Sony A7R II : Tests and Reviews

The Sony a9 is the Japanese manufacturer’s latest flagship mirrorless offering, boasting a raft of high-performance features for action photographers. The 24.2Mp stacked CMOS sensor offers up to 20x faster sensor readout times, with an electronic shutter capable of impressively quick 1/32,000-second shutter speed, and blackout-free continuous shooting.

Announced in February 2016, the $2598 Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8) is a short-to-mid telephoto zoom lens for such Sony full-frame a7 series cameras as the a7R II. The “GM” in the full lens name signifies that the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 belongs to Sony’s “G Master” lineup of pro-grade optics.

Announced in July 2016, the $1498 Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA (Zeiss FE 50mm f/1.4) is a standard focal length 50mm prime lens for Sony full-range a7 hybrid cameras (such as the a7R II). Boasting a wide maximum f/1.4 aperture, it’s a versatile lens choice for general use and low-light photography, as well as for creative background bokeh portraits and effects on Sony a7 cameras.

RED’s prototype Helium 8K sensor has shattered our previous top DxOMark sensor score. With a dramatic jump to 108, it leaps past the only other sensor to have broken the 100 barrier – RED’s own Epic Dragon prototype (101 points). RED has made a name for itself by producing high-performance cameras intended primarily for cinematographers, but their low noise and support for 16-bit RAW output make them worth evaluating as tools for capturing still images.

Launched just 8 months after its predecessor, the A6300, the $1398 Sony A6500 is the third iteration in Sony’s flagship range of mirrorless hybrid cameras featuring an APS-C sensor. Built around the same 24.2Mp APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor as the A6300, the new A6500 achieves the same overall DxOMark score of 85 points, with almost identical results in its Portrait, Landscape, and Low-light ISO scores. The A6500’s 24.2Mp sensor packs plenty of resolution for photographers seeking to record intricate detail, and in the mirrorless APS-C camera category, the A6500 is surpassed in resolution only by the 28.2Mp Samsung NX1.

The Sony SLT A99 II is the Japanese electronic giant’s latest full-frame, DSLR-style, interchangeable-lens camera. Packing a 42Mp backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, the A99 II offers a significant jump in resolution over its predecessor and achieves an impressive overall DxOMark score of 92 points. Benefiting from a pixel arrangement that increases the volume and quality of light captured by its imaging elements, a BSI sensor improves low-light image quality.

Lens options for Sony’s full-frame A7 series of mirrorless cameras are increasing all the time, and the new $498 Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro adds another choice in this popular prime lens focal length. Great for general-use photography and portraiture, the Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro also boasts 1:1 macro magnification with a 16cm/6.3-inch minimum focus distance, for high-quality close-up photography. FE-mount lenses also remain compatible with Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras such as the A6300, offering an equivalent 75mm focal length, which remains a good option for portraits and macro work, if a bit long for general use. The Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro features both ED and aspherical glass elements for improved performance, as well as dust and moisture resistance, and a focus limiter switch.  The focus limiter offers 3 settings, including full, 30cm to infinity, and 16cm to 30cm, with the latter being helpful for reducing the amount of “focus hunting” when using autofocus for macro shots.

Pentax’s first foray into the world of full-frame DSLRs arrives in the shape of the 36Mp Pentax K-1. Costing just $1800 and boasting a high-resolution sensor, built-in sensor shift stabilization, and a weather-sealed body, it’s a lot of camera for your money. Let’s see how its sensor scores stack up in our industry-standard bench tests.

Canon’s iconic EOS 5D series of full-frame DSLRs have had wide appeal with both pro and enthusiast photographers, blending great image quality and good features in a more affordable mid-range body design. Boasting a significant number of upgrades over its predecessor, including increased resolution, an updated autofocus system, Dual Pixel RAW capture, improved metering and 4K-video capture, the latest Mark IV looks like a mouth-watering prospect for the still photographer.

For photographers working in fast-paced environments or after the convenience of a multi-purpose optic, zoom lenses are often a versatile option. Image quality on zooms has improved across many lenses, too, which in some cases come close to rivalling the performance of a prime.