This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
There are plenty of α7V reviews already, so this is not one. It is the setup I did right after unboxing, to make the Sony α7V handle exactly like my main camera, the α1. The single most useful step: decide which dial controls aperture, shutter speed and ISO before anything else. The rest you can refine as you shoot.
What I tested
- Sony α7V body with the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II (lens sold separately)
- Replacing my Sony FX30 as the camera I record YouTube videos with
- Matching the button and dial layout to my Sony α1, which I mainly use to photograph my kids, switching between stills and video
My settings at a glance
| Setting | What I chose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Auto power off temp. | High | So the camera does not shut down from heat while recording |
| Movie format | 4K, 30p, 60M | The HS (H.265) option does not offer 30p |
| Recording media | Same data to both cards | A backup if one card fails |
| Stills | RAW (lossless compressed) + JPEG (Fine) | JPEGs are for sending to my phone |
| Focus mode / area | AF-C / Wide | Tracking, with a button to focus in the centre |
| Picture profile | PP11 (S-Cinetone) | Used almost as is |
| White balance | Custom, 5600K | I don’t like how Auto looks |
What I found
- On first boot the camera asks about accessibility features, then pairs with Creators’ App, which set the date and time automatically.
- I put Format and HDMI Info Display in My Menu. I record the HDMI output on separate gear, and with the info display on, shutter speed and other overlays end up in the recording. The setting is buried deep in the menus, so a shortcut helps.
- Before changing settings, switch the mode dial underneath to Photo or Movie: each mode keeps its own settings.
- Stills custom keys: C3 opens the menu (handy one-handed, and it shows My Menu while shooting); the down button toggles APS-C/full frame; the lens button is Focus Hold; the three dials are aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The third dial has been freely assignable since the α7 IV generation, while on the α1 it is fixed to exposure compensation.
- Movie custom keys: stabilisation mode, Focus Hold (useful when someone walks in front of the lens), focus magnifier, ISO auto/manual, zebra, zoom and focus area.
- Setting the shutter button to start movie recording is the one change I would tell everyone to make.
- In the Fn menu I keep stabilisation, audio recording level, picture profile and the ISO auto minimum shutter speed.
- I could copy my α1 settings data to my phone, but I could not find a way to load it into the α7V, so I matched everything by hand.
Who it’s for
New α7V owners who want a starting point, and anyone who wants the α7V to match another Sony body. If you shoot Log and grade everything, my picture profile settings will not apply to you.
Watch the video
The video is in Japanese. The stills key assignments start around 14:00 and the movie-mode assignments around 18:40, and the on-screen menus are easy to follow even without the narration.
Limitations
These are my personal preferences for a stills-and-video workflow, not universal best settings. The menus in my screenshots are in Japanese. The price I saw was ¥399,900 (body only, tax included) on Amazon Japan at the time of recording.
Products
Sony α7V (body): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Camera & Desk Setup (42) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.