Sony Alpha 1 PHOTOGRAPHY review (res, DR, ISO, RAW, AF, 30fps) 2 months

[@longrider9551]

Gordon the amount of time and effort in this review is clearly evident, you are one of the few youtubers who can be trusted to yield accurate results

[@cameralabs]

I spent TWO months testing the Sony Alpha 1! Here's my review for stills. Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/2KRt26q // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3trQqsI Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Sony Alpha 1 samples: www.cameralabs.com/sony-alpha-a1-review/ 01:22 - Controls 02:42 - Connectivity and cards 06:16 - Screen and menus 07:22 - Viewfinder quality 11:22 - Battery 11:54 - Design vs Pro DSLR 13:35 - Sensor and shutter types 17:40 - IBIS / stabilization 18:41 - Image quality, resolution, DR, noise 27:17 - Autofocus, Burst shooting, Birds 34:41 - Final Verdict #sony #a1 #alpha

[@MegaWeitzel]

The upcoming viewfinder comparison is very interesting and a very unique test. Thanks

[@cameralabs]

@@MegaWeitzel thanks, yes it was nice to do a different kind of test there.

[@geraldundone]

Great work, Gordon! 👏👏

[@cameralabs]

thanks Gerald, I really appreciate you saying that! You've really been consistently knocking it out of the park on your own videos, and that's encouraged me to try and up my game. As you know, it can be hard to go into the depth you always want to due to the seemingly incessant supply of new gear consuming your time, and starting a new channel hasn't helped (!), but I enjoyed trying some new things in this video. i actually thought of your spinning tests when trying to devise an EVF refresh demo, but finding a way to capture it (when they're refreshing at up to 240hz) AND present it in a meaningful way has eluded me so far. But the EVF resolution test was fun and gratifyingly revealing too! Thanks again!

[@geraldundone]

@@cameralabs Your EVF test was fantastic. I'm honoured by your kind words.

[@patricksmith2553]

Great review. Amazing specs, but I still think Sony is asking the same price as the Nikon and Canon flagship's yet it's not built as well, most likely not weather sealed as well and definitely has much shorter battery life. My Nikon D5 and D6 easily get 5000 frames per charge, and more like 8,000 at a sports event where you are using high fps. Admittedly the specs do best anything currently from Nikon and Canon, but most potential user and buyers who are photojournalist and sports photographer's do not want or need 50mp. I think it's an amazing camera and if all I did was wildlife (which I do, but on the side) I would consider the A1. But after being a Nikon and Canon flagship user for over 20 years now, I would find it difficult to pay $6500 for a camera that feels like a Honda vs. Abrams Tank! Plus they don't even include the vertical grip and there is no add on wifi device, which means limited range and slower transfers. I use the Nikon WT-6a wifi transfer devices, even on my D6 which has built in wifi, because it's easier and faster to use and has up to 600ft of range, and can trigger/control up to 10 other camera's. Plus like you said the buffer can't compete with the other flagships, which just go forever and you're looking at double the cost for half the storage. I've held an A9 and A9 II and they do feel pretty solid, but not $6500 D6 or 1Dx solid. Period.

[@TheSpade357]

@@patricksmith2553 Not everyone wants a behemoth of a camera like the Canon and Nikon you've mentioned. I'm glad Sony stuck to a more compact route to attract more non Pro users also. I travel a lot and prefer the Sony's smaller system. I thought about the Canon R5 until I saw and held it in person. My time with the behemoth camera days are gone. The best camera is the one you would likely carry with you so I chose the A1.

[@patricksmith2553]

@@TheSpade357 Oh I fully agree with you, most people don't want a large and heavy camera and I'm in a niche segment of the market. I'm a photojournalist and therefor I do like the larger camera's and what they offer, most people don't have my same needs. I love the better build quality, vertical controls, extra buttons, extra battery life, and feel/ergonomics. All I meant is Sony is competing price wise and slot wise with the A1, but it's not quite on the same level. Sony's President admitted the A9/A9 II were not as well built or weather sealed as the flagship Nikon or Canon pro bodies. No one would argue that, or least you shouldn't and an add on grip is never going to be as tough as a built in one. So those are just my thoughts, Sony is asking the same price but delivering less and then on top of that asking users to spend $450 on a vertical grip. Obviously people like you don't care and don't want the vertical grip, and you're probably in the majority. Either way people like myself are going to still prefer the larger one piece flagships. Another reason I love my Nikon D5/D6 bodies is that they balance better with larger lenses, all of my lenses are big and heavy. I like the way the f/2.8 zooms and my 500mm f/4E VR FL balance with the flagship body.

[@seanimal3]

I actually like the smaller size! Because you can make a smaller camera larger but can't make a large camera smaller. Not to mention when traveling a big camera attracts a lot more attention.

[@JonathanPetersonlisten2EITS]

This is undoubtedly the best review of this camera to date. Thanks, Gordon. Love your book btw!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, and thanks also for buying my book!

[@arildhagen3820]

The high powered yet small form factor is the selling point for me. After shooting wildlife you can quickly rebuild your camera to be a holiday/street camera once the batterygrip and the 600m f/4.0 is replaced with the body only and the lens is fitted with one of the new small factor lenses. Even when using the camera on a rig or gimbal the smaller weight and form factor makes it easier. The bodies with build in batterypack are what there are and cannot be reduced in size or weight. Bringing a DSLR style body out shooting street photography seems like taking the Hummer H1 to the kiosk for the sunday newspaper instead of the snappy scooter. That my 2 cents.

[@paulmasson4351]

Great review, hit all the key points, no hyperbole, just straight forward real world testing. Well done.

[@cameralabs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Blackriver69]

Never seen anyone turn off ads during video much less a review. Thanks it made the viewing much more enjoyable.

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome! Everyone has different business models, and while mid-roll ads do boost revenue, I find them really irritating, so in some cases I will turn them off to improve the experience. For example if I have a sponsored segment.

[@MLee-vcrr]

Gordon, you've done it again! Exhaustive, competent, and very much appreciated. BTW.. I love your consistent use of that Sigma 40mm Art (crazy sharp). The A1 vs. R5 test was perfect... keep up the good work man!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! I put everything into this video!

[@cameralabs]

@@njrtech that is literally what I said in the video, did you watch the part about the birds?

[@Jimbo5063]

Another great review Gordon. I really appreciate your extremely detailed reviews. You answer every possible question. I am stunned that anyone could give your reviews a “thumbs down”. Keep up the great work.

[@ncmotorcyclist]

I really think that in order to give a thumbs down a comment should also be required to give the reason.

[@ianbrown704]

In a world of click bait its refreshing to get a brilliant and comprehensive and actual user review. great work.

[@cameralabs]

That's what i aim for!

[@paulgarland3146]

Thank you Gordon for the most comprehensive review. Couldn't resist buying you a coffee in recognition of your considerable effort. I currently have the Canon R5, having moved from Sony a few months ago. But have just discovered that I'm unable to use second/rear current sync in conjunction with bulb on that camera so am returning to Sony. Debating between the A7R iv and A1 and your review has helped no end.

[@cameralabs]

Glad to help and thanks for the coffee! PS -if you're into video, i have a separate review of the movie quality and features. Sorry I don't go into much strobe detail as it's not my speciality.

[@nine958]

That AF is crazy good. Regarding the built-in grip. I actually prefer Sony's approach of giving you an option. If the occasion requires you to use a grip, then use it. But, let's say you don't need the grip anymore, e.g. you want to be more discreet, you have the option to remove it. Anyway, another great review. The time and effort you put in here are very appreciated. 👍👍

[@sh8736]

Agreed I would never buy either the Nikon or Canon top end body as they are too large and heavy for me

[@cameralabs]

So far all the comments have said the same regarding a preference for the smaller size!

[@andreas7278]

Very nice review, you put in lots of effort and took the time to realistically get to know and test the camera and only released it after 2 months.

[@AlfonsoSalgueiroLora]

Thank you Gordon, this is the best review of the Alpha 1 I’ve seen to date. It is very timely for me as I already tried it for a week and will try the Canon R5 soon. I am into the Sony system now but was Canon user for years. I think I might be coming back to Canon as this is a very expensive camera that offers features I don’t really need (30fps, 8k video) and comes at a considerably higher price than the R5. It seems to me that Sony has been trying to target high end pros with their recent cameras. I still don’t love the ergonomics and the very old lcd screen of The Sonys. Cheers!

[@joachimschranzhofer5566]

I actually like that the Alpha 1 comes in a compact body. I can always add the VG-C4EM vertical grip that gives me full pro body features and space for two batteries. Still I have no issue to mount the Alpha 1 on a gimbal or configure a very minimalistic rig for traveling.

[@rochditidjani]

The most thorough review I have seen of the A1 I have seen anywhere.

[@rvg1997]

I prefer the A1 body style. If I want to go smaller using small primes or zooms I can or when I do my wildlife shooting I add the grip for better handling using my long telephotos or long zooms.

[@MomentousGaming]

Same, as someone who grew up with SLRs I really like the small body compared to DSLR's which always seemed to just get chunkier.

[@cameralabs]

Yes, that's definitely an advantage it has over the bigger cameras.

[@lukacsgutasi490]

Magnificent and detailed review. You make THE BEST reviews. Period. 🥇🏆

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, this one took a long time!

[@sosomelodies659]

The mobility of a smaller body and the option to add a battery grip to balance bigger lenses is much more practical in my use case.

[@joewellham1]

Same, best of both worlds IMO

[@GilbertTang]

I own an a1. Received on day 1 of public release. Well done as usual. One thing I’ve noted after also testing the R5 on birds with the RF 70-200 2.8 (a lovely lens), is once the detection box locks on it does stay on pretty well as you depict. And I also agree that the a1’s detection box sometimes won’t update as frequently and sometimes seems to be missing the eye. However, when I actually review the photos, it’s clear the a1 is actually super, super locked on to the eye nonetheless, even with the Sony 70-200 2.8 GM (as you also pointed out), which I consider pretty long in the tooth. It’s freaky how good it is, plus zero blackout and high refresh. It’s just the detection box isn’t updating as frequently as it should. I think this is a bug. And while it might be minor, it has pulled me out of the moment a couple times where I thought I missed the shot and actually didn’t. Hopefully an update smooths this out. Meanwhile, the R5 shows the box on the eye and even with native glass I noticed the hit rate was quite a bit lower when actually reviewing the photos at my desk, not to mention the blackout especially on that first shutter press (which also pulls me out of the moment, and likely cannot be changed with software). Don’t get me wrong, the R5 was overall great and well up to the task. But I’m terms of actual results at a desk (and not on the a1’s comparatively terrible LCD panel), overall speed (FPS, locking on, staying locked on in more complex situation, etc), the a1 was clearly superior (astounding, really). But $2400 more superior? As far as this one feature, I’m not too sure. As far as the whole package, especially if you have a use for it, then it becomes much more palatable. I don’t regret my a1 at all (currently also own a6600, a7S III, and a7R IV). I often feel like I’m wielding superpowers while using it. Thanks for the review.

[@GilbertTang]

I also want to note that in terms of audience, I think I’m very much in the pocket. Our little company shoots effectively anything from stills to video. The idea for the a1 was, in concert with my other cameras, to have it as a B cam to the a7S III for video, and an A cam to the A7R IV for stills. My partner shoots Canon (which is why I tested the R5 at length, including doing a direct comparison commercial video shoot with both the a7S III and the R5). He decided against the R5 as he’s a video first shooter and even with updates it simply wasn’t where we needed it to be due to recovery times. Instead, he opted for the C70 to complement his existing C200 and EOS R. As I’m a stills shooter first, the a1 was something of a dream camera for me. But, practically speaking, once I realized how much cross compatibility there was with my existing gear (vertical grip, batteries, obviously glass, K3M, and even slots in my camera cases given its compact size), plus the fact that it gave us reliable 8K (primarily for stock work, punch-in flexibility, and straight up downsampling via the Ninja V), it became more and more of a rational decision. The size is exactly what I want. Being able to remove the vertical grip and make the camera look and feel as minimally invasive as possible while still having all the power it offers (not to mention handheld gimbal and aerial use, which, yes, we also do since I’ve been flying for about a decade now), and while not compromising on I/O, is just such an incredible gift. The R5 is lovely, no doubt, and I definitely don’t care about camera brand flame wars. People make great stuff with all kinds of gear, especially when they’re not just waiting for the internet to tell them what to do or believe. I’m rooting hard for Canon, Nikon, Fuji, etc. But as far as the audience for the a1, I think I’m right there.

[@Russet_Mantle]

Thanks a lot for providing the exact numbers for the EVF resolution vs framerate trade-off. Very few reviewers care to go into testing for these details. When I set the refresh rate to High I always clearly see the resolution is lowered, but I never knew lowered by how much.

[@cameralabs]

I enjoyed presenting that EVF test as I've not seen anyone else do it yet...

[@andrear9500]

This is a review at its best. And thanks for disabling ads, it made watching much more effective. Thank you!

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome! Hope it doesn't cost me too much!

[@6gwilliams]

I used the Canon 1DX and Nikon D5 with those built-in grips and I miss nothing about carrying around those heavy bricks. As an award-winning photojournalist for over 44 years in the business, I much prefer having the choice of using a battery grip or not that my Sony cameras give me. FYI, I own A1, A7RIV and A7SIII. Thanks Gordon you are one of my favorites for sure. Cheers

[@Zefah]

Great review! Thanks for the video. I strongly disagree that it should have a larger body size. I wouldn't buy the camera if it were a fat 1DX sized camera. Also, very minor point, but the A9ii gained the ability to have the shutter close when the camera is turned off in a firmware update.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, I didn't get an A9 II to test so I'm not 100% familiar with it.

[@Ramage7070]

Gordon, another great review of a really impressive camera.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it took ages!

[@KeithCarmichaelInFL]

Your reviews are truly inspired! I am not at all interested in this camera, but I watched the whole review because I feel like I learn things to look for while watching your reviews!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! I do try and film them so that anyone who's simply interested in the tech or market will enjoy them!

[@silversulu]

That sealed it; you get my subscribe, Gordon

[@cameralabs]

Glad I got you in the end!

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

Best job at explaining all the viewfinder settings on all reviews I have watched for the A1, and I love the rather long format of this review. It covers it all and it is easy to follow along, because the huge amount of information is not just machine-gunned into ten minutes. Thank you, Gordon :-)

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@rjgmedia6298]

Excellent work Gordon! Finally a review that honestly reviews the a1, instead of of repeating the marketing, you make a point of calling out that Sony says “a 9.4m dot evf with 240hz!” But in typical Sony fashion, they can’t both be used at the same time. I wish all reviewers would jut be honest about the camera instead of just fawning over anything Sony (cough Gerald)..

[@cameralabs]

Glad you liked my tests. Don't be harsh on Gerald though, I'd rate him as one of the best reviewers on YT. He does very thorough work and tests a lot more than most out there. Things like spotting dual native ISOs when they're not reported in specs, discovering ways to trick the HDMI into outputting oversampled video for instance are two things I wouldn't have picked up on.

[@rjgmedia6298]

@@cameralabs perhaps, and he is highly technical, but he skews tests to where the Sony will perform better. He also never calls out the Sony deficiencies, for example he refers to the Sony’s “amazing 9m dot evf that can do 240hz “ but doesn’t mention that it can’t do both. He comments about its 30fps, but doesn’t indicate the special conditions that must be met to use it, and if you turn on lossless, you are immediately stuck to 20, and with a mechanical on 10, the R5 is technically faster. Is that mentioned in his review?No. How about you can’t record raw with the Sony but can on the R5? Mentioned? Nope. How about that the R5 can do 12bit internal? Where’s the Sony can only do 10bit.mentioned by Gerald? Nope. But he does call out the overheating of the R5. But does he didn’t mention if you just dumb down the bitrate of the R5 (to where it’s still better than the sony, but not 2600mpbs) it won’t overheat?, nope leaves that out. He doesn’t mention any of the af deficiencies of the Sony like you did compared the the R5. I mean I could go on and on. So while he’s being ridiculously technical, the overall reviews look at everything through “Sony colored glasses” and it’s disingenuous to People looking for real world examples and comparisons. He calls it the “best camera in the world” when there are literally a list of reasons the canon R5 is better, one of which includes its half the cost.

[@dangn5017]

i’m so glad you finally released this review i’d been waiting for. thank you!

[@cameralabs]

You're very welcome, i hope you watch it all!

[@dangn5017]

@@cameralabs Yes, this particular video of yours I watched its entirety because this is such an interesting camera of all time, in my opinion. Moreover, I have pre-ordered it and waiting patiently for it to be shipped next week. I'm planning to make use of it for many years to come. To other long videos of yours, sometimes I just listen to them throughout via earphones while doing other works, or while driving! I really appreciate your truly in-depth reviews of the details that many other reviewers lack, but I do care to learn about. For 1 example, in this video, you included the comparison between EVF settings. Over recent years, your reviews have been very educational and fully informative to the photographic gear that I am interested in purchasing.

[@datdudeinred]

I salute you too to actually make that long of a review Gordon 😅👏

[@brucegraner5901]

A very thorough review broken down so even people not familiar with Sony cameras can appreciate your evaluations.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@sirbondman007]

Kudos to you sir: you produced a terrific expose on this camera and I truly enjoyed it in its entirety.

[@cameralabs]

Thankyou!

[@TaylorTeets]

No, I don’t want a larger body size. The grip option is the best approach for accommodating both. Plus, I like that the body layout is the same as the other cameras, which makes it very easy for users to upgrade without having to learn a new button configuration. When it is good, there is no need to change it.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks for the feedback, it seems like most people are preferring Sony's strategy here...

[@stevemurnan1702]

Another great unbiased and factual review.

[@cameralabs]

That's what I am to do!

[@jeffluo9591]

What's wrong with a vertical grip when needed? Personally I don't want a big square body like the Olympus, and the E-M1X wasn't very popular to begin with. Great review nonetheless.

[@cameralabs]

I definitely see both points of view, and it is nice Sony are doing something different, I just personally wanted something a bit different from their earlier bodies...

[@jeffluo9591]

@@cameralabs Yeah, such a high-end body looks pretty much the same as the cheap a7iii. I think their logic is to make accessories compatible to all of them. Sony is also developing a drone to carry any of these cameras to shoot in the air, so they have to be the same size and weight. Video shooters would also prefer smaller body to work with a gimbal. The a1 has so many use cases, It is hard to catering for all. Only sports shooter might prefer integrated vertical grip for more comfortable hold, but they should be fine using an attachable grip as well.

[@jeffluo9591]

@@cameralabs One more thing, you said "Put it this way, as I’ll show you in a moment, it’s way better than the electronic shutter on the EOS R5." but later you never showed us the side by side comparison of E-shutter on both cameras. I would really like to see the difference of rolling shutter on the a1 vs R5 using E-shutter, please.

[@cameralabs]

@@jeffluo9591 you can see it in the clips showing the birds through the viewfinder - as they go off the side and I pan quickly, the Canon ones become elongated. I agree though an actual still photo would have been helpful. I may be able to add one to my review at cameralabs.com later.

[@jeffluo9591]

@@cameralabs Thank you so much.

[@ryantang8146]

I bought the Olympus EM1X three months ago and is now selling roughly half the price when it was originally released and it is absolutely a beast. I took it out for a few shoot of wildlife shooting during moderate rain and it had no issue whatsoever while my mates were so careful with that full frame Sony A9 and A9 ii. The Olympus body feels much more solidly built than the Sonys and yes the performance of it isn’t as great and the autofocus is as good admittedly but we compare images when compare with the 300mm F4 lenses. We can’t tell there is much of a difference when it comes down to image quality of the birding images. Maybe a fraction better with the Sony but the difference is subtle. People don’t realize with more zoom image and able to get closer than the full frame counterparts, you can make up the difference in wildlife photography. It is just that everyone now is pushing for full frame mirrorless

[@OzzieTech]

Thank you for turning off the midroll adverts. I do find that they really do deter me from watching a lot of video's now days. Some vids have adverts every 2 Min and it becomes way to much. Worst was when a video I was watching kept having a 3 Minute advert keep trying to play mid way though without the option to skip. I am fine with adverts at the start and end of videos but I do feel mid roll adverts are becoming too much. one of the reasons as lot of us come to watch youtube videos over normal TV is the ability to not be bombarded with adverts and sadly youtube has gone the wrong way with all the mid roll adverts. Maybe 1 mid video advert ( skippable ) would be ok but a 15 min video with 5 midroll adverts is too much. I hope you and other youtubers work on cutting down the midroll videos. I myself disable midroll videos on my videos as i like to respect my subs and people watching my videos. Btw when I win lotto I will def get a Sony A1.

[@elaineflo01]

someone has to pay for all this...adverts help the creator and the watcher...

[@NikCan66]

Always thoroughly enjoyed the experience and review standards that not many youtubers can ever hope to reach

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@davidlewis5929]

Great review. As a little background I primarily do wildlife photography. Personally I am glad that they kept the camera without the built in grip as there are very few times in which I need the extra battery life and I am happy to carry around another battery in a pocket to keep the reduced weight with the camera. I know it doesn't seem like much but the 700 grams (1.5lbs) difference between the A1 and 1DXm3 really starts to add up quickly. The one body design feature I wish they would have removed is the frame rate dial as it blocks the ability to control that through the memory recall settings. I would love to be able to switch focus settings, shutter speed, and frame rate with one dial rather than two. Something that I have discovered over the time using an A7R4 with wildlife is it is amazing how many birds and running animals that have flaps/strides that are easily divisible by 5 or 10 meaning you end up with very similar shots throughout a burst. This can lead to some really frustrating times as you discover the focus as nailed the animal looks great in against the background but the wings are blocking the eye in all 20 images you got or the stride is in that mostly stretched but not full awkward stage, so you have a bunch a "meh" and not "wow".

[@cameralabs]

that's an interesting observation about cadence...

[@gordonSM]

I'd rather a small camera with options to increase the size than a large one with no option to reduce it's size. Excellent review.

[@sunil3135]

Great review! The best independent review of A1 so far.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@marksnellingphotography]

As always an excellent review Gordon.

[@krazyfrog]

To quote Jurassic Park: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”

[@cameralabs]

Ha ha! That's very good!

[@scb2scb2]

After owning the A1 for 2 weeks now its a amazing beast lots of small details to find out, but even then you found so many already in this review ! was a great help in making my call to order one before they become (maybe?) production restrained.

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome! Check out my movie .mode review too!

[@scb2scb2]

@@cameralabs Already did, hacking on a smallrig l-bracket for my A1 while watching... well when f1 is not on :). Also testing how fast the usb-c charging is and seems about >1% per min. It might infact be faster then the external charger...

[@kevinastley2562]

Just bought the alpha1, thanks for a great review Gordon. Helped me make up my mind over going Nikon with the Z9. Great form factor, amazing how they have packed so much into that body. Love the Z9 but it's like carrying a brick around compared to the a1. Thanks again.

[@cameralabs]

Glad to help, it's a tremendous camera

[@amitchattopadhyay9367]

Very detailed and nice review Gordon. Thanks.

[@cameralabs]

You're very welcome!

[@leonarddavis8449]

I found the Sony stick on grip make the handling of the RX100 so much better, Very helpful video, well done.

[@paulhills1967]

A superbly detailed and well thought out review. Many thanks for all your hard work.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, i hope you get to watch most or all of it!

[@paulhills1967]

@@cameralabs Yes, I watched and enjoyed every second.

[@thatjordandrake]

This is an incredible review Gordon! The EVF portion alone was revelatory!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! I really enjoyed doing the viewfinder comparison as I don't think i've seen anything - or much - like it before. I'm a bit annoyed I didn't try it in AFC to measure any reduction there as some cameras definitely reduce their viewfinder res when continuously autofocusing. I also spent ages trying to work out how to capture and present EVF refresh rate, but it's proving tricky! The whole video took so long though i'm not sure I can face making part two on the video side!

[@adrianlewis799]

No adverts. Stills only review. Liked and subscribed!!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! I'm working on part 2 for video at the moment!

[@robertdouglas9345]

One of if not the best A1 review out there! Thanks!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! Did you also see my review of the video capabilities?

[@robertdouglas9345]

@@cameralabs yes I did but I am purely a still image person. I am still learning the ropes with my A1 and your video certainly shortened my learning curve!

[@joakimthorne5172]

Fantastic review

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it took a LONG time...

[@RockyMaiviaMiami]

@@cameralabs how long very curious, you can really tell.

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

I really dont get the appreciation for heft, I much prefer a detachable grip than one i cant remove.

[@rwilifeandtravel]

Fantastic detailed review. I look forward to some of the features trickling down to the more affordable models. By the way, now that the A-mount has essentially been discontinued I hope Sony will finally introduce the a77/a99 articulating screen to the E/FE mount cameras. It's far more versatile than their standard articulating screens.

[@cameralabs]

Yes, that would be interesting...

[@jonspoard8416]

Thank you Gordon for your hard work. The best reviewer out there.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, this one was a mammoth review!

[@cogmission1]

Thank you for you're hard work! I appreciate your efforts as I'm currently deciding.

[@AR-vf7vg]

The ONLY critique I have to this again excellemtissimo video is to have mentioned (at around 38min) the fuji's specifically 'médium format' sensor-size wile I argue now that this term should not be used even less in this context of argument (because it is much under-sized to the "real" 'medium format', and not much bigger than 24x36mm "fullframe"). (I'm not saying this fuji should not have been mentioned at this place. Anyway, its more a message to the ones here that perhaps need to know rather than to Gordon.)

[@frankfeng2701]

Look forward to A9III with A7S3 video specs and A9ii photo spec.

[@TechnoBabble]

Might not happen, considering the unnecessary nerfing of the video in the A9 and A9II I wouldn't be surprised if the A9III is another "stills only" body.

[@billbaum2586]

Gordon, well done mate. One thing to point out on the Canon and Nikon pro bodies is the need to add an $600-$700 accessory wifi connector. Nikon was charging a stupid amount of money for their plug in high speed wifi connector (of which I bought one for the D4 and another when the D5 came out) and they were a huge pain to set up connections. Canon is similar in their requirement for an add on wifi connector. Sony having that built in is miles ahead. While their imaging edge software/app is poor (I’m being kind) it is light years ahead of what Canon and Nikon offer on their pro cameras. So I’m looking at a cost of $5,800 (if you deduct the cost of the wifi dongle for the Sony vs a D6 at $6,500 + $630 or 1D Mk III at $6500 + $649 for the transmitter).

[@town3]

I just got my A1 and thank you Sony incredible!!!

[@cameralabs]

Check out my review of the movie capabilities too!

[@town3]

@@cameralabs yes I did a few times lol excellent work Gordon.

[@ww2916]

Great review! I am a former Canon shooter. I do not miss the top lcd at all. I love that it does not have a built in grip. I am planning to purchase. I shoot wildlife, landscapes and occasional sports. I currently shoot an a9. The added resolution and improved video make this a great choice. Cropping on wildlife photography is sometimes needed, 50mp will help.

[@OccultDemonCassette]

I'd prefer an optional battery grip that has some bells and whistles like an LCD display and extra knobs/buttons rather than it be built directly into the camera body, personally. I just don't like being forced to always use such a bulky body for a pro model.

[@keibro13]

Thanks Gordon. Great review. I now have an A1 in my hands and I am happy, so far. As to its audience, I shoot a mixture of landscape, sports, portrait and street, so the A1 seems to fit my needs. I also appreciate its small form. If It had come with gripped body, like the 1DX, I would not have bought it. I have a Smallrig L bracket that works admirably as an extra grip, with the added benefit that it’s very light. The main attraction for me though was the stacked sensor. It provides a good all-round platform, much like the A9, but with better resolution. That being said, I am hanging on to my A9. It still has its place.

[@cameralabs]

It seems like everyone prefers the smaller size!

[@cherylatkins7600]

How do you like the a1 for shooting street?

[@keibro13]

@@cherylatkins7600 It’s probably overkill for street, but yes it will handle pretty much anything. If I was choosing a street camera per sé I would probably go for something smaller, such as the A7C.

[@cherylatkins7600]

@@keibro13 Thanks Keith. I appreciate your input. I’ll check it out. Cropping ability is huge for me because I live in a city that is pretty dangerous and can’t get close.

[@cherylatkins7600]

@@keibro13 It has 24mp like my a7iii (which I love) so not enough resolution for cropping. I’ve been a Sony shooter for several years and have been through a few bodies. The r4 is just not fast enough with moving subjects so I’m trading it in. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@GregThurtle]

great review Gordon. The alpha-1 is a truly impressive camera with a few quirks.. low rez non-touch interface panel is a weird one at that price point is a strange decision. Esp given the best in class EVF. One thing i love about mirrorless is the ability to use the rear screen to compose my images. I already have to use the evf on my r3 to check images because it's better quality. I think it's the right decision to have an optional grip as it means you can add one if you need it but makes it appeal to a wider range of pro's like nat-geo types etc. tilt only screen isn't too much of a deal breaker as I can't imagine this is a vloggers camera (target market wise) - but they could have used the a6400/6600 tilt above screen so that people had some options with that - though fully articulating screen like the a99-ii would have been an option. A good review of all the features even if its out of reach for most of us mere mortals - does make it interesting whether the r4 is a better choice for hi-rez folk and is 'good enough'. the real USP ifor me s that electronic shutter and the ability to shoot at 30fps with no distortion and a step beyond even the a9ii with the tuneable shutter speeds too. the a9 series made a compromise on IQ for that e-shutter that is no longer the case with the a1. Of course the elephant in the room is what this means for the a7iv which was an affordable a9 in many ways. Interesting times in mirrorless right now. We now have Sony, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic making great full frame mirrorless cameras.

[@tchlin]

Great work here Gordon. IMO I'd rather have the choice of adding a battery grip or going with a smaller setup than just be stuck with a larger setup with no choice to downsize.

[@ShashankKatiyar0]

I find your dynamic range investigation method very practical. I was previously using Nikon D7100 and recently switched to Lumix S5. To my wonder (and dissatisfaction), I feel that my D7100 has better dynamic range than Lumix S5. Highlight recovery isn't as impressive on Lumix S5. What do you think about one video, dedicated to testing the dynamic range of bunch of cameras (using a similar method you currently use)?

[@cameralabs]

To be honest I really dislike post-processsing, I prefer to capture everything in-camera, so the ability to push or pull shadows and highlights doesn't interest me. I include it out of thoroughness, but I'm not into it myself, so I'm not the right person to make the video you want!

[@philscanlan7321]

Stellar review, great work as always. Keen for the video centric review 👍🏻

[@cameralabs]

Hopefully that won't take another 2 months!

[@mcr8759]

Great review! Hopefully others also buy you a coffee, your work is very appreciated. I do think small size is a huge benefit for even the high end mirrorless cameras like the Sony A1 and Canon R5, they are so good especially when you can take them everywhere and not be out of place.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it will be interesting to see how popular the pro Nikon - and possibly Canon - bodies will be.

[@kenmack9571]

A truly great review for anyone contemplating spending megabucks looking for camera perfection . Unfortunately this review shows that it’s never quite achieved even if you are chasing only technical features .Every design from every manufacturer will involve some area where they fall short of others regardless of price. So here lies the brilliance of your review Gordon it provides the evidence that spending over £6000 on a camera body just for stills is clearly only for those with very deep pockets. One must wait to read your video review of the Alpha 1 to judge this on a hybrid basis where it will likely gain some significant improved performance gains. Evening then the Canon R5 at half the price will probably keep most high tech photographers happy . Existing Sony still users would probably stick with recent lower priced Sony models and the lack of the fully articulated touch screen on this flagship model will significantly reduce its appeal to the younger aged hybrid shooters. Whilst there will always be some sports orientated users attracted to this model your major point of a lack of integral battery grip design that other brands at this price point will offer will make this Sony offering a difficult sell. They say our post Covid world may never be the same for many things and I think that most people will be looking at value for money as the economic impact on the photographic marketplace bites ever harder on the creative community.

[@myshuvids]

A pro review for a pro mirrorless- that still looks like a DSLR. Excellent 👍

[@cameralabs]

you're welcome!

[@errantarcher]

Great review, Gordon, as always. You pose a couple of questions: Am I interested in the Canon or Nikon DSLRs? No. I'm already in the mirrorless world. Am I waiting for Canon or Nikon flagship mirrorless? No. I already have Sony G and higher lenses. Do I want a built-in battery pack like the Olympus EM-1X? Definitely NOT. I can change a battery and value smaller form factors and less weight. Will I by the Alpha 1? Right now, no. I'm not needing a new camera. In the future? Possibly.

[@stevemurnan1702]

Sony may release an A9III to compete with the R5 at a price point similar to the R5.

[@tkarlmann]

THE best a1 review, period.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! Have you seen my part two all about the video?

[@tkarlmann]

@@cameralabs My main concern in photo.

[@mjfotografiedeNeuried]

Thankfully, the A1 has no built in grip; I can always choose to put it on when I need it, but I have the option to leave it off.

[@cameralabs]

It's definitely a benefit for those who prefer a smaller body.

[@JohnScaneArt]

Best reviewer out there - Thanks!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks John!

[@71Enno]

Thank's again for your great work and content, Gordon! 👍 I love my A1 but all the points you mentioned I agree 100%. I need more than 1 body and therefore I am still using my A9II and A7RIV as well but the A1 is the camera that is able to do it all...My main wishes are the options for focus stacking, the fully articulated screen and the pre capture function you mentioned. Happy Easter and many greetings from Germany! 👍 🙋‍♂️

[@cameralabs]

Glad you're enjoying your A1! Do you like the size and shape or would you prefer a built-in grip?

[@71Enno]

@@cameralabs I would prefer a big grip and therefore I am using a battery grip on all of my Sony cameras. Many greetings, Enno 🙋‍♂️

[@longrider9551]

Love my Sony camera but he is right about the rear LCD screen, c'mon Sony the high end models need to have high end/hi res screens

[@ronaldakins5338]

Thank you for such great unbiased reviews.

[@cameralabs]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching them!

[@Heckiguide]

Hello Gorden, thank you very much for your great video. Here are a few hints and questions: - is the sensor very sensitive to dust? You can see which on your pictures (e.g. from 20:37 min). I thought it should be better with the protective clasp? - can the focus magnifier also be used with AF-C? On the A7RIV or A9 it does not work in AF-C mode, which I find very bad - can you adjust the focus on the lens manually in AF-C? With the other cameras mentioned above, this is only possible with MF or DMF, which I also find quite disappointing. - As you mentioned I find it disappointing that a camera as expensive as the A1 does not offer focus bracketing. I hope Sony will bring a firmware update soon (also for the existing cameras) - for everyone who takes vertical pictures - close to the ground - the display is poorly designed Many Thanks!

[@schwartzmatthewe]

Best a1 video to date BY FAR!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@BrentODell]

I, too, would be interested in seeing an integrated-grip body from Sony. As far as I can tell, currently only the Olympus E-M1x and the Fujifilm GFX 100 have it in the mirrorless world. Of those two, the E-M1x is the only one that's really in the same vein(use cases, target audience, etc.) as the large Canon/Nikon bodies.

[@jlramos3d]

Best reviews you cand find. Great job!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! This one took ages!

[@Zap09060]

Great review Gordon, 👍🏻 Did you face the EVF blackout issue while shooting in direct sunlight ??

[@stuartmeador8993]

Great review.. Thanks... I appreciate that you are working some of the very fine Sigma lenses into your reviews... while they maintain image quality, their lower purchase cost allows photographers to enhance the lens portfolio and still get a high quality, more sophisticated camera body.

[@OBrandt-i5c]

I personally strongly prefer the smaller, more compact form factor of the Alpha-1, over the built-in gripped models. It is a deliberate decision Sony made, to NOT make the camera bigger than it needed to be, by adding in a built-in grip, but offering a separate grip for folks who need that.......a decision made, for good or for bad ! Of course if the buil-in grip, while adding the additional mandatory bulk, also adds another 10FPS, that will be something I can accept, but that does not seem to be the case here. However, I do accept the argument of needing better visual/functional differentiation between the the R1 and the A7/A9 models before it, since the R1 is positioned as a new, more expensive and higher-end model vis-a-vis the others. Visual/functional differentiation in terms of more substantial body, big enough for 2 higher-end card slots (2 CF-Express B slots ?), more buttons etc.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

So I'm silly and own Sony A7RIV and A9 and a full slew of Sony GM/G glass. But as a long time Canon shooter have kept my toe in their pond and now have an R5 and f/2.8L trinity. Your review tells me with my head I should get out of having both systems and sell the Canon and pick up the Sony A1. If I sold my Canon (again - did that when I left Canon 3 yrs ago) I could buy the A1. Question now is I'm waiting to see what the R3 will be since I used to own 1DIV and 1DX and always put a grip on my non-gripped bodies for both systems. What to do? Thank you so much for your reviews always and I hope you enjoy the cup of coffee or tea I'm forwarding on.

[@barrymurphy5548]

Superb as always Gordon, really looking forward to the review of the video side of the A1.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@barrymurphy5548]

@@cameralabs I fear I may have to whack down a deposit today to secure an A1 , which is before I see your review on the video side of things with the A1, so I hope I don't find out I've made the wrong decision ! :)

[@cameralabs]

@@barrymurphy5548 believe me, the video is very respectable! PS - if you're ordering from B&H, please consider going to them via my link here or at cameralabs.com thanks!

[@barrymurphy5548]

@@cameralabs Cheers Gordon, good to hear ! And alas being in Ireland B&H can't ship an A1 to me due to restrictions and Wex is no longer viable due to Brexit, bloody pain !

[@cameralabs]

@@barrymurphy5548 bah, I was going to suggest WEX as well. Who do you buy from in ireland?

[@dariuszeksterowicz7894]

Hello Gordon. As always, a great and factual review at the highest level. I hope that when the Nikon Z9 shows up, you will make reviews

[@cameralabs]

They need to send me one first or even invite me to briefings!

[@JoseHernandez-ir2sm]

Appreciate you doing the most complete and objective review of the A1. Sony's flagship camera is not in the same league as the upcoming Canon R1 or Nikon because of the lack of a built-in grip; adding the accessory grip has not worked for me in the a9 or a7RIV. Moved in January 2018 from Canon because of Sony's mirrorless advantages but that is changing fast. Initially liked the left side twin knobs to control the AF & the shutter speed in the a9's but with the a7RIV, realized that I can change those settings internally rather than relying in knobs particularly when hand-holding the 400 or 600 Sony lenses; so in my opinion these no offer any benefit to me. Same concept applies to button C3 that could have been moved between the Af-On and AEL buttons. That way I could operate all the shooting functions in the camera just with the right hand The compensation wheel is too stiff to rotate and that would have been fine before the lock button was added but now is annoying. Failure to provide a built-in GPS is a big flaw for me by having rely in another external device (iPhone) to carry in the field and that has to be reset every time the camera or iPhone are turned off/on. Failure to use the CF Express cards type G another shortfall and I assume Sony continued to use the SD size cards due their fixation with small bodies. I have no problem with the present tilting LCD except for their continued to use the same poor definition one probably to save money while bragging that the a1 is an all "brand new camera.

[@Heckiguide]

I feel almost the same as Jose, so I totally agree with him. I don't understand why Sony's new top model is getting such an old monitor. In contrast to Jose, it bothers me a lot that it can only be rotated horizontally: for vertical photos close to the floor, the A1 is unfortunately just as bad as the A7RIV or A9.

[@JoseHernandez-ir2sm]

@@Heckiguide An as a slap in the face Sony just announced and improved 2.36 million dots LCD for its a7/RIVa less than 3 months after releasing its innovative "professional" Alpha 1.

[@shadyninja1]

Canon and Nikon will always show others how to make a solid pro body

[@nyambe]

I feel that those huge brick like cameras are a heritage of a time when they used film and it was very important to protect the body since you only had one copy. I feel today portability is probably a better value since pros carry 2-3 bodies at least. Made it to the end

[@jackbrumby1892]

@@nyambe I accidentally dropped my Nikon Z6ii on to concrete two metres down. Only a scratch. try it with your Sony A1.

[@jonspoard8416]

And it's still early days regarding firmware for the A1. Look what Sony done with the A9.

[@ryanvacation7319]

Former Canon 1DX shooter here who moved to the Sony a9 2 years ago. Very happy with my choice but I did notice though my 1DX was noticeably much better built then my a9. Understandable since the a9 is cheaper. However, I hope the a1 matches the built quality of the 1DX series since it is in the same price range now.

[@cameralabs]

Again I've not knocked any of them around, but the A1 feels a lot like the A9 to me. The higher price are the components inside.

[@TheRealHarrypm]

Might as well leave ads on all videos tbf, only phone users don't use adblockers these days and anyone whos a power user is blocking them at the network level.

[@TW-iu9zy]

... best a1 review so far, thx a lot! 🙏🏻

[@cameralabs]

That was my aim, thanks!

[@phoenixvette]

watching this as I play with the credit card I just got my A1ii with. My plan is to never sell it BECAUSE it's multifaceted. If video gigs take off I'll get an FX, if my photography takes off I'll get the next A7R or other brands. I'm ready to do a crap load of work with this camera.

[@smokejumperhg]

Great review Gordon. Thank you for putting in the effort and hard work to make these reviews. Are you able to comment on how noise levels at higher ISOs compare to A7R4 or Sony A9ii?

[@cameralabs]

All I can do it point you to my reviews of the A7r IV and A9 (1) and see how they compare.

[@Inkognitohaloramics]

Great video Gordon! Thank you so much for the work you do! Quick question: I’m seriously considering selling my Nikon gear and switching to Sony. Do you think it makes sense to get an A7r4 or would you recommend a different body? Thank you!

[@cameralabs]

Why do you want to switch?

[@Inkognitohaloramics]

@@cameralabs Sorry for the delay! I want to switch for a couple of reasons: 1. Nikon has been much slower than I expected in getting lenses out for their mirrorless system, and Sony has all the lenses that I'm looking for (and great 3rd party support) 2. They seem to be pushing the envelope when it comes to camera technology while Nikon (and for a while Canon), seem to just be catching up. Not just in terms of auto focus, but also lenses, one example is the size/weight difference for the 50mm 1.2 for the Z and the E mount. 3. While I primarily shoot landscapes, I've been getting more and more into wild life photography, and the Sony cameras seem to be better suited for fast action. I'm not too invested into Nikon, I have a Z7, the 24-70 f4 and the 70-200 f2.8

[@benharveyphotography]

How do Sony cram in all of that technology into that tiny camera body, and the next question, what do Canon and Nikon use all of that ‘spare room’ for in their pro cameras?!? Great review as always :-)

[@cameralabs]

that's where you keep your sandwiches. - the difference between a pro and a beginner...

[@theusbadenhorst1848]

Discerning viewer of very great taste. You say! Great review. Thank you. Im going to buy it for it's versitility.

[@cameralabs]

Great choice! PS - if you're ordering online, please do consider checking via my links, thanks!