CameraReviews.com
menu
Hi Camera Lovers 👋 If you buy a camera through our referral links, you support our site at no cost to you 😉 Full info here.

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Comparison

Optics
Video
Features
Storage & Battery

Sony a7 IV

sony a7 iv
Winner!
84%

Sony a7R II

Sony A7R II camera image
70%
Sony a7 IV
vs
Sony a7R II
Price
Brand
Sony
Sony
Model
a7 IV
a7R II
Released
2021
2015
Announcement Date
October 21, 2021
June 10, 2015
Camera Type
Mirrorless
Mirrorless
Camera Size
Camera Weight

The Sony a7 IV outperforms the Sony a7R II with a score of 84/100 compared to 70/100. Both cameras are mirrorless and share similar dimensions, with the a7 IV measuring 131 x 96 x 80mm and the a7R II at 127 x 96 x 60mm. They also have comparable weights, with the a7 IV weighing 659g and the a7R II at 625g.

The a7 IV has the advantage of being a more recent release, hitting the market in 2021, while the a7R II debuted in 2015. This gives the a7 IV the benefit of newer technology and features. Additionally, the a7 IV has a lower launch price of $2499, compared to the a7R II’s original price of $3198.

The a7R II, however, is slightly lighter and more compact than the a7 IV, making it a better option for those seeking a more portable camera. Despite these advantages, the a7 IV’s higher score and more recent release make it the superior choice for most photographers.

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Overview and Optics

The Sony a7 IV outperforms the Sony a7R II in optics, scoring 85/100 compared to the latter’s 81/100. Both cameras share several specifications, including a CMOS sensor, full-frame sensor size, Sony FE lens mount, and image stabilization. These common features contribute to the high-quality performance of both cameras.

The Sony a7 IV surpasses the a7R II due to its faster shooting speed of 10 fps, compared to the a7R II’s 5 fps. This higher speed allows for better action and sports photography. Additionally, the a7 IV has a more advanced Bionz XR processor, which enhances image processing, autofocus, and overall camera performance. Although the a7 IV has a lower DXOMARK score (97) than the a7R II (98), the difference is minimal and not significant enough to impact the overall optics performance.

On the other hand, the Sony a7R II has a higher megapixel count of 42.4 compared to the a7 IV’s 33. This increased resolution enables the a7R II to capture more detail, making it more suitable for landscape and studio photography where intricate details are crucial. However, this advantage comes at the cost of slower shooting speed.

In comparing the optics of these two cameras, the Sony a7 IV emerges as the winner due to its faster shooting speed and advanced processor, making it more versatile and suitable for various photography styles. The Sony a7R II, with its higher megapixel count, excels in detail-oriented photography but may not be the best choice for action or sports photography. Therefore, the choice between these cameras depends on the specific needs and priorities of the photographer.

Optics
Optics
85%
81%
Megapixels
33 MP
42.4 MP
Image Resolution
7008 x 4672 px
7952 x 5304 px
Sensor Type
CMOS
CMOS
Sensor Size
23.8 x 35.6 mm
24 x 35.9 mm
Sensor Format
Full Frame
Full Frame
Frame Rate
10 fps
5 fps
Lens Mount
Sony E
Sony FE
Image Processor
Bionz XR
Bionz X
Aspect Ratio
3:2
3:2
Minimum ISO (Native)
100
100
Maximum ISO (Native)
51,200
25,600
Minimum ISO (Expanded)
50
50
Maximum ISO (Expanded)
204400
102400
Minimum Shutter Speed
30 s
30 s
Maximum Shutter Speed
1/ 8000 s
1/ 8000 s
Autofocus Points
759
399
In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type
Electronic
Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution
3,686,400 dots
2,359,296 dots

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Video Performance

The Sony a7 IV outperforms the Sony a7R II in video capabilities, scoring 91/100 compared to the a7R II’s 56/100. Both cameras share common specifications, such as 4K max video resolution and 3840 x 2160 max video dimensions. However, the a7 IV has distinct advantages that contribute to its higher score.

The winning camera, the a7 IV, boasts a max video frame rate of 120fps, which is significantly higher than the a7R II’s 30fps. This higher frame rate allows for smoother, more detailed slow-motion footage, giving users more creative options when capturing video. Additionally, the a7 IV has built-in time-lapse functionality, providing an extra feature for photographers and videographers to utilize in their projects.

On the other hand, the a7R II does not offer any specific advantages in video capabilities compared to the a7 IV. The lower score of 56/100 signifies that the a7R II falls short in delivering the same level of performance in video recording as the a7 IV.

Considering the higher video score and the additional features offered by the Sony a7 IV, it is the superior choice for videographers and photographers who prioritize video capabilities. The a7 IV’s higher frame rate and built-in time-lapse functionality provide more creative options and better performance, making it the clear winner in this comparison. The Sony a7R II, while still offering 4K resolution, does not match the a7 IV in terms of video capabilities and would not be the ideal choice for those seeking advanced video features.

Video
Video
91%
56%
Video
Max Video Resolution
4K
4K
Max Video Dimensions
3840 x 2160 px
3840 x 2160 px
Max Video Frame Rate
120 p
30 p
Time-Lapse Built In
Video File Format
MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.264, H.265
XAVCS, AVCHD, MP4

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Features and Benefits

The Sony a7 IV outperforms the Sony a7R II in features with a score of 83/100 compared to 57/100. Both cameras share some specifications, including a 3-inch screen size, flip screen, absence of GPS, and WIFI connectivity. However, the Sony a7 IV has advantages over the a7R II that contribute to its higher score.

The Sony a7 IV is superior because it has a touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity. A touchscreen allows for easier navigation and control, while Bluetooth enables seamless connection with other devices. These features enhance the user experience and provide additional functionality compared to the Sony a7R II.

On the other hand, the Sony a7R II has a higher screen resolution at 1,228,800 dots, compared to the a7 IV’s 1,040,000 dots. This results in a slightly sharper display, potentially offering a better view of images and videos. However, this advantage is not enough to outweigh the benefits of the a7 IV’s additional features.

To conclude, the Sony a7 IV is the better camera in terms of features due to its touchscreen and Bluetooth capabilities. These aspects provide an improved user experience and increased functionality. Although the Sony a7R II has a slightly higher screen resolution, it lacks the additional features that make the a7 IV a superior choice.

Features
Features
83%
57%
Built-in Flash
External Flash
GPS
Weather Sealing
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Touch Screen
Screen Size
3"
3"
Screen Resolution
1,040,000 dots
1,228,800 dots
Flip Screen
Live View
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Storage and Battery

The Sony a7 IV surpasses the Sony a7R II in storage and battery, scoring 76/100 compared to the a7R II’s 16/100. Both cameras share compatibility with SD memory cards and the option to use multiple memory card types. However, the a7 IV outperforms the a7R II by offering two memory card slots and supporting CFexpress Type A cards in addition to SD (UHS-II compatible) cards.

The a7 IV also excels in battery life, providing 580 shots with its NP-FZ100 battery, while the a7R II only allows for 290 shots using the NP-FW50 battery. Furthermore, the a7 IV has the advantage of USB charging, which the a7R II lacks.

The a7R II does not offer any clear advantages in storage and battery over the a7 IV. With greater memory card flexibility, longer battery life, and USB charging capabilities, the Sony a7 IV proves to be the superior choice in terms of storage and battery performance.

Storage and Battery
Storage and Battery
76%
16%
Memory Card
CFexpress Type A, SD (UHS-II compatible)
SD / SDHC / SDXC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro-HG Duo
Dual Memory Card Slots
Battery Type
NP-FZ100
NP-FW50
Battery Life
580 shots
290 shots
USB Charging
DXOMARK Scores
Sensor scores tested by DXOMARK
Overall Score
97%
98%
Portrait (Color Depth)
25.4 bits
26 bits
Landscape (Dynamic Range)
14.7 EVs
13.9 EVs
Sports (Low-Light ISO)
3379
3434
Scores

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II – Our Verdict

Sony a7 IV vs a7R II Comparison image.

Are you still undecided about which camera is right for you? Have a look at these popular comparisons that feature the Sony a7 IV or the Sony a7R II:

User Scores
Spotted a mistake with these specs? Please let us know so we can update it!