A quick detour before we proceed to the magnets: we pluck the a7R II's 42.4 MP image sensor from the stabilization system.

With the CMOS sensor in the wild, we get a clearer view of what's been touted as the world's first back-illuminated 35 mm full-frame sensor.

According to Sony, the photodiodes on this new sensor are much closer to the on-chip lens than in previous designs, allowing it to collect light more efficiently.

The square hole in the sensor's PCB also hints at a tricky assembly process—it's likely a cutout used to accommodate the vacuum nozzle that holds the sensor during assembly, as evidenced by the small patch of scratches at the center of the cutout. A peek with the X-ray reveals the array of solder balls that sandwiches the whole thing together when it's done.