My name is Matteo Bruno and I’m a filmmaker and Sony ambassador from Rome, Italy. When I was 8 years old, I discovered that I preferred to see the world through a camera. I’m a visual storyteller; I love the power of capturing the attention of the viewer using framing and lighting in my videos. When I was young, I played a lot with Lego. You know, when you choose the perfect brick to create your structure? I have the same feeling when I decide on the perfect configuration for my videos.

What were your first impressions of the Alpha 7 IV?

Being one of the first filmmakers to test this new camera is crazy – it’s like visiting Santa Claus’ warehouse a month before Christmas for me. This is the camera that a lot of filmmakers around the world have been waiting for and will be excited about.

My initial impression holding it, is that it feels reliable; you can feel the work of the engineers who made the design and worked on it. It’s like when you buy a new pair of sneakers which are perfect for the shape of your feet. From the first moment you try this camera, as a Sony user, I felt right at home.

I like how the Alpha 7 IV feels and operates, it reminds me of the Alpha 7S III with the side-opening screen that flips in every direction. But for me, the most interesting features camera is inside – the 4K 60P internal with 10-bit 4:2:2. I am also impressed with the innovative feature they included for video shooters like the focus map and focus breathing compensation. The body, 4K quality and new features can used without the need for any extra accessories making the Alpha 7 IV the perfect camera for young video content creators.

How will these new features impact the type of content creation that you do?

In the past, the only way to record in formats flexible enough for post-production with the Alpha 7 III was to use an external recorder. You also needed a shoulder rig, a big battery and cables. With the Alpha 7 IV, you can shoot internally in 10-bit 4-2-2 which is a great upgrade in terms of image quality and it also means you can shoot without an external recorder. I think the new 33 MP sensor is perfect for those who shoot both video and stills. In one single body you have a powerful tool that can cope with a wide range of uses in both photography and filmmaking. The autofocus is impressive, especially in difficult light situations which makes it so much easier to follow your subject. The cherry on the top is the little feature like the Focus Map function that allows you to monitor a lot easier where your critical focus is at whether you are using autofocus or manually focusing.

The Alpha 7 IV aims to redefine what photography enthusiasts and video content creators should expect – Do you think it achieves this goal?

I’m often asked, “which camera should I buy to start as a filmmaker?” And it’s always a tricky question. The Alpha 7 III was almost perfect, and was the model I would generally recommend, but the new Alpha 7 IV is even better; almost like a mini Alpha 1. My main camera is the FX3 for my professional work, but the Alpha 7 IV will be my B camera going forward and the main camera for my B roll work. When you have the perfect tool and have complete trust in what it can do, you no longer need to think about the technical side of things. You are free to do what you need and the camera follows you. It is the first step to free creation and I think the Alpha 7 IV achieves that perfectly.

Lenses & accessories are another core component of creating video content  – Which Sony lenses and accessories did you use for your initial test and why?

I tested the Alpha 7 IV with my favourite lenses – the FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS, FE 20mm f/1.8 G and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM. One of the most impressive features of the new camera is focus breathing compensation. This is a huge improvement especially for the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM as this lens suffers from this breathing effect. I like to shoot with fast lenses for my style of videos to be in control of the light. For my normal setup, I use a cage, shoulder rig, external monitor and extra battery. The cage allows me to attach various accessories and I can quickly change configuration. However, for my test, I decided to try the Alpha 7 IV without any external accessories apart from ND filters. I wanted to go back to when I began shooting and put myself in the shoes of young creators. It was fun to test and I relied heavily on the built-in image stabilisation (IBIS) and it worked fantastically.

What advice would you give aspiring photographers or content creators who look up to you and your work?

When you learn to play an instrument, the first thing you learn is to play cover versions of famous songs. My advice for video content creators that are just starting in their journey is to make cover versions of great videos. If you like the lighting of a scene in a movie, take your lights and try to emulate that style. Once you become familiar with well-known styles, your mind begins to create new ideas of your own and you start to shoot in your own personal style. It sounds simple, but as a filmmaker, I try to see my role as capturing a story that I would like to watch as a viewer. Study the work of the great filmmakers and try to emulate their styles. You’ll find that your own ideas will start to present themselves and you can begin to tell stories in your own way.

Any last words or last advice for our readers?

One thing that struck me as I was post-processing the footage from the Alpha 7 IV is it had the same great image quality of the Alpha 7S III. I shot the sequences in good lighting condition and at the native ISO but still – it is incredible! Technology is evolving so quickly – I am amazed a camera like the Alpha 7 IV which is accessible to more creators can still provide such an image quality.