When Sony first announced the a7 series of mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras, the concept of a full-frame camera in a more compact body was a pipe dream. The a7 series was a first in the world. Now Sony has once again created a world first – the Sony a7R II is equipped with the world’s first back-illuminated full-frame sensor pushing a whopping 42.4 megapixels.
The Sony a7R II is packed with the latest technological advancements from Sony; it’s more than just about packing megapixels onto a camera, Sony’s new Exmor R CMOS sensor is the world’s first full-frame sensor that incorporates a back-illuminated architecture that combines a gapless on-chip lens design and anti-reflective coating. The wiring layer upgrades the typical aluminum wiring design with copper wiring for faster transmission speed. All this amounts to some truly remarkable and incredibly detailed 42.4 megapixel stills and 4K movies incredible low-noise performance even at ISO 102,400.
Sample photo using the Sony a7RII at ISO 6400/Sony website
The Sony a7R II’s improvements aren’t limited to the sensor technology alone; the Sony a7R II also includes a 5-axis image stabilization system that ‘s fine-tuned for high-resolution sensors and accurately compensates for blur caused by camera shake. The 5-axis system can compensate for camera shake vertically, horizontally, pitch, yaw, and roll as opposed to the previous version’s two-directional stabilization. The image stabilization in the Sony a7RII can even be monitored in the camera’s viewfinder or LCD simply half-pressing the shutter button. The Sony a7 RII 5-axis stabilization is so advanced that it can even compensate for blur caused by the camera operator’s movement – even if they’re running.
Photo by Joshua Wright
If you’re considering using your a7R II for videography or digital filmmaking, the Sony a7R II is the world’s first camera to offer 4K-movie recording to internal media in a full-frame sensor. For independent filmmakers and videographers this will be a boon to the creative processes further minimizing bulk and weight by reducing the need for external recorders and reducing the costs associated with production. The Sony a7R II provides users with the option of shooting 4K in the super 35mm format with full pixel readout and no line skipping or pixel binning, resulting in images with higher resolution and less jagging. Keeping in line with the professional workflow needed for high quality video production, the Sony a7RII includes high bit-rate 4K recording to the XAVC S format, S-Log gamma, and time code/user bit for easy editing and synching with multiple camera setups.
Sony has consistently pushed the limits of the form factor and continues to make marked improvements in their auto-focusing technologies as well. The Sony a7R II includes a fast hybrid AF system with a densely packed 399 focal plane phase-detection AF points. The hybrid AF system in the Sony a7R II ensure that even in the most challenging situations, the Sony a7RII can deliver tack-sharp images both in stills and movie modes.
One of the best assets of the Sony a7R II is just how flexible it is. The Sony a7R II definitely has the technology that makes equally at home out on the field or in studio. The Sony a7RII’s moisture and dust resistant construction allow you to shoot in touch environments without worrying about damaging the electronics of the system. There is improved sealing of the dials, buttons and a double-layered structure that tightly interlocks panels and components. It may not be waterproof but it’s definitely tough enough to handle most situations.
For the studio set the Sony a7R II offers plenty of capture and transfer options including the ability to tether your camera to a PC for remote capture and instant upload. An added benefit is the ability to even charge via USB cable – extending the battery life for those marathon studio sessions.
Sample photo using the Sony a7RII/Sony website
The Sony a7R II continues to push the envelope and deliver the tools needed to create captivating images, superb high-resolution 4K video all in one compact system. The Sony a7 series continues to set the bar for what photographers and videographers should expect from a full-frame camera system – all of the benefits of a large sensor and none of the compromises.
