Sony A1 II: two-minute overview
Combine a splash of the Sony Alpha A1, a splash of the Sony A9 III, a sprinkling of all-new refinements, give it a stir, and voilà… you’ve got bought acquired the Sony A1 II, Sony’s best-ever Alpha digital digital digicam, and one in every of many biggest hybrid educated cameras out there in the marketplace.
It is not pretty as quick due to the A9 III with its worldwide shutter, limitless flash sync tempo and 120fps burst capturing, nor does it pretty produce the identical highly-detailed footage due to the 61MP A7R V; nevertheless the A1 II is the correct Sony has to supply for problem and tempo in a single digital digital digicam.
That dash of the A1 is analogous full-frame back-illuminated 50MP stacked sensor, powered by Sony’s Bionz XR processor for 30fps burst capturing and 8K video as fairly lots as 30fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth, plus 4K 120fps slow-motion video.
The sprinkling of the A9 III (that upgrades this digital digital digicam over the A1) is a like-for-like design, which suggests a lots larger handgrip with a nicely-angled shutter button, a lots larger 3.2-inch multi-angle touchscreen with greater color depth, extra sensible image stabilization now rated as fairly lots as 8.5EV, Sony’s AI processing chip, plus an additional custom-made button for the likes of an on the spot improve in tempo for burst capturing.
Lastly, the sprinkling of the all-new incorporates a model new ‘Auto’ subject-detection autofocus mode, which suggests you do not need to manually select the subject sort ahead of time, though you proceed to can contained in the occasion you’d considerably. Purchasers may even import custom-made LUT color profiles, together with Sony’s widespread S-Log3 and S-Cinetone color profiles which might be built-in.
The message right correct proper right here is that there’s virtually nothing new contained within the A1 II, which is very unusual for a Sony flagship digital digital digicam, significantly after such a quiet 2024 for the digital digital digicam enormous, with this being the first new full-frame Alpha this yr.
The A1 II combines glorious A1 and A9 III attributes in a single digital digital digicam, nevertheless there’s little right correct proper right here to get keen about. Sony has barely diminished the launch worth as in distinction with the A1 when it was launched virtually fours beforehand, so that’s one problem on the very least. Nonetheless, Sony’s hand has been significantly compelled by cheaper rivals coming onto the scene provided that A1 – the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II, and as in distinction with them it feels overvalued. For example, on the time of writing you’re going to get two Z8’s on sale for the same worth as one A1 II.
Lastly, Sony has created a elegant enhance over the first-gen model that’s extra additional liable to please professionals who depend on their gear day-to-day in sturdy circumstances. It’s presumably not an thrilling enhance, nevertheless the Sony A1 II is up there with the very biggest cameras we’ve got examined.
Sony A1 II: worth and launch date
- Physique-only worth is $6,500 / £6,300 / AU$10,989
- Obtainable since late November
- New BC-ZD1 charger and VG-C5 grip (purchased individually)
The Sony A1 II went on sale from late November 2024 with an inventory worth of $6,500 / £6,300 / AU$10,989. Which can be a fraction lower than the launch worth of the A1 from all one of the best method as quickly as additional in 2021. In a single sense that’s commendable on Sony’s half, nevertheless nevertheless the market has modified, and the A1 sequence has now has achieved rivals that provide possibly 90% of the all-round bundle nevertheless worth tons fairly lots lots a lot much less. Sony wished to be aggressive with its pricing, and it has been to an extent, nevertheless the Nikon Z9 considerably seems to be like very low-cost by comparability and the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II are cheaper nonetheless.
Sony A1 II: specs
| Sensor: | Full-frame, 50MP stacked CMOS |
| Video: | 8K 30p / 4K 120p |
| Cont. capturing | 30fps for as fairly lots as 153 raw photographs |
| Viewfinder: | 9.44m-dot EVF |
| LCD: | 3.2-inch mulit-angle touchscreen 2.1m-dots |
| Battery: | 520 photographs |
| Weight: | 24.7oz / 700g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions: | 136.1 x 96.9 x 82.9mm |
Sony A1 II: design and coping with
- Comparable design due to the A9 III
- Wise administration growth with helpful shortcuts to recurrently used selections
- New devoted mic for voice memos
Via change from the A1, you get a lots larger 3.2-inch multi-angle touchscreen, with the dual hinge enabling prospects to tilt and angle the current present for simple viewing at extreme or low angles whether or not or not or not or not they’re capturing vertical or horizontal. That dual-hinge design moreover enables you to pull the current present extra away from the physique and its chunky viewfinder eye-piece, which can in a single different case partially hinder the current present (the A1 II comes with two eye-pieces, one amongst which has a lots larger cup).
Whereas we’re on the viewfinder, it is as rapidly as extra a 9.44m-dot OLED present which is nonetheless to be bettered, nonetheless this time the refresh worth is doubled from 60fps to 120fps for a smoother experience, or smoother maxi um 240fps refresh worth, albeit the choice of the present drops.
The A1 II’s handgrip is extra rounded and all-round chunkier, and I actually really actually really feel need it slots into the hand greater than the grip on the A1, though they’re comparable in depth. There are little refinements too, such due to the shutter button being angled barely in some other case and simpler to press.
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As on the A9 III, there’s an additional custom-made button on the doorway of the A1 II, which is factory-set to behave as a tempo improve for regular burst capturing. The idea is that you don’t on a regular basis have to be capturing on almost certainly most likely probably the most physique worth, which on this case is 30fps, nevertheless it is doable you may immediately need that tempo, and the button enables you to tick over at a lower physique worth and get an on the spot injection of extra frames whilst you need it.
One attribute that caught my eye inside the actual A1, and has as rapidly as extra right correct proper right here, is the max flash sync tempo of 1/400 sec. That beats the Nikon Z9 as an example, making the A1 II an additional versatile digital digital digicam for flash images, significantly contained in the occasion you want using a large aperture. Nonetheless, Sony’s private A9 III is extra versatile nonetheless, with what’s successfully has an infinite flash sync tempo.
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The A1 II will even be an considerably rugged weatherproof digital digital digicam, with appropriately designed rigid doorways on the connection ports that hold out of one of the best method when the ports are in use, whereas the dual memory card door incorporates a push lock and is a larger design than Nikon’s, which can merely be knocked open.
Strive our A9 III overview to be taught extra relating to the A1 II’s design – the two cameras share virtually the identical design.
Sony A1 II : selections and effectivity
- Improved image stabilization, as fairly lots as 8.5EV
- Comparable 759-point AF array, now with AI processing unit for subject detection
- 30fps burst capturing for as fairly lots as 153 raw photographs, now with pre-capture
Sony has delivered one notable {{{{hardware}}}} enchancment over the A1, together with an AI processing unit that was debuted contained within the A7R V. This might ship greater subject-detection autofocus for image and video as in distinction with the A1, though we’ve got not examined the A1 II throughout the course of the A1, every of which share the identical 759 AF stage array, to see merely how a substantial amount of a distinction it makes.
Having used Sony’s earlier educated Alphas, I was most wanting to strive the model new Auto subject-detection autofocus mode. Pissed off by what actually really actually really feel to me like unnecessarily superior subject detection picks that it is best to manually select ahead of time – folks, birds, animals, automotive, bugs, planes, trains and so forth, I’ve often usually known as on producers in order so as in order so as to add an auto mode that simplifies the experience. Cue the A1 II and its new mode.
As in distinction with the devoted subject detections modes which might be nonetheless out there in the marketplace, there’s little or no to resolve on between the effectivity of the model new Auto mode. The Auto probability carried out equally accurately for me when capturing portraits of people, locking reliably onto my subject’s eyes, and thru a soccer recreation capturing the fast-paced skilled avid gamers in movement. That talked about, I’ve in no way conjured up a state of affairs significantly for the sake of testing potential weaknesses the Auto mode might have.
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Sony moreover says the next-gen autofocus is able to acknowledge the top and physique of individuals / animals, and that its effectivity is 30% extra sensible than the A1’s for detecting human and animal eyes, whereas the digital digital digicam’s autofocus can operate successfully in low gentle right correct proper all the way down to -4EV. Until not too way back contained in the occasion you’d requested me the correct autofocus system out there in the marketplace I might say Sony with out hesitation, nevertheless Canon‘s latest efforts contained within the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II are mightily spectacular too, significantly the model new sports activities actions actions actions priority modes. I couldn’t inform you which ones is greatest now with out working a direct comparability.
One utterly totally different similarity between this digital digital digicam and its predecessor is that every can shoot at a burst worth of as fairly lots as 30fps for a similar measurement of time forward of slowing down – a bit little little bit of over 150 raw frames or close to 180 JPEGs. For such occasions, that speed-boost button is infinitely helpful for enhancing effectivity and workflow by enabling you to adapt your capturing worth.
The A1 II moreover will get a helpful pre-capture attribute. Pre-capture is nothing new, although Sony was late to the celebration, solely introducing it to an Alpha digital digital digicam with the A9 III. Put merely, pre-capture can buffer as fairly lots as one second’s worth of photographs – on this case 30 footage – forward of you absolutely press the shutter button to start out out capturing a high-speed sequence. That one second of grace while you’re sluggish to react may presumably be the excellence between capturing the second and missing it utterly.
- Alternatives and effectivity score: 4.5/5
Sony A1 II: image and video nice high quality
- 50MP stills and 8K/30p video
- 4:2:2 10-bit color depth and Sony’s S-Log3, S-Cinetone, plus LUT imports
- Pixel Shift and Noise Low worth capturing modes
Sony’s 50MP full-frame stacked sensor is a confirmed performer, delivering sharp stills with as fairly lots as 15EV of dynamic differ. The A7R V’s 61MP sensor will get you marginally greater problem, nevertheless the A1 II is a tons sooner performer. Furthermore, in-body image stabilization is improved over the A1, and chances are high excessive you’ll usually get barely sharper end outcomes when capturing handheld, counting on the digital digital digicam’s shutter tempo and the easiest way via which frequent your hand is.
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Versus the 24MP Sony A9 III for sports activities actions actions actions, I really appreciated the higher willpower 50MP sensor which provides you additional scope for cropping into photographs, and which permits a 21MP APS-C mode – with which you successfully lengthen the focal measurement of your lens by 1.5x. The soccer footage beneath have been taken from considerable distance with a 400mm lens, nevertheless I’m going to crop in and physique exactly how a 600mm lens may look.
As quickly as as rapidly as extra Sony’s Pixel Shift Multi Taking footage mode selections, combining as fairly lots as 16 photographs for one greater 199MP composite image. It is not as environment nice as Canon’s new in-camera AI upscaling attribute contained within the EOS R1 / EOS R5 Mark II, significantly if there’s any movement in your shot. Nonetheless, in circumstances harking back to nonetheless lifes contained within the studio it’s going to improve problem by as fairly lots as 400%. Sony has moreover added a model new Noise Low worth capturing mode that, like Pixel Shift, combines loads of photographs nevertheless on this case for a cleaner image, significantly in low gentle.
Outright image nice high quality is, in impression, the comparable as from the A1, which is an environment nice topic, with clear photographs as fairly lots as ISO 12,800 from the A1 II’s ISO 100-32,000 differ. The virtually four-year-old sensor has stood the verify of time. The place we really see enhancements in image nice high quality is contained within the optimistic impression of improved image stabilization for handheld photographs and far more reliable subject-detection autofocus for capturing animals, cars, people, and so forth.
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As for video nice high quality, as rapidly as extra it’s largely as you’ve got bought gotten been from 2021’s A1: 8K as fairly lots as 30fps, 4K 60fps in 4:2:2 10-bit from the full-width of the sensor, or 4K as fairly lots as 120fps with a slight crop. Fortuitously, the A1 was ahead of its time and the A1 II nonetheless holds up as we discuss, plus it throws in some new selections harking back to 1/48sec and 1/96sec physique prices for true 180-degree shutter angle at widespread cinematic physique prices. It moreover brings LUT imports (with help for monitor LUT present), plus AI-based Auto Framing à la ZV-E1.
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- Image and video nice high quality score: 4.5/5
Sony A1 II: testing scorecard
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Cheaper than predecessor, nevertheless new rivals are tons cheaper. | 3/5 |
| Design | Sony’s best-ever mirrorless digital digital digicam design, borrowed from the A9 III. | 5/5 |
| Effectivity | Tempo and nice high quality, with improved autofocus and movie stabilization. | 4.5/5 |
| Image and video nice high quality | Exhibits merely how ahead of the events the Sony A1 was – with tons the identical nice high quality three years later the A1 II nonetheless holds its private. | 4.5/5 |
Should I buy the Sony A1 II?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Sony A1 II: moreover take into accounts
The Nikon Z9 should be the A1 II’s rival, nevertheless the smaller and cheaper-still Z8 has an comparable sort concern to the A1 II and numerous comparable selections, on the very least on paper. The two full-frame mirrorless cameras shoot high-resolution stills at 45MP (Z8) to 50MP (A1 II), 8K video, and every deal with pretty correctly. Each digital digital digicam has minor advantages over the alternative, nevertheless presumably almost certainly most likely probably the most inserting distinction of all is worth – chances are high excessive you’ll resolve up two Nikon Z8s for the value of 1 Sony A1 II.
Look at our in-depth Nikon Z8 overview
For tempo and nice high quality, Canon affords the EOS R5 Mark II, TechRadar’s Digital digital digicam of the yr 2024 winner. It was an infinite enhance of the EOS R5, together with extreme vitality beneath the hood to the 45MP stills and 8K video experience. A newly-designed stacked sensor and second processor improved tempo, whereas new autofocus experience – along with sports activities actions actions actions priority modes – are a match if not greater than Sony. Canon’s all-in-one full-framer is cheaper than the A1 II too, although Nikon’s Z8 is cheaper nonetheless. Full, the model new Canon model may presumably be presumably almost certainly most likely probably the most compelling of the three. Professionals are spoilt for diverse!
Look at our in-depth Canon EOS R5 Mark II overview
How I examined the Sony A1 II
- I examined a full-production model with closing firmware, over two single week intervals
- Used with loads of lenses, along with the FE 28-70mm F2 GM lens and 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
- I used it with Sony’s Creator Cloud app
I examined a closing firmware mannequin of the Sony A1 II ahead of launch, together with the model new Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM lens, for per week. I consequently used it after launch for sports activities actions actions actions images. The A1 II’s raw recordsdata weren’t readable in modifying software program program program program on the time of testing.
I’ve been capturing with a CFexpress Sort A card to get the very best effectivity from the digital digital digicam, and recorded burst sequences at TechRadar’s customary digital digital digicam testing settings: 1/250 sec, ISO 200, and customary AF.
Sony’s Creator Cloud app works with the A1 II, and I used the app to remotely shoot photographs with the digital digital digicam and add photographs too. I shot portraits of individuals and animals with the fairly just a few subject-detection autofocus modes.
I’ve moreover examined the A1 II for skilled sports activities actions actions actions, and in varied native local weather circumstances and numerous events of day / night time time.
First reviewed November 2024