A1vs Sony FX30
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
VS
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.
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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the sony fx30 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 26.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history