One of the best entry-level cameras on the market is the Sony A7 IV. You won't find high-end video features, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better hybrid photo and video camera.
The new sensor, nearly unlimited buffer capacity, and support for more video capture modes are all included in the update.
What is new?
The A7 IV isn't much different from its predecessor, though the grip is larger. The A7S III uses the same grip as the new one. I found it less comfortable than my A7RII, but how it feels will depend on the size of your hands. If you can, check one out at your local camera store. One of the more compact full-frame cameras is still in our guide.
Sony.
The controls on the back are similar to what you'll find on other recent A7-series cameras. There's a four-way multi-controller that can act as a dial, a joystick, and six buttons. It's enough external controls to make sure you only need to go to the menu once to set everything up. Sony's menu system is still confusing, and the less time you spend there the happier you will be.
The A7 IV has new and noteworthy things on the inside. The A7 IV uses a new backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that provides better resolution and possibly better image quality in low-light situations. The new sensor is a step up from the A7 III, which had a 24-megapixel sensor, as well as what you'll find in rivals like the Canon R6, Nikon Z6II, and Panasonic S1.
The entry-level camera in Sony's lineup is the A7 IV. The A7R IV has a 60-megapixel sensor, which is in a class of its own. If you want a smaller camera body, you should wait for the successor to the A7C, which will likely have the A7 IV's sensor.
The A7 IV's processor is from the Sony A7S III, which was notable for its dynamic range. The A7 IV gets a similar boost, with 15 stops of dynamic range, which opens an incredibly rich range of post-processing possibilities. The A7 IV is a bit faster than its predecessor thanks to the new processor. Sony says it's up to eight times faster. I didn't have an A7 III to compare the two, but it never felt like the A7 IV wasbogged down.
The power of autofocus.
The A7 line is the first to get Sony's new autofocus system, along with the processor and sensor. It's difficult to overstate the improvement here. This system, which Sony calls real-time tracking, is really smart and fast.
I test half a dozen high-end cameras a year, each one promising to be faster at focusing, but most are indistinguishable when judged by results. On my own time, I only shoot with manual-focus lens. I've been shooting manually since I picked up my first Minolta SR-T in 1988, and I'm reasonably fast at this point. I get fewer out-of-focus images focusing manually than I do with the latest and greatest equipment. Until the A7 IV.
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