I Fell For The Full Frame FOMO

I apologize in advance for the slightly clickbait title. Yes, I have bought a full-frame camera however, the full-frame aspect of it was not actually a major factor in my purchase. Those that have followed my ramblings for a while will remember that I wrote an article back in July 2021 called “Don't Fall For The Full Frame FOMO”.

The gist of that article was that both full frame and APS-C are superb sensors and that you should make the decision on which one to go for based on your own needs. In it I looked at my own needs and style of shooting and concluded that my Fujifilmfilm X-T4 was still the right camera for me. Times change, opinions change and with it sometimes a camera system changes. Let me explain.

I Was A Fujifilm Fanboy

I have been a Fujifilm user since around 2012. Whilst having a Nikon lens repaired, I invested in a Fujifilm X100s as a fun, walkaround camera. I absolutely loved that camera, it installed in me a joy for photography that I had been missing for quite some while. I also found myself using that little camera 90% of the time over my Nikon system.

An old Lada parked in a courtyard in Lviv, Ukraine. Shot on a Fujifilm X100s — I loved the Fujifilm X100s, it is what drew me into the Fuji system. By Jason Row Photography

Not long after, I decided to go all in on Fujifilm. I sold my “holy trinity” of Nikon lenses and bought a Fujifilm XPro-1 with some prime lenses. Again I found myself really enjoying the Fujifilm ecosphere. Sure the X-Pro1 was quirky, but I disliked the electronic viewfinder and the slow autofocus. However, the tactile feel combined with the film-like quality of the image more than made up for those quirks.

Roll on a couple of years to my 50th birthday. As a treat to myself, I bought the Fujifilm X-T2. Again it was a camera I loved, for me, it was peak Fujifilm. A beautiful, well-built camera with stunning image quality with a retro and very familiar body. I maxed out my lenses around that camera and enjoyed it immensely.

However, a significant proportion of my income comes from stock video and whilst the X-T2 did 4K it was only 8 bit. So, in order to keep up with stock demands I went with the X-T4.

It Really Was Not The Same

Physically and on paper there was not a huge difference between the X-T2 and X-T4. Yet, there was. As I began to use the camera, I realized that the build quality was not quite as good. The top plate felt thin and cheap, the plastics lighter, and more fragile. Then we get to the shutter button. I really despised it, it was really hard to get a half-press without going on to take the actual image.

The parliament building in Budapest shot at night on a Fujifilm X-T2 — For me, the Fujifilm X-T2 was peak Fuji. By Jason Row Photography

There was something very nonspecific about the image quality as well. There was only a 2mp jump over the X-T2 but it just seemed to lack the subtlety of the older sensor. It’s very hard to explain but it's a feeling that you get over time as you work with the images.

When the X-H2 was announced I thought I would take the opportunity to upgrade. A bigger, more modern style body, the 40 mp sensor is a step change from previous cameras, and even better video. I liked the form factor of this camera but I increasingly disliked the image quality. Then, as Tania and I set out on our trip to get our cat from Ukraine, the shutter button failed. It’s the first time I have had a camera fail inside a year and it did not inspire confidence in me.

I Went Medium Format

Whilst the X-H2 was being repaired, I had the opportunity to buy a seven-year-old, used Fujifilm GFX50s. It made me realize what I was missing from the new Fujifilmfilm cameras. The image quality was sublime, the ergonomics superb and the build quality similar to the X-T2.

I found myself using the camera all the time. I loved editing those beautiful raw files. But as good a camera as the GFX50s was, there was one thing very much lacking, 4k video. As a hybrid photographer shooting video for stock and stills for prints, it was hard to work with two cameras. I was at a crossroads.

The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle shot on a Fujifilm GFX50s — The Fujifilm GFX was sublime but big heavy and light on video. By Jason Row Photography

Hello Sony

When I was buying the X-H2 I spent a fair bit of time playing with the Sony a7IV. It was a lovely camera, less MP than the Fuji but full-frame. However, the viewfinder was significantly lower resolution and it did not feel as good in my hands.

A few months later Sony announced the a7RV, 61mp, 4k, 4:2:2, 10-bit video, and a 9m dot viewfinder. It was perfect for my needs as a hybrid photographer. Just one problem, the price. Sony, however, is known for their marketing, in particular special offers.

An old British red telephone box with red postbox behind in Durham, UK. Shot on a Sony a7Rv — One of my first shots on the Sony a7RV. It's a very easy-to-use camera. By Jason Row Photography

In the time since the release of the a7RV, I have devoured reviews on it both for image quality and video. The video was not quite as good as the X-H2 but the image quality was significantly better, close to if not matching the GFX50s. The high pixel density would mean more noise at higher ISOs but even that seems to be extremely well controlled. In addition to all this, there was Sony's near-infinite range of lenses.

This summer, Sony had a promotion, combined with price drops on the a7RV and a sale on my chosen lens at my local camera store, I decided to bite the bullet. By trading all my Fuji gear, I could get the Sony a7RV with the G24-105 f/4 and have a bit of change. The deal also threw in a 160GB CFExpress A card worth around £300, meaning I could take full advantage of the higher-end video codecs including 8k.

A calm morning on the River Wear in Durham UK with striking reflections in the water. Shot on a Sony a7RV — The a7RV image quality is up there with the GFX but with lots of advantages. By Jason Row Photography

Initial Impressions

I cannot deny that I am mightily impressed with Sony so far. Ergonomically it feels right, the dials and buttons fall nicely to hand. It feels similar to late-model Nikon DSLRs. The Sony menu system is notoriously difficult to navigate, however in recent years this has been improved and the a7RV has the latest version of this. A lengthy and extremely useful video by Jared Polen helped ease me into the menu system.

A view of Durham Cathedral shot through a narrow cobblestone road. Captured by Sony a7Rv — Another “first” image with the Sony a7Rv. By Jason Row Photography

From my initial shoots, the image and video quality are excellent. The images can be pushed and pulled around in Lightroom without breaking up. The Slog3 video grades nicely. The colors on both video and stills seem as good, if not better than my Fuji cameras.

There are quirks, and annoyances, of course. There is no such thing as a perfect camera. However, as I have said before there is such a thing as the perfect camera for you, at the moment. For me, the Sony a7RV is ticking all the boxes with the added bonus that I no longer suffer from the Full Frame FOMO.