24 hours with Sony's A7R II full-frame mirrorless camera
If that RX100 IV point-and-shoot isn't powerful enough for you, Sony has a couple other new cameras to fit your needs: the A7R II and RX10 II. For now, our focus is on the A7R II, a full-frame mirrorless beast that's been one of the most anticipated shooters of the year, and for good reason -- it packs high-end specs in a surprisingly small body. It's definitely smaller than your average DSLR. Sony's second-generation A7R comes with a whopping 42.4-megapixel Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor (35mm) and BIONZ X processor, both high-end components that are expected to make this one of the sharpest and fastest cameras on the market.
There's a built-in five-axis stabilization system as well, which we've seen on models like the A7 II, and (unlike its predecessor) the A7R II can record 4K video (3,840 x 2,160) internally at 24 or 30 fps -- so you don't need to worry about plugging in an external drive to save your movies. And let's not forget that ridiculous max ISO of 102,400. After spending a day with it, we can tell you this thing doesn't disappoint. It is a beauty in every sense of the word.
At 22.05 oz (body-only), the $3,200 camera feels light yet sturdy in your hands -- even with a 24-70mm lens mounted on it, which weighs about one pound on its own. Better yet, Sony's menu system makes it a breeze to find and use any settings you may want to change. You'll feel right at home if you've owned or played with one of its cameras before.
While we aren't ready to make a final call on the A7R II, the results so far are promising. Both pictures and videos we've taken with it have looked terrific, but we'll see if this great first impression is able to carry over through a more thorough testing. In the meantime, enjoy this collection of sample photos, captured during a gorgeous sunny day in Portland, Oregon.
To view full-resolution sample images shot with the Sony A7R II, click here.
