HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)vs A1 II
Ilford
HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
Starting from £10 new
Best for Street photography, documentary & low-light B&W
View HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
VS
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street Photography, Documentary & Low-Light B&W — HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp): The definitive black-and-white film. Versatile, beautiful, and made in Britain. If you only shoot one B&W stock, make it HP5 Plus.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The hp5 plus 400 (36 exp) is the most affordable; only the a1 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £10 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 35mm black & white negative — ISO 400 (pushable to ISO 3200+) | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 50.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film stock | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | N/A — film stock | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film stock | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~30g per roll | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 35mm 135-format cartridge, 36 exposures | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | N/A | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | ISO 400 — push-processable to ISO 3200+ with Ilford DD-X or Microphen | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp) | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with HP5 Plus 400 (36 exp)
Camera family history