Z5 IIvs 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?
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
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 a7r ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 II (2024) | A7R II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~290 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 700g body only | 625g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 II | A7R II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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