Sony a7R IV ISO Range Sample Images Test & Review

I’ve been out shooting with the brand-new Sony a7R IV, the full-frame flagship model in Sony’s mirrorless camera range. Here are some side-by-side examples taken through the ISO range from ISO 50 to ISO 102400.

Sony a7r IV Mirrorless Camera Front View. Photo by David Coleman " havecamerawilltravel.com

Text & Photos By David Coleman

Last Revised & Updated: December 22, 2023

Filed Under: Mirrorless Cameras

Topics: Sample Images, Sony, Sony a7R IV / a7R IVA

I MAY get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

The cameras in Sony’s Alpha range have had some of the best sensors around for a while now, especially their flagship full-frame models. And the Sony a7R IV is yet another improvement.¹

Sony a7R IV Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor
567-Point Phase-Detection AF System
UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000
240MP Pixel Shift Multi Shooting

I thought it might be useful to post some practical examples taken throughout the ISO range. It’s a scene I often use for ISO tests because of the smooth tones between highlights and dark shadows. They might look like shadow blocks, but there’s detail there. And the smooth tonal gradations can expose trouble that might be hidden by high-contrast, sharp-edge scenes. Basically, it’s a good test of ISO image quality, particularly as you start getting into the higher ISOs (in addition to being a fun place to shoot around the equinox!).

The Sony a7R IV has an ISO range from 50 through 102400. Of that, the native ISO range is from 100 through 32000.

At either end are extended ISO ranges where software takes over beyond the native capabilities of the sensor. These extended ISO ranges are from ISO 50 to ISO 80 and from ISO 40000 to ISO 102400.

ISO Range Sample Images Taken with a Sony a7R IV

I haven’t applied any processing or corrections to any of these—they’re as shot and entirely untouched after they’ve come out of the camera. They were all taken with a Sony a7R IV with a Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM prime lens at ƒ/2.8 (the shutter speed obviously varied somewhat).

You can click on each image for a full-size version. The versions displayed are from the JPG versions; these have the camera’s built-in processing applied. You can see that at work particularly in the high-ISO versions where the processing engine has worked some magic to compensate for the downsides of high-ISO images, such as image noise, shifting colors, and reduced dynamic range.

Those full-size versions give you a good idea of the camera’s performance, but it’s worth noting that the versions you see displayed on the page here are derivative versions that are generated for web display. They’re good copies, but they’re still copies. So, in the caption for each image, you can find download links for the direct-out-of-camera original RAW and JPG versions (I shot them with the RAW+JPG option). You can download and view the original images at full resolution if you want a closer look. Be warned, though, that a 60MP camera produces big files—the JPG versions here range from around 21MB to 52MB, and the RAW (.arw) versions are about 123MB each (I used the uncompressed RAW setting).

Sony a7R IV Lower Extended ISO Range

Sony a7r IV ISO Test — **ISO 50.** Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Sony a7R IV Native ISO Range

Sony a7R IV Upper Extended ISO Range

Compared to the a7R III

I’ve previously posted a similar series of images across the ISO range of the a7R III.

Key Specs

Imaging
Lens Mount: Sony E
Sensor Type: 35.7 x 23.8 mm (Full-Frame) CMOS
Sensor Resolution Actual: 62.5 Megapixel
Effective Resolution: 61 Megapixel (9504 x 6336 pixels)
Crop Factor: None (Full-Frame)
Aspect Ratio: 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Image File Format: JPEG, Raw (14-bit)
Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
Exposure Control
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 32000 (Extended: 50 to 102400)
Shutter Speed: Mechanical Shutter / 1/8000 to 30 Second + Bulb Mode (1/8000 to 1/4 Second in Movie Mode)
Metering Method: Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multiple, Spot
Exposure Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation: -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps)
Metering Range: -3 to 20 EV
White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater
Continuous Shooting: Up to 10 fps at 61 MP for up to 68 Frames (JPEG)
Interval Recording (Timelapse): Yes
Self-Timer: 2/5/10-Second Delay
Video
XAVC S: UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p [60 to 100 Mb/s]
Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 3.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [16 to 100 Mb/s]
AVCHD: Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50i/59.94i [17 to 24 Mb/s]
External Recording Modes: 4:2:2 8-Bit / DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p / Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/50i/50p/59.94i/59.94p
Video Encoding: NTSC/PAL
ISO Sensitivity: Auto: 100 to 12800
Manual: 100 to 32000
Audio Recording: Built-In Microphone (Stereo)
External Microphone Input: (Stereo)
Focus System
Focus Type Auto and Manual Focus
Focus Mode Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points: Phase Detection: 567
Contrast Detection: 425
Autofocus Sensitivity: -3 to +20 EV
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Type: Electronic (OLED)
Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
Interface & Memory Card Slots
Media/Memory Card Slot Dual Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
Internal Memory: None
Cable Connectivity 3.5mm Headphone, 3.5mm Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
GPS No
Battery: 1 x NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh (Approx. 530 Shots)
Dimensions: (W x H x D) 5.07 x 3.8 x 3.05″ / 128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5 mm
Weight: 1.46 lb / 665 g

Sony a7r IV Price & Availability

You can find it in various configurations and bundles, including the body only or with lenses and other accessories.

Buy New

Sony initially set the MSRP for the a7r IV at $3499.99, but with newer models out since then, you can find it for significantly below that.

Sony a7R IV Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor
567-Point Phase-Detection AF System
UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000
240MP Pixel Shift Multi Shooting

Note: There’s now an “A” version (as in, a7R IV A) that features two incremental updates: a higher-resolution back LCD screen and USB 3.2 connectivity. The cameras are otherwise identical.

Buy Used

With newer models out now, there’s a healthy supply of a7r IV’s on the used market. Some good places to look are:

More to Check Out

If you enjoyed this, these might also be of interest:

The camera’s model number is technically the Sony α7R IV (i.e., with an alpha character rather than an “a.” It’s sometimes spelled out as Sony Alpha α7R IV, and the product number is ILCE-7RM4. [↩]

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2024-05-17 at 15:42. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

David Coleman

I'm a professional photographer based in Washington, DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and many places in between. I've been shooting for 30+ years, and my photos and time-lapse videos have appeared in a bunch of different publications, from major newspapers to magazines and books, billboards, TV shows, professional sports stadiums, museums, and even massive architectural scrims covering world-famous buildings while they're being renovated. You can see some of my travel photography here and here.

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