X-E4vs A1
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Compact Street & Travel Photography — X-E4 (2021): The X-E4 is for photographers who want the minimum camera that still delivers maximum image quality. If you love shooting from the rear screen and want the smallest possible X-mount body, this is your camera. If you need a viewfinder or IBIS, look at the X-S20 or X-T30 II.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
X-E4 (2021)
- Street photographers who prioritise portability and discretion
- Travel photographers packing minimally
- Fujifilm fans who shoot primarily from the rear screen
- Anyone who wants the X-Trans sensor in the smallest possible body
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the x-e4 is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-E4 (2021) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS IV | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 26.1MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/240p slow-motion, F-Log | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 425 points, face/Eye detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 8fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~460 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 364g (body only) | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 121.3 × 72.9 × 32.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only (EVF accessory available) | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-E4 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with X-E4
Camera family history