Sony Alpha a7R II Review
Full Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera
- BIONZ X Image Processor
- 3.0" 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
- 0.5" 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF
- Durable Reduced-Vibration Shutter Design
- 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
- Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
- ISO 102,400 and Silent Shutter Mode
- 399 Phase-Detect AF Points & 5 fps Burst
- 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
- Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log2 Gamma
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 14,220 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Sony Alpha a7R II. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Sony Alpha a7R II. For example, 96% of 993 users who have commented on the Picture quality of the Sony Alpha a7R II have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 81 to 100 of 517 Reviews
Best camera I owned to date
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Pericles on B&H Photo Video
42Mpixel is really of good use to me. The level of detail is something I appreciate a lot. Switched over from using a D750 to this and all I can say so far is that it was totally worth it!! Just make sure you get extra batteries.
Innovative
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Egill Bjarki on B&H Photo Video
There has been allot of talk about the Sony A7RII, and there is a reason for that. People tend to either praise or really criticise it. This is not a perfect product, but it truly is innovative. The camera does have it's short comings, for me it is mainly two things. No true RAW file format and it overheats during long 4K video recording. These issues are known and well documented. Can it replace my trusty and beloved D810? The short answer is no. But it does really add to my kit and serves and a superb back-up camera and a really good travel partner. Being a photographer who also shoots professional video, this new Sony body is more than a back-up. Sure, I cannot shoot 4K interview footage for hours on end. Even without the overheating issue, shooting video with a DSLR's, always having to restart the recording every 20/30 minutes is annoying. For a scenario where you do not need extended long 4K recording sessions, when you need to be mobile and discrete, the A7RII is a very powerful tool. The focus tracking and facial recognition is very impressive, also during video! For instance, I shot some footage at 55mm f/2.0 and got very good results from that! Due to the slightly compressed RAW format, it does not take sharpening as well as my D810. There are also some elements in a few images where you can see a slight imperfection connected to the compression. I would say that if you tend to do heavy editing, this might be a concern. Personally, my style is more subtle, I prefer a natural look to my work, so this does not bother me. Bottom line, I am very happy with this new addition to my kit. I know what it's weaknesses and strengths are and use it accordingly. ... More
Very impressive output versus size...
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Managed to get my hands on one of these last week, and I must say I am impressed. Three days of street shooting in NYC and I think this will be my street camera of choice. The controls are laid out in a logical fashion, and it does not take one long to feel comfortable using the camera. Battery life could be better, but I also understand the battery has been around for a while system wise, and I like the backwards compatibility. I paired the body up with a batter grip, and I think for a day of street shooting this might be a necessity. I did some night shooting, at around ISO 3200 and I would have to say I have slight concerns with luminance noise at that setting...maybe this will get tweaked with firmware upgrade...but given the high ISO this is capable of, was surprised to see it at 3200. A did a fair amount of shooting with the Sony-Zeiss 24-70 f/4 and I am seeing some very surprising pin cushion effect there...likely I can assign a LR profile to the lens and autocorrect...but that was unexpected for that lens. All in all, very solid feeling, comfortable camera, that just feels like it wants to be out and about and hitting the streets. ... More
Sayonara, Canon and Nikon. Hello, Sony a7-Series!
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Mpls_photo_guy on B&H Photo Video
Though I've been a long-time Canon fan and photography enthusiast, I have been readying up on Sony's a7 and a9-series cameras and all of the rave reviews they've been receiving. When the a7RII went on sale during B&H's Black Friday sale, I decided to bite the bullet and ordered on, along with the 50mm prime lens and the 24-300mm lens. I can sum up my reaction in 3 simple letters: W-O-W! I love the compactness and build quality of the mirrorless camera body, its amazing light sensitivity, and the built-in 5-axis image stabilization. Though this camera has been on the market for 2 years now, it seems light years ahead of what I had been using from the aforementioned DSLR competitors. Sony really did their homework when putting this amazing device together. And it does 4K video and has 42MP resolution! Every time I pick up this camera it brings a smile to my face. Never have I found such great results in using a camera, or had one of my hobbies been so much fun. So, sayonara, Canon and Nikon. I'm with Sony now and won't be going back! ... More
It's not perfect, but it's pretty amazing!
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Matt on B&H Photo Video
I have to admit, I almost sent this camera back after the first week after hearing about the overheating issues. I ran the camera continuously for 28 minutes before it overheated and shut down in my own testing. After a minute or two, it was fine and it ran another 25 minutes without a problem. Just bought the pix-e5 recorder, so this is not a problem anymore for me anymore, but it's more $$$. I have done a few video shoots with it, some back to back and did not have one overheating problem. I didn't shoot long takes or run the camera continuously. The other issue that I had was using my canon lenses with the metabones speedbooster and the regular metabones adapter. Autofocus did not work well and didn't work consistently. This was extremely frustrating. So I tried the Fotodiox adapter and the Kipon adapter too and I had the same issues. Here is how I got around the issue, I sold my canon lenses, bought one sony lens and the rest manual primes. I have no regrets either! This camera rocks! So glad I kept the camera! The stills on this camera are incredible. Video is also very good! Low light is not as good as the A7S, but it's still good! Dynamic range is also very good! It's not the perfect camera, but then again, there is no perfect camera! But this one is great for me! ... More
Ads
Outstanding for still photography
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Outstanding and powerful camera with truly awesome prime lenses available. It will be a classic. The downside is that the lenses seem expensive compared to Canon and it's focus system is not up to sports at the pro level. Also lacking a couple of nice to have pro features such as dual card slots. People gripe about the menu being clunky, but it's totally fine when you get used to it.
Love this camera
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by iambritishdaniel on B&H Photo Video
I've been a long time Canon user and have accumulated a nice collection of L lenses. My 5D (Mark 1) was in desperate need of replacement and so I was obviously looking at getting a newer Canon. When I learned that I could use cheap adapters to use my Canon glass on the A7Rii body I was intrigued. I love the smaller size and the features of this newer camera. It took a while to get used to the EVF, but now I much prefer it. The resolving power of this camera is incredible and my Canon lenses definitely perform better on this camera than on my venerable, but aging 5D. I wouldn't hesitate to buy Sony mirrorless again in the future. ... More
Stunning camera
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Yogiraj on B&H Photo Video
Waited for it for a very long time and finally got it for a steal at 1398.99 during thanksgiving. Had a few problems with orders placed with B&H but all of them were resolved immediately and the end result is that I am extremely happy with the camera and B&H. People who have been complaining about Sony's menu systems clearly don't know how to use the camera, it's custom buttons and in addition there a re 2 Memory recall modes on the control dial. I have never had to dig through the menu system for anything once the custom buttons were set except for switching into APS-C mode (also called super 35 for some unknown reason). The autofocus initially seemed slower than A7R3 but once you setup the expand flexible spot (but turning on continuous AF first without which the expand flexible spot cannot be enabled), the autofocus has become blazingly fast especially in good light. The camera is extremely well built and with the 128$ extension grip, it becomes extremely well balanced (without which there is no support for your little finger and heavy lenses like Sigma Art will make you hold the camera with 2 hands even while walking around). I like the A7R2 size and weight anytime over the A7R3 and R4 which are getting into the heavy and bulky range for a mirrorless. Overall an amazing camera and I'm very happy with the price and the purchase. Thanks B&H. ... More
Yes. I would buy again, but with some reservation.
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Brad on B&H Photo Video
Based on many other reviews i purchase the A7rii with the Sony macro lens and super wide zoom. The built in stabilizer exceeds my d810 for focus hands down on hand held shots. The focus tracking feature also exceeds the d810, not to mention the eye focus. My keeper percentage has gone up substantially. On the down side, if you stop down or are in lower light, the focus capabilities diminish pretty quickly in favor of the d810. My biggest complaint is using the A7 for star photography. Apparently Sony included a firmware upgrade that sees some stars as hot pixels and removes them. As I understand the A9 also has this issue. Hopefully, Sony will issue a firmware upgrade soon. In summary, yes buy one. They are at a good price point. But, don't buy one if you are planning to use it for serious star photography. ... More
Best Camera I've Ever Gotten My Hands On
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Ray Kay on B&H Photo Video
The Sony a7R II is without question one of the most advanced consumer/professional grade interchangeable lens cameras on the market. From the sharp 42 megapixel images, to the incredible video capabilities, this camera really is an all-in-one solution for a lot of creative professionals. I will summarize what i like and dislike about the a7R II in the lists below: Pros: -Incredible image quality -Super customizable settings -APS-C mode gives you the option to use crop sensor lenses -Light/compact body -Variety of video features including 4k, Continuous AF, and S Log capabilities Cons: -Takes some practice to get used to/learn(I previously owned canon full frame bodies) -Short battery life(although not as bad as I expected) -Adapting lenses reduces the features you are able to use in the camera(lots of AF features are disabled for non native lenses) Overall, if the camera fits your budget and you need some of the key features that the a7R II has to offer, I would highly consider it as a viable option. I hope this review helps you! ... More
Glad I Bought It
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Alfredo on B&H Photo Video
It took a few weeks but now that I'm used to this camera and now that I know what it can do, I am really glad I made the upgrade. I have an old Nikon D700 and a pair of tamron 2.8 zooms, I love my nikon and lens but they are 7 yrs old and due for an upgrade. I heard a lot about the sony focus system specifically eye focus and it's fantastic! It nails focus so much better than my nikon. The detail is amazing! The dynamic range is much better than nikon, wasn't expecting that. I bought a few zeiss and gmaster lenses, didn't want to cheap out this time, and the result are far beyond what I was expecting. Not as many buttons as the D700 so switching setting isn't as fast. The camera is small and light, doesn't feel balanced with certain lens but I don't really care about that. The a7r ii metering exposes much better than my nikon too. My nikon raw files and jpegs are always about 1-1.5 stop darker once I upload to my computer, looks great on camera though. This cameras images are almost perfect on upload. Only thing I really don't like is sony color. To me, there colors tend to be greenish, more so on skin tone, as good as everything else is, I'm willing to deal with it. Oh, and files are huge and it take long for photos to be written to the card. ... More
Did not disappoint!! Fantastic camera.
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Elizabeth on B&H Photo Video
I read all the reviews about how horrible the battery life is on this camera. I shoot stills and it hasn't been an issue. I already own an A6500 which uses the same battery. Life is full of compromises. I'd rather have the lighter, smaller camera and carry a couple extra batteries in my pocket. Big deal. / Image quality is everything the reviews say it is A+. I'm using the AR7II for Macro with the 50mm Sony Macro. Outstanding combo. Once again, I like the lightweight kit. I carry my own illumination, and do a fair amount of work in studio anyway. This camera would probably excel as a street shooter, but for me it's still the A6500 for that, 11 fps which I never even need or use! And talk about stealth with the tiny 6500. That one is always with me / Did not care about touch screen, larger battery, slightly faster focus etc, so I took a pass on the AR7III or IV. I'm very happy with the 42MP for those times when I want to crop a macro shot, which I'd rather not do. But there's so much leeway with this camera that you can easily do that and not even notice the difference. Maybe because I'm so accustomed to the A6500, I find all the controls to be perfectly placed. There's always a little bit of choreography involved in learning any camera's controls and buttons. Just memorize it. Rehearse it. / I wish I could tell you more about video. There are plenty of online articles talking about that. Bottom Line: It's just what I was looking for. And, as usual B&H did a great job getting it to me...perfectly packed and protected, all new everything. It's why I'll keep coming back. ... More
Hands down: The best camera I have ever owned!
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Rodney on B&H Photo Video
So I have been doing research for a while in order to move into mirrorless from Nikon. I am an amateur photographer but had a D810 and a host of Nikon lenses and accessories. All my research pointed me to Sony in terms of tech advances for their mirrorless lineup. Si took the plunge, sold my Nikon gear and got this beauty with my store credit, plus a few lenses. Best decision I have ever made. This camera is so stylish, compact and beautiful. No on to the photos: this is the sharpest, best detail I have ever seen on a camera I have owned. I thought the D810 had incredible detail but when I saw my test shots closely I was in shock. Granted the glass helps and that leads me to one warning: lenses for this camera are expensive. There is no way around it. The options are scarce and basic, very basic, but they are all pricey. So that would be the first drawback. If you want Sony lenses, be prepared to hand in your cash. Overall the camera is amazing so far. I got it with a 24-870 F4 Sony Lens. It is amazingly light with that lens on. I am still digesting the plethora of settings the menu has. So far loving the camera. 4K video is just incredible with the built in stabilization technology. ... More
Great camera!
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Vangstr on B&H Photo Video
After much debate and researching, I opted for this camera as opposed to the Canon 5DS/R, Fujifilm XT1 and Leica Q & M. I wanted a camera that was an all-around one trick pony that does it all and it does. My use is mainly for still images and the occasional video. After using it for the past 2 months, I am still impressed by the build quality. The IQ will definitely make you a Sony camper. I can't believe how much I can push the shadows - unreal. I bought the Sony branded vertical grip with this body and it really makes a huge difference on the feel and handling of this camera as opposed to not having it. It feels just as good as my former Canon 1dS Mkiii. The Sony even with the vertical grip is smaller and lighter compared to the Canon 1dS Mkiii. I can shoot all day with this camera and the two batteries inside the vertical grip does last me for the whole day. Overall, this camera has more than met my expectation at this price point. I haven't experienced any heating issues with the video recording as what others may have pointed out. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this camera. Another plus is that I can use my Leica M lenses on it as well as other legacy lenses via adaptors. Now to some things which I think Sony can improve on: Faster chip processor - will help with these huge files. That may be a buffer issue to address as well. Menu system is a steep learning curve - but once familiarized is ok (not the easiest) ... More
Great Camera
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by TJP on B&H Photo Video
This camera is pretty amazing. The technology in it is amazing, really better than anything on the market. This thing pretty much sees in the dark. IBIS is amazing. All the vintage lens you can use on this camera are awesome. It's small and light and pretty fantastic. But the camera isn't perfect. The camera is TOO small in my opinion. The grip kinda sucks. The camera should be about an inch taller so your pinky has somewhere to hold on to. It does help if you get an L bracket as that will add about .5-.75 but it's not quite enough and the battery grip really doesn't work to fix this problem either. The camera doesn't really feel balanced. It also could really use a better menu system and better button placement on the back of the camera. Really the problems with this camera all stem from ergonomics. It just doesn't FEEL very comfortable like a Canon or a Nikon. I really hope they fix this in the next version and realize the camera doesn't have to be THIS small. Also the batteries are kinda silly, seriously just put a bigger battery in this thing, make it a bit taller, put in a bigger heavier battery to balance the camera better and extend the life, it would fix so many issues. Even though the camera has some issues, it's worth it for all the benefits the camera has. It's pretty incredible. ... More
a7R II - Goodbye Canon
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by TMusho on B&H Photo Video
I am in love with this camera, it completely blows my 5D and other Canon cameras out of the water. The full frame sensor is so gorgeous and the images are extremely crisp with great resolution. By far the favorite feature of mine is the ability to link to my phone via WIFI to pull selects and send them out to my clients in a matter of seconds. So easy to use and it makes my life better. I have shot some 4K video and it looks impeccable. At Super35 mode the images are extremely breathtaking. The one con with the video is the rolling shutter but there are always ways to work around that. I would definitely recommend this camera for the professional photographer/videographer who is ready to take things to the next level. ... More
Great Camera for a purpose
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Sean on B&H Photo Video
I have had many Sony bodies but use Canon bodies for work. Im not saying someone could not use it for certain professional applications but for me it falls short in some aspects for that need. So this is why I still rely on Canon for my work. I am overall happy with this camera and can accept its short comings, such as battery life, ergonomics, lens offerings, etc. due to the purpose of my purchase. With that said, any camera can work for you if it meets your requirements. Some cameras have great features but lack in other areas while some cameras are robust and reliable with limited features. We all want an all in one camera but more than likely we just have to make a more good than bad type of decision based on your needs. The only thing that I would change if I could would be the JPEG rendition. I know in raw everything can be adjusted but I find the AWB is not very accurate at all. Some may say thats petty while i will say that I personally would depend on AWB to be accurate for my purposes of this particular camera. Even thought that is an annoying part of my experience it does not out weigh the good so I will have to keep working at it until i figure a way to make it acceptable for my needs when or if I do need a good JPEG out of the camera. This camera also processes pictures pretty slowly to review but that would only truly affect my purchase decision if i was buying this for work. Since i am not it is a little annoying but still not a deal breaker. Hope that helps someone. ... More
Awesome Camera.
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by L4 on B&H Photo Video
With only a week to work with the A7RII we have put it to work from Day 1. Literally, as soon as the batteries were charged it was on the job. The images are excellent. The focusing system using the Sony lens is extremely fast and sharp. The Eye Auto Focus is incredible. No reason to keep the 5D body. Impressed with the Electronic View finder. The DSLR required a lot of thought and pre planning. Now we shoot intuitively focusing on composition. The menu system is not good but with some study it will not be a problem.
Yes, you should sell your cannon/nikon
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by Anders Carlson on B&H Photo Video
Regarding the video over heating, this is not a VIDEO camera! This is a STILL camera with absolutely incredible video capabilities. If you are buying this strictly for video and need to record LONG clips, you might want to consider something else. If you are like me and shoot both stills and video, it doesn't get much better than this. I bought a few sony lenses to go along with this camera, but also kept all of my Canon lenses. The metabones adaptor is not perfect, but works pretty darn good and I have found my canon lenses to be sharper on the AR7II than on the 5Diii for both stills and video. Despite my caption, I am not selling my Canon because it will be my back up camera, but if I could only afford to have one, I would take the Sony A7rii hands down. Absolutely love it! ... More
First Professional Mirrorless Camera
Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Professional Kit
Reviewed by The Fat One Is Here on B&H Photo Video
This is my first high end Mirrorless FE Camera System and I'm impress with the overall performance. I've been using the camera for about 3 months using a prime lens and it's probability one hell of a camera for a beginner. I could have gone with a lower model such as the Sony A7r instead of the A7rii, but I didn't want to say I could have spent the extra money to get a better camera which will bother me in the future. If you are on a budget, then this camera is not for you and I'll look for another camera. If you have the cash, then go for it. Own: - Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens Pro: - Ability to use other lenses from Cannon with a meta-bone adapter. - Image quality is excellent and sharp - Auto focus is pretty quick - Bokeh on the 55 primes lense is excellent - The camera is full frame so there won't be any cropping compare to the APSC sensor. - The grip feels good on the palm of my hands - Small and compact. Great if you have small hands; however, you have big hands, then it may feel a bit small on you. You could get the battery grip, but extra dollars. - 4k video is excellent - The buttons on the camera seem easy to understand. - Shoots great in low light Con: - Battery life sucks, but that is with any electronic devices (Get a couple of more battery) You could turn off the LCD screen while your looking at the viewfinder to save some battery life - Lens selection is not great for telephoto lens. Sony does have the 24-70 f2.8 G master series, but its always out of stock. - Lens can be expensive - Doesn't have a second memory slot. As a beginner, it doesn't bother me, but if the memory card fail, then you may be out of luck. - The port for the micro hdmi and the micro usb look like it could break. ... More
