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Sony A7 II Shooter’s Report: Improved ergonomics, performance and top-notch image stabilization
posted Friday, February 20, 2015 at 5:30 PM EST
The Sony A7-series has been a massive success thanks to outstanding image quality from its full-frame sensor and a small, lightweight form factor. This is all despite a few quirks -- slow startup, less-than-optimal ergonomics and limited native lens selection, for instance. Now, the second generation of the original "base model" A7 is here and appropriately called the Sony A7 II.
Introduced with this updated model, not only does the A7 II bring various ergonomic improvements including a more comfortable grip and re-positioned buttons and dials, it also comes as the world's first full-frame mirrorless camera with 5-axis image stabilization. I was fortunate to shoot and review one of the earlier designs in the A7 line -- the Sony A7S -- and now, I've taken this latest full-frame camera out for a spin with my Sony A7 II Shooter's Report.
In this report I'll go over these new design and ergonomic improvements, and overall, I found them to be much-welcomed refinements. I've also tested the new 5-axis IS system with some low-light and macro photography, as well as with video. Additionally, I investigated the claimed performance improvements to autofocus and continuous burst shooting by taking the camera out for testing at a college basketball game. All in all, it's an impressive mirrorless camera with great performance and image quality chops.
Head over to the complete Sony A7 II Shooter's Report for all the details, including a range of gallery images and sample videos, as well as my final thoughts on this cool, compact full-frame camera. And be sure to stay tuned as we wrap up our full Imaging Resource review of the new Sony A7 II, complete with our final IR conclusion.
[Quick Links: Sony A7 II • Lab Samples • Gallery • Shooter's Report]