot I just take it off super 35. Ahh at first I thought super 35 meant it adds 35mm to it. Question, I noticed on my iPhone when I switch from photo mode to video mode, it crops in a little bit. I am thinking this is why it seems like I’m really able to hold objects. Super close to the video camera. I’m kind of concerned that once I upgrade to a better camera, if I get a prime lens, I’m going to be disappointing because I can’t hold up objects close to the camera like I used to. That might Present a problem because I can’t just look at the screen and see in detail what I’m holding to make observations about it in real time. Therefore, it makes me think maybe I really should use the super zoom 35 because if I’m thinking about this correctly, that means if you have the, super 35 on, you’re getting a much better minimum focus distance, right? Almost like a macro situation? As in, does super 35 allow you to hold objects closer to the shot
I've had situations where I'm doing dual recording to a CF Express Type A and an SD card while pushing video to my PC through an HDMI. My apartment generally stays cool. Yet, it will occasionally just stop recording for no apparent reason. My guess is heat. Once I stopped backup recording to the SD card it stopped doing that. That's the only downside I've experienced. Otherwise, I think this is quite possibly the best camera Sony has to offer for most users especially at the price point. The screen looks nicer than the A7S iii and the customizability for whatever reason is nicer than the A7S iii (particularly with the dials).
Tom, I appreciate a person who can take the time to come back and add to a previous video with either good or bad information. I pre purchased the A7III, and the A7IV and both cameras have performed better as I got used to the feature sets. I am in the same position, I carry my A7IV all the time, and it is a rugged little hybrid system. Thanks for taking your time to follow-up.
Thanks John! I'm glad you appreciated the video. For some reason I get nervous about revisiting topics because I don't want it to seem like I'm repeating myself, but I think it might be something worth doing more often.
@@tombuck I agree. I had to do this when I purchased the Ninja V+. After several weeks of daily use, I thought maybe my decision was not entirely correct. So, I put it down for about a month, and then went back and gave it a deep second look, and now it is almost always attached to my camera on every outing. So, I had to go back and re-think things, and then tell my friends in the broadcast operations that it was the right tool for our needs. Take care and looking for more vids from you.
Great vids. Definitely a great camera. No regrets getting it. But want to get some more lenses as SEL85F18 85mm I got second hand is not great for web cam, but works well to take photos of my mountain bike and nature, trails, and buildings when I am out riding. Hope to find some second hand lenses. But for now this works well for most things I do, but close up photos for reviews I am writing gets tricky sometimes. I think the SEL85F18 is a kit lens. Good all rounder, but it's not a OSS/stabilisation lens.
Thanks for the reminder that we can enjoy using our new gear after we stop worrying about specs ;) It's easy to overlook the importance of the emotional component of gear/tech purchases and to enjoy using the stuff, even though it's not perfect.
Great circle back review Tom. My A7iv has eliminated the use of all of my other bodies, even my trusted Panasonic gh5ii, which i absolutely love. The convenience of that mode dial is something one can only truly appreciate once you have it. My A7c is collecting dust. Literally!
I was thinking of getting the a7c to go smaller from my a7iii but people keep saying it collects dust while they’re out with their a7iv lol. Looks like I’m just selling and upgrading!
the a7iv has been my go to camera for everything since it came out, except for filming myself at night under moon light lol. The a7iv is an absolutely fantastic camera
After this 3rd party canon ban, I’ve pretty much decided to transition to Sony. Just can’t afford to shoot canon and I don’t want to invest in a dead system (ef mount).
It's so sad because Canon has all of the pieces to knock everything out of the park! It's like they have all the pieces to a puzzle but refuse to put them together.
Tom, I highly recommend the Tamron 28-70 f2.8 G2. It's a great zoom, and though it isn't super duper wide, it provides a good balance, and it's not super expensive. Focus breathing is minimal and it's a pretty lightweight lens which is great for living life. I use it almost every day for photo and video. (I also have the 20 f1.8 G for vlog stuff, it's an amazing lens.) Loved this video, and I absolutely love my a7IV too!!
The 20 - 40 is still more versatile for me. 20mm for interior (I use a 20mm already for this work) and 40 for product and portrait (you can crop to get 60mm)
It really depends on what you want. I love prime lenses and my favorite is the 24mm 1.4. If this will be your first camera/lens combo then I think it's smart to get something that's a but more "generalized." Maybe something like the Sigma 18-50 or similar. That'll cover a lot of what you'd need and give you an idea of what you would prefer later one (if you want more zoom reach, or a wider angle, or better low light, etc).
I’ve had my a7iv for like 5 months now. Came from my a7iii. There are some good things but I’m regretting selling my a7iii a bit. I don’t like the dumb screen flip out. I’d like to tilt it up. Can’t do that on the a7iv. Also my photo quality is crap compared to the a7iii. Same lenses but they’re not crisp and clear and have lots of noise even when iso is super low. I’m stumped. Also half shutter press on the a7iii was money when doing landscape pics. I can’t get it to focus on what I want on the a7iv. Even when I touch the screen to focus where I want, it’s still garbage unless I turn the aperture up. I’ve never had this issue with the a7iii. I got much more quality pics from the iii than I’m getting on the iV. Wish I could figure out why it’s not that great.
Have you updated the firmware on your a7IV? The initial release had some issues with front focusing, but it's been much better after the last few updates. I've also noticed that there's quite a debate between flip-out vs. flip-up screens. I can definitely see the merits of both 😬
I have had the same experience, really baffling about how noisy the a7iv is, I now rely heavily on noise reduction, didn't have that problem with a7iii.
One thing the APS-C crop is 1.5 and not 1.6 on Sony cameras. I have the A7iv and the A1, and while the A1 is the better camera in many respects being the top of the line, I would say the A7iv is 95% as good for a third of the price. Incredible camera!
Sure thing! The tripod is the PGYTech MantisPod Pro. I love it, but they just released an updated version. I haven't used it yet, but it's probably worth looking into both to see which is right for you. The mic is the Sony ECM-B1M: bhpho.to/3ztb6Vb There's also a smaller version called the B10M. I think the sound quality is about the same, but the bigger one is better at capturing sound from a distance.
Revisiting this video because for the time I’m considering it because I need another angle for production work and although I would love to get a 3rd A7C, it sounds pretty boring. So I looked at the FX30 but the APS-C to me would be a deal breaker. Then I out of nowhere I thought of the A7iv and wow idk why I overlooked it.
Yeah, the FX30 seems brilliant unless you’re set on full frame (which I 100% am). It’s definitely fun to have some variety in your camera setup, even though multiples of the same is super practical.
The A7IV is the single best camera I have owned recreationally and professionally in the last 40 years. I have a wide range of requirements for photo and video and this covers what I need.
I tested it as webcam, it overheated in in about a minute in what I am guessing is at least 30C or more, might be 35 at times I guess, maybe more, my bed room where my pc is gets super warm due to the PC heating the room like an oven, so in the summer it gets very warm, uncomfortably warm at times. But I turned on the temperature limit on high, and opened the windows and tested later in the night, it worked, it stayed on for 20 minutes, and did not overheat, but I suspect it would be hot when it was warm, but when I opened the windows it was chilly and at night. When it overheated the screen and view finder went turned off, and camera was rendered useless until I turned it off and on again. Not even switching to photo mode or pressing any key revived it.
The A7iv has an amazing sensor, and when coupled with external battery (D-tap), and optionally external recording (Ninja 5+) it delivers a far better output than the A7siii. PS I did have overheating issues before moving to external battery system
Both are great. I think the biggest difference is the price. The a7R series used to be more photo-centric, but the RV has a lot of amazing video features too, so it can do both quite well. It does also have a higher resolution sensor and that pretty nifty flip up/out screen. The a7IV might still edge out the RV in terms of video features though, if that's what you do more of.
Tom, I luv your optimism, however, Panasonic recently releasd a camera which has cooling fans & is supposedly weatherproof. By the way, the Sigma fp and Sigma fpL, very small bodies--no cooling fans--with heat sinks seem to have far less overheating problems than the a7iv. Oh well, I think its great Sony just released an overheating Vlogging Camera for all those who want to sign onto the beta testing program--with their own $$. Good luck! 😎😎
The new Panasonic really seems awesome! Especially now that they have decent-ish autofocus. I really love Sony's lens selection though, so it's a fun system to be in.
@@tombuck Thanks for your reply Tom. Yes, Sony & others such as Sigma & Tamron have made & continue to make great E mount lenses. I just wish that Sony evidenced A+ engineering concerns with ALL of their cameras. Sony has substantial background with television production, professional video cameras and semi-pro cameras. Just take stabilization: The Sony HDR-FX! semi-pro had amazaing stabilization and was the first camcorder to offer hi-fi specs to the general public. That was years ago. What makes me wonder: Have the TV techs at Sony ever shared anything with the mirrorless Sony techs? Maybe, they just speak two different languages: The TV guys Japanese and the Mirrorless guys, English! lol 😎😎
@@tombuck Hi Tom, Sorry I meant and I quote: "high-definition video at resolutions up to 1440 x 1080 for professional-quality video," The Sony HDR-FX!. Oh yeah, it did have--on board--stereo mic recording system. So I guess, one could also say hi-fi, but isn't what I meant to write. Oh well, a few good laughs are good medicine, right? 😎😎
so i was on the fence for the longest time before buying the A7iv, all i was thinking about is how prone to overheating it was (according to youtube). However after buying it and using it in all situations and it hasnt even come close to overheating, I was extremely happy but it made me VERY cautious about gear reviews on youtube. Everything with a few grains of salt from now on haha
I'm glad that overheating is brought up in reviews, but it's definitely not an issue for most people. Unfortunately negativity gets clicks, so some people prefer to find one or two negatives and then blow them a bit out of proportion.
I have zero regrets getting this, it came second hand from a retailer, got a second hand lens too. so was a superb deal, saved thousands of Norwegian crowns. Was stupid to not get it. I've used it few days. 13:56 I too experienced the plasticky feel, some creaking from the grip next to the joy stick too, but mostly the SD card door As I am mountain biking, to protect the camera I put stuff around it including a back protector from my USWE backpack, it's flexy enough to cover the bottom and around it. I did not find the camera to be too heavy to hold, it felt great, nor too heavy in my backpack. I think I the camera will be fine as long as you are not careless, but the doors can probably be replaced by a dealer I don't know. I have medium to small size hands in cycling gloves I am medium POC, Small in Leatt. The grip fits me perfectly. I don't have any issues with the fingers not having enough room between the grip and the lens, I see how people with thick and big fingers might have, but most won't have issues with it, unless they hold it wrong, that's where I hit my fingers on the lens, you are not meant to get your finger tips all the way to the body and point the finger joint into the lens.
There are alot of pros and cons with this camera, I think its a great B cam to other cameras (a7S3 or Fx3) but wouldn't be my first go to since in my particular case I shoot 90% video
That's where it fits perfectly to me. As someone who does primarily video, the other cameras are a bit better, but this is such a great one to have access to!
My entire channel has been build purely using iPhone for everything. Up to my last upload using the iPhone 14 pro… This is the camera I’m about to buy to retire phone filming….. cheers for just helping to nudge me over the line
I live in VEGAS and film commentary for my vids in my garage. ALL SUMMER LONG A7IV has over headed like numerous times. However I did have an atom is ninja with Bluetooth mic attached. Is it over heating because of the MONITOR? Just need to know for future use. I will prolly not use my NINJA if I can shoot longer
I've never used mine with a Ninja, so I can't speak from any experience, but it'd be interesting if there's a connection between using that and overheating 🤔
I just like this stuff and am excited about it. Negativity tends to do well on TH-cam but I don't like to spend my time with or on things I don't like.
Interesting. I’m wondering if I got unlucky with my A7 IV. It’s usually overheating after around 5-10 minutes (studioshot, 26 degree celsius) with a 20F1.8 G and a teleprompter on front. It’s kind of annoying… I have to let it sit for around 5 min and then it’s good to go again though.
Have you adjusted the temperature setting? If you go into the settings menu (yellow toolbox icon) and scroll down to "Power Setting Option" you should see something that says "Auto Power OFF Temp." Be sure that's set to "high" and then it should fix your problem. This applies to most Sony cameras, and it won't hurt anything.
Ensure the temperature setting is set to high and you tilt the rear screen out when filming prolonged videos. I often video for over an hour with never any overheating problem
I had the same issue with mine, oob. It overheated and shutdown while I was going through initial setup (Menu options). I DID set Auto Power OFF Temp to High - - probably the second setting I executed. If a $2700 camera shuts down during initial setup ... it is not worth it. I'm not going to "do these five things to help with overheating". Sony better fix that problem and not rely on user hacks as workarounds. Sorry, but to me that's like buying a car, driving it for a bit, then it just shuts down, not working until it 'cools off' ... every 30 min or so, or, in same car, AC stops working so the workaround is to roll down all the windows (while on an interstate and running 75mph with traffic). Yeahhhhh, about that 'little overheating problem. Well, I took the camera back (next day) and am back to my A7M3 which has NEVER overheated. Maybe if an A7M4-A is released, or the A7M5, I'll look again. I really can't believe Sony is still trying to sell the A7M4.
Thanks Chadwicke! I have a video that covers the basics of my lighting setup: th-cam.com/video/9PnB7ytODLM/w-d-xo.html I rearranged things bit here and this video is a little darker than normal, but I don't dislike it. 😁
..in one of your videos with Heather, in a gear shop with green screen for stream, you had in the hand or pointed to the camera i have .. Sony DSC HX 400V ..i like it a lot..and bought it because i wanted to learn..and, 50x zoom... It is enough for my rare photos.. but in many things i learned since i have it, is next is definitly a sony 4k camcorder..only for video.. i take some time to choose, but from what i've seen on youtube, they produce what i am looking for my needs.. ..one thing i know for sure ..it's a Sony!
I was thinking of asking B&H if I can borrow one of the newer Sony camcorders to compare it to their mirrorless cameras for things like talking head TH-cam videos. Seems like it might be kind of a fun thing to try!
You seem so kind! Anyway, I love how you described the custom modes. Never knew so many settings were possible. Also thanks for showing us how to do it.
Anyone have a thought on the Sony ZV E10. I am not looking for an expensive Camera just something under 1000. I also wanted something that has multiple uses like a Video Camera and I can use external Mic as well. Plus interchangeable lenses. Plus one that does not have limited recording time, which Sony seems to be about the only one I have found that does not limit this.
One thing I still don’t like is the lack of a tally light. This is my only camera for TH-cam and personal photography. Doing a 10 minute take twice is painful!
@@tombuck Yep, but overall the camera is an amazing package. It does just about anything I need it to do. 4K30 is great for modern content creation, I imagine I will need to upgrade to 60 FPS in a couple of years. By that time the A7V will be out and hopefully it will offer full frame 4k60, 8k30, and 4k120 cropped.
So I’m thinking about getting the a7iv. Half of the people say they overheat and the other half says it doesn’t. What am I supposed to believe? Can someone please confirm this?
The camera has a "Clear Image Zoom" option. It's great because you can even do it slowly while recording, so you can have a somewhat practical Zoom effect. Initially it's usually in the main menu or the Function menu, but I assigned mine to the trash can button so I can press that while filming and then use the directional wheel to zoom in/out 👍
My main camera is the FX3. I also have the a7SIII, but use the FX3 as my main because of the audio inputs. The a7SIII is my secondary camera, and then the a7IV fills in the rest and the footage mixes great together!
@@tombuck cool thanks for the info amd reply!! Your video looks so good, its bright, sharp and colourful!! Do you shoot in S-Log3 ? Do you used LUTs for this edit? What lense you used, wide and high aperture, prime lens? Sorry for all this questions, i hope you dont mind them and if you have time let me know!! Cheers!
@@AexoeroV I honestly just use the default picture profile "PP OFF". That usually gets things pretty close, and then I made a preset in Final Cut that adjust the exposure and colors a bit to make things pop (You can download it free here, but I don't know how well it will work on a different studio setup: himynameistom.com/s/Tom-Buck-FCP-Preset.effectsPreset ) My main lens is the Sony 24mm 1.4 GM usually fully open to 1.4. I love it!
@@tombuck thanks a million for your reply and for the link with the preset but i dont have a Mac, using windows 10. Standard picture mode, crazy, looks awesome!! In the past I used to edit with Sony Vegas Pro but its now like 10 years that i didn't filmed something, i was and im a very beginner, i used to record my paragliding flights and other stuff for me and family and do small edits but i always liked videography and I would like to get into it more serious for me, not professionally, for hobby only! I would love to learn to use a more advanced camera and maybe workflows in HDR10. Thanks!
“It may be called the A7iv…but to me it’s #1” Ever since I discovered your channel (thanks to your comment on mine) I have come for the camera insights and stayed for the laughs 😂 I’ve always been a little confused by the letters and numbers in the name of this cool little camera. I prefer calling it #1. 🏆
What are your favorite lenses for the Sony #1? I’m particularly interested in prime lenses, but if you have favorite zooms I’d like to know about them!
My favorite is the 24mm GM. I absolutely love it, but I also have the Zeiss 85mm, which is phenomenal. No zooms, but very excited for the Tamron 20-40 👍
I just bought the a7iv today thanks to you, I bought it with the kid lens because I’m going to take some vacations in 2 weeks so I’ll spend some money, after come back from vacations I’ll buy the 35mm GM, thanks man 🙌🏻
I'm noticing and appreciating a more moody and contrasty image in this video. Like it's a bit more color graded. The straight main camera angle looks superb with that subtle switch from the corner where the drums used to be to the symmetrical plane wall behind you. With that out of the way, I've enjoyed the revision of the review you did earlier, and it's great when a camera grows on you like this. You won't make me change the plans for getting the FX-3 (first), it's more that you've reminded me of some great functions that my trusty A7III has, like that user configurable button to go into crop mode. I do it with a 35 mm lens at exactly 23” from my picking hand while livestreaming. I go to crop and get 56mm focal lenght. With the AF on Flexible Spot L placed in the middle of the frame, it gives a crispy image. Not to mention that those 24MP photos are just as good as when I first got blown away 4 years ago. The camera has paid for itself many times by now. I've just graced it with a sensor cleanup by a true pro prior to the coming event shoot I'll be doing next week. Got me this new Tamron 35-150mm and it's going to be a blast. Although the A7IV has been given superior video capabilities compared to the A7III, that won't make me buy it just because I'll get the FX-3. The A7IV is a wonderful hybrid camera and a great choice for an all-rounder.
The lighting was a bit of a mistake, but I don't mind it here 😁 I think in your case the FX3 is absolutely the one to wait for. I'm really excited for you to get it because I think you're absolutely going to love it.
So accurate and why I was so confused as to why this camera received so much hate. I love this camera every single time I shoot with it, it just impresses me time and time again. Thanks for the review!
This Camera received lots of hate because of not giving 4k60p in full frame, Rolling shutter issues, screen display resolution and only 10fps for compress raw or jpeg. That's y still this camera have lots of criticism.
@@pematamang9268 If you want full frame buy the A7siii, if you want more FPS buy the A9, if rolling shutter is a concern and you're filming high paced shoots again look at the A7s series of cameras. No such thing as a perfect camera, they are tools, so get the right tools for your necesities. A7iv has been great in my user experience. Cheers.
Hey Tom, What would you recommend from Sony for a studio camera if I don't have the budget for the fx3 or a7siii? Would you suggest the a7iv or something like the a6600?
@@tombuck It's not really the full frame, but sony APS-C cameras (I switched from) are crippled in so many ways, that getting A7 IV uncrippled me a lot. I was not aware how annoying some things were until I got A7 IV (probably A7III will do too).
just got the FX3 and honestly its the best video camera I've used so far in my life. But I plan on getting the A7IV and I'm sure its gonna be favorite camera period. I miss taking pictures hahaha and dragging the FX3 around everywhere feels weird..
I love my FX3! I got one of the Tilta cages for it that has a hand strap on the side and it makes it much easier to drag around. Definitely recommend it!
Great camera and no heat issues here. Two things I dislike: the evf at 25p and 24p is unusable. It runs maybe at 14 fps? Almost like Sony never tested that (and no reviewer has also!). EVF is great for super bright situations when you want to shoot very small and light. Second thing I hate is I cannot put the horizon level and/or histogram in every display config I want. And a minor third thing that every Sony is missing: focus stacking for macro work. How hard can it be to implement that?
The EVF hasn't been an issue for me, but admittedly I don't use it too often (only when in super bright light). Totally agree with you about the horizon level! I would love to have that on screen every time.
Thanks for informative video. Thinking about to get A7IV. I have the following questions: what is the name of the tripod shown on this video? What is the lens you’re using? Are you using SD card? If yes, what kind? Currently CFExpress card is too expense for me. Thanks. Keep up the good work 👍
I've been recording everything to Sandisk and Prograde V90 SD cards (I haven't gotten a Type A card yet because they are just too expensive). The little tripod in the video is the PGYTech MantisPod and it's fantastic. I have links in the description to my bigger "studio" tripods if that's what you're looking for. And my main lens is the Sony 24mm 1.4 👍
Even than that, My camcorder is stills overheating during the video recording at 1440x1080 (SFHD) [LP] And the more overheating during video recording, It kinda stopped working (froze) and I have to remove the battery to restore it back. But at first I thought I've lost my camcorder to an overheat, (Sighs) At least, I do still have it here. But it's still in my camera bag. Not being picked up for a long time now. 😅 And what about Sony A7 IV? This is fine! Although it's 4K60 now, Instead of just FHD or SFHD [LP] But less heat. Unlike my poor camcorder. (-_-;)
This is probably the first time I've heard of a camcorder overheating before a mirrorless camera! Glad the a7IV is working for you, but sorry about the camcorder.
@@tombuck It's when only I record a video for too long like I use a lot of takes, It would get hot and hotter. And then it gets to the point where it freezes and messed up and I have to quickly restore it. This might be challenging, But to make it usable for a long time. So that's why I keeping it in a camera bag instead of being used to it. =) And my camcorder still lives on for now, Although it's 11 years old now.
gorgeous vid and informative vid, thx much! i'm gonna end up going with the fx3 (hoping to find a BF deal), but it was a close call. the still features almost pulled me in but I'll be doing so much more vid subbed, keep up the great work!
Not a dumb question at all! I'm sure there's a technical reason why it's different, but in real-world use, yes, the results will pretty much be the same.
I would recommend the Sony ZV-E10. You can find it with a decent kit lens for $800 or $900 and it's a killer camera with autofocus that's every bit as good as the full frame models. It's also got clean HDMI out and can be used as a USB webcam too. If you have the budget to pair it with the Sigma 16mm 1.4 lens, then you're set for a loooong time.
I switched from Fuji to A7iv a few months ago. It’s an unbelievable camera in so many ways. Best hybrid camera On the market today. Very happy with my decision!
@@tombuck Yeah, I still keep my 100V as my daily carry, but the video AF on the Sony is next level. As a solo creator, this feature alone is worth switching for. The fact that the A7iv takes incredible photos too is just a bonus.
Really appreciate the honest review after a longe-term real-life experience. I wish that the upcoming A7C II (in 2023 maybe?) will have all the fantastic features that A7 IV has, apart from the size.
One area where Sony is definitely unique is that they really don't care about "saving" features- meaning that brand new and/or premium features can definitely find their way to the less expensive models. (the bad part about this is when the higher end models never get updated to get those features too...😬😉 )
It's nice to see someone publicly go back on what they said and explain why. Now that you like the same camera I have and validate my decision, I can re-subscribe. ;) lol
@@tombuck I am looking for a new camera and I am looking into the Canon r5c, the problem is it is a 5k body and the 3 RF lenses I want make this a 12,5k investment and that is only body + lenses for 15 - 200mm range. Would be awesome to see a review of it by you!!!
That mode dial is why I almost instantly brought a 2nd A7IV. I was going to use A7IV + A7iii but I hated not having the dial on the A7iii.
It's pretty crazy how much versatility that deal adds! It makes things so much easier.
Watched your a7IV reviews back to back (original and this one). Really made me comfortable with my decision to jump back into full frame with this camera. Always great content Tom!!
So glad it helped! The a7IV really is an outstanding camera.
Long term reviews > short term reviews for this reason. When you first get something, you're focused on how it's not the old thing you have/had that you probably love. But you come to appreciate the differences in time and going back to the old thing often reveals what you miss about the new one that you just kind of take for granted now.
Yep, 100%. There's value in first impressions/first looks, but there's just no way around the benefits of a longer perspective.
I love your backdrop setup. Bright colorful and so different and refreshing from all the other dark TH-cam channels setups. Loved your review on the a7 iv
Thank you! Really means a lot to hear that. 🙏
Quickly turning into one of my favorite channels, that King of the Hill analogy is golden 👏
Such a great episode. 👍
Nice video. That mode switch lever rocks. On my Canon R6, you can't even program C1 C2 C3 on the top dial with custom video modes, whereas on the original R and R5 you can-- awful imposed limitation. I've noticed hybrid wedding R6 shooters that don't want the R5 resolution getting the R3 which is an unfortunate solution. Sony has been good with customization.
That is weird. I get that the R6 might not have everything the R5 does, but it seems like it should have advantages over the original R in every way.
Nice review and thanks for helping to convince me to keep diving deeper into my own a7iv. I have a fx3 as well and my a7iv is my still and b cam. You may have done a video about this, but when you are out making stills and doing short video clips with your a7iv, what strap / bag combo do you use?
I use the PGYTEC MantisPod Pro for my run and gun filmmaking with the FX3 all the time, it has literally replaced 90% of the times I would need to use a gimbal, as it is fantastic for creating a third point of contact against the body while shooting. Great stuff you got yourself a sub!
The MantisPod is so fantastic! I definitely wish I'd gotten it sooner.
I think that A7 IV is probably the most well-rounded camera ever, and certainly the Sony camera with the best controls. I think the Canon R5 is the only other camera I've ever tried that compares to its usability, but A7 IV has one more customizable dial, so one better. Both the R5 and A7 IV have completely separated video & photo modes, so you're not stuck trying to shoot video at 1/1000 and you're not struck trying to shoot photo at 1/60 w/ flat colors. As for the A7 IV, other than obvious things like I wish it were faster with a deeper buffer with a less terrible screen and less rolling shutter, I understand those are technical limitations at this midrange budget. Still, I have a couple things for my A7 IV; and I think they're both easily solvable. First, I wish I could assign the Fn button. You can customize every button, except the Fn button. I would love to assign it to the top C2 so I can use it when I'm self-shooting on a tripod. On a Canon, they just have the quick menu accessible from the touchscreen. It's weird that I can't move the Fn button at all. Second, I wish there was some way of reducing its overheating when USB powered. I've never had it overheat when battery-powered, but when bus-powered, it's a different story. I've never been able to record to SD, stream to USB, nor record externally via HDMI for more than about 75 minutes when USB powered, and unlike the APS-C Sony cameras, Sony doesn't officially support dummy batteries for the A7 IV, and I'm not putting a $25 dummy battery in my $2499 camera heh. So, there's no way of ever shooting more than 2 hours in one take, whereas my A7C can record for 6+ hours through USB powering, and in webcam mode, it can go 24+ hours. Hence, I find myself needing to keep my A7C for niche applications like recording a whole music rehearsal or streaming all day (it's also a really awesome camera in its own right). I would love a way to reduce the video quality on the A7 IV through pixel binning, like the Canon R5 does, to produce less heat (Maybe this could enable 4K60? Heh). Canon recently solved their R5 overheating issues through firmware, so Sony should show what they're capable of, instead of botching their 1.10 firmware release like they did. Even so, overall, I think it's an S-tier camera.
I heard that the R5 was a given an update recently. That's great! I haven't heard much about it, but if it solves the overheating problem then that's HUGE news.
I found that on the A7IV if I switch off USB Power in the Settings and plug it in via USB it still keeps the battery charged but the A7IV runs for longer. Indefinitely for me although I've seen the overheat warning once or twice (set to High). I assume it draws a lower current through USB like this, which maybe keeps it cooler? I only tested it capturing via HDMI so no recording or in-camera streaming so I don't know how it might affect other functionality.
I did try a dummy battery with similar results and like you prefer to just keep a proper battery in there.
@@themartinhawkins I’ve never tried this. Will have to run some tests.
@@mbvglider Let me know how it goes!
My school also uses the a7IV, it’s a great camera.
Oh nice! It's awesome your school has such good new gear!
@@tombuck thanks, they definitely invest a lot of money in clubs.
King of the hill reference...👍🏾 I remember that episode.
Such a great show. I’ve been rewatching the whole series over the past few months.
Look at that nice newly balanced setup!
I like it! Need to dial in the lighting a bit, but it makes the space look bigger 👍
Tom would have you ever thought of doing a movie review channel? You’re well spoken that’s why I bring it up :)
Aww, thanks Luke! I do admire a lot of critical/video essay channels, but I don't think I have what it takes to do that over and over again 😁
Thanks for this video! In a time where Canon is dropping the ball Sony videos like this are needed.
Oh Canon…🫠
Hi, which lens are you using to film on the fx3? Thanks 🙏🏼
Its the Sony 24 1.4GM. Such a great lens!
Does your Sony a7iv “body camera” had any wobbling noise when you move from side to side? I’ve own many cameras Nikon, Sony, Minolta & Canon. But I never experience any
wobbling noise coming out from a body camera like this Sony mirrorless camera.
Yes! It's the built in image stabilization and it's totally normal. Most mirrorless cameras with IBIS will make that sound and have that feeling. I believe I read that it's safer to leave the IBIS "unlocked" while the camera is off, so that's why it happens.
@@tombuck Thank you! I’m aware of the Sony mirrorless lense wobbling noise but I just couldn’t find anything related to the body wobbling.
Thank you Tom. Now i want to get a Sony but i spend all my money on my photography chemicals and antique lenses
Ahh yes, I too seem to only have expensive hobbies 🫠
The 20 - 40 is my ideal lens 👍
I’ve been having to pressure myself from buying this camera 😅 But I keep on justifying it…
Haha, as long as it's not being financially irresponsible, there's no reason not to treat yourself 👍
@@tombuck You already got me last time with the Rodecaster Pro 2 😂 Although I did get a great deal from Ebay about $150 off for an open-box!
6:32 No.
What it changes is the angle of view. Not the focal length.
As mentioned in the video, this wasn’t a definitive statement but just a frame of reference to help give an idea of how much more reach a lens can have.
@@tombuck Almost everyone can judge an angle, close enough. Stick your arms out, and estimate where to hold them to subtend 47 degrees. Near enough to half a right angle?
Now, find a lens that affords that angle of view on your camera.
Move your arms to a tighter angle. That's what "cropping in" does.
Bruh, that’s a lot of guitars. Is that a store?
Haha, not quite. Just a 20+ year collection 😁
mine overheats at 4k 24p
Be sure that you have the temperature "auto off" setting switched to "high." Then it shouldn't overheat at normal frame rates.
@@tombuck first thing I did… and it still did… couldn’t replicate it though..
Tom, I literally LOVE your videos and reviews; you transfer so much enthusiasm and you always put your focus on the “real life” practical aspects of the gear you are reviewing.
I am always excited when you upload a new video … and your content never ever disappointed me 🤗🤗
Keep going - I really appreciate what you are doing! (A grateful FX3 AND A7IV user because of your content 💪🤝)
Michael
Thank you so much for this! It really means a lot to hear something so kind and warmhearted. Much appreciated 🙏
I’ve never been able to make mine overheat during normal shooting either. TH-cam is special like that. Hahahahaha
Come to the desert and I’m sure you can make it happen 😁
I thought I was compromising by getting 2 A7IVs for my video work instead of an FX3 or A7SIII... but I have not regretted my purchase at all. The pictures are beautiful and the video is incredibly sharp. I don't miss the higher end cameras at all even though I frequently use an FX3 at my day job. The A7IV is truly a camera that perfectly balances it's hybrid role and your one of the first reviewers I've seen praise it for that .Thanks!
Thanks Matt! I'm glad you're loving your cameras! I think it's definitely important for people to remember that anything "hybrid" is going to have some compromises, but as long as you're aware of that going in, then it's not an issue.
I guess the A1 would be Sony's no-compromise hybrid? Bit it's also like 3x the price of this one 😬
I got 2 A7iv also - no regrets. These things are a beast and the actually low light tests are super comparable to the Fx3
I have 4 a7iv's and 1 a7siii and the a7iv's overheat on me shooting in 4K30 using external monitors during the summer months. With what I film it adds heat to the studio as well. So I added an exhaust system and central air so I can keep my cameras cooler while filming. It was my plan to eventually make my studio 100% climate controlled anyways but I had no choice but to do it sooner. My a7siii never overheats so if I knew what I know now I would have bought 2 more a7siii's and 2 FX3's, I was just trying to save a few bucks but look how that turned out!!! ha ha I will say that the features on the a7iv's are the best you can get from Sony right now, IMO!!! Plus the image is a little better than the a7siii and FX3!!! I know people will ask, yes everything was turned to high temp, set on airplane mode, and everything you can open was open, even the card slot and I even tried using only 1 card. I use dummy batteries too but no luck they would all fail at different times during the shoot. I just wish Sony would raise the threshold of the overheating limit some. Great video!!!
Very interesting! I like that you just went 100% to the max and climate controlled your studio. I bet that makes things so much better. I upgraded our A/C several years ago, and it sure didn't feel like an exciting way to spend a ton of money at the time, but I'm grateful for it every day 😁
Once I turned on temperature high, I have had no over heating problem. And I have come to appreciate it more as I use it more.
I really like the A7IV but I am still having issues with using the Monitor+ and Imaging Edge apps when I am recording to my Atomos Ninja V, which is somewhat annoying.
The Monitor+ app is pretty sweet! But I haven't used it alongside a Ninja myself.
@@tombuck yes, and it is something I use every time I make a video, so when it doesn't work it is super annoying 😁
Ohhhhhhhhh THATS why they say you can crop and not lose quality. Cuz it’s actually a 7k camera ooo perfect. So I can use a prime lens and crop no problem. That’s actually really cool.
I wonder if then I could just get a 24mm lens and keep it on super 35 forever. That way when I want a cool wide shot I just take it off super 35. Ahh at first I thought super 35 meant it adds 35mm to it.
Question, I noticed on my iPhone when I switch from photo mode to video mode, it crops in a little bit. I am thinking this is why it seems like I’m really able to hold objects. Super close to the video camera. I’m kind of concerned that once I upgrade to a better camera, if I get a prime lens, I’m going to be disappointing because I can’t hold up objects close to the camera like I used to. That might Present a problem because I can’t just look at the screen and see in detail what I’m holding to make observations about it in real time. Therefore, it makes me think maybe I really should use the super zoom 35 because if I’m thinking about this correctly, that means if you have the, super 35 on, you’re getting a much better minimum focus distance, right? Almost like a macro situation? As in, does super 35 allow you to hold objects closer to the shot
I've had situations where I'm doing dual recording to a CF Express Type A and an SD card while pushing video to my PC through an HDMI. My apartment generally stays cool. Yet, it will occasionally just stop recording for no apparent reason. My guess is heat. Once I stopped backup recording to the SD card it stopped doing that. That's the only downside I've experienced. Otherwise, I think this is quite possibly the best camera Sony has to offer for most users especially at the price point. The screen looks nicer than the A7S iii and the customizability for whatever reason is nicer than the A7S iii (particularly with the dials).
Very interesting. I haven't used a Type A card yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if the higher performance card does generate more heat. 🤔
Tom, I appreciate a person who can take the time to come back and add to a previous video with either good or bad information. I pre purchased the A7III, and the A7IV and both cameras have performed better as I got used to the feature sets. I am in the same position, I carry my A7IV all the time, and it is a rugged little hybrid system. Thanks for taking your time to follow-up.
Thanks John! I'm glad you appreciated the video. For some reason I get nervous about revisiting topics because I don't want it to seem like I'm repeating myself, but I think it might be something worth doing more often.
@@tombuck I agree. I had to do this when I purchased the Ninja V+. After several weeks of daily use, I thought maybe my decision was not entirely correct. So, I put it down for about a month, and then went back and gave it a deep second look, and now it is almost always attached to my camera on every outing. So, I had to go back and re-think things, and then tell my friends in the broadcast operations that it was the right tool for our needs. Take care and looking for more vids from you.
It’s driving me nuts that I can’t figure out what lens you have on it in this video?! 🤣🤣🤣
It’s an EF mount Sigma 24 1.4.
Ding ding ding! I’ve been using my Sigma as a “take everywhere” lens so my GM 24 stays safe.
@@tombuck thank you! I kept thinking it was the 24-70 but the shape is different.
Great vids. Definitely a great camera. No regrets getting it. But want to get some more lenses as SEL85F18 85mm I got second hand is not great for web cam, but works well to take photos of my mountain bike and nature, trails, and buildings when I am out riding. Hope to find some second hand lenses. But for now this works well for most things I do, but close up photos for reviews I am writing gets tricky sometimes. I think the SEL85F18 is a kit lens. Good all rounder, but it's not a OSS/stabilisation lens.
Thanks Tom! Just bought one! Your videos are really helping me with my channel! Seriously appreciate your expertise 🤩
So glad to hear that! I hope you really enjoy the camera! 😎
Thanks for the reminder that we can enjoy using our new gear after we stop worrying about specs ;) It's easy to overlook the importance of the emotional component of gear/tech purchases and to enjoy using the stuff, even though it's not perfect.
It's always kind of crazy how these things feel like HUGE deals when something comes out and then time goes on and you totally forget about it.
Great circle back review Tom. My A7iv has eliminated the use of all of my other bodies, even my trusted Panasonic gh5ii, which i absolutely love. The convenience of that mode dial is something one can only truly appreciate once you have it. My A7c is collecting dust. Literally!
Ahh, poor A7c! 😁
You're totally right though, the quality of life features take time to learn/appreciate, but really do make a world of difference.
I was thinking of getting the a7c to go smaller from my a7iii but people keep saying it collects dust while they’re out with their a7iv lol. Looks like I’m just selling and upgrading!
Thanks a lot Tom! Very helpful and informative review! Love the way you passionately explain about the product! God bless and good luck!
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
the a7iv has been my go to camera for everything since it came out, except for filming myself at night under moon light lol. The a7iv is an absolutely fantastic camera
It really is! I did a low light comparison against the a7SIII in my full review and I was still really impressed with how well it kept up!
After this 3rd party canon ban, I’ve pretty much decided to transition to Sony. Just can’t afford to shoot canon and I don’t want to invest in a dead system (ef mount).
It's so sad because Canon has all of the pieces to knock everything out of the park! It's like they have all the pieces to a puzzle but refuse to put them together.
What's the 3rd party camera ban?!
Tom, I highly recommend the Tamron 28-70 f2.8 G2. It's a great zoom, and though it isn't super duper wide, it provides a good balance, and it's not super expensive. Focus breathing is minimal and it's a pretty lightweight lens which is great for living life. I use it almost every day for photo and video. (I also have the 20 f1.8 G for vlog stuff, it's an amazing lens.) Loved this video, and I absolutely love my a7IV too!!
Thanks Kelton! I've had my eye on that Tamron, but I'm also really excited for their upcoming 20-40, so I'm saving my pennies for that one 😬
@@tombuck kinda hot take - if you want a tiny can do everything setup, go for the Sony 24-105 F4!
The 20 - 40 is still more versatile for me. 20mm for interior (I use a 20mm already for this work) and 40 for product and portrait (you can crop to get 60mm)
I almost never remove my 24-70 GM2 lens. I just did for a thorough cleaning today, and my god. I had forgotten how little this body weighs
He looks like a younger Phillip Bloom👀😂
If only I had half his talent!
I guess i was wrong too :o
👀 Do you have one now? I assumed you'd go for the more baller A1 😁
Hey Tom,
I'm going to purchase this camera. What lens do you recommend? Thanks!
It really depends on what you want. I love prime lenses and my favorite is the 24mm 1.4. If this will be your first camera/lens combo then I think it's smart to get something that's a but more "generalized." Maybe something like the Sigma 18-50 or similar. That'll cover a lot of what you'd need and give you an idea of what you would prefer later one (if you want more zoom reach, or a wider angle, or better low light, etc).
I’ve had my a7iv for like 5 months now. Came from my a7iii. There are some good things but I’m regretting selling my a7iii a bit. I don’t like the dumb screen flip out. I’d like to tilt it up. Can’t do that on the a7iv. Also my photo quality is crap compared to the a7iii. Same lenses but they’re not crisp and clear and have lots of noise even when iso is super low. I’m stumped. Also half shutter press on the a7iii was money when doing landscape pics. I can’t get it to focus on what I want on the a7iv. Even when I touch the screen to focus where I want, it’s still garbage unless I turn the aperture up. I’ve never had this issue with the a7iii. I got much more quality pics from the iii than I’m getting on the iV. Wish I could figure out why it’s not that great.
Have you updated the firmware on your a7IV? The initial release had some issues with front focusing, but it's been much better after the last few updates.
I've also noticed that there's quite a debate between flip-out vs. flip-up screens. I can definitely see the merits of both 😬
I have had the same experience, really baffling about how noisy the a7iv is, I now rely heavily on noise reduction, didn't have that problem with a7iii.
4:09 looks like you put censorship onto your lens hahaha naughty naughty ;) !!!
Oh haha, it does look like that! It’s just the reflection in the front though, nothing crazy.
One thing the APS-C crop is 1.5 and not 1.6 on Sony cameras. I have the A7iv and the A1, and while the A1 is the better camera in many respects being the top of the line, I would say the A7iv is 95% as good for a third of the price. Incredible camera!
I'm super curious about how the a7IV compares to the A1, so this is interesting to hear!
Can you give us a link for the mic and the tripod you use in the video for the A7iv?
Sure thing! The tripod is the PGYTech MantisPod Pro. I love it, but they just released an updated version. I haven't used it yet, but it's probably worth looking into both to see which is right for you.
The mic is the Sony ECM-B1M: bhpho.to/3ztb6Vb
There's also a smaller version called the B10M. I think the sound quality is about the same, but the bigger one is better at capturing sound from a distance.
Revisiting this video because for the time I’m considering it because I need another angle for production work and although I would love to get a 3rd A7C, it sounds pretty boring. So I looked at the FX30 but the APS-C to me would be a deal breaker. Then I out of nowhere I thought of the A7iv and wow idk why I overlooked it.
Yeah, the FX30 seems brilliant unless you’re set on full frame (which I 100% am). It’s definitely fun to have some variety in your camera setup, even though multiples of the same is super practical.
The A7IV is the single best camera I have owned recreationally and professionally in the last 40 years. I have a wide range of requirements for photo and video and this covers what I need.
It's really impressive to think that one camera can perform so well in so many situations.
I tested it as webcam, it overheated in in about a minute in what I am guessing is at least 30C or more, might be 35 at times I guess, maybe more, my bed room where my pc is gets super warm due to the PC heating the room like an oven, so in the summer it gets very warm, uncomfortably warm at times. But I turned on the temperature limit on high, and opened the windows and tested later in the night, it worked, it stayed on for 20 minutes, and did not overheat, but I suspect it would be hot when it was warm, but when I opened the windows it was chilly and at night. When it overheated the screen and view finder went turned off, and camera was rendered useless until I turned it off and on again. Not even switching to photo mode or pressing any key revived it.
Hmm, that's a bummer. I feel fortunate not to have had any overheating issues with mine. It regularly gets 40-45C here, but I'm usually indoors.
@@tombuck I've not had termometer In my bed room. So don't know precise temp. But hihj temp setting seems to solve it. Will test it more.
The A7iv has an amazing sensor, and when coupled with external battery (D-tap), and optionally external recording (Ninja 5+) it delivers a far better output than the A7siii.
PS I did have overheating issues before moving to external battery system
Oh interesting to know that the external battery helped with overheating. 🤔
@@tombuck Moving to external storage a la Ninja 5+ will remove it completely. It's the SD cards that get fried. I had one melt recently lol
Hi! I love your videos!! One question: in your opinion, what’s the better Sony A7RV or Sony A 7IV ? Thanks!
Both are great. I think the biggest difference is the price.
The a7R series used to be more photo-centric, but the RV has a lot of amazing video features too, so it can do both quite well. It does also have a higher resolution sensor and that pretty nifty flip up/out screen.
The a7IV might still edge out the RV in terms of video features though, if that's what you do more of.
Thank you very much!
Tom, I luv your optimism, however, Panasonic recently releasd a camera which has cooling fans & is supposedly weatherproof. By the way, the Sigma fp and Sigma fpL, very small bodies--no cooling fans--with heat sinks seem to have far less overheating problems than the a7iv. Oh well, I think its great Sony just released an overheating Vlogging Camera for all those who want to sign onto the beta testing program--with their own $$. Good luck! 😎😎
The new Panasonic really seems awesome! Especially now that they have decent-ish autofocus. I really love Sony's lens selection though, so it's a fun system to be in.
@@tombuck Thanks for your reply Tom. Yes, Sony & others such as Sigma & Tamron have made & continue to make great E mount lenses. I just wish that Sony evidenced A+ engineering concerns with ALL of their cameras. Sony has substantial background with television production, professional video cameras and semi-pro cameras. Just take stabilization: The Sony HDR-FX! semi-pro had amazaing stabilization and was the first camcorder to offer hi-fi specs to the general public. That was years ago. What makes me wonder: Have the TV techs at Sony ever shared anything with the mirrorless Sony techs? Maybe, they just speak two different languages: The TV guys Japanese and the Mirrorless guys, English! lol 😎😎
@@tombuck Hi Tom, Sorry I meant and I quote: "high-definition video at resolutions up to 1440 x 1080 for professional-quality video," The Sony HDR-FX!. Oh yeah, it did have--on board--stereo mic recording system. So I guess, one could also say hi-fi, but isn't what I meant to write. Oh well, a few good laughs are good medicine, right? 😎😎
so i was on the fence for the longest time before buying the A7iv, all i was thinking about is how prone to overheating it was (according to youtube). However after buying it and using it in all situations and it hasnt even come close to overheating, I was extremely happy but it made me VERY cautious about gear reviews on youtube. Everything with a few grains of salt from now on haha
I'm glad that overheating is brought up in reviews, but it's definitely not an issue for most people. Unfortunately negativity gets clicks, so some people prefer to find one or two negatives and then blow them a bit out of proportion.
I have zero regrets getting this, it came second hand from a retailer, got a second hand lens too. so was a superb deal, saved thousands of Norwegian crowns. Was stupid to not get it.
I've used it few days.
13:56 I too experienced the plasticky feel, some creaking from the grip next to the joy stick too, but mostly the SD card door
As I am mountain biking, to protect the camera I put stuff around it including a back protector from my USWE backpack, it's flexy enough to cover the bottom and around it.
I did not find the camera to be too heavy to hold, it felt great, nor too heavy in my backpack. I think I the camera will be fine as long as you are not careless, but the doors can probably be replaced by a dealer I don't know.
I have medium to small size hands in cycling gloves I am medium POC, Small in Leatt. The grip fits me perfectly. I don't have any issues with the fingers not having enough room between the grip and the lens, I see how people with thick and big fingers might have, but most won't have issues with it, unless they hold it wrong, that's where I hit my fingers on the lens, you are not meant to get your finger tips all the way to the body and point the finger joint into the lens.
That was an awesome video, Tom! I'm still pretty happy with my a7iii but 4K60 and 10Bit is REALLY tempting haha
We can’t all be as skilled as Leo, so we need newer cameras to compensate 😁
Awesome follow up and I’m with you 100%. I fall more in love with my A7IV every day.
Yup! It's such a fantastic camera. I saw an article yesterday that voted it as the #1 overall camera value for 2022 and I totally agree.
Wait, wait wait. What’s clear image zoom? Does that mean even if I don’t have a zoom lens, I can zoom in with my prime? I’m new to cameras.
There are alot of pros and cons with this camera, I think its a great B cam to other cameras (a7S3 or Fx3) but wouldn't be my first go to since in my particular case I shoot 90% video
That's where it fits perfectly to me. As someone who does primarily video, the other cameras are a bit better, but this is such a great one to have access to!
Amazing camera Sony made. S-cinetone has really made a huge difference in my workflow.
It’s pretty impressive what’s packed into this thing, especially compared to where cameras were just a few years ago.
My entire channel has been build purely using iPhone for everything. Up to my last upload using the iPhone 14 pro… This is the camera I’m about to buy to retire phone filming….. cheers for just helping to nudge me over the line
Woo hoo! Phones have gotten pretty incredible, but I'm sure you'll love the upgrade to this giant awesome full frame sensor.
@@tombuck cheers 👍🏼
I live in VEGAS and film commentary for my vids in my garage. ALL SUMMER LONG A7IV has over headed like numerous times. However I did have an atom is ninja with Bluetooth mic attached. Is it over heating because of the MONITOR? Just need to know for future use. I will prolly not use my NINJA if I can shoot longer
I've never used mine with a Ninja, so I can't speak from any experience, but it'd be interesting if there's a connection between using that and overheating 🤔
Not gonna lie this feels like your life was threatened unless you did a overly positive review. Hope you are safe.
I just like this stuff and am excited about it. Negativity tends to do well on TH-cam but I don't like to spend my time with or on things I don't like.
@@tombuck I was only joking. You’re one of my most trusted reviewers for A/V equipment. Love your content!
3:46 YES. I started to reserve my FX3 for my commercial shoots since I got the A7IV... so now the A7IV is my go to everyday camera.
It's the perfect "all arounder" 👍
Interesting. I’m wondering if I got unlucky with my A7 IV. It’s usually overheating after around 5-10 minutes (studioshot, 26 degree celsius) with a 20F1.8 G and a teleprompter on front. It’s kind of annoying… I have to let it sit for around 5 min and then it’s good to go again though.
Have you adjusted the temperature setting? If you go into the settings menu (yellow toolbox icon) and scroll down to "Power Setting Option" you should see something that says "Auto Power OFF Temp." Be sure that's set to "high" and then it should fix your problem. This applies to most Sony cameras, and it won't hurt anything.
Ensure the temperature setting is set to high and you tilt the rear screen out when filming prolonged videos. I often video for over an hour with never any overheating problem
I had the same issue with mine, oob. It overheated and shutdown while I was going through initial setup (Menu options). I DID set Auto Power OFF Temp to High - - probably the second setting I executed. If a $2700 camera shuts down during initial setup ... it is not worth it. I'm not going to "do these five things to help with overheating". Sony better fix that problem and not rely on user hacks as workarounds. Sorry, but to me that's like buying a car, driving it for a bit, then it just shuts down, not working until it 'cools off' ... every 30 min or so, or, in same car, AC stops working so the workaround is to roll down all the windows (while on an interstate and running 75mph with traffic). Yeahhhhh, about that 'little overheating problem.
Well, I took the camera back (next day) and am back to my A7M3 which has NEVER overheated. Maybe if an A7M4-A is released, or the A7M5, I'll look again. I really can't believe Sony is still trying to sell the A7M4.
If you had 0 cameras and you had $5000 to get body, lenses and peripherals. Would you go for the A7 IV or A7S III?
Since I primarily do video, I'd go for the a7SIII (or FX3). If I did a more even split of photo/video, then I'd go for the IV. 👍
@@tombuck I almost forgot, why not the FX30 later this month? Did you talk to Peter about it, he's got one already 😜
Hey Tom, great video as usual! Quick question, what are you using for the overall ambient lighting you have here? Love the look man
Thanks Chadwicke! I have a video that covers the basics of my lighting setup: th-cam.com/video/9PnB7ytODLM/w-d-xo.html
I rearranged things bit here and this video is a little darker than normal, but I don't dislike it. 😁
Thanks Tom! Appreciate your willingness to always share
..in one of your videos with Heather, in a gear shop with green screen for stream, you had in the hand or pointed to the camera i have .. Sony DSC HX 400V ..i like it a lot..and bought it because i wanted to learn..and, 50x zoom... It is enough for my rare photos.. but in many things i learned since i have it, is next is definitly a sony 4k camcorder..only for video.. i take some time to choose, but from what i've seen on youtube, they produce what i am looking for my needs.. ..one thing i know for sure ..it's a Sony!
I was thinking of asking B&H if I can borrow one of the newer Sony camcorders to compare it to their mirrorless cameras for things like talking head TH-cam videos. Seems like it might be kind of a fun thing to try!
@@tombuck ..the "problem" is..you may love them! 😂
You seem so kind! Anyway, I love how you described the custom modes. Never knew so many settings were possible. Also thanks for showing us how to do it.
Totally blew my mind when I discovered that! Thank you for the kind words 🙏
Never had any overheating problems with my A7IV either ☺️ Glad to see a video about the A7IV amongst all the Insta 360 X3 videos today ☺️
Oh I haven't checked my feed yet, haha. I'm guessing there's a new embargo?
@@tombuck oh, Yeah 😄
That rolling shutter tho….love the cam but for wedding filmmaking the a7s3 is miles better
Anyone have a thought on the Sony ZV E10. I am not looking for an expensive Camera just something under 1000. I also wanted something that has multiple uses like a Video Camera and I can use external Mic as well. Plus interchangeable lenses. Plus one that does not have limited recording time, which Sony seems to be about the only one I have found that does not limit this.
One thing I still don’t like is the lack of a tally light. This is my only camera for TH-cam and personal photography. Doing a 10 minute take twice is painful!
I really wish ALL cameras had tally lights! It makes such a difference.
@@tombuck Yep, but overall the camera is an amazing package. It does just about anything I need it to do. 4K30 is great for modern content creation, I imagine I will need to upgrade to 60 FPS in a couple of years. By that time the A7V will be out and hopefully it will offer full frame 4k60, 8k30, and 4k120 cropped.
There’s an option to turn on a red frame/border on the display to indicate recording if that helps.
Right there with you on the “bringing it into the wild” sentiment. My appreciation for the a7iv grew quickly after traveling with it a few times.
Everything really changed once I started traveling with it, even small getaways and day trips.
So I’m thinking about getting the a7iv. Half of the people say they overheat and the other half says it doesn’t. What am I supposed to believe? Can someone please confirm this?
At 6:35 you mentioned punching in at X1.5… how did you do that. I’m familiar with super 35 but didn’t know you can punch in further
The camera has a "Clear Image Zoom" option. It's great because you can even do it slowly while recording, so you can have a somewhat practical Zoom effect. Initially it's usually in the main menu or the Function menu, but I assigned mine to the trash can button so I can press that while filming and then use the directional wheel to zoom in/out 👍
Hey Tom, what camera have you used to record this video? Its the X3 and A7S3, sorry i asked to early after starting to watch the video!
My main camera is the FX3. I also have the a7SIII, but use the FX3 as my main because of the audio inputs. The a7SIII is my secondary camera, and then the a7IV fills in the rest and the footage mixes great together!
@@tombuck cool thanks for the info amd reply!! Your video looks so good, its bright, sharp and colourful!! Do you shoot in S-Log3 ? Do you used LUTs for this edit? What lense you used, wide and high aperture, prime lens? Sorry for all this questions, i hope you dont mind them and if you have time let me know!! Cheers!
@@AexoeroV I honestly just use the default picture profile "PP OFF". That usually gets things pretty close, and then I made a preset in Final Cut that adjust the exposure and colors a bit to make things pop (You can download it free here, but I don't know how well it will work on a different studio setup: himynameistom.com/s/Tom-Buck-FCP-Preset.effectsPreset )
My main lens is the Sony 24mm 1.4 GM usually fully open to 1.4. I love it!
@@tombuck thanks a million for your reply and for the link with the preset but i dont have a Mac, using windows 10. Standard picture mode, crazy, looks awesome!!
In the past I used to edit with Sony Vegas Pro but its now like 10 years that i didn't filmed something, i was and im a very beginner, i used to record my paragliding flights and other stuff for me and family and do small edits but i always liked videography and I would like to get into it more serious for me, not professionally, for hobby only! I would love to learn to use a more advanced camera and maybe workflows in HDR10. Thanks!
“It may be called the A7iv…but to me it’s #1” Ever since I discovered your channel (thanks to your comment on mine) I have come for the camera insights and stayed for the laughs 😂
I’ve always been a little confused by the letters and numbers in the name of this cool little camera. I prefer calling it #1. 🏆
I'm always confused about why Sony uses Roman numerals for some cameras but not others (a7IV vs. FX3) 🤷🏻♂️
What are your favorite lenses for the Sony #1?
I’m particularly interested in prime lenses, but if you have favorite zooms I’d like to know about them!
My favorite is the 24mm GM. I absolutely love it, but I also have the Zeiss 85mm, which is phenomenal. No zooms, but very excited for the Tamron 20-40 👍
The A7iv is my favorite camera of all time. Great video!
It's definitely worthy of a title like that 👍
I just bought the a7iv today thanks to you, I bought it with the kid lens because I’m going to take some vacations in 2 weeks so I’ll spend some money, after come back from vacations I’ll buy the 35mm GM, thanks man 🙌🏻
Oh fantastic & congrats! I hope you have a ton of fun with it and an awesome vacation!
If I had that camera I'd do so many more vlogs. Love this video! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
It's such an incredible "take everywhere" camera.
I can’t believe you didn’t show the full palm tree time-lapse.
So yeah…turns out I deleted the file. I was able to watch it before though, and it was pretty cool 🥲
@@tombuck I need 3 full hours of palm tree Timelapse on your next live stream
I'm noticing and appreciating a more moody and contrasty image in this video. Like it's a bit more color graded. The straight main camera angle looks superb with that subtle switch from the corner where the drums used to be to the symmetrical plane wall behind you.
With that out of the way, I've enjoyed the revision of the review you did earlier, and it's great when a camera grows on you like this. You won't make me change the plans for getting the FX-3 (first), it's more that you've reminded me of some great functions that my trusty A7III has, like that user configurable button to go into crop mode. I do it with a 35 mm lens at exactly 23” from my picking hand while livestreaming. I go to crop and get 56mm focal lenght. With the AF on Flexible Spot L placed in the middle of the frame, it gives a crispy image. Not to mention that those 24MP photos are just as good as when I first got blown away 4 years ago. The camera has paid for itself many times by now.
I've just graced it with a sensor cleanup by a true pro prior to the coming event shoot I'll be doing next week. Got me this new Tamron 35-150mm and it's going to be a blast.
Although the A7IV has been given superior video capabilities compared to the A7III, that won't make me buy it just because I'll get the FX-3. The A7IV is a wonderful hybrid camera and a great choice for an all-rounder.
The lighting was a bit of a mistake, but I don't mind it here 😁
I think in your case the FX3 is absolutely the one to wait for. I'm really excited for you to get it because I think you're absolutely going to love it.
So accurate and why I was so confused as to why this camera received so much hate. I love this camera every single time I shoot with it, it just impresses me time and time again. Thanks for the review!
It really is a great camera overall! I just needed more time to truly appreciate it.
@@tombuck understandable! Love your channel and presentation! Just subbed!
This Camera received lots of hate because of not giving 4k60p in full frame, Rolling shutter issues, screen display resolution and only 10fps for compress raw or jpeg. That's y still this camera have lots of criticism.
@@pematamang9268 If you want full frame buy the A7siii, if you want more FPS buy the A9, if rolling shutter is a concern and you're filming high paced shoots again look at the A7s series of cameras. No such thing as a perfect camera, they are tools, so get the right tools for your necesities. A7iv has been great in my user experience. Cheers.
Hey Tom, What would you recommend from Sony for a studio camera if I don't have the budget for the fx3 or a7siii? Would you suggest the a7iv or something like the a6600?
If you don’t need full frame, the FX30 kind of destroys all other options, especially at its price point.
For me it's my first full frame camera (digital) and it's just awesome :).
There's nothing quite like moving to full frame for the first time. It really is something awesome 👍
@@tombuck It's not really the full frame, but sony APS-C cameras (I switched from) are crippled in so many ways, that getting A7 IV uncrippled me a lot. I was not aware how annoying some things were until I got A7 IV (probably A7III will do too).
just got the FX3 and honestly its the best video camera I've used so far in my life. But I plan on getting the A7IV and I'm sure its gonna be favorite camera period. I miss taking pictures hahaha and dragging the FX3 around everywhere feels weird..
I love my FX3! I got one of the Tilta cages for it that has a hand strap on the side and it makes it much easier to drag around. Definitely recommend it!
What a coincidence. I’m getting mine delivered tomorrow. Got it on a Labor Day promotion so I pulled the trigger 👍🏼 . This made me feel good 😊
Oh fantastic! You'll love it! It's definitely worth diving in to all of the menus and customizing things to suit your liking.
Great camera and no heat issues here. Two things I dislike: the evf at 25p and 24p is unusable. It runs maybe at 14 fps? Almost like Sony never tested that (and no reviewer has also!). EVF is great for super bright situations when you want to shoot very small and light. Second thing I hate is I cannot put the horizon level and/or histogram in every display config I want. And a minor third thing that every Sony is missing: focus stacking for macro work. How hard can it be to implement that?
The EVF hasn't been an issue for me, but admittedly I don't use it too often (only when in super bright light).
Totally agree with you about the horizon level! I would love to have that on screen every time.
Thanks for informative video. Thinking about to get A7IV. I have the following questions: what is the name of the tripod shown on this video? What is the lens you’re using? Are you using SD card? If yes, what kind? Currently CFExpress card is too expense for me. Thanks. Keep up the good work 👍
I've been recording everything to Sandisk and Prograde V90 SD cards (I haven't gotten a Type A card yet because they are just too expensive).
The little tripod in the video is the PGYTech MantisPod and it's fantastic. I have links in the description to my bigger "studio" tripods if that's what you're looking for.
And my main lens is the Sony 24mm 1.4 👍
Even than that, My camcorder is stills overheating during the video recording at 1440x1080 (SFHD) [LP]
And the more overheating during video recording, It kinda stopped working (froze) and I have to remove the battery to restore it back.
But at first I thought I've lost my camcorder to an overheat, (Sighs) At least, I do still have it here. But it's still in my camera bag. Not being picked up for a long time now. 😅
And what about Sony A7 IV? This is fine! Although it's 4K60 now, Instead of just FHD or SFHD [LP] But less heat. Unlike my poor camcorder. (-_-;)
This is probably the first time I've heard of a camcorder overheating before a mirrorless camera! Glad the a7IV is working for you, but sorry about the camcorder.
@@tombuck It's when only I record a video for too long like I use a lot of takes, It would get hot and hotter. And then it gets to the point where it freezes and messed up and I have to quickly restore it.
This might be challenging, But to make it usable for a long time. So that's why I keeping it in a camera bag instead of being used to it. =)
And my camcorder still lives on for now, Although it's 11 years old now.
gorgeous vid and informative vid, thx much! i'm gonna end up going with the fx3 (hoping to find a BF deal), but it was a close call. the still features almost pulled me in but I'll be doing so much more vid
subbed, keep up the great work!
Thanks Jace! You'll really love the FX3. When it comes to more of a dedicated video camera, there's really nothing better. I love mine so much!
Maybe a dumb question, but is the 1.5x crop in camera (super 35mm mode) give the same result as cropping 1.5x in post?
Not a dumb question at all! I'm sure there's a technical reason why it's different, but in real-world use, yes, the results will pretty much be the same.
tom, i dont know if you will see this but i just had to ask, in your opinion what is a good CHEAP camera with great auto focus and clean hdmi output
I would recommend the Sony ZV-E10. You can find it with a decent kit lens for $800 or $900 and it's a killer camera with autofocus that's every bit as good as the full frame models. It's also got clean HDMI out and can be used as a USB webcam too.
If you have the budget to pair it with the Sigma 16mm 1.4 lens, then you're set for a loooong time.
I switched from Fuji to A7iv a few months ago. It’s an unbelievable camera in so many ways. Best hybrid camera On the market today. Very happy with my decision!
Glad you like it! I've never used a Fuji camera, but I know people tend to love them, so I guess that speaks volumes for the a7IV.
@@tombuck Yeah, I still keep my 100V as my daily carry, but the video AF on the Sony is next level. As a solo creator, this feature alone is worth switching for. The fact that the A7iv takes incredible photos too is just a bonus.
Really appreciate the honest review after a longe-term real-life experience.
I wish that the upcoming A7C II (in 2023 maybe?) will have all the fantastic features that A7 IV has, apart from the size.
One area where Sony is definitely unique is that they really don't care about "saving" features- meaning that brand new and/or premium features can definitely find their way to the less expensive models.
(the bad part about this is when the higher end models never get updated to get those features too...😬😉 )
It's nice to see someone publicly go back on what they said and explain why. Now that you like the same camera I have and validate my decision, I can re-subscribe. ;) lol
Haha, thanks Marc! It's always nice to feel validated in our decisions 😁
What an excellent review! Your enthusiasm and easy conversational style are great, and the review very thorough.
Thank you very much! This is just about the nicest thing I could hope to hear.
@@tombuckAnd subscribed, looking forward to more.
I can't stop rolling my eyes at every pun you make! Keep it up, never stop being a real dad!!!
btw what is your video setup?
FX3/a7SIII/a7IV edited in Final Cut Pro 👍
For audio, I run the Sennheiser MKH50 directly into the FX3.
@@tombuck I am looking for a new camera and I am looking into the Canon r5c, the problem is it is a 5k body and the 3 RF lenses I want make this a 12,5k investment and that is only body + lenses for 15 - 200mm range. Would be awesome to see a review of it by you!!!