By: Jim Decker
The Sony a1 on paper looks like the “one” camera to rule them all. With high resolution (50mp), speed (up to 30 fps stills), and 8K 30p/4K 120p video, can this camera live up to being a jack of all trades AND master of all? After testing the camera in the waters of Bonaire and the Socorro Islands, the short answer is yes. Read on for the long answer on how that conclusion was reached.
Hi-Res, Fast Shooting, Great Image Quality
Usually, these three things do not go together, they are in tension with each other. A high megapixel sensor camera used to be slow due to the amount of data to be processed. Even only a few years ago a 40+ MP camera doing over 5 frames per second was considered fast. A lower resolution camera at about 18-20MP doing 10-12 frames per second was considered fast for a “sports” camera. The Sony a1 is 50MP and shoots at 30 frames per second which is mind-boggling to think about.
Sony has also massively improved the image quality of its high-resolution sensors in the last few years. While the noise and dynamic range of the Sony a1 will fall just shy of what the leading Sony a7R IV can do, that extremely small cost comes with the blazing-fast speed the Sony a1 possesses.
The color, resolution, and image quality make for great wide angle photos.
Sony a1 | Sony 28-70mm & Nauticam WACP | 1/160 | ISO 100 | ƒ8
KEY SPECS:
The Sony a1 on paper looks like the “one” camera to rule them all. With high resolution (50mp), speed (up to 30 fps stills), and 8K 30p/4K 120p video, can this camera live up to being a jack of all trades AND master of all? After testing the camera in the waters of Bonaire and the Socorro Islands, the short answer is yes. Read on for the long answer on how that conclusion was reached.
Hi-Res, Fast Shooting, Great Image Quality
Usually, these three things do not go together, they are in tension with each other. A high megapixel sensor camera used to be slow due to the amount of data to be processed. Even only a few years ago a 40+ MP camera doing over 5 frames per second was considered fast. A lower resolution camera at about 18-20MP doing 10-12 frames per second was considered fast for a “sports” camera. The Sony a1 is 50MP and shoots at 30 frames per second which is mind-boggling to think about.
Sony has also massively improved the image quality of its high-resolution sensors in the last few years. While the noise and dynamic range of the Sony a1 will fall just shy of what the leading Sony a7R IV can do, that extremely small cost comes with the blazing-fast speed the Sony a1 possesses.
The color, resolution, and image quality make for great wide angle photos.
Sony a1 | Sony 28-70mm & Nauticam WACP | 1/160 | ISO 100 | ƒ8
KEY SPECS:
- Dual Native ISO Performance
- 1/400 Flash Sync Speed
- Top Level Tracking AF Performance
- Movie Performance
