By technical editor Matt Allard:
The biggest difference between the A7 and A7 II was the addition of sensor stabilisation in the camera body. This works both in still and in video mode. When using Sony’s own image stabilised FE and E-mount lenses the lens handles yaw and pitch stabilisation, while the camera handles X, Y and roll axis stabilisation (except in the case of the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS, E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS, E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE, E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS which use solely in-camera stabilisation).
The Sony A7 Mark II offers five-axis stabilisation by the sensor when using almost all Sony lenses without built-in stabilisation. There are four exceptions – the A-mount 16mm f2.8 fisheye, 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2.8 and 500mm f8 AF mirror lens when used with a Sony A-mount to E-mount adapter only offer three axis stabilisation.
Despite the new stabilisation system, Some A7 II users were left feeling underwhelmed by the stabilisation performance when shooting video. Sony seem to have been listening and have released firmware version 1.10 that offers enhancements to the image stabilisation system.
It will be interesting to see what difference the new firmware makes to the image stabilising performance especially when shooting video.
