Sony A1 II Overview
Unrivaled: Sony's Upgraded Mirrorless Flagship
The Sony a1 II is their most versatile camera yet offering the best overall mixture of speed, video capabilities, high-resolution stills, and a robust, professional-worthy body design. It pulls much of the original a1's well-rounded feature-set into an a9 III body and adds the AF and IBIS technologies introduced with the a7R V. It's a camera meant for working professionals, whether their sports, editorial, product, fashion, or advertising shooters, and it's equally appealing to landscape, portrait, wedding, and event photographers, too. And, beyond photography, it has the video tools the a1-series is known for, including 8K recording, along with useful stabilization and framing aids borrowed from the ZV class of cameras. The a1 II brings Sony's best technology from every lineup into one all-encompassing camera body making it the do anything camera solution for professionals.
Upgraded Features and Functions
The original a1 was a standout camera within Sony's lineup, meshing high-end photo and high-end video features within a single, powerful camera body. Version two takes this theme and runs with it, improving on a number of key features to further benefit the professional hybrid image-maker.
- AI Processing Unit-The addition of this key piece of tech greatly improves autofocus, subject detection, and subject tracking accuracy, speed, and reliability. These new processing capabilities allow the camera to more accurately and intelligently recognize subjects, predict their movements, and generally retain critical focus on them as they move.
- Pre-Capture and Speed Boost Functions-These two features are dedicated to continuous burst-style shooting and make the a1 II an even better option for action photographers looking to use this camera in high-end sports, wildlife, and birding situations.
- 8.5-Stop IBIS-It's typical for cameras to have better IBIS figures with each new generation, but the a1 II adds a whopping 3 extra stops to its predecessor's performance, meaning it's possible to use the camera handheld in noticeably dimmer lighting conditions and with slower shutter speeds, opening even more shooting versatility.
- Video Improvements-The core video specs remain the same between the generations, but the a1 II gains some asked-for features to make it even more of a video powerhouse: Dynamic Active Mode Stabilizer, Framing Stabilizer, true 24.00 frame rate, and Breathing Compensation are all welcomed additions for content creators.
- Overhauled Body Design-The a1 II inherits the a9 III's body design, making it more comfortable to use, more robust in terms of weather-sealing, compatibility with the latest VG-C5 Vertical Grip, and an improved LCD and EVF.
Sensor and Processing Improvements
The original a1 was already known for its strong imaging performance and the a1 II improves on this with upgraded BIONZ XR processing, an AI processing unit, more powerful 8.5-stop IBIS, and the impressive 50MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor from its predecessor. The sensor and processor still afford a top 30-fps shooting rate, expandable sensitivity from ISO 50-102400, and an impressive 15-stop dynamic range. Additionally, on the speed front, the a1 II gains the Pre-Capture and Speed Boost functions that debuted on the a9 III.
- Up to 30 fps continuous shooting with an electronic shutter, or 10 fps with the mechanical shutter, with AF and AE supported.
- Pre-Capture Shooting records at up to 30 fps for up to 1 second prior to fully pressing the shutter, helping to ensure you don't miss fleeting moments.
- Speed Boost lets you vary your continuous shooting speed mid-burst; when the C5 button is depressed while burst shooting, you can switch from the chosen continuous shooting speed to a faster or slower one to suit the pace of action you're photographing.
- Refined 5-axis in-body image stabilization compensates for up to 8.5 stops of camera shake at the center of the frame and 7 stops at the periphery; an improvement of 3 stops of shake control compared to the original a1.
- Same full-frame 50MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor as the a1, mixing high resolution with the speed and reduced rolling shutter of a stacked design to suit both meticulous and quick-working shooters.
Smarter, Faster Autofocus and Subject Tracking
The a1 II's focusing system received similarly significant upgrades from its predecessor, now sporting an AI Processing Unit and refined subject detection and tracking. The phase-detection AF system itself still comprises 759 points, which cover about 92% of the sensor area, and support focusing down to -4 EV at f/2. Subject tracking and subject detection is improved, too, specifically how the camera is 30% faster at detect human eyes and 50% faster with animal eyes.
- First seen in the a7R V and a9 III, the a1 II sports a dedicated AI Processing Unit for refined, responsive, and intelligent subject tracking and detection of humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes.
- Human pose estimation tracks body and head positions for accurate focus in portraiture and sports settings and Real-time Eye AF performance has been improved by 30%.
- Additionally, human pose estimation can distinguish between multiple people and maintain focus on the targeted subject; even if someone crosses in front, the camera maintains focus on the key person.
- Real-time Tracking benefits from AI-based subject recognition for following moving subjects, making it particularly well-suited to sports and action subjects.
- Auto Subject Recognition modes no longer necessitate selecting a subject type, letting the camera detect and track the intended subject.
- XS and XL focus area spot sizes have been added for more subject versatility or you can customize AF focus areas to suit uniquely sized or shaped subjects.
- Full-time DMF (Direct Manual Focus) enables using the lens's focus ring for manual focus control at any time, making it easier to switch focus to a different subject even when working with AF.
Alpha's Alpha in Video Capabilities
The core video specs of the original a1 were ahead of their time, and in many ways, still are. The a1 II keeps many of the core resolutions and frame rates but refines the video recording capabilities with more supportive modes and features, including access to Dynamic Area Stabilization and support for a true 24.00 frame rate for a cinematic look and timecode input with optional adapter. This makes the a1 II just as capable on a professional film set as it is in a photography studio.
- Familiar recording formats: 8K 30p with 10-bit 4:2:0 sampling and 4K 120p with 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling. When using a Super 35 recording area, 4K footage can use 5.8K oversampling for improved detail and the full-frame area offers 8.6K oversampling for the 8K footage.
- Included S-Cinetone profile, ProRes RAW output over HDMI, and the ability to import LUTs all point to the great amount of color control the a1 II offers.
- AI subject recognition, gained from the AI Processing Unit, benefits the Framing Stabilizer mode, which can be used to automatically crop and recompose so the subject remains centered in the image.
- Dynamic Active Mode Stabilization also helps retain accurate framing while filming, especially when recording while walking or moving.
- Support for Breathing Compensation mode, which reduces the effects of focus breathing when using select lenses.
Pre-Capture & Speed Boost-Never Miss a Moment
Along with the key technology delivered by the sensor, the a1 II brings additional features to unlock the camera's full potential.
- Pre-Capture: The a1 II can be configured to begin recording images to the buffer when the shutter button is half-pressed. Users can set this between 0.03-1.0 second. Upon pressing the shutter these images will be saved to the memory card.
- Speed Boost: With Speed Boost and the C5 button, which is conveniently placed near the grip on the front of the camera, users can instantly switch their camera from their usual continuous shooting frame rate to a faster one to make sure their next shot is just right. Photographers will be able to select various frame rates up to 30 fps.
Professional Body Design and Connectivity
The a1-series has always been a top-of-the-line model for Sony and, as such, had one of the most durable and refined physical designs within the system. The a1 II, though, gains a bit of an upgrade to bring it in line with the a9 III in terms of button layout, screen and EVF implementation, and durability. It's a camera built for professional use and has the strongest, most reliable design in Sony's lineup.
Versatile and Durable Design
- The a1 II gains the latest Sony mirrorless body design first seen on the a9 III which includes a C5 custom button on the front of camera body and an enhanced grip.
- For transferring, an upgraded 2.5GBASE-T wired LAN port offers faster transfer speeds to suit high-profile tethered shooting applications. There is also a USB-C port and a full-size HDMI port.
- USB-C port offers fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s.
- For transferring, an upgraded 2.5GBASE-T wired LAN port offers faster transfer speeds to suit high-profile tethered shooting applications. There is also a USB-C port and a full-size HDMI port.
- Dual memory card slots both accept either CFexpress Type A or SD-type memory cards. The dual slot design allows for flexible file saving and handling and can be configured to partition file types or can be used for overflow recording. Additionally, both of the card slots are rated to support UHS-II memory cards for faster transfer speeds.
Tru-Finder EVF and Tilting Touchscreen LCD
- An impressive QXGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF features a high 9.44m-dot resolution and 0.9x magnification for exceptionally bright, clear, and detailed eye-level viewing. There is also a 120-fps option that maintains the higher resolution for a better mixture of clarity and motion fluidity.
- 3.2" 2.1m-dot 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen LCD-first seen on the a7R V. This screen has a wide color gamut covering the DCI-P3 space.
- Intuitive menu structure that complements having different workflows with different settings selections for movie recording and stills shooting. The menu system also works in conjunction with the touchscreen design of the rear LCD.
Enhanced Functionality and Usability
Sony has continued to improve the workflows of their professional cameras with upgraded and additional features:
- A voice memo function promises clearer recording with a microphone located close to the user. These memos can be transferred via FTP and can be converted to text using Sony's Transfer & Tagging application.
- IPTC metadata can be automatically added to images and up to 20 presets can be saved.
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet can be used for fast networked data transfer during shooting.
Composite Shooting Modes
By capturing multiple images and combining them in post-production, users can achieve image quality and resolutions not possible with just the core sensor technology. The a1 II offers two different options for composite shooting:
- Pixel Shift Multi Shooting: This unique compositing mode allows you to achieve even greater resolution than the 50.1MP sensor affords. Working in conjunction with the sensor-shift image stabilization, this mode shifts the sensor while making 16 consecutive exposures in order to acquire approximately 199MP of information for greater color accuracy and detail than possible with a single exposure. These files can then be merged together during post-production by using the Sony Imaging software suite.
- Noise Reduction: This method uses multiple images to reduce the noise in an image without sacrificing sharpness and detail. By leveraging the information of several frames, users will be able to improve the legibility of details and minimize the impact of noise without the smoothing effect common with more conventional noise reduction techniques.
Sony A1 II Specifications
Key Specs
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Sensor Resolution | Actual: 50.5 Megapixel Effective: 50.1 Megapixel (8640 x 5760) |
| Image Sensor | 35.9 x 24 mm (Full-Frame) Stacked CMOS |
| Sensor Crop (35mm Equivalent) | Crop Factor: 1x Additional Crop Occurs in Select Video Modes |
| Image Stabilization | Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis |
| Built-In ND Filter | No |
| Capture Type | Stills & Video |
Exposure Control
| Shutter Type | Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Shutter Speed | Mechanical Shutter: 1/8000 to 30 Seconds Electronic Shutter: 1/32000 to 30 Seconds 1/8000 to 1/4 Second in Movie Mode |
| ISO Sensitivity Range | Photo: 100 to 32,000 in Manual Mode (Extended: 50 to 102,400) 100 to 12,800 in Auto Mode Video: 100 to 32,000 in Manual Mode 100 to 12,800 in Auto Mode |
| Metering Method | Average, Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multi, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Metering Range | -3 to 20 EV |
| White Balance | 2500 to 9900K |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 30 fps at Maximum Resolution for up to 240 Frames (Raw) / 400 Frames (JPEG) |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/5/10-Second Delay |
Still Image Capture
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Image File Format | HEIF, JPEG, Raw |
| Bit Depth | 14-Bit |
Video Capture
| Internal Recording Modes | H.264/XAVC S 4:2:2 10-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/110/120 fps [100 to 280 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080 at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps [50 Mb/s] |
| External Recording Modes | 4:2:0 8-Bit via HDMI UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 23.98/25/29.97 fps UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98/29.97/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080p at 23.98/29.97/50/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps |
| Fast-/Slow-Motion Support | Yes |
| Gamma Curve | S Cinetone, Sony S-Log 3 |
| Recording Limit | No |
| IP Streaming | No |
| Built-In Microphone | Stereo |
| Audio Recording | 2-Channel 16-Bit 48 kHz LPCM Audio |
Interface
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Dual Slot: CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
| Video I/O | 1x HDMI Output |
| Audio I/O | 1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Headphone Output 1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Microphone Input |
| Power I/O | 1x USB-C Input |
| Other I/O | 1x RJ45 Data Output 1x USB-C (USB 3.2 / 3.1 Gen 2) Data/Remote Input/Output (Shared with Power Input) 1x PC Flash Sync Output 1x Sony Multi/Micro-USB Remote/Time Code Input |
| Wireless | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Mobile App Compatible | Yes: Android & iOS App Name: Creators' App Functionality: Access Stored Files, Adjust Settings, Remote Control, View Live Feed |
| Global Positioning (GPS, GLONASS, etc.) | GPS *Via Connected Smartphone |
Monitor
| Display Size | 8.1 cm |
| Resolution | 2,095,104 Dot |
| Display Type | 4-Axis Tilting Touchscreen LCD |
Viewfinder
| Type | Built-In Electronic (OLED) |
| Size | 1.63 cm |
| Resolution | 9,437,184 Dot |
| Eye Point | 25 mm |
| Magnification | Approx. 0.9x |
| Diopter Adjustment | -4 to +3 |
Focus
| Focus Type | Auto and Manual Focus |
| Focus Mode | Continuous-Servo AF, Direct Manual Focus, Manual Focus, Single-Servo AF |
| Autofocus Points | Phase Detection: 759 |
| Autofocus Sensitivity | -4 to +20 EV |
Flash
| Built-In Flash/Light | No |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Fill Flash, Hi-Speed Sync, Off, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync |
| Maximum Sync Speed | 1/400 Second |
| Flash Compensation | -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV Steps |
| External Flash | Hot Shoe |
Body
| Body Material | Magnesium Alloy |
| Body Color | Black |
| Dimensions | 128.9 x 96.4 x 79.7 mm |
| Weight | 723 g |
| Water-Resistance | Yes |
| Build Quality | Weather-Sealed |
| Buttons/Controls | Customizable |
| Operating Temperature | -10 to 40°C |
| Power Source | 1x NP-FZ100 Battery Pack |
Additional Features
| Articulating Screen | Yes |
| Audio Input | Yes |
| Audio Output | Yes |
| USB Charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | Yes |
| In-Camera Editing | Yes |
What's in the box
- 1 x Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera
- 1 x Sony NP-FZ100 Battery (2280mAh)
- 1 x Sony BC-ZD1 Dual-Battery Charger for NP-FZ100 Batteries
- 1 x Sony ALC-B1EM Body Cap for E-Mount Cameras
- 1 x Sony FDA-EP19 Eyepiece Cup
- 1 x FDA-EP21 Deep Eyepiece Cup
- 1 x Sony Multi Interface Shoe Cap
- 1 x Cable Protector
- 1 x Shoulder Strap
- Barcode: 77760
- UPC Barcode: 4548736162129
- Supplier Code: ILCE1M2B