UPDATE: Sony has just announced the a1 as their new flagship mirrorless camera. Please stay tuned to this page as this story is developing…
Everybody waits a long time for the one. For imaging professionals “the one” is the one camera that can do it all. The one camera to rule them all. The Sony Alpha 1, or a1, is that camera. An unbelievable array of high-end specs makes this mirrorless flagship the one to beat. A quick look reveals a brand-new full-frame 50.1MP Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor capable of 30 fps full-res shooting; 8K 30p and 4K 120p video in 10-bit 4:2:2 with no recording limit; all the latest connectors, including full-size HDMI, Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and 5GHz MIMO Wi-Fi; and that is just scratching the surface.
A New Flagship
Sony makes a lot of cameras. Seriously, one could say they make too many cameras with 10 full-frame mirrorless models to choose from today. The a1 brings that up to 11! However, the a1 comfortably sits above the rest as Sony’s definitive flagship mirrorless camera. It is so definitive because it manages to balance the features of multiple cameras to create one all-encompassing model. The a1 brings together the stills prowess of the a7R IV, the video spec of the a7S III, and the speed of the a9 II and improves on each in their respective categories.
Look at these key specs:
- 50MP full-frame Exmor RS Stacked BSI CMOS sensor
- 10-bit video at up to 8K 30p and 4K 120p
- Continuous shooting up to 30 fps for 200 consecutive frames
Compared to the 61MP a7R IV, the a1’s advanced 50MP Exmor RS stacked BSI CMOS promises to deliver better low-light performance up to ISO 102400 without sacrificing much in terms of raw resolution. Compared to the 4K-shooting a7S III, the a1’s higher-resolution sensor can create high-quality 4K at the same frame rates and color depths while also enabling 8K 30p recording. Compared to the well-connected a9 II, the a1’s lightning-fast AF system and sensor can hit an incredible 30 fps at double the resolution without slowing down for 200 frames. What more could you want in a single camera?
For all these years Sony’s advantage has been a willingness to differentiate between their various lines, providing the near ideal match for different users. Want video? Go with the a7S series. Sticking with stills? The a7R is pure resolution. How about traditional sports and wildlife? The a9 is for you. Sony brought all this knowledge and experience into a single, impressive package called the a1.
Original Story Below
Sony might just be making an early case that 2021 is going to be this company’s year. Just a couple of weeks after launching the well-reviewed FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens, another major Alpha announcement is set to roll out on January 26, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. EST. As for the theme, Sony has only teased a cryptic tagline of, “The one never seen.” What that means is anyone’s guess, but I think it’s safe to assume we can get excited for something big.
Right now, since there isn’t much (or any) information to share with you on what this new Alpha product could possibly be, you only have a couple of options. You could make a calendar reminder and sit and wait for 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday to roll around. Or you could head down to the Comments section, below, and give us your best guess on what you think is coming. The second choice seems a lot more fun, but you should definitely do both.
You won’t want to miss it—so save the date (January 26, 2021, at 10:00 A.M. EST) and come back to B&H for the latest news!
