Sony A7RII camera with Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA (SEL35F28Z) lens

A bit over a year ago I purchased the updated Sony A7RII.  This short field-test for mountaineering is what this is about (albeit rather late).  This was a significant improvement from the first Sony A7R camera body I had.  I kept the same lens and just upgraded the body.

Why did I upgrade?

Simply put, the original A7R autofocus was quite bad and was always hunting.  The new A7RII is so much better in this respect, and it came with a lot of bells and whistles.  You can find out more by googling the technical reviews on various websites. 

I had a lot of enjoyment with this A7RII camera and I used it on my Manaslu 2015 expedition.  The only problem was the size -still too big and slightly heavy to carry for a summit run.  The A7RII had increased its dimensions and marginally on weight.

Size and weight is everything when it comes to mountaineering.  Everything feels 3x heavier when you are trying to suck in the oxygen.  You ideally want something that is pocketable.  If a camera is being carried in your bag then it is guaranteed that you will not take it out for a quick shoot.  The A7RII with the SEL35F28Z lens is just not pocketable at all and must be carried in a bag when mountaineering.  It is still much smaller than any other full frame DSLR in the market, but for mountaineering (above base camp), it needs much more reduction in dimensions and weight.

This is one of the reasons I sold this camera setup.

If you are just doing tourist/street photography then this setup is absolutely sweet.  It's specifications compared to other DSLRs is unbeatable.  It is a camera you want to carry and use on a strap.

I am a single 35mm lens convert and no longer use any other focal lengths.  When you have a camera with full frame 42 megapixels, you can always crop the image to your liking.  Size, weight and simplicity is the key.  Also, I never adjust the camera images in post production.  I believe one should capture what you see directly, not change an image in photoshop or something like that.  Unedited images are the true memories!

Camera technology changes rapidly.  There is always something new around the corner.  The A7RII should now be going for very cheap (relatively) on the secondhand market (mine was sold for cheap with only a measly 1116 shots on it).  If you wanted one, then its an ideal time to get a bargain on the used market.  Make sure you get one that has warranty coverage otherwise you risk losing your 'investment' if something goes wrong.

I have now gone to a smaller camera (Sony RX100III) and recently obtained a Sony RX1RII.  So much smaller and lighter, but lower specification.  More on this on my other reviews.