I wanted a camera that allowed me to use my classic RF lenses. The Leica digital cameras were too expensive. I discovered the Sony at around $1,600. While much less money, it was still expensive until Sony offered a $500 instant rebate. I bought it in early 2018 and never looked back. Bought a Samyang 24mm f2.8 and along with my 50mm Summicron, it covers most of my needs for a small kit. Will occasionally use for 90mm Tele Elmarit if I need more reach.
ib ib
November 28, 2022 6:21 pm
can the a7ii produce good night portrait photos ?
Alvin Bartolome
January 17, 2019 1:15 am
Hi Nasim,
With the success of the A7iii, do you think this A7ii still relevant in 2019 and in the next 3 years? I would like to know if purchase my first mirrorless camera and I am aiming it more of a general/travel/family camera during the holidays. I am just planning to pair this camera with the small 35/2.8 and the excellent 55/1.8
Thank you in advance.
Jon
May 29, 2018 4:17 pm
Great review, I don’t know if anyone else mentioned it yet, but an update some time back added a 14-bit uncompressed RAW format option,just saying
Bruce Adams
October 18, 2017 10:17 am
An impressively detailed critical analysis. Indeed it is the most helpful A7ii review I have read. But I also wish to thank recent commenters who have provided updates on improvements Sony has made since the review was first published. I feel more confident now that if I buy a Sony A7ii in 2017 it will be better than if I had bought the earlier release versions that were tested here and in other reviews.
Alex
February 10, 2017 3:04 am
Well for anyone reading this in 2017. The a7II , ( i own one myself) is an awesome camera. IQ in this review gets three stars and i wonder why as the images even nasim took look awesome with incredible dynamic range. Nikon USED to process better after the light hits the sensor, but in the meantime the a99II has proven to be the new top dog in SNR processing that said, most issues Nassim had in this review with the A7II, though very valid at the time, have been solved up to the point that it is the best price/quality FF camera out there. It’s certainly not the fastest to af, but show me where canon or nikon released fw’s back to back to solve issue’s , add codecs and improve handling in general.
So to sum up: 1) lossless compression has been added. Canikon claim their implementation is lossless but the results sometimes are dodgy. The 5DSR compared to a7RII for example has such bad shadow recovery full of artifacts that it makes you wonder how much of the lossless compression claim is true !. Most shooters including me, that used camera’s that use the lossy compression of the a77II and a99 never found it to underperform and have a hard time seeing differences between the lossy and lossless files from sony. Except for twice the file size, there isn’t that big of a difference in reality. There are some situations where the lossless files can be pushed harder, but those situations are few and far between.
2). Battery life , though awfull if used to DSLR/DSLT systems there are workarounds. You can get neewer/meike/x brands battery grips which let you use 2 batteries. These work very well ( i have the neewer) and make it less of a hastle. The off brand batteries are so cheaply available on amazon/ebay etc that you can stock up on them fairly easily. The same goes for outlet chargers, very cheap. I agree sony should have shipped one with the camera as the in camera charging s*cks and is slow, but it is what it is. The problem with a fully electric EVF , non stop live view system is that .. surprize ! it runs on electricity.. so it uses batteries. the EVF offers ( to me and most) at least such benefits that you can’t go back to an ovf after this. Every time i see a canikonist back button focus or focusing and recomposing it looks really goofy. Yes, we used to HAVE to do it that way, not any more with sony and yes, that drains batteries, so stock up !. The added benefit of the grip is that the camera holds much better but doesn’t add a lot of weight to the package.
3) menu system. Though i agree that it is a bit strange that some items that apparantly should be grouped together are spread across different tabs than you would expect. Though after a week or so of intensive use, you get used to it fairly quickly. Every system has it’s own system and it’s also what you’re used to that matters. So don’t complain if shooting your whole life with canon or nikon and then claim that their menu’s are the best just because you’re familiar with them. I used to shoot film with minolta and my first digital was a Konica Minolta. Guess what the first sony’s kept that menu structure and evolved from there. I have used canon’s in the past, but to me the Nikon menu systems are like super illogical. I’m sure if i’d use them extensively i’d get used to them eventually, but for now to me they look like a mess.
4) Af point selection. You know there is a fn buttion ( function) as a shortcut to the mostly used options and factory default is that the af mode is there also. So you push your fn and select af mode and after that you can just move af points with your joystick, not THAT hard now.. is it ?
I do not think the review was too negative, though i think it’s been more negative than it could have been. Keeping in mind it was written when a lot of issues were not yet resolved it’s fair enough. Though maybe a small update could be in order. The A7II is still a good deal in 2017. The fact that Nasim in the meanwhile has switched to an i believe a7RII pretty much sums it all up :)
Thanks Alex for updating the information and thanks Nasim for great review as always Sorry for really bad grammar T^T Right now I was using d 5100 with just 2 nikon fixed Lens(20 1.8 and 85 1.8 ) . shooting d 5100 for 6 years with only 50,000 shutter count .(mainly shoot portrait ) I planned to move to full frame because DOF and high ISO ability . I am thinking to switch to a7ii and I did a lot of homework , reading reviews from many sites and articles including this one. What made me hesitate from jumping off the Nikon ship to go full Sony is IQ . Despite the same sensor, IQ at high ISO was noticeably worst on A7ii . If this noise can be easily corrected by capture one or other photo editing software then it is fine and I won’t hesitate anymore. Could you tell me your experience shooting Sony ( esp A7ii )in low light condition ? How was the noise with the latest firmware update, with the lossless raw ? Can it easily corrected ?
What I really really like in Sony A7ii 1. EVF –> I hate to check exposure every time in dslr 2. IBIS –> I am an amateur, I do not use tripod and just shoot portrait (my gf) .
What I don’t like Sony 1. High ISO performance :if it can easily corrected using software , then I can overlook this problem. 2. Low light focus ability : me and my gf often went to restaurant at night and I love shooting portrait especially in low light. If A7ii cannot focus in low light or became noisy at high ISO it may stop from going Sony and buy d750 instead. Thanks.
PS. How about shooting in lowlight in “real-world”situation. having IBIS mean I can use lower shutter speed , hence using lower ISO, right so how was really world non IBIS d750 using higher ISO compare to A7ii with lower ISO and IBIS . Was it really much difference in noise ? Thanks .( I know I am bias toword Sony ><)
Tom
October 23, 2016 3:40 pm
Hi,
I would surprised to be the first one to notice like a “white filter” on pics taken with the Sony A7. It’s not translucide, transparent. There is like a white opacity.
What’s wrong? Is it a setting? The way the image is processed? Or maybe just me?
Bart
May 6, 2016 9:03 am
Hey Nasim, what do you think about it now, now that it has 14 bit raw? When do you do a review on the A7RII?
Bart, looks like you’ve missed my Sony A7R II review. The option for 14-bit RAW is great and finally makes this a usable camera for serious photography. I just wish Sony implemented lossless RAW – that is hopefully the next step!
Nick
April 4, 2016 11:51 am
Thanks to God, it seems, that Sony cleaned their minds from junk and latest firmware resolves issue with crippled RAWs.
I wanted a camera that allowed me to use my classic RF lenses. The Leica digital cameras were too expensive. I discovered the Sony at around $1,600. While much less money, it was still expensive until Sony offered a $500 instant rebate. I bought it in early 2018 and never looked back. Bought a Samyang 24mm f2.8 and along with my 50mm Summicron, it covers most of my needs for a small kit. Will occasionally use for 90mm Tele Elmarit if I need more reach.
can the a7ii produce good night portrait photos ?
Hi Nasim,
With the success of the A7iii, do you think this A7ii still relevant in 2019 and in the next 3 years?
I would like to know if purchase my first mirrorless camera and I am aiming it more of a general/travel/family camera during the holidays. I am just planning to pair this camera with the small 35/2.8 and the excellent 55/1.8
Thank you in advance.
Great review, I don’t know if anyone else mentioned it yet, but an update some time back added a 14-bit uncompressed RAW format option,just saying
An impressively detailed critical analysis. Indeed it is the most helpful A7ii review I have read. But I also wish to thank recent commenters who have provided updates on improvements Sony has made since the review was first published. I feel more confident now that if I buy a Sony A7ii in 2017 it will be better than if I had bought the earlier release versions that were tested here and in other reviews.
Well for anyone reading this in 2017. The a7II , ( i own one myself) is an awesome camera. IQ in this review gets three stars and i wonder why as the images even nasim took look awesome with incredible dynamic range. Nikon USED to process better after the light hits the sensor, but in the meantime the a99II has proven to be the new top dog in SNR processing that said, most issues Nassim had in this review with the A7II, though very valid at the time, have been solved up to the point that it is the best price/quality FF camera out there. It’s certainly not the fastest to af, but show me where canon or nikon released fw’s back to back to solve issue’s , add codecs and improve handling in general.
So to sum up:
1) lossless compression has been added. Canikon claim their implementation is lossless but the results sometimes are dodgy. The 5DSR compared to a7RII for example has such bad shadow recovery full of artifacts that it makes you wonder how much of the lossless compression claim is true !. Most shooters including me, that used camera’s that use the lossy compression of the a77II and a99 never found it to underperform and have a hard time seeing differences between the lossy and lossless files from sony. Except for twice the file size, there isn’t that big of a difference in reality. There are some situations where the lossless files can be pushed harder, but those situations are few and far between.
2). Battery life , though awfull if used to DSLR/DSLT systems there are workarounds. You can get neewer/meike/x brands battery grips which let you use 2 batteries. These work very well ( i have the neewer) and make it less of a hastle. The off brand batteries are so cheaply available on amazon/ebay etc that you can stock up on them fairly easily. The same goes for outlet chargers, very cheap. I agree sony should have shipped one with the camera as the in camera charging s*cks and is slow, but it is what it is. The problem with a fully electric EVF , non stop live view system is that .. surprize ! it runs on electricity.. so it uses batteries. the EVF offers ( to me and most) at least such benefits that you can’t go back to an ovf after this. Every time i see a canikonist back button focus or focusing and recomposing it looks really goofy. Yes, we used to HAVE to do it that way, not any more with sony and yes, that drains batteries, so stock up !. The added benefit of the grip is that the camera holds much better but doesn’t add a lot of weight to the package.
3) menu system. Though i agree that it is a bit strange that some items that apparantly should be grouped together are spread across different tabs than you would expect. Though after a week or so of intensive use, you get used to it fairly quickly. Every system has it’s own system and it’s also what you’re used to that matters. So don’t complain if shooting your whole life with canon or nikon and then claim that their menu’s are the best just because you’re familiar with them. I used to shoot film with minolta and my first digital was a Konica Minolta. Guess what the first sony’s kept that menu structure and evolved from there. I have used canon’s in the past, but to me the Nikon menu systems are like super illogical. I’m sure if i’d use them extensively i’d get used to them eventually, but for now to me they look like a mess.
4) Af point selection. You know there is a fn buttion ( function) as a shortcut to the mostly used options and factory default is that the af mode is there also. So you push your fn and select af mode and after that you can just move af points with your joystick, not THAT hard now.. is it ?
I do not think the review was too negative, though i think it’s been more negative than it could have been. Keeping in mind it was written when a lot of issues were not yet resolved it’s fair enough. Though maybe a small update could be in order. The A7II is still a good deal in 2017. The fact that Nasim in the meanwhile has switched to an i believe a7RII pretty much sums it all up :)
Thanks Alex for updating the information and thanks Nasim for great review as always
Sorry for really bad grammar T^T
Right now I was using d 5100 with just 2 nikon fixed Lens(20 1.8 and 85 1.8 ) . shooting d 5100 for 6 years with only 50,000 shutter count .(mainly shoot portrait ) I planned to move to full frame because DOF and high ISO ability . I am thinking to switch to a7ii and I did a lot of homework , reading reviews from many sites and articles including this one.
What made me hesitate from jumping off the Nikon ship to go full Sony is IQ .
Despite the same sensor, IQ at high ISO was noticeably worst on A7ii . If this noise can be easily corrected by capture one or other photo editing software then it is fine and I won’t hesitate anymore. Could you tell me your experience shooting Sony ( esp A7ii )in low light condition ? How was the noise with the latest firmware update, with the lossless raw ? Can it easily corrected ?
What I really really like in Sony A7ii
1. EVF –> I hate to check exposure every time in dslr
2. IBIS –> I am an amateur, I do not use tripod and just shoot portrait (my gf) .
What I don’t like Sony
1. High ISO performance :if it can easily corrected using software , then I can overlook this problem.
2. Low light focus ability : me and my gf often went to restaurant at night and I love shooting portrait especially in low light. If A7ii cannot focus in low light or became noisy at high ISO it may stop from going Sony and buy d750 instead.
Thanks.
PS.
How about shooting in lowlight in “real-world”situation.
having IBIS mean I can use lower shutter speed , hence using lower ISO, right so how was really world non IBIS d750 using higher ISO compare to A7ii with lower ISO and IBIS . Was it really much difference in noise ?
Thanks .( I know I am bias toword Sony ><)
Hi,
I would surprised to be the first one to notice like a “white filter” on pics taken with the Sony A7. It’s not translucide, transparent. There is like a white opacity.
What’s wrong? Is it a setting? The way the image is processed? Or maybe just me?
Hey Nasim, what do you think about it now, now that it has 14 bit raw? When do you do a review on the A7RII?
Bart, looks like you’ve missed my Sony A7R II review. The option for 14-bit RAW is great and finally makes this a usable camera for serious photography. I just wish Sony implemented lossless RAW – that is hopefully the next step!
Thanks to God, it seems, that Sony cleaned their minds from junk and latest firmware resolves issue with crippled RAWs.
– Adds the 14-bit uncompressed RAW format option
esupport.sony.com/US/p/…group_id=6
Nasim, It’s been a long time since the first review, any idea of Sony has a firmware update to fix the lossy raw issue?