Way back in 2006, I attended the Australian launch of the Sony DSLR-A100, which was the company's first-ever DSLR. My memories are a bit vague of the camera itself, but I remember the launch up in Port Douglas reasonably well.
Since then, I've reviewed a handful of Sony cameras, but nothing for a long while. The rise of solid smartphone cameras means I drifted away from using a proper camera for photography personally, and professionally I just haven't really had the bandwidth to dive back into proper photography.
But Sony's just announced the Alpha 7 V, and I've got to say, some of these specs are making me think twice about my phone-only approach.
This is the fifth generation of the Alpha 7 series, and being 2025, you better believe Sony is pitching "AI" in the camera.
Sony's built AI processing into their new BIONZ XR2 processor, which apparently gives you 30% better autofocus recognition than the Alpha 7 IV. It'll track humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and aeroplanes across 759 phase-detection points covering 94% of the frame. It'll even maintain focus down to EV -4.0, which is properly dark.
For fast action photography, the speed is wild. 30fps continuous shooting with full autofocus and auto-exposure tracking, all while capturing 14-bit RAW files. Sony's managed this with a new partially stacked 33-megapixel sensor that reads out 4.5 times faster than before.
There's also a pre-capture function that grabs up to one second of shots before you actually press the shutter. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of photos of my kids over the years where I missed the actual shot by a fraction of a second where this would have come in handy.
Video people get 7K oversampled 4K 60p in full-frame mode, plus 4K 120p in APS-C/Super 35mm mode. There's Dynamic Active Mode stabilisation for handheld work, and an auto-framing function that uses AI to keep your subject properly composed while recording.
Wi-Fi 6E for faster transfers, dual USB-C ports, a 4-axis multi-angle monitor that works both ways, and about 630 shots per charge. There's even a low-brightness monitor mode to squeeze out more battery life.
Pricing and availability
The Alpha 7 V hit shelves mid-December for $4,699 body only.
Sony's also launching a new FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II lens alongside the body. At $699 (coming mid-January), it's designed to keep up with the camera's high-speed shooting, with up to 120fps AF/AE tracking on compatible bodies.
It's a serious investment, but it also looks to be a pretty serious camera. If you're looking for a flagship full-frame DSLR, it could be worth checking out.
🛒 Where to buy Sony
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
