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JULY 2025 PHOTO DIARY
MY DEALER PROVIDED A SONY A7RV ON LOAN
Trinity College Dublin is home to two significant sculptures that, despite their differing styles and eras, are intrinsically linked by a shared artistic inspiration: Henry Moore's "Reclining Connected Form" (1969) and Sebastián's "Chac Mool" (2002). Their presence on campus creates a compelling dialogue about the enduring power of ancient forms and their reinterpretation across centuries and cultures.
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THE SONY A7RV ON LOAN WHILE I WAIT FOR THE A1 II
My Sony A7R IV was damaged during a serious fall in Belfast in 2022, and its performance has gradually declined since then. Instead of replacing it immediately with the A7R V, I decided to wait for the anticipated A1 II update. I pre-ordered an A1 II before Christmas, paying the full price upfront.
It is now the end of July 2025, and my camera still hasn't arrived. My dealer has informed me that they only expect to receive one A1 II per month going forward. Recognising the unreliability of my current A7R IV, the dealer kindly offered me a second-hand A7R V on loan until my A1 II is delivered. This offer was a pleasant surprise, as I had almost decided to purchase a used A7R V with the intention of trading it in or selling it once the A1 II eventually arrived.
Along with the A1 II, I also ordered the Sony F2 28-70mm GM lens and two expensive CFexpress Type A cards.
Sony A7R V vs. Sony A7R IV (My Current Camera)
The Sony A7R V represents a significant upgrade over the A7R IV, despite both cameras sharing the same 61MP sensor. The improvements in the A7R V are largely thanks to a new processor and a dedicated AI processing unit.
Here are the key areas where the A7R V surpasses the A7R IV:
Autofocus System: This is arguably the most substantial improvement. The A7R V features a dedicated AI processing unit that dramatically enhances subject recognition and tracking. It can recognise a wider range of subjects, including humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and aircraft, and tracks them more reliably, even when faces or eyes are obscured, or subjects change poses. Its low-light performance is also superior.
Image Stabilisation (IBIS): The A7R V boasts an improved in-body image stabilisation system, offering up to 8.0 stops of correction compared to the A7R IV's 5.5 stops. This is a huge advantage for handheld shooting, particularly in low-light conditions.
Processor: The A7R V incorporates the newer BIONZ XR processor, which is eight times faster than the A7R IV's BIONZ X. This leads to:
Larger Buffer: The A7R V has a significantly larger buffer, enabling much longer continuous shooting bursts (e.g., 583 compressed RAW images vs. 68 on the A7R IV at 10fps).
Faster Operations: General camera operations feel noticeably snappier.
Rear LCD Screen: The A7R V features a brand-new 3.2-inch, 2.36M-dot, 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen. This highly versatile screen tilts and rotates, offering far more flexibility for shooting at various angles than the A7R IV's limited tilting screen. It also supports full touch menu operation.
RAW File Options: The A7R V introduces lossless compressed RAW with medium (26MP) and small (15MP) file size options. This can be very useful for managing file sizes while preserving image quality. The A7R IV only offers uncompressed and lossy compressed RAW.
Video Capabilities: While both are primarily still cameras, the A7R V offers 8K video recording (with some crop) and improved 4K options (4K 60p with a 1.2x crop). The A7R IV is limited to 4K 30p.
Dual Card Slots: The A7R V has two dual-format card slots that accept either CFexpress Type A or UHS-II SD cards, providing faster write speeds with CFexpress Type A for demanding applications. The A7R IV only has UHS-II SD card slots.
Menu System: The A7R V incorporates the newer, more intuitive menu system found in recent Sony cameras, making it easier to navigate.
Pixel Shift Multi Shooting: While both models offer this feature, the A7R V includes "motion correction intelligence," which does a better job of handling moving subjects within a pixel shift composite.
Should I Get a Used A7R V and Forget About the A1 II?
This decision largely depends on my specific needs and priorities.
Arguments for Getting a Used A7R V:
Immediate Availability: I can acquire it now, rather than waiting until August or September for the A1 II.
Significant Upgrade from A7R IV: As detailed above, the A7R V offers substantial improvements in autofocus, IBIS, screen, and processing power. This would make my existing workflow much more efficient and open up new possibilities, especially for subjects that benefit from advanced autofocus.
Excellent for High-Resolution Stills: Given my primary interest in high-resolution photography (landscapes, studio, portraits, detailed wildlife), the 61MP sensor of the A7R V is exceptional.
Cost-Effective: A used A7R V will be considerably less expensive than a new A1 II, allowing me to invest in lenses or other gear.
Arguments Against Getting a Used A7R V (and Waiting for the A1 II):
If Speed is Paramount: If I frequently shoot fast-moving action (sports, birds in flight) or engage in professional photojournalism, the A1 II's stacked sensor and unparalleled speed are game-changers.
Sony A1 II vs. Sony A7R V
The A1 II is Sony's flagship "do-it-all" camera, combining high resolution with extreme speed. The A7R V is a resolution-focused camera with highly advanced autofocus.
Here are the key areas where the A1 II is superior to the A7R V:
Stacked Sensor: This is the fundamental difference. The A1 II features a 50.1MP stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor. This design allows for incredibly fast readout speeds, leading to:
Higher Burst Shooting: Up to 30fps with AF/AE tracking (compared to 10fps on the A7R V).
Blackout-Free Shooting: No viewfinder blackout during continuous shooting, providing a seamless view of the action.
Significantly Reduced Rolling Shutter: The A1 II's electronic shutter is far more usable than the A7R V's, practically eliminating rolling shutter distortion. This is a huge advantage for silent shooting and shooting under flickering lights.
Faster Flash Sync: The A1 II has a mechanical flash sync speed of 1/400s (vs. 1/250s on the A7R V), and electronic flash sync up to 1/250s.
Autofocus Performance (Overall Speed): While the A7R V has excellent AI-driven subject recognition, the A1 II's stacked sensor allows its autofocus system to operate with much greater speed and refresh rates (120 times/second), leading to even better tracking performance for extremely fast or erratic subjects. It also inherits the latest AI AF unit.
Video Capabilities: The A1 II offers 8K 30p and 4K 120p video recording, with generally better internal codecs and more robust video features for professional production.
Pre-Capture: The A1 II offers pre-capture, a crucial feature for capturing fleeting moments where I might be slow to react.
Durability/Robustness: The A1 series is generally built to a higher standard for professional use, with more robust construction and weather sealing.
Professional Features: The A1 II is designed with professional workflows in mind, including a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for fast wired data transfer.
Where the A7R V Might Still Hold an Edge (Minor):
Resolution: The A7R V has a slightly higher 61MP sensor compared to the A1 II's 50.1MP. While 50MP is still incredibly high, for absolute maximum detail, the A7R V might have a tiny edge in specific, static scenarios where every pixel can be exploited.
Price: A used A7R V is significantly cheaper.
Robustness and Life Expectancy (A1 II vs. A7R V)
The Sony A1 II is designed and marketed as Sony's flagship professional camera. This generally translates to:
Enhanced Build Quality: Expect more robust materials, better weather sealing, and more durable components compared to the A7R V, which is also well-built but not at the same "pro" tier.
Shutter Life: Flagship professional cameras often have higher shutter actuation ratings, indicating a longer expected lifespan for the mechanical shutter. While Sony doesn't always publish these figures, it's generally understood that the A1 series is built for heavier professional use.
Heat Dissipation: For extended shooting sessions, especially video, the A1 II's design is likely to manage heat more effectively, contributing to long-term reliability.
In summary, the A1 II is generally considered a more robust unit with a better life expectancy, particularly if one is pushing the camera in demanding professional scenarios.
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