21/06/2026
AI Has Finally Entered My Camera Bag
For quite a while, I had been eyeing the Sony Alpha 7R V. Coming from the Alpha 7R II, III and currently the IV, there were two features that kept catching my attention: Sony’s AI-powered autofocus system and the fully articulated flip screen.
Last Friday, I finally joined the club.
The timing was perfect. With the release of the new Alpha 7R VI, many photographers have started selling their 7R V bodies, often in excellent condition. After some searching, I found a very well-kept camera and decided it was time.
And after the first shoots, I can already say: I do not regret it.
The AI autofocus is genuinely impressive. Photography has always been about the connection between photographer and subject, but technology can remove some of the technical friction. In difficult lighting situations, where previous generations occasionally hesitated, the 7R V simply finds the eye and stays locked on it. For portrait and fashion work, that reliability is worth a great deal.
Then there is the flip screen. Anyone who has spent years working with the more limited tilting displays of earlier Sony bodies will immediately appreciate the flexibility. High angles, low angles, awkward positions — suddenly everything becomes easier.
And, of course, the overall responsiveness of the camera is remarkable. It feels refined, confident, and ready for whatever creative idea comes next.
The image shown here is from one of the very first editing sessions with the new camera. A small behind-the-scenes glimpse into the place where photographs take their final shape after the shutter has been released.
As someone who still loves metal-bodied cameras and the philosophy of getting the image right in-camera, it is fascinating to see how artificial intelligence is quietly becoming part of modern photography. Not replacing the photographer. Not replacing creativity. Simply helping us focus more on the moment and less on the mechanics.
AI has officially arrived in my camera bag.
And surprisingly, I quite like it.