Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4), shown with the FE 28-70mm kit lens. Image: Sony Electronics
HIGHLIGHTS
The a7 IV is the camera Sony built for people who shoot a bit of everything. Announced in October 2021 as the follow-up to the hugely popular a7 III, it moved the basic full-frame Alpha to a new 33-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, the BIONZ XR processor from the a1, five-axis stabilization rated at 5.5 stops and a body borrowed from the a7S III, with a deeper grip, a better joystick, a full-size HDMI port and a fully articulating screen.
In practice it's the autofocus and the video that make it easy to live with. Real-time Eye AF and tracking work for people, animals and birds in both stills and video, and 4K is oversampled from 7K across the full sensor width at up to 30p, with 4K/60 available in Super 35 mode. There's 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Cinetone and S-Log3, a 3.69-million-dot OLED viewfinder and two card slots, one of which takes CFexpress Type A. DPReview gave it a Gold award and an 89% score.
It has limits. The sensor reads out slowly, so the silent electronic shutter bends fast motion, and 4K/60 needs that Super 35 crop. Burst tops out at 10 fps. Sony has since announced the a7 V, but the a7 IV is still sold, and for portraits, travel, events and hybrid video work it remains a complete full-frame kit.
Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4) body, front, with the lens removed. Image: Sony ElectronicsThe fully articulating rear screen, flipped out, with the FE 28-70mm kit lens. Image: Sony ElectronicsRear: the 3.69M-dot EVF, rear screen, joystick and control dials. Image: Sony ElectronicsTop plate: mode dial, stills/movie/S&Q switch and locking exposure-compensation dial. Image: Sony ElectronicsSide ports: full-size HDMI, USB-C, microphone and headphone jacks. Image: Sony Electronics
The story
Sony announced the a7 IV on October 21, 2021, saying it "Goes Beyond Basic" with its 33MP sensor and photo and video operability, and priced it at $2,500 body-only for December 2021 (Sony Electronics). It replaced the 24MP a7 III with a new 33MP sensor and brought over AF technology from the flagship a1.
DPReview's review (published February 2022) called it an all-round capable camera "supporting the photographer in almost any situation" and gave it a Gold award, while noting that its sensor readout makes it less suited to sports.
Sony announced the a7 IV's successor, the a7 V, on December 2, 2025 at $2,899 body-only (Sony Electronics). The a7 IV is still on sale.
Specifications
Key verified specs for the Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4), from Sony Electronics' product page and Oct 21, 2021 release and DPReview's review and specifications. Source for each row in brackets.
Dual slots: 1 CFexpress Type A / UHS-II SD, 1 UHS-II SD [DPReview; Sony]
Ports
Mic and headphone jacks; full-size HDMI; USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, power delivery); USB streaming [DPReview; Sony]
Battery
NP-FZ100; CIPA 580 shots (LCD) [DPReview]
Build / weight
Magnesium alloy, weather-sealed [DPReview]; about 658 g with battery and SD card [Sony Help Guide]
Announced / price
Oct 21, 2021; $2,500 body-only at launch [Sony Electronics]
Sample photos
Six photos taken with the Sony a7 IV by independent photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or CC0. Each caption names the lens. Select a photo to enlarge it. Full-resolution samples are also in the DPReview — Sony a7 IV sample gallery. More samples from Sony
16.5mm, f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/100 s: the PR1 trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, Madeira (Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G). Photo: Krzysztof Popławski via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)600mm, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 1/2000 s: common kingfishers with breakfast (Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS). Photo: Prasan Shrestha via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
200mm, f/2.8, ISO 2500, 1/15 s: the Taipei night skyline from Hongludi Temple (Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II). Photo: brian25_tw via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)50mm, f/5.6, ISO 50, 1/400 s: inside a red tulip (50mm F2.8 Macro). Photo: Jens Cederskjold via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
20mm, f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/50 s: ceiling lights at Prague main railway station (Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G). Photo: AVDLCZ via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)38mm, f/4.5, ISO 250, 1/1250 s: incense drying in Vietnam (Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM). Photo: Trantuanviet via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Sony: Launched at $2,500 in 2021 (body only; Sony Electronics release, October 21, 2021). Successor a7 V: $2,899 body-only (Dec 2025).
Verdict
If you want one full-frame Sony for stills and video and don't need a stacked sensor, the a7 IV is still a safe pick. The 33MP files, real-time Eye AF, 5.5-stop IBIS, oversampled 4K, dual slots and the a7S III-style body cover portraits, travel, weddings and hybrid video without fuss.
Fast action is its weak spot: readout is slow enough to distort motion with the electronic shutter, bursts top out at 10 fps, and 4K/60 is cropped to Super 35. Shooters who need those should look at the newer a7 V.
Pros
33MP full-frame sensor with 15-stop dynamic range (Sony)
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