Mirrorless is probably seen as the future of digital cameras for enthusiasts and this is a trend shown in the last several years with companies continuing to release their new mirrorless along with the lens collections. Many of them such as Nikon Z7II Vs Sony A7RIV are impressive for a wide range of applications and powerful enough to satisfy professionals as well. If you are aiming to purchase one of these cameras, see below about how they are different from each other.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Are You Going to Buy a New Camera
- What are Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- How are the Built of Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- How are the Specs of Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- How are the Autofocus in Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- How are the Video Recording in Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- How are the Image Quality of Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
- Nikon Z7II Vs Sony A7RIV
Buying a New Camera
When it comes to cameras, especially for hobbyists, it seems there is not that much hype anymore in the general or mainstream market. Unlike probably around a decade ago where DSLR is bought by both enthusiasts and just casual people wanting to take great quality pictures, nowadays most of us just spend on a flagship phone and go with the camera. The advancement of smartphone cameras is indeed affecting the digital camera market a lot now that companies seem to focus on high-end options more.
For enthusiasts and professionals, dedicated cameras will still be the option because even with how good smartphone cameras are becoming, they are still inferior for the more serious tasks where you need manual control to handle the different situation. But, for those who are only taking pictures to be shared on social media or to capture their special occasions, we do think smartphone cameras will be the more convenient choice. There are also plenty of apps we can play around with to take or edit the pictures or video right on the device.
If you are a fan of dedicated cameras or will use the device for more serious projects such as publishing or for streaming professionally, DSLR and Mirrorless are the option to go. The question whether which of them will be better sounds not that relevant anymore today because they are almost like the alternative to each other. What DSLR can offer is possible as well on Mirrorless and vice versa so it is often about what type of handling that you like better.
The size comparison is not completely true anymore because if you see a full-frame camera such as Nikon Z6, they are almost the same to the DSLR variant, moreover with ILS cameras we have to consider the sensor and lenses as well so with larger sensor we will mount large lens too, making the comparison in size doesn’t really make the decision anymore, moreover some people like it when their camera is a bit heavier or bulkier for the sake of handling stabilization.
Another myth about mirrorless is their lack of accessories and this also used to be true back then. Since DSLR existed earlier, it is also not surprising to see how many lenses they can have but the trend is changing now and with companies like Canon and Nikon releasing new mirrorless, it is just to be expected they will have the new lenses as well for them. While now it is not quite there yet, we do have more options to consider.
| Nikon Z7II | Sony A7RIV | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 5.28 x 2.74 x 3.96 inches | 3.8 x 3.05 x 5.07 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.9 pounds | 0.16 ounces |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV
The option is all yours based on which will be more comfortable or which you like better. Once the camera is in our hand, it is time to take pictures and record footage so we better optimize the device as best as we can. There are also plenty to choose from in the market so when it comes to freedom, we can go for almost any brands since most of them are also topping the game. But, depending on the budget and what capabilities we want, it should be easier to narrow down the collection.
For cameras, unlike other electronics, there are a limited number of manufacturers that are playing in the professional market so all of us have been familiar or at least recognize most of them. When it comes to mirrorless, Nikon and Sony are two great companies to consider with their top cameras and impressive overall quality. The two are very active in the mirrorless segment lately and you may like some of their recent releases because these are powerful cameras that can sit well on a wider range of applications.
If you are ready to spend for quite some, the Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV are worth considering. The two are pretty fresh however, especially the Z7II which was released last year to renew the Z7 line while on the other hand the Alpha 7RIV are about a year or two older. The two are the same full-frame mirrorless cameras so none are affordable and we do think they are best for users who are going to optimize the sensor or invest in the range of lenses.
The most impressive thing about Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV is their high resolutions which are among the best in the market and the fact that both are updated versions of the already popular original cameras make these options are more robust in terms of overall capabilities. Still, they are not an identical unit as well and while the Sony is great on the still image, Nikon is probably better for hybrid users who also often record videos with their camera.
Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV Design
Before checking what these cameras are capable of, let’s see some of their physical quality first. In comparison, both of them are fairly compact but have a big handle which is great for control and comfort as well as a decent 3-inch back panel. The annoying part is for a camera that currently sold at $2.9k, Sony somehow decided a 1.4M-dot panel is enough where Nikon has 2.1M-dot, the same with similar high-res mirrorless like EOS R5 or Lumix S1R. Read also: Sony Alpha A6600 Vs Canon 90D.
The display is tilting so you can try different positions when taking pictures or recording. In Nikon, the two buttons at the front of the camera are a bit flimsy however so they may not deliver the best experience for picky users. As for the full dimension, Nikon will be heavier and slightly bulkier than Sony but the weight difference is not far or probably around 50 grams or so with the battery.
Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV Specs
Now for the most important part, let’s see what Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV can offer starting from the basic specs first. As it has been mentioned above the two are full-frame mirrorless cameras with high resolution but, in comparison Sony is already packing 61MP resolution here instead of 46MP. The native resolution is also much higher in Sony at 9504 x 6336 compared to 8256 x 5504. Nikon Z7II boasting their dual sensor with Sony sticking with its Bionz X.
Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV Autofocus
There is a lot to talk about in these cameras but for a high-res choice, autofocus needs to be their best offering. In comparison as you can expect Sony is still leading in this side because this system’s AF is just that impressive. It is smart and can detect or use various detection at once which makes the camera quick to adapt with your subject. Z7II doesn’t have bad AF however but we did find that it often lost the subject while tracking.
Another issue which may not be very important is the AF mode selection because there are times when you have to change mode in certain shots while for example Sony can do everything in one mode thus, just makes the operation simpler.
Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV Video Recording
Because some people may want to use Nikon Z7II or Sony A7RIV for recording video as well, let’s talk about the recording side and in comparison, the Nikon is better for hybrid users. High-res cameras are generally not recommended for video shooting since it will be difficult to down sample the high resolution images but, at least Nikon allows you to record 4K at 60fps which is somehow not possible with Sony that can only record 4K at 30fps and only at 8bit.
Nikon Z7II and Sony A7RIV Image Quality
Last but not least is the image quality from these impressive cameras and here, Sony will win as well, most noticeably by the high resolution. In comparison both do have great dynamic range and low-light ability. In our opinion they are comparable to each other and the difference is probably negligible for some. What we love the most is you can capture good quality images even in difficult settings, making the two a versatile choice wherever you go to capture the images, including at home or indoor settings.
Nikon Z7II vs Sony A7RIV
Both cameras are equally great options and we are also confused about which to choose. In comparison, the Sony will last longer however since it has the newest, small yet pretty powerful battery. Autofocus as usual is won by Sony with its convenient and smart as well as quick AF system while video is much better in Z7II. As for the image quality, as long as we can get the proper lens, the two are compatible with Sony holding the top position, thanks to the higher resolution.
Conclusion
There is no bad option between the two, you can go well with any of them but we do recommend Sony A7RIV if you are mostly using the camera for still pictures but for hybrid users, it is wiser to get the Z7II or other similar cameras with better video capabilities.