For those who like to stand to the side of their cameras or be able to view what the camera is seeing from the front, you’re out of luck here. The rear screen tilts, but it doesn’t flip out. It’s tough, but not indestructible like a DSLR. Though many of us will never put our cameras through that kind of punishment, just know what the a7R II can handle. Heavy rain, heavy mist or a strong dust or sandstorm will ruin your a7R II. Though it is weather resistant, it’s not weather sealed.

When I held it in one hand and a Canon 60D in the other, they felt about the same. Most of that weight is centered around the sensor, for obvious reasons.

It weighs more than you expect for such a small body. In terms of weight, the camera is really dense. Four custom function buttons and two custom settings allow you to really build out your a7R II to fit exactly what you want to shoot and how you want to shoot it. Sony has designed the camera to be well controlled from buttons and dials found all around the body, rarely asking you to use the menu system to access anything you would need on the fly while shooting. If you do have larger hands, it might still feel small and toy-like, but nothing like the original a7R which was an absolute pain to hold. I don’t have particularly big hands, so it fits really well into my grip. The grip isn’t the absolute best on the market (I’ll leave that with the Nikon D750), but it at least feels robust and sturdy. If you have held the a7 II, you already know what I mean. The Sony a7R II is built extremely well, and feels great in hand. Now, the Sony a7R II is that future, and it’s a brilliant camera that, though not without its flaws, is easily the best overall camera Sony has ever produced. As disappointed as I was in the Sony a7R, the a7S gave me hope that there was much to love about their future. They have come a really long way, and what at first seemed like strange decisions have culminated now into an incredibly well-conceived long term plan. It’s been a long, interesting, often frustrating and ultimately an incredibly rewarding journey watching Sony go from fledgling camera maker to likely the most feared manufacturer today.

Best camera 2015 under 100