Sony Alpha 1 II: New full-frame camera for professionals
Sony is expanding its camera range with the Alpha 1 II, a full-frame mirrorless camera with automatic AI subject recognition and improved functions.
The Sony Alpha 1 II comes in the housing of its sister model, the Alpha 9 III.
(Image: Sony)
The Alpha 1 II is the new full-frame flagship among Sony cameras. Like its predecessor, the Alpha 1, it comes with a 50-megapixel sensor. However, it is now fully stacked for particularly fast data processing and is designed to provide the "BIONZ XR" image processor with images of particularly high quality and precise sharpness. To achieve this, Sony has installed an AI processing unit that should enable the camera to recognize subjects precisely and track them smoothly. This should even work with automatic scene recognition, which makes scene selection for tracking in the menu superfluous and should also work with video. To ensure successful autofocus tracking, the camera once again features the familiar 759 phase autofocus points, which cover 92 percent of the sensor area. Even at up to -4 EV, the autofocus should still deliver good results. Overall, Sony promises a dynamic range of 15 f-stops for photos.
The Alpha 1 II also comes with a pre-capture function, which allows images to be captured up to one second before the shutter is released. This camera model records high continuous shooting speeds of up to 30 frames per second with an electronic shutter. If you don't want to set the high continuous shooting rate permanently, you can use the Speed Boost already familiar from the Alpha 9III if the situation requires it. This involves pressing a second button (e.g. C5) when the shutter is released, which then starts the boost and stops it again when released.
The high-resolution electronic viewfinder is said to have 9.44 million pixels, offer a magnification of 0.9 and work without blackouts even at 240 fps.
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Advanced functions for demanding photography
The Alpha 1 II comes with a shutter that is designed to minimize distortion (rolling shutter). This is intended to prevent image areas from "bending" during fast movements. The camera should also be able to significantly reduce image noise at medium and high ISO values by offsetting four to 32 shots, a method that has long been used in smartphone cameras. Sony also offers it for raw images.
Image stabilization has also been improved and should now offer up to 8.5 stops of stabilization in the image center (optical and in-body with 5 axes). The camera supports a new dynamic active mode for video recordings. This uses an image section that can shift on the sensor during movement, but is converted into a still image by the camera software.
Video functions
The Sony Alpha 1 II also offers many professional video features. Like its predecessor, it offers 8K video at 30 fps, but now with 8.6K oversampling, or optionally 4K at 60 fps with 5.8K oversampling. The format then corresponds to a Super 35 film. Without oversampling, the familiar 120 fps is possible. Recordings are also possible in 10-bit with 4:2:2 All-I or in 16-bit raw. In addition to the familiar Sony color profiles, up to 16 custom LUTs can be loaded onto the camera.
Ease of use and efficient workflow
The body of the Alpha 1 II is the same as that of the Sony Alpha 9 III. It is designed to be particularly ergonomic. The 3.2-inch LC display uses a flexible 4-axis system and can therefore be moved very flexibly. Sony has included an additional new eyecup with the model. It is deeper and softer thanks to a larger rubber lip. This creates a little more distance to the camera and should therefore ensure more comfort when taking photos. The camera comes with a dual battery charger that can fully charge two batteries in 155 minutes.
Another practical feature is the integrated function that allows the photographer to add audio comments to each photo, which the camera transcribes directly into text.
Die Sony Alpha 1 II in Bildern (2 Bilder)
Sony Alpha 1 II mit dem neuen F 28-70mm f/2.0 GM
Sony/Tom Oldham
)Sony offers an optional vertical grip for longer shoots. The camera also supports 2.5GBASE-T via wired LAN and enables fast image transfer via the optional PDT-FP1 portable 5G data transmitter. When it comes to connectivity, Sony claims to have significantly improved workflows for more efficient work. For example, data can be automatically transferred to Adobe Lightroom or Google Drive via the Sony Creators' Cloud.
Market positioning and availability
The competition also offers many features, for example the Nikon Z8 already has automatic scene recognition. Canon has built almost all the technology currently available into the new R5 Mark II: high-resolution stacked sensor, eye control, AI AF and scene recognition, 8K video – and all of this more sophisticated, faster and more precise than before. The R1 is now also entering the market, a detailed test will follow.
The camera will be on sale from December 2024 for 7499 euros, which is just under 200 euros more than the previous model at market launch.
New fast G-Master zoom
Sony has also unveiled a new G-Master lens. The FE 28-70 mm F2 GM, a zoom lens that weighs less than a kilo and has an open aperture of f/2.0. You can find the full press release here.
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