Let’s face it, us photographers will never be happy, but we can strive to be content again every few years when we become tired of our current gear and trade up, sideways or even down to another suite of camera gear.

It goes without saying that I’ve been susceptible to the alure of new gear throughout my entire photographic existence. First the Canon 50D, then the 5D Mark II, the Leica M 240, numerous beautiful film cameras, then finally the Fujifilm X-Pro3, which I held onto for a respectable three years.

But I had to sell it. It wasn’t enough! I want more, and I know I shouldn’t. Anakin Skywalker, you have my sympathies.

I want more megapixels and more image stabilisation (read: any). I want more K’s and more bits in my video file, anything with higher numbers. I lust for power…

Okay, this is getting silly. I should get to the point.

My trek along the Tasmanian Overland Track was looming and I felt that I would be a little disappointed to be limiting the potential of my image files in such an incredible alpine area, so I traded out my entire Fujifilm X-Pro3 kit for the Sony a7CR full-frame high-resolution camera and a Sony 40mm F2.5 G lens.

Likely thanks in part to James Popsys and his revealing to me the existence of the sharp and compact Sony 40mm f/2.5 G prime lens as my gateway lens to high resolution goodness. The a7CR and a compact prime was the perfect size and weight to carry with a 16kg backpack for 7-8 days.

The truth is that I had been eyeing off the Sony a7C series for some time, but it never presented a good enough improvement over the Fujifilm setup I already had. With the recent discovery that the a7CR had been birthed from the minds of those responsible for limitless camera menus, the dominos began to fall.

Was this the camera I had always been waiting for? Yeah, I think so.

60 pixel-perfect megapixels for the taking, 7-stop IBIS… Heck, even 4K HDR video capability, all in a compact package. What is life!

Paddy’s Nut & Mount Pelion West on the Tasmanian Overland Track. Sony a7CR with Sony 40mm F2.5 G lens.

The real test was 8 days in the Tasmanian wilderness with nothing but a tiny Sirui Traveler 5C Carbon Fibre tripod, the ultra-light photography tripod I had been wanting to find for a long time. I didn’t use it all that often, but when I needed it, it was up to the task.

Similar to the Leica M series, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 and X100 series, the a7CR’s form factor is that of a rangefinder-style left-eye placement. This is my favourite camera design. It’s often more compact, is more comfortable with your eye and nose and something less talked about, it sits against your stomach without the eye-piece jutting into you, which is especially nice for long hikes.

The Sony a7CR was impressive to say the least. My initial battery life scepticism was moot when they kept giving the juice for days of moderate photography. I didn’t need the third one I bought, although I did charge up the camera once or twice.

The image resolution and dynamic range is amazing with 60mp raw files that zoom in for days, perfect for huge prints, and have headroom and shadow detail for even the most dim lurking cave trolls to reappear in.

The 7-stop IBIS (in-body image stabilisation) blew my socks off. Without my tripod at the time, I shot this waterfall photograph below handheld at ISO 100 at F/10 for 0.4 seconds and it is tack-sharp.

The EVF display and the external monitor are not amazing, being lower resolution, but it’s something you quickly disregard after shooting images. I wear glasses 24/7 and I have no issues looking into the EVF’s small window. You'll be fine.

The small but chunky design and grip fits in my hand quite nicely and the shutter has a nice clonk to it that is satisfying. I had nothing but a good experience with it in my short time with the Sony a7CR, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who loves the design of rangefinder style cameras who is A) not a millionaire and can’t afford a Leica M10R or M11, and B) wants the high resolution and the video capabilities of a full-frame Sony alpha camera without breaking the bank too much.

Go on and run to the camera store and regret your decisions in another life.

The Sony a7CR specifications can be found here at DP Review.

The Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G lens specifications can be found here at DP Review.