Sony A7 vs Sony A7R II

Cameras
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Sony A7 vs Sony A7R II

35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7.
Compare Sony A7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R II.
Compare Sony A7R II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7 II
Compare A7 vs A7 II

Succeeded by the Sony A7R III
Compare A7R II vs A7R III

Compare SONY A7 II vs SONY A7R III

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Differences

Sony A7 advantages over Sony A7R II

Less expensive
$819 vs $2898*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 5.97 vs 4.51 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
50 vs 23 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A7R II advantages over Sony A7

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~1.50 vs 2.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7R II test data on DxO Mark A7 test data on DxO Mark

3,434 vs 2,248 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R II User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

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Buy the Sony A7R II

Body Only

All A7R II Deals

Review Excerpt

Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.
Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7 Review

Superb image quality; Very high resolution; Surprisingly good high ISO performance; Fast autofocus; Compact, comfortable body with lots of customization potential; Bright, roomy and clear viewfinder; Tilting LCD display; Five-axis stabilization; Intuitive Wi-Fi / NFC connectivity
Movie button is poorly located; No touch screen; Not as fast to start up or shoot photos as a similarly-priced SLR; Rather slow buffer clearing; No built-in flash; Single card slot; Not weather-sealed to the same degree as some rivals
Read our Sony A7R II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Sony A7

Sony A7R

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$1799
35mm

Higher effective ISO
More pixels

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7R

Sony A7R II

Sony A7R

$2898
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$1799
35mm

Less expensive
Lighter weight

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A7R

Compared to Sony A7 II

Sony A7

Sony A7 II

$748
35mm

Less expensive

$1148
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7 II

Sony A7R II

Sony A7 II

$2898
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Higher effective ISO

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A7 II

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$748
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$3802
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7R II

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2898
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3802
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Sony A9

Sony A7

Sony A9

$748
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$3295
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A9

Sony A7R II

Sony A9

$2898
35mm

In-camera panoramas
More pixels

$3295
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A9

Compared to Sony A7R III

Sony A7

Sony A7R III

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2348
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III

$2898
35mm

In-camera panoramas

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A7R III

Compare Other Cameras?