Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R II→Sony Sony FX5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7R II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Sony FX5
-
Burst rate10fps vs 5fps
-
Generation11 years newer (2026 vs 2015)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution17MP (down from 42MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7R II | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.8 | ||
| Documentary | +2.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.0 | ||
| Landscape | -1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.1 | ||
| Casual | +1.2 | ||
| Food | +1.0 | ||
| Macro | -0.6 | ||
| Architecture | -0.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.7 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R II | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 42MP | 17MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 625g (with battery and card) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7R II and Sony FX5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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