A1vs A1 II
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
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?
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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 (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
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 a1 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history