The Sony A7R IV is now more accessible for photographers who are blind and visually impaired thanks to its screen reader feature.
Launched in 2021, the Sony A7R IV has been a popular choice among professionals and enthusiastic hobbyists looking for a high-resolution camera. With a 61MP sensor, 4K 60p video recording and 10 frames per second burst shooting, it’s a brilliant all-rounder that is now more accessible to those with visual impairments.
Although there is room for improvement, the screen reader simply reads out the words in the menu system allowing the user to hear the options available. You can turn the feature on/off by going to Menu > Setup > Accessibility > Screen Reader and once set up you can also adjust the speed and volume of the voice. For those who might struggle to turn it on in the first place, it’s recommended that you plug your camera into a larger monitor or TV via a HDMI cable so the menu text is easier to read.
Sony is still improving the screen reader feature but it has definitely taken a step in the right direction to be more inclusive. What once would’ve been impossible, Sony has made possible by giving some independence back to people with vision loss. Hopefully, more camera manufacturers will follow suit and those who are visually impaired will be to have a choice of cameras suited to their needs.
