A1vs A7C II
VS
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.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
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
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the a7c ii is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history