Sony today launched the second generation model of its flagship Alpha 1 camera. In line with the company’s famously poor naming conventions, the new camera is called the Alpha 1 II.
The original Alpha 1 was the Swiss Army knife of mirrorless cameras and was critically acclaimed for its incredible high speed photo and 8K video capabilities. The Alpha 1 II borrows the same 50.1MP full-frame stacked CMOS sensor but pairs it with a new AI processing unit.
This improves autofocusing capabilities, which can now detect a more diverse range of subjects in addition to humans, including animals, birds, insects, and various types of vehicles. It can also estimate human posture and track a person even if he or she is moving or looking away.
The Alpha 1 II also improves in-body image stabilization, which is now rated for 8.5 stops at the center of the frame (up from 5.5 stops) and 7 stops at the periphery. The new camera also has a pre-capture mode, which lets you capture a moment just before you press the shutter, in case you’re too late.
The Alpha 1 II has a new and more artistic display. Instead of rotating on a single axis like the previous model, the new display can now fully rotate in every direction along 4 axes. The digital viewfinder also has a new deeper eyecup that comes with the standard version. The camera body has also been redesigned with a better grip and more shortcut buttons.
Connectivity in the new camera is largely the same as before but Sony has upgraded the Ethernet from 1Gbps to 2.5Gbps. Finally, the camera comes with a new BC-ZD1 charger, which can charge two Z batteries at the same time. The rest of the camera is more or less identical to the original 2021 model, meaning it’s still an incredibly powerful and capable device without much competition in its segment.
The Sony Alpha 1 II is priced at $6500, and will be available from December 2024.
