SONY A1 GEAR
WHAT A TEAM!
Sony’s flagship A1 sets new standards for video and stills performance that rivals can’t match MIRRORLESS MASTER
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
W hen Sony decided to show the rest of the camera world who is the boss by unveiling its latest flagship mirrorless, it wasn’t good enough to simply deliver a staggering new camera. So, the lens department (and even the mobile phone division) were roped in to construct the ultimate modern imaging system. The result is this: the Sony A1 with the 50mm f/1.2 G Master lens and Xperia Pro smartphone. Each one is an incredible piece of kit. But together, it’s something no other manufacturer can match, due to
sensor which allows incredible speed, then builds on it with video and stills spec that has never been seen in a single camera body. The stacked sensor and super- fast dual processors mean there is zero viewfinder lag or blackout. This is truly the only way to shoot stills of sport and fast-moving action to rival an optical viewfinder. Non- stacked sensor cameras are OK, but for professional sport use, nothing comes close to the uninterrupted view of a camera with this feature. Until now, the only mirrorless cameras to have it were Sony’s A9 and A9 II – which are incredible for sport, but at only 24 megapixels, aren’t high enough resolution for finely detailed commercial work. And the video spec is not great, as it’s 8-bit only and no Log. For video performance, you need the Sony A7S III, which is a simply stunning camera, with 10-bit 4:2:2 internal capture in up to 4K/ 120p, plus Full HD in up to 240fps. And superb AF, too. But at only 12 megapixels, 4K video is the absolute maximum, and the stills are decent, but not really suitable for serious pro stills use – if super-detailed files are required. For that, you need one of the Sony A7R range, like the current Mark IV. It’s not the fastest camera
Sony’s dominance in electronics. The only hiccup is whether you can justify the asking price for the lot, which is over a cool ten grand. Starting with the camera, Sony revealed not only the highest- spec, full-frame mirrorless camera ever, but the one with the largest price of £6499/$6498 for the body only. With GDP down the drain and people worried about their jobs right now, it might surprise you to find it’s sold like hot cakes – with waiting lists of several months. It’s because the camera really leverages Sony’s unique advantages, such as the stacked
DRIVING FORCE Shot wide open at f/1.2 for shallow depth-of-field, the bike stands out from the background (below)
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