The Sony A7 V rumor mill has kicked into gear, which suggests the full-frame all-rounder could land soon. Tipsters speculate October or November this year – I reckon the latter of the two is more likely, but anything could happen.
And the fifth-gen model of the best-selling A7 series can’t come soon enough for Sony. Its A7 IV lost the top spot in TechRadar’s best cameras guide to subsequent rivals from Canon (the EOS R6 Mark II) and then Nikon (the Z6 III) in 2024.
A lengthy tenure in that guide is proof of just how far ahead the Sony A7 IV was at its launch in 2021. However, the powerful Nikon Z6 III, which came two and a half years later equipped with a partially stacked 24MP sensor, delivers an all-round speedier performance and polished video skills and is rightly regarded as a better pick overall today.
So what does A7 V need in order to steal back that best camera crown from Nikon and defend that spot from a potential Canon EOS R6 Mark III? I’ve hand picked five upgrades that it really, really needs.
1. A new kind of sensor
The New Camera leaked two A7 V images, one of which suggests that the upcoming model will have a 33MP full-frame sensor. That’s the same resolution as the A7 IV, and already a sweet spot in the mid-range market.
What’s less sweet is the performance of the A7 IV’s sensor – it has known rolling shutter distortion in high-speed shooting and for video. To truly better rivals, the A7 V needs a new kind of sensor, even if resolution remains the same.
Sony could take inspiration the Nikon Z6 III, which has a speedier partially stacked sensor with faster read out speeds and none of the issues that plague the A7 IV, albeit with a lower 24MP resolution.
If the A7 V were to have a speedier 33MP sensor, then it’s off to a great start. (A global shutter like in the A9 III would be another level, but is highly unlikely). I’d be surprised if the sensor turns out to be the exact same one as before, but I’m also unconvinced it’ll be a stacked or partially stacked type either – expect a tweaked sensor, perhaps with faster read out speeds and improved stabilization performance.
2. An AI chip and improved autofocus performance
This upgrade feels like a safe bet. All current Sony Alpha cameras following the A7 IV, starting with the A7R V, feature an AI chip that powers sophisticated subject detection and tracking autofocus skills.
Placing such a feature in the A7 V wouldn’t tread on the toes of its pricier siblings, the A7R V, A1 II and A9 III. On the contrary, I’d expect Sony to introduce this upgrade to the A7 V.
The upshot will be improved autofocus speed and performance for a wider range of subjects. Couple that with a speedier sensor and the A7 V would already be shaping up nicely, plus there could be even more performance-based upgrades…
3. The latest processor and improved burst shooting
The third upgrade should also center on speed, this time in the form of Sony’s latest Bionz XR processor and improved burst shooting performance.
The A7 IV maxes out at a rudimentary 10fps in its continuous high-speed mode, and those burst sequences don’t even last that long before the camera slows down. Rivals like the EOS R6 Mark II and Nikon Z6 III are leagues above, with faster and longer burst shooting capabilities.
If the A7 V were to combine a stacked or partially stacked 33MP sensor with Sony’s latest processor, quicker burst shooting and versatile AI subject tracking autofocus, it would feel like a much more polished A7 IV, and one that could hold its own against the very best mid-range models of 2025.
Another scenario is that Sony introduces its next generation processor to replace the Bionz XR unit. Unlikely perhaps, but added processing power could be key for positioning the A7 V above rivals.
4. Improved video skills
The A7 IV held top spot in our best cameras guide for such a long time because of its 33MP sensor which is better for general photography than rivals. However, those lower resolution rivals have upped the bar for high-speed photography and video performance, and the A7 V needs to catch up.
As already mentioned, it will need to address the rolling shutter distortion that plagues the A7 IV, through a sensor with faster read out speeds, but the video specs also need a boost – 4K 60fps with a 1.5x crop won’t cut it in 2025.
It’s a given that the A7 V will have much better 4K video recording skills, possibly even 4K 120fps with no crop, and a range of new LUTs color profiles. The question is, will Sony break rank from 4K recording and offer detailed 6K like its rivals do? That I’m less sure of.
5. Refined displays
I really like how the Sony A7 IV handles, but Sony has since improved its Alpha design in consequent full-frame models, the A7R V, A9 III and A1 II.
Those models feature a 2-way tilt / vari-angle touchscreen, which can work for both tilt and out to the side selfies. Rumors suggest the A7 V will get such a display, which would trump rivals.
There’s also speculation that a higher-resolution EVF will feature, possibly a 5.76m-dot unit. I’m 50/50 on this one – the recent RX1R III didn’t get such an upgrade, so the A7 V could also miss out. If it does, expect complaints from grumpy reviewers.
In other areas, Sony needs little improvement, especially given its industry-leading battery life.
Quick prediction
I expect Sony to take a similar tack to Canon and Nikon, and deliver a speedier successor to the A7 IV that feels more polished than before, without breaking significant new ground.
The A7 V’s sensor will be faster although possibly not to the degree that some hope, while autofocus, burst shooting and video recording should all receive a major boost, together with tweaks to the camera’s design. I’m thinking it could be a lot like the A7R V, but with less pixels and a potentially speedier sensor, with an asking price of around $3,200 / £2,800 / AU$5,000.
Will the A7 V raise the bar once more? Perhaps, but unlikely to the extent the A7 IV did. At the least, it will put up a good fight and bring Sony back into the mid-range picture.
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