Sony A7R IV Settings: A Complete User Guide From Setup to Video

The Sony A7R IV pairs a 61MP full-frame sensor with two UHS-II slots and Real-time Eye AF. Its menus run across six tabs and dozens of pages, so the defaults hide many useful options. This guide walks you through the A7R IV settings worth changing first, in the order you will need them. Four changes matter most: back button focus, a faster Auto ISO shutter floor, the RAW type and custom keys.

I have shot with an A7R IV, though I never owned one. In addition, I owned a number of Sony A6000-series cameras, from the A6000 up to the A6500. As many of you know, I shot Nikon for 17 years before I moved over to Canon. This guide also draws on close study of Sony’s Help Guide. Where two settings both make sense, you get both options and the reason behind each one.

Everything here applies to the A7R IVA as well. New owners of either body should start with first-day setup.

These figures come from Sony’s spec sheet and Help Guide. They explain why some A7R IV settings matter more here than on lower-resolution bodies.

Two numbers shape most of your setup choices. First, 61 megapixels reveal small amounts of camera shake and missed focus. Second, continuous shooting with Compressed RAW drops files to 12-bit, while Uncompressed RAW slows the burst. For this reason, shutter speed floors and the RAW type matter most.

Sony replaced the A7R IV with the A7R IVA, and later with the A7R V. B&H no longer sells either version new. Amazon sellers still list new bodies, but MPB’s used prices start more than $1,000 lower.

Buying new? The box below tracks the current Amazon listing for the A7R IV body.

Sony's 61MP full-frame body with Real-time Eye AF.

MPB is where I buy my used camera gear, and PhotographyTalk has worked with MPB for nearly eight years. Each used A7R IV there lists its cosmetic condition and shutter count. The listings we checked in October 2026 also came with a six-month warranty. MPB had 32 used A7R IV bodies listed at the time, graded from like new to good.

Check your firmware before you change other A7R IV settings. Open MENU > Setup page 6 and select Version. As of October 2026, the A7R IV runs version 1.20 from August 2020. The A7R IVA runs version 1.13 from April 2026. On the A7R IV, version 1.20 added support for the LA-EA5 A-mount adapter.

The two bodies use separate firmware files, so download the one for your model. Sony offers updates only as a Windows or Mac program, with no memory card option. First, set USB Connection on Setup page 4 to Mass Storage. Next, charge the NP-FZ100 and remove the card. Start the updater on the computer before you connect the supplied USB cable. Then follow its prompts and never unplug the camera mid-update.

Both SD slots take UHS-II cards at full speed. Our guide on how to pick a memory card explains the speed ratings. Sony requires a U3 card for every 100 Mbps setting, in 4K or 1080. Meanwhile, a fast UHS-II V90 card clears the 61MP burst buffer quickest.

Open Rec. Media Settings on Setup page 5. Under Recording Mode, Simult. (still) writes every photo to both cards, a sensible choice for paid jobs. Alternatively, Sort(RAW/JPEG) sends RAW files to one card and JPEGs to the other. Format each card in the camera from Setup page 5 before your first shoot. Formatting also erases any M1 to M4 settings saved on the card.

High Display Quality and a High Finder Frame Rate drain the NP-FZ100 faster than Standard. Set the clock with Date/Time Setup on Setup page 4 and Area Setting on page 5.

A spare battery covers a long day. The picks below match the battery and card slots of this body.

These A7R IV settings decide how much data each frame holds. Open Camera Settings1 page 1 and set File Format to RAW or RAW & JPEG. Our guide on when to shoot RAW vs JPEG covers the trade-off. Full-size files measure 9504 x 6336 pixels at 3:2.

RAW File Type offers Compressed and Uncompressed, with no lossless option. Compressed files take about half the space and keep the 10 fps burst. However, they drop to 12-bit during continuous shooting. Uncompressed files stay 14-bit but cut the buffer to about 30 frames. Use Compressed for action and travel, and Uncompressed for landscapes and studio work.

On page 2, Long Exposure NR is on by default, and it also forces 12-bit RAW. Turn it off for night work. Then, set DRO to Off on page 12 when you shoot RAW, since it changes only the processed look. Color Space AdobeRGB gives a histogram closer to the RAW data. In contrast, sRGB suits JPEGs headed straight to the web.

The camera ships in AF-A. Pick a mode instead with Focus Mode on Camera Settings1 page 5, or press C3. Use AF-S for still subjects and AF-C for anything moving. The A7R IV autofocus system covers about 74% of the frame width with phase detection.

Focus Area sits on C2 by default. Flexible Spot: M suits most stills, because you place one box on your subject. Zone and Wide let the camera choose inside a larger area. Next, open Focus Area Limit on page 5 and hide the modes you never use.

Back button focus is one of the most useful A7R IV settings to change. It separates focusing from the shutter release. Our back-button focusing explained guide covers the technique in depth. Open Camera Settings1 page 6 and set AF w/ shutter to Off. The dedicated AF-ON button beside the viewfinder now runs focus, and the shutter only takes the picture.

Leave Pre-AF on page 7 at its default of Off, so the lens holds still until you press AF-ON. In AF-C, hold AF-ON to track a subject and release it to lock focus. As a result, you recompose without the lens refocusing on the background.

Real-time Tracking follows a subject anywhere in the frame once you start focusing on it. Choose one of the Tracking focus areas, such as Tracking: Flexible Spot M, in AF-C. Alternatively, assign Tracking On to a custom key, so holding it starts tracking from your usual area.

Open Face/Eye AF Set. on Camera Settings1 page 6 and keep Face/Eye Priority in AF on. Set Subject Detection to Human or Animal, and leave Right/Left Eye Select on Auto. Animal eye detection works for stills only, and it blocks the Tracking focus areas. For full control, assign Eye AF to a custom key. Holding it finds an eye anywhere in the frame.

AF Tracking Sens. on page 6 runs from 1 (Locked on) to 5 (Responsive). Keep 3 (Standard) for most work. Drop it to 2 when branches or players pass in front of your subject. Also, set Aperture Drive in AF to Focus Priority for faster focus, or Silent Priority for quiet venues.

Auto ISO handles exposure for most handheld stills. Press right on the control wheel, select ISO AUTO and press right again to set its limits. A 6400 ceiling keeps noise manageable at full resolution, and 3200 suits portraits. Next, open ISO Setting on Camera Settings1 page 9 and choose ISO AUTO Min. SS.

Standard bases the slowest shutter speed on the lens focal length, which is too slow for 61MP files. Instead, set Fast or Faster, which raise the speed by one or two stops. These settings apply in P and A modes. In M mode with Auto ISO, you set shutter speed and aperture, and ISO follows the light.

Multi metering works for most scenes. Metering Mode on page 9 offers Center, Spot, Entire Screen Avg. and Highlight as alternatives. Our camera metering modes explained guide shows when each one helps. Also, set Spot Metering Point to Focus Point Link, so spot metering follows your focus box.

Turn on Zebra Setting on Camera Settings2 page 7 to flag clipped highlights before you shoot.

Keep e-Front Curtain Shutter on Camera Settings2 page 5 switched on. It removes first-curtain shock, which shows clearly at 61MP. Turn it off with fast lenses at high shutter speeds, where it clips out-of-focus highlights. Sony also advises Off with lenses from other makers. On a tripod, set SteadyShot to Off and use the 2-second self-timer.

Few A7R IV settings save more time than custom keys. Sony lets you remap 11 buttons through Custom Key on Camera Settings2 page 9. By default, C1 sets White Balance, C2 sets Focus Area and C3 sets Focus Mode. Good assignments for C4 or the center button include Eye AF, Tracking On and the APS-C/Super 35mm switch.

Function Menu Set. on the same page builds the 12-item Fn menu, with separate lists for stills and movie. Put the settings you change mid-shoot there, such as Drive Mode, Focus Area and Silent Shooting. Then add your most-used menu items to My Menu.

MR 1/2 Memory on Camera Settings1 page 3 saves complete setups. Positions 1, 2 and 3 on the mode dial each hold one in the body. Four more, M1 to M4, live on the memory card chosen under MR Select Media on page 4. For example, save landscape A7R IV settings to 1 and action settings to 2.

Start with this table of A7R IV settings by subject, then adjust for your lenses and light.

For studio flash, set Live View Display on Camera Settings2 page 8 to Setting Effect OFF. Otherwise, the viewfinder goes dark at flash exposures. The landscape row assumes a steady tripod, and the wildlife row adds a two-battery vertical grip. For video, an external shotgun mic records cleaner sound than the built-in one.

These three tools solve specific problems for studio, wildlife and quiet work.

Pixel Shift Multi Shoot. on Camera Settings1 page 3 moves the sensor between frames. The 4-shot option keeps 61MP but records full color at each pixel. By comparison, the 16-shot option builds a file of about 240MP. Both need a tripod and a subject without movement.

The mode locks RAW to Uncompressed and turns on Silent Shooting. Flash still works in this mode, at a 1/8 s sync speed. Set the interval to match your flash recycle time. The camera does not merge the frames, so combine them later in Sony’s Imaging Edge Desktop software.

APS-C/Super 35mm on Camera Settings1 page 1 offers On, Auto and Off. The On setting crops any lens to a 26MP frame at about 1.5x, which adds reach for wildlife. For stills, Auto switches when you mount an APS-C lens, and it also crops all 4K video.

Silent Shooting on Camera Settings2 page 5 uses the electronic shutter. It disables flash, Long Exposure NR and BULB. The sensor reads out in about 1/10 s, so moving subjects and pans bend in the frame. For less bending, Sony suggests Compressed RAW with continuous drive. The anti-flicker option also stops working, so watch for banding under LED lights. Use it for still subjects, quiet ceremonies and wildlife at rest.

Video A7R IV settings start at the mode dial. Turn it to Movie, then set Exposure Mode on Camera Settings2 page 1 to Manual Exposure. Set File Format to XAVC S 4K and Record Setting to 24p 100M on a U3 card. The camera records 8-bit only, and 4K stops at 30p.

With APS-C/Super 35mm on Auto, the default, 4K switches to the Super 35 crop. At 24p, this crop measures about 1.6x and oversamples for the sharpest 4K. In contrast, the 30p crop tightens to about 1.8x. Set the item to Off for full-width 4K, which reads binned pixels and looks softer.

Picture Profile on Camera Settings1 page 12 holds S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG presets. PP8 gives S-Log3 with S-Gamut3.Cine. Since the file is 8-bit, expose log footage generously and grade gently. Turn on Gamma Disp. Assist on Setup page 1 to see a normal-contrast preview while you shoot.

Set Focus Mode to AF-C for video, and pick Wide. For Real-time Tracking, turn on Touch Operation and set Func. of Touch Operation to Touch Tracking. Then touch your subject on the screen. Next, open AF drive speed on Camera Settings2 page 2 and choose Slow for smooth focus pulls. Eye AF works for people in video except at 120p, while animal eye detection stays stills-only.

Plug a microphone into the 3.5 mm mic jack, and monitor sound through the headphone jack. Set Audio Rec Level on Camera Settings2 page 2 for steady levels, and turn on Wind Noise Reduct. outdoors. The Multi Interface Shoe also carries digital audio from compatible Sony microphones.

Over micro HDMI, the camera sends 4:2:2 8-bit to an external recorder. Sony quotes about 30 minutes of 4K at 30°C before heat stops recording. For longer takes on a tripod, set Auto Power OFF Temp. on Setup page 2 to High.

I have shot with an A7R IV, though I never owned one. Set up its menus at home before your first trip. Start with four changes: back button focus, a faster Auto ISO shutter floor, the RAW type and custom keys. Then work through the rest of these A7R IV settings as your shooting calls for them.

The A7R IV has four limits worth knowing. Video stays 8-bit, and 4K stops at 30p. Also, Compressed RAW drops to 12-bit in bursts, and the electronic shutter bends fast motion. Last, the menus run deep, so My Menu and memory recall do much of the work. The A7R V adds 10-bit video and newer subject detection if you need them.

However, the 61MP sensor, two UHS-II slots and 5.5-stop stabilization still suit landscape, studio and travel work. Before buying a used body, read our guide on what to check when buying a used camera.

Keep this guide and Sony’s A7R IV Help Guide open while you set up. Save your favorite A7R IV settings to positions 1, 2 and 3 on the mode dial. Then put the menus away and go shoot.

Use A mode at ISO 100 and around f/8, with AF-S and Flexible Spot. Shoot Uncompressed RAW on a tripod with SteadyShot off and the 2-second self-timer. For static scenes, the 16-shot multi-shot mode builds a 240MP file.

Set AF-C with a Tracking focus area such as Tracking: Zone. Keep Face/Eye Priority in AF on with Subject Detection set to Human. For animals, use Zone, since Animal detection blocks tracking. Use back button focus, a fast shutter speed and the mechanical shutter.

Open Camera Settings1 page 6 and set AF w/ shutter to Off. The AF-ON button then controls focus, and the shutter only takes the picture.

Both slots take UHS-II SD cards at full speed. Sony requires a U3 card for every 100 Mbps setting. A fast UHS-II V90 card clears the 61MP burst buffer quickest.

The A7R IVA from 2021 adds a sharper 2.36M-dot rear screen. It shares the sensor, menus and A7R IV settings in this guide. Each body uses its own firmware file.

https://www.photographytalk.com/memory-card-101/ 2. when to shoot RAW vs JPEG -> https://www.photographytalk.com/raw-vs-jpeg-when-and-why-to-shoot-each/ 3. back-button focusing explained -> https://www.photographytalk.com/a-beginners-guide-to-back-button-focusing/ 4. camera metering modes explained -> https://www.photographytalk.com/camera-metering-modes-explained-with-real-world-examples/ 5. what to check when buying a used camera -> https://www.photographytalk.com/what-to-check-when-buying-a-used-camera/ RELATED READING LINKS: 1. Sony A6500 Settings: A Complete User Guide From Setup to Video -> https://www.photographytalk.com/sony-a6500-settings-guide/ 2. Canon R5 Settings: A Complete User Guide From Setup to Video -> https://www.photographytalk.com/canon-r5-settings-guide/ 3. Nikon D850 Settings: A Complete User Guide From Setup to Video -> https://www.photographytalk.com/nikon-d850-settings-guide/ 4. Best Camera Settings for Landscape Photography -> https://www.photographytalk.com/best-camera-settings-for-landscape-photography/ –>