Table of Contents
Sony a7R II full frame mirrorless camera
see also:
Firmware update 3.30 in Aug 2016 has introduced a bug that “eats” stars in RAW and JPG astrophoto images when exposure time is 4 secs or longer, or BULB
A workaround for timed shots is to use Continuous Burst Mode but this will reduce dynamic range as it shoots in 12 bit sensor readout not 14 bit 1)
introduction
- announced June 2015
- similar to Sony a7 full frame mirrorless camera but:
- 42mp back-illuminated sensor not 36mp
- 399 PDAF points
- 5 axis image stabilisation included
- improved high ISO noise
- 40% faster AF
- appears to have very good AF tracking of fast moving subjects at 5fps burst
- Eye-AF now can track closest eye
- faster AF with Canon lenses via Metabones adapter
- can now utilize focal plane PDAF with Sony A-mount lenses, when using a LA-E3 lens mount adapter
- 500,000 shot shutter rating
- 50% less shutter vibration
- capable of electronic first curtain mode
- silent shutter mode
- improved ergonomics
- 5fps not 4fps burst
- flash sync 1/250th sec
- awesome 4K and 1080HD video features plus 720 120p slo mo
- brighter LCD screen
- improved EVF
- the Olympus mode dial locking system
- faster start up
- heavier, larger, much more expensive
- who is it for?
- wedding photographers
- portrait photographers
- landscape photographers
- studio photographers
- videographers
- it is NOT a good camera for sports photographers who need reliable, accurate C-AF tracking
image courtesy of http://www.eoshd.com
specs
- 42.4mp back-illuminated sensor with no anti-alias filter
- 25 CDAF points
- Eye-AF, which locks the focus on the pupil of faces that are detected
- Flexible Spot AF (with adjustable focus point sizes)
- Zone AF
- Lock-on AF C-AF
- excellent RAW dynamic range
- 399 PDAF points
- Bionz X processor
- improved sharpening algorithms
- diffraction reduction software for small apertures
- context-sensitive, 'area-specific noise reduction'
- focus peaking
- panorama sweep mode
- 5fps burst
- shutter 30sec - 1/8000th sec but is it still loud?
- silent shutter mode
- 1st electronic shutter to reduce vibrations
- flash sync 1/250th sec
- no built-in flash but multi-interface flash shoe
- Multi-Interface Shoe allows you to connect a latest model Sony flash, an external mic, video lamp, or XLR adapter
- exp. compensation ±5 EV
- ISO 100-25,600 (extended: 50, up to 102,400)
- 3“ tilting 1.23m dot LCD but not touch sensitive
- XGA EVF
- 4K video:
- internal UHD 4K 3840 x 2160p at 30/24 fps in XAVC S format at 100Mbps and 4:2:0 sampling at 8-bit
- Super 35 without pixel binning or full frame read-out format
- customisable picture profiles
- S-Log2 Gamma - “squeezes up to 1300% more dynamic range into the video signal then traditional REC709, for increased post-production flexibility”
- S-Gamut
- time code - standard 'Record Run” mode that only advances the timecode when recording, as well as “Free Run” timecode that advances the timecode even when not recording
- clean 4:2:2 uncompressed video HDMI output
- sensor based IS - hopefully now better optimised for video - but will it compete with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II's amazing IS in video?
- 3.5mm microphone input jack
- compatible with the Sony XLR-K2M XLR Adapter for recording professional balanced XLR audio signals with phantom power and adjustable mic/line inputs
- 3.5mm headphone jack as well as real time audio levels for a visual reference
- 1080 60/24p HD video XAVC S7 codec at 50Mbps, with uncompressed HDMI out
- USB 2.0
- weather sealed, magnesium body
- WiFi with NFC
- 22.05 oz / 625 g incl. battery, card
- 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4“ / 126.9 x 95.7 x 60.3 mm
- $3200 body only
- optional vertical grip & 2nd battery holder
- optional AC-PW20 AC Adapter
firmware updates
- firmware v3.30 Aug 2016:
- Adds support for Radio Controlled Lighting System
- Improves stability for temperature control (temperature rise warning) while taking still images
- Improves overall stability and operability of the camera
- firmware 3.20:
- Allows recording of XAVCS format video with an SDHC card in addition to SDXC card
- firmware 3.10:
- Adds support for additional lenses
- Adds support for Phase-detection AF
- The AF can be used in movie recording mode with the SEL85F14GM lens
- firmware 3.00:
- Improves 4K movie recording time when using the vertical grip (VG-C2EM) or when APS-C/Super35mm mode is activated
- Improves picture quality
- firmware 2.00:
- Adds the selectable feature for uncompressed 14-Bit RAW image capture
- Adds support to output video via HDMI during use of the Remote Camera Control software (still mode only)
- firmware 1.00:
- Reduces the chance of the camera changing to front focus when shooting certain scenes
- Decreases chroma noise when Long Exposure NR is set to Off
- Improves continuous shooting at Hi speed so that it can be used just as long when using the flash as without the flash
issues
- image stabiliser not as effective as dSLR OIS or Olympus sensor based IS
- LCD screen not touch sensitive
- loud shutter
- silent shutter mode limited functionality
- poor ergonomics - need to resort to menu system too much
- no timelapse recording
- no external battery charger bundled - need to charge battery inside camera via USB
- USB 2.0 only
- when used with Metabones adapter:
- Eye-AF and Center Lock-On AF are not possible
- Face Detection as well as Wide, Center and Flexible Spot Focus Areas work with “compatible” Canon lenses
- C-AF in video mode is not possible
- AF is not as good as native FE lenses
- some Canon lenses are not compatible with CDAF and thus only use PDAF - you need to manually select PDAF mode in the AF System menu 2)
- eg. Canon 135mm f/2, Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon 35mm f/1.4L, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM - see http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB-EF-E-BT6
compared to Sony A7II
- a7R II has higher resolution sensor 42mp vs 24mp
- better noise, dynamic range, and colour range
- 399 PDAF points not 117
- electronic silent shutter mode
- 4K video not just 1080HD
- similar weight only 25g heavier
- faster AF with Metabones adapters for Canon lenses
- twice the price
reviews
-
- “autofocusing Canon EF lenses using a Metabones electronic adapter. Focus appeared to be on par with OVF focus on a native Canon body, and the AF experience itself didn't appear to be limited simply because you're using a third party lens (full coverage and tracking are available).”
-
- C-AF on moving sports subjects was generally poor and when using Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, although C-AF performance was similar to a native lens, there are major restrictions in using a Canon lens:
- burst rate with AF reduced to 3fps from 5fps
- no eye AF, nor lock-on AF, nor zone, nor 'Expand Flexible Spot' modes function available
- the alpha-series is missing a major, physical control point that is indispensable for sports (and arguably all) photographers
- Back-button autofocus users – arguably a majority of sports photographers – will discover a quirk that occurs when programming the a7R II’s rear C3 button for shutter-independent operation of continuous autofocus. While C3 is held down, any shutter speed or aperture changes will not be recorded
- ergonomic issues with larger lenses
-
- awful menu system
- jpeg colour rendition not great
- silent mode won't work with flash or with continuous advance modes
- LCD isn't bright enough to see in direct sunlight
- IS is not as good as Canon/Nikon
- only 2 dials so lots of menu work and clumsy ergonomics
- Auto ISO is magnificent as it is fully programmable
- ISO great to 12,800
- no anti-alias filters, so it's subject to aliasing and moiré
-
- much more comfortable camera to shoot than version I
-
- the a7R II still feels sluggish on the autofocus side of things, especially in low light situations making it behave more like a 5D Mark II than a D810