Sony A7 V leak points to underwhelming next-gen full-frame camera launch, with lacklustre video features on the cards
Thanks to previous leaks about the matter, we've known for a while that Sony is planning to launch a new full-frame mirrorless camera in the next few months, with a few choice hardware upgrades slated to arrive on what will be the Sony A7 V. Now, though, there are conflicting rumours and leaks suggesting that the Sony A7 V might not be as exciting a camera launch as previous releases by the brand that has become synonymous with the hybrid mirrorless camera.
Sony A7 V slated to launch without major video features
Sony is slated to update the internals of its mainstay full-frame mirrorless camera when it launched the A7 V, specifically when it comes to the sensor and processor. The sensor will likely be an iteration of the 33 MP unit found in the Sony A7 IV (curr. $1,998 on Amazon), however the processor is supposedly getting updated to an AI-powered version similar to the processor found in the flagship Sony A1 II (curr. $6,998 on Amazon).
Normally, it would be assumed that a processor upgrade like this would allow photographers to better take advantage of the camera's sensor. However, recent leaks shared by SonyAlphaRumors indicate that the new full-frame mirrorless camera may still be missing video features, like open gate video, pre-capture, and uncropped 4K 60p video recording. The site has since updated its reporting on the rumours to confirm that at least one of those "missing" features would make its way to the A7 V, which is slated to arrive alongside new technology.
It's not clear which of these video features will make it to the Sony A7 V, although with Canon's newly announced EOS R6 Mark III and its 7K open gate video mode, it seems likely that Sony will follow suite with open gate recording, leaving only uncropped 4K 60p missing.
Physical changes unlikely for Sony A7 V with a December launch on the cards
According to the leaks, the rest of the Sony A7 V will be pretty conventional. For starters, the physical body will be more or less identical to the Sony A7 rV, while the IBIS will receive a substantial upgrade to a massive 8 stops (compared to 5.5 EV stops in the A7 IV). The EVF will also allegedly feature a higher resolution EVF than the 3.86 million-dot EVF on its predecessor. Dual Type-A SD card slots are also expected for the A7 V, although this is a given for cameras expected to be used in professional settings.
The Sony A7 V announcement is slated to be announced in early December, with limited availability shortly after that. Exact pricing is unknown, but leaks suggest it cost somewhere around $3,000.
