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Sony A7 II vs A7R II

The Sony Alpha A7 II and the Sony Alpha A7R II are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in November 2014 and June 2015. Both the A7 II and the A7R II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The A7 II has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the A7R II provides 42.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A7 II
versus
Sony A7R II
Sony A7 II   Sony A7R II
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – Full Frame sensor 42.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 51,200) ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots) Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1230k dots 3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
5 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
350 shots per battery charge290 shots per battery charge
127 x 96 x 60 mm, 599 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm, 625 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A7 II and the Sony Alpha A7R II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony A7 II and the Sony A7R II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R II
Compare A7 II versus A7R II top
Comparison A7 II or A7R II rear

In this particular case, the Sony A7 II and the Sony A7R II have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the A7R II is slightly heavier (4 percent) than the A7 II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony FE Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
3.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7C 124 mm 71 mm 60 mm 509 g 740 Y Sep 2020 1,799 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 Y Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 Y Oct 2013 1,699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 465 g 340 Y Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A77 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 732 g 470 Y Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The A7 II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 38 percent) than the A7R II, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A7R II is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony A7 II and Sony A7R II sensor measures

With 42.2MP, the A7R II offers a higher resolution than the A7 II (24MP), but the A7R II has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.52μm versus 5.97μm for the A7 II). Yet, the A7R II is a somewhat more recent model (by 6 months) than the A7 II, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A7R II has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7R II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7R II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A7 II are 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm for good quality, 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Sony Alpha A7 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7R II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

In terms of underlying technology, the A7 II is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7R II uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A7 II versus A7R II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A7R II has a markedly higher DXO score than the A7 II (overall score 8 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 1.1 bits higher color depth, 0.3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.5 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
2.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
3.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
4.
 
Sony A7C Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7340795
5.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
6.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
7.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
8.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
9.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
10.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
11.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
12.
 
Sony A7R Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.614.1274695
13.
 
Sony A77 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.280178
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A7R II provides a better video resolution than the A7 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the A7 II is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The A7 II and the A7R II are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2400k dots. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A7 II and Sony A7R II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
2.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
3.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
4.
 
Sony A7C2360 n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n Y
5.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
6.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
9.
 
Sony A99 II2400 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
10.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A72400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
12.
 
Sony A7R2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
13.
 
Sony A772359 Y3.0 / 921 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7R II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A7 II and the A7R II write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A7 II and Sony Alpha A7R II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
3.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
4.
 
Sony A7CYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
5.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
6.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
7.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
8.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
9.
 
Sony A99 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
10.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony A7Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony A7RYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony A77Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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Both the A7 II and the A7R II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A7 II was replaced by the Sony A7 III, while the A7R II was followed by the Sony A7R III. Further information on the features and operation of the A7 II and A7R II can be found, respectively, in the Sony A7 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7R II Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Sony A7 II better than the Sony A7R II or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7 II:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (350 versus 290) on a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (38 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in November 2014).


Advantages of the Sony Alpha A7R II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (42.2 vs 24MP), which boosts linear resolution by 33%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (8 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.1 bits more color depth).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.5 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.71x).
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (6 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7R II is the clear winner of the contest (9 : 4 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A7 II 04:09 A7R II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A7 II and the Sony A7R II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the A7 II and the A7R II in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
3.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7C3.5/5..3.5/586/1004/54/5 Sep 2020 1,799 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A775/591/100..81/100..5/5 Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Sony A7 II vs Sony A7R II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date November 2014 June 2015
    Launch Price USD 1,999 USD 3,199
    Sensor Specs Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 855.62 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 42.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 7952 x 5304 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.97 μm 4.52 μm
    Pixel Density 2.80 MP/cm2 4.90 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 51,200 ISO 50 - 102,400 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 90 98
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.9 26.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.6 13.9
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 2449 3434
    Screen Specs Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots 2400k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1230k dots 1229k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations500 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony A7 II Sony A7R II
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots per charge290 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in)
    127 x 96 x 60 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in)
    Camera Weight 599 g (21.1 oz) 625 g (22.0 oz)
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