New high-res Sony Alpha 7R VI uses fascinating autofocus tech

It’s something of a novelty when a renowned camera brand announces a new camera that isn’t video-focused. While the new Sony Alpha 7R VI DSLR can shoot video, it’s still being billed as a photography camera.

Considered a step up from the $4,699 Alpha 7 V that launched last year, the $6,999 Alpha 7R VI specialises in high-res photography. Equipped with a 66.8MP full-frame, fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor, Sony’s new mirrorless camera is big on clarity.

With a new BIONZ XR2 engine in tow, Sony claims the camera produces a 5.6-times faster sensor readout than the Alpha 7 V model. Because of this, the Alpha 7R VI can shoot more still frames continuously, up to 30fps.

Supporting this faster shooting is what Sony calls “Real-time Recognition AF+”, an autofocus that tracks subjects via “skeletal-based human pose estimation”. That doesn’t mean your photos will show people’s skeletons, sadly, but it does potentially mean fast focusing on moving subjects, especially during sports.

To help keep things steady when shooting fast-moving subjects, the Sony Alpha 7R VI includes five-axis optical image stabilisation. At the centre, it produces as much as 8.5 stops of stabilisation, while it reaches up to seven stops on the sides.

When shooting video, the Alpha 7R VI can record in up to 8K at 30p. Dial down the resolution, and you can shoot in 4K at either 60p or 120p.

Joining Sony’s latest camera is a whopper of a new lens: the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS. Compatible with E-Mount Alpha cameras, including the 7R VI, this new lens can hold a constant f/4.5 aperture at all focal lengths. It also includes built-in stabilisation, as well as tapping into any in-body stabilisation.

Unsurprisingly, considering the technology it uses, the lens comes in at a pricey $7,399 in Australia. It’s the sort of glass that you’d use for sports photography, snapping photos of wildlife, and anything that requires zooming in from a distance.

Both the new Sony camera and lens launch in Australia this month.

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