Sony a1 II | Full Camera Review

[@dfj555]

Looking forward to your Canon. R1 review.

[@peterebel7899]

Don't watch the review, just put in your order!

[@ИльяТкаченко-р3п]

Thanks Christopher!

[@maverick9708]

Great to see you again Christopher. Have a blessed day :)

[@adrianofeliciano6525]

Dublado para português do Brasil ficou demais! Até comecei a seguir o canal. Parabéns 👏🏼

[@JasonMorrisphotocinema]

I would have loved to shoot any premier league game with that 🔥🔥🔥

[@hikertrashfilms]

What lens would you use, 400GM?

[@StYfReX]

@@hikertrashfilms 200-600 is the way

[@hikertrashfilms]

@@StYfReXyou are high as a kite if you would shoot a Pro Game on that slow lens at night… 🤫

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

It's a great camera. But I suppose it should be priced around US$5000-5500 considering what the competitors are offering.

[@nickwilliams7867]

Agree about the price, I do feel Sony's line up is missing that mid range stacked sensor option. Maybe that will be the A7V or will it have a partial stacked sensor like the Z6III

[@kevinrtres]

Totally!

[@JeffDvrx]

so all in all it's a freaking monster, as expected

[@Your_Egyptian_Papi]

We need more “goooood eeeevening” intros

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

Ghould Evening, to you too! That is one way to change up your intro... 9-)

[@watch4joygroup441]

Great review, thank you

[@Soundwave857]

3:20 the camera already does tracking when you half press the shutter, no need to set it to a extra button.

[@christopherfrost]

I find it way easier to use the AF-ON button than trying to keep the shutter button half pressed for a long time

[@Soundwave857]

@@christopherfrost aah fair, i forgot how bad and mushy the shutter button on the full size sony's are. the a7cII and apsc cameras have a very nice tactile click at the end

[@hedydd2]

Well done, you got it right.

[@stefan_becker]

I hope this one will get more and better firmware updates than the Mark 1 version of the Alpha 1.

[@SilatShooter]

It feels like at this stage, many of us here are well entrenched in a lens mount system, so as expensive as this, it would be too expensive to jump ship to a different system and sell and re-buy all new lenses. I can't just this camera as much as I'd love one. So will admire from afar...

[@Ben_Stewart]

I guess Nikon isn't the only company reusing old sensors. I can't wait to see what the Nikon Z9/8ii have in store maybe next year.

[@hendrickziegler8487]

It wouldn't be Nikon-like to refresh cameras without a need for it. Both of these cameras are still perfectly fine. A Z5ii or Z7iii are way more likely contenders for their next camera launches. I'd rather expect Nikon to pour their resources into developing more of the small f/1.4 primes. Or some z50 clone yet again. Though I don't know what they could remove this time.

[@sturm3n]

When you test Sony video stabilization, I recommend also running the video through the Gyroflow application in post-production. This is a very common workflow, and gives Sony the edge over video stabilization from Canon and Nikon and all the rest.

[@livejames9374]

Doesn’t it add a significant crop?

[@kleec495]

Need a lot of patient to capture this moment considering how wasteful City have been recently

[@geekcommentator8567]

Hello Chris, huge fan! Would you mind please confirming that this camera can shoot 120 fps in crop jpeg mode? No one else is reporting on this. Kind regards, Ben.

[@christopherfrost]

I'll double check with Sony, but it looks like I may have made a mistake, and that it's actually just 30fps

[@geekcommentator8567]

@ thank you!

[@ralfgeollegue5272]

"G O O D E E V E E N I I N G G" -Christopher Frost, Twice

[@mambiproductions8960]

No 6K 60p could be a deal breaker for some.

[@supragyadhiman2023]

good evening lol, great review!

[@lcvlorenzocevavalla8592]

I have a question about pre capture function on the new SONY A1 mII. Why it is not possible to use this function with single shooting mode? In the majority of cases the “magic moment ” happens before the shot and not after so you don’t need the picture after but only before! I actually work with two A1 and I always use single shooting mode so it would be nice to have the possibility to choose how many pictures I want to have before and at what speed (fps) I want them even using single shot.

[@karlnotyourbusiness4429]

As a mk 1 city supporting sports shooter I'm not sure whether I'm more jealous that you had the MK2 or you got to shoot at the Home of the Champions. Jammy so and so!

[@HISPEKK]

When are you testing the 28-70 f2 cheers for Great video.

[@christopherfrost]

In a week or two a video should land :-)

[@HISPEKK]

@@christopherfrost great love your tests

[@LOOKINGFOREXPOSURE]

Hey! That's the Sony α1 Mark 1.1

[@error8418]

I wonder how many of the new features could have been a firmware update.

[@DayBotKnightBot]

@@error8418a few, BECAUSE IT HAS AN AI PROCESSOR AND UPDATES COMPUTERS ON BOARD

[@TW-iu9zy]

… 😂 … not so much.

[@jimmyqballs]

@@error8418 A lot of them lol

[@alphaandomega2709]

Jealous much? 😂

[@agentofthewild684]

It's a beautiful camera, my friend has the first a1 and it's extremely capable, but I think you could do so much more with $6000 dollars. You could really get more capability with better use of $6000. You could get 2 different and cheaper camera bodies, then combine those with a few nice lenses. That a1 is beautiful and capable, but it won't do you much good if you don't have a set of nice lenses to go with it. I personally would buy a used set of nikon cameras or panasonic cameras with a variety of lenses. If I owned sony already, then it makes more sense, but I would rather have an fx3 for video and a a7r4 for photography. That's just my two cents. I would love to have an A1 II, just like I would love to own a Ferrari! Thanks Chris for another great video!

[@StYfReX]

If only it came with 4k60 oversampled, or more fps in 8K... or some 6k mode

[@HagaishiSama]

Awesome video as always 👌🏿

[@Battlem0nk]

I don't need but want the A1 II. About to pull the trigger..... but with all these comments deeming it a lack luster refresh I am doubting myself. Last time I succumb to temptation it was the Fuji X-H1 which turned out not to have aged well.

[@hendrickziegler8487]

Not a Fuji boi. But what is wrong with the XH1? It is getting old. But apart from that?

[@Battlem0nk]

@@hendrickziegler8487 X-H1 launched reusing the same old sensor/processor in the aging X-T2 that was already on it's tail end. Shortly after the X-T3 released with everything new overshadowing the X-H1. It's flagship status was short lived. The camera works but people viewed it as a mistake/flop by Fuji's part. It's timing was off. I continued to use the X-H1 for 4yrs until A7RV replaced it but sure dampens your pride in owning one. Fuji learned it's prior blunder releasing the X-H2 & X-T5 with the same generation of hardware. Feel déjà vu with the A1 II.

[@jeroenvdw]

Can't wait for mine to arrive around next week! My crypto went sky high so I had to make some purchases to lower my taxes. Can't complain though ;)

[@kevinrtres]

Looking forward to the A7V review..(this one is too expensive)...! L.O.L!!!

[@GavinDoran]

**Would love your opinion! I shoot lit, environmental portraits commercially and am also a photojournalist. Daily, I also shoot street photography. If price isn’t a factor and it’s for professional use, do you go with the Canon R5 II or the Sony A1 II. My main concerns are low light performance, fast AF and tracking, and skin color accuracy. Thanks in advance and great video!

[@christopherfrost]

Honestly, they're both essentially as good as each other for those purposes - any differences will be very minimal

[@GavinDoran]

@@christopherfrost appreciate it! cheers!

[@friendofarca6550]

@@christopherfrost hm, no there are differences your review does not touch not to to speak from the fact that canon is a closed system ! the a1 is in every regard the better camera.

[@christopherfrost]

@@friendofarca6550 Yes, there is more lens choice on Sony E

[@friendofarca6550]

@@christopherfrost …more ? i would say much much more, sigma alone is offering many very great but also unique lenses at a fraction of what canon wants. i also have no doubt that sony is leading in lens design too, the camera is only one factor in real world af performance.

[@nickwilliams7867]

I love my A1, it excels in everything I shoot apart from moire. No reviewer ever talks about this issue, which is a major problem with all high MP cameras. Try shooting a presenter in front of a LED wall. The moire is a pain in the ass, forcing me to put the A1 down and pick up my A9mki .

[@friendofarca6550]

hm, maybe you need to use flicker comp and shutter timing ?

[@nickwilliams7867]

@@friendofarca6550 That will have zero affect on moire only banding . I know every trick in the book to reduce the chance or moire. It's just much harder to avoid with the A1 than it is with my A9MKI .

[@jimstirling7223]

Honestly despite the camera X is better than camera Y at some aspect. The reality is that in skilled hands with those who learned to use their respective AF systems correctly in real life use the differences are trivial . If you cannot get good results with any of the higher end bodies Z9/Z8/R1/OM-1II /G9 II the camera is not the problem. Christopher is thankfully not in the clickbait YT gang with their wildly exaggerated claims. I use mainly Nikon Z and m43 I recently added the A7cr for a smaller fun combo and it is exactly that.

[@amcluesent]

Camera of the year!

[@hikertrashfilms]

It should been called “α1ai” for the AI Chip. It has the same sensor, CPU and Video Codecs as the original α1. This camera does not deserve the name “α1ii”

[@miba8303]

Overpriced

[@TW-iu9zy]

… a bit, but not so much. 😏

[@mcchicken9342]

Sony classics.

[@highlyunprofessionalreviews]

It's time Sony came out with a new camera body design.

[@LESLIE_Q]

18:37 I have prepared the money for upgrade to A1ii, but after Sony announcement come out, I have changed my mind.

[@myon9283]

Lens, AF and small body made me stay in sony camera ecosystem

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

The next review will be 28-70 f2 GM 🤞

[@christopherfrost]

In a week or two a video should land :-)

[@friendofarca6550]

professional photography is more than sports and right now there is no other camera and system on the market which serves different commercial photography applications better. there is also no real dynamic range disadvantage, the measured difference between the a1 and the a7r5 is tiny, not to forget that canon only gets there with backed in nr even at low iso ! for advertising portrait, fashion or life style work i do not see a better camera on the market today.

[@bilibilix4007]

Bro should have waited for this Manchester derby 😭😭🙏🏼🙏🏼 (still awesome tho)

[@mathu_stans]

God Bless Christopher Fost. Your Insights have shaped my journey in photography in very significant ways. If you ever wish to *photograph wildlife in Kenya, consult me. we can even collaborate where possible

[@christopherfrost]

Thanks!

[@marleenvandam6931]

As shooting the Nikon Z8/9 and the Sony a1 in the family and exchanging them regularly , the a1 AF still destroys the Z! I am convinced the new a1ii is the best camera you can buy now.Some say overpriced compared to R5 and Z8? depends on the value you give to the best !

[@TW-iu9zy]

@@marleenvandam6931 … correct! 👍

[@iguanaman08]

It is overpriced but considering you can buy a greater range of third party lenses. This will bring the overall price down. Plus I can see Sony reducing the price in a few months.

[@kayt4553]

Has Sony ever lowered the price for the a1? Answer is a clear: NO (until recently of course since the announcement of the a1 ii)

[@TW-iu9zy]

@@kayt4553 … no problems with that, if it’s to extensive why not buy an other camera?

[@iguanaman08]

@@kayt4553 Maybe this time they will reduce the price if sales are low. If they are selling well then they won't reduce the price. We'll just have to wait and see.

[@Tegneaufreak]

Still don’t understand why stabilization on a 300 euro gopro is perfect and on a 6500 euro body its unbearable to watch.

[@L3ON360Z]

There's more mass to stabilise I guess

[@DA-yd2ny]

I think that the market is now (overly) saturated with this kind of ILC hybrid cameras. I wish Sony would upgrade their RX 100 Vii to compete with the highly successful Leica Q series and other point and shoot.cameras.

[@jesuschrist2284]

115mm would be more suitable when photographing citeh

[@Hornwiesel]

130mm now

[@stefanbadass5357]

Ho Hum....

[@kevinastley2562]

Shame on you Sony. A1 should have had pre burst! That’s why I have left the system.

[@TW-iu9zy]

… so you should be glad with your new system - not need to „shame“ for Sony. 😄

[@angelo26l81]

R5 ll still beter

[@TW-iu9zy]

… 🤔 … no.

[@pentagramyt417]

OM-1 mark II still better ☝☝

[@airjaff]

You didn't mention that the z9/8 wipe the floor with the video performance and features

[@christopherfrost]

I'm not sure about 'wipe the floor' but I did mention at least twice that the Z8 and the R5 II are both a little better spec'd for video

[@airjaff]

@@christopherfrost not a little. I got this from chat gpt cause I couldnt be bother to write it myself Here's a detailed, side-by-side video specification comparison between the Nikon Z9 and the Sony A1 Mark II, with a focus on highlighting what the Z9 offers that the A1 II does not: --- 1. 8K Recording Nikon Z9: Supports 8K 60p internal recording in 12-bit RAW (N-RAW/ProRes RAW). Can also record 8K 30p for up to 125 minutes without overheating. Sony A1 Mark II: Offers 8K 30p internal recording in 10-bit 4:2:2. Continuous recording is improved but still limited due to heat management, not matching the Z9's extended duration. Advantage: Z9 (higher frame rate at 8K and better thermal management for extended recording). --- 2. RAW Video Recording Nikon Z9: Records internal 12-bit RAW in both N-RAW (efficient codec) and ProRes RAW. Sony A1 Mark II: Does not support internal RAW recording. External RAW output is available via HDMI to compatible recorders but lacks internal options. Advantage: Z9 (fully internal RAW recording eliminates the need for external recorders). --- 3. 4K 120p Recording Nikon Z9: Records oversampled 4K 120p from 8K, offering better detail and sharpness. Sony A1 Mark II: Records 4K 120p internally in 10-bit 4:2:2 but does not oversample from 8K. It uses pixel binning or line skipping depending on the mode. Advantage: Z9 (oversampled footage results in superior quality at high frame rates). --- 4. 4K 60p Full-Frame Nikon Z9: Provides 4K 60p full-frame with no crop, maintaining a wide field of view and high quality. Sony A1 Mark II: Offers 4K 60p but applies a 1.24x crop in certain modes. Advantage: Z9 (no crop ensures better usability for wide-angle shots). --- 5. Internal ProRes 422 HQ Nikon Z9: Supports internal 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ, a professional codec widely used in post-production. Sony A1 Mark II: Does not support ProRes codecs internally. It uses XAVC HS, XAVC S, or XAVC S-I formats. Advantage: Z9 (ProRes 422 HQ is highly efficient for professional workflows). --- 6. Heat Management for Long Video Recording Nikon Z9: Can record 8K 30p continuously for 125 minutes without overheating. Sony A1 Mark II: Improved heat management compared to the original A1 but not capable of such extended durations at 8K. Advantage: Z9 (more reliable for long-duration high-resolution recording). --- 7. N-RAW Format Nikon Z9: Proprietary N-RAW format provides compressed 12-bit RAW with lower file sizes for easier storage and editing. Sony A1 Mark II: No equivalent format available. Advantage: Z9 (N-RAW combines RAW flexibility with efficient storage). --- 8. Focus Assist Tools Nikon Z9: Advanced focus assist tools, including focus peaking and zebra patterns, are optimized for video workflows. Sony A1 Mark II: Also offers focus peaking and zebra tools, but the Z9 is often regarded as slightly more customizable for pro-level video. Advantage: Z9 (better implementation for advanced focus assist tools). --- Conclusion: While the Sony A1 Mark II is a versatile hybrid camera excelling in stills and high-quality video, the Nikon Z9 stands out as a superior choice for video professionals with its internal 12-bit RAW recording, 8K 60p support, oversampled 4K modes, and unmatched thermal management for extended recording.

[@80-80.]

Why does it take so long for photonstophotos to get his hands on this camera? Everyone is waiting for the truth about the dynamic range.

[@jeroenvdw]

I think they rely on test results from other people. So nobody tested it properly yet

[@TW-iu9zy]

… the DR should be nearly the same like the a1. What do you expect? 🤷‍♂️

[@80-80.]

@@TW-iu9zy We expect a little worse but hope it stays the same.

[@TW-iu9zy]

@@80-80. … hm, why should it be a little bit worse?

[@mathiaserichsen8177]

@@80-80.My Sony rep told me that the DR on A1 II is better than on the A1 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@elzonn]

Mann sonys menus look so dated its insane.

[@HungTran-wf3gu]

Wait premier league let u in with a telephoto len?😮😮

[@alexmirza5210]

Anything but silly football.

[@fib621]

2nd!

[@myotakueric]

First 😎

[@hasanagera]

Third