Sony A7 II vs Canon 5DS R

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Sony A7 II vs Canon 5DS R

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35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7 II.
Compare Sony A7 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7 II conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
50.6 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon 5DS R Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5DS R in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5DS R.
Compare Canon 5DS R image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5DS R conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7 III
Compare A7 II vs A7 III
Compare Sony A7 III vs Canon 5DS R

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Differences

Sony A7 II advantages over Canon 5DS R

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 5.97 vs 4.14 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
52 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon 5DS R advantages over Sony A7 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

700 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More pixels
50.6 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 5DS R User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Excellent 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; Sensor-shift IS brings stabilization to nearly any lens; Much-improved ergonomics and top-deck control layout; 'Mark II' maintains same impressive image quality, dynamic range and high ISO performance; XAVC S 50Mbps video format; Faster start-up time; Hybrid AF performs well with good continuous AF.
(Similar to A7): Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Battery life could be better; Low-light AF still not as good as most DSLRs; High ISO JPEGs look over-processed; Slow buffer clearing; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses (but it's getting better).
Read our Sony A7 II Review

Phenomenal resolution and sharpness; Fine Detail Picture Style is like in-camera Unsharp Mask; Excellent print quality; Decent high ISO performance; Improved normalized dynamic range compared to 5D Mark III; Decent burst speed with good buffer depths; Built-in intervalometer & timelapse movie mode.
AF speed tested closer to consumer-level DSLRs; Dynamic range lower than competing models from Nikon & Sony; Lack of OLPF means subject to more aliasing artifacts with some subjects; No 60p video frame rate; No headphone jack; Timelapse video is only 1080p.
Read our Canon 5DS R Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7 II

Sony A7

$1148
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

$748
35mm

Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony A7

Canon 5DS R

Sony A7

$1499
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Sony A7

Compared to Canon 5DS

Sony A7 II

Canon 5DS

$1148
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Lens selection

Compare Sony A7 II vs Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5DS

$1499
35mm

Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7 II

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3999
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 II vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 5DS R

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$3999
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Pentax K-1

Sony A7 II

Pentax K-1

$1148
35mm

Bigger pixels
In-camera panoramas

$1800
35mm

Lens selection
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A7 II vs Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1

$1499
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Sony A7 III

Sony A7 II

Sony A7 III

$1148
35mm

In-camera panoramas

$1898
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 III

Canon 5DS R

Sony A7 III

$1499
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1898
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Sony A7 III

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