Upgrade Guide
Sony A7 IV→Sony Sony FX5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7 IV. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Sony FX5
-
Generation5 years newer (2026 vs 2021)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution17MP (down from 33MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7 IV | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.3 | ||
| Street | -1.2 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.5 | ||
| Documentary | +0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.7 | ||
| Landscape | -1.6 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.1 | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | -2.1 | ||
| Architecture | -0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 IV | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 33MP | 17MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps | |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 659g (body only) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Slot 1 CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II, slot 2 SD UHS-II | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7 IV and Sony FX5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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