With all the excellent comments you have received to your question, I add a few additional ones with some hesitation. However, here are a couple of thoughts which may be helpful.

As to the RX100vii: I’ve used an RX100vi as a supplement camera on trips to Iceland and Alaska, and found it to be fine as essentially a high-quality point and shoot. Very portable and convenient. My main concern is the difficulty in easily adjusting shutter speed/aperture/ISO and focus mode. In Auto, it handles nicely and produces good results. I haven’t made prints beyond 4x6, so can’t comment on image quality.

As to the A7Rii: I’ve used it part of the time in Iceland and as primary camera in Alaska. The ease of making all adjustments is its primary appeal to me (especially manual with auto ISO), enough to offset additional weight and bulk. In Iceland I used Sony’s 16-70mm crop sensor lens (24-105mm equivalent) and found that to be a very comfortable size which covered most, though not all, situations. A longer lens would have been helpful at times.

In Alaska I used the A7Rii with Sony’s full-frame 24-105mm and 70-300mm lenses. While well suited to my needs, I found changing lenses quickly to be rather difficult, especially in a non-photo group tour. Results were good, but I’m not sure I’d go with that bulk and inconvenience again.

If you don’t expect to need longer focal length, taking your A7Rii and renting the 24-105 as your principal or only lens might well meet your needs. (My hunch is that the 60mm max on your current lens might be a little short. I’ve not used any lens wider than 24mm, so can’t comment on what taking your 16-35mm would add.)

Hope these musings are of some help in your decision. Most of all, enjoy the experience and don’t get overly involved in the photography!

Love your humor and your photo, Grandpaw!

As Fotoartist said, brains and beauty are a great combination. dhroberts' brains behind his photographic skills have certainly confirmed Emilie's beauty in the equation.

And a variation on John Frim's theme: I'd love to hear and see Emilie perform J.S. Bach's "Air" in a g-string!

Based on my recent trip to Paris, I would second Repleo's suggestion of the Sony 18-135 lens (27-200 FF equiv). As you are, I was concerned about weight and size of photo gear. I ended up taking my Sony A6500 and that lens on a small group (18 people) one week tour of Paris in May, and found the combination quite useful. I did take the 16-55 lens as well, but never used it.

Given that this was not a group of photographers, I had little opportunity to carefully compose and study exposure settings. Most of my shooting was in auto mode. The lens had more than adequate reach, and only in a handful of locations would I have preferred a little wider range, or a larger aperture. I find a manual zoom control more to my liking, so that worked out well on the 18-135.

Sunnely noted most of the key sights to see in Paris. (I would particularly encourage a visit to the Musee D'Orsay, which is close to the Louvre.) Also, take time to just wander some streets to take in Parisian life, AND enjoy the view from some of the many sidewalk cafes.

Have a wonderful trip! You will enjoy all your destinations, I'm sure.

Hi Bob,

Book arrived yesterday. Thanks for sending. It should be quite helpful -- has already answered a couple of nit-picky questions.

Take care.

Richard

Bob,

Thanks for update and shipping book. Am looking forward to using it with the A7.

Best,
Richard

Hi Bob,

Thought I had noted in one of my messages, but don't see it now, that Yes, I'd appreciate your sending Brian's book. The book will make figuring out the details of using the A7 much easier.

I included an additional $20 in the check to cover cost of the book and shipping.

Richard

My goodness! Thanks for all the info, Bob. You were most kind to include the whole TOC for Brian Smith's book.

Sounds like the video should answer the battery door question. And looks like the book would be a worthwhile investment as a good reference for all aspects of the camera's operation. I'll see if there's one for the NEX 7 as well.

Will let you know how the outing goes tomorrow.

Richard

Hi Bob,

Thanks for updates - the A7 just arrived. Looks to be in excellent condition. I'll get out tomorrow and do a little shooting with it to check it out.

One question: is there a separate battery cover so the A7 body can be used without the battery pack?

Also, do these have operating manuals any more, or is it all on line?

Thanks much.

Richard

Bob,
Thanks for update. Looking forward to receiving it. Will let you know when it arrives.
Richard

Excellent. Am looking forward to it.
Thanks for good service.

Richard

Hi Bob,

A very fair proposal. Works for me, though would a US Post Office money order be acceptable? Just easier than a certified check. If you prefer latter, that's fine.

My address is:

Richard P. Horn
707 Virginia Ave. Ext.
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Shipping for delivery by next Friday, April 1, would be appreciated. If there's an additional charge over your normal shipment mode, I'll certainly pay the difference.

Thanks. Am looking forward to seeing what the A7 will do.

Best,
Richard

Bob,

With your assurances that the A7 operates properly in all functions and is in good physical condition, eg, level 9, I'd be interested in doing the purchase today, at your price of $650 including shipping.

I've not done purchases on UHH before (but have done EBay), so let me know what the procedures are if you'd like to proceed. Feel free to call if that helps.

Richard

Dear Golfer Bob,

If your Sony A7 is still for sale, I'd be interested in talking about it. Am looking for one to try using with a couple of Leica R mount lenses, without investing too much in case that doesn't work well.

Please reply here or call me at 412-370-4836.

Richard Horn, Pittsburgh, PA