Our favorite HD mirrorless camera is $900 off right now
If you like To develop your photography skills, and graduate from your phone, why not move to the highest resolution camera on the market? Normally, we’d suggest that an affordable camera might be the best option for most people in our guide to mirrorless cameras, but at this price – why not a hit?
The A7R V’s massive 61MP full-frame sensor is the largest you can get without jumping to medium format (which is more expensive and significantly larger). If that’s not enough, there’s actually a higher resolution possibility that combines 16 shots into a single 240MP image (as long as your subject is static, e.g. a landscape). The billboard size should print without a problem.
Yes, the megapixel race is silly and mostly over, but I will say that I shot quite a bit with the A7R C (which uses the same sensor). Images from this 60MP sensor are noticeably sharper, and dynamic range is clearly better than what I get from the A7R II (which has a 40MP sensor). This is obviously the case on screen, when I peek at the pixels, but I also notice the difference when I print images.
If you don’t need all those megapixels, and still want to save some money, I have good news: our top pick for most people, the Sony A7 IV (9/10, WIRED recommends), is also on sale for $700 less than usual.
Image: Sony
This is a 33-megapixel full-frame camera that, although only half the resolution of the A7R V, is very sharp and has some video-oriented features that you won’t find in the high-resolution model. It has almost the same excellent dynamic range and one of the best autofocus systems on the market.
Without getting too deep into video techniques, the A7 IV can record 4K/30p video by oversampling the 7K sensor area. The A7R V, on the other hand, uses what’s known as line-skipping to achieve the same 4K/30p recording. This recording method reduces clarity and sometimes causes aliasing problems.
The short story: If you want to record video at the full sensor size, the A7 IV is the perfect choice. In fact, while there are better cameras like the Sony A7R V, and better video cameras, nothing combines the two quite like the A7 IV. If you’re looking to do a mix of still and video work, this is one of the best you can buy on the market, especially at this price.