The Sony a7R II Still Has Plenty to Offer in 2021
- 42.4MP sensor
- In-body image stabilization
- 4K video
- ISO range of 100-25,600
- 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder
- 5fps burst mode
- AF system with 399 phase detect points
- Magnesium alloy body
- 1.4 lbs
- 500,000-shutter life expectancy
- David Busch’s Sony Alpha a7R II/a7 II Guide to Digital Photography
- The Complete Guide to Sony's Alpha 7R II
Photo by Pavel Anoshin on Unsplash
Sony a7R II Camera
The Sony a7R II is four years old, and yet it's still relevant because this mirrorless is a workhorse.
For starters, the Sony a7R II produces some of the most beautiful 4K footage I’ve ever had the pleasure to shoot. While Sony A7 riii, which was launched after Sony A7 rii, has got many high-end features for professional photographers.
It also has in-body image stabilization and an incredible 42.4MP full frame sensor.
If you’re looking to save some money with your new camera purchases, always look for cameras that came out a few years ago but were ahead of their time, like this Sony.
Sony a7RII Specs
The Sony a7R II features 4K video, in-body image stabilization and a 42.4MP full-frame sensor, but that’s only the beginning of the list.
It’s ISO range is 100-25,600 and it comes with a 3” LCD screen with 1.22M-dots. Unfortunately, the screen isn’t fully articulated, but it is tiltable.
Other Sony a7RII Specs:
Recommended Sony a7R II Reading:
Sony a7R II Body & Design
This camera body is built entirely from magnesium alloy, making it both light and sturdy.
It’s designed like an antique SLR, except better. Sony took some criticism they received from the Sony a7 and Sony a7 II and made the body of this camera more user-friendly.
For instance, the grip is larger and the shutter release button was moved forward to enable more room for a button that allows you to adjust your settings.
The Sony a7R II is also weather-sealed, and features a larger lens mount to support heavier lenses.
One negative some photographers may notice is that some of the camera buttons are smaller on the a7R II, as compared to the earlier a7 and a7R. However, in my experience with this camera, this isn’t a huge problem.
Sony a7RII Build & Handling
My favorite thing about the Sony a7R II is that it is highly customizable. For instance, there’s a control wheel on the back that can be adjusted to one of six features.
Additionally, there’s four customizable buttons that can be used for one of 62 functions.
Of course, this means that the Sony a7R II’s handling straight out of the box is excellent. It’s light. It’s effective. And, it’s compact enough to use with a number of different videography accessories.
Sony a7R II Video Performance
I’ve been hinting at the incredible video performance of the Sony a7R II throughout this whole article and this video by Barrett Media Co. proves it.
The Sony a7R II shoots 4K video at 60p, 30p, or 24p.
As you can see in this video by Alin Popescu, the AF system works beautifully while shooting video.
You can actually take control over the AF speed, which in turn allows you to direct your viewer’s attention by either lingering on a specific subject or lingering in the space between subjects.
It’s something you really need to experience if you’re thinking about purchasing the Sony a7R II specifically for its video capabilities.
Sony a7R II Price
You can purchase a Sony a7R II on Amazon for $1,400. Considering that the Sony a7R III is $2,500 and the Sony a7R IV is $3,500, that’s quite the deal!
Or, you can save $300 and buy a used Sony a7R II on MPB for just $1,100.
In the grand scheme of things, $300 might not seem like a huge deal since this camera is still well over $1,000. But when you consider that the $300 you save by buying used could get you a new lens or a new tripod or a new set of filters, the benefit of the savings becomes clear.
If you’re concerned about the Sony a7R II being too old, you can pick up a used Sony a7R III for as little as $1,784 on MPB. That’s an even bigger savings over buying new!
Whatever the case, you’ll find that MPB has excellent prices, great customer service, and accurate grading for their cameras.
I’ve bought (and sold) with MPB many times and have been pleased with the process each time. I think you will too!