Sony has announced a new update – a custom gridline license for the Alpha 7 IV, which will be available in March 2024, though other cameras will be able to get this update in the future, as well. Let’s take a look at what this license adds to Sony cameras! With this new license (which seems to me to be a minor firmware update), Sony users can import up to four customized gridlines. Photographers and filmmakers know how important it is to have a grid reference for specific projects to be consistent throughout the shoot. Camera manufacturers know this as well since Panasonic, Canon, and Blackmagic, to name a few, as well as monitor brands such as SmallHD, have been including this feature in their cameras for years. What makes this particular license “news-worthy”, is the hefty pricing at $149. Finally, framing guidelines for the Alpha series After learning the price, I was expecting an AI feature or something rather outstanding to be included in the license, but what Sony is offering here (and it’s about time) is the possibility of displaying color gridlines on EVF, LCDs, and HDMI output monitors. Additionally, they can be used as partially filled transparency masks. We love some of Sony’s top-notch features like their AI technology for auto-framing and their autofocus system, but frankly, this paid update is rather late to the party. I question why this update/license has not been added for free in a firmware update, and why Sony claims this feature...
Published By: CineD - Thursday, 30 November, 2023