Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
Decision tools · Compare
A1 II vs FX3
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the FX3 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
FX3 2021
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
£2999
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
FX3 — Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking: The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
FX3 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A1 IISony · 2024 | FX3Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,699 | £2,999Best |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 50.1MPBest | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 743g (body only) | 715g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A1 II
FX3
Portrait
9.0/10
5.7/10
Street
6.6/10
4.3/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
8.7/10
6.0/10
Vlogging & Video
6.4/10
6.1/10
Filmmaking
8.2/10
9.1/10
Documentary
8.3/10
8.0/10
Sports & Action
9.3/10
5.5/10
Landscape
8.0/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
9.2/10
5.8/10
Casual
5.3/10
4.9/10
Food
8.5/10
6.7/10
Macro
8.1/10
5.5/10
Architecture
8.4/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
7.2/10
6.7/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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