Sony A1 review: Unrivalled ability and an eye-watering cost

The Sony A1 is a breakthrough full-frame mirrorless digital camera that represents Sony’s images know-how at its most interesting. The Sony A1, which was first obtainable in early 2021, pushes the boundaries of what’s potential in an expert digital camera by offering an unbelievable mixture of velocity, decision, and flexibility. It is geared toward skilled photographers and videographers who need the very best in the case of picture high quality and efficiency.

Key specs

Kind: Mirrorless
Sensor: 50.1MP full body
Lens mount: E mount
ISO vary: 100-32000, expandable to 50-102,400
Viewfinder: 9.44 million-dot OLED EVF
Video functionality: 8k 30fps, 4k 120fps
Weight: 1.63 lbs (737g)
Dimension: 5.07″ x 3.81″ x 3.18″ / 128.9mm x 96.9mm x 80.8mm
Reminiscence card kind: 2 x CFexpress Kind A / SD playing cards

The A1 boasts a newly developed 50.1-megapixel Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor, a robust BIONZ XR picture processor and a powerful native ISO vary of 100-32,000, expandable as much as an unbelievable ISO 50-102,400, creating the proper recipe for photographs with astonishing element, low noise, and a large dynamic vary.

It options Sony’s famend Actual-time Eye AF and Actual-time Monitoring applied sciences, which give unequalled topic detection and monitoring capabilities (though Canon are scorching on their heels). The A1’s 759 phase-detection AF factors permit it to deal with even probably the most troublesome objects, equivalent to fast-moving motion, animals or topics with advanced backgrounds. Not solely that, however its high-resolution viewfinder, 8K video capabilities and intuitive controls make for a really pleasing capturing expertise — the one factor it will possibly’t do is order you a espresso.

To deal with the elephant within the room — the Sony A1 is astronomically costly. At present, it is retailing for just below $6500 new, which instantly costs it out of attain for many photographers (besides professionals who generate profits from images, or amateurs with more cash than sense). So why is it so costly? We have put the A1 to the check to see if it truly is well worth the monumental price ticket.

Sony A1 being used by our reviewer.

The Sony A1 is snug to carry even for longer durations (and with an enormous lens). (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

Sony A1: Design

The front of the Sony A1 laid on a wooden floor

The Sony A1 boasts a 50.1MP full body sensor with unbelievable element. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

The design of the Sony A1 is completely curated to fulfill the wants {of professional} photographers and videographers with its smooth controls, sturdy construct and high-quality options. After I was testing the A1 I totally liked each second of capturing with it — it felt like an extension of my very own arm and it was extremely snug to carry even for longer durations (and with a really hefty lens hooked up to it).

The A1 has a really well-thought-out design when it comes to button accessibility and total ease of use. It has a complete of 12 customizable buttons on the physique, and as soon as I might set them to my preferences, I not often had to enter the primary menu. Sony are identified for his or her complicated menu methods, however admittedly, the menu on the A1 is leaps and bounds higher than a few of the older fashions.

Collage of four photos showing the details on the Sony A1

All of the controls on the Sony A1 are simply accessible and there are a complete of 12 customizable buttons. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

The Digital View Finder (EVF) can be extremely spectacular, with 9.44 million dots offering a quick refresh price and minimal lag, and I typically most well-liked utilizing this to the LCD display screen. This brings me to my one criticism with the design of the A1. It could appear to be a foolish, insignificant factor, however stick with me right here — why might Sony not have included a totally articulating LCD display screen on a $6500 digital camera? The motion of the display screen may be very restricted, whereas the display screen on the A7R V, for instance, all however comes out and hits you within the face, so it appears they’ve considered the whole lot else with this digital camera however omitted one thing so easy that actually might’ve opened the A1 as much as the world of vlogging and content material creation. A completely articulating display screen would additionally make capturing at decrease angles loads simpler, too.

Image of the back of the Sony A1, showing the tilt screen

Our one gripe — the tilt-only display screen was somewhat disappointing for such an costly digital camera. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

Sony A1: Performance

One of many standout options of the Sony A1 is its superior autofocus system, which locks onto individuals, animals and autos and tracks them all through the body effortlessly. Sony have constructed a popularity for his or her industry-leading AF, so it does make you surprise how the A1’s autofocus is totally different to their different fashions to warrant such a excessive price ticket.

The auto-focus system on the Sony A1 advantages from up to date algorithms, extra phase-detection AF factors, and higher subject-detection capabilities when in comparison with earlier Sony digital camera fashions. These developments assist the autofocus to perform faster and extra precisely, enabling photographers to seize sharp, well-focused photographs in quite a lot of capturing conditions.

Image of a puffin shot with the Sony A1

When capturing wildlife, the Sony A1 did not miss a shot and produces unbelievable element even when closely cropped. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

After I took the A1 to Skomer to do some wildlife capturing, the autofocus was not like every other that I’ve examined, and in good mild, it simply didn’t miss. It could be an unbelievable digital camera for a complete array of various photographic kinds, from wildlife to portraits, weddings, motion and sports activities images. It is actually earned a spot on our greatest wildlife images cameras listing.

The Sony A1 additionally has 5-axis in-body picture stabilization, compensating for digital camera shake and permitting for handheld capturing at slower shutter speeds. This function is especially helpful in low-light conditions or when utilizing telephoto lenses, producing sharper photographs and smoother movies.

Sony A1: Efficiency

The efficiency of the Sony A1 is nothing wanting distinctive. It is an absolute powerhouse that’s able to just about something you throw at it.

It has a outstanding burst price of as much as 30fps (though there’s a minimal variety of circumstances the place this could truly be helpful), with none blackout within the digital viewfinder. Although once I did shoot at sooner burst charges I did discover that the buffer stuffed up fairly shortly and took its time clearing, so that you’d have to put money into sooner playing cards with the intention to fight this.

Video efficiency is equally spectacular, with the Sony A1 supporting 8K recording at 30fps and 4K recording at as much as 120fps. Nevertheless, it will possibly typically overheat after longer durations of recording, significantly when capturing exterior on a scorching day. The 8K video additionally zaps the battery life faster, so be sure you deliver spares with you. That stated, for normal picture capturing, I discovered the battery life to be fairly good and there was by no means an occasion the place I ran out of cost on a single battery.

Set of images from a maternity shoot using the Sony A1

The Sony A1 would make a superb digital camera for portrait or marriage ceremony photographers. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

The one time the autofocus struggled to detect a topic was once they had been distant from the body — on this case, my mannequin stood additional out beneath a tree, and the digital camera typically acquired confused when the branches began swaying and it could not at all times discover her face. Although when the topic is nearer to the digital camera, the autofocus may be very dependable.

Do you have to purchase the Sony A1?

Should you’re an expert photographer or videographer wanting the best possible of the very best in your digital camera bag, and have the finances to accommodate that, then you definitely can’t go improper with the Sony A1, and it is a digital camera you may have for years to return. It beats the competitors in just about each division (aside from affordability).

If, nevertheless, you are something aside from an expert, it is doubtless that this digital camera could be overkill and you would be higher off shopping for one thing at a lower cost vary with specs which are nonetheless spectacular, however not as showy because the A1.

Sony are consistently increasing their lens lineup, and it is improved vastly from what it was a 12 months in the past, nevertheless, there may be little or no on provide from third-party producers. That stated, should you’re spending $6500 on this digital camera, you are most unlikely to be placing an affordable third-party lens on it anyway.

Set of images showing detail shots of the Sony A1

The Sony A1 options two card slots and the NP-FP100 battery. (Picture credit score: Kimberley Lane)

If this is not for you

The Sony A1 is not for everybody, so should you’re wanting to stay with Sony however maybe go for one thing extra reasonably priced, we would suggest the Sony A7iii as possibility. Though it is a couple of years outdated now, it is nonetheless favored amongst many photographers and is taken into account to be a little bit of a cult favourite. It incorporates a 24.2-megapixel sensor, a powerful autofocus system, 5-axis picture stabilization and 4K video recording.

The Canon EOS R5 is a powerful competitor to the Sony A1 — though the Canon has a barely decrease decision (although not noticeably), and a slower body price, so the Sony nonetheless wins if you are going to be capturing quick motion.

Should you’re not bothered about video, you may try the Nikon Z7 II. It has a forty five.7-megapixel sensor, is robustly constructed, has a sophisticated autofocus system, a high-resolution digital viewfinder and dependable in-body picture stabilization. However once more, Sony nonetheless wins on burst price.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.