A7R IIvs ZV-E1
Sony
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
Who should buy what
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The a7r ii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7r ii is the most affordable; only the a7r ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R II (2015) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 625g (with battery and card) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R II | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — |
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