Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony's second-generation f/2.8 standard zoom.
Sony A7 IV Review
A 33 MP full-frame hybrid: 4K 30p oversampled from 7K across the full sensor width, 4K 60p from a Super 35 crop, and two card slots.
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Best All-Rounder
The Verdict
A 33 MP full-frame hybrid: 4K 30p oversampled from 7K across the full sensor width, 4K 60p from a Super 35 crop, and two card slots.
Next to the A7C II it has a second card slot. Owners who have used both mention its bigger grip, and that the A7C II's subject detection is a step ahead (see What owners report).
- Overall
- 8.3/10
- Image quality
- 8.6
- Autofocus
- 8.9
- Video
- 7.9
- Speed
- 7.4
- Handling and build
- 8.2
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Processor | BIONZ XR |
| Stabilization | 5-Axis IBIS (5.5 stops) |
| ISO Range | 100-51,200 (exp. 50-204,800) |
| Autofocus | |
| AF Points | 759 Phase-Detection Points (94%) |
| AF System | Real-time Eye AF (Human/Animal/Bird) |
| Burst Speed | 10 fps (Lossy Compressed Raw) |
| Video | |
| Max Resolution | 4K 60p (S35) / 4K 30p (Full Frame 7K) |
| Internal Rec | 10-bit 4:2:2 XAVC S-I / XAVC HS |
| Profiles | S-Log3, S-Cinetone, HLG |
| Video Features | Focus Breathing Comp, Focus Map |
| Build & Connectivity | |
| Viewfinder | 3.69M-dot OLED EVF (0.78x mag) |
| Screen | 3.0" Vari-angle Touch (1.03M-dot) |
| Card Slots | 2x (1x CFexpress A/SD, 1x SD UHS-II) |
| Ports | Full HDMI, USB-C (10Gbps), Mic, Headphone |
| Body | Magnesium alloy; dust and moisture resistant per Sony, not guaranteed 100% |
| Weight | 658g (with battery and card) |
Maker-published figures, with source and date: Numbers & Sources below.
What We Like
- Two card slots (CFexpress Type A/SD + SD)
- Full-size HDMI port
- Grip and controls praised by owners (see What owners report)
Trade-offs
- 4K 60p only from a 1.5x (Super 35) crop
- Slower sensor readout in full-frame 4K than in crop mode (CineD)
- 10 fps only with lossy compressed RAW
In-Depth Performance
Image Quality & Sensor Performance
The sensor is a 33-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame CMOS. For measured dynamic range and low-light results, see What independent testers measured; for photos other people took with it, see Sample photos.
Some owners who switched from Canon say they prefer its colours and skin tones (see What owners report).
Autofocus System
The A7 IV has 759 phase-detection AF points covering about 94% of the frame, with Real-time Eye AF for humans, animals and birds.
Sony rates the autofocus down to −4 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, f/2.0). Owners coming from the A7 II, A7 III or A7R IV describe it as a clear step up; owners who have used newer bodies such as the A7C II say its subject detection is a step behind (see What owners report).
Video Capabilities
4K 60p comes from a 1.5x (Super 35) crop; 4K 30p is oversampled from 7K across the full sensor width. S-Log3 and S-Cinetone are available, and internal recording goes up to 10-bit 4:2:2.
CineD measured a slower rolling-shutter readout in full-frame 4K than in APS-C crop mode; both figures are in What independent testers measured. Focus breathing compensation is available with supported Sony lenses. For continuous recording, Sony's Help Guide table covers XAVC S 4K 30p only (60M, 8-bit, CFexpress Type A card, Wi-Fi off, monitor open): approx. 10 minutes with [Auto Power OFF Temp.] on Standard and approx. 120 minutes on High, at 25 °C.
Handling & Build
It has two card slots (CFexpress Type A/SD and SD UHS-II) and a full-size HDMI port rather than micro HDMI. Owners single out the grip and the reassignable buttons (see What owners report).
The viewfinder is a 3.69M-dot OLED at 0.78x, and the rear screen a 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen. Sony builds the body from magnesium alloy and describes it as dust and moisture resistant, while stating it is not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof. Sony rates the NP-FZ100 at approx. 580 shots with the monitor and approx. 520 with the viewfinder (CIPA).
Sample photos from other photographers
Photos that other people took with the Sony A7 IV and published on Wikimedia Commons under free licences. We chose them; we did not take them. The settings under each photo come from the file's own metadata.
The numbers, and where they come from
Published by the maker
| Sensor size (maker's figure) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm |
|---|---|
| Effective pixels | 33 MP |
| Weight with battery and card | 658 g |
| Viewfinder resolution | 3.69 million dots |
Maker figures checked on 25 Sept 2026 — maker's spec sheet
Computed from those figures
| Sensor area | 858 mm² |
|---|---|
| Format factor | 1x |
| Light gathered vs 35mm | the same |
Computed from the figures above. Pixel pitch = sensor width / pixel count across. Light gathered = log2 of the area ratio to 36 x 24 mm. Diffraction limit = the aperture at which the Airy disc diameter (2.44 x lambda x N, lambda = 550 nm) reaches two pixel pitches. Other calculators use other thresholds and so quote other numbers.
What independent testers measured
These figures were measured by the outlets named in the last column, not by us. Each one links to the test it comes from, and the conditions it was measured under are listed beside it.
| Measurement | Result | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling shutter (sensor readout time) | 26.8 ms | 4K UHD, full-frame readout | CineD, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| Rolling shutter (sensor readout time) | 13 ms | 4K UHD, APS-C crop mode | CineD, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| Video dynamic range (Imatest, SNR = 2) | 12.9 stops | 4K UHD, S-Log3 / S-Gamut3.Cine at ISO 800 | CineD, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| Exposure latitude | 7 stops | S-Log3 studio scene, over- and underexposed, pushed back to base | CineD, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| RAW dynamic range | 14.7 EV | RAW stills at base ISO | DXOMARK, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| Low-light ISO score | 3379 | RAW stills; DXOMARK's computed score from minimum SNR, dynamic range and colour depth | DXOMARK, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
What owners report
We read 289 public posts and reviews on 23 Oct 2026: reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha (81), dslr-forum.de (100), bhphotovideo.com (108). Each point below came up from at least two different people; the wording is ours.
Praised repeatedly
- Owners use it as one body for both photo and video work. [1][2][3]
- People coming from the A7 II, A7 III or A7R IV describe the autofocus as a clear step up, including eye detection in dim light. [1][2][3][4]
- The grip, dials and reassignable buttons get repeated praise, and the dual card slots come up when owners compare it with the smaller A7C II. [1][2][3]
- The 33 MP files are praised for detail that holds up when cropping in. [1][2]
- Some owners who switched from Canon prefer its colours and skin tones. [1][2]
Complained about repeatedly
- 4K at 60p comes from a Super 35 crop of the sensor, so wide lenses get noticeably tighter; one owner measured about 1.75x with active stabilisation and breathing compensation switched on. [1][2][3]
- Next to newer bodies such as the A7C II or Canon's R6 Mark II, owners find its subject-detection autofocus a step behind. [1][2][3]
- A handful of reviews report hardware faults: mechanical shutters failing, in one case just over a year in, and bodies that stopped working early on. [1][2][3][4]
- Some owners report overheating, for example when streaming or recording to an external device; one calls it minor with the screen folded in. [1][2][3]
- Owners point out that there is no separate battery charger in the box and that charging the battery in the camera is slow. [1][2][3]
- Owners switching from Canon or from older Sony bodies say the menus take some getting used to. [1][2][3]
- Reviewers point out that autofocus does not keep tracking during interval shooting, which they wanted for self-portraits and time-lapses. [1][2]
These are public posts. We do not check whether the people who wrote them bought or used this camera.
How this score is put together
8.3 out of 10
- Image quality Weight 25% 8.6
33MP full frame, 7008 x 4672
- Autofocus Weight 20% 8.9
759-point phase detect with subject detection
- Video Weight 20% 7.9
4K60 only from a Super 35 crop
- Speed Weight 15% 7.4
10 fps, with lossy compressed RAW
- Handling and build Weight 20% 8.2
5.5-stop IBIS, CFexpress A plus SD
Scored against full-frame interchangeable-lens cameras. The overall figure is the weighted mean of the rows above — it is computed, not set by hand.
How It Compares
| Spec | Sony A7 IV | Canon R6 II | Nikon Z6 III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 33MP FF | 24MP FF | 24.5MP FF |
| Video | 4K60 | 4K60 | 6K N-RAW |
| AF Points | 759 points | 1053 zones | 299 points |
| Burst | 10 fps | 40 fps | 20 fps |
| IBIS | 5.5 stops | 8 stops | 8 stops |
| Buy | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Lens options
Sony 85mm f/1.8
Sony's f/1.8 short telephoto.
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN
A third-party f/2.8 standard zoom for E-mount.
Affiliate Disclosure
We buy our own gear or rent it. No manufacturers paid for this review. We earn a commission if you use our links, which keeps this site ad-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
The A7 IV has two card slots and the bigger grip; the A7C II is the smaller body with one card slot. Both use a 33 MP full-frame sensor, but the A7C II adds a separate AI processing unit for subject recognition, which Sony does not list for the A7 IV. Owners who have used both mention the A7 IV's grip and the A7C II's subject detection (see What owners report).
It shoots up to 10 fps, and at that rate only with lossy compressed RAW. Sony's A1 reaches 30 fps with its electronic shutter.
Sony's Help Guide gives continuous-recording figures for XAVC S 4K 30p (60M, 8-bit, CFexpress Type A card, Wi-Fi off, monitor open): approx. 10 minutes with [Auto Power OFF Temp.] on Standard at both 25 °C and 40 °C, and on High approx. 120 minutes at 25 °C and approx. 30 minutes at 40 °C. The table has no 4K 60p row.
Sony's Help Guide lists what each format needs. XAVC S and XAVC HS 4K (up to 200 Mbps) record to a U3/V30 SD card; XAVC S-I 4K (600 Mbps) needs a V90 SD card or a CFexpress Type A card (VPG200 or higher). In slow motion, XAVC S and HS 4K need V60, and XAVC S-I at 60 or 50 fps recorded as 30p, 25p or 24p needs the CFexpress Type A card.
Yes. It takes all E-mount lenses, and APS-C lenses can be used in the camera's APS-C crop mode. Third-party E-mount lenses from Sigma, Tamron and Samyang mount as well.
Related Reviews
Recommended Accessories
Essential gear to maximize your Sony A7 IV experience:
Memory Card
Sony CFexpress Type A 160GB
Sony requires a CFexpress Type A card for XAVC S-I slow motion at 60 or 50 fps.
Battery
Sony NP-FZ100
The battery this camera takes; Sony rates it at approx. 580 shots (CIPA, monitor).
Lens
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony's second-generation f/2.8 standard zoom.
Microphone
Rode Wireless GO II
Dual-channel wireless for interviews and vlogs.
More gear guides: Best TripodsBest Camera BagsBest SD Cards
