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Sony Alpha a1 First Impression Reviews

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Here are the Sony Alpha a1 first impression reviews including, sample images, hands-on videos, size and specs comparison. Here is eveyrthing you need to know about the new Sony a1.

The most technologically advanced, innovative camera that Sony has ever released, the Sony Alpha 1, A1 (ILCE-1) combines high-resolution and high-speed performance at a level that has never been accomplished in the world of digital cameras.

Sony has released the new Alpha 1 camera with in-camera 8K recording at up to 30 frames per second (fps), in-camera 4K recording at up to 120 fps and 50MP still image capture at up to 30 fps. Here are several links to high resolution official Sony a1 sample images as well as full-size sample photos with various Sony GM lenses.

The Sony a1 is scheduled to start shipping on March 4, 2021, and it is expected to be one of the best selling mirrorless cameras in 2021. Check availability at AmazonB&HAdorama.

Best Lenses for Sony a1 | Best Memory Cards for Sony a1Sony Lens Abbreviations and Meanings

Sony Alpha a1 Video Reviews




Chris and Jordan share their first reactions to the new Sony a1 camera. What does the Sony a1 tell us about the future of cameras and the camera industry?

Sony a1 vs Canon EOS R5: $6500 Full-Frame 8K 30 FPS Monster!

Tony Northrup reveals the Sony a1 full-frame mirrorless camera with 50 MEGAPIXELS, 30 frames per second, and 8k video (at 30 FPS). How does it compare to the current king of mirrorless cameras, the Canon R5? Check out!

Size comparison: Sony A1 vs the Sony A9II

Photosku made this accurate A1-A9II size comparison.The only real size changes is due the larger EVF. Check it out !

Compare the specs differences between the “α1 ILCE-1 (alpha one a1)” and the “α9 II ILCE-9M2 (nine two, a9m2, a9ii)”

product name Sony α1 Sony α9 II
Release date March 19, 2021 November 01, 2019
Price $6499 at AmazonB&H and Adorama $4498 at Amazon, B&H and Adorama.
series α (alpha) series
mount Sony E series mount
sensor Full size (35.9 x 24 mm Exmor RS CMOS, stacked memory with built-in memory) Full size (35.6 x 23.8 mm Exmor RS CMOS, stacked memory with built-in memory)
Low pass filter unconfirmed ○ (Forecast)
Dust removal function
Image processing engine BIONZ XR (up to 8 times processing performance) BIONZ X, front-end LSI
Number of pixels 50.5 million total pixels, 50.1 million effective pixels (8640x5760px) 28.3 million total pixels, 24.2 million effective pixels (6000x4000px)
ISO 100-32000 Mechanical shutter: 100-51200, Electronic shutter: 100-25600, Video: 100-51200
Extended ISO 50-102400 Mechanical shutter: 50-204800, Electronic shutter: Lower limit ISO 50, Video: Upper limit ISO 102400
Continuous shooting function Electronic shutter: 30 frames / sec, mechanical shutter: 10 frames / sec Electronic shutter: 20 frames / second, mechanical shutter: 10 frames / second
Arithmetic processing AF / AE tracking by calculation up to 120 times / sec AF / AE tracking by calculation up to 60 times / sec
Number of frames that can be shot continuously RAW: 238 sheets, RAW (uncompressed): 82 sheets, RAW (lossless compression): 96 sheets, RAW + JPEG: 192 sheets, RAW (uncompressed) + JPEG: 78 sheets, RAW (lossless compression) + JPEG: 83 sheets, JPEG: 400 sheets RAW: 239 sheets, RAW (uncompressed): 131 sheets, RAW + JPEG: 226 sheets, RAW (uncompressed) + JPEG: 120 sheets, JPEG: 361 sheets
Autofocus method Fast hybrid AF (image plane phase difference AF / contrast AF), 4D focus
AF point Phase difference detection method: 759 points, Phase difference detection method for APS-C: 759 points (for full-size lens), 575 points (for APS-C lens), Contrast detection method: 425 points Phase difference detection method: 693 points (covering about 93% of the imaging area), Phase difference detection method for APS-C: 299 points (for full-size lens), 221 points (for APS-C lens), contrast detection method : 425 points
Distance measurement brightness range EV -4 to 20 EV -3 to 20
Electronic viewfinder 0.64 type Quad-XGA OLED (approx. 9.44 million dots / 100% field of view / 0.9x magnification / eye point approx. 25mm / frameless 60/120/240fps) 0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder (approx. 3.68 million dots / 100% field of view / 0.78x magnification / 23mm eye point / frameless 60 / 120fps)
monitor 3 inch (1.44 million dots), tilt type (upward: 107 degrees, downward: 41 degrees), touch panel (touch tracking and touch pad) compatible
shutter speed Mechanical shutter: 1 / 8000-30 seconds, Electronic shutter: 1 / 32000-30 seconds
Sync speed Mechanical: 1/400 seconds (full size) 1/500 seconds (APS-C), Electronic: 1/200 seconds (full size) 1/250 seconds (APS-C) 1/250 seconds
Bulb photography
self timer 2, 5, 10 seconds
Real-time pupil AF ○ (Compatible with animals and birds, compatible with movies, 30% higher accuracy than α9 II) ○ (Compatible with animals, real-time Eye AF when shooting movies [People only], Eye AF even when A mount lens is attached)
Flickerless shooting ○ (Supported by both mechanical / electronic shutter [world first])
Anti-distortion shutter ○ (Suppresses distortion about 1.5 times compared to α9 II)
Different shutter function AF transition speed, AF transfer sensitivity, closes shutter curtain when power is off
Common shutter function Silent shutter, electronic front curtain shutter, real-time tracking, face detection, blackout-free shooting
RAW ARW: 14bit, uncompressed / lossless compression possible ARW: 14bit, uncompressable
JPEG ○ (Supports RAW + JPEG, HEIF, image size [light]) ○ (RAW + JPEG)
In-camera RAW development
Pixel shift multi shooting ○ (4 sheets / 16 sheets, 199 million pixels, 1/200 second synchronization speed)
Shooting function 8K 30p 4: 2: 0 10bit 30 minutes, 4K (3840×2160) 120 (4: 2: 2 10bit) / 60/30 / 24p, Full HD (1920×1080) 120/60/30 / 24p, 4: 2: 2 10bit HLG 4K (3840×2160) 30 / 24p, Full HD (1920×1080) 120/60/30 / 24p
4K video 4K: All pixel readout without pixel addition 5.8K oversampling (at Super 35mm), 8K oversampling from 8.6K 4K 24p: Read all pixels without pixel addition Oversampling equivalent to 6K, about 2.4 times, 4K 30p: About 1.6 times
file format XAVC S, XAVC HS XAVC S, AVCHD standard Ver.2.0 compliant
Video compression method XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, XAVC HS: MPEG-H HEVC / H.265 XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC / H.264
Voice recording method LPCM 2ch, LPCM 4ch, MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch XAVC S: LPCM 2ch, AVCHD: Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2ch, equipped with Dolby Digital Stereo Creator
Video function S-Log2, S-Log3, active mode (camera shake correction for video only), still image cutout of about 33.2 million pixels from 8K video, about 8/30 K 30p 4: 2: 0 10bit video recording possible, proxy recording , S-Cinetone
Camera shake correction 5.5 steps
Built-in flash
Dust-proof and drip-proof specifications Designed with consideration
pictbridge
Level
Wifi IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2×2 MIMO (more than twice the communication performance of α9 II) IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac
NFC
GPS
Bluetooth 5.0 (Location information can be obtained from a smartphone) 4.1 (Location information can be obtained from a smartphone)
USB charging / power supply
Other AF-ON button, multi-selector, slow & quick motion shooting (S & Q)
memory card Slot 1 & Slot 2: Compatible with both CFexpress Type A and SDXC UHS-II Slot 1 & Slot 2: SDXC UHS-II
Battery grip VG-C4EM
battery NP-FZ100
Number of shots Viewfinder: Approximately 430 sheets, approximately 90 minutes, LCD monitor: Approximately 530 sheets, approximately 95 minutes Viewfinder: Approximately 500 sheets Approximately 110 minutes, LCD monitor: Approximately 690 sheets Approximately 120 minutes
width 128.9mm
height 96.9mm 96.4mm
Depth / thickness 69.7-80.8mm 67.3-77.5mm
Mass / weight 652g, total weight: 737g 593g, total weight: 678g
HDMI HDMI Micro (Type A) HDMI Micro (Type D)
Interface USB Type-C 3.2, multi / micro USB, synchro terminal, wired LAN (1000BASE-T), headphone terminal, multi-interface shoe (compatible with digital audio interface)

The Sony a1 is a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera that was officially announced on January 26th, 2021. Here is a free in-stock tracvker tool for Sony a1 Pre-order, Availability.

Read more Sony Camera Rumors here. See also Best Lenses for Sony Full Frame E-Mount.

Upcoming Sony Cameras and Lenses in 2021

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