It’s been some time since we last took a serious look at the Sony a7 IV, Sony’s “basic” camera. The camera has undergone some changes that some photographers may find particularly interesting. From new shooting modes to improved subject detection and workflow updates, it’s about time to give the Sony a7 IV another look. So we’ve done an update to our review.
Below is the new text that’s been added to our Sony a7 IV review.
Workflow Changes: FTP and C2PA Compliance
Sony, being a member of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), has included tools to bring many of their cameras up to the group’s standard. In firmware version 5.01, Sony a7 IV’s latest firmware update includes updated FTP file transfer capabilities, the elimination of the older and less secure WEP standard, and the option to purchase a C2PA-compliant digital signature for the camera. That said, unlike other cameras, namely the Leica SL3-S, M11-D, and M11-P, or the Fujifilm GFX 100S II, Sony’s execution of bringing their cameras up to standard requires the purchase of $25/year license per camera. That’s right, you now effectively have a subscription to your camera if you plan on selling/creating images that could be verified as authentic.
At a time when authenticity and the veracity of an image are tantamount, Sony is not only adding another layer of friction but looking to turn it into a recurring revenue stream. While we welcome more manufacturers adopting the C2PA standard, we must call this out for what it is – a blatant money grab.
To get this digital signature license, you’ll first need a Sony Creators’ Cloud account and a supported camera, like the Sony a7 IV. Once you’ve gone through the process of accepting the terms of use and confirming that you own a supported camera, you’ll be met with a third-party payment processor page, and finally a DAT file that you could either upload via your camera’s memory card or the Sony Creators’ Cloud app. If that file name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same file type that you’d download for a regular firmware update. If this could’ve just been a firmware update, why not just make it available as a one-and-done affair?
The $25/year fee doesn’t seem like a big deal until you realize that these licenses are solely aimed at newsrooms (enterprise purchases) and freelance photojournalists. At a time when authenticity and the veracity of an image are tantamount, Sony is not only adding another layer of friction but looking to turn it into a recurring revenue stream.
While we welcome more manufacturers adopting the C2PA standard, we must call this out for what it is – a blatant money grab.
Focus Bracketing Comes to the Sony A7 IV
If you’re a macro photographer, this will be a highlight of Sony’s recent firmware updates to the a7 IV. I’ve spent the bulk of this update testing the Focus and Exposure bracketing features of the Sony a7 IV, looking to see just how intuitive the process is. Out of an abundance of transparency, I have not seriously shot any macro images since I owned an Olympus OM-D E-M1 (the original) and their M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f2.8 Macro.
Sony’s implementation of focus bracketing is straightforward. From the Drive menu, select Bracketing and set the option to Focus. From there, you’ll open up various options, including the new focus bracketing mode. This will allow photographers to set the number of shots and the focal plane between the first and last shot. In the end, you’ll be able to create the final stacked image using your editing software of choice.
The following images were all taken using the Sony a7 IV’s new focus bracketing option and edited (stacked) in Photoshop:
Autofocus Update
Though minor, this update adds improvements to human eye AF during AF tracking. Sony’s AF has long been the standard in the photography world, and the a7 IV was no slouch pre-update. This is a relatively minor update that may not be noticeable to current owners of the a7 IV, but it is worth noting that Sony is putting enough thought into its cameras and ultimately its users to squeeze even more performance out of its investment.
Below are a few unedited sample photos taken with the Sony a7 IV:
Winners and Losers of Firmware Version 5.01
The truth is that this update is something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, photographers who may need a very specific tool, like focus stacking, now have the option available to them. Photographers who love Sony’s Eye AF autofocusing system can get more of what they love. Alternatively, if you’re a working photojournalist or even photographer who needs better/modern FTP options, Sony has heard your pleas and made them available. That said, Sony’s handling of digital signatures for rent leaves a bad taste in The Phoblographer editorial team’s mouth. We can’t stress how much this approach to C2PA compliance (however, within their right, Sony is) feels like it’s antithetical to the point of content authenticity.