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Sony A7R II

 
Sony Alpha A7R II front
 
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise 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
  • Announced June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A7R
  • Replacement is Sony A7R III
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
68
Imaging
76
Features
84
Overall
79

Sony A7R II overview

Sony A7R II is Sony's Pro Mirrorless digital camera first introduced on June of 2015. The camera uses a 42MP, BSI-CMOS Full frame sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 7974 x 5316.

Sony launched this model in order to improve the older Sony A7R (Read Full Comparison) and afterwards launched the newer Sony A7R III (Read Full Comparison) to improve this model.

The A7R II stands at #36 out of 70 in Pro Mirrorless cameras and all-around #60 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to test our Smart camera search to find camera listings based on your personal requirements.

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The following is a graph of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony A7R II history

The Sony A7R II is part of a family of products. You can see the complete range underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-Alpha-A7R-V front thumbnailSony A7R V
A7R II vs A7R V
61MPFull frame10.0 fps2022
Sony-Alpha-A7-IV front thumbnailSony A7 IV
A7R II vs A7 IV
33MPFull frame10.0 fps2021
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Sony-Alpha-a1 front thumbnailSony a1
A7R II vs a1
50MPFull frame30.0 fps2021
Sony-Alpha-A7S-III front thumbnailSony A7S III
A7R II vs A7S III
12MPFull frame10.0 fps2020
Sony-Alpha-A9-Mark-II front thumbnailSony A9 II
A7R II vs A9 II
24MPFull frame20.0 fps2019
Sony-Alpha-A7R-IV front thumbnailSony A7R IV
A7R II vs A7R IV
61MPFull frame10.0 fps2019
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Sony-Alpha-A7-III front thumbnailSony A7 III
A7R II vs A7 III
24MPFull frame10.0 fps2018
Sony-Alpha-A7R-III front thumbnailSony A7R III
A7R II vs A7R III
42MPFull frame10.0 fps2017
Sony-Alpha-A9 front thumbnailSony A9
A7R II vs A9
24MPFull frame20.0 fps2017
Sony-Alpha-A7S-II front thumbnailSony A7S II
A7R II vs A7S II
12MPFull frame5.0 fps2015
Sony-Alpha-A7R-II front thumbnailSony A7R II42MPFull frame5.0 fps2015
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Sony-Alpha-A7-II front thumbnailSony A7 II
A7R II vs A7 II
24MPFull frame5.0 fps2014
Sony-Alpha-A7S front thumbnailSony A7S
A7R II vs A7S
12MPFull frame5.0 fps2014
Sony-Alpha-A7R front thumbnailSony A7R
A7R II vs A7R
36MPFull frame4.0 fps2014
Sony-Alpha-A7 front thumbnailSony A7
A7R II vs A7
24MPFull frame5.0 fps2014

Sony A7R II Pros and Cons

Below is a list of pros and cons of the Sony A7R II based on aspects which are often viewed as useful in a digital camera.

above average ISO range (25,600)
above average min ISO (100)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
environment proof
features face detection focus
features tracking autofocus
good resolution screen (1,229 thousand dots)
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
high MP (42MP)
includes external mic socket
includes HDMI socket
includes headphone socket
manual focus
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
NFC support
no low pass filter
saves RAW files
sensor has phase detect auto focus
sensor size is great (Full frame)
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
tilting screen
low battery (290 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
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Sony A7R II Sensor info

The Sony A7R II features the Bionz X processor chip. The specification of the sensor in the Sony A7R II is 35.9mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 862 mm² sensor can resolve 7974 x 5316 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter may lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 42MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 25600. This ISO can also be extended digitally to 50 - 102400. RAW photos are supported which means that you have wider room to maneuver in post.

Sony decided to skip the low pass filter inside the Sony A7R II. This can result in more clear pictures but might introduce moire in certain circumstances.

The image underneath shows the A7R II's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The A7R II sensor comes with a crop factor of 1 and is pointed out in green.

Sony Alpha A7R II sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A7R II dimensions

Sony A7R II weighs 1.38 lb (625g / 22.05 ounces) and features external proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4"). The weight of normal Pro Mirrorless camera is 722g so the Sony A7R II is lighter in comparison with other competitors.

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Down below is a image of the Sony A7R II besides a soda to help you to have a feel for its scale.

Sony Alpha A7R II dimensions scale

The top view underneath will highlight the button arrangement on the A7R II.

Sony Alpha A7R II topview buttons dials

Sony A7R II Lens info

The A7R II fits the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses currently available. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will work with the A7R II.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samyang-Reflex-300mm-f6.3-ED-UMC-CS-Sony-E-NEX lensSamyang Reflex 300mm f6.3 ED UMC CS300mmf/6.3 318g
Samyang-20mm-F1.8-ED-AS-UMC-Sony-E lensSamyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC20mmf/1.8497g
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Sony-E-30mm-F3.5-Macro lensSony E 30mm F3.5 Macro30mmf/3.5 138g
Sony-FE-100mm-F2.8-STF-GM-OSS lensSony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS100mmf/2.8 700g
Sony-Planar-T-FE-50mm-F1.4-ZA lensSony Planar T FE 50mm F1.4 ZA50mmf/1.4 778g
Venus-Laowa-25mm-F2.8-2.5-5X-Ultra-Macro-Sony-E lensVenus Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro25mmf/2.8400g
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Kamlan-28mm-F1.4-Sony-E lensKamlan 28mm F1.428mmf/1.4384g
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Sony A7R II Connectivity

The A7R II has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that consist of NFC or Bluetooth support can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to copy files and oftentimes alter camera settings without connecting physically to the camera.

A few applications even enable a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external monitor. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery with the USB port.

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Sony A7R II Video info

The maximum video quality in the Sony A7R II is 3840 x 2160 and it can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 2160p delivers a outstanding quality for video recording. You will be able to crop to Full HD in order to get better results. Be wary of the considerable file sizes and ensure you have got high quality SD cards that have fast write speeds. The body does come with both headphone and mic socket making it extremely valuable while recording audio.

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Sony A7R II Weather Sealing

Sony A7R II has environment sealing which makes it a very good candidate to use for tricky locations. This is especially helpful in case you are not sure about the conditions you might encounter for outdoor photography.

Sony A7R II Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony A7R II houses a 3 inch tilting display screen supporting a resolution of 1,229 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Sony Alpha A7R II screen and viewfinder Kodak's Tri-X Black-and-White Film Now 30% Cheaper

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Sony A7R II are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 2,359 thousand dots
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.78x

In those sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders are rather valuable.

Sony A7R II Shutter info

Sony A7R II can shoot continuously at 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000s.

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Sony A7R II Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony A7R II boasts external flash ability but with no integrated flash.

Sony A7R II Autofocusing info

Sony A7R II boasts both Phase Detect AF and Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which can be useful for portrait photography.

The Sensor boasts 399 focus points to pick from. It also has Tracking AF for moving subjects. Sony A7R II can use manual focus in case it is needed for low light scenarios or you want more exact control on focus.

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Sony A7R II Battery life

The battery (NP-FW50) in the Sony A7R II is fashioned to last for 290 clicks based on the CIPA measurements making it less compared with its rivals. The general Pro Mirrorless camera battery life is 460. Olympus E-M1X has the highest possible (870) battery life for this group of cameras.

Following is a listing of Pro Mirrorless cameras that have the strongest battery life:

Sony A7R II for various forms of photography

The following bar chart presents a summation of the Sony A7R II for various forms of photography. To look at more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Sony A7R II Portrait photography highlights

The Sony A7R II receives a points total of 85 which is tremendous, meaning that it is a wonderful pick for portraits. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW files together with the potential to utilize off-camera lighting.

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has manual focus
MP count excellent (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files

Sony A7R II Street photography advice

Getting a exceptional score of 81, the Sony A7R II is a outstanding pick to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera gives a perfect balance of image quality plus portability.

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screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
great high ISO (25,600)

Sony A7R II as a Sports photography camera

A fantastic sports photography points tally of 76 suggests the Sony A7R II is a awesome option for photographing sports. A camera needs to have great focusing plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing MP (42MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)

Sony A7R II Travel photography information

Portability is super crucial in choosing a camera for travel. All things considered, the Sony A7R II gets a nice 62 for a travel camera which makes it a fine fit for your vacations.

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environment proof
fantastic megapixels (42MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display

Sony A7R II Landscape photography factors

For anyone who is looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most vital factor will no doubt be image quality. The Sony A7R II and it's wonderful score of 82 as a landscape camera is a brilliant pick compared to it's competition.

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manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (42 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)

Vlogging with Sony A7R II

A vlogging camera really should come with a moving display, microphone port and if possible image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Sony A7R II is not good for vlogging as it comes to a lousy rating of 37.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen

Sony A7R II Alternatives

If you are trying to find alternatives to the A7R II, here is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall under the family of Pro Mirrorless.

The graph followed below offers you an overview of the A7R II vs it's top ranking competitors listed earlier.

Here are a handful of other cameras you may check out as alternatives. To check out a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Sony
Model
Sony Alpha A7R II
Class
Pro Mirrorless
Announced
2015-06-10
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Chip
Bionz X
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor dimensions
35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area
861.6mm²
Sensor resolution
42 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
7974 x 5316
RAW files
Highest native ISO
25600
Highest boosted ISO
102400
Min native ISO
100
Min boosted ISO
50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
399
Lens
Lens mount
Sony E
Amount of lenses
121
Focal length multiplier
1
Screen
Screen type
Tilting
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Resolution of screen
1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.78x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
98
DXO Color Depth score
26.0
DXO Dynamic range score
13.9
DXO Low light score
3434
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30s
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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)
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
625g (1.38 lbs)
Dimensions
127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
Other
Battery life
290 shots
Style of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-FW50
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
With downloadable app
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
Single
Launch price
$2,913