A1vs FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
VS
Sony
FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (2019)
Starting from £1899 new
Best for Portraits, weddings & fashion photography
View FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
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.
Portraits, Weddings & Fashion Photography — FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (2019): Arguably the finest portrait prime ever made — unrivalled sharpness, three-dimensional bokeh, and world-class AF in a single lens.
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
Quick take: The fe 135mm f/1.8 gm is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,899 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | — |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | N/A — lens |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | Dual XD Linear Motor AF — world-class speed and tracking |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | None (relies on IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | N/A |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 950g |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 89.5mm diameter × 127mm length |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | N/A |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | 82mm filter thread |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | N/A |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | FE 135mm f/1.8 GM |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | ||
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history