Sony unveils 50-megapixel A1 with 30 fps shooting and 8K video capability

Sony just dropped a bomb on the camera world with the launch of the A1, its new flagship full-frame mirrorless camera with breakthrough features. Thanks to a new 50-megapixel Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor and state-of-the-art Bionz XR processor, it offers shooting speeds of 30 fps, 8K 30P / 4K 120P video and much more. With all this, it can easily take the Canon R5, but it is significantly more expensive.

The key feature of the A1 could be its incredible speeds. It can shoot 50.1-megapixel images at up to 30 fps, with autofocus and autoexposure enabled, using the electronic shutter (that’s 1,500MB / s of data, Sony noted. ). At these speeds, you can capture up to 155 compressed RAW files before the buffer fills up. Speeds drop to 10 fps with the mechanical shutter, but they’re still superb considering the super high-resolution sensor.

Plus, you’ll get a blackout-free view of those images thanks to the “first” 240Hz OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with incredible 9.44 million dot resolution and 0.90X field of view. It’s similar to the EVF found on the A7S III, but the A1’s EVF has double the refresh rate and a wider field of view.

At the same time, the A1 has a standard ISO sensitivity range of ISO100 to 32,000, expandable to ISO 50 to 102,400, so it should perform well in low light. This is thanks to the ‘backlit [sensor] structure with integrated flawless lenses and AR coated sealing glass, ”according to the latest sensor lingo from Sony. It also has improved color reproduction and up to 15 stops of dynamic range. If the 50-megapixel resolution is not enough, you can use Sony’s Pixel Shift Multi Shooting feature to combine up to 16 shots into a single 199-megapixel image.

If you prefer video, you can record 8K 10-bit 4: 2: 0 at 30 fps video internally (to SD or CFexpress cards), using the full width of the sensor. You can also shoot in 4K up to 120 fps with full sensor readout, or use 5.8K upsampling if you’re shooting with a Super 35mm crop.

You can also shoot with 10-bit 4: 2: 2 color detail and S-Log or hybrid log-gamma (HLG) modes, using Sony’s latest HEVC / H.265 code with intraframe encoding . If that’s not enough, you can send 16-bit RAW video to an external recorder. The A1 also features Sony’s S-Cinetone color matrix found on its Venice, FX6 and other Cinema Line cameras. One downside for video shooters and vloggers is that the rear screen only flips outward, and not like the A7S III.

The rolling shutter has been an issue on previous Alpha cameras, especially for video. However, Sony has promised that a new anti-distortion shutter reduces this effect by up to 2.8 times. Sony has also introduced an anti-flicker mode to reduce the flicker caused by artificial lights when taking photos using the electronic shutter.

Sony also offers “unmatched autofocus,” with real-time eye tracking for photos and videos, which covers humans, animals and birds. Tracking algorithms are working faster than ever and with 30% better accuracy than the A9 II. The A1 also offers 5-axis stabilization in the body, including an active video mode which Sony says is “very effective for handheld shooting.”

All of these features are contained in a full-size 737 gram (1.63 lb) Alpha body, but Sony promises you will be able to record 8K / 30p or 4K / 60p video continuously for 30 minutes without overheating. It’s clearly a shot above Canon’s arc, as the EOS R5’s continuous shooting times are more limited by overheating.

Just like the A7S III, it also includes dual SD UHS II and CFexpress card slots, so you can save your work on the fly and choose between cheaper SD UHS II or faster CFexpress formats. Other features include a full HDMI port, mic and headphone ports, a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 port, an optional multi-interface shoe with digital audio and, yes, a gigabit Ethernet port. It also offers the industry’s fastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi speeds. When it comes to battery life, you’ll get up to 530 photos on one charge.

However, you will be paying for all this power. Pre-orders start tomorrow at $ 6,498 body-only, $ 3,000 more than the Canon EOS R5. However, the A1 is now Sony’s flagship for professional photographers and videographers, who don’t mind the price for a second. Shipping is expected to begin around February 25.