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Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III

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Sony A7 II

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7 II
$1,398.00
10%
off
Change

Sony A7R III

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R III
$3,198.00
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Pro Mirrorless cameras by Sony. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Sony A7 II has a 24.0 MP and Sony A7R III has a 42.0 MP resolution. We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Pro Mirrorless cameras. Out of 30 cameras in this class, Sony A7 II is ranked #8 with an overall score of 89 and Sony A7R III is ranked #2 with an overall score of 99.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-11-20
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sony E (NEX) Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 599g. 127 x 96 x 60 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha 7 Compare

Sony A7R III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50-102400)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 657g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha 7R II Compare

Sony A7 II was replaced by Sony Alpha A7 III. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7 III vs Sony Alpha A7 II
Sony Alpha A7 III vs Sony Alpha A7R III

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 II over Sony Alpha A7R III
Weight 599 g vs 657 g 58 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area 35.65µm2 vs 20.43µm2 74% larger pixel area
Price $1,398 vs $3,198 $1,800 cheaper
Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R III over Sony Alpha A7 II
Touch Screen Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution 42 MP vs 24 MP 75% more pixels
Max ISO 32.000 vs 25.600 25% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points 425 vs 117 308 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution 1.440k dots vs 1.230k dots 17% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting 10.0fps vs 5.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life 650 shots vs 350 shots 300 more frames with a single charge
Viewfinder Resolution 3686.4k dot vs 2359k dot 56% higher resolution
Color Depth 26.0 vs 24.9 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 14.7 vs 13.6 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 3523 vs 2449 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Flash Sync Port Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot 2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Autofocus at f/8 aperture 0 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7 II and Sony Alpha A7R III
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift All the lenses are stabilized
Articulating Screen Yes vs Yes Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 24 MP vs 42 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution 1.230k dots vs 1.440k dots Higher resolution screens
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording With Optional App vs With Optional App creative shooting
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote Control Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7 II and Sony Alpha A7R III
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III. Sony A7 II has the same height and width with Sony A7R III. On the other hand, with a thickness of 60mm, it is 14mm thinner.

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III.
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7 II is 58g lighter than the Sony A7R III but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7 II
A7R III
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7 II
A7R III
Min
Average
Max
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7 II has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Sony A7R III has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony A7R III's sensor provides 18MP more than Sony A7 II's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Sony A7R III's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the A7 II and A7R III sensor size comparison.

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III Sensor Size Comparison


Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7 II for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7R III for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7R III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7R III for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
117 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
425 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7R III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
599g
Body Thickness 60mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
657g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Sony A7R III for Landscape Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 II Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III have the same Sony E (NEX) lens mount so have 83 native lenses available. But be careful that only 46 of these lenses can cover the full frame sensors of these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies.

Lens Type # of Sony A7 II Lenses # of Sony A7R III Lenses
Standard Zoom 9 (7 Full Frame) 9 (7 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 13 (5 Full Frame) 13 (5 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 4 (3 Full Frame) 4 (3 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 27 (14 Full Frame) 27 (14 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 6 (5 Full Frame) 6 (5 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 10 (7 Full Frame) 10 (7 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 8 (1 Full Frame) 8 (1 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 1 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 4 (3 Full Frame) 4 (3 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 1 (1 Full Frame) 1 (1 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 83 (46 Full Frame) 83 (46 Full Frame)
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R III: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7 II and Sony A7R III scores compare:

Sony A7 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 49 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #17 out of 1131 in all Cameras
Sony A7R III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 49 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #2 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Sony A7R III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony A7 II in all criterias except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony A7 II. Otherwise, Sony A7R III is the better camera overall.

Sony A7 II
Sony A7 II
$1,398.00
10%
off

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R III
$3,198.00

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7 II Sony Alpha A7R III
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-11-20 2017-10-25
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Price $1,398.00 $3,198.00
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 855.62mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 42 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 7952 x 5304
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 32,000 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 51200 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 117 425
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E (NEX) Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 83 83
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3″ 3″
Resolution 1,230k dots 1,440k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots 3,686k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71 0.78
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 599g 657g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm 127 x 96 x 74mm
Battery Life 350 shots 650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 90 100
DxO Color Depth 24.9 26.0
DxO Dynamic Range 13.6 14.7
DxO Low Light ISO 2449 3523
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