For under $1400, which is less than what you'll pay for APS-C sensor cameras with lesser image quality potential, you get a stabilized BSI 42 MP sensor that makes images that are indistinguishable from the Sony a7R III and even the 61MP a7R IV.
This thing was $3200 back in 2015. It's still as awesome as back then.
If, like me, you are an obsessive pixel-peeper that feels psychologically burdened by the least amount of noise in images and by the lack of extreme sharpness and micro-details, you can't go wrong with the a7R II.
Hey, there isn't anything from with demanding image quality without compromises. If you have developed a higher visual standard and want more because you are dissatisfied, nothing is wrong with that. Make the jump!
Really, only God the Most High will know your images are coming out of a camera from 2015. No one could possibly know without looking at the EXIF data.
The Sony a7R II was once the reigning king, and in late 2020, it is still at the top of the camera food chain in terms of what matters most in digital image capture: IMAGE QUALITY.
At the highest spots, DxOMark scores mean nothing to human eyes. This a7R II is still a beast for capturing images with so much definition and detail, they vibrate unlike photos taken with smaller or lesser sensors. That's why I haven't upgraded to the latest.
The difference in sheer image quality between newer models is trivial and not worth thousands of dollars to me. Unless you live for the FPS, if you just want no compromises in image quality, I highly recommend this camera.
I also got APS-C and MFT cameras that I enjoy shooting even more than my Sony a7R II in terms of handling and fun factor, and they make great images, but they just can't touch its detail retrieval. It's on another level. The pixel density on a good 4K display is smile-inducing.
God bless!
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| Customer Rating | (522) | (476) | (1401) | (853) | (1812) | (476) |
| Price | $1,326.00 | $2,798.00 | $1,298.00 | $1,398.00 | $1,998.00 | $2,798.00 |
| Sold By | Michigan Camera | Beach Camera Same Day Shipping | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| Screen Size | 3 inches | 3 inches | — | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Has Image Stabilization | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | — |
| Item Dimensions | 9.61 x 6.1 x 5.67 inches | 5 x 3.87 x 3 inches | 9.15 x 9.4 x 4.55 inches | 5 x 2.36 x 3.78 inches | 5 x 3.88 x 3 inches | 9.6 x 6.1 x 5.6 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.28 lbs | 1.45 lbs | 1.00 lbs | 1.32 lbs | 1.44 lbs | 1.45 lbs |
| Optical Sensor Resolution | 0 megapixels | 42.4 megapixels | — | 24.3 megapixels | 24.2 megapixels | 42.4 megapixels |
| Optical Zoom | 40x | 1x | 7.00x | 3x | 1x | 1x |
| Photo Sensor Size | Full Frame (35mm) | Full Frame (35mm) | Full Frame (35mm) | Full Frame (35mm) | Full Frame (35mm) | Full Frame (35mm) |
| Video Capture Resolution | 2160p | 1080p | 4K Video | 1080p | 2160p | 4320p |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Electronic | LCD | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic |
From the manufacturer
Sony α7R II Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera
Realism meets resolution and sensitivity - with the first (1) back-illuminated 35 millimeter full-frame CMOS image sensor. The α7R II increases image quality with 42.4MP resolution, up to ISO 102,400 sensitivity and speedy response with 5fps and a Fast Hybrid AF system (399 AF points).
Features
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First (1) Full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor with 42.4 MPThe newly developed 35mm Exmor R CMOS sensor is the very first full-frame sensor with back-illuminated structure. The structure combines gapless on-chip lens design and AR (anti-reflective) coating on the surface of the sensor's glass seal - with no low-pass filter - to dramatically improve light collection efficiency, even though the pixels are smaller than the ones in the α7R. Moreover, the wiring layer now uses copper (instead of aluminum) wiring for faster transmission speed (2). The results are truly remarkable – with incredibly detailed 42.4 megapixel stills and 4k video with high sensitivity - up to ISO 102,400 (3), low-noise performance and wide dynamic range that are superior to previous models. |
5-axis in-body image stabilization optimized for 42.4MP full-frameThe 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization system is fine-tuned for high-resolution image sensors. It accurately compensates for blur caused by camera shake from five different directions—vertical, horizontal, pitch, yaw and roll—as opposed to only two in previous systems. The 5-axis image stabilizing system excels during video recording and even compensates for blur caused by the photographer walking or running. It’s a true marvel of engineering. You can even monitor the stabilizing effects of camera shake compensation in the viewfinder or LCD screen while shooting still images by pressing the shutter button halfway or magnifying the image, and while shooting movies by entering movie mode. |
4K movie recording (5) with full pixel readout and no pixel binningThe α7R II is the world’s first (1) camera to offer 4K movie recording (5) to internal media in the full-frame format. It also provides you the option of shooting 4k in the super 35mm format. Enjoy the expansive power that the full-frame image sensor can express in 4k with direct pixel readout and no line skipping. In super-35 format, the α7R II employs oversampling with full pixel readout and no line skipping or pixel binning - resulting in images that exhibit higher resolution and less moiré and jaggies than typical 4K movies. Fast hybrid AF with 399 phase detection AF points and 5-axis image stabilization take movie making to a new level. |
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Fast Hybrid AF with 399 focal plane phase-detection AF ptsYour shots of action can look clearer than ever, thanks to a new full-frame image sensor that assures the world’s highest number of focal plane phase-detection AF points, at 399, and the widest coverage, of 45% of the image area (1). With its accelerated readout and an advanced algorithm to anticipate subject movement, the sensor also makes it possible for the Fast Hybrid AF system with additional 25-point contrast-detection AF points to raise speed, accuracy, and tracking performance to incredible heights, even when shooting at up to 5fps at 42.4MP. Faster readout thanks to the back-illuminated structure of the image sensor improved AF response so dramatically that the AF system of the α7R II instantly captures even fast-moving subjects with razor-sharp clarity. |
2.4-million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder w/ ZEISS T* coatingSee every detail in every scene with the XGA OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder. The new four-lens optical system with double-sided aspherical elements provides views of cutting-edge clarity and contrast throughout the entire width and length of the display. Better yet, ZEISS T* coating ensures absolutely minimal surface reflection. You’ll enjoy rich tonal gradations and high-end features like 100% frame coverage, and the world's highest (1) magnification in a full-frame camera with EVF at 0.78x7. View every scene in rich detail as the viewfinder faithfully displays what will appear in your recording, including the effects of your camera settings, so you can accurately monitor the results. |
Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi/NFCThanks to built-in Wi-Fi, you can easily connect to a compatible iOS or Android smartphone or tablet with the free PlayMemories Mobile App. From there you can control your camera, preview and frame using your mobile device and trigger the camera shutter or movie button. Then instantly transfer a photo or MP4 movie to your device. NFC (Near Field Communication) provides 'one-touch connection' convenience to Android smartphones and tablets with NFC. Simply touch devices to connect. Setting up your mobile device is as simple as downloading a free PlayMemories Mobile app. |
Personalize your camera with PlayMemories Camera Apps (9)Add new features to your α7R II with PlayMemories Camera Apps (9). Find apps to fit your shooting style - with everything from time lapse, motion shot and more. Use apps that shoot, share and save photos to your smartphone using Wi-Fi, making it easy to post photos directly to your favorite social media site or backup images to the cloud without connecting to a computer. |
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Focal plane phase-detection AF with A-mount lenses (10)The α7R II offers focal plane phase-detection AF with A-mount lenses, (10) so you can take advantage of the wide AF coverage of 399 focal plane phase-detection AF points, high-speed response, high tracking capability and high optical performance of A-mount lenses. This is only possible with A-mount lenses mounted using a LA-E3 or LA-EA1 (APS C format with LA-EA1) lens mount adaptor and that have a SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) or SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor). |
Durable reduced-vibration shutterThe new shutter's braking mechanism cuts mechanical front/rear curtain vibration by about 50% (2). Also, use the electronic front curtain for even less vibration. This not only minimizes camera shake that can blur details in 42.4-megapixel images — it makes the shutter durable enough to have been tested to 500,000 cycles (4). |
Tough magnesium alloy body and robust lens mountDesigned for solid reliability and steady handling, the α7R II's compact body is built to withstand the rigors of shooting in the field, thanks to an internal structure and top, front, and rear covers all made of strong, rigid magnesium alloy. Furthermore, the α7R II features a robust lens mount with the strength and rigidity to match the body – this is especially good for mounting large, heavy lenses such as super telephoto lenses and those preferred for movie shooting. |
3" LCD screen tilts up & down for high & low-angle framingThe tiltable 3 inch (1,229k dots) Xtra Fine LCD Display makes it easy to photograph over crowds, or objects close to the ground or maybe you just want to get a different perspective. The screen can swivel up approx. 107 degree and down approximately 41 degree. The large display delivers brilliant-quality still images and movies thanks to WhiteMagic technology that nearly doubles the brightness of the display through a unique RGBW pixel structure for easier checking of the focus and image details. |
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| SEL-2470GM | SEL-2470Z | SEL-1635Z | SEL-70200G | SEL-55F18Z | SEL-90M28G | |
| E mount Lens | FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM | Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70 mm F4 ZA OSS | Vario-Tessar T* FE 16–35 mm F4 ZA OSS | FE 70-200 mm F4 G OSS | Sonnar T* FE 55 mm F1.8 ZA | FE 90 mm F2.8 Macro G OSS |
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| NP-FW50 | BC-TRW | ECM-XYST1M | ECM-AW4 | RM-TDSLR2 | HVL-F45RM | |
| Accessory Type | Battery | Battery charger | Microphone | Microphone | Remote Commander | Flash |
| Product name | W-series Rechargeable Battery Pack | Travel charger for W-series battery | Stereo Mic For Multi-Interface Shoe | Wireless Microphone | Wireless Remote Commander | External Flash with Wireless Radio Control |
Customer reviews
I have just purchased the A7II, love using it but when the A9 was released the price of the A7R II dropped. I could not pass up the moment and sold my A7II. It is not a sports camera but for me it is the total package. For what the camera can do, the price is worth it. Despite future iterations of the A7R, this one will be a keeper. I will never be upgrading for many years to come. This and my other mirrorless cameras, Panasonic GX8, G85 and Ricoh GR II have never been a disappointment and I always have fun using them. I can't say that much when I had my Nikon D610 and those big heavy lenses. As a workhorse camera, I do agree DSLRs are still better but if you only need one camera in your bag, a compromise for having something small and lighweight for travel and professional work, mirrorless is the way to go. Took these few snapshots soon as I got the camera.
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020
Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2017
Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
I have just purchased the A7II, love using it but when the A9 was released the price of the A7R II dropped. I could not pass up the moment and sold my A7II. It is not a sports camera but for me it is the total package. For what the camera can do, the price is worth it. Despite future iterations of the A7R, this one will be a keeper. I will never be upgrading for many years to come. This and my other mirrorless cameras, Panasonic GX8, G85 and Ricoh GR II have never been a disappointment and I always have fun using them. I can't say that much when I had my Nikon D610 and those big heavy lenses. As a workhorse camera, I do agree DSLRs are still better but if you only need one camera in your bag, a compromise for having something small and lighweight for travel and professional work, mirrorless is the way to go. Took these few snapshots soon as I got the camera.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020
Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
Here are the pros and cons as I see them to owning the SonyA7rII:
Pros:
Amazing image quality - the best I've ever seen - and I did a lot of side by side with the D850. When dealing with high end camera's that occupy very top of the DxoMark scale, it really comes down to specific needs and personal preference.
The EVF is absolutely fantastic to use. It's clear, the colors are wonderfully vibrant and true to life, and the ability to zoom in on far away objects from the viewfinder for perfect focus is a great benefit worth the extra demand on the battery.
Silent mode which uses an electric front shutter is great and now (after upgrading to the latest firmware version) appears to work when uncompressed RAW is selected
Though small, this camera feels solid and, with the grip, fits my large hands comfortably
Though Sony doesn't have a large lens selection, the lenses they do have are insanely sharp and bar none among the best I've ever owned, particularly their Zeiss lenses and new Sony "G" lenses. To give some perspective - the best lens for Nikon ends at a 36 sharpness rating, Sony's lens lineup almost starts where Nikon leaves off and goes up to an insane 46 rating (per DxoMark).
I can use this camera with ALL of my vintage glass including Nikkor AI and NAI MF lenses, Helios, Pentacon, Zeiss, and INDUSTAR, etc. All that's needed is a simple adapter and each of every one of theses lenses benefits from Sony's 5-axis in-body image stabilization. the shallow depth of the camera body ensures it's compatible with virtually every 35mm camera lens ever made - something that I ran into trouble with on my D810 because Nikon actually has the widest body of all camera makes. My M42 mount lenses (for example) would have to be mounted slightly inside of the D810 body to get the right magnification and infinite focus. And that's not even an option because doing this risks destroying the mirror. Even vintage Nikkor AI and NAI lenses can't be used without fairly major modification which also ruins the lens value.
A lot of people seem to really dislike the A7 line UI. I personally kind of like the interface. Maybe it’s because I work with a lot of technology, but I find it pretty simple to use and after owning my camera for a few weeks have the placement of everything committed to my long-term memory. It also looks more modern than Nikon or Cannon’s UI. It might seem a little segmented at first, but in the end, everything kind of makes sense as a whole so I’m counting it as a pro.
Love that Sony included two batteries and a charger. This really makes me feel like I bought a high-end camera. If they’d throw in a screen protector (see my grumble below), I’d be completely happy with the included accessories.
Cons:
The battery life could be better
I'd love to see the build quality be just a bit more robust. I.e. I wouldn't take this on out in sub zero weather, do a photo-shoot in a sand storm, or bring it with me white water rafting. Even decent weather sealing would be a nice gesture.
This one is probably on the top of my list - I'd love to see dedicated controls for all major settings that I use every day. I can set the aperture from the back dial and the exposure from the front dial, but it would be great to have a control for the ISO. I virtually always shoot in full manual mode and having to right click on the wheel to bring up an ISO dialogue before selecting the ISO is just the tiniest bit annoying.
The camera should come with a snap on screen protector like Nikon provides. When you spend this much on a camera and don't get basic protective equipment, you feel like Sony is being a tad on the penny pinching/apathetic side.
Some tips:
Knowing how short the battery life would be I loaded on six batteries and bought a grip for the camera so I can use two at a time. With the grip I can shoot about half of what I used to get away with using my D810, which is workable
Get a good protective carrying case/backpack for this camera to keep it safe.
My final verdict:
It's overall the best camera I've ever owned. While it is quirky in some way, some of the quirks are starting to grow on me. Now we'll see about longevity. The shutter is rated at 500,000 actuations, so I'm hopeful.
Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Best Camera I've Ever Owned
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
I decided to move to Sony's platform from shooting Nikon's D810 and I'm really glad I did. While the controls might not be quite as intuitive as my Nikon D810 and this camera definitely wouldn't work well as a weapon in a pinch, the image quality is so perfect and amazing that it's forgivable.Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
Here are the pros and cons as I see them to owning the SonyA7rII:
Pros:
Amazing image quality - the best I've ever seen - and I did a lot of side by side with the D850. When dealing with high end camera's that occupy very top of the DxoMark scale, it really comes down to specific needs and personal preference.
The EVF is absolutely fantastic to use. It's clear, the colors are wonderfully vibrant and true to life, and the ability to zoom in on far away objects from the viewfinder for perfect focus is a great benefit worth the extra demand on the battery.
Silent mode which uses an electric front shutter is great and now (after upgrading to the latest firmware version) appears to work when uncompressed RAW is selected
Though small, this camera feels solid and, with the grip, fits my large hands comfortably
Though Sony doesn't have a large lens selection, the lenses they do have are insanely sharp and bar none among the best I've ever owned, particularly their Zeiss lenses and new Sony "G" lenses. To give some perspective - the best lens for Nikon ends at a 36 sharpness rating, Sony's lens lineup almost starts where Nikon leaves off and goes up to an insane 46 rating (per DxoMark).
I can use this camera with ALL of my vintage glass including Nikkor AI and NAI MF lenses, Helios, Pentacon, Zeiss, and INDUSTAR, etc. All that's needed is a simple adapter and each of every one of theses lenses benefits from Sony's 5-axis in-body image stabilization. the shallow depth of the camera body ensures it's compatible with virtually every 35mm camera lens ever made - something that I ran into trouble with on my D810 because Nikon actually has the widest body of all camera makes. My M42 mount lenses (for example) would have to be mounted slightly inside of the D810 body to get the right magnification and infinite focus. And that's not even an option because doing this risks destroying the mirror. Even vintage Nikkor AI and NAI lenses can't be used without fairly major modification which also ruins the lens value.
A lot of people seem to really dislike the A7 line UI. I personally kind of like the interface. Maybe it’s because I work with a lot of technology, but I find it pretty simple to use and after owning my camera for a few weeks have the placement of everything committed to my long-term memory. It also looks more modern than Nikon or Cannon’s UI. It might seem a little segmented at first, but in the end, everything kind of makes sense as a whole so I’m counting it as a pro.
Love that Sony included two batteries and a charger. This really makes me feel like I bought a high-end camera. If they’d throw in a screen protector (see my grumble below), I’d be completely happy with the included accessories.
Cons:
The battery life could be better
I'd love to see the build quality be just a bit more robust. I.e. I wouldn't take this on out in sub zero weather, do a photo-shoot in a sand storm, or bring it with me white water rafting. Even decent weather sealing would be a nice gesture.
This one is probably on the top of my list - I'd love to see dedicated controls for all major settings that I use every day. I can set the aperture from the back dial and the exposure from the front dial, but it would be great to have a control for the ISO. I virtually always shoot in full manual mode and having to right click on the wheel to bring up an ISO dialogue before selecting the ISO is just the tiniest bit annoying.
The camera should come with a snap on screen protector like Nikon provides. When you spend this much on a camera and don't get basic protective equipment, you feel like Sony is being a tad on the penny pinching/apathetic side.
Some tips:
Knowing how short the battery life would be I loaded on six batteries and bought a grip for the camera so I can use two at a time. With the grip I can shoot about half of what I used to get away with using my D810, which is workable
Get a good protective carrying case/backpack for this camera to keep it safe.
My final verdict:
It's overall the best camera I've ever owned. While it is quirky in some way, some of the quirks are starting to grow on me. Now we'll see about longevity. The shutter is rated at 500,000 actuations, so I'm hopeful.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
T
Great High Resolution Camera at a Great Price
Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2019Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Justin Landry
The reviews were right
Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2022Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Do not purchase this
Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2020Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Timothy Gifford
Best camera money can buy.
Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2019Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Ben T
I use this with a SEL2470Z lens which makes a great combo, small palm size
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2017Style: BaseColor: BlackConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
