Sony A1 II: Sony's high-end hybrid becomes professional
Sony today announces the A1 Mark II, its general professional body which has the difficult task of succeeding a landmark ancestor. Almost four years ago, Sony took a major technological leap forward with its Alpha 1. Sitting above its entire Alpha range with 24×36 Mix sensors, it was a true technological demonstration in terms of burst power and AF, with 1.5 billion pixels swallowed every second (30 i /s at 50 Mpx).
Sony Alpha 1 (A1)
Launch price €7,300
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In terms of viewfinder, we observed a 9.44 million point Oled panel at 240 Hz which was the first to offer capture without going black (blackout). As for the shutter, its stacked sensor structure (stacked CMOS, technology called Exmor RS at Sony) offered reading speeds without distortion unprecedented for such a dense sensor.
At the end of 2024, the A1 II takes elements from its predecessor and brings some technological improvements to key ergonomic elements for professionals.
The chip arrives AI in support
On paper, the 50.1 Mpx sensor seems to be the same as that of the previous box with identical photo and video definition (8K30p). A sensor which therefore retains its sensitivity range of 100-32,000 ISO, extendable between 50 and 102,400 ISO. Sony, however, promises an improvement in image quality, which undoubtedly results in progress in the industrial production processes of the sensor.
As with previous boxes (A6700, A9 IIIetc.), the A1 II benefits from an additional chip, an accelerator which supports so-called AI algorithms (in fact, algorithms from machine training). A chip that relieves the Bionz XR image processor of part of the calculations, particularly related to autofocus and subject recognition.
In this area, the models have been improved with greatly accelerated recognition speeds (30% faster for human eyes, 50% for birds, etc.). Above all, the box offers an automatic mode which will load the recognition models according to what it sees. Better yet, this subject recognition acts in real time not only in photos, but also in video.
In addition, and as for the A9 III, the speed of tracking (tracking) can be configured on three levels: stable, standard and responsive, in order to meet the very different needs depending on the uses (and the photographers).
Super noise reduction and arrival of the precapture function
If the first A1 already offered a tripod shooting mode to increase the maximum definition to 200 Mpx (pixel shiftsensor movement and data aggregation), the A1 II offers a mode aimed at reducing digital noise, called NR for Noise Reduction. Here again, tripod required and 4 to 16 raw images are captured to improve image quality. Images that must be assembled with Imaging Edge (IE) on a computer to obtain noise-free shots.
Another new shooting feature is the arrival of a precapture mode. Already present on competing boxes, this mode consists of a buffer which retains up to one second of shots. Enough to have the right image, even when you press the shutter button a little too late. A lethal weapon for many sports or nature photographers who work on subjects whose emergence in the frame (lookout, jumps, etc.) is assured, but with unknown timing or too fast to trust human SLRs.
Stabilization: the leap forward
The first A1 was equipped with five-axis mechanical sensor stabilization (5.5-speed stab). Here again, this version II promises a clear improvement in performance since it is now guaranteed up to 8.5 speeds.
This jump is very important since stabilization technologies limit the quantity of missed images. If the value of 8.5 speeds is now known – Canon's EOS R5 II shows the same promise – this progress should please users of Sony bodies.
Note, however, that the stabilization is not uniform: if it is qualified for 8.5 speeds (with ultra-bright and fast optics), this is only the case in the center of the image. On peripheral zones, the value is reduced to 7 speeds.
Technical and ergonomic improvements for professionals
Sony did not seek a revolution for this A1 II. Weighing 746 g, it offers more or less the same size and the same positioning of the controls. But the devil like improvements is in the details.
Thus, the HDMI and USB sockets are discreetly swapped for greater practicality; power supply via USB-C no longer interferes with HDPI manipulation. Then, the RJ45 network socket goes from the standard 1 Gbit/s to 2.5 Gbit/s, a crucial extra speed around stadiums, especially for 50 Mpx photos!
Sports photographers benefit from two important changes for their work: moving the note-taking microphone to the back of the body instead of on top (which will improve the quality of sound files for photo editors). Itou, the boxes manage up to 20 different settings which allow you to prepare a box according to the type of destination media, the nature of the teams and athletes on the field, etc.
Still in the same approach aimed at meeting the needs of professional users, Sony has developed a new grip and a dual battery charger for this A1 (the BC-ZD1). A progress that will benefit all cameras using the NP-FZ100. Equipped with a USB-C socket, it recharges two batteries in 155 minutes. Still in the field of accessories, note a new optional eyecup which improves visualization according to Sony, as well as the 5G PDT-FP1, a module which offers the 5G connection to this resolutely professional box.
Last interesting point: in the near future, the photos will be compatible with the Sony Authentication Solution, a mechanism which allows the camera to add a digital marking as soon as the photo is taken. This is not a question of installing an inviolable watermark, but of creating an authentication chain which provides guarantees of traceability of the photo and its possible modifications.
Detailed improvements that may only affect a handful of users. But since these are the target of this very high-end case, they are less anecdotal than they seem.
The Sony A1 II will be available during the month of December 2024 at €7,500 (including tax) from resellers.
