Sony A7R IV vs. Canon EOS R5 vs. Nikon Z7 II
Three full-frame camera tested. The Sony A7R IV, Nikon Z7 II, and Canon EOS R5
Sony A7R IV vs. Canon EOS R5 vs. Nikon Z7 II From a Fujifilm Photographer’s Perspective
My spring and summer project trying out some of the top full-frame camera contenders on the market has come to an end. I will not rule out testing more cameras in this category but it is time for a brief recap.
My day-to-day camera system is built around the Fujifilm X Series but a case of FOMO (fear of missing out) inevitably sets in from time to time and I get curious.
The tests of full-frame cameras are largely fueled by my own interest in this segment but I also hope to add valuable insight for other Fujifilm X Series photographers who perhaps have pondered the same options.
Dabbling in the full-frame camera segment also gives me a chance to put these cameras in context with the Fujifilm GFX Series reviews you will find on my site.
The three contenders tested were the 61-megapixel Sony A7R IV, the 45-megapixel Canon EOS R5, and finally the Nikon Z7 II also at 45 megapixels.
I will be painting the picture with a broad brush and encourage you to follow the links found at the end of this article to the individual camera reviews.
Ranking Three Full-Frame Cameras
What is a comparison worth without a ranking? It is hard to rank these cameras after spending only a weekend with each but when push comes to shove here is how I would rank them.
I try to approach this as if I was standing in my local photography store with money in hand, ready to buy. First up, the ranking, and then check my conclusion at the end of the article to see if I plan to jump into the full-frame market at this point.
Third Place - Nikon Z7 II
A fine camera, and yet I have it up for bronze, a podium finish at least :) My decision is probably colored by the fact that the Nikon Z7 II gave me the most grief initially with the setup. The more I used it, the more I liked it though. Would it ever have surpassed the other two contenders in this comparison? I am not fully sure.
One of the key reasons for the third-place ranking could have something to do with the lenses which never really wowed me. I decided on a line of more affordable and lightweight options for the Z7 II: The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S, Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and finally Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
I did have the option to try the new Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S but passed it up due to the sheer size of it, 2.4 lb, 1090 g, and dimensions of 3.5 x 5.9", 89.5 x 150 mm. This lens may have had me think twice but I had a hard time envisioning myself lugging it around.
I have a post about the Nikon Z Lenses here:
Water Street, Vancouver, Nikon Z7 II, Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S @ f/2.5
Second Place - Sony A7R IV
I was impressed with the image quality from the 61-megapixel Sony A7R IV and paired with the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM it was probably a favorite of all the camera/lens combinations I tried in the three test periods.
I had worries going into the Sony test but for the most part, they were unfounded. The worries were centered around the stigma that the Sony cameras feel more like a computer than a camera.
Post-processing was challenging at times but you could argue that I have become used to a certain look in my Fujifilm files after having shot Fuji exclusively for the past 5 years or so.
Looking in my crystal ball the upcoming Sony A7 IV might be an interesting camera if rumors hold true and they release it with a 33-megapixel sensor. You could pair this with the excellent Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM or FE 50mm f/1.2 GM. The Voigtländer manual focus lenses also look quite interesting for Sony.
First Place - Canon EOS R5
After shooting with almost all the Canon EOS 5D digital SLR cameras for almost a decade it was a familiar feeling that set in as soon as I started using the Canon EOS R5.
Although the mirrorless Canon EOS R5 has evolved into an entirely different camera it shares Canon DNA, namely ergonomics and overall user experience including menus that look familiar also.
The autofocus implementation is the best of the three and buttons, dials, and grip on the EOS R5 are also a notch above the contenders. The overall feel including the amazing EVF and sound of the shutter also set it apart for me.
In my test, I reviewed the EOS R5 with two rather big lenses, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS and RF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS. While these are excellent zoom options and bread-and-butter lenses for many pros, lately I am gravitating towards smaller primes.
Although I haven’t seen the size of the rumored RF 35mm f/1.2L, I would probably look at building a kit around this lens, and maybe the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM.
Canon makes excellent lenses but some of them are very expensive and make it trickier to build an affordable kit. This should not take away from the fact that the Canon EOS R5 is an amazing camera.
English Bay Beach, Vancouver. Canon EOS R5, RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS @ f/2.8, 200 mm
The Full-Frame Project Conclusions
It was never my intention to replace my Fujifilm X Series cameras. I would, however, not mind either a full-frame camera or medium format camera simply to be able to create a slightly different look in my photos from time to time. The question is, am I willing to pay the price of entry and willing to live with the added bulk and weight?
On a recent road trip to the Sunshine Coast in BC, I was reminded why I have the X-Pro cameras in the first place. I took the X-Pro3, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR, XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 and was never bothered with the weight. I welcome you to tag along on this trip via the following link:
There are pros and cons with just about any camera or camera system you subscribe to. The trick is to find a little happy corner of the camera world then try to keep G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome) at bay. I have yet to completely succeed at this continually subjecting myself to the temptation of different options :)
I am in a peculiar situation at the end of my full-frame three-camera review that none of the three cameras cried out to me in such a strong fashion that felt the need to buy any of them.
I already have a capable camera system and in some instances, it felt as if the Canon EOS R5, Sony A7R IV, or Nikon Z7 II was more of a compromise due to the higher cost, weight, and bulk. The image quality was great in some cases but not always.
I have become accustomed to Fujifilm’s excellent color output and often lean on Fujifilm film simulations to give me a look that I have come to appreciate.
Hotel Georgia, Vancouver, Nikon Z7 II, Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S @ f/4
Looking Ahead
Perhaps I just haven’t found the exact match that ticks all the boxes when it comes to a digital mirrorless full-frame or GFX camera.
I had a nice photo forum exchange a few weeks ago with a gentleman who bought himself a Leica M240 to compliment his Fujifilm setup. He assured me he was keeping a couple of Fujifilm cameras but also relayed that he was enjoying the rangefinder experience. This may be a direction to follow.
The Leica Q or Leica Q2 keeps entering my sphere of cameras that I could be interested in albeit at a high cost of entry, even on the used market. The same goes for the Leica SL2 or SL2-S.
“Leica”! please send me your cameras for review. I would love to take a peak and promise to ship them back.
Looking ahead I am excited to see the final specs for the upcoming Fujifilm GFX 50S II. It will likely be an almost match to the Fujifilm GFX 100S that I reviewed in the spring but with a 50-megapixel sensor instead of 102 as in the GFX 100S. Stay tuned on that front.
For now, when it comes to full-frame or medium format, I shoot film and it still excites me, every time I have a roll of film developed and see the results. I just picked up a Nikon F3 from Japan, a camera I used to have in the mid-eighties. I will have a review coming up.
Feel free to comment below if you have any questions or comments in regard to my spring/summer fling with the three full-frame cameras.
For a more in-depth look at the three contenders here are links to my full reviews:
Sony A7R IV - review
Canon EOS R5 - review
Nikon Z7 II - review
See all of my reviews at a glance: Camera Reviews - Archives
