Sony A7R II vs Sony a1

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Sony A7R II and Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras and they are both built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A7R II (42MP) and the a1 (50MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The A7R II was announced 6 years earlier than the a1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the A7R II matches up against the a1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A7R II & Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are available at Sony A7R II Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A7R II features outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") and a weight of 625 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check the Sony A7R II and Sony a1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A7R II and the a1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A7R II and a1 is 68 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A7R II and a1.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony a1 to show extra detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged A7R II will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.