Sony Alpha 7R II Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation highlights the Sony Alpha 7R II as a versatile, high-performance camera featuring a groundbreaking 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor that delivers exceptional low-light Raw performance and dynamic range. Key strengths include 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), a fast 399-point on-sensor phase-detection autofocus system with reliable Eye-AF, and sharp 4K UHD video recording using an oversampled Super 35mm mode. However, the review details significant drawbacks, including a lack of a touchscreen for focus control and unpredictable "Lock-on AF" tracking in certain scenarios. Additional cons include notable EVF/LCD blackout during 5 fps shooting, making it difficult for sports photography, alongside poor battery life and small, challenging controls.

The Sony A7R II is a 42.4-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera that, despite its 2015 launch date, remains a highly capable and exceptionally valued option for hobbyists and enthusiasts looking for premium image quality at a budget-friendly price point. Built with a solid, highly customisable magnesium alloy body and an improved ergonomic front grip, the camera features a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter to maximise detail resolution. It is equipped with a 399-point hybrid autofocus system, internal 4K video recording capabilities, a 2.36-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, and a 5-axis in-body image stabilisation system that eliminates the absolute necessity of using a tripod. While its raw performance slightly trails behind newer iterations or high-end rivals in lab tests for signal-to-noise ratios and dynamic range, its ability to resolve fine detail is still outstanding for its current price bracket. The camera's primary advantages (pros) include its massive 42.4-million-pixel resolution, built-in 5-axis image stabilisation, and internal 4K video recording, which combine to deliver image quality that blows away most modern amateur or enthusiast cameras in a similar price tier....

summary of the Sony A7RII camera: The Sony A7RII is hailed as a technological marvel that successfully condenses high-resolution performance, exceptional low-light capabilities, and pro-level video features into a relatively compact, splash-proof magnesium alloy body. Equipped with a world-first 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame sensor and 5-axis image stabilization, the camera delivers stunning image quality, impressive dynamic range, and near medium-format detail. A major standout feature is its revamped Fast Hybrid autofocus system, boasting 399 phase-detect points, which provides a massive 40% speed boost over its predecessor and allows for incredibly fast tracking—even outperforming high-end DSLRs when adapting third-party lenses like Canon glass. Furthermore, it excels in internal UHD 4K video recording and completely eliminates previous sensor issues with legacy Leica M-mount wide-angle lenses, such as magenta color shifts on the edges. Despite its powerhouse performance, the camera has notable drawbacks, starting with its steep price tag of over $3,000. The review highlights a frustrating EVF degradation issue at maximum magnification, which makes critical manual focusing unexpectedly difficult. Battery life remains a weak point, particularly during video use, forcing shooters to carry...

The Sony A7RII is a full-frame, 42-megapixel mirrorless camera that offers amazing image quality and serves as a powerful professional workhorse. Its biggest strength is its incredible low-light performance and low noise at high ISO settings. The camera also features built-in 5-axis image stabilisation, a high-quality digital viewfinder that shows your exposure in real time, and exceptional file flexibility that allows you to easily recover details from dark shadows. Additionally, the massive 42-megapixel resolution gives photographers enormous freedom to crop their images without losing important detail.

The Videomaker review by Jason Miller highlights the Sony a7R II as a highly capable, 42-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera that makes a massive leap forward for small-form cinema production. The camera excels with its astounding image quality and internal 4K recording capabilities in compressed XAVC S format. A major pro is the built-in five-axis Steadyshot image stabilization system, which delivers remarkably smooth handheld shots. Additionally, videographers will benefit from the greatly improved autofocus speed and tracking accuracy, an impressive 14 stops of dynamic range in S-Log, minimal moiré artifacting, and the flexible convenience of fully customizable buttons. The camera also lets shooters easily switch between full-frame and Super 35mm modes to gain an extra 60% lens zoom. Despite these significant strengths, the review notes several distinct limitations for video professionals. The most glaring cons include poor battery life, yielding only about 30 minutes of continuous 4K recording, and a tendency for the camera body to overheat in warm weather during extended shoots. While its low-light performance is superior to many competitors, it does not match the low-light capabilities of the...

The Sony A7R II stands out in the mirrorless camera world due to its 42-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and excellent 5-axis in-body image stabilisation. In terms of performance, the camera delivers outstanding low-light results with low noise levels even at high ISO settings, alongside an impressive 399-point wide-area phase-detection autofocus system. It is highly versatile for photographers using adapted lenses, allowing precise manual focusing through magnification and focus peaking without experiencing focus shift. Key practical features praised in the review include a fully silent electronic shutter ideal for quiet events, 4K video recording, a durable 500,000-actuation life shutter, a sharp 0.78x electronic viewfinder, and the convenient ability to shoot while powered via a 5V USB source. However, the reviewer notes several downsides, starting with a poorly designed four-screw lens mount that lacks the precision of other systems and can cause alignment issues or softness on one side of an image. The camera's processor is also heavily overworked by the massive 42-megapixel files, resulting in long write times to the memory card and frustrating lockouts when checking shots. Additionally, the system...

In his field test, Brian Smith praises the Sony a7R II as a versatile 42.4-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera, highlighting its high-resolution sensor, superior low-light performance (clean images at ISO 12,800), and fast 399-point phase-detect autofocus system. Key advantages include the back-illuminated sensor, a dampened, quieter mechanical shutter, and improved autofocus performance when adapting third-party lenses. However, the review notes cons, including potential vignetting and color casting in the corners when using wide-angle lenses, and slightly less extreme low-light capability compared to the specialized Sony a7S. Additionally, the completely silent shutter mode, while technologically impressive, lacks the audible feedback useful for portrait photography.

The Amateur Photographer review of the Sony Alpha 7R II gives a 5-star rating, highlighting its groundbreaking 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, stunning image quality, and improved handling with a deeper grip. Key strengths include superb 5-axis in-body image stabilisation and wide autofocus coverage for tracking moving subjects. Conversely, the review notes the camera has a very short battery life, producing around 290 shots per charge, alongside large, demanding file sizes that challenge storage and workflow. Furthermore, the lack of a touchscreen interface on the tilting screen reduces the camera's ease of use compared to competitors.

Sony A7RII Review Summary The Sony A7RII is a disruptive hybrid camera featuring a ground-breaking 42.4-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor designed without an anti-aliasing filter to maximize sharpness. It excels in performance with a robust 500,000-actuation carbon-fiber shutter, a silent electronic shooting mode, and an exceptionally bright, fast-refreshing OLED electronic viewfinder. Its autofocus capabilities are highly advanced, boasting 399 phase-detection points directly on the sensor for precise 5 frames-per-second continuous tracking without front- or back-focusing errors. For video, it supports internal 4K recording to an SD card using the XAVC S codec with professional S-Log gamma profiles. Furthermore, its built-in 5-axis image stabilization works seamlessly across all attached lenses, proving powerful enough to match medium-format image quality and outpace rivals in highlight dynamic range recovery. However, the camera exhibits notable design and operational drawbacks that hinder its overall usability. The ergonomics are marred by a restrictive locking Mode dial that requires the user to hold down a center button to change settings, rather than offering a toggle switch. Due to the camera's compact form factor, the smaller physical battery...

Ken Rockwell’s review of the Sony A7R II highlights the 42MP mirrorless camera as a technical marvel with an excellent electronic viewfinder, robust build, and a superior silent shooting mode. Key strengths include its high ISO low-light performance, effective in-finder leveling, and the ability to adapt diverse lenses. However, the review heavily criticizes the camera for having the industry's worst menu system, poor battery life, and a complex, "gadget-like" user experience. Additional drawbacks noted are the inability to use flash with the silent shutter and color rendering that is inferior to Canon or Nikon alternatives.

When adapting non-native glass, the camera successfully establishes a transition opportunity for DSLR users, but introduces several operational limits. Important tracking features—including Zone Area, 3D Lock-On AF, and Eye-AF—become completely unavailable when shooting with Sony A-mount or Canon EF-mount lenses. While stationary Single AF remains incredibly fast with adapted Sigma Art series lenses, tracking fast-moving action in Continuous burst mode results in a progressive loss of focus over time. Furthermore, relying on adapters like the Metabones Mark IV or Fotodiox Pro introduces physical bulk, a less solid connection, and annoying communication bugs that randomly trigger camera freezing or unexpected switches to manual focus.

In a field test conducted by Nick Dungan for Amateur Photographer, the Sony Alpha 7R II is lauded for its 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, which delivers exceptional resolution and dynamic range suitable for heavy cropping. The autofocus system is highlighted as a major pro, offering rapid, accurate continuous performance even when adapting third-party lenses like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4. Conversely, the review highlights significant cons regarding the body's reliability in fast-paced scenarios, noting that hot-swapping lenses can cause registration failures. Additional drawbacks include notoriously poor battery life, massive file sizes, and inconsistent autofocus precision when shooting at wide apertures.

The Sony A7R II review praises the camera's durable magnesium alloy construction, a significantly improved 0.78x magnification electronic viewfinder, and a re-engineered shutter mechanism that eliminates previous camera shake issues. This second-generation model is noted for its superior handling and build quality over its predecessor. However, the review highlights drawbacks, specifically noting a slow initial startup time and minor operational lags in responsiveness. While the camera performs well once active, users transitioning from DSLRs may find these delays, along with the specific, cramped button layout, to be a notable con.