Sony has announced a 61-megapixel camera will join its A7 line of full-frame mirrorless cameras as it battles to stay ahead of fellow Japanese electronics maker Panasonic.
Sony’s new A7R IV (A$5,699) will be the highest resolution full-frame camera the company has ever released.
The camera features a newly developed back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which the company said delivers extremely low-noise and high-sensitivity performance to ensure “absolute maximum image quality”.
Sony was one of the first company’s to introduce a full-frame mirrorless camera with the release of the A7 in 2013.
Since then the A7 line has grown to include distinct subcategories, with the A7R providing high-resolution imaging and the A7S targeting filmmakers.
The success of the A7 line has prompted Panasonic to introduce a similar range of full-frame mirrorless cameras with the Lumix S-series.
Panasonic’s high-resolution S1R offers a 47.3 megapixel full frame sensor.
Sony Australia and New Zealand head of digital imaging Jun Yoon said the new A7R “sets an exciting new benchmark for full-frame image quality”.
The camera features 15-stops of dynamic range with a 5-axis in-body image stabilisation.
Sony has also increased the resolution of its in-built electronic OLED viewfinder to 1600 x 1200 to complement the camera’s high resolution sensor.
Wireless data transfer and tethering is available on 2.4gHz and 5gHz Wi-Fi bands, with the camera also supporting USB-C.
The A7R IV also boasts upgraded weather sealing, dust and moisture resistance Mr Yoon said will “manage the challenging shooting conditions of the Australian landscape”.
Sony has also announced a number of new accessories including a vertical grip that doubles the battery life, a digital audio shotgun microphone, an “ultra-tough” SD card with included file recovery software, and a new USB-C hub.
The A7R IV is due to release in Australia before the end of next month, with pricing and availability of the accessories still to be confirmed.
