Camera ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogFebruary 18, 2026Sony A7 V review, Sony A7 V first impressions, Sony A7 V sample images, Sony A7 V sample photos, Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM sample images, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM sample images, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II sample images, A7V review, A7V sample images, A7V samples, A7V sample photosComment

Sony A7 V - First Impressions Review

The Sony A7 V and Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II — Sony A7 V and Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II

Sony A7 V For Photography - First Impressions Review

It’s funny how sometimes a small decision leads to something unexpected. It can be insignificant, but every now and then it turns into something exciting.

In December, Stewart Sy from Sony Canada posted on Threads that he was showcasing the new Sony A7 V at Broadway Camera here in Vancouver, but I just missed it by an hour or so.

I thought I’d ask if he was doing another showing, but initially scolled on. I thought about it again and posted my questions. Within minutes, he replied that he was at Henry’s Camera for another hour or so.

Again, I hesitated, but only for a minute. I thought it was nice of Stewart to get back to me, so I decided to head over to Henry’s and arrived 30 minutes before closing, and Stewart was already packing up.

Even though Stewart was about to call it a day, he took time to show me the Sony A7 V. We had an excellent chat and decided to meet in the new year, once the dust had settled after the A7 V release and the holidays. A long-winded intro, but now you know how this review came about.

Sony A7v and FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II — Sony A7 V and Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II

Introduction

The Sony A7 V was announced in December 2025 with a splash unrivaled by most camera releases, and it arrived about four years after the A7 IV. This is Sony’s most popular camera, and Sony is currently one of the most popular camera brands, hence the hype.

Initial reviews of the A7 V were mixed, as they often are, and, from what I gathered, video shooters especially missed the open-gate option, while photographers could look forward to faster frame rates and excellent dynamic range from a new 33-megapixel partially stacked sensor.

I had the Sony A7 V for just short of a week and felt lucky to have access to three excellent GM prime lenses: the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM, FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, and FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II.

I am not a videographer, so I won’t comment on the video features in this first impressions review.

At the time this review was posted, the Sony A7 V retailed for $2,898.00 or $3,699.95 in Canada.

Stanley Park Seawall on a sunny February day. Sample image from a Sony A7V and Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II. — Stanley Park Seawall, Vancouver, Sony A7 V, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II @ f/5.6

Handling and Build Quality

At 1.5 lb / 695 g (with battery and recording media), it is about 75% the weight of my current camera, the Leica SL2-S, or my friend’s Nikon Z8, which I tried a few weeks ago. The weight saving feels significant, and the A7 V is closer in size and weight to the Nikon Z6 III, which I had last year.

Compared to the Sony A7 IV, the A7 V now has a deeper grip and an excellent multi-angle screen inherited from the A7R V.

The deeper grip ensured excellent handling, and none of the f/1.4 lenses I had on hand felt too big or unbalanced with the Sony A7 V.

The control dials feel very good on the A7 V, with excellent dampening, and the buttons are well laid out; it didn’t take me long to adjust. The joystick responds well and is in a good position, and it's nice that you can double-tap to center your focus point.

It may be unusual to point out how much I appreciate the on/off switch. It is large, has a solid feel, and is easy to operate while wearing gloves.

Coffee shop in Steveston, BC. Sample image from a Sony A7V and Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM — Steveston, BC, Sony A7 V, Sone FE 50mm f/1.4 GM @ f/2

Stewart offered to let me try out the battery grip, but I declined, as one of the appeals of the Sony A7 V to me is its compactness and light weight. That said, it’s nice to know you have the option of a grip if you use larger lenses or if shooting in portrait orientation for longer periods.

From a quality standpoint, the only thing I'd wish for is a better EVF. The 3.68m-Dot EVF is by no means a disaster, but compared to the likes of the Nikon Z6 III or Panasonic Lumix S1 II, it falls short and is a bit of a disappointment, as everything else seems to click well with the A7 V.

Does the EVF keep you from capturing images? Absolutely not. I actually appreciate the histogram placement in the viewfinder (bottom right), and it’s easy to read.

First Nations art wall mural in downtown Vancouver. Sample image from a Sony A7V and Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM — Downtown Vancouver, Sony A7 V, Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM

In Action

I keep coming back to the size of the A7 V, and the saying "it punches above its weight" comes to mind. It just feels like a determined little camera with a great shutter sound, and with faster readout speeds, you can also choose to use the electronic shutter more if you so desire, without fear of rolling shutter.

I had no issues with auto focus during my test, but keep in mind you are reading this on a travel site. I did not conduct any serious tracking at high frame rates. My use case is travel, street, and landscape photography. I did a bit of eye-tracking, and it performed really well.

In my eyes, Sony is hitting a sweet spot with the f/1.4 lenses I had for this test. The GM lenses are of a high standard, perhaps not quite as good as Nikon's f/1.2 lenses, but significantly smaller and more affordable.

Lumix only has one f/1.4 lens, and Leica’s APO f/2 lenses are hard on your wallet. Canon now has a line of f/1.4 lenses, but they have clickless aperture rings only, which I’m not a big fan of. I plan to post more sample images from the three f/1.4 GM lenses in the near future.

The articulating LCD of the Sony A7V — The multi-angle LCD of the Sony A7 V

Image Quality

As I venture into more and more full-frame cameras from different brands, I find it takes a bit of time to get used to each brand's color science. However, to my eyes, it is also becoming harder to tell them apart, and they are all very good.

It was no different with the A7 V. The colors are not what I am used to from Fujifilm, Lumix, Nikon, or Leica. They all vary slightly, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like what I see in the A7 V files.

I am quite pleased with the images I was able to put together during the time I had the Sony A7 V.

I appreciated the higher resolution from the 33-megapixel sensor compared to the mainly 24-megapixel sensors I have been using from Leica, Lumix, and Nikon. It allowed me to crop slightly and, in landscape scenes, offered a bit more clarity.

Please click the sample images to view up to 2500 pixels, depending on your monitor size, or use pinch-to-zoom on a mobile phone.

Boat at Steveston Harbour, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Sony A7V and Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II. — Steveston, Sony A7 V, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II @ f/1.4

It’s a Wrap

Going from memory (I have only briefly tried the A7 IV), the Sony A7 V feels like a better camera. I am mainly talking about ergonomics, the new multi-angle screen, and overall build quality.

Add to this many new features, and Sony surely has a new camera that will serve photographers well for the next four years, or however long it will be on the market.

After trying the A7 V, I may have a new appetite for resolution, and in there lies a question, I’m sure photographers are asking themselves. Do you go with the A7 V and its partially stacked 33-megapixel sensor, or pay a bit more (currently $600.00) for the Sony A7R V with its 61-megapixel sensor?

Much will, of course, depend on what topics you favor or need to shoot along your way.

Thanks again to Stewart for helping out with this review and getting the A7 V set up to my liking. I appreciate your help.

Please see more sample images below

Top view of the Sony A7 V and Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate links below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Sony A7 V - B&H Photo
Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II

Thank you for being supportive.