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PEN vs A7R II
Quick take: The A7R II has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7R II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A7R II 2015
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
£799
list price · used from £489 at eBay
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7R II — Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography: 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
A7R II (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | PENOM System · 2026 | A7R IISony · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £799Best |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 42.4MPBest |
| Video | 4K/C4K, OM-Log400, vertical video support | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF (121 points) with subject detection (people, cats, dogs) | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronicBest | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA)Best | ~290 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 393g (with battery and card)Best | 625g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | — | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 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) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
PEN
A7R II
Portrait
7.0/10
7.1/10
Street
7.8/10
5.8/10
Travel
7.4/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
6.3/10
5.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.7/10
—
Filmmaking
5.2/10
5.9/10
Documentary
7.0/10
6.1/10
Sports & Action
7.7/10
5.8/10
Landscape
6.1/10
6.4/10
Wildlife
8.1/10
6.7/10
Casual
6.3/10
3.9/10
Food
6.9/10
6.4/10
Macro
6.8/10
5.8/10
Architecture
6.1/10
6.4/10
Astrophotography
5.9/10
6.0/10
Fun & simple
4.7/10
—
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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