Finally, the Sony A7S IV is on the way (report)

After a six-year wait since the release of the remarkable Sony A7S III, rumors now suggest that the eagerly awaited Sony A7S IV is on its way. The Sony A7S IV has been a topic of speculation for nearly half a decade, as its core architecture was used in cameras such as the Sony FX3 and Sony ZV-E1. However, the A7S series might have been thought to be discontinued due to the launch of subsequent models in those dedicated video lines, leaving the A7S feeling like a camera without an audience.

Despite this, it appears that the tables have turned. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, a camera recently registered in China, with the code WW261362, is likely to be a mid- to high-end model. The outlet concludes, "My bet is that this will be the new Sony A7S IV." This prediction is based on Sony's typical four-year update cycle, which would rule out successors for other possible candidates such as the A9 III (2023), A7C II and A7C R (2023), and A1 II (2024).

The Sony A7S IV is expected to feature the same 16MP sensor as the FX5, Sony's renowned 9.44 million-dot EVF, and the same processor, in-body image stabilization, and autofocus as the A7R VI. However, the FX5's internal RAW codecs are unlikely to be transferred over to the A7S IV. A potential drawback, if the report is accurate, is that Sony is still struggling to fulfill orders for the FX5, which may lead to a delay in the launch of the A7S IV.

Although some may be skeptical about the A7S rumors due to the long absence, Sony's recent resurgence with the revival of the RX1R III and RX10 V makes such a revival plausible.