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Sony A7R II vs YI M1

Portability
68
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78
Sony Alpha A7R II front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
59
Features
66
Overall
61

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Key Specs

Sony A7R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 625g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A7R
  • Successor is Sony A7R III
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released September 2016
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Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Sony A7R II vs YI M1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Sony and YI. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the A7R II (42MP) and M1 (20MP) and the A7R II (Full frame) and M1 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The A7R II was introduced 15 months earlier than the M1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7R II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A7R II grades versus the M1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A7R II over the YI M1

 A7R II M1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k1040kCrisper screen (+189k dot)

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony A7R II

 M1 A7R II 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2015More modern by 15 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A7R II and YI M1

 A7R II M1 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A7R II offers physical dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 625 grams (1.38 lbs) and the YI M1 has sizing of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Check the Sony A7R II vs YI M1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the A7R II versus the M1.

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A7R II and M1 is 68 and 87 respectively.

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A7R II and M1.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A7R II with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony A7R II will deliver extra detail using its extra 22 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged A7R II is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7R II Portrait photography advice
YI M1 Portrait photography advice
85
manual focus
excellent megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
75
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7R II
Street photography with YI M1
81
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
73
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7R II as a Sports photography camera
YI M1 as a Sports photography camera
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
54
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7R II Travel photography highlights
YI M1 Travel photography highlights
62
weather proof
excellent megapixels (42MP)
not so great battery (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
78
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7R II Landscape photography info
YI M1 Landscape photography info
82
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
76
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7R II as a Vlogging camera
YI M1 as a Vlogging camera
37
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
33
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of mic jack
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Sony A7R II vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7R II and YI M1
 Sony Alpha A7R IIYI M1
General Information
Company Sony YI
Model type Sony Alpha A7R II YI M1
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-06-10 2016-09-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 42MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 7974 x 5316 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 399 81
Lens
Lens support Sony E Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 121 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,229k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 625g (1.38 pounds) 350g (0.77 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 98 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3434 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 450 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $2,913 $320