- Two leaked images supposedly reveal the upcoming Sony A7 V
- One shows sensor resolution, the other the camera's rear design
- It could be released in October or November 2025
The year 2021. That's how long ago it was that Sony introduced the current A7 IV and raised the bar for mid-range mirrorless cameras.
The 33MP full-frame model remains a remarkably capable all-rounder, but it lost top spot in our best mirrorless cameras guide to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and consequently the even-better Nikon Z6 III.
There's potentially good news for Sony fans, however, because we might just have just seen the first leaked images of the A7 IV's successor, the A7 V.
The New Camera has shared what it says are two images of the Sony A7 V that seemingly reveal sensor resolution and welcome design upgrades from the A7 IV.
There's been a lot of speculation this year about what the A7 V will bring to the table and the leaked images seemingly pour cold water over dreams of a significant upgrade.
However, there's still a lot that we don't know and any speculation should be taken with a pinch of salt, no matter how reliable the source. Let's take a look at what's being said.
A mid-range mirrorless shake up?
Mid-range mirrorless cameras tend to hit the price / performance sweet spot and that's exactly what the Sony A7 IV did four years ago.
Since then, though, Canon and Nikon have gone on to set new standards in this class – the EOS R6 Mark II and Z6 III both shoot faster, and their video specs blow the A7 IV out of the water.
They've put the heat on Sony, who's original A7 series has long been one of the top sellers. So, will the mid-range market get another shake up if and when the A7 V arrives?
One of the leaked images shows the rear screen with the camera's resolution being displayed: 33MP large, 14MP medium, 8.2MP small. This suggests the resolution of the A7 V is unchanged from the 33MP A7 IV, which still beats rivals today.
What we don't know is if it's the same sensor as before, a revised one, or a new kind. For example, the Nikon Z6 III has a speedier partially stacked 24MP sensor, while premium models like the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 II have faster-still fully-stacked sensor.
Such a new kind of sensor would boost performance, effectively eliminating the rolling shutter distortion that plagues the A7 IV in video and burst shooting, as well as form the bedrock for improved performance which could see the A7 V match or surpass its rivals, and with a higher resolution sensor.
The second leaked image reveals a section of the A7 V's rear, suggesting the A7 V could get a versatile 2-axis tilt / vari-angle touchscreen like in the A1 II, although the grip might remain in a similar style to existing A7 models.
The New Camera has gone on to speculate on other improvements we might sensibly expect, touting 20fps burst shooting, Sony's AI chip for improved subject detection autofocus, uncropped 4K 60fps video, a higher resolution EVF, and improved in-body image stabilization.
It's also believed that the Sony A7 V is coming this year, potentially an October or November release. There's word of a Canon EOS R6 Mark III bound for 2025, too, supposedly with the 32MP sensor we saw in the recent EOS C50. Such a flurry of releases really would shake up the mid-range market.
We'll be sharing further thoughts about the rumored Sony A7 V shortly, unpacking the upgrades we think Sony needs to deliver to make a compelling case over its rivals. Stay tuned for that piece.
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