Sony a7R V

The Sony a7R V is a high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera released in 2022. Its 61-megapixel sensor puts fine detail at the heart of what it does, which suits landscape, studio and commercial work where files are printed large or cropped hard.

This is a solid body rather than a featherweight. At 723 grams it will be noticed on a long walking day, and lenses for the Sony FE mount add to what goes in the bag.

Daily handling feels current rather than exotic: a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, a flipping touchscreen and two card slots. Owning it also means living with large files, so generous storage belongs in the plan.

Resolution is the reason this camera exists. The 61-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor records fine texture and leaves room to crop into a tighter composition while still holding enough detail for large prints.

Autofocus offers 693 points, giving you a large set of selectable positions. Burst shooting reaches a maximum of 10 frames per second, enough for many deliberate subjects, though the maximum rate is not a sustained-speed promise.

In-body stabilisation cuts camera shake, so handheld frames at slower shutter speeds land sharp more often. That earns its keep in dim interiors or evening light where a tripod would slow you down. It does nothing for a moving subject, which shutter speed still controls.

Sensitivity spans ISO 100 to 32000, and the shutter reaches 1/8000 second, useful when shooting wide apertures in bright light. The 9.44-million-dot electronic viewfinder gives a detailed view while you frame.

Video reaches 8K resolution, which delivers very high detail for large displays and leaves room to crop a clip to a tighter composition in editing.

Frame-rate support includes 120fps, enough to stretch fast action into smooth slow motion when the story calls for it.

Files record as MPEG-4 or MOV using H.264 or H.265, with XAVC S, XAVC HS and XAVC S-I options. That spread lets you trade file size against workflow needs, from quick delivery to heavier editing.

A built-in timelapse mode gives you an in-camera option for projects such as sunsets or construction sequences. High-resolution video can demand generous card capacity, so plan media before a long session.

The 3.2-inch rear LCD carries 2.1 million dots and responds to touch, giving you direct on-screen control and a detailed preview. It also flips out, which makes waist-level, overhead and self-framed shots easier to line up.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are built in, giving the camera a wireless link to nearby devices when a cable would get in the way.

The body is weather sealed against dust and moisture, a comfort in changeable conditions, though sealing is not a licence for rain soaking. There is no built-in flash, but an external flash is supported when you need added light.

Two card slots are fitted, taking SD, SDHC and SDXC cards alongside CFexpress Type A. That gives storage flexibility for a camera producing 61-megapixel stills and 8K video, where the headroom matters.

The NP-FZ100 battery is rated at 530 shots per charge. A charged spare earns its place on busy shooting days.

USB charging lets you top the battery up between sessions. A charged spare remains useful when a long day leaves little time to stop.