A flagship in the truest sense, the Sony Alpha 1 is the one camera designed to do it all. Built without compromise, this full-frame mirrorless offers high-resolution for stills shooting, impressive 8K video recording, speed and sensitivity, and connectivity for the most demanding professional workflows. At its core, the Alpha 1, or a1, is distinguished by a newly designed 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR processing engine. Pairing the efficient stacked sensor design with optimized processing means the a1 is capable of 30 fps continuous shooting at full-resolution, 8K 30p and 4K 120p 10-bit video recording, and still offers versatile sensitivity up to ISO 102400 for low-light shooting. The sensor’s design also includes a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system, which offers advanced subject tracking and Real-time Eye AF on humans and animals, even including a dedicated Bird Mode.
A flagship in the truest sense, the Sony Alpha 1 is the one camera designed to do it all. Built without compromise, this full-frame mirrorless offers high-resolution for stills shooting, impressive 8K video recording, speed and sensitivity, and connectivity for the most demanding professional workflows. At its core, the Alpha 1, or a1, is distinguished by a newly designed 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR processing engine. Pairing the efficient stacked sensor design with optimized processing means the a1 is capable of 30 fps continuous shooting at full-resolution, 8K 30p and 4K 120p 10-bit video recording, and still offers versatile sensitivity up to ISO 102400 for low-light shooting. The sensor’s design also includes a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system, which offers advanced subject tracking and Real-time Eye AF on humans and animals, even including a dedicated Bird Mode.
A flagship in the truest sense, the Sony Alpha 1 is the one camera designed to do it all. Built without compromise, this full-frame mirrorless offers high-resolution for stills shooting, impressive 8K video recording, speed and sensitivity, and connectivity for the most demanding professional workflows. At its core, the Alpha 1, or a1, is distinguished by a newly designed 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR processing engine. Pairing the efficient stacked sensor design with optimized processing means the a1 is capable of 30 fps continuous shooting at full-resolution, 8K 30p and 4K 120p 10-bit video recording, and still offers versatile sensitivity up to ISO 102400 for low-light shooting. The sensor’s design also includes a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system, which offers advanced subject tracking and Real-time Eye AF on humans and animals, even including a dedicated Bird Mode.
A flagship in the truest sense, the Sony Alpha 1 is the one camera designed to do it all. Built without compromise, this full-frame mirrorless offers high-resolution for stills shooting, impressive 8K video recording, speed and sensitivity, and connectivity for the most demanding professional workflows. At its core, the Alpha 1, or a1, is distinguished by a newly designed 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR processing engine. Pairing the efficient stacked sensor design with optimized processing means the a1 is capable of 30 fps continuous shooting at full-resolution, 8K 30p and 4K 120p 10-bit video recording, and still offers versatile sensitivity up to ISO 102400 for low-light shooting. The sensor’s design also includes a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system, which offers advanced subject tracking and Real-time Eye AF on humans and animals, even including a dedicated Bird Mode.
Last updated at 06/08/2026 17:51:50
Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only)
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originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
You have to expect a lot out of a camera that after tax is just about 7,000 usd. As the title suggests, the images out of this camera are the closest to medium format film I have found. Great highlight retention that look a bit more natural than Sony bodies of the past. Still not quite as soft as film nor the very gradual roll off, but pretty good. The menu system is better but still head scratching at times. The frame capture and af having their own dials on the top of the camera is a bit confusing and I still haven't figured out how to fully utilize the custom modes because of said dials.The body feels very well constructed and the shutter is unique in its sound.The A1 hits the sweet spot in the megapixel count. Manageable files for wedding workloads.A few ... MoreYou have to expect a lot out of a camera that after tax is just about 7,000 usd. As the title suggests, the images out of this camera are the closest to medium format film I have found. Great highlight retention that look a bit more natural than Sony bodies of the past. Still not quite as soft as film nor the very gradual roll off, but pretty good. The menu system is better but still head scratching at times. The frame capture and af having their own dials on the top of the camera is a bit confusing and I still haven't figured out how to fully utilize the custom modes because of said dials.The body feels very well constructed and the shutter is unique in its sound.The A1 hits the sweet spot in the megapixel count. Manageable files for wedding workloads.A few complaints:- Like my A7R4, it can take a while after half-pressing the shutter for the camera to be ready to take a photo. I have missed countless moments at weddings because the camera is simply trying to turn on. Even my old 35mm Canon 1V was ready immediately at all times.- The grip that I was using on my RIV does not seem to fit as well.- The custom dial confusion with the opposite side dials on the top of the camera as stated above.Pros-- The evf is very good. Not as good as optical but good. You can actually manually focus vintage lenses that actually have some character. The bigger magnification also aides in composition. Simply because you are seeing a bigger picture.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Been shooting with digital and film slrs since 2009. That includes digital mirrorless.Needless to say this is the best Hybrid photo video camera I've shot with, ever.... so far.My last camera was a Leica SL2-S which was great as well, but video wise was terrible. This pretty much destroys that camera as well as past cameras I've used. I also had an FX6 and the video quality on this is still better than that camera which is insane. For example, if you set the camera at 8k mode and go out to 4k on a Atomos Ninja you still get a stunning clear and detailed image that is a bit better than the FX6. Pushing shadows in video is also cleaner surprisingly, which gives you more useable dynamic range than the sensor from the A7SIII and FX3.The other crazy part is how ... MoreBeen shooting with digital and film slrs since 2009. That includes digital mirrorless.Needless to say this is the best Hybrid photo video camera I've shot with, ever.... so far.My last camera was a Leica SL2-S which was great as well, but video wise was terrible. This pretty much destroys that camera as well as past cameras I've used. I also had an FX6 and the video quality on this is still better than that camera which is insane. For example, if you set the camera at 8k mode and go out to 4k on a Atomos Ninja you still get a stunning clear and detailed image that is a bit better than the FX6. Pushing shadows in video is also cleaner surprisingly, which gives you more useable dynamic range than the sensor from the A7SIII and FX3.The other crazy part is how small and light this camera is. The fact that Sony put all this in this body is really pushing boundaries. The lack of Internal ND's is the biggest issue, but this is a hybrid camera and not focused entirely on video. Also the ND would get in the way of the IBIS. I use a Variable ND schneider filter, but you can also get Tilta's new Mirage Matte Box which is great as well, just bigger for travel. Other video features it lacks is no SDI, or timecode, false color, anamorphic modes, and 3D Lut support. Of course if you get a Atomos Ninja, you fix all that, minus SDI out.Anyway.... highly recommend this camera over all the hybrid cameras including the Canon R3 and Nikon Z9. The Z9 already underperforms in DR using N-Log, not much you can push and pull even when shooting in internal ProRes. The R3 is great, but 4k 120 isn't as good, it's DR for photos is slightly behind when you push and pull the image. DXOmark can say otherwise, but when you test the files the A1 still leads. Also the R3 has a lower megapixel count by half compared to the A1 and is much bigger and heavier. Megapixels isn't everything of course, but the fact that this camera can pretty much do everything the R3 does with a higher performing sensor is a plus.The price is alot, but you are getting possibly the best camera out in 2021 and beginning of 2022.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I shoot sports (specifically dance), portraits, and landscapes and this hits on all three.Dance is incredibly hard to capture the exact millisecond within a leap or a turn. If you can rattle of 30 shots perfectly in focus in a single second you almost can't miss.The resolution is more than sufficient for landscape. The eye-af is much more accurate now as well, with the much upgraded AF system.If you like the higher resolution of the A7r IV but you want the speed of the best DSLRs ever made, you just can't miss with this.With my previous body I was forever waiting for the buffer to clear. Now even if I fill it up and keep shooting I can get 10 FPS while the buffer is full. It clears in 4-5 seconds. No joke it was 30-40 seconds to clear on the old body.The ... MoreI shoot sports (specifically dance), portraits, and landscapes and this hits on all three.Dance is incredibly hard to capture the exact millisecond within a leap or a turn. If you can rattle of 30 shots perfectly in focus in a single second you almost can't miss.The resolution is more than sufficient for landscape. The eye-af is much more accurate now as well, with the much upgraded AF system.If you like the higher resolution of the A7r IV but you want the speed of the best DSLRs ever made, you just can't miss with this.With my previous body I was forever waiting for the buffer to clear. Now even if I fill it up and keep shooting I can get 10 FPS while the buffer is full. It clears in 4-5 seconds. No joke it was 30-40 seconds to clear on the old body.The menus are also a nice upgrade. They are still "Sony logic" but much improved.If you ONLY shoot landscape, I still think you'd be better with the A7r IV.
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Camera Format | Full-Frame (1x Crop Factor) |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 35.9 x 24 mm |
Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only)
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You have to expect a lot out of a camera that after tax is just about 7,000 usd. As the title suggests, the images out of this camera are the closest to medium format film I have found. Great highlight retention that look a bit more natural than Sony bodies of the past. Still not quite as soft as film nor the very gradual roll off, but pretty good. The menu system is better but still head scratching at times. The frame capture and af having their own dials on the top of the camera is a bit confusing and I still haven't figured out how to fully utilize the custom modes because of said dials.The body feels very well constructed and the shutter is unique in its sound.The A1 hits the sweet spot in the megapixel count. Manageable files for wedding workloads.A few ... MoreYou have to expect a lot out of a camera that after tax is just about 7,000 usd. As the title suggests, the images out of this camera are the closest to medium format film I have found. Great highlight retention that look a bit more natural than Sony bodies of the past. Still not quite as soft as film nor the very gradual roll off, but pretty good. The menu system is better but still head scratching at times. The frame capture and af having their own dials on the top of the camera is a bit confusing and I still haven't figured out how to fully utilize the custom modes because of said dials.The body feels very well constructed and the shutter is unique in its sound.The A1 hits the sweet spot in the megapixel count. Manageable files for wedding workloads.A few complaints:- Like my A7R4, it can take a while after half-pressing the shutter for the camera to be ready to take a photo. I have missed countless moments at weddings because the camera is simply trying to turn on. Even my old 35mm Canon 1V was ready immediately at all times.- The grip that I was using on my RIV does not seem to fit as well.- The custom dial confusion with the opposite side dials on the top of the camera as stated above.Pros-- The evf is very good. Not as good as optical but good. You can actually manually focus vintage lenses that actually have some character. The bigger magnification also aides in composition. Simply because you are seeing a bigger picture.
Been shooting with digital and film slrs since 2009. That includes digital mirrorless.Needless to say this is the best Hybrid photo video camera I've shot with, ever.... so far.My last camera was a Leica SL2-S which was great as well, but video wise was terrible. This pretty much destroys that camera as well as past cameras I've used. I also had an FX6 and the video quality on this is still better than that camera which is insane. For example, if you set the camera at 8k mode and go out to 4k on a Atomos Ninja you still get a stunning clear and detailed image that is a bit better than the FX6. Pushing shadows in video is also cleaner surprisingly, which gives you more useable dynamic range than the sensor from the A7SIII and FX3.The other crazy part is how ... MoreBeen shooting with digital and film slrs since 2009. That includes digital mirrorless.Needless to say this is the best Hybrid photo video camera I've shot with, ever.... so far.My last camera was a Leica SL2-S which was great as well, but video wise was terrible. This pretty much destroys that camera as well as past cameras I've used. I also had an FX6 and the video quality on this is still better than that camera which is insane. For example, if you set the camera at 8k mode and go out to 4k on a Atomos Ninja you still get a stunning clear and detailed image that is a bit better than the FX6. Pushing shadows in video is also cleaner surprisingly, which gives you more useable dynamic range than the sensor from the A7SIII and FX3.The other crazy part is how small and light this camera is. The fact that Sony put all this in this body is really pushing boundaries. The lack of Internal ND's is the biggest issue, but this is a hybrid camera and not focused entirely on video. Also the ND would get in the way of the IBIS. I use a Variable ND schneider filter, but you can also get Tilta's new Mirage Matte Box which is great as well, just bigger for travel. Other video features it lacks is no SDI, or timecode, false color, anamorphic modes, and 3D Lut support. Of course if you get a Atomos Ninja, you fix all that, minus SDI out.Anyway.... highly recommend this camera over all the hybrid cameras including the Canon R3 and Nikon Z9. The Z9 already underperforms in DR using N-Log, not much you can push and pull even when shooting in internal ProRes. The R3 is great, but 4k 120 isn't as good, it's DR for photos is slightly behind when you push and pull the image. DXOmark can say otherwise, but when you test the files the A1 still leads. Also the R3 has a lower megapixel count by half compared to the A1 and is much bigger and heavier. Megapixels isn't everything of course, but the fact that this camera can pretty much do everything the R3 does with a higher performing sensor is a plus.The price is alot, but you are getting possibly the best camera out in 2021 and beginning of 2022.
I shoot sports (specifically dance), portraits, and landscapes and this hits on all three.Dance is incredibly hard to capture the exact millisecond within a leap or a turn. If you can rattle of 30 shots perfectly in focus in a single second you almost can't miss.The resolution is more than sufficient for landscape. The eye-af is much more accurate now as well, with the much upgraded AF system.If you like the higher resolution of the A7r IV but you want the speed of the best DSLRs ever made, you just can't miss with this.With my previous body I was forever waiting for the buffer to clear. Now even if I fill it up and keep shooting I can get 10 FPS while the buffer is full. It clears in 4-5 seconds. No joke it was 30-40 seconds to clear on the old body.The ... MoreI shoot sports (specifically dance), portraits, and landscapes and this hits on all three.Dance is incredibly hard to capture the exact millisecond within a leap or a turn. If you can rattle of 30 shots perfectly in focus in a single second you almost can't miss.The resolution is more than sufficient for landscape. The eye-af is much more accurate now as well, with the much upgraded AF system.If you like the higher resolution of the A7r IV but you want the speed of the best DSLRs ever made, you just can't miss with this.With my previous body I was forever waiting for the buffer to clear. Now even if I fill it up and keep shooting I can get 10 FPS while the buffer is full. It clears in 4-5 seconds. No joke it was 30-40 seconds to clear on the old body.The menus are also a nice upgrade. They are still "Sony logic" but much improved.If you ONLY shoot landscape, I still think you'd be better with the A7r IV.
For years and years I've been wanting a camera that ticks all of the boxes (for stills) and I think the A1 is such a camera. Whilst things will inevitably move on I can't honestly see what else I would need from a camera. 50mp is more than enough, and overkill for most applications, nice to have for cropping wildlife photos though. 30fps again is overkill, but it's great to get 20fps with full uncompressed raw.Want a high res EVF with high refresh rate, yep the A1 has it. Want an autofocus system that works like magic and just nails everything, again the A1 has it. Bird eye AF is just insane.Sony colours have continued to improve over the years and the colours from the A1 are very true to life from my experience. I still prefer to use color fidelity profiles ... MoreFor years and years I've been wanting a camera that ticks all of the boxes (for stills) and I think the A1 is such a camera. Whilst things will inevitably move on I can't honestly see what else I would need from a camera. 50mp is more than enough, and overkill for most applications, nice to have for cropping wildlife photos though. 30fps again is overkill, but it's great to get 20fps with full uncompressed raw.Want a high res EVF with high refresh rate, yep the A1 has it. Want an autofocus system that works like magic and just nails everything, again the A1 has it. Bird eye AF is just insane.Sony colours have continued to improve over the years and the colours from the A1 are very true to life from my experience. I still prefer to use color fidelity profiles over the Sony ones in lightroom though.The only negatives is the low res LCD screen, I'm not sure why Sony didn't put something better in such an expensive camera, however this is a very minor point, and I do wish they'd make their cameras a few mm wider just t give that extra room between the grip and lens.
I bought this camera to improve my wildlife photography, especially tracking birds in flight with a FF image that had plenty of pixels (shot at a high rate) to allow for cropping. I have not been disappointed, with the bird eye focus (even in flight) simply amazing. The EVF and touch-screen back are also wonderful, as is the 'new' menu layout (compared to previous models). However, I am patiently waiting for SONY to update the firmware to bring us the Pro Capture feature that some other cameras now boast. With that addition, the SONY a1 would be extraordinary for wildlife/bird photography, but also for sports and any other fast-moving subject matter. Is this camera worth the (premium) price? It is certainly powerful, and I know that good R&D costs big bucks. I am ... MoreI bought this camera to improve my wildlife photography, especially tracking birds in flight with a FF image that had plenty of pixels (shot at a high rate) to allow for cropping. I have not been disappointed, with the bird eye focus (even in flight) simply amazing. The EVF and touch-screen back are also wonderful, as is the 'new' menu layout (compared to previous models). However, I am patiently waiting for SONY to update the firmware to bring us the Pro Capture feature that some other cameras now boast. With that addition, the SONY a1 would be extraordinary for wildlife/bird photography, but also for sports and any other fast-moving subject matter. Is this camera worth the (premium) price? It is certainly powerful, and I know that good R&D costs big bucks. I am hoping that subsequent firmware upgrades will make the price worthwhile over time ...
Simply put, this is the only camera I've ever bought (and I've been buying 'em since the 70's) where I didn't think while unboxing It's so so so great, but I still wish it did [ ].Yes, this search for gear perfection is exacerbated by being a hybrid stills/video shooter. But even if the A1 fulfilled one or the other of those functions it would still be extraordinary.So, doing both so well AND concurrently? It's like sci-fi.Carrying an A7rIV and an A7sIII got old fast so I traded them both in for this bad boy, and even gained valuable functionality beyond both prior bodies.Re stills, the A1's 50 megapixels is IMO the sweet-spot for full frame. The slight DOF decrease plus an increase in diffraction and noise going from 42MP in the A7RIII to the 61MP in the IV ... MoreSimply put, this is the only camera I've ever bought (and I've been buying 'em since the 70's) where I didn't think while unboxing It's so so so great, but I still wish it did [ ].Yes, this search for gear perfection is exacerbated by being a hybrid stills/video shooter. But even if the A1 fulfilled one or the other of those functions it would still be extraordinary.So, doing both so well AND concurrently? It's like sci-fi.Carrying an A7rIV and an A7sIII got old fast so I traded them both in for this bad boy, and even gained valuable functionality beyond both prior bodies.Re stills, the A1's 50 megapixels is IMO the sweet-spot for full frame. The slight DOF decrease plus an increase in diffraction and noise going from 42MP in the A7RIII to the 61MP in the IV made the latter noticeably more challenging to use than the former. The A1's new sensor negates all those issues, and the entire interface is much more responsive.Re video, the A1 shoots 8k and 4k full-frame and APS-C mode. So I can use my Super-35 cine lenses again. S-Cinetone is a luscious-looking profile. The 10-bit S-Log 3 grades beautifully with lots of flexibility in Resolve. And I haven't even gotten into external raw recording or HLG yet.The autofocus is markedly better than in the other bodies, the color science is improved (goodbye slight greenish cast in video; hello lovely skin tones) and the Auto White Balance is far more accurate than before. Although I still shoot like there are only 36 exposures in the camera, the 30fps shooting is insanely useful when you need it.Yes, the price is firmly in Leica Land, but if you think of it as getting two (vastly improved) cameras in one body, the sticker shock isn't that bad.
I've had this camera since its release last April and I must say it has been a disappointment for video recording given its lofty price - you get more from the A7IV for less.Overheating and unexpected shutdowns are problems (8K30 and 4K120). So my A1 is AGAIN in warranty repair for a second time due to unexpected shutdowns after less than 4 minutes of shooting cold. The first repair didn't fix it despite replacing the board. I currently have two Sony A7IV and although 4K60 also overheats after 45 minutes depending on the environment, at least I get warning and it's priced accordingly. However, the A1 at $6500 is simply too much money for a camera that should have more reliable video than THIS.Another negative is that it lacks two features which my A7IV possess: ... MoreI've had this camera since its release last April and I must say it has been a disappointment for video recording given its lofty price - you get more from the A7IV for less.Overheating and unexpected shutdowns are problems (8K30 and 4K120). So my A1 is AGAIN in warranty repair for a second time due to unexpected shutdowns after less than 4 minutes of shooting cold. The first repair didn't fix it despite replacing the board. I currently have two Sony A7IV and although 4K60 also overheats after 45 minutes depending on the environment, at least I get warning and it's priced accordingly. However, the A1 at $6500 is simply too much money for a camera that should have more reliable video than THIS.Another negative is that it lacks two features which my A7IV possess: (1) focus breathing compensation and (2) focus mapping, both of which I use regularly.I've attached the message I get after the camera shuts down unexpectedly (less than 2 minutes of recording), losing all my footage without properly saving to the Sony CFExpress Type A.
As reference, I'm am independent producer and videographer who is currently shooting the Sony A7RIII which I love. I've been waiting a long time for a reasonably priced 8k camera and I really had high hopes for the Sony A1. Sadly I had to return it as it has proven impractical due to rapid overheating when shooting video. For my tests I picked a delightful 77 degree day with low humidity. I found that the camera in 8k mode overheated within 15 minutes of off-and-on shooting, first in the sun, and again in the shade. I repeated the tests with the same results. Each time it overheated, I took the camera inside to an an air-conditioned room to let it cool off. I waited five minutes until the camera would turn on again and repeated my tests outside. I found I could ... MoreAs reference, I'm am independent producer and videographer who is currently shooting the Sony A7RIII which I love. I've been waiting a long time for a reasonably priced 8k camera and I really had high hopes for the Sony A1. Sadly I had to return it as it has proven impractical due to rapid overheating when shooting video. For my tests I picked a delightful 77 degree day with low humidity. I found that the camera in 8k mode overheated within 15 minutes of off-and-on shooting, first in the sun, and again in the shade. I repeated the tests with the same results. Each time it overheated, I took the camera inside to an an air-conditioned room to let it cool off. I waited five minutes until the camera would turn on again and repeated my tests outside. I found I could shoot for about another 5 minutes of off-an-on shooting until it overheated. This suggested to me that even if I were willing to tolerate the initial overheating, I would have to wait much longer than 5 minutes before I could shoot for as long as 15 minutes again. Needless to say, 5-min-on, 5-min-off shooting would be impractical for any kind of professional production work. By the way, I was shooting 8k at the 200 Mb rate, NOT the 400 Mb rate, which would have likely performed even more poorly. What's more, there are plenty of interior locations, like some factories, mills, processing plants, non-air conditioned homes and offices, even hot sets, where temperatures can reach into the high 70s and even higher, making this camera extremely limited.I did additional tests with the flip-out screen flipped out, which some sources report will help the camera run cooler. It extended my shoot time by 5 minutes, from 15 minutes to 20 minutes. Not enough of an improvement to make a difference as far as I'm concerned. What's more when the screen is flipped out, I was unable to view through the EVF which is the only thing I use when shooting in the sun (when I don't want to mess with mounting an external monitor). I realize there are other tricks like running the camera from a remote battery, but I've heard this provides minimal improvement. And the idea of placing the camera in a cooler sounds pretty desperate.By the way, I realize there is a setting that will increase the camera's heat tolerance, but I don't consider this a reasonable option as I understand the camera will then reach very high temperatures, making it too hot to touch. I would also be concerned that this could cause damage to the camera's circuits and sensor in the long term. Since I do a lot of shooting outdoors in warm weather, the A1 is just not a good choice for me.I am shocked by the YouTube reviews where the overheating issue is played down by reviewers who claim they can run 60-minutes straight in 8k. It appears many of these reviewers only tested the camera indoors and if they tested outdoors at all, it was in the spring before temperatures began to rise.One other caveat: I was disappointed to find that the APS C-35 crop and the Clear Image Zoom, two features that are great for shooting tele and macro footage, are not available in 8k mode.A tip: SD XC II cards, like those I use with my Sony A7RIII work fine for 8k at the 200 Mb rate. They will not work if you want to shoot at the 400 Mb rate.If it weren't for the overheating issue I would've given this camera 5 stars, and if shooting video in warm temperatures is not a concern for you, I would still highly recommend it. All the tests I conducted prior to discovering the overheating problem were very impressive. My 8k video was stunning and when I down-scaled to 4k it was much sharper than 4k native - more than I had expected. The same for when I downscaled to HD from 8k.Overheating aside, I must also say I find the $6,500 for this camera to be obscenely overpriced for what you get.
I was convinced that my A7R4 was more than adequate, and no need to spend so much more money for the A1. But I finally succumbed to the temptation of the A1. The higher frame rate when shooting BIF (Birds in Flight) - 30 FPS compared to 10 FPS on the A7R4 filled the time gaps in capturing subtle but important and rapid changes in wing position. But even more remarkable were the rapid and dramatic changes in feather positions and configuration that I had only rarely been able to previously capture. The Bird setting for Eye-AutoFocus provided outstanding results when combined with the 200-600 mm telephoto. The Bird-EyeAF is best with lower angle light to enhance the visualization of the pupil. Keeper rate depends upon distance from bird, angle of lighting, air ... MoreI was convinced that my A7R4 was more than adequate, and no need to spend so much more money for the A1. But I finally succumbed to the temptation of the A1. The higher frame rate when shooting BIF (Birds in Flight) - 30 FPS compared to 10 FPS on the A7R4 filled the time gaps in capturing subtle but important and rapid changes in wing position. But even more remarkable were the rapid and dramatic changes in feather positions and configuration that I had only rarely been able to previously capture. The Bird setting for Eye-AutoFocus provided outstanding results when combined with the 200-600 mm telephoto. The Bird-EyeAF is best with lower angle light to enhance the visualization of the pupil. Keeper rate depends upon distance from bird, angle of lighting, air temperature and heat columns, shutter speeds, ambient lighting, etc. But frequently will yield 90% keepers of flying egrets and great blue herons at distance of 180 - 200 feet with 600 mm zoom and 30 FPS. Results with rented 100-400 mm GM are mind boggling. Blazing fast AF. Will Autofocus at apertures of F22. Noise levels of cropped pictures is better than the A7R4, despite the reduction of pixel density from 61 MP to 50 MP - largely thanks to lower noise level of newer sensor and dual CPUs.Weight of A1 combined with the 200-600 mm telephoto is biggest disadvantage. Total weight is ca. 7 pounds. Heavy weight of lens then requires big tripod and gimbal, adding another 7-9 pounds to the final total kit weight of 15 pounds. Wish SONY would follow lead of Canon and Nikon and Olympus in developing high end lighter weight telephoto lenses.Other notable benefits of the A1:No blackouts while shooting at 30 FPS is terrificImprovements to touch screen monitor allow more intuitive reviewing of images, with touch/sweep to change images, two-finger Zoom In/Out. Customizable buttons provides excellent personalization. e.g. instantaneous changeover from Full Frame to APS-C.Sensor protector shutter does its job. When changing lenses in the field, I had to clean sensor on the A6500 and A7R4 at least monthly. Since using the A1, and after 6 months of moderate usage, I have had to do a simple dusting with a pneumatic bulb only once. I have not had to use a sterile swab to clean the sensor itself.Yes, it is far too expensive, but once I paid for it, I quickly came to appreciate it's many advanced capabilities, and forgot about the price.. CF Express is very pricey, but I Now mostly shooting photos of birds in the local marshes, and never have the buffer lag that was characteristic of previous SONY cameras.Global shutter is wonderful.Silent shooting is truly inaudible.No light bands when shooting with LEDs.If I don't try to review my photos on the monitor, but mainly use battery for focus and shooting (and don't use the Bluetooth remote control) I can shoot more than 1,000 pictures on a single battery when shooting at 10 to 30 FPSNegative things?Weight creep with each new model. But still lighter than competing Nikon Z9No built in Panoramic capture/display.No built-in HDRNo built-in Multi-pixel ultra high resolution display.No PreCapture as on Olympus and Nikon Z9. (Overcomes delayed reaction time when trying to capture take-off of birds, by allowing user to save the few seconds of exposure immediately prior to pressing shutter.)Remote Control SONY Bluetooth P1BT drains battery of camera, and often freezes camera. But I suspect that this is a problem with the remote controller programming, as I had the same problem with the P1BT when used on my A7R4 as well.Needs a much better User Manual.Best camera I have ever owned in 75 years of photography.
If you're a jack-of-all trades freelancer or a perfectionist professional, this is still probably more camera than you need. I'm a filmmaker, videographer, and recovering wedding photographer. My time taking photos during all-day wedding marathons made me crave high resolution photographs and fast auto-focus. This camera has the most impressive autofocus I've ever used (by a long shot). It takes some practice to truly master it, but once you have you'll regularly come away from high stress shooting situations thinking that was too easy.Take some time to make sure you understand which autofocus settings work best in different shooting scenarios, then take a step back and watch this thing go to work. If you're worried about missing a moment while photographing major ... MoreIf you're a jack-of-all trades freelancer or a perfectionist professional, this is still probably more camera than you need. I'm a filmmaker, videographer, and recovering wedding photographer. My time taking photos during all-day wedding marathons made me crave high resolution photographs and fast auto-focus. This camera has the most impressive autofocus I've ever used (by a long shot). It takes some practice to truly master it, but once you have you'll regularly come away from high stress shooting situations thinking that was too easy.Take some time to make sure you understand which autofocus settings work best in different shooting scenarios, then take a step back and watch this thing go to work. If you're worried about missing a moment while photographing major events like a wedding, the 30fps burst will take good care of you (especially for the kiss).For video/film, be prepared to spend more cash as you look to kit this puppy out. Because it is a hybrid, there are a few quirks with the button layout and you'll need to spend time customizing your function menu and shortcut keys. The more time you spend setting yourself up, the sooner the camera will get out of your way. The video/image quality stacks up directly with my FS7m2 and in many cases surpasses it. It's lowlight performance is incredible at 12800 ISO, at which point the noise floor seems to reset (Sony says this camera does not have dual Native ISO's, but...). The A7Siii still beats it in noise performance at most other ISO's, so weigh your options and ask yourself what you *need* before you pick this camera up.I was impressed by the battery life, too. I managed to shoot video in 4k/S&Q for a 3 hour event on two batteries. If you need to keep the camera rolling for a long period of time, consider investing in a different battery solution. When shooting b-roll, you can definitely get away with using it's standard batteries for a few hours.For photography, you probably won't even notice your batteries draining until you start using the 30fps burst mode.I have used the Alpha 1 outdoors in 90 degree heat for about 3 hours while filming in 4k without the EVF blackout issue others have sited, but I'll happily update this review if it's something I experience. I imagine it occurs in more extreme environments, so think about the situations in which you'll need this piece of equipment to perform at its best.Overall, this camera is a monster. If you can afford it, or if it's *just* out of your price range, strongly consider future-proofing your kit and make the investment.
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Camera Format | Full-Frame (1x Crop Factor) |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 35.9 x 24 mm |
