As an A1 user. Buyer beware with this one, watch the a7v come out next year with new features that wont come to the a1ii. Sony just doesnt support their cameras well with updates after release.
I’m concerned about the same thing. Which is why I’m waiting for the A7 V to come out. Not to get the A7 V, but to see how Sony handles future camera releases
I switched from Nikon to Sony last year to take advantage of the superior ecosystem… the A1 was my first camera… until the sucker overheated in a few minutes shooting 8K and twenty minutes shooting 4K in a moderately warm studio/lights… (Switching to FX3s fixed that) Then came the fiasco with firmware upgrades BRICKING the f*cking $6K cameras and Sony saying “so what” because they are a Japanese company and feel IMMUNE from American lawsuits. As suggested, Alpha II fixes all (most) of the issues Alpha 1 but why would one wanna buy a New One when the same two issues remain: 1.) The camera doesn’t have a fan so it will OVERHEAT during the most casual (serious) video work!?! 2.) It won’t be upgradable because Sony does NOT stand behind their products 🤨 I’ve got my Sony bodies and GM lenses to do what I need to do and then I’m DONE!
Well, now the original A1 prices might fall to the point where they're accessible to mere enthusiasts instead of professionals, and the supply of used models for sale should increase too. And that's still a great camera.
Very happy that I switched from the A7RII to the Z8 - captured important moments in life that only happen once in extremely high res (8k30 or 60p/4k120p) - something that wouldn't be possible with the Sony ecosystem given my budget
My A1 was treated like a red-headed stepchild by SONY. You will NOT be different if you buy this. No reason for this with what could have been covered in a firmware update other than greed.
The reason that it's not a firmware update is because of the processor, if it had fewer megapixels and a cache system designed for precapture that would just be a firmware update, but the a1 is older than all of the other flagships so it just can't get these features without either another processor alongside it or a completely new one
@@JZTechEngineering The A1 is the Flagship. I have the A1 and the A7r4. A kick butt pair of cameras. I'd like to update the electronic viewfinder in the r4. Other than that it is a solid camera still. Does what I need for sure.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Z9ii usurps any performance lead of this camera in a year or less. Nikon's ball now that Canon and Sony dropped there refreshes this year. We'll see if they run with it or choke and leave a lackluster flagship like this one.
@@kalimarus Great points. It's up to Nikon to move past Sony and Canon. I think they will. If they improve the photo features and add RED Raw, then a lot of people will jump over to Nikon because video is the hottest market. It will also take a flagship camera to hold RED Raw.
I would appreciate your comparing the A1 II with the A7R5. I shoot Sony for wildlife/BIF and am considering upgrading from the A7R5, which I bought over the original A1 because of superior autofocus. A1 II offers faster capture, faster FPS, and better electronic shutter, but without putting one through the paces I wonder if the differences are meaningful. I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Nice review, I just bought an "open box" a1 last week for £3500, saving £2750 on the mkii. It does what I need, sure I would have liked the mkii but the saving bought me a couple of decent lenses. Cheers Ian (UK)
As an A1 owner it's just ridiculous. In Europe it costs around 7500€ and for my A1 which has never received any updates I will get around 4000€. So for a small update I need to pay around 3500€. That's a joke...
@@RiposteThis Is it really though? Have you used both or just listened to influencers who get these cameras in advance for marketing? Backcountryforums is a great place to look at real world people using these cameras and the difference there isn't near as much as you would think. Keep in mind something like the Z8 is nearly half the price and Sony doesn't have TC primes at all. If the autofocus was so dramatic a difference that it was effecting end results meaningfully you wouldn't see near the level of Z9/8 shooters that there are, it's probably the most popular camera for wildlife. They're picking it for the lenses so the autofocus isn't so bad that it's something they would reconsider. Food for thought there.
@@RiposteThisautofocus is great the adapter is the ftz ii watch watch Matt Granger review of this adapter and older lenses with a Z8 it’s awesome stuff
I shoot astro and I prefer the images on my Z6II with the Sony GM lens more than the images on the A7C itself lol. Especially after I astromodded the 2 cameras and A7C and has way too much optical problems with its own lens while the Nikon has no problem with those same lens using an adapter😂
@@huyballack on wide angle, sensor thickness will reduce sharpness in the preiphery on Nikon bodies. Would affect astro. Been there, done that with Z7II. Of course if you astro modded that will probably change sensor thickness anyway.
What would you need then to be satisfied? The better grip from A9iii can’t be an update, it had to be a new camera. I see it more like an other version of the original A1. A1 mkI is still being produced, so you can choose which one you prefer. I’m now interesed in the mark I as a used one. Sony could though make some software updates on the original.
@@kentsoderstrom8378 8k 60, 1 stop of iso improvement, 60fps short burst, 15fps mechanical shutter, when eye af frames don't drop so you keep full 5-9k clear viewfinder, working well single point AF that is fast with a beep, good and multiple sounds for electronic shutter, precapture like a9iii, really good backscreen like hasselblad, retro design as a option (haha) ... that's a refresh. A1 specs should be like that from the start :P all this was released in a year after a1 came to market.
Sony does amazing budget line cameras, I think the A6*** is the best APS-C line currently available. Just like with the R1, I think the A1ii isn't enough of an upgrade to justify release.
Thanks Tony and Chelsea for this (p)review. Even though I am not in the market for a Sony camera (I own Canon gear) I wanted to express my appreciation for your work. As a long time subscriber I always enjoy your content, Chelsea’s humour and Tony’s technical insight, and I am disappointed by the seemingly increasing number of nitpicks and negative comments. T&C, please don’t let the naysayers get you down - I am sure the vast majority your subscribers continue to value your content. BTW - Chelsea’s landscape photos in this were beautiful. To the people who whinge about sponsor segments: these guys do the work and need to get paid; if you don’t like the sponsor segment just click past it. For those who disagree with their views don’t react like it’s personal attack! T&C - thank you again and never stop never stopping :)
Shooting at venues my A1 can reduce banding by modifying the shutter speed but unlike the Canon which auto detect the required speed A1 does not. Does the A1-2 detect the required shutter speed to avoid banding?
Having own the Sony A1 since 2 years now and shooting mainly Aviation photography at Airshows and Birds 🐦 in flight Photography would you recommend me to upgrade from the A1 to the A1 Mark II ? Please...
It would be great to see a comparison between the Sony A7 R5, and the Sony A1 or Sony A1 ii. I shoot with both the R5 and the A1 and frankly find the R5 to be far superior in its ability to auto focus when it comes to wildlife, but that’s just my non-technical opinion. Given the price difference between the two is the A1 really worth the price relative to what the S7R5 can do?
A7R5 have 10fps in lossy Compressed Raw so it depends on what you want for. And AF of R5 II is maybe better than A1, but similar with A1 II and it could be even better than A7R5 because of later AI implementation (like More law). With the electronic shutter you do have bad rolling shutter effect than on A1, also in video.
All good points, technically, but in the field auto focus is key when shooting wildlife and frankly 30fps is way overkill even when shooting birds in flight. And I do not believe that the 2x price difference justifies the incremental benefits of the A1. Would like to see what the mark2 for the A7r5 offers if they do come out with one. Don’t really shoot video
Hey Tony, quick question. How you edit like this basically like an iPhone footage when the video is so bright even though your screen is brightness lower like an hdr
Well I was thinking of upgrading my Sony A7R V to this camera but don’t think I will be I’m a bit disappointed in it for sure and they should of made it where it had the 8k 60 at least
I'd like to know how is the autofocus compare to the newer Canon R5 II and R1 in sports and action? Is it as sticky and accurate? Is it a huge improvement from the OG A1? How is the image quality in terms of the dynamic range and low light performance? Also, could you try the composite raw function that can be stacked to reduce the noise? Is it better than manually stack them in the photoshop using the median stack? I don't see many youtuber talking about that. I am interested. Thank you!
Not their style. The Z batteries are great without adding much weight. Sony tends to want to make the best shit while also making it the smallest and lightest. This is their design philosophy with lenses and cameras. Look at that new 28-70 f/2 as an example, they shaved a whole pound off of the Canon while also getting it to perform significantly better.
Great video Tony. I am an A1 owner and it's interesting that the A1 mk2 is making me consider switching to the Z8 rather than upgrading. I should be an easy sale for Sony but as a hybrid shooter when you dig deeper the Z8 looks very good, particularly if your bias is slightly towards video. In summary, this release does not put distance between the Z8 and when you factor in the price difference, Nikon's firmware updates, codec and the future potential of the Red acquisition I feel Sony has created a problem that need not of had. Just my humble opinion.
The only reason I'm considering it is because of the black out free shooting and the pre-capture. I think both of those things could make it worth it. Just a hard pill to swallow because the z8 and the r5 mk2 have the same options for much cheaper.
Good Videos. I learned a lot of technical knowledge by watching your videos. But when you said you would bring comparison videos with the Nikon flagship and Canon R5ii, why not Canon R1? Even though it's 24 MP, it's a Flagship. I'm interested to see where Canon R1 stands.
Mind-blowing price 😅. Canon R5II costs almost 2,500$ (!!!) less and outperforms Sony A1II in the key functions like AF, 30 fps 14bit speed, video, etc. 😀
For the price of a used a1 on KEH, you can get a brand new one from a very reputable grey market seller, with a 1 year warranty. Why would I want the used one? KEH is ok for very niche (like an old film camera) or very high end (like a 600mm f4) that these grey market seller don't stock, because the market for them is just too small.
As a professional product photographer I have to say I've owned sony for many years I'm really impressed they are the best mirrorless camera company on the market right now they play ball themselves sony is admirable
Tony having another Sony orgasmic moment about essentially a change of body design. the rest could have been firmware updates, like Nikon who has now updated the Z9 with firmware updates, how many times, fixing small bugs, improvements beyond AF. Even Fujifilm have ongoing firmware updates and improvements. Sony is now catching up with pre capture, something OM and Fuji has build into their camera's 3-4 yrs ago. My issue is with the price. The sensor is the same, the upgrades minimal, they added a button and a new grip on the same old Sony casing. What is clear is that technology is reaching a point where the benefits does not justify the price points.
Why do these higher end cameras not offer 6k recording options if they are capable of 8k30, 8k60 or 4K120. 6K offers up to 50% crop to 4K, which is SUPER handy, and the file sizes are 50% smaller than 8k. It just seems like it's an ideal recording resolution for the average enthusiast.
It has nothing to do with high end. Jus buy a 24MP camera if you want 6K. There are even high end cameras with only 24MP, like the Canon R1 and Sony A9 III.
@@80-80. I'm referring to price when I say "high-end." It seems that only expensive cameras offer 8K recording. If these cameras can record in 8K, they should also be able to record in 6K. Given the price, one would think that 6K would be a recording option. While 8K is impressive, 6K is more practical for most users. I could be wrong, but I would assume few people would need to crop videos by more than 50%. But I would bet most enthusiasts would likely crop videos by 30% or less. I'm just curious as to why they wouldn't include it in a camera like this, or the Canon mark r52, etc. I honestly don't know if it's a technical hurdle or a significant added cost in writing code.
@zoubtube Encoding is done in hardware by the processor, software encoding is too slow. If a particular shooting mode encoding is absent in hardware, the camera will not be able to do it. It can't be added by firmware if the hardware does not support it. Different encoding modes would require waiting for the next gen processor, and even then the encoding logic might not be redesigned. Doing that requires a LOT of investment, it is not a simple thing. Usually processor upgrades involve things such as node shrinks, increased core counts and IO updates.
Thank you for confirming it comes with Sony’s new dual battery charger. You didn’t talk at all about which battery grip you need but at least you can now charge both batteries at the same time the same time. Also like that it still shoots flash at 1/400 of a second. Sure not revolutionary but a solid enhancement if your into action work of any kind with RAW precapture. If you are only shooting stills without motion why is Chelsea even have an A1?
Great video. I have a suggestion. When you're doing stabilization tests, also do the tests without stabilization. That way we can actually see how effective the stabilization is. When you only show stabilization of a1 and a1 ii, somebody would think that it only provides two stops of stabilization, when in reality you wouldn't have 100% of images sharp at the reciprocal rule
I've seen other UA-camrs have pointed out the new A1 II's weakness on the AI autofocus. Especially in wildlife. It seems struggled to recognize smaller animals in shade or in a busy background/foreground(like bushes). Some UA-camr has compared it with the Canon R5 II's autofocus. Where the A1 II couldn't find the bird, the R5 II picked it up right away. We want to know your thoughts on the new A1 II autofocus!
So the og a1 was launched as the flagship , then came the A7RV with a new ai chip to improved AF, and now the a1 II borrows that chip from the old RV (probably tuned a bit.) needs to be the other way arround... doesn't it?
New Lens 28-70 F2 - Impressive. A1II - like A1. Screen from A7RV, new viewfinder, new price... This is it! No reasons to buy. This release made me happy, because I know, that my A7IV will be actual for next 2 years, no major changes in future.
no plans to upgrade from my A1. While I love the A1, the lack of significant/useful firmware updates to match Sony's lesser camera's that came out after has left a bad taste in my mouth. Not right for how much they charge for this camera. I won't be fooled again.
Well for all those people were expecting too much...read the naming it called MARK 2 for a reason, just making some reMarks over original camera thats it, not redefinging the physics. The upgrade is perfect for professional who would need to buy a new body anyways, who used their A1's extensively and its close to its usage limits.
@chrisflight6436 but the point of back button focus is you only use shutter when taking shots . So you saying is hold back button for focus then hold shutter halfway .seems redundant. Why use back button for focus at all
@ I agree totally. BBF is totally pointless with modern cameras. Why do two things when one will do all? I used back button focus for 20 years when AF systems where not so advanced. BBF is just button not some magic trick for better focus as some people try to make you believe. Modern AF tracking is so good, AF on shutter button is perfect for doing all at once. On the rare occasion that you want to lock focus.. just use the back button for AF lock. Years ago focus would jump around and by using BBF you could at least control it.
@@tomegan4060 clarification and correction. Pre-capture does work with BBF, you just have to select it in settings. On my A9-3, the options are there and I imagine it is the same in the new A1-2. I still believe one button AF and capture is better than pressing two buttons at once.
I’m familiar with KEH from your previous videos, and I’ve used their services before. However, I find having three advertisements in the same video offensive.
It’s selling for the same price as the a1 … it’s an update to that camera. The a1 is also dropping in price significantly. This is good news for the Sony eco system. 🤷♂️
From an A1 user's point of view it's a shame. They never brought the firmware update for subject detection in the A1 and now you have to pay the full price for a new one if you just want this feature. I don't care about the AF or other features because the A1's focus is on spot.
Kinda like the A9 to the A9II some new stuff, but not electrifying. I mean they brought the new stuff out on the A7RV and the A9III, kinda took the wind out of the sails for the A1II.
Ive been waiting for a long time for this new A1 ll to come out thinking it might be the camera that finally gets me to buy something new. But its just not exciting me enough to spend the money. My A7r lll still does what i need it to do.
Depends on what you want/need. You can say that to so many cameras for many people but if you really need what the a1 ii has a R5 ii might be bad. If that's your job and you make money with it you will get the cam if you make enough and benefit from the cam
The issue is that they can't really sell it for less than the original a1, so it's a weird spot where this camera would have been better priced at $500 less, or even $1k less because it doesn't have a global shutter like the a9iii
I know its been multiple years since the A1, but it feels like they pushed this out before it was ready... I think everyone was expecting something more, especially from the people who made the A9 III
Not sure who you mean but it has most things I have been waiting for as a wildlife photographer who also shoots landscapes and occasionally sports. Pre capture and enhanced autofocus was what I wanted the most in this upgrade and that has been provided. The boost button for when not shooting at 30 frames per second is also great as when shooting a perched bird you don’t often need 30 fps, but jumping to this when they take off is very useful. The improved stabilisation is also helpful. I will definitely be getting the A1ii to go with my current A1.
@@pentagramyt417 Agreed to a point. I actually go out taking photos with an OM-1 user. I do envy the light weight of the system, but he does have a few more issues in low light. Also the reduced cropping of wildlife images when you only have 20MP can tricky. However the value for money of the OM-1 can’t be denied and he of course has been teasing me about pro-capture, which has got him some great photos.
I’m a a7riii user absolutely love the camera and almost 3 years of use of it and it’s still going strong . But once it does I’ll definitely be getting that a1 from keh😂
I actually sold all my photography gear. If you're not traveling to Norway or on the sidelines of a Jets game it just didn't make any sense to have all that gear. Too much to haul around. A decent smartphone camera is plenty for me. Unfortunately, it took me 3 cameras, a dozen lenses, 4 camera bags, 3 tripods, 2 flash systems and a bunch of lost money before I realized it. Same goes for drones, if you're not actually going somewhere to use them, it doesn't really make sense to have them.
Thanks, Tony. I'm a full-time professional photographer. I have 2x Sony A1 plus I the 7C2, and I must say I love the new dial. It’s so fast switching between stills and video-it's almost worth the $6000 upgrade just for that. so I’d have to get rid of both, but I might just wait. Besides that one feature, I can’t see any other reason to upgrade.
If you don't yet have an A1, the A1II is an excellent camera to buy. If you have an A1, instead of upgrading, get an A9III and keep the A1. If you have both, an A1 and an A9III, wait until the A1III with a GS comes out in 2027.
Thanks Tony and Chelsea for great videos! May I just point one thing out. The sound from the DJI mic is awful! Not pro sounding at all. The sound in your video was always good before you started using them. Sorry! 😬
Well, Wegener compared the Af compared to the Canon r5m2, and the Canon was better. So, the flippy screen and pre capture is the only significant upgrade. The manufacturers are jerking us off at this point. Why is Nikon the only one making built it TC? Why is Canons AF superior, but their dynamic range suck and only one CF B slot? I am cynical by nature, but I can't help to believe these differences are no longer by chance.
I was disappointed the Mark II still doesn’t do oversampled full width 4k. My Z8 does full width oversampled 4k/60 and 8k60p both of which I use regularly. I don’t shoot sports and wildlife but I bought the Z8 because it has the best video of all the high resolution cameras.
@@alivarasteh IF THAT JUST HAVE FREAKING RAW PRE-CAPTURE!!! Why they've done that! :| Why they got stuck with jpeg.. I won't ever believe this camera is not capable to do at least 10 frames of pre-capture in raw.. damn it
Why does everyone give Tony a hard time ? They say he didn’t do a fair review of the Nikon z6iii then they say he talks to much about keh. You know you can skip ahead of the ad section. I respect his opinion even though I may not agree with it sometimes. He’s not that bad 😂.
As an A1 user. Buyer beware with this one, watch the a7v come out next year with new features that wont come to the a1ii. Sony just doesnt support their cameras well with updates after release.
same problem for a lot of A1 photographers (non paid by Sony) in Europe
where are those features of A7V?
I’m concerned about the same thing. Which is why I’m waiting for the A7 V to come out. Not to get the A7 V, but to see how Sony handles future camera releases
I switched from Nikon to Sony last year to take advantage of the superior ecosystem… the A1 was my first camera… until the sucker overheated in a few minutes shooting 8K and twenty minutes shooting 4K in a moderately warm studio/lights…
(Switching to FX3s fixed that)
Then came the fiasco with firmware upgrades BRICKING the f*cking $6K cameras and Sony saying “so what” because they are a Japanese company and feel IMMUNE from American lawsuits.
As suggested, Alpha II fixes all (most) of the issues Alpha 1 but why would one wanna buy a New One when the same two issues remain:
1.) The camera doesn’t have a fan so it will OVERHEAT during the most casual (serious) video work!?!
2.) It won’t be upgradable because Sony does NOT stand behind their products 🤨
I’ve got my Sony bodies and GM lenses to do what I need to do and then I’m DONE!
I'm definitely Holding Out for the a75
I've become a firm believer in the "buy 2 years old slightly used model" as my go to for camera shopping.
Well, now the original A1 prices might fall to the point where they're accessible to mere enthusiasts instead of professionals, and the supply of used models for sale should increase too. And that's still a great camera.
Very happy that I switched from the A7RII to the Z8 - captured important moments in life that only happen once in extremely high res (8k30 or 60p/4k120p) - something that wouldn't be possible with the Sony ecosystem given my budget
Oh my god, KEH holding Tony at gunpoint
My A1 was treated like a red-headed stepchild by SONY. You will NOT be different if you buy this. No reason for this with what could have been covered in a firmware update other than greed.
The reason that it's not a firmware update is because of the processor, if it had fewer megapixels and a cache system designed for precapture that would just be a firmware update, but the a1 is older than all of the other flagships so it just can't get these features without either another processor alongside it or a completely new one
@@JZTechEngineering The A1 is the Flagship. I have the A1 and the A7r4. A kick butt pair of cameras. I'd like to update the electronic viewfinder in the r4. Other than that it is a solid camera still. Does what I need for sure.
We need the ultimate wildlife comparison between a1ii, r5ii and z9
Why not OM-1 MK II with the 150-400 olympus lens, it's great for wildlife.
@@varunsatbhai7357 Compare photographers, these are all good cameras, good photographer will capture good photos, simple.
A1 ii wins anytime.
@mbismbismb well, Sony is good, I have Sony FF myself. But frankly, all systems are good in 2024.
@@gfxmaniac 8k60?
Is Sony starting to lose momentum and interest in the camera market ? Very underwhelming
I wouldn't be surprised if the Z9ii usurps any performance lead of this camera in a year or less. Nikon's ball now that Canon and Sony dropped there refreshes this year. We'll see if they run with it or choke and leave a lackluster flagship like this one.
@@kalimarus Great points. It's up to Nikon to move past Sony and Canon. I think they will. If they improve the photo features and add RED Raw, then a lot of people will jump over to Nikon because video is the hottest market. It will also take a flagship camera to hold RED Raw.
I would appreciate your comparing the A1 II with the A7R5. I shoot Sony for wildlife/BIF and am considering upgrading from the A7R5, which I bought over the original A1 because of superior autofocus. A1 II offers faster capture, faster FPS, and better electronic shutter, but without putting one through the paces I wonder if the differences are meaningful. I'd appreciate your thoughts.
What Nikon does with a new firmware, Sony did that with a new body!! Nothing much changed actually.
yes what Nikon did with firmware updates on the Z9 made that camera so much better than in the beginning
Nice review, I just bought an "open box" a1 last week for £3500, saving £2750 on the mkii. It does what I need, sure I would have liked the mkii but the saving bought me a couple of decent lenses. Cheers Ian (UK)
As an A1 owner it's just ridiculous. In Europe it costs around 7500€ and for my A1 which has never received any updates I will get around 4000€. So for a small update I need to pay around 3500€. That's a joke...
At this point Z8 with adapter is the best value e mount camera 😂
Except the auto focus is behind Sony, and then the adapter puts it even further behind.
@@RiposteThis Is it really though? Have you used both or just listened to influencers who get these cameras in advance for marketing? Backcountryforums is a great place to look at real world people using these cameras and the difference there isn't near as much as you would think. Keep in mind something like the Z8 is nearly half the price and Sony doesn't have TC primes at all. If the autofocus was so dramatic a difference that it was effecting end results meaningfully you wouldn't see near the level of Z9/8 shooters that there are, it's probably the most popular camera for wildlife. They're picking it for the lenses so the autofocus isn't so bad that it's something they would reconsider. Food for thought there.
@@RiposteThisautofocus is great the adapter is the ftz ii watch watch Matt Granger review of this adapter and older lenses with a Z8 it’s awesome stuff
I shoot astro and I prefer the images on my Z6II with the Sony GM lens more than the images on the A7C itself lol. Especially after I astromodded the 2 cameras and A7C and has way too much optical problems with its own lens while the Nikon has no problem with those same lens using an adapter😂
@@huyballack on wide angle, sensor thickness will reduce sharpness in the preiphery on Nikon bodies. Would affect astro. Been there, done that with Z7II. Of course if you astro modded that will probably change sensor thickness anyway.
8K60fps Will it be upgraded via firmware?
A nightmare for most of the A1 users. A lot of malfunctions admitted by SONY. Are you ready to send your body more than 3 times to repair?
As an A1 owner: this Mark II version is the most underwelming update Sony ever did :(
What improvements do you actually expect or want?
Remember the a9 to a9ii? That was tiny too, especially since the a9 had this amazing update right before the a9ii. I agree this is a minor update.
What would you need then to be satisfied? The better grip from A9iii can’t be an update, it had to be a new camera. I see it more like an other version of the original A1. A1 mkI is still being produced, so you can choose which one you prefer. I’m now interesed in the mark I as a used one. Sony could though make some software updates on the original.
@@kentsoderstrom8378 8k 60, 1 stop of iso improvement, 60fps short burst, 15fps mechanical shutter, when eye af frames don't drop so you keep full 5-9k clear viewfinder, working well single point AF that is fast with a beep, good and multiple sounds for electronic shutter, precapture like a9iii, really good backscreen like hasselblad, retro design as a option (haha) ... that's a refresh. A1 specs should be like that from the start :P all this was released in a year after a1 came to market.
R5 owner...same here for the ii
Just like Apple, the same shit every time, with a drop of fresh pee.
Yea. I get disappointed too when 2024 microwave only has minor improvements over my 2023 model. Gotta wait till 2025 for the bigger difference.
Sony does amazing budget line cameras, I think the A6*** is the best APS-C line currently available. Just like with the R1, I think the A1ii isn't enough of an upgrade to justify release.
If you completely ignore that the a1 was so far ahead of its time that it took Canon and Nikon 2 - 3 years to finally catch up.
@@RiposteThisthat was then, this is now. The A1II is a solid camera but definitely not worth $6500 in 2025
Well said
So the camera decides which subject you want to shoot when subject recognition is in auto? sounds like a headache to me. thanks for the review!
Thanks Tony and Chelsea for this (p)review. Even though I am not in the market for a Sony camera (I own Canon gear) I wanted to express my appreciation for your work.
As a long time subscriber I always enjoy your content, Chelsea’s humour and Tony’s technical insight, and I am disappointed by the seemingly increasing number of nitpicks and negative comments. T&C, please don’t let the naysayers get you down - I am sure the vast majority your subscribers continue to value your content.
BTW - Chelsea’s landscape photos in this were beautiful.
To the people who whinge about sponsor segments: these guys do the work and need to get paid; if you don’t like the sponsor segment just click past it. For those who disagree with their views don’t react like it’s personal attack!
T&C - thank you again and never stop never stopping :)
Thank you for your input. Would you recommend upgrading from Sony a7rv to Sony a1 ii?
Shooting at venues my A1 can reduce banding by modifying the shutter speed but unlike the Canon which auto detect the required speed A1 does not. Does the A1-2 detect the required shutter speed to avoid banding?
Having own the Sony A1 since 2 years now and shooting mainly Aviation photography at Airshows and Birds 🐦 in flight Photography would you recommend me to upgrade from the A1 to the A1 Mark II ? Please...
thanks for testing IBIS, a1 alreay got the firmware update to enhance the ibis since 2.01, i guess thats what it helps it..
It would be great to see a comparison between the Sony A7 R5, and the Sony A1 or Sony A1 ii.
I shoot with both the R5 and the A1 and frankly find the R5 to be far superior in its ability to auto focus when it comes to wildlife, but that’s just my non-technical opinion. Given the price difference between the two is the A1 really worth the price relative to what the S7R5 can do?
A7R5 have 10fps in lossy Compressed Raw so it depends on what you want for. And AF of R5 II is maybe better than A1, but similar with A1 II and it could be even better than A7R5 because of later AI implementation (like More law). With the electronic shutter you do have bad rolling shutter effect than on A1, also in video.
All good points, technically, but in the field auto focus is key when shooting wildlife and frankly 30fps is way overkill even when shooting birds in flight. And I do not believe that the 2x price difference justifies the incremental benefits of the A1. Would like to see what the mark2 for the A7r5 offers if they do come out with one. Don’t really shoot video
Hey Tony, quick question. How you edit like this basically like an iPhone footage when the video is so bright even though your screen is brightness lower like an hdr
Grest point about using KEH, when will your sponsor be setting up in Europe?
Well I was thinking of upgrading my Sony A7R V to this camera but don’t think I will be I’m a bit disappointed in it for sure and they should of made it where it had the 8k 60 at least
Gordon L. measured that the EVF reduced resolution while focusing, did you see that too?
Did Sony address the issue of line skipping with 4k footage in this version?
Hey Tony, do you have any news about overheating? I was so disappointed with the regular A1 overheating.
I'd like to know how is the autofocus compare to the newer Canon R5 II and R1 in sports and action? Is it as sticky and accurate? Is it a huge improvement from the OG A1? How is the image quality in terms of the dynamic range and low light performance? Also, could you try the composite raw function that can be stacked to reduce the noise? Is it better than manually stack them in the photoshop using the median stack? I don't see many youtuber talking about that. I am interested. Thank you!
did I miss it in the specs...still no focus stacking? should have been a firmware update years ago. keeping my A1.
I'm sure it has focus stacking! The "entry level" a7iv has focus stacking.
@@ryukiT3 The A1 definitively does not and owners have been pushing for a firmware update for years.
@@ryukiT3 A1 doesn't have it. Pathetic for real and no excuse
Well, according to Galer's video...the A1 II does have focus stacking, which makes its absence on the A1 original even more infuriating
a1ii has focus stacking
I hope the 4wat articulating screen is replacable. I can see photographers snapping it. What would the cost of repair be?
Interesting that Sony did not go with a larger battery like Nikon. The Z9 battery last a long time.
Not their style. The Z batteries are great without adding much weight.
Sony tends to want to make the best shit while also making it the smallest and lightest. This is their design philosophy with lenses and cameras. Look at that new 28-70 f/2 as an example, they shaved a whole pound off of the Canon while also getting it to perform significantly better.
Great video Tony. I am an A1 owner and it's interesting that the A1 mk2 is making me consider switching to the Z8 rather than upgrading. I should be an easy sale for Sony but as a hybrid shooter when you dig deeper the Z8 looks very good, particularly if your bias is slightly towards video. In summary, this release does not put distance between the Z8 and when you factor in the price difference, Nikon's firmware updates, codec and the future potential of the Red acquisition I feel Sony has created a problem that need not of had. Just my humble opinion.
What for the Z9 II with RED Raw. That will be a game changer. Nikon has no serious competition now.
For a bird photographer, do you think it is worthy the money difference when comparing with A7RV?
The only reason I'm considering it is because of the black out free shooting and the pre-capture. I think both of those things could make it worth it. Just a hard pill to swallow because the z8 and the r5 mk2 have the same options for much cheaper.
Good Videos. I learned a lot of technical knowledge by watching your videos. But when you said you would bring comparison videos with the Nikon flagship and Canon R5ii, why not Canon R1? Even though it's 24 MP, it's a Flagship. I'm interested to see where Canon R1 stands.
Mind-blowing price 😅. Canon R5II costs almost 2,500$ (!!!) less and outperforms Sony A1II in the key functions like AF, 30 fps 14bit speed, video, etc. 😀
Does the sdxc cards work on the Sony A1 II?
For the price of a used a1 on KEH, you can get a brand new one from a very reputable grey market seller, with a 1 year warranty. Why would I want the used one?
KEH is ok for very niche (like an old film camera) or very high end (like a 600mm f4) that these grey market seller don't stock, because the market for them is just too small.
Which drone were you using at Norway Tony?
This is more like a facelift and NOT an upgrade !
Detialed comparison of DR at different ISO in both mechanical and electronic shutter between R5, R5II and a1II
As a professional product photographer I have to say I've owned sony for many years I'm really impressed they are the best mirrorless camera company on the market right now they play ball themselves sony is admirable
Can you apply the in camera luts to jpegs - Fuji film simulation style?
Thank you for continued coverage of gear in world of smartphone photography
I am not sure what you are using to record your UA-cam video, but it comes across as blown out and not good.
Tony having another Sony orgasmic moment about essentially a change of body design. the rest could have been firmware updates, like Nikon who has now updated the Z9 with firmware updates, how many times, fixing small bugs, improvements beyond AF. Even Fujifilm have ongoing firmware updates and improvements. Sony is now catching up with pre capture, something OM and Fuji has build into their camera's 3-4 yrs ago. My issue is with the price. The sensor is the same, the upgrades minimal, they added a button and a new grip on the same old Sony casing. What is clear is that technology is reaching a point where the benefits does not justify the price points.
But despite all the firmware updates the Z9 is still stuck on 20fps and has only 3.9m dot EVF - oh and jpeg pre-capture ! What's with that ?
Why do these higher end cameras not offer 6k recording options if they are capable of 8k30, 8k60 or 4K120. 6K offers up to 50% crop to 4K, which is SUPER handy, and the file sizes are 50% smaller than 8k. It just seems like it's an ideal recording resolution for the average enthusiast.
It has nothing to do with high end. Jus buy a 24MP camera if you want 6K. There are even high end cameras with only 24MP, like the Canon R1 and Sony A9 III.
@@80-80. I'm referring to price when I say "high-end." It seems that only expensive cameras offer 8K recording. If these cameras can record in 8K, they should also be able to record in 6K. Given the price, one would think that 6K would be a recording option. While 8K is impressive, 6K is more practical for most users. I could be wrong, but I would assume few people would need to crop videos by more than 50%. But I would bet most enthusiasts would likely crop videos by 30% or less. I'm just curious as to why they wouldn't include it in a camera like this, or the Canon mark r52, etc. I honestly don't know if it's a technical hurdle or a significant added cost in writing code.
@zoubtube Encoding is done in hardware by the processor, software encoding is too slow. If a particular shooting mode encoding is absent in hardware, the camera will not be able to do it. It can't be added by firmware if the hardware does not support it.
Different encoding modes would require waiting for the next gen processor, and even then the encoding logic might not be redesigned. Doing that requires a LOT of investment, it is not a simple thing. Usually processor upgrades involve things such as node shrinks, increased core counts and IO updates.
@@Tugela60 Thanks for the response
A set up guide for the A1 11 would be appreciated
Any idea why the videos on this channel make my MacBook Pro display auto adjust to super bright?
It’s because he uploaded this video in HDR.
@ interesting, I wasn’t aware that videos can be HDR as well, was only aware of HDR photos. Thanks
Yes please…A1ii, R5ii, and Z8 comparison video would be appreciated.
Can't wait for a side by side video of the new Sony camera vs Canon R5 mk ii.
Wild Alaska hopefully will do it, he's been great comparing the R5ii over the past months.
Thank you for confirming it comes with Sony’s new dual battery charger. You didn’t talk at all about which battery grip you need but at least you can now charge both batteries at the same time the same time. Also like that it still shoots flash at 1/400 of a second. Sure not revolutionary but a solid enhancement if your into action work of any kind with RAW precapture. If you are only shooting stills without motion why is Chelsea even have an A1?
So nice that you visited Senja and not the more obvious Lofoten
Looking forward to more comparisons, and hope you enjoyed Norway :D
Would be great to see an A1ii vs R1 or R5ii. Thanks for covering the A1ii same day as release.
Great video. I have a suggestion. When you're doing stabilization tests, also do the tests without stabilization. That way we can actually see how effective the stabilization is. When you only show stabilization of a1 and a1 ii, somebody would think that it only provides two stops of stabilization, when in reality you wouldn't have 100% of images sharp at the reciprocal rule
Good suggestion!
I've seen other UA-camrs have pointed out the new A1 II's weakness on the AI autofocus. Especially in wildlife. It seems struggled to recognize smaller animals in shade or in a busy background/foreground(like bushes). Some UA-camr has compared it with the Canon R5 II's autofocus. Where the A1 II couldn't find the bird, the R5 II picked it up right away. We want to know your thoughts on the new A1 II autofocus!
We're going to do detailed testing for wildlife, but we need to wait to get a loaner from Sony. Should be out in December, though!
@@TonyAndChelsea awesome thank you! You guys are the best!
The precapture is what Olympus has called procapture for many years. It's nice that Sony is catching up
Would love to see future videos focus more on the Ai and software features within the eco-system that will be showcased in the A1.2
Zero support for a1. Instead a new body with old feautures at high costs. I for myself will never buy a Sony ‚flagship’ camera again.
So the og a1 was launched as the flagship , then came the A7RV with a new ai chip to improved AF, and now the a1 II borrows that chip from the old RV (probably tuned a bit.) needs to be the other way arround... doesn't it?
a7rv came out almost 2 years after the a1.
@@RiposteThis What I mean by that is that the A1 II should have gotten more upgrades.
It's a very mild , (yet needed) refresh.
New Lens 28-70 F2 - Impressive. A1II - like A1. Screen from A7RV, new viewfinder, new price... This is it! No reasons to buy.
This release made me happy, because I know, that my A7IV will be actual for next 2 years, no major changes in future.
no plans to upgrade from my A1. While I love the A1, the lack of significant/useful firmware updates to match Sony's lesser camera's that came out after has left a bad taste in my mouth. Not right for how much they charge for this camera. I won't be fooled again.
Well for all those people were expecting too much...read the naming it called MARK 2 for a reason, just making some reMarks over original camera thats it, not redefinging the physics. The upgrade is perfect for professional who would need to buy a new body anyways, who used their A1's extensively and its close to its usage limits.
Does pre capture work if you are using back button focus?
Yes, if you also have the shutter button half pressed.
@chrisflight6436 but the point of back button focus is you only use shutter when taking shots . So you saying is hold back button for focus then hold shutter halfway .seems redundant. Why use back button for focus at all
@ I agree totally. BBF is totally pointless with modern cameras. Why do two things when one will do all? I used back button focus for 20 years when AF systems where not so advanced. BBF is just button not some magic trick for better focus as some people try to make you believe. Modern AF tracking is so good, AF on shutter button is perfect for doing all at once. On the rare occasion that you want to lock focus.. just use the back button for AF lock. Years ago focus would jump around and by using BBF you could at least control it.
@@tomegan4060 clarification and correction. Pre-capture does work with BBF, you just have to select it in settings. On my A9-3, the options are there and I imagine it is the same in the new A1-2.
I still believe one button AF and capture is better than pressing two buttons at once.
@@chrisflight6436 thank you
I’m familiar with KEH from your previous videos, and I’ve used their services before. However, I find having three advertisements in the same video offensive.
Is Sony trying to charge us thousands for what amounts to little more than a firmware upgrade?
if anything it's a mild hardware upgrade while remaining essentially the same from a performance standpoint
It’s selling for the same price as the a1 … it’s an update to that camera. The a1 is also dropping in price significantly. This is good news for the Sony eco system. 🤷♂️
@@fofophoand both those camera are much more expensive than the R5mii which does 8k60 raw.
From an A1 user's point of view it's a shame. They never brought the firmware update for subject detection in the A1 and now you have to pay the full price for a new one if you just want this feature. I don't care about the AF or other features because the A1's focus is on spot.
@@Haihappen006 According to You Tubers the R3 AF and A1 AF was just ok after the new flagship camera have been released.
Looking forward to your comparative review of GFX 100/s II
Beautifull images 👏👍 Clever review 😉
Kinda like the A9 to the A9II some new stuff, but not electrifying. I mean they brought the new stuff out on the A7RV and the A9III, kinda took the wind out of the sails for the A1II.
It would be cool to see a real life stabilization test to accompany your chart. Thanks!
Ive been waiting for a long time for this new A1 ll to come out thinking it might be the camera that finally gets me to buy something new. But its just not exciting me enough to spend the money. My A7r lll still does what i need it to do.
Great honest review ! Thank you
A lot of malfunctions with the A1. Hope they have fixed because a1 owners are really disappointed
They don’t give a damn about the ones of us that have experienced malfunctioning cameras due to their firmware debacle.
The crazy thing about it was that that game was awesome, too
I just don't get the justification on price in a world that has the canon r5ii. This does not look like twice the camera by comparison.
Depends on what you want/need. You can say that to so many cameras for many people but if you really need what the a1 ii has a R5 ii might be bad. If that's your job and you make money with it you will get the cam if you make enough and benefit from the cam
Looks like a 50% better camera though, not 2x but 1.5x.
That screen alone is a huge deal, it can be tilted and flipped.
Objectively the benefit of the a1 ii is not going to get you 100% improvement in output. In a free market with comparisons this price makes no sense
I hope I am wrong but based on spec sheet its 10% better.
The issue is that they can't really sell it for less than the original a1, so it's a weird spot where this camera would have been better priced at $500 less, or even $1k less because it doesn't have a global shutter like the a9iii
I know its been multiple years since the A1, but it feels like they pushed this out before it was ready... I think everyone was expecting something more, especially from the people who made the A9 III
Not sure who you mean but it has most things I have been waiting for as a wildlife photographer who also shoots landscapes and occasionally sports. Pre capture and enhanced autofocus was what I wanted the most in this upgrade and that has been provided. The boost button for when not shooting at 30 frames per second is also great as when shooting a perched bird you don’t often need 30 fps, but jumping to this when they take off is very useful. The improved stabilisation is also helpful. I will definitely be getting the A1ii to go with my current A1.
@@johnharvey1786 A1 II shows that you can save more on OM-1 mark II with more benefits.
@@pentagramyt417 Agreed to a point. I actually go out taking photos with an OM-1 user. I do envy the light weight of the system, but he does have a few more issues in low light. Also the reduced cropping of wildlife images when you only have 20MP can tricky. However the value for money of the OM-1 can’t be denied and he of course has been teasing me about pro-capture, which has got him some great photos.
I think that, for the price and features: OM-1 mark II > A1 mark II
I’m a a7riii user absolutely love the camera and almost 3 years of use of it and it’s still going strong .
But once it does I’ll definitely be getting that a1 from keh😂
This camera is crazy cheap. I only need to sell one of my kidneys to enjoy it!
I actually sold all my photography gear. If you're not traveling to Norway or on the sidelines of a Jets game it just didn't make any sense to have all that gear. Too much to haul around. A decent smartphone camera is plenty for me. Unfortunately, it took me 3 cameras, a dozen lenses, 4 camera bags, 3 tripods, 2 flash systems and a bunch of lost money before I realized it. Same goes for drones, if you're not actually going somewhere to use them, it doesn't really make sense to have them.
Marketing of Sony 10/10.
She's right, its just a sony A1 wit a software update wit a new body 😅
Really??? Mind blowing???? For 6500$
Thanks, Tony. I'm a full-time professional photographer. I have 2x Sony A1 plus I the 7C2, and I must say I love the new dial. It’s so fast switching between stills and video-it's almost worth the $6000 upgrade just for that. so I’d have to get rid of both, but I might just wait. Besides that one feature, I can’t see any other reason to upgrade.
It's not just a flippy screen, it can be tilted too.
Yes! The Canon R5 & R5 Mark II have a flippy screen. The A1 II has a 4-way articulating screen.
Wonder if Sony could have bumped up the frame rate from 30fps to 60 fps
No because it is not a new sensor and I don't understand that move of Sony, in fact nothing is new.
The screen is major for me. It’s rare I go on a shoot and return without cursing it at lease once.
Looking at this update on the sony A1 mark ii.. I hope they do better on the upcoming sony FX3 mark ii... Or else it will be a disappointment... 😢
If you don't yet have an A1, the A1II is an excellent camera to buy. If you have an A1, instead of upgrading, get an A9III and keep the A1. If you have both, an A1 and an A9III, wait until the A1III with a GS comes out in 2027.
Hoping for the price of secondhand A1s to come down significantly and I can grab one of those.
RIP 8k 60fps
The A1 should have been the A1 mk2 body and the AII should have been an firmware update for A1 like Nikon Z8 did.
Thanks Tony and Chelsea for great videos! May I just point one thing out. The sound from the DJI mic is awful! Not pro sounding at all. The sound in your video was always good before you started using them. Sorry! 😬
Is that a promotional video??
The A1 II proves that Sony has nothing technologically new to provide in this year.
You for the next 4 years.
Way outside my price range. I’ll stay with my a77ii. And I froze my butt off in tromso at end of oct this year!
Well, Wegener compared the Af compared to the Canon r5m2, and the Canon was better. So, the flippy screen and pre capture is the only significant upgrade. The manufacturers are jerking us off at this point. Why is Nikon the only one making built it TC? Why is Canons AF superior, but their dynamic range suck and only one CF B slot? I am cynical by nature, but I can't help to believe these differences are no longer by chance.
Anyone guess Sony a7 V will get AI focus and body???
Yes it will get both.
I was disappointed the Mark II still doesn’t do oversampled full width 4k. My Z8 does full width oversampled 4k/60 and 8k60p both of which I use regularly. I don’t shoot sports and wildlife but I bought the Z8 because it has the best video of all the high resolution cameras.
The nikon z8 still king and way better camera for less money in every aspect
@@alivarasteh IF THAT JUST HAVE FREAKING RAW PRE-CAPTURE!!! Why they've done that! :| Why they got stuck with jpeg.. I won't ever believe this camera is not capable to do at least 10 frames of pre-capture in raw.. damn it
Why does everyone give Tony a hard time ? They say he didn’t do a fair review of the Nikon z6iii then they say he talks to much about keh. You know you can skip ahead of the ad section. I respect his opinion even though I may not agree with it sometimes. He’s not that bad 😂.