Sony α7R II 4K Mirrorless Camera

Sony α7R II Introduction Video

Sony α7R II Overview

The Sony α7R II was announced by the digital image company in August 2015 and at the time it was released commercially, it has the largest back-illuminated CMOS with Sony E-Mount lens and maximum resolution of 7952 x 5304 at 42 megapixels. This mirrorless camera has full frame interchangeable lens and a compact body.

Already a second generation, the A7R II was considered the best mirrorless camera in 2015 and has improved low-light performance and handling. It also uses 5-axis optical image stabilization technology and is capable of capturing 4K video.

On top of these, this camera has sensitivity of ISO 102,400, with the 4K feature having full pixel readout that does not result to pixel binning, thus improving high resolution. This camera offers images that are magazine-grade at 33 x 15in or 57 x 38cm and combines effective OIS and higher-ISO performance for versatility.

Design & Features

While the body design is similar to the previous model, the A7R, this second-gen camera does sport a semi-glossy finish. Instead, it is designed with specks in matte finish that looks like the pricey DSLR.  The body is covered with magnesium-alloy plates on the front, back and top. Handling is easy and fits comfortably on the hand with a well-sculpted, protruding grip. Moreover, it boasts of a weather-proofing feature since its body is sealed that it keeps dust and water from seeping through the camera.

The Sony α7R II has an improved AF system with 399 focus points and reduced overall vibration and noise that addresses the shutter-shock issue that came with its predecessor. For the absence of blur in images, Sony introduced an electronic front-curtain shutter release while an upgrade to the firmware was also added which made it possible to shoot uncompressed RAW.

One impressive feature of this camera is the high resolution, 0.5-inch OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots that is equivalent to 1,024 x768 pixels. and 0.78x magnification. With EVF, instantly zooming in to 100% view prior to shooting is possible. It is also ideal for yielding great contrast. Moreover, there are also other bonuses like live histograms, exposure warnings and focus peaking.

Meanwhile, the LCD is articulated, thus, it can be tilted for ease of shooting at different angles. The 3-inch LCD display comes with 1,228K dots. However, it does not come with touch screen features. Located to the right section of the monitor is the Custom 3/Enlarge key, together with a jog wheel, Auto Exposure Lock (AEL) button and an autofocus/manual focus lever. Other buttons include the Function, Playback and Custom 4/Delete options.

Video capabilities are excellent, featuring 4K video capturing at 100 Mbps with the use of the XAVC codec. Conversely, Full HD is at 1080p with a drop in the bit-rate to 50 Mbps. The change from 1080/60p AVCHD to 4K XAVC is another improvement photography enthusiasts should rejoice about.

The Sony α7R II boasts of a full-frame Exmor R BSI image sensor with high resolution 42.4 megapixels and Autofocus System and 5 fps Continuous Shooting features. It comes with a native ISO range of 100-25600 and is expandable to ISO 50, up to ISO 102400.

The focal-plane type shutter is vertical-traverse and can be controlled electronically with a rating of 500,000 cycles. This optional electronic shutter does not only improve shutter speed but also capable of enabling a fully silent mode which is suitable for shooting outdoors where noise can be a distraction.

Other features include two battery packs. Each has life duration of up to 340 images using the LCD and 290 images using the Viewfinder. There is also an SD card slot as well as NFC tag, two compartments for attaching an HDMI cable, mic inputs, headphone and USB. It also has built-in WiFi and is a bit heavy at 625 grams. It does not come with a flash, albeit there is a hot shoe available for mounting a flash.

Pros and Cons

The Sony α7R II is one of the best cameras introduced in 2015 with its appealing features. It came packed with innovative improvements. The most notable, perhaps, is the new 42.4 megapixel BI full-frame sensor and its capability to shoot 4K videos. The 5-axis image stabilization system as well as an ISO of up to 102,400 is also a plus. Moreover, it can use other lens brands like some Canon lenses.

For its drawbacks, this mirrorless camera is a tad pricey but its features will make up for its cost. The 3-inch LCD is alright but user-experience would have been better if it came with a touch screen feature.

Final Thoughts

The Sony α7R II is a good choice for photography and video enthusiasts because of its impressive features. With 4K capability, 5-axis image stabilization system and flexibility to accommodate other lenses, this compact, mirrorless camera is highly recommended for buyers who are interested and capable of buying it.

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