Toby, this is one of the best, if not the best video reviews of a camera I have watched in years. The information, quality, and effort put into this is amazing! I love your work, keep it up! Loyal fan here.
In a nut shell your review is fair and spot on. I have both the A6000 and the A7rII and you did a fantastic job talking about the good and the bad. Me, I'm satisfied with mine for what it does for me.
The most in dept review of the R M2 so far! Very well done Toby. In the future consider doing you reviews out of the studio. You flow was proficient and you seemed relaxed when dispensing your know how.
Just watched A7RII review and while heavily invested in Nikon equipment, wanted to follow the mirrorless stories. I found your overview and reviews extremely will organized and presented, more than any other of my popular youtube subscriptions, by a mile. I was impressed with your impartial experiences even though you had already bought the camera. So, I subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing your other presentations. Michael, West Hartford, CT
This should be the gold standard on how to do a youtube video review about anything! Straight to the points with clear detail about the subject. I can't really understand why there are any down votes.
I know part of the camera is having a smaller camera. However, I would buy the battery grip for weddings and not use it when you want the camera to be small. The battery grip with it in airplane mode, you should be able to get through a wedding without changing the battery. If you do have to change it, you won't have to worry about thinking about it as much. The Sony glass is a different experience on the A7R. As much as I love Canon glass, I know if I went Sony again I'd get Sony glass. The Zeiss glass is just so good. It was the best glass I ever used. You don't really need to spend too much. All you really need is a 16-35, 55mm 1.8, and then the Zeiss batis 85mm. I personally like a 135 for portraits, and I'm sure that's coming. Besides the wide angle, you do have to use primes instead of zooms unless you're okay with F/4. I believe I'd be happy with just those 3 lenses, and then 4 if they come out with a 135. When I'm away from Sony, I'm not a huge 50mm shooter, but the Sony 55mm Zeiss is so sharp, it's just too hard to not shoot with it. And considering there isn't a 24-70 2.8 zoom, you get the whole range with the 16-35, 55, and 85.
Great review as usual. I am really conflicted between Sony A7 R II and Canon 5D Mark IV after deciding to move from entry level SLR (760D) to PRO. I do have 3 Canon lenses already. However, I see from your review that the autofocus is fantastic in Sony but still confused. Suggestions are welcome to help me decide.
They do make great cameras but it doesn't mean they are all good, lol. Of all camera system I have shot with in this form factor, their mirrorless series of cameras are the cheapest feeling, terrible buttons, lack of button, lack of proper design, etc... but, I deal with it as the overall internal abilities win me over.
Tobias, great video! Here we are a couple years later... would you still buy this same camera today? I am looking at it versus the A9. I have an A7II which does a fantastic job, but would like that extra density from that sensor.
Great review! Thanks for sharing! Here's something for your upcoming videos. I was wondering if you heard of Petzval lenses? They remade the Petzval 85mm f/2.2. Comes in Nikon and Canon mount. Would you kindly please consider a review ? Thanks and sorry for my english.
2 years later and it's Sony with the recent amazing trackrecord. Innovating while Canon and Nikon fall even farther behind in mirrorless technology. Sony Alpha ftw
Looking forward to the battery tips video. I ran one wedding with my A7II alongside my 5DMII and it ran through 3 batteries and was on number 4 when I headed home.
+PhotoRec Toby , I love that a talented photographer from New England is making a splash in the camera world on UA-cam! Your videos continue to impress. Out of curiosity, which cameras did you use to shoot this review?
the look of your video is really great. it would be interesting to see if you mention which camera the video is shot with. did you use any reflector to get that extra illumination on your face.
+mexxian007 filmed with the Gh4 - No reflectors used. Profile shot was filmed with 5D Mark III. You can see we were really starting to lose the light at the end of the video and I am not great at grading/color matching between the two cameras.
I love mine! I bought it for wedding low light capabilities. The ISO handling is amazing. I've always love Sony. I switched to Nikon a few years ago and everytime I used it I would miss my Sony alpha. I agree with the 1300 pics and 2 1/2 battery for a 12 hr wedding lol. For the reviews I don't know if I've heard anyone mention how huge of a memory card you will need and a faster one also. But if all I have to complain about is the 42 MP then that's really not much to complain about lol. Thanks for your wonderful review!!
nice review..thanks, i need your opinion for adapter, cause im coming from Canon 5dsr and i want to use my lenses and sigma 20mm 1.4 for Canon. also your recomendetion for Sony landscape lenses.. Do u believe that i have to wait for another model in future? or to go now for a7rii?
Nice review. Love the camera but i really hate the idea of using adaptors for my 24-70/70-200 2.8 zooms. Makes it look/handle terribly awkward. I'll pick one up in 6 months or so when the price drops a bit
@12:28 Fn key, you can put 12 favs settings. Hover and use dial to adjust etc. Quick way to things you use most. Maybe not customize the entire menu system, maybe it's not perfect, but it's there to help your workflow.
A very solid, straight to the point review! Fair and evenhanded. And like all your reports, this one too bristles with sincerity and honesty. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
+Joe A7Rii Toby, one area you didn't mention was the awesome and blisteringly fast manual focus abilities with focus peaking and magnification features. I believe these features would be of significant interest to people using adapters. Just to put it in perspective, I suggest you head out with your adapters and spend an entire day using only manual focus so you really get into it and fully appreciate how fast and easy it is. And this does work with any old lens you throw on it.
+Joe A7Rii I am a Canon user, but agree with you 100%. I have the A7sII for video and focus peaking with manual lens is awesome!!! Makes me want to go old school and use the loxia lens for full manual focusing!! It is very accurate and fun!!! Just wish Sony would put usb 3.0 so I could shoot tethered in studio and I would dump my Canon's in a heart beat!!! Hopefully they put it in the next A7r series!!!!
Great video 👌🏻 Unfortunately I've got a benign tremor so I really need a camera with built-in stabilization. My Panasonic GX80 has it but I would like to go FF. Does any top tier or below Canon DSLR'S have in body stabilization? Have a great day.
Hello +Toby, you do a very good job with your tutorials . I need a advice , I have the sony a7s, and i need to bay a photo camera , have in mind the mark II canon 1DX , sony a7rii, the Nikon d5 or if the rumor is true the nikon d850. (or perhaps some other ?) Has used the camera to fashion photography , Studio photography , portraits , weddings , landscapes photography , sports , cars , etc. I get the question , whether the 1DX 20mp or d5 be enough. and i want to have the alternative to make crops without losing much quality. Beforehand thank you very much.
so does this mean the sony a7r II is your primary 'goto' camera for your photography or are you still evaluating a possible transition? btw, great review - you're one of the best speakers on youtube. you articulate your points in a clear and concise manner.
+PhotoRec Toby Wow ! She did an amazing job, may I suggest using a LUT so that you get the same colors from both angles, it won't look like you were using 2 cameras. You're both very talented :)
Hi Toby,Today i went to shoot for the first time in RAW. I want to open the files now but windows 10 won't let me. Do you know how i can open the pictures i took? Thanks :)
About the overheating, there are 2 modes to record 4k, Full frame mode and Super35 mode, there is also the bitrate, which is very important, 60mbps and 100mbps. The difference between the full frame mode and the super35 mode, besides the crop factor, is the line skipping when reading from the sensor otherwise known as pixel binning, in full frame mode the camera skips lines when it's recording 4k video, which is understandable considering this is a very big sensor with a massive resolution, if no pixel binning was allowed on full frame mode the camera would probably give up after 2 or 3 minutes of recording, people need to understand the huge amount of processing required for this. Now in super35 mode the camera doesn't skip lines when it's recording 4k which means the camera is processing so much more data than in full frame mode, add to that the 100mbps bitrate and push it even further with the ibis and the camera will simply not be able to handle all that for a long amount of time. Now, if dynamic range and low light are crucial then one should record in super35, otherwise full frame mode is more than enough and you will probably avoid overheating. If you must shoot in super35 INTERNALLY then you might consider shooting at 60mbps, again you'll probably avoid overheating. Many professional videographers are using this camera with external recorders shooting super35 4k at the highest bitrate, they get ProRes and they bypass that 29 minutes limit, and obviously no overheating while shooting a back up mp4 internally that they use for editing instead, it makes work in post a breeze. I hope this helps :)
+Valère I knew some of that but your comment is the most in depth I have seen yet- thanks for sharing. I have now managed to make it over heat twice. once while trying(left screen closed, super 35 and held in hand to make sure IBIS was working hard. Took about 35 minutes.) Today I was not in super35 but IBIS was on and AF-C - only went about 16 minutes in a 75F degree room not in any direct sunlight. So that was a little more surprising/disappointing. Overall it should still work fine for me but I don't like the randomness of it. I should have lots more to say after travel later this month - I will be in Greece- current forecast is sunny and 90F each day.
No, they still give me trouble. Love the output of this camera but AF point selection is a weakness. You might want to watch ua-cam.com/video/vLrHc_4omBw/v-deo.html
+PhotoRec Toby Thank you. I love the camera (switched from 5dmkiii) but the AF point selection does drive me a bit nuts. Mostly rely on the camera figuring out things for itself but sometimes it just gets it wrong.... maybe the a7riv will have a joystick or touchscreen :) for now, i shall keep playing :D thanks for the reply (and the videos).
Hi! Could you please tell me about the general reponsivnes of this camera? I have tried a miroless fuji but the EVF blackout time (,everytime you take a picture) is it too long for my taste. It also takes very long to for the camera to be ready to take another shot (compared to dslr), and this really gets in the way of my shooting experience. It is as if the camera is always set to 1/4th of a second. I would really like to hear your thoughts about this, especially since you did weddings with it! Thanks!
Hi , This a very detailed and interesting video, thank you! Could you give me your opinion on the following, please? I have a Canon 5D Mark II with the following lenses: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF17-40mm f/4L USM and EF85mm f/1.8 USM. I intend to change my camera and reading articles and watching videos on Canon cameras I am tempted to go with the Sony A7r II instead of Canon 5D Mark III and IV or Canon 5DS / 5DSR. Do you think it could be a good choice? BTW I am not a professional photographer but a passionate about photography. I shoot a lot of landscape and night, I do also love street photography (people, buildings, ...). I also do (less than than the previous ones) concert and action photography. Anyway , thanks in advance for you answer!
Awesome !!! Thanks so much for this video. BTW, can you also do a review on GH5 from photography perspective by any chance ? Cause I'm more inclined toward gh5 and I want to do some photography as well. Any suggestions would also be a great help. :)
Dear Toby Sir, I am about to purchase this camera. Can you please recommend a flash compatible with Sony A7R II. I have to shoot a wedding at night. What shall one buy? An External flash or off camera flash if one is going to shoot a wedding??
The battery life is the only thing holding me back in getting this for 2023...is this still relevant for 2023? Will be using it for photography only. The latest Sony Cameras are out of budget.haha
great review thanks for the informational videos, i'm new to Sony gear and i keep reading mix reviews for comparable lenses, wondering if you can recommend one, I'm mostly shooting rocky landscapes mostly cloudy and wet, so i need a wide angle sharp lens i'm currently using Vario-Tessar TE 16-70 mm F4 ZA OSS not too happy with it for what i'm doing.
+Fernando Gonzalez Shooting with a6000 or? The 16-70 is a crop lens. The 24-70 f/4 is FE (full frame) but honestly it isn't that different from your 16-70 quality wise. Why aren't you happy with current lens?
Nice balanced review. I have always used Sony cameras and I really like them but I still can't find any logic in the menu. It is really due to an overhaul. After all the years using Sonys, I still can't figure out why did they did it the way they did. Confusing. What I missed was how you liked it with Sony native lenses.
+Pieter Batenburg It was short and sweet - I said focus with sony native lenses is fantastic - matches or beats my 5D Mark III. Beyond that I will be sharing more soon but the upside- sony has a selection of SHARP lenses - REALLY sharp and well made. Downside - they are not cheap. I wouldn't say overpriced but certainly not cheap and when you look at competitors selection you see all these cheaper lenses and you get grumpy BUT what people aren't realising - This camera is comparable to the Canon 5DS/SR and those cameras come with a list of recommended lenses - the lenses on that list are limited and expensive.
True, I heard that. But what I meant was how you liked the Sony lenses. You know what bugs me about some reviews about this camera, (and it is not directed at you because you seem to be very balanced in everthing you say and besides you said it litterraly) is that it is too often about the camera in combination with an adapter and non native glass and not really about the camera itself. I surely can understand why this is important for pros who have tons of non native lenses. But there isn't a single reviewers who has criticism about how a Canon works with a Nikon lens and adapter (or the other way around). That being said. I completely agree with most of your criticism about Sony. The menu sucks, and the batterylife is sometimes depressing. I own both the A77 and the A6000 and I really like them.
Great hands-on review, looking forward to more tech/how to add-ons For AF point selection, did you try to set C1/C2 button for AF selection and use it in combination with front and rear dial. Like in your sketch
+Dalibor Mrkic I have not and I was back on my A7 review tonight and saw you had suggested that back then - I need to train myself but man I miss that little joystick.
Just discovered your videos. I want to purchase the Sony A7Sll but I'm totally in love with the Profoto B1's TTL features and Profoto does not yet support Sony. I am curious to hear your thoughts of the A7Rll as a primary wedding camera and how you made it work with off-camera lighting. Wanting to move up from my Fuji X100S I'm still stuck, Sony or Nikon?
+davidhunternyc I am talking to Phottix about their offereings for off camera flash systems with this camera, you are right - options are limited which make this camera challenging for full wedding photography. SO far I have only been using mine without flash though we hardly use flashes at weddings. Nikon is still at this time a more complete system and the Nikon D750 is fantastic value.
+PhotoRec Toby Thank you so much Toby. Yes, I may just have to pull the trigger on the D750. Love this camera and really want to use it with Profoto TTL. I still have time to wait and see if Profoto will support Sony.
HI Toby, great review. Question from a weddingphotgrapher perspective. Does the A7ii check all the same boxes as the A7Rii (apart from Megapixels). Would you be as happy with the user experience + Autofocus with the A7ii at weddings?
+Roel van Noord Hi Roell, No - AF system is not as fast and competent with the A7II as it is with the a7RII. Overall the A7II is a good camera and a great value but in low light and/or with other lenses(like canon) it doesn't AF as well.
just bought a A7r11 .thank you for the review! would love to see the battery saving u tube. one suggestion: say your name a few more times throw out the video so its easy to find you and get to know your name. I still don't know it with out spending time looking for it.
Is there any way to adjust the exposure while the (back button) focus is pressed? I can't seem to find a way to scroll the shutter wheel or anything while in focus. This is helpful in continuous focus for moving subjects changing from a dark scene to a bright one or vice versa. Apparently you can't do this with the a7rii and you can only dial your exposure without focusing. I hope I'm wrong.
Hi, your videos are very helpful for learning photography. I like to ask you a favour, is it possible you can help to get a post session on UA-cam on sun glare photography. I know it is possible with softwares,but I like to know if same can be done without editing in softwares. Sorry as my question is not related to this video. Thanks for your valuable camera tips.
Small snippit to people watching. While Toby probably goes through a LOT of Sony batteries, charging your device while using it puts a lot of stress on batteries and will kill them faster. Use when needed only. Great review by the way. Thank you for answering my questions about the adapters. Love the channel.
Great Review, I will probably get a second hand one in the future when they drop in price, I had the A7r pig of a camera, looks like they have addressed most of the problems it had Thanks for your time.... Always Informative with no BS
i wondering to know which 70-200mm lens IS THE BEST and have better performance in general with the A7RII ,canon 70-200 f2.8 ii or sony 70-200 ssm ii?, is there anybody knew about it please ??
So many reviewers out there. Especially when it comes to photography. All I can say is that 90% of it garbage! Having said that I am happily subscribed to your channel! Short, sweet and to the point. Great balance of subjective and objective, pleasant editing etc... Great job! Thank you.
I really enjoyed your thoughts on the camera and was impressed with your video. Please check in every now and then to let us know how you continue to work with your camera and what your experiences are.
If you are doing event photography or basically any photography, better get a finger-strap to right side of the camera. It is just a slightly loose loop of string (velgro) that goes around your index finger everytime you grab your camera. If you accidentally drop the camera (someone thumbles on you, you slip etc) the camera doesn't drop all the way down but the loop gets tighten and it is tied to your right hand. And the Canon/Nikon bodies (1/5D or D3/4) are not so sturdy as they are usually claimed to be. The magnesium body gets twisted and broken fairly easily from a single drop as well. So someone calling them as "bullet proof" or "bullet stoppers" is highly exaggerating fanboy talk. The old SLR cameras bodies from brass were far more sturdier than modern alloy bodies. The Sony cameras are like innovative (!= invention) prototypes that gets behind terrible user interface. But for image quality vs what Canon produce the Sony is better, and the Canon user interfaces ain't much better than what Sony does have but at least not so bad. There are better ones on the market that people just don't know.
ok. so i have a 7d mark ii. other than shooting sports (which that part is just a hobby) im not entirely happy with it as far as sharpness and low light. Ive seen so many videos on the a7rii and i really want to go to full frame since ill be shooting 3 weddings this year. so my question is, should i make the swap to this? or try to go for a 5diii? or what do yall recommend?
i´ve been a Canon shooter for many years 1DS mark II, for stills nothing come close to Canon bodies and lens, Leica M lens are far better but are another story $$$$$ Anyway you need a camera which work in the pro world, Sony does not, it is all in the video above, Bateries and overheat ruins your weeding cover, be sure. This Sony to me is a bad joke (although it is a nice toy for aficionados). no water sealed, too slow to set up, batery life, overheat, lens overprieced, pain in the a&s touchscreen
Nando & Blonde Moby Dick i ended up keeping the 7dii and spent the money getting the 70-200 2.8 is ii. so pleased with the results and the wedding pictures turned out great even in the dimly lit chapel since i could go slower shutter. would just do quick bursts and one of them would be in focus with the IS doing its job. got one more in a couple weeks but itll be midday outdoors.
Glad at end you get great results out of the 7dii, I own also this 70-200 lens, terrific Bokeh, very great Canon lens, much better than the 24-70/2.8 L ,Is the only lens that I keep, decided to sell all the rest of the equipment when I stop dedicating myself to the trade. I though you did it well. A good glass make shine any CMOS ;-)
Also would you say you see a dramatic increase in image quality after editing in comparison to the 5ds/r? since i know you have shot weddings with both now! I'm thinking of saving for the 5d3 but i'm still in debate
+TheKiwiJobes Both produce beautiful images. The 5Ds/r files get noisy at the higher ISOs and we saw some weird banding on a few images but still capable of awesome. I feel like the value of the 5DS/R is not very high, especially compared directly to the Sony but it all depends on what you need - certainly nice to have full compatibility with loads of great canon glass.
Great video! If i would by a new full frame camera today it would probably be a Sony A7 II/R. But i still want a better and cheaper adaptor so i can use my canon lenses on it. Metabones seems good but very expensive atm.
Features of the A7r2 are great however the commitment of using it could meant hate it or love it. what i mean is camera is just a tool we need to use it on regularly to master the Cam....
Easily the most comprehensive A7R II review out there. Great job Toby!
After hours of watching reviews, you finally help me decide Toby! Will be getting this tomorrow.
Toby, this is one of the best, if not the best video reviews of a camera I have watched in years. The information, quality, and effort put into this is amazing! I love your work, keep it up! Loyal fan here.
oh man!The quality of your videos has improved remarkably. I have been watching your videos for 2 years now. Cheers!
Watching this in 2020, as I'm getting this now at 900$. This camera is still relevant now as image quality is awesome.
In a nut shell your review is fair and spot on. I have both the A6000 and the A7rII and you did a fantastic job talking about the good and the bad. Me, I'm satisfied with mine for what it does for me.
Toby. Just wanted to send you a quick note to tell you thank you for this review. Perfect balance of good with the bad with just enough information.
Great review. I've purchased a preowned A7Rii. Will receive it soon. Watching your review convinces me I made a good choice.
The most in dept review of the R M2 so far! Very well done Toby. In the future consider doing you reviews out of the studio. You flow was proficient and you seemed relaxed when dispensing your know how.
Just watched A7RII review and while heavily invested in Nikon equipment, wanted to follow the mirrorless stories. I found your overview and reviews extremely will organized and presented, more than any other of my popular youtube subscriptions, by a mile. I was impressed with your impartial experiences even though you had already bought the camera. So, I subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing your other presentations. Michael, West Hartford, CT
Thanks Michael! I really appreciate your comment.
Can't believe you've dropped it already! +PhotoRec Toby
This should be the gold standard on how to do a youtube video review about anything! Straight to the points with clear detail about the subject. I can't really understand why there are any down votes.
+Fred Garvin Thanks- I really appreciate that comment.
A fair and nice review of the A7RII . Not seen like this before . Thanks Toby .
I know part of the camera is having a smaller camera. However, I would buy the battery grip for weddings and not use it when you want the camera to be small. The battery grip with it in airplane mode, you should be able to get through a wedding without changing the battery. If you do have to change it, you won't have to worry about thinking about it as much. The Sony glass is a different experience on the A7R. As much as I love Canon glass, I know if I went Sony again I'd get Sony glass. The Zeiss glass is just so good. It was the best glass I ever used. You don't really need to spend too much. All you really need is a 16-35, 55mm 1.8, and then the Zeiss batis 85mm. I personally like a 135 for portraits, and I'm sure that's coming. Besides the wide angle, you do have to use primes instead of zooms unless you're okay with F/4. I believe I'd be happy with just those 3 lenses, and then 4 if they come out with a 135. When I'm away from Sony, I'm not a huge 50mm shooter, but the Sony 55mm Zeiss is so sharp, it's just too hard to not shoot with it. And considering there isn't a 24-70 2.8 zoom, you get the whole range with the 16-35, 55, and 85.
+nagol5178 well i'm still using my canon 60d and take many fantasy photos and movies by it bu
Great review Toby, Sony is making great strides with the A7R II
Toby, your reviews are right on...just subscribed after following you for some time now...
Thanks Bruce, I really appreciate that! are you a Sony owner?
Thank your for the review, can you please say which lens you use most with the camera?
Awesome review Toby! Answered all my questions.
Great review as usual. I am really conflicted between Sony A7 R II and Canon 5D Mark IV after deciding to move from entry level SLR (760D) to PRO. I do have 3 Canon lenses already. However, I see from your review that the autofocus is fantastic in Sony but still confused. Suggestions are welcome to help me decide.
I bit the bullet and purchased an a7rii to replace my a7ii because of your videos! Thanks so much for your excellent reviews
I have been using Sony Broadcast cameras since 1980 and the Betacam days, Sony makes great cameras.
They do make great cameras but it doesn't mean they are all good, lol. Of all camera system I have shot with in this form factor, their mirrorless series of cameras are the cheapest feeling, terrible buttons, lack of button, lack of proper design, etc... but, I deal with it as the overall internal abilities win me over.
do u think this is worth of your money? i have sony A6000 but am not really really like it.
great review toby. probably the best a7r11 review out there. sony should be all ears.
Excellent review Toby!
This video looks ridiculously good! Love your videos, Toby :)
Tobias, great video! Here we are a couple years later... would you still buy this same camera today? I am looking at it versus the A9. I have an A7II which does a fantastic job, but would like that extra density from that sensor.
Great review! Thanks for sharing! Here's something for your upcoming videos. I was wondering if you heard of Petzval lenses? They remade the Petzval 85mm f/2.2. Comes in Nikon and Canon mount. Would you kindly please consider a review ? Thanks and sorry for my english.
+Cat Chewer The guy that cuts my hair has the 50mm version (I think) it's a pretty lens. Not sure if I will review - maybe. Thanks.
2 years later and it's Sony with the recent amazing trackrecord. Innovating while Canon and Nikon fall even farther behind in mirrorless technology. Sony Alpha ftw
Fantastic no nonsense review! 👍
Looking forward to the battery tips video.
I ran one wedding with my A7II alongside my 5DMII and it ran through 3 batteries and was on number 4 when I headed home.
+The Emo Emu First easy tip is Airplane mode- Turn that on. really helps. More coming.
Thanks. :)
I guess that's a catch-all for turning off anything like WiFi and such with one menu item.
+PhotoRec Toby , I love that a talented photographer from New England is making a splash in the camera world on UA-cam! Your videos continue to impress. Out of curiosity, which cameras did you use to shoot this review?
+Benjamin Gadberry Thanks Man! Direct shot of me talking and the brighter clips used in intro filmed with GH4. Darker, second angle was a 5D Mark III
I couldn't see... which adapter are you using to incorporate Canon lenses into your workflow and how was the quality? Any drawbacks?
the look of your video is really great. it would be interesting to see if you mention which camera the video is shot with. did you use any reflector to get that extra illumination on your face.
+mexxian007 filmed with the Gh4 - No reflectors used. Profile shot was filmed with 5D Mark III. You can see we were really starting to lose the light at the end of the video and I am not great at grading/color matching between the two cameras.
At what print size can you see the difference between 5diii and Sony A7rii ?? Print quality should be the primary reason buying a pro camera.
I love mine! I bought it for wedding low light capabilities. The ISO handling is amazing. I've always love Sony. I switched to Nikon a few years ago and everytime I used it I would miss my Sony alpha. I agree with the 1300 pics and 2 1/2 battery for a 12 hr wedding lol. For the reviews I don't know if I've heard anyone mention how huge of a memory card you will need and a faster one also. But if all I have to complain about is the 42 MP then that's really not much to complain about lol. Thanks for your wonderful review!!
nice review..thanks, i need your opinion for adapter, cause im coming from Canon 5dsr and i want to use my lenses and sigma 20mm 1.4 for Canon. also your recomendetion for Sony landscape lenses.. Do u believe that i have to wait for another model in future? or to go now for a7rii?
Nice review. Love the camera but i really hate the idea of using adaptors for my 24-70/70-200 2.8 zooms. Makes it look/handle terribly awkward. I'll pick one up in 6 months or so when the price drops a bit
Thank you Toby for this very objective review.
@12:28
Fn key, you can put 12 favs settings. Hover and use dial to adjust etc.
Quick way to things you use most.
Maybe not customize the entire menu system, maybe it's not perfect, but it's there to help your workflow.
A very solid, straight to the point review! Fair and evenhanded. And like all your reports, this one too bristles with sincerity and honesty. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
+Joe A7Rii Toby, one area you didn't mention was the awesome and blisteringly fast manual focus abilities with focus peaking and magnification features. I believe these features would be of significant interest to people using adapters. Just to put it in perspective, I suggest you head out with your adapters and spend an entire day using only manual focus so you really get into it and fully appreciate how fast and easy it is. And this does work with any old lens you throw on it.
+Joe A7Rii I am a Canon user, but agree with you 100%. I have the A7sII for video and focus peaking with manual lens is awesome!!! Makes me want to go old school and use the loxia lens for full manual focusing!! It is very accurate and fun!!! Just wish Sony would put usb 3.0 so I could shoot tethered in studio and I would dump my Canon's in a heart beat!!! Hopefully they put it in the next A7r series!!!!
thanks man! this was really helpful! are the ISO's for video really as good as people say?
Great video 👌🏻 Unfortunately I've got a benign tremor so I really need a camera with built-in stabilization. My Panasonic GX80 has it but I would like to go FF. Does any top tier or below Canon DSLR'S have in body stabilization? Have a great day.
Hello +Toby, you do a very good job with your tutorials .
I need a advice , I have the sony a7s, and i need to bay a photo camera , have in mind the mark II canon 1DX , sony a7rii, the Nikon d5 or if the rumor is true the nikon d850. (or perhaps some other ?)
Has used the camera to fashion photography , Studio photography , portraits , weddings , landscapes photography , sports , cars , etc.
I get the question , whether the 1DX 20mp or d5 be enough. and i want to have the alternative to make crops without losing much quality.
Beforehand thank you very much.
SmallRig cages are best for avoiding damage such as the dropping of a camera. A small investment that can save the day.
so does this mean the sony a7r II is your primary 'goto' camera for your photography or are you still evaluating a possible transition? btw, great review - you're one of the best speakers on youtube. you articulate your points in a clear and concise manner.
This is some serious videography Toby, congratulations. Did you manually grade or did you use a LUT ?
+Valère my better 1/2, Christina did most of the grading and she did it manually. We are noobs at this.
+PhotoRec Toby Wow ! She did an amazing job, may I suggest using a LUT so that you get the same colors from both angles, it won't look like you were using 2 cameras. You're both very talented :)
Hi Toby,Today i went to shoot for the first time in RAW. I want to open the files now but windows 10 won't let me. Do you know how i can open the pictures i took? Thanks :)
Great Review!!
Just watch your music level and the speaking voice level. They are way off!! :)
About the overheating, there are 2 modes to record 4k, Full frame mode and Super35 mode, there is also the bitrate, which is very important, 60mbps and 100mbps.
The difference between the full frame mode and the super35 mode, besides the crop factor, is the line skipping when reading from the sensor otherwise known as pixel binning, in full frame mode the camera skips lines when it's recording 4k video, which is understandable considering this is a very big sensor with a massive resolution, if no pixel binning was allowed on full frame mode the camera would probably give up after 2 or 3 minutes of recording, people need to understand the huge amount of processing required for this.
Now in super35 mode the camera doesn't skip lines when it's recording 4k which means the camera is processing so much more data than in full frame mode, add to that the 100mbps bitrate and push it even further with the ibis and the camera will simply not be able to handle all that for a long amount of time.
Now, if dynamic range and low light are crucial then one should record in super35, otherwise full frame mode is more than enough and you will probably avoid overheating.
If you must shoot in super35 INTERNALLY then you might consider shooting at 60mbps, again you'll probably avoid overheating.
Many professional videographers are using this camera with external recorders shooting super35 4k at the highest bitrate, they get ProRes and they bypass that 29 minutes limit, and obviously no overheating while shooting a back up mp4 internally that they use for editing instead, it makes work in post a breeze.
I hope this helps :)
+Valère I knew some of that but your comment is the most in depth I have seen yet- thanks for sharing. I have now managed to make it over heat twice. once while trying(left screen closed, super 35 and held in hand to make sure IBIS was working hard. Took about 35 minutes.) Today I was not in super35 but IBIS was on and AF-C - only went about 16 minutes in a 75F degree room not in any direct sunlight. So that was a little more surprising/disappointing. Overall it should still work fine for me but I don't like the randomness of it. I should have lots more to say after travel later this month - I will be in Greece- current forecast is sunny and 90F each day.
Great review as always... quick question, did you ever nail those AF point selection woes?
No, they still give me trouble. Love the output of this camera but AF point selection is a weakness. You might want to watch ua-cam.com/video/vLrHc_4omBw/v-deo.html
+PhotoRec Toby Thank you. I love the camera (switched from 5dmkiii) but the AF point selection does drive me a bit nuts. Mostly rely on the camera figuring out things for itself but sometimes it just gets it wrong.... maybe the a7riv will have a joystick or touchscreen :) for now, i shall keep playing :D thanks for the reply (and the videos).
Hi! Could you please tell me about the general reponsivnes of this camera? I have tried a miroless fuji but the EVF blackout time (,everytime you take a picture) is it too long for my taste. It also takes very long to for the camera to be ready to take another shot (compared to dslr), and this really gets in the way of my shooting experience. It is as if the camera is always set to 1/4th of a second. I would really like to hear your thoughts about this, especially since you did weddings with it! Thanks!
what's your vlogging setup please?
Great review Toby.
+Rene Beaudoin Thanks!
PhotoRec TV
What adaptor is that? Is it good for wide angle lenses such as the 16-35 f4L?
Hi ,
This a very detailed and interesting video, thank you!
Could you give me your opinion on the following, please?
I have a Canon 5D Mark II with the following lenses: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF17-40mm f/4L USM and EF85mm f/1.8 USM.
I intend to change my camera and reading articles and watching videos on Canon cameras I am tempted to go with the Sony A7r II instead of Canon 5D Mark III and IV or Canon 5DS / 5DSR.
Do you think it could be a good choice?
BTW I am not a professional photographer but a passionate about photography. I shoot a lot of landscape and night, I do also love street photography (people, buildings, ...). I also do (less than than the previous ones) concert and action photography.
Anyway , thanks in advance for you answer!
Lilian Cardonne mark iv is very good, everything improved to compete with nikon and sony... not to forget you still have great canon color as well
This review was exactly what I was looking for! Great job!
// Swedish subscriber
i am planning to shoot a advertisement in sony a7r2.. is tat ok to display tat in theatre?
Awesome !!! Thanks so much for this video. BTW, can you also do a review on GH5 from photography perspective by any chance ? Cause I'm more inclined toward gh5 and I want to do some photography as well. Any suggestions would also be a great help. :)
Dear Toby Sir, I am about to purchase this camera. Can you please recommend a flash compatible with Sony A7R II. I have to shoot a wedding at night. What shall one buy? An External flash or off camera flash if one is going to shoot a wedding??
+Saun Wild The only system I know that is really compatible with Sony right now is Phottix
The battery life is the only thing holding me back in getting this for 2023...is this still relevant for 2023? Will be using it for photography only.
The latest Sony Cameras are out of budget.haha
Whats the song called. Sounds familiar but just cant put my finger on it? Cheers
great review thanks for the informational videos, i'm new to Sony gear and i keep reading mix reviews for comparable lenses, wondering if you can recommend one, I'm mostly shooting rocky landscapes mostly cloudy and wet, so i need a wide angle sharp lens i'm currently using Vario-Tessar TE 16-70 mm F4 ZA OSS not too happy with it for what i'm doing.
+Fernando Gonzalez Shooting with a6000 or? The 16-70 is a crop lens. The 24-70 f/4 is FE (full frame) but honestly it isn't that different from your 16-70 quality wise. Why aren't you happy with current lens?
my focus range is not quite accurate or i feel like i'm compromising to what it is not getting the sharpness i'm looking for in my DOF
Nice balanced review. I have always used Sony cameras and I really like them but I still can't find any logic in the menu. It is really due to an overhaul. After all the years using Sonys, I still can't figure out why did they did it the way they did. Confusing.
What I missed was how you liked it with Sony native lenses.
+Pieter Batenburg It was short and sweet - I said focus with sony native lenses is fantastic - matches or beats my 5D Mark III. Beyond that I will be sharing more soon but the upside- sony has a selection of SHARP lenses - REALLY sharp and well made. Downside - they are not cheap. I wouldn't say overpriced but certainly not cheap and when you look at competitors selection you see all these cheaper lenses and you get grumpy BUT what people aren't realising - This camera is comparable to the Canon 5DS/SR and those cameras come with a list of recommended lenses - the lenses on that list are limited and expensive.
True, I heard that. But what I meant was how you liked the Sony lenses.
You know what bugs me about some reviews about this camera, (and it is not directed at you because you seem to be very balanced in everthing you say and besides you said it litterraly) is that it is too often about the camera in combination with an adapter and non native glass and not really about the camera itself.
I surely can understand why this is important for pros who have tons of non native lenses. But there isn't a single reviewers who has criticism about how a Canon works with a Nikon lens and adapter (or the other way around).
That being said. I completely agree with most of your criticism about Sony. The menu sucks, and the batterylife is sometimes depressing.
I own both the A77 and the A6000 and I really like them.
+Pieter Batenburg Yeah, I'm with you Pieter. Toby, how does the Canon 5DS/SR work with Sonly lenses? How fast is the focus with non-native lenses? LOL
nice review toby. is there any other camera out there that rivals this in terms of photo and video (i do both)
Great hands-on review, looking forward to more tech/how to add-ons
For AF point selection, did you try to set C1/C2 button for AF selection and use it in combination with front and rear dial. Like in your sketch
+Dalibor Mrkic I have not and I was back on my A7 review tonight and saw you had suggested that back then - I need to train myself but man I miss that little joystick.
Just discovered your videos. I want to purchase the Sony A7Sll but I'm totally in love with the Profoto B1's TTL features and Profoto does not yet support Sony. I am curious to hear your thoughts of the A7Rll as a primary wedding camera and how you made it work with off-camera lighting. Wanting to move up from my Fuji X100S I'm still stuck, Sony or Nikon?
+davidhunternyc I am talking to Phottix about their offereings for off camera flash systems with this camera, you are right - options are limited which make this camera challenging for full wedding photography. SO far I have only been using mine without flash though we hardly use flashes at weddings. Nikon is still at this time a more complete system and the Nikon D750 is fantastic value.
+PhotoRec Toby Thank you so much Toby. Yes, I may just have to pull the trigger on the D750. Love this camera and really want to use it with Profoto TTL. I still have time to wait and see if Profoto will support Sony.
Awesome review and it even include a drop test! hehe Hope your camera still works fine! :) Thanks again for sharing the info!
+MaximumDiver It still works a few months later :) Thanks!
I just bought this camera now in 2021 next GEN was the Fuji 50 S
HI Toby,
great review. Question from a weddingphotgrapher perspective. Does the A7ii check all the same boxes as the A7Rii (apart from Megapixels). Would you be as happy with the user experience + Autofocus with the A7ii at weddings?
+Roel van Noord Hi Roell, No - AF system is not as fast and competent with the A7II as it is with the a7RII. Overall the A7II is a good camera and a great value but in low light and/or with other lenses(like canon) it doesn't AF as well.
just bought a A7r11 .thank you for the review! would love to see the battery saving u tube. one suggestion: say your name a few more times throw out the video so its easy to find you and get to know your name. I still don't know it with out spending time looking for it.
Is there any way to adjust the exposure while the (back button) focus is pressed? I can't seem to find a way to scroll the shutter wheel or anything while in focus. This is helpful in continuous focus for moving subjects changing from a dark scene to a bright one or vice versa. Apparently you can't do this with the a7rii and you can only dial your exposure without focusing. I hope I'm wrong.
Set your ISO to auto - let it adjust for you, it does a great job.
Hi, your videos are very helpful for learning photography.
I like to ask you a favour, is it possible you can help to get a post session on UA-cam on sun glare photography. I know it is possible with softwares,but I like to know if same can be done without editing in softwares.
Sorry as my question is not related to this video. Thanks for your valuable camera tips.
Small snippit to people watching. While Toby probably goes through a LOT of Sony batteries, charging your device while using it puts a lot of stress on batteries and will kill them faster. Use when needed only.
Great review by the way. Thank you for answering my questions about the adapters. Love the channel.
dat dust on the sensor on that b roll!!! nooooo
A full frame lens-interchangeable camera that fits into my laptop bag. O yeah....
can sony fix the messy menus with a firmware update?
+Awaken They could....
Great review, thank you!
good solid review i had this and it got stolen last week nice to see what im missing
Awesome review! Im curious, what did you film this video with? Also did you light this? Is it natural with a bounce fill?
+Zack Mejias Filmed with the Gh4 and secondary shots with a 5D Mark III - all natural light, no bounce.
+PhotoRec TV I'm more confident about my gh4 now
The Review is Awesome and Usefull...
do you stll think a7 rii is the one of best camera? can i buy one this year or wait for new one?
MaheshGvelly he is still using it
Great Review, I will probably get a second hand one in the future when they drop in price, I had the A7r pig of a camera, looks like they have addressed most of the problems it had Thanks for your time.... Always Informative with no BS
Great review!
what camera are you shooting you commentary with>>
i wondering to know which 70-200mm lens IS THE BEST and have better performance in general with the A7RII ,canon 70-200 f2.8 ii or sony 70-200 ssm ii?, is there anybody knew about it please ??
So many reviewers out there. Especially when it comes to photography. All I can say is that 90% of it garbage! Having said that I am happily subscribed to your channel! Short, sweet and to the point. Great balance of subjective and objective, pleasant editing etc... Great job! Thank you.
Really really great review! You answered all my questions in this video! Now I maybe have to sell both of my 5DMK3 ;)
I really enjoyed your thoughts on the camera and was impressed with your video. Please check in every now and then to let us know how you continue to work with your camera and what your experiences are.
+Scott Johnson I am still VERY happy with this camera for travel, landscape photography!
thx, you made me for sure not by sony yet. was thinking of xpro2 or sony.
Gotta have a joystick for focus point selection. Do the newer sonys have that?
Yes they do.
If you are doing event photography or basically any photography, better get a finger-strap to right side of the camera. It is just a slightly loose loop of string (velgro) that goes around your index finger everytime you grab your camera. If you accidentally drop the camera (someone thumbles on you, you slip etc) the camera doesn't drop all the way down but the loop gets tighten and it is tied to your right hand.
And the Canon/Nikon bodies (1/5D or D3/4) are not so sturdy as they are usually claimed to be. The magnesium body gets twisted and broken fairly easily from a single drop as well. So someone calling them as "bullet proof" or "bullet stoppers" is highly exaggerating fanboy talk. The old SLR cameras bodies from brass were far more sturdier than modern alloy bodies.
The Sony cameras are like innovative (!= invention) prototypes that gets behind terrible user interface. But for image quality vs what Canon produce the Sony is better, and the Canon user interfaces ain't much better than what Sony does have but at least not so bad. There are better ones on the market that people just don't know.
Is this a knock out punch to canon and nikon? I think refree is counting 1, 2 , 3 , 4 . . .
+MOHD Rizz Canon and Nikon are big, BIG giants - this is certainly painful, maybe knocked down but don't count them out... yet.
Well done and your pictures are great! =)
hi Toby was this video shot with the a7r2?
ok. so i have a 7d mark ii. other than shooting sports (which that part is just a hobby) im not entirely happy with it as far as sharpness and low light. Ive seen so many videos on the a7rii and i really want to go to full frame since ill be shooting 3 weddings this year. so my question is, should i make the swap to this? or try to go for a 5diii? or what do yall recommend?
Which camera did you got?
i´ve been a Canon shooter for many years 1DS mark II, for stills nothing come close to Canon bodies and lens, Leica M lens are far better but are another story $$$$$ Anyway you need a camera which work in the pro world, Sony does not, it is all in the video above, Bateries and overheat ruins your weeding cover, be sure. This Sony to me is a bad joke (although it is a nice toy for aficionados). no water sealed, too slow to set up, batery life, overheat, lens overprieced, pain in the a&s touchscreen
Nando & Blonde Moby Dick i ended up keeping the 7dii and spent the money getting the 70-200 2.8 is ii. so pleased with the results and the wedding pictures turned out great even in the dimly lit chapel since i could go slower shutter. would just do quick bursts and one of them would be in focus with the IS doing its job. got one more in a couple weeks but itll be midday outdoors.
Gabriel Rodríguez ended up keeping my 7dii and getting a 70-200 2.8 IS. couldnt be happier now!
Glad at end you get great results out of the 7dii, I own also this 70-200 lens, terrific Bokeh, very great Canon lens, much better than the 24-70/2.8 L ,Is the only lens that I keep, decided to sell all the rest of the equipment when I stop dedicating myself to the trade. I though you did it well. A good glass make shine any CMOS ;-)
Also would you say you see a dramatic increase in image quality after editing in comparison to the 5ds/r? since i know you have shot weddings with both now! I'm thinking of saving for the 5d3 but i'm still in debate
+TheKiwiJobes Both produce beautiful images. The 5Ds/r files get noisy at the higher ISOs and we saw some weird banding on a few images but still capable of awesome. I feel like the value of the 5DS/R is not very high, especially compared directly to the Sony but it all depends on what you need - certainly nice to have full compatibility with loads of great canon glass.
I imagined it would go noiser than the sony! thanks for the reply!
Great video! If i would by a new full frame camera today it would probably be a Sony A7 II/R. But i still want a better and cheaper adaptor so i can use my canon lenses on it. Metabones seems good but very expensive atm.
Wow I don't see the 900% speed wording for the video recording part at the first glance...
Features of the A7r2 are great however the commitment of using it could meant hate it or love it. what i mean is camera is just a tool we need to use it on regularly to master the Cam....
Great review.
+Orange Line Project Thank you!