G85vs A7R II
Sony
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography — A7R II (2015): The A7R II transformed the A7R series — adding IBIS, 4K video, BSI sensor tech, and phase-detect AF in one generation. A landmark Sony camera.
Who should buy what
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
A7R II (2015)
- Landscape and architecture photographers who want 42MP with IBIS for handheld shooting
- Portrait and studio photographers who need high resolution with improved AF reliability
- Sony FE system users who want a capable high-resolution body at a used price
- A7R I owners who need the stabilisation, 4K, and improved AF the original lacked
Quick take: The a7r ii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the g85 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | G85 (2016) | A7R II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £799 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~290 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 625g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | A7R II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Architecture | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history