Furthermore, there's a new hybrid autofocus system inside the A7 II, which the company claims offers a 30 percent improvement over the first-generation model, thanks to its 117 phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points. Next to the new compensation system, that makes it easier to shoot at a wider range of speeds. Still, I feel like the autofocus could be better, since it did struggle at times while trying to capture fixed subjects in macro mode. Inside, you'll also find WiFi and NFC support, in case you need to share files wirelessly.



In terms of video, Sony's A7 II can only shoot a maximum of 1080p at up to 60 fps, and that will likely disappoint some people. Sure, 4K isn't the norm quite yet, but at least you would be future-proofed when that resolution does become the standard. So, unlike its sibling, the A7S, the A7 II isn't fully stacked and 4K-ready. Sony probably made the choice to leave that out in an effort to keep the cost down and, perhaps, to keep the A7S appealing to the niche crowd looking for the highest-resolution video. The video quality is great, don't get me wrong, but I just wish I could have the ability to shoot in 4K -- even if the times when I actually had a legitimate reason to use it were very few.

Given that the built-in five-axis stabilization can be used for video, Sony notes that it was important to have it operate extremely quietly. It needed to be swift, efficient and silent. When turned on while shooting video, not once did I run into a situation where I heard the SteadyShot system being active. It does exactly what it's supposed to, and it does it silently.



One of my favorite things about the A7 II is the way it feels in your hand. This piece of kit is rock-hard, exactly what you would expect from a body made up of pure metal (magnesium alloy, to be specific). It's strong, but it doesn't feel heavy. It's compact, but it doesn't feel small. Better yet, there's a 3-inch, 1.2 million-dot, articulating LCD on the back, allowing you to browse through pictures and videos with a pleasant swiftness. Design-wise, the A7 II is quite similar to the A7 Mark I, but that's not to say there aren't any changes. Most notably, the shutter button now sits atop the grip, so it's now more easily accessible. The rest of the button layout is virtually unchanged, though Sony did add a couple custom controls next to the main dials.

The bad news is that it's not a touchscreen, a feature that's to be expected in just about every camera in this day and age -- especially one that sells for a premium. At any rate, in case you don't want to use that adjustable screen to frame your shots, the camera features a 2.4 million-dot electronic viewfinder, the same one found on its predecessor, the A7.

All in all, Sony took everything it learned from the launch of the original A7 and made it better. Yes, the A7 II is heavier and, yes, it is missing attributes, like 4K video. However, those compromises (if you can call them that) mean the new camera starts at $1,700 for the body only, making it relatively accessible to prosumers. And make no mistake: It's worth every penny.