Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony A7 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The A7 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most A7R owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A7 II
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Generation1 year newer (2014 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution24MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | -1.0 | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Travel | +4.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £549 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p 60fps | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 599g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-Mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Compare side-by-side
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