Sony A7 II
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 599g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
- Released November 2014
- Succeeded the Sony A7
- Refreshed by Sony A7 III
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
69 Imaging
71 Features
84 Overall
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Sony A7 II overview
Sony A7 II is Sony's Pro Mirrorless digital camera initially revealed on November of 2014. It houses a 24 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a peak resolution of 6000 x 4000.
Sony launched this model as a way to upgrade the previous Sony A7 (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently released the more recent Sony A7 III (Read Full Comparison) as a way to upgrade this camera.
The A7 II places at #39 out of 70 in Pro Mirrorless cameras & all round #84 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can use our Smart camera finder to see camera listings based on your custom criteria.
Below is a diagram of specific criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony A7 II history
The Sony A7 II is part of a family of digital cameras. You can read the full list below.
Sony A7 II Gallery
You can view the A7 II from various angles in the gallery underneath.
Sony A7 II Pros and Cons
Here is a checklist of advantages and disadvantages of the Sony A7 II based on factors that are often seen as important in a digital camera.
Sony A7 II Sensor information
The Sony A7 II is powered by the Bionz X processor chip. The specification of the sensor on the Sony A7 II is 35.8mm x 23.9mm (Full frame). The 856 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter can produce cropping.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe CMOS sensor has 24MP and delivers a standard ISO range of 100 to 25600. The ISO can be extended electronically to 50 to 51200. RAW photos are supported therefore you have more margin for error.
The image below displays the A7 II's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The A7 II sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is displayed in green.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideTo get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Sony A7 II dimensions
Sony A7 II has a weight of 1.32 lbs (599 gr / 21.13 ounces) & the size of the camera is 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4"). The weight of general Pro Mirrorless camera is 722 gr and the Sony A7 II is lighter compared to various competitors.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneBelow is a photo of the Sony A7 II besides a soft drink to help you get a feel for its size.
The top view directly below will show the button design on the A7 II.
Sony A7 II Lens information
The A7 II works with the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses currently available. Here is a small number of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the A7 II.
Sony A7 II Connectivity
The A7 II has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- NFC Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily send images and at times alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.
A few apps also provide a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB port.
Sony A7 II Video information
The highest video resolution on the Sony A7 II is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance in video quality versus file size but FULL HD won't leave you with any room to downsample. The body does include both headphone and microphone jack making it especially valuable whilst recording sound.
Sony A7 II Weather Sealing
Sony A7 II features environment sealing which makes it a fantastic pick for use in tough locations. This can be particularly useful if you are uncertain about the elements you may encounter in outdoor photography.
Sony A7 II Screen and Viewfinder
The Sony A7 II is equipped with a 3 inch tilting display with a resolution of 1,230 thousand dots.
Unfortunately the display isn't a touch screen.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe View Finder details for Sony A7 II are as follows:
- ViewFinder Electronic
- Resolution 2,359 thousand dots
- Coverage 100%
- Magnification 0.71x
For bright outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and difficult to see, viewfinders can be quite useful.
Sony A7 II Shutter information
Sony A7 II continuous shooting speed is 5.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000s.
Sony A7 II Flash and Hot shoe information
Sony A7 II features external flash ability but is without built in flash.
Sony A7 II Autofocusing information
Sony A7 II features both Phase Detect AF as well as Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & accurate compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera supports Face detection which can be handy for taking portraits of people.
The Sensor supports 117 focus points to pick from. It also boasts Tracking AF for moving objects. Sony A7 II includes manual focusing in case it is needed in low light scenarios or you need to have more precise control on focusing.
Sony A7 II Battery life
The battery power (NP-FW50) on the Sony A7 II is fashioned to last for 350 shutters according to the CIPA standards making it lower as compared to it's competitors. The typical Pro Mirrorless camera battery life is 460. Olympus E-M1X comes with the highest (870) battery life in this group of cameras.
Following is a collection of Pro Mirrorless cameras having the strongest battery life:
Sony A7 II for varying forms of photography
The following chart provides a analysis of the Sony A7 II for varying forms of photography. To find out more, go to the specific paragraph below.
Sony A7 II Portrait photography advice
The Sony A7 II gets a points tally of 82 which is fantastic, and means the camera is a outstanding choice to use for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor size, support for RAW files & ability to work with external flash.
Sony A7 II Street photography factors
Having a superb score of 80, the Sony A7 II is a terrific fit for street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with Sony A7 II
A very good sports photography points total of 74 means the Sony A7 II is a good fit for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have fantastic focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Sony A7 II Travel photography details
Portability is really crucial in choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sony A7 II gets a nice 61 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent choice to buy for your trips.
Sony A7 II Landscape photography features
If you find yourself looking to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the biggest aspect will be image quality. The Sony A7 II at it's very high grade of 80 for a landscape camera is a awesome fit amongst it's rivals.
Sony A7 II Vlogging details
A vlogging camera preferably should posses a moving display screen, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Sony A7 II is just not appropriate as a vlog camera as it delivers a subpar rating of 36.
Sony A7 II Alternatives
If you are looking for replacements to the A7 II, below is a selection of the highest rated cameras which fall within the family of Pro Mirrorless.
The graph below will give you a bird's eye view of the A7 II vs it's top ranked competitors suggested above.
Following are additional cameras you might look at as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, go to the "compare" link.