CameraReview
CompareCamerasLensesAction CamerasGuides
Sony a1 II
—
UNSCORED
Sony · Mirrorless · 50.1 MP · Full Frame · 8K video

Sony a1 II

From $6,998 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandSony
Announcement dateNov 2024
Released2024
Camera weight743 g
Camera typeMirrorless
What We Like
+Exceptional 50MP resolution with 30fps continuous shooting provides unmatched versatility for professional hybrid work
+Advanced AI-driven autofocus with 30% faster human eye detection and 50% faster animal eye tracking
+8.5 stops in-body image stabilization ensures steady handheld shooting in challenging conditions
+Comprehensive video capabilities including 8K 30p and 4K 120p with advanced stabilization modes
+Pre-Capture and Speed Boost functions enable reliable capture of fleeting moments in action photography
+4-axis articulating touchscreen and improved ergonomics borrowed from A9 III body design
Worth Knowing
−Premium price point ($6,499+) limits accessibility despite no resolution or burst rate increase over original A1
−At 30fps, lossless compressed RAW is limited to 20fps; must use lossy compression for highest burst rates
−Complex 64-page menu system with cryptic abbreviations lacks search function, requiring customization to My Menu
−Limited battery life (two batteries for full day) and CFexpress Type A card costs add to total ownership expenses

General

Brand
Sony
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Nov 2024
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Camera weight
743 g
Camera type
Mirrorless
Read our notes on general
The Sony α1 II is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced in November 2024 and available starting December 2024 at $6,500, aimed at professional photographers and videographers covering wildlife, sports, action and landscape. It is Sony's most versatile camera yet, offering the best overall mixture of speed, video capabilities, high-resolution stills, and a robust professional-worthy body design, with an AI Processing Unit enabling refined subject detection and tracking. The Sony A1 II refines an already excellent formula, enhancing speed, autofocus, subject detection and handling, and the combination of AI-driven subject recognition, improved stabilisation and robust video features ensures it stands as one of the most attractive all-rounders for photography and videography in its class.

Sensor

Type
Full-frame Exmor RS CMOS stacked
Dynamic Range
15 stops

Autofocus

System
Hybrid AF (phase-detection/contrast-detection)
AF Points (stills)
759 phase-detection points
AF Coverage
~92% of sensor area
Low Light AF
-4 EV at f/2
Subject Recognition
Human, Animal, Bird, Insect, Car, Train, Airplane
Eye AF Performance
30% faster human eye, 50% faster animal eye vs original A1
AI Processing
Dedicated AI Processing Unit

Continuous shooting

Max Frame Rate
30 fps (electronic shutter)
Mechanical Shutter
10 fps
AF/AE Calculations
120 per second
Raw Format
Lossless compressed up to 20 fps, lossy compressed at 30 fps

Video

8K Recording
8K 30p with 10-bit 4:2:0
4K Recording
4K 120p with 10-bit 4:2:2
8K Oversampling
8.6K full-frame, 5.8K Super 35
Stabilization Modes
Dynamic Active Mode, Framing Stabilizer, Breathing Compensation
ProRes RAW
Via HDMI
Max video resolution
ⓘ
The best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video.
8K

Image stabilization

Type
In-body (IBIS)
Compensation
8.5 stops at center, 7 stops at edges

Viewfinder

Magnification
0.9x
Resolution
9.44M dots (2048 x 1536p)
Refresh Rate
60Hz (standard), 120Hz (high), 240Hz (higher)

Display

Size
3.2-inch
Resolution
2,095,104 dots (touchscreen)
Articulation
4-axis (tilt, flip, rotate)

ISO range

Stills
100-32000 (expandable 50-102400)
Video
100-32000 (expandable 100-12800)

Memory cards

Slot 1
CFexpress Type A
Slot 2
SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)

Connectivity

USB
USB-C
Network
2.5GBASE-T LAN (Ethernet)

Physical

Dimensions
136.1 x 96.9 x 82.9 mm

Features

Pre Capture
0.03 to 1.0 seconds
Speed Boost
Programmable front button (C5)
Pose Estimation
Tracks body/head position for accurate focus
Wi-Fi
ⓘ
Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly.
Yes

Processor

Image Engine
BIONZ XR

Optics

Sensor format
ⓘ
Refers to the most commonly used sensor sizes.
Full Frame
Megapixels
ⓘ
The higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture.
50.1 MP050
Viewfinder type
ⓘ
The viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens.
Electronic