Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Detailed Comparison

At the end of this article, you will be able to decide what camera is better for you between Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1. The interesting thing about this comparison is that both of these cameras are mirrorless cameras. However, that’s about the biggest similarity between them.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

The Sony a7RII, on one hand, comes with a 42-megapixel full-frame sensor, while the Fuji XT1, on the other hand, comes with just 16 megapixels in an APS-C sensor. However, those features do not tell the whole story, we do, in the article below.

If you do not have the time to read through the entirety of the article, check out the comparison overview below. The comparison overview features all the information you will need to make the right decision concerning Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Comparison Overview

Looking at the overall features of these two cameras, both of them are good cameras, there’s no doubting. However, the comparison is to find out which is better. The Sony a7RII has the better sensor as it comes with a full-frame 42-megapixel sensor. This makes it the better camera for still photos.

For action photos, the Fuji XT1 is the better camera. This is because, it has the ability to shoot 8 frames per second. This will give you clear action images for sports and wildlife photography.

If you want to get a camera for videography, then you absolutely want the Sony a7RII. This is because, it has the ability to shoot 4K video, and it comes with sensor-shift image stabilization. With image stabilization, you can record your 4K video from a moving car and it’ll come out smooth.

The one place where the Fuji XT1 beats the Sony a7RII is convenience. The Fuji XT1 is a smaller, more compact camera. Surprising, it comes with a slightly better battery. Furthermore, you can shoot time-lapses straight out of the box, no need to stress yourself installing an application. And lastly, it’s more tactile.

The first thing that people look at when they want to purchase a product is the price. Both of these cameras might not be affordable for most, but they’re reasonably priced. However, looking at the cost to performance ratio, we have to say that the Sony a7RII is the better of the two.

The Sony a7RII is better than the Fuji XT1 by a margin. Although the Sony a7RII is more expensive than the Fuji XT1, the price difference is way smaller than the quality difference between these two cameras.  

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Brand Comparison

Sony is a Japanese multinational company. They are involved in a multitude of different things including- optics and imaging, consumer electronics, entertainment, gaming, music, and even offer financial services.

Fujifilm is also a Japanese multinational company. However, it is strictly involved in just photography and imaging products.

There is really no comparing these two, Sony is the bigger company. If you want to get either of these cameras because of company stature, then Sony is the one you want. However, Fujifilm is really doing something with the affordability of its mirrorless cameras.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Comparison Table

	Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
Announcement Date	10th June 2015	14th April 2014
Sensor size	42 megapixels	16 megapixels
ISO	100 – 25600	200 – 6400
Continuous shooting rate	5 frames per second	8 frames per second
Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	1920 x 1080
Weight	625g	440g
Time-lapse Recording	Additional app	Yes
Battery Life	290 shots	350 shots
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	None
Headphone Port	Yes	No
NFC connection	Yes	No

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – What Situation Is What Camera Best For?

Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
The Sony a7RII is a great all-round camera. If you need a camera that has the ability to do a multitude of different things, then you definitely want the Sony a7RII.	Fujifilm has always been a great option for photographers who are looking for the best quality in a more affordable package. The Fuji XT1 did not disappoint. In fact, it is significantly more affordable than the Sony a7RII.
For still photos, this camera is great because it comes with a 42-megapixel full-frame sensor. Although the megapixel is not the only determinant as to whether a camera is great or not, it definitely goes a long way to determine the brightness and sharpness of the image.	So, in a scenario where you do not have enough money to buy the Sony a7RII, the Fuji Xt1 is a great alternative.   Apart from affordability, another scenario where this camera performs excellently is taking multiple action shots, or recording fast paced video.
For videos, this camera has the ability to shoot 4K video. Honestly, in 2019, 4K video is the ultimate goal for a lot of people.   However, if you’re going to be shooting 4K video, you might want to make sure that you have a laptop that’s good enough to process such videos.	If you’re a sports photographer, then you definitely want this camera. It has the ability to shoot 8 frames per second. This will give you enough time to catch the perfect runners’ shot, or the perfect touchdown, without the pictures getting blurry.
Also, for videos, another scenario where this camera excels is when you’re shooting without any external image stabilization.   Say you need to move around to capture shots, or perhaps you’re recording a video from the window of a moving car and you don’t have the money for any gimbals, you definitely want to shoot with this camera.	The final scenario where this is best is a scenario where you need a lightweight camera.   If you’re usually moving from place to place and would love to keep your camera kit as small as possible, you definitely need to pick up this camera as it is a lot lighter than the Sony a7RII.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Before we proceed with this review, we want you to watch the video below. The video below is basically a hands-on comparison between these two cameras from a user like you. We think that if you watch, it will give you a visually representation to most of the things we’re going to be talking about during the course of this article.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Features Common To Both Cameras

Although these two cameras are produced by two different companies and are very different, they do share a lot of similarities. In this section of this Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 comparison article, we would be looking at all the features that are present in both of these cameras.

They’re Both Mirrorless Cameras

The biggest similarity between these two cameras is that they’re both mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras have only recently begun to gain a lot of popularity and acceptance by photographers. Prior to that, DSLRs completely ruled that space.

Many photographers are opting for mirrorless cameras over DSLRs because mirrorless cameras provide equal quality in a smaller form factor. People who travel or move around a lot with their cameras really benefit from the portability that mirrorless cameras provide.

The reason mirrorless cameras can be smaller than DSLRs is right there in their name, they are “mirrorless”. Let us explain.

In DSLRs, what the camera’s lens sees is transmitted to the photographer through the optical viewfinder. For light to get to the optical viewfinder, it has to first pass through the camera’s lens. When the camera passes through the lens, it then hits a mirror.

This light then bounces off the mirror and is sent upwards to an optical prism. This optical prism then straightens the light horizontally, leading it to the camera’s viewfinder. Fitting the mirror and optical prism into the camera is what makes the DSLR big and bulky.

On the other hand, with mirrorless cameras, there is an electronic viewfinder, not an optical viewfinder. The light that the camera sees passes through the lens and hits an electronic sensor. This electronic sensor is responsible for converting that light into a digital image.

This digital image is then sent to a miniature display which is shown to the photographer when he looks into the electronic viewfinder. Because mirrorless cameras only have to fit a small electronic sensor into the body of the camera, they are made to be a lot smaller and more compact than DSLR cameras.

Disadvantages Of Using A Mirrorless Camera

Although it’s nice to have a small and compact camera, it does come at a cost. Reducing the overall size of the camera meant that manufacturers also had to reduce the size of the batteries in mirrorless cameras.

When it comes to batteries, the bigger they are, the more capacity they carry. This basically means that DSLRs have a much better battery life than mirrorless cameras, because they carry bigger batteries. Let’s say the manufacturers decide to put the larger batteries and make the mirrorless cameras a little bigger, well, there’s still a problem.

The problem, which is only a problem for the battery, is the fact that mirrorless cameras have a lot of electronic features, as opposed to DSLRs that have more mechanical features. Electronic features depend on power, which means that mirrorless cameras carry a lot more power draining features than DSLRs, which reduces their battery life a lot faster than DSLRs.

An example of a power-draining feature in a mirrorless camera is the electronic viewfinder. Apart from powering themselves, electronic viewfinders also require that the camera’s electronic sensor is on before it can work. On the other hand, optical viewfinders can work even when the camera is turned off.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Electronic Viewfinder

We’ve talked a little about electronic viewfinders earlier. However, not all mirrorless cameras come with an electronic viewfinder. Which is why we had to list this as a common feature separate from being mirrorless cameras.

Mirrorless cameras that do not come with electronic viewfinders use their LCD screen for view-finding. This a great alternative as it saves power. However, it becomes a problem when you want to shoot with it under the sun or in a place with very bright lights.

Just like it’s difficult to use your smartphone in scenarios like that without the brightness turned all the way up, so it is with these LCD screens. And they do not get as bright as some of the high-end smartphones do these days.

So, it’s just best you have an electronic viewfinder which will work well in any lighting setting.

The only advantage that optical viewfinders have over electronic viewfinders is the one we mentioned earlier which involves the battery life. Apart from that, electronic viewfinders are better than optical viewfinders. The main reason why we think they’re a lot better is because they give you a live representation of exactly how your image is going to end up.

Things like focus, contrast, brightness, exposure and how they affect your image, can be seen using the electronic viewfinder. Also, you’ll be able to see changes as you tweak your settings. This is really helpful if you’re not well abreast with all the many camera settings. Although, you need to have basic knowledge of the exposure triangle to get it right, an electronic viewfinder means you don’t need to be an expert to get it right.

Wireless Connection

Both of these cameras come with built-in wireless connectivity. With this feature, both of these cameras are able to pair and connect with other devices, which enables you transfer files wirelessly and without any hassle.

Furthermore, wireless connection also enables these cameras connect to a wireless network (Wi-fi) so it can access the internet. This means that with either of these cameras, you can easily send your pictures and videos to people over the internet, or backup your files for safe keeping.

One thing we would have loved to see with these two cameras’ wireless connection feature is “Bluetooth”. Sadly, neither of these two cameras support Bluetooth connectivity. Because there are a lot of other devices that support Bluetooth connectivity, it would’ve been a lot easier to connect with those devices to transfer files.

Articulating Screen

Both of these cameras come with an articulating LCD screen. We’ve talked a little about LCD screens above, when we were looking at how they work in comparison to electronic viewfinders. Although these LCD screens will not work well under very bright light, they do have their benefits.

While an electronic viewfinder is fixed to one position, an articulating LCD screen can be titled in different directions. This movement is possible because the screen is joined to the camera using a pivot system.

When these screens are tilted, they allow you keep shooting with your camera while using the LCD screen as your viewfinder. This enables you frame your photos and videos properly when you’re shooting from awkward positions that do not allow you use your viewfinder.

External Flash Shoe

Both of these cameras come with an external flash shoe. With an external flash shoe, you have the ability to connect an on-camera flash to your camera. When you’re shooting in low-light conditions, you want all the extra light you can get. An on-camera flash provides you with that.

RAW Support

Both of these cameras allow you to store your photos in their RAW format. RAW is an image saving format, just like JPEG. However, apart from the fact that they’re both image saving formats, there’s no other similarity between the two.

RAW is the preferred choice for most photographers because the camera doesn’t touch the picture after it is taken. All picture taken by a digital camera are originally in RAW. However, for it to be stored in JPEG, the camera edits the photo, compresses it, and then converts it to JPEG.

This process of editing and compressing reduces the information in the pictures, thereby, reducing their quality. With RAW format, you keep all the information on the picture. This gives you a lot more room to play around with while editing.

Face Detection Focus

This is a really straightforward feature. With this, your camera detects when there’s a face in the frame and focuses on it, automatically. Of course, if this is not what you want to be focused, you can easily change it manually.

However, if it is, it’s really quick and helpful, especially if you take a lot of portrait photos.

Microphone Port

Both of these cameras come with a microphone port. The most important part of a video is the audio. If you have a great video with crappy audio, it’s difficult for people to watch. However, if you have great audio with video of average quality, it’s easier for people to watch.

The built-in microphones on most cameras are not very good. If you want to improve on this, you need an external microphone. With the microphone port that comes with this camera, you can connect an external microphone to your camera.

Environmental Sealing

Both of these cameras come with environmental sealing. Environmental sealing means that your camera is protected from moisture and dust. Moisture protection keeps rain from entering into your camera, while dust resistance prevents the camera from being damaged by dust particles carried in the wind.

This allows you to keep on shooting even when the weather is not very favorable. However, if the weather gets too bad, we advise that you find some shelter. Neither of these cameras are waterproof. So, if kept under water, they will spoil.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

AE Bracketing

Getting the exposure right for an image is usually the number one priority for many professional photographers. The right and wrong exposures often differentiate the good and the bad photos. The fact that it’s so important, makes it even more complicated to get right.

For many photographers, they need to take multiple shots, trying out different settings, in order to find one that works best. Doing this manually is called creating an “exposure bracket”. An exposure bracket refers to a group of photos of the same scene with different exposure settings.

However, exposure brackets can be quite tasking to create. This is why auto exposure brackets are great. Auto exposure brackets help you automatically create an exposure bracket by simply clicking the shutter button.

To create an auto exposure bracket, all you need to do is set the different exposure levels you want for the different images. Once that’s done, click the shutter button and all the different images with the different exposure settings will be captured.

Apart from making the process of exposure bracket creation easy, auto exposure bracketing also makes it possible to get HDR photos. Basically, HDR photos are created by a combination of all the photos inside an auto exposure bracket. They are perfectly exposed photos. It’s only possible with auto exposure bracketing because all the pictures were taken at once, hence, exactly the same, save the exposure.

UHS Memory Card Support

UHS means Ultra-High Speed. We’re sure you already get the idea. UHS memory cards read and transfer files a lot faster than other memory cards. However, they need a device that supports them to read files in that speed.

These cameras will work with other memory cards too. Also, UHS memory cards will work on other devices, even though they do not support them. The only difference is that on those other devices, they’ll read and transfer files in normal speed.

So basically, this support activates the Ultra-High Speed feature possessed by UHS memory cards, for these cameras.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Features Unique To Each Camera

Alright! We’re sure this is the section that you’ve all been waiting for. In this section of this Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 comparison article, we would be looking at all the features that either of these cameras has, that the other does not.

Features Unique To The Sony a7RII

1. Built-in Image Stabilization

The Sony a7RII comes with image stabilization. Image stabilization, like the name implies, describes any technique or measure taken by the camera, in order to keep the image or video you’re recording stabilized.

For this particular camera, it’s sensor-shift image stabilization. There are two many types of image stabilization, one is referred to as “optical image stabilization”, while the other is referred to as “sensor-shift image stabilization”.

Optical image stabilization is done using the camera’s lens. With this, you see it being effected right there in your preview area as the lens shifts in the opposite direction of the camera movement to balance it out, removing the shakiness.

This works fine, until you want to use a lens on your camera. This type of image stabilization requires specific lenses to keep working well.

For sensor-shift, it works at the image sensors, not the lens. This means that you do not see your balanced image until you’ve finished capturing it. The image sensor makes use of artificial intelligence to detect when a camera movement is mild and involuntary and ignores it, keeping the image stabilized.

This is a lot better because it works, no matter what lens you want to use for your camera.

2. Headphone Port

Although these two cameras come with a microphone port, only this camera, the Sony a7RII, comes with a headphone port. A headphone port lets you connect a headphone directly to your camera. With this, you can monitor the audio that your camera is recording with the external microphone.

This helps you to tweak things as you dim fit, without having to wait until the recording is finished, to hear what the final audio would sound like.

3. NFC Connection

Near Field Communication is an added feature to the wireless connection provided by this camera. With this, you can easily pair your camera to other compatible devices, simply by placing them close to each other.

Once these two devices are paired, they will automatically connect to each other once they’re brought close to each other again. With this, you can connect this camera to your smartphone. This is what allows you use your smartphone as a remote-control device for your camera.

Using your smartphone as a remote-control for your camera is another feature that you will not find on the Fuji XT1.

4. 4K Video

While the Fuji XT1 is only capable of capturing HD footage, this camera, the Sony a7RII, has the ability to shoot 4K video. For most people, shooting 4K video is really important. If it’s that important to you, then you obviously want to look at this camera over the Fuji XT1.

One thing you have to take into consideration, though, is the speed of your computer. If your computer is not very fast, it will have trouble processing your 4K footage.

Features Unique To The Fuji XT1

1. Time-lapse Recording

The Fuji XT1 has the ability to record time-lapses straight out of the box. For the Soy a7RII, you would need to first install an application before you can use this feature. If you don’t already know, here is what a time-lapse is.

Basically, a time-lapse is a series of shots taken of the same scene over a long period of time. These shots are using very many and are taken at set, equal, intervals. When these pictures are played as one video, they show the gradual changes that happen to that scene over time.

You can record a time-lapse of the changes in the sky from night to day and day to night. You can record a time-lapse of an insect metamorphosizing, plants growing, or other things like that.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Unique Pros

Sony a7RII

42-Megapixel Sensor

The Sony a7RII boosts of a 42-megapixel sensor. Although this is not the only thing that makes this camera stand out when compared to the Fuji XT1, it’s definitely one of the major things. A larger megapixel sensor means that your camera creates brighter and clearer images because it processes a lot more pixels in the image.

This is sometimes great, and other times, not so great. If you’re going to be making large prints of your images, then you definitely want a camera with high megapixels. The more pixels processed by the camera, the clearer it remains when you zoom in or enlarge the photo when printing.

Other unique pros of the Sony a7RII include:

• 25600 maximum ISO which is 300% more than what is available on the Fuji XT1.
• It has a faster shutter speed at 1/8000s.
• It comes with a headphone port which allows you connect your headphone to monitor the audio you’re recording with the camera or an external microphone.
• You can shoot 4K video with this camera, which is great.
• This camera comes with NFC connection which is an easy way to wirelessly connect your camera to other devices.
• With this camera, you can use your smartphone as a remote control.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Fuji XT1

• You can record a time-lapse with this camera, right out of the box.
• The Fuji XT1 has a continuous shooting rate of 8.0 frames per second which is 3 frames more than the Sony a7RII.
• This camera is 185g lighter than the Sony a7RII, weighing in at 440g.
• It is more affordable than the Sony a7RII.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Unique Cons

Sony a7RII

• To record a time-lapse with this camera, you have to install an additional application.
• It weighs 625g. This is quite heavy for a mirrorless camera.
• It is more expensive than the Fuji XT1.

Fuji XT1

• No built-in image stabilization. This means that your videos would appear shaky and blurry unless you have a tripod or gimbal.
• The maximum sensor resolution of this camera is just 16 megapixels. This is quite poor.
• It comes with an APS-C sensor which has a smaller sensor area than the Sony a7RII. This means that it can capture a smaller field of view, and it can capture less light, than a full-frame sensor.
• There’s no headphone port. So, you can’t monitor your audio as you’re recording it.
• You cannot shoot 4K video with this camera.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Common Pros

	Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
Wireless Connection	Both of these cameras come with wireless connection. This allows you transfer files from your camera to other devices, easily and quickly.   With this, you can also transfer files over the internet. This helps you get to your audience quickly, if they’re on the internet, or backup your files for safekeeping.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Articulating Screen	There are some positions you would need to shoot from to get the perfect shot but it’ll be difficult to use your viewfinder from.   That’s when these LCD screens become useful. They tilt to different directions, in different degrees, helping you find your view properly when it’s not convenient to use the viewfinder.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
External Flash Shoe	This feature is quite simple. It helps you connect your camera to an on-camera flash for better lighting.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Electronic Viewfinder	Both of these cameras come with electronic viewfinders.   Electronic viewfinders work really well in any lighting situation. Furthermore, they give you a live preview of exactly how your image is going to appear. This gives you the freedom to tweak settings and see how they go.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
RAW Support	Both of these cameras allow you to save images in their RAW format.   RAW images are usually larger than JPEG images because they are untouched and uncompressed. They contain all the information on the images, which gives you a wider room to work with when you’re editing.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Face Detection Focus	This is a very simple feature that is as the name describes. When there’s a face in the frame, your camera detects it and automatically focuses on it.   This is great if you take a lot of portrait photos.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Microphone Port	Getting great audio is as important, if not more important, than getting good video.   To get great audio, you need an external microphone. The microphone port that this camera comes with allows you connect external microphones to these cameras.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Environmental Sealing	When you’re shooting outside, you always need to check the weather. Or do you?   Both of these cameras come with environmental sealing which basically protects them from moisture and dust.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
AE Bracketing	Autoexposure bracketing is an important feature in photography. It makes creating exposure brackets easy as all you have to do is put in the different exposure settings, click the shutter button, and the different images with the different exposure settings will be captured by the camera.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
UHS Memory Card Support	Both of these cameras support the use of UHS memory cards.   Which means that with a UHS memory card, you can transfer and read files in Ultra-High Speed.	Same as the Sony a7RII.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – Common Cons

	Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
No Touchscreen	Neither of these cameras comes with touchscreen capabilities. Touchscreen would have made it a lot easier to navigate through the apps menus and settings.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
No Bluetooth	There are a lot of devices that come with Bluetooth connectivity these days.   If it was available on either of these cameras, it would have made transferring files to those devices easier and faster.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
No Internal Flash	While the internal flash is not a necessity for most, it’s definitely nice to have it.   With an internal flash, you can get the extra lighting you want, while keeping your camera kit as small as possible.	Same as the Sony a7RII.
Only One Storage Slot	Some cameras come with two storage slots, these two cameras come with one each.   Without a second storage slot, there is no storage flexibility.	Same as the Sony a7RII.

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – General Feeling Amongst Users

Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
People who bought this camera were pleasantly surprised at its capabilities. Both for still photos and videos, this camera seemed to be a beast for many people.	Fujifilm is known for its affordable cameras and this camera is no exception. The first reason why many people copped this up is because of the quality it provides in such an affordable package.
For people who shoot still photography, the 48-megapixel full-frame sensor on this camera was its selling point.   Without any lenses, people were able to get really amazing shots with this camera because of the light sensitivity and wide angle of the full-frame sensor.	Many people mention that the 16-megapixel is something you wouldn’t even notice because of the exceptional photos this camera has been taken. The only time you’ll notice a difference is when you exponentially increase the size of the image in form of printing very large prints, or zooming in on the picture.
The only downside that people had when using this camera was the battery life. People who got this camera found the camera dying on them mid-shoot.   Many people had to take as many batteries as they could find with them on a shoot, just so it doesn’t fail.   This is something that is widespread in mirrorless cameras so it doesn’t come as a surprise to us.	People also experienced poor battery life with this camera. If you’re going to get it, you have to invest in getting multiple extra batteries alongside.   Another problem with this camera is that it comes with an APS-C sensor. The width of the frame can easily be remedied using a lens, though.   However, we must not fail to point out that you have more options when it comes to lens for a full-frame sensor than an APS-C sensor.
For videographers, the 4K video made available by this camera was the ultimate. You get the clearest resolution possible, which is what all videographers want.	With RAW image support, people were able to get photos with the best quality, which made it easier to edit these photos however way they wanted to.

Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!

Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 – What Do We Think?

This comparison is quite a tricky one. The Sony a7RII is obviously the better camera with the better features. However, it is also the more expensive camera. For most people, the debate between Sony a7RII Vs Fuji XT1 is not to find out which is better but to find out which one has more economic value.

For us, we think that is the Sony a7RII. To make the Fuji XT1 matchup with the specs of the Sony a7RII, you would need to spend a lot more than their price difference. That does not make a lot of economic sense.

Also, features like “4K video” that comes with the Sony a7RII, cannot be added to the Fuji XT1 with external features or application. However, if you’ve looked through the article above and you feel like the Fuji XT1 has everything you need, you can use the couple of bucks save to buy some other gear.

Sony a7RII	Fuji XT1
Get the Sony a7RII now!	Get the Fuji XT1 now!