Sony has just officially announced the new Sony A1 II! It is the new flagship camera with a 50MP sensor and can shoot at an impressive 30fps in lossy compressed Raw format, or up to 20fps in lossless Raw. It includes the latest autofocus technology from the company and is the first Alpha camera to feature automatic subject detection.
This new camera costs $6,498, first available for pre-order at B&H/ Adorama.
Sony Alpha 1 II stands as the company’s latest flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. It retains the original’s 50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor but enhances functionality through an upgraded AI processing unit. This new feature enables its autofocus system to identify seven different types of subjects and automatically select one based on the scene.
Key Specifications:
- 50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor
- In-body stabilization rated up to 8.5EV
- Enhanced autofocus with improved subject recognition and auto-selection
- Continuous shooting up to 30fps with full AF tracking
- Pre-release capture capability from 0.03 to 1 second
- Fully-articulated rear screen on a tilt-out cradle
- 8K 30p video downsampled from 8.6K / 4K 120fps
- 9.44 million dot viewfinder running at 240fps, full resolution up to 120fps
The a1 II is priced at $6,499.99, matching that of its predecessor, and is expected to hit shelves in mid-December.
What’s New: Despite utilizing the same sensor as its predecessor, Sony asserts that the a1 II will deliver improved image quality, particularly at mid to high ISOs, thanks to a revamped image processing engine—most noticeable in JPEG outputs.
Enhanced Autofocus: While the original a1’s autofocus system could identify humans, animals, and birds while shooting stills, the a1 II takes this a step further. It inherits an AI processor found in models like the a7R V and a9 III, enabling it to recognize additional subjects such as insects, cars, trains, and airplanes. These recognition capabilities extend to video mode as well, with the ability to focus on specific parts of recognized subjects, like a driver’s helmet.
Human and animal eye recognition has reportedly improved by about 30% compared to the original a1, with bird eye recognition improving by up to 50%. Notably, the Animal and Bird modes have been merged, eliminating the need to switch between them when transitioning from wildlife to bird photography.
The a1 II introduces an ‘Auto’ subject recognition mode, which allows the camera to automatically decide on the best subject to track. While this mode may slow down response time slightly versus a manual selection, it’s convenient for rapid subject switching. Users can also limit which subjects are detected in Auto mode for enhanced efficiency based on shooting preferences.
Sony is also adding extra small and extra large spot focus area options to tailor focusing further.
Pre-Capture Functionality: The a1 II includes a pre-capture feature that records images in the moments leading up to a shutter press, capturing critical moments that may have been missed. Users can record up to 30 frames before pressing the shutter button, but shooting above 20fps will require lossy compressed RAWs. The pre-capture activates upon a half-press of the shutter, the AF button, or both, depending on user settings, with adjustable recording windows from 0.03 seconds to 1 second.
Improved Stabilization: The camera’s internal image stabilization has seen significant enhancements, now rated for up to 8.5 stops in the image center and 7 stops at the edges, compared to the previous a1’s 5.5-stop rating.
Viewfinder Improvements: While the a1 II’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) appears largely unchanged in terms of hardware specifications—maintaining the same resolution and 240fps running capability—users can now access 120fps with higher display quality settings, albeit at a reduced resolution compared to the 240fps mode.
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Sony A1 II |
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Read More 2024 Sony Camera Roadmap