Today Sony announced the successor to their popular a7R stills camera. Aptly named the a7R II, the new camera brings a whole host of powerful new features, including 5-axis sensor stabilization like that found in the a7II, internal 4K recording to Sony's XAVC-S format, and a powerful new OLED viewfinder.

Here are the product videos that Sony has released thus far, including some early 4K footage:


Here are the specs and a few photos:

  • 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor
  • Internal 4K XAVC S Video & S-Log2 Gamma
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
  • 399 Phase-Detect AF Points & 5 fps Burst
  • 0.5" 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF
  • 3.0" 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
  • ISO 102,400 and Silent Shutter Mode
  • Durable Reduced-Vibration Shutter Design
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • Price: $3200

Sony a7r II Back

Sony a7r II Top

In terms of video functionality, Sony has introduced loads of features that were previously only available with their popular a7S, plus a few new ones that are worth getting excited for. Most importantly, the a7R II offers 4K recording internally, which means that there's no longer a need for an external recorder like the Shogun. Secondly, the 5-axis sensor stabilization will make shooting with third party lenses without built-in IS far more workable in many situations. Lastly, like the a7S and the a7II before it, the a7R II will allow users to shoot with Sony's S-Log2 gamma, and as a result, it's reasonable to expect that this camera will have respectable performance in terms of dynamic range.

The new camera likely won't have the same low light capabilities of the a7S due to its much more pixel-dense sensor. With that said, comparing any camera's low light ability to the a7S is a bit unfair, and I'd be surprised if the a7R II didn't hold its own against competitors in terms of its low light abilities.

At $3200, the a7R II is a bit on the pricier end of the mirrorless spectrum, but it's also far more capable as a stills camera than most of its competitors. It's expected to begin shipping later in the summer, and it will be available for pre-order from B&H on June 17th.

Sony Alpha a7RII Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) -- B&H

Source: Sony