Sony a7S IV Rumors Questioned as FX3 Success Overshadows a7S Line

Speculation about a Sony a7S IV has resurfaced after Sony Japan registered an undisclosed camera in China with Wi-Fi 6 support, a registration that Sony Alpha Rumors reported and speculated could be the a7S IV. PetaPixel's coverage argues the registration is not confirmation, noting that Sony Japan typically registers mid- to high-end models but that a registration and a product launch are distinct. The a7S III, a 12-megapixel camera, arrived nearly six years ago, yet the article contends that a long gap does not make a successor more likely. The Sony FX3, released after the a7S III, shares the imaging pipeline but has proven far more popular, leading PetaPixel's Jordan Drake to suggest an FX3 II would make more sense than an a7S IV. Drake notes videographers largely reject electronic viewfinders, though he personally prefers the a7-style body and EVF. The article also points to the delayed Sony FX5's new 16-megapixel sensor, arguing it suits an FX3 II or FX6 II better than a photo-first a7S IV, especially given the a7 V's fast-scanning partially stacked sensor. It adds that the a7S III's 12-megapixel stills utility is limited and its low-light advantage disappears when higher-resolution Sony RAW files are downscaled. The piece concludes that an a7S IV remains unlikely, though the authors would welcome being wrong.