OM System OM-1 Mark IIvs A1
OM System
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Wildlife, birds & outdoor sports
View OM System OM-1 Mark II
VS
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Birds & Outdoor Sports — OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024): OM System's most capable camera — 120fps AF burst, AI subject detection, and IP53 weather sealing make it the best-value pro wildlife camera.
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
OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024)
- Wildlife and bird photographers who need the best subject tracking in MFT
- Sports photographers who want weather sealing and 50fps burst
- OM-1 owners looking for a meaningful autofocus upgrade
- Professionals who need pro-grade weather sealing in the lightest possible system
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 om system om-1 mark ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM System OM-1 Mark II (2024) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 20MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.0MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 1080p/240p, 4K HLG | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | AI subject detection AF (birds, animals, motorsport) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 120fps with AF tracking | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 520 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 599g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.83" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | 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 | OM System OM-1 Mark II | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with OM System OM-1 Mark II
Camera family history