Sony A7R II Field Test

Way back in late 2013, Sony's Alpha A7-series was a pretty revolutionary concept, offering fully-featured mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras with roomy, light-loving full-frame image sensors. My first introduction to those first A7-series cameras -- the Sony A7 and Sony A7R -- came on a press trip right down the road in Nashville, Tennessee.

I found a whole lot to like in both cameras on that trip, and my colleagues here at Imaging Resource agreed. Both cameras were no-brainer choices for our Dave's Picks list, and also placed well in our 2013 Camera of the Year awards. (The A7 earned itself a Camera of Distinction award overall, while the A7R took top prize as our Camera of the Year.)

Since then, the A7-series has grown to six models. Alongside the original two cameras, the followup Sony A7S traded resolution for sensitivity, and also emphasized video thanks to 4K capture capability, although an external recorder was needed. And this year, all three models have been replaced with ever more impressive successor cameras: the A7 II, A7R II and A7S II.

Recently, I shot with the just-launched Sony A7R II on a press trip in Portland, Oregon. (Not seen it? You'll want to start with my first field test, and then come back to this one afterwards.)

Nutshell view: A quick recap of my earlier experiences
After that first experience with the new model, a followup to the earlier Sony A7R, I found much to love on the new Mark II model. In particular, I really appreciated its brand-new body, inherited with some subtle tweaks from its current-generation sibling the A7 II.

The ergonomics are noticeably better, with the shutter button in particular being much more comfortable to reach and press with your index finger. No question: The Sony A7R II is a much better camera than was its predecessor in this respect.