S1 IIvs A1
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
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
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
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 s1 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wedding | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with S1 II
Camera family history