Ultimate Sony A7R V Accessories Guide

Welcome to my Sony a7R V Accessories Guide that covers the best accessories available for the Sony a7RV mirrorless camera.

If you already own the Sony a1, a7SIII, a7IV or a7R IV then you’ll be relieved to know that many accessories for these cameras are also fully compatible with the a7R V.

Screen Protectors

The Sony a7R V does include a very thin screen protector installed over the LCD from the factory.

However, it is still susceptible to scratches and knocks and I’d therefore recommend installing an additional screen protector over the top of the factory one.

A good quality screen protector won’t impact the touch screen or hinder your viewing in any way.

Sony PCK-LG3 Glass Screen Protector

The Sony PCK-LG3 screen protector is a hardened glass screen protector designed specifically for the larger LCD display of the a7R V.

It’s 9H-rated hard, shatterproof glass and has an anti-stain coating to resist marks or finger prints

I’m using another version of this screen protector on a couple of my Sony cameras and so far have never experienced any issues with it. The touch screen still works perfectly and the display remains crystal clear.

The only real downside to this screen protector is the price, as it’s not the cheapest of options available.

Expert Shield Crystal Clear Screen Protector

If the Sony PCK-LG3 screen protector is a little too pricy for your liking, then you might want to consider the crystal clear screen protector from Expert Shield.

This screen protector is made from ultra-hard optical grade PET with a scratch resistant coating.

I’ve been using this protector on my Sony a7 IV for the last 12 months and have not noticed any negative effects of it being installed. I can’t comment on its durability since it’s not taking any serious knocks yet.

Expert Shield Anti-Glare Screen Protector

Expert Shield also offer a matte version of their screen protector that helps when using the LCD in bright sunlight.

Memory Cards

The Sony a7R V supports both CFexpress Type A memory cards and UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards in both card slots, just not at the same time.

Below you can find the results from my Sony A7R V Memory Card Guide where I have tested all of these cards in camera.

If you visit the guide you’ll also find details of how many shots you can take before hitting the buffer in all of the file types supported by the a7R V.

CFexpress Type-A Memory Cards

These in-camera tests were done using the Sony a7R V and 160GB cards, apart from the Exascend which was 240GB.

Memory Card	* In-Camera Write Speed	Price Check
1. Lexar Professional CFexpress Type-A Gold	711 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
2. Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type-A	662 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
3. Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type-A	662 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
4. ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type-A Cobalt	655 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
5. Sony CEA-G CFexpress Type-A	650 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
6. Exascend Essential CFexpress Type-A	477 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon

UHS-II SD Memory Cards

These in-camera tests were done using the Sony a7R V and 64GB UHS-II memory cards.

Memory Card	* In-Camera Write Speed	Price Check
1. Sony SF-G Tough	243 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
2. ProGrade V90	231 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
3. Hoodman Steel 2000X	229 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
4. Ritzgear Video Pro	229 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
5. Delkin Devices POWER	228 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
6. SanDisk Extreme Pro	216 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
7. Kingston Canvas React Plus	201 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
8. Sony SF-M Tough	144 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
9. Sony SF-M	144 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
10. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90	141 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
11. Lexar Professional 2000X	123 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
12. PNY X-PRO 90	119 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
13. Transcend SD 700S	117 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon

Memory Card Readers

You can transfer files directly from your a7R V to your computer via the included USB-C cable, but if you prefer to use a card reader then here are a couple of options.

Sony MRW-G2 CFExpress Type-A Card Reader

The Sony MRW-G2 is a dual-card reader/writer supporting both CFexpress Type A and SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II/UHS-I memory cards.

It supports transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.1 Gen 2. You’ll find USB Type-C to Type-C and USB Type-C to Type-A cables are included in the box.

I’m not entirely sure what material it’s made from but it feels like some type of light metal, either way it feels very well built and definitely not plasticky.

I use the MRW-G2 myself and find it to be pretty much faultless, it also doesn’t get too hot unlike some other readers.

ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A & UHS-II SDXC Dual-Slot USB 3.2 Gen 2 Card Reader

If you want to save a few bucks then the ProGrade Digital reader/writer will be worth considering.

Just like the Sony it is also a dual reader/writer supporting both CFexpress Type-A and SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II/UHS-I memory cards.

Data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2 are supported and it includes USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables in the box.

I also own this reader and it does feel more plasticky than the Sony reader, it also appears to heat up more whilst transferring files.

However, it still works well and takes no time at all to copy files over.

Sony MRW-S1 UHS-II USB Memory Card Reader/Writer

If you have no intention of using CFexpress Type A memory cards in your a7R V then you can save a fair bit of change by purchasing the Sony’s MRW-S1 UHS-II USB SD Card Reader/Writer.

It can read/write to UHS-II SD Cards via a USB 3.1 interface and is backward compatible with UHS-I SD cards.

The MRW-S1 together with a fast memory card like the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD cards can transfer files to and from your computer around 2.6x faster than a UHS-I SD cards.

I’ve owned this reader for years and it has not let me down yet.

Batteries and Chargers

The Sony a7R V supports the Sony NP-FZ100 lithium-ion battery. One of these should be included in the box when purchased from new.

I know it’s tempting to save a few dollars by purchasing third-party batteries, but I would strongly recommend sticking to the original Sony batteries.

Third-party batteries can damage your camera and many third-party NP-FZ100 batteries will also display a warning when used in the a7R V.

Sony NP-FZ100 Battery

The Sony NP-FZ100 is the official battery for the a7R V. It’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2280mAh.

The CIPA standard gives this battery in the a7R V a rating of 440 shots using the EVF and 530 shots using the LCD. However, in the real world and shooting continuous bursts you can comfortably achieve over 2000 shots.

But if you take one shot every 5 minutes and the LCD/EVF is always on, you will drain the battery before you’ve taken more than a couple of hundred shots.

I rarely go through more than a couple of batteries in a day shooting stills (wildlife). But if it’s cold I’d probably want an additional spare in my bag.

Sony BC-QZ1 Battery Charger

The official battery charger for the NP-FZ100 battery is the Sony BC-QZ1. With this mains charger you can charge one NP-FZ100 battery in approximately two hours.

Sony NPA-MQZ1K Multi Battery Adaptor Kit

If you require a lot of power for a longer shoot such as recording a wedding or a long studio session then you might want to take a closer look at the Sony NPA-MQZ1K multi battery kit.

It can charge 4x NP-FZ100 batteries in around 480 minutes and also lets you power two USB devices as well as the camera at the same time.

The NPA-MQZ1K includes two NP-FZ100 batteries, a cable protector and a mounting plate. 

USB Charging

The Sony NP-FZ100 battery can also be charged inside the a7R V via it’s USB-C connector. The a7R V is supplied with a USB-A to USB-C cable in the box.

• Note 1: USB charging is not possible from the Multi/Micro USB connector, only USB-C.
• Note 2: The a7R V will only charge via USB-C when the power is turned off on the camera.

You can also use a Power Delivery (PD) certified power bank to power the a7R V. The battery needs to remain in camera and if the camera is turned on the battery will not charge.

Sony recommends a USB-PD device that is compatible with a USB-C output of 9V/3A or 9V/2A.

ANKER 10,000mAh PowerCore Slim PD

The Anker PowerCore Slim PD 10,000mAh is one just one charger that supports Power Delivery (PD) and has a 9V=2A USB-C output.

Battery Grips

If you need to then you can double the battery life of the a7R V and improve the ergonomics at the same time by adding a battery grip.

Sony VG-C4EM

The Sony VG-C4EM is the official battery grip for the Sony a7R V. It’s also supported with the Sony a1, a9II, a7R IV, a7 IV and a7S III.

It shares similar materials to the a7R V along with a similar button feel to maintain the consistency between camera body and grip controls.

The grip holds 2x NP-FZ100 batteries which effectively doubles the battery life of the a7R V.

On top of the grip you’ll find a vertical shutter button and a lock switch to prevent accidental use. There are also C1 and C2 custom buttons and a shutter dial on the front.

On the rear you’ll find a joystick, an AF-On button, aperture dial and AEL button.

To attach the grip you need to remove the battery door from the a7R V by using the little switch inside the door. This can then be safely stored inside the battery grip itself. You then insert the column into the battery compartment and tighten the fitting screw.

I own this grip myself and although it’s expensive I do prefer it to the cheaper Meike third-party grip that I also own. The Meike grip had a very strong chemical smell when it arrived which sill persists over a year later.

The only slight negative is that there’s a very small gap between the grip and the camera body. It’s only really noticeable if you hold it up to a light source but a more seamless fit would have been nice.

L-brackets and Grip Extensions

L-brackets and grip extensions are useful additions to the a7R V, adding both arca-swiss compatibility and helping to improve ergonomics at the same time.

Here are some options that you might want to consider.

SmallRig Baseplate 3666

The SmallRig Baseplate 3666 helps to improve the grip and ergonomics of the a7R V and also helps to prevent scratches on the bottom of the camera.

There’s an arca-swiss plate built in for mounting to tripod heads and a small flat-head screwdriver to help with attaching and removing it. However, this is attached magnetically and it’s likely to get lost very quickly.

There’s a little door that opens to allow you to change batteries. On reading some reviews it appeared that some reviewers never found this little door because they complained it wasn’t possible to remove the battery, this isn’t true!

Here it is mounted to my a7R V. It’s a very good fit. I’ve actually been using on my a1 for quite some time already as I find it much more comfortable to hold the camera with the additional grip.

SmallRig L-Bracket 3984

The SmallRig 3984 is a folding L-bracket that allows you to quickly change between horizontal and vertical shooting positions.

The L-bracket features cushions to prevent scratches and twisting as well as a hinge arm at the battery door that allows the battery to be changed and also provides somewhere for your little finger to rest.

In the baseplate, there are multiple 1/4″-20 threaded holes for Magic Arm 3873 and Cold Shoe 2935 for the monitor, microphone, and other accessories for use in video production.

Cages

If you are more into video shooting than stills then you may wish to attach additional accessories to your a7R V, the addition of a cage makes this possible.

SmallRig Cage 3667

The SmallRig 3667 cage helps to protect the a7R V from knocks and also provides multiple mounting options for various accessories.

Multiple mounting points: 1/4″-20 threaded holes, ARRI 3/8″ -16 locating holes.

The cage features a wwo-point locking system that fixes the a7R V via one 1/4″-20 screw at the bottom and the shoulder strap hole on the left side.

There’s also an Arca quick release plate on the bottom of the cage.

Neck and Wrist Straps

The Sony a7R V includes a neck strap in the box but it’s most definitely not the most comfortable camera strap on the market.

There are many neck and wrist straps available but my favorite are the ones from Peak Design.

Their fast clip system allows you to attach and remove the straps in seconds and the material that the straps are made from is also very comfortable against the skin.

Peak Design Slide / Slide Lite

The Peak Design Slide can be worn as a sling, neck, or shoulder strap.

The nylon strap has a smooth side that comfortably glides over clothing when in sling mode and a more grippy side that helps prevents slipping when in shoulder mode.

Peak Design Cuff

Like the Slide above, the Peak Design Cuff also uses the Peak Design anchor system.

Once on your wrist the strap magnetically locks into place. This does take a little getting used to but once you do it’s very easy to take on and off.

Remote Controls

If you would like to control your a7R V from a distance then you’ll probably want a remote.

You could use Sony Imaging Edge mobile app for controlling the camera remotely, but it’s a rather basic app and the connection isn’t always the most reliable.

Sony RMT-P1BT Remote Commander

The RMT-P1BT is a Bluetooth remote which provides a reliable connection up to around 18m or 60 feet away from the a7R V.

The remote covers all of the essential camera controls including releasing the shutter, a focus button, a lock switch that prevents accidental operation during transport, movie recording start/stop and power/digital zoom.

There are also two custom buttons that mirror the functions of the C1 and AF-ON buttons on the a7R V camera body.

The remote features a super fast 0.05 second release time which is very helpful for catching shots like the one above where the kingfisher dives from its perch into the water in just a few fractions of a second. My a9 was mounted on a gimbal for this shot whilst I was a few meters away in a hide.

The RMT-P1BT also supports burst shooting. So when you are in continuous shooting mode you can hold down the shutter button to shoot continuously.

Please note that you cannot link location information with a smartphone when the [Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl] is set to [On]. Also if you want to manually control the focus using this remote, you need to switch the camera into MF mode using the camera’s menu, and not the MF/AF switch on the lens, otherwise it won’t work.

Flashes

If you require additional light then you might find a flash useful. I’ve only included Sony flashes for the time-being until I’m sure that third-party options like Godox are fully supported.

Sony HVL-F28RM

The HVL-F28RM is so small it can slips easily into a pocket. However, despite its petite size the HVL-F28RM delivers output that rivals the high-end HVL-F45RM.

Sony HVL-F45RM

The Sony HVL-F45RM is a high powered flash with built-in wireless radio control.

The head rotates 360° horizontally (180° in both left and right directions) and also tilts 150° upward and 8° downward, providing the illumination you want depending on shooting situations.

Sony HVL-F60RM

Sony’s top of the range on-camera flash is the HVL-F60RM.

The high GN602 output and 220 times continuous emission of this flash unit provide plenty of power for a variety of situations.

Microphones

The a7R V does include an internal microphone for basic audio recording but you’ll probably want to add an external mic if you are serious about your audio quality.

Sony ECM-B1M Digital Shotgun Microphone

The Sony ECM-B1M is an ultra-compact camera-mount digital shotgun microphone.

This mic features a built-in Digital Audio Interface that delivers a digital audio stream directly to the a7R V via the Multi Interface Shoe.

Sony XLR-K3M Digital XLR Adaptor Kit with Microphone

The Sony XLR-K3M Digital XLR Adaptor Kit is a dual-channel digital XLR audio adapter that allows you to connect microphones and other audio sources via the Multi Interface Shoe.

It features two XLR-1/4″ combo mic/line inputs with 48V phantom power, and a 3.5mm stereo input with plug-in power, all with individual level controls.

Rode VideoMic Pro R

The Rode VideoMic Pro R includes Rycote’s Lyre suspension system to isolate your microphone from vibrations or rumbling when operating the camera.

You can connect it to the a7R V using the 3.5mm input and it provides a dual mono signal.

Rode Wireless Go

The Wireless GO can transmit up to 230 feet using the same 2.4 GHz frequency band as the RodeLink.

It features a compact design and offers a simple receiver and transmitter with microphone built in.

The two-piece set simplifies the setup process by clipping the transmitter-microphone combo to your subject then connecting the receiver to the a7R V.

The rechargeable battery will last up to seven hours and both transmitter and receiver can be fully charged via USB-C in just two hours. The transmitter has a built-in pre-polarized omnidirectional microphone with a frequency range of 50 Hz to 20 kHz.

It also has a 3.5mm TRS powered port to support a lavalier microphone.

This is my preferred microphone setup for recording YouTube videos when I need to talk. I prefer it to the shotgun microphones as there is very little reverb when used indoors.

Lens Adapters

One of the best things about Sony’s E-mount system is that you can easily adapt lenses with different mounts, so there’s no need to sell all of your old lenses on eBay and get stung with their hefty fees.

Sony LA-EA5 Adapter

The LA-EA5 adapter provides autofocus support for Sony A-mount SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) lenses, SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) lenses, and even non-motorized screw-drive lenses in still shooting modes.

Support with the a7R V is very much lens specific, for full A-mount lens compatibility with the a7R V please visit Sony’s Compatibility Guide.

Metabones Canon EF to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapter

The Metabones adapter lets you mount Canon EF/EF-S lenses to Sony E-mount cameras.

It retains electronic communication between the camera and lens to provide automatic aperture control, EXIF data, image stabilization and autofocus.

Sigma MC-11 Canon EF to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapter

The MC-11 Mount Converter enables the use of Sigma EF-mount lenses on Sony E-mount camera bodies.

It supports autofocus and auto-exposure, as well as in-camera image stabilization and full EXIF data transfer.

Sigma does have a lens compatibility list for this adapter but many Canon lenses not on the list still work very well.

Monster Adapter LA-FE1 Nikon F to Sony E

The Monster adapter LA-FE1 adds autofocus capabilities to Nikon AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses.

For lenses with full support the adapter will also drive both electromagnetic and mechanical lever aperture diaphragms.

Fully-manual lenses and screw-drive lenses don’t get any sort of focus or aperture control, but the adapter will still work passively with them.

You can find full camera and lens compatibility information on the Monster Adapter website.

Bags

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to bag recommendations because there are so many available.

You will of course want to size your bag correctly to ensure it can carry all of your gear.

I’d recommend taking a look at my Sony 200-600 Lens Bag Guide because this includes many different sized bags together with images of both cameras and lenses inside.

Although the focus is on the 200-600 lens it should still prove helpful and give you some ideas.

Waterproof Housings

If you really want to take your a7R V underwater then here are your options.

Nauticam NA-A7RV

The NA-A7RV underwater housing provides fingertip access to all key a7R V controls in a very rugged and reliable aluminum underwater housing.

Atop the housing, a dedicated lever allows quick switching between Still, Movie and S&Q (VFR Video) modes.  A dual thumb lever near the right handle actuates the REC and AF-ON buttons and a single lever near the left handle is for PLAYBACK. 

A patented port locking lever allows lens changes to be made in seconds. Opening the housing for quick battery and media changes is fast and easy with the locking housing latches.

Eyecups

The default eyecup supplied with the a7R V is ok but you might want to change this to help block out more light or if you wear glasses.

Sony FDA-EP19 Eyecup

The FDA-EP19 is the eyecup that is included with the a7R V. If you are happy with this eyecup but have somehow managed to lose it, then this is the correct replacement.

Hoodman Eyecup

If you want to upgrade the original eyecup then this one from Hoodman is my recommendation.

It’s much larger than the original eyecup and also a lot more comfortable thanks to the silicon rubber that its made from.

Unlike the original Sony eyecup this one does a much better job at keeping ambient light out of the viewfinder.

This eyecup is supported on the a7R V, a1, a7S III & a7 IV. It simply clicks into place just like the original eyecup.

Replacement Parts

Along with the FDA-EP19 eyecup there are a couple of additional parts that are easy to lose and you might wish to replace at some point.

Sony ALC-B1EM Mount Cap

The Sony ALC-B1EM Mount Cap helps to protect the a7R V’s 61MP sensor when there is no lens attached.

Sony FA-SHC1M Hotshoe Cap

If you are constantly attaching accessories to the hotshoe, then you might want to keep a few of these Sony FA-SHC1M hotshoe caps spare.

The multi-function hot shoe of the a7R V includes electrical contacts which this cap will help to protect. Leaving it off can also risk shorting your camera if the contacts get wet.

Cleaning

You will most definitely want to take good care of such an expensive camera. Here are a few products that should help to keep it in the best possible condition.

VSGO Full-Frame Sensor Cleaning Kit

This is a great little cleaning kit if you are comfortable with cleaning the sensor yourself.

Just make sure that you put the Sony a7R V into cleaning mode which will vibrate the sensor to help loosen any dust then lock the IBIS mechanism to prevent any damage and make cleaning easier.

The sensor cleaning option can be found under:

Menu: (Setup) → [Setup Option] → [Anti-dust Function] → [Sensor Cleaning] → [Enter].

Once the camera has vibrated the sensor you can remove the lens (if attached) to clean it. Once finished simply turn the camera off.

Rocket Air Blaster

If you don’t already own a rocket air blaster then I don’t know in which world you have been living in.

This is an essential tool that should be in all photographers bags.

It’s super helpful for blowing dust off your camera, off the sensor, lenses and filters.

I’d be pretty lost without mine and probably end up spitting all over my sensor whilst trying to gently remove any visible dust particles!

Zeiss Cleaning Wipes

These are great for cleaning your camera, lenses and filters. You can also use them to clean your glasses or mobile displays.

I’ve even used them on my 65″ TV to remove my kids finger prints but I’ll admit they probably aren’t best suited to such a large screen!

MagicFiber Cleaning Cloths

After using the cleaning wipes these microfiber cloths will help to achieve a spotless finish.

If I’ve missed any really good accessories that you think should be included please drop a comment below. Thanks!

Sony A7R V Guides & Resources