Sony A7R II vs Nikon D5

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A7R II vs Nikon D5

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.

35mm 858.0mm²
20.8 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5.
Compare Nikon D5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5 conclusion.

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

Succeeded by the Nikon D6
Compare D5 vs D6

Compare SONY A7R III vs NIKON D6

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Differences

Sony A7R II advantages over Nikon D5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$2898 vs $3789
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 D5 test data on DxO Mark

3,434 vs 2,343 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7R II test data on DxO Mark D5 test data on DxO Mark

13.9 vs 12.3 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
60 mm vs 92 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
640g vs 1415g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.72x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 20.8 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

Nikon D5 advantages over Sony A7R II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Bigger pixels
~ 6.45 vs 4.51 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

3780 vs 340 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
590k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.13 vs 0.21 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
12.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 23 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
183 vs 23 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
3276800 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D5

Body Only (CF Version)

Body Only (CF Version)
Body Only (XQD Version)
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition (XQD)

Review Excerpt

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

Excellent image quality; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 153-point autofocus system; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K video recording; Pro-quality camera body; Outstanding battery life.
Large and heavy body might not be right for all; Loud shutter; Underutilized touchscreen; Low ISO dynamic range not as good as predecessor; Extended high ISOs not very useful; Sluggish Live View AF.
Read our Nikon D5 Review

The Competition

Compared to 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

Nikon D5

Sony A7R

$5143
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$1799
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A7R

Compared to Nikon D4S

Sony A7R II

Nikon D4S

$2898
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$5999
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R II vs Nikon D4S

Nikon D5

Nikon D4S

$5143
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Canon 1DX Mark II

Sony A7R II

Canon 1DX Mark II

$2898
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2999
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R II vs Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

$5143
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$2999
35mm

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5 vs Canon 1DX Mark II

Compared to Sony A9

Sony A7R II

Sony A9

$2898
35mm

In-camera panoramas
More pixels

$3147
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A9

Nikon D5

Sony A9

$5143
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$3147
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A9

Compared to 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

Nikon D5

Sony A7R III

$5143
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A7R III

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