Z5vs A1
VS
Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
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 z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Z5
Camera family history