Sony has officially unveiled the highly anticipated A7 V, introducing major upgrades to its full-frame mirrorless lineup after more than a year of speculation. The new camera builds on the foundation of the A7 IV but delivers significant improvements in speed, autofocus intelligence, video performance, and thermal management.
Sony has equipped the A7 V with a newly developed partially-stacked 33MP CMOS sensor, maintaining the same resolution as the previous model but delivering twice the readout speed. This upgrade enables faster processing, reduced rolling shutter, and better overall performance while retaining more detail than certain competing cameras, according to Sony’s internal tests. The sensor works alongside the new BIONZ XR2 processor, which features a built-in AI chip, allowing the camera to shoot blackout-free bursts at up to 30fps using the electronic shutter—triple the 10fps limit of the A7 IV. The mechanical shutter continues to offer 10fps shooting.
The AI-powered autofocus system has been expanded significantly. The A7 V can now detect a wider range of subjects including airplanes, cars, trains, and insects. Human tracking is more advanced with pose estimation and face memory, while animal tracking has been enhanced with improved eye, head, and body detection. The system processes AF calculations 60 times per second and includes a pre-capture function that saves up to one second’s worth of full-resolution frames at 30fps before the shutter is pressed, helping photographers capture fleeting moments.
Sony has also redesigned the body with a 3.2-inch, 2.1-million-dot touchscreen that uses a 4-axis articulation system. This display can tilt and fully articulate, offering more flexibility for shooting at creative angles. Additionally, the A7 V now includes two USB-C ports: a high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 port for fast data transfer or streaming, and a second USB-C port for charging or simultaneous workflows.
For video shooters, the A7 V delivers 4K recording at up to 60fps using 7K oversampling from full pixel readout, ensuring sharp and detailed footage without pixel binning. It also introduces 4K at 120fps with a 1.5x APS-C crop—marking the first time the base A7 series has offered this capability. Heat management has been significantly improved. Sony says the camera can record up to 90 minutes of 4K60 footage at 25°C and around 60 minutes at 40°C, a major improvement over the A7 IV, which could only operate for about 10 minutes under the same temperature.
The A7 V uses the familiar NP-FZ100 battery but benefits from 20% to 30% longer operating time thanks to processor efficiency improvements. Sony has priced the A7 V at $2,899, and sales will begin on December 19.
With its faster sensor, advanced AI autofocus, improved thermals, and enhanced video features, the A7 V represents a substantial step forward for Sony’s standard A7 lineup and is positioned as a powerful hybrid camera for both photographers and filmmakers.
