Sony RX1R vs Sony A7 II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony RX1R vs Sony A7 II

35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
35.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX1R Review.
See real-world photos taken with the RX1R.

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

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

Succeeded by the Sony RX1R II
Compare RX1R vs RX1R II

Succeeded by the Sony A7 III
Compare A7 II vs A7 III

Compare SONY RX1R II vs SONY A7 III

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Differences

Sony RX1R advantages over Sony A7 II

Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Sony A7 II advantages over Sony RX1R

Less expensive
$998 vs $2398*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

350 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
52 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Read RX1R User Reviews

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Adorama
Read A7 II User Reviews

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Sony RX1R

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Body Only
Kit with 28-70mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Significantly sharper, more detailed JPEG images than those from the RX1; JPEG processing appears to minimize moire and aliasing artifacts; Same price as the RX1; Full-frame, 24-megapixel compact camera with fast Carl Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 T* lens; Blazing fast autofocus; Impressive image quality that rivals (and sometimes surpasses) full-frame DSLRs.
More prone to moire, aliasing and false color than the RX1; Only subtle improvement in sharpness in RAW files; Fixed-length lens limits shooting flexibility; Viewfinders (optical or electronic) only available as optional accessories; Extremely expensive for a compact camera.
Read our Sony RX1R Review

Excellent 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; Sensor-shift IS brings stabilization to nearly any lens; Much-improved ergonomics and top-deck control layout; 'Mark II' maintains same impressive image quality, dynamic range and high ISO performance; XAVC S 50Mbps video format; Faster start-up time; Hybrid AF performs well with good continuous AF.
(Similar to A7): Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Battery life could be better; Low-light AF still not as good as most DSLRs; High ISO JPEGs look over-processed; Slow buffer clearing; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses (but it's getting better).
Read our Sony A7 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX1

Sony RX1R

Sony RX1

$2398
35mm

Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$2398
35mm

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony RX1

Sony A7 II

Sony RX1

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$2398
35mm

Internal flash
Higher max flash sync

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony RX1

Compared to Sony A7

Sony RX1R

Sony A7

$2398
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Internal flash

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony A7

Sony A7 II

Sony A7

$1148
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

$748
35mm

Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony A7

Compared to Sony RX1R II

Sony RX1R

Sony RX1R II

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$3298
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony RX1R II

Sony A7 II

Sony RX1R II

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3298
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Higher max flash sync

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony RX1R II

Compared to Sony A7 III

Sony RX1R

Sony A7 III

$2398
35mm

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

$1865
35mm

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony A7 III

Sony A7 II

Sony A7 III

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$1865
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 III

Compared to Zeiss ZX1

Sony RX1R

Zeiss ZX1

$2398
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$6000
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony RX1R vs Zeiss ZX1

Sony A7 II

Zeiss ZX1

$1148
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 II vs Zeiss ZX1

Compare Other Cameras?