Sony A1-2

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

Member's gallery
It would not surprise me if the A1II turns out to have the same hardware as the current A1, except for adding the additional new chip for improved subject detection, and, of course, the rear lcd screen of the A1 has no business being on a 7000,- camera, so that should get a significant upgrade (although, yeah it is still Sony so they may skimp on the screen again and make it only minimally better).
Otherwise, the sensor and supporting circuitry are still exceptional, and not really due for an upgrade.

I would expect the real uogrades to be in software. Sony starved the A1 on a firmware diet that would have killed many cameras with lesser hardware, because of being overtaken left and right by all other brands. It was widely lamented, but never truly addressed by Sony, because they feel they can get away with giving the target Sony user an upgrade path by means of a mkII.
 
Member's gallery
ChrisM said:
It would not surprise me if the A1II turns out to have the same hardware as the current A1, except for adding the additional new chip for improved subject detection, and, of course, the rear lcd screen of the A1 has no business being on a 7000,- camera, so that should get a significant upgrade (although, yeah it is still Sony so they may skimp on the screen again and make it only minimally better).
Otherwise, the sensor and supporting circuitry are still exceptional, and not really due for an upgrade.

I would expect the real uogrades to be in software. Sony starved the A1 on a firmware diet that would have killed many cameras with lesser hardware, because of being overtaken left and right by all other brands. It was widely lamented, but never truly addressed by Sony, because they feel they can get away with giving the target Sony user an upgrade path by means of a mkII.
Click to expand...
Very well said and couldn't agree more!
 
Member's gallery
sh1209 said:
I agree with everything you’re saying. I would not even mind to pay a few hundred dollars to have a few additions and just keep the body I have. It would be money better spent and saved in the long run.
Click to expand...
I shoot Canon and I agree completely. I would pay for a software update that enhanced things in the current camera. Bug fixes and minor tweaks should continue to be free but totally new versions with new features added, I would pay for if those new features were something I wanted or fixed shortcomings in the current software vs spending several thousands of dollars on a new body to get some added features. Of course, the manufacturer doesn't make as much profit that way, or at least they think they wouldn't. Some things like a new sensor, new IBIS motors, faster memory, etc. require new hardware but a lot of the features in new bodies are more or less software enhancements.
 
Member's gallery
jeffnles1 said:
I shoot Canon and I agree completely. I would pay for a software update that enhanced things in the current camera. Bug fixes and minor tweaks should continue to be free but totally new versions with new features added, I would pay for if those new features were something I wanted or fixed shortcomings in the current software vs spending several thousands of dollars on a new body to get some added features. Of course, the manufacturer doesn't make as much profit that way, or at least they think they wouldn't. Some things like a new sensor, new IBIS motors, faster memory, etc. require new hardware but a lot of the features in new bodies are more or less software enhancements.
Click to expand...
I think the worst part is knowing in my mind that the last firmware update made my camera worse. That is the thing that doesn’t sit well with me. I just wish they would come out with a firmware/fix to improve a couple things.
 
jeffnles1 said:
... Some things like a new sensor, new IBIS motors, faster memory, etc. require new hardware but a lot of the features in new bodies are more or less software enhancements.
Click to expand...
A lot of the features in new bodies take advantage of faster processors or faster/bigger buffers. Software can add the features but they'd be unacceptably sluggish.
 
Member's gallery
Im not a Sony shootee but I have tried the a1 and it was lovely. I would think if I had one I would greatly appreciate the 50mp sensor amd the fast framerate for wildlife which I mostly shoot. I can’t see any advantage in slowing down the frame rate in these situations but that’s just me. For stills I’m not sure one would need 50mp and the a9iiI at 25 would be just fine. I can see how this body would be very popular with professional event photography. As for Sony at war with Canon, that would seem likely as Canon is a much bigger company than Nikon. But I think sony would love to have it all. I hope that doesn’t happen.
 
Member's gallery
Here is the latest from SAR this morning. Really only confirmation is Nov 19th announcement. Probably shipping early 2025. A9III body unlike the previous A1 body rumour and that was confirmed by the same source that originally said A1 body (I guess he had seen a testing prototype encased in A1 body).

Biggest bummer is the price rumour of being more expensive than A1. Still not fully confirmed and no mention how much more.

Anyways, 3 weeks and we should know everything.

Confirmed: Sony A1II and a new 28-70mm f/2.0 zoom will be announced on November 19 – sonyalpharumors

www.sonyalpharumors.com www.sonyalpharumors.com
 
Member's gallery
arbitrage said:
Here is the latest from SAR this morning. Really only confirmation is Nov 19th announcement. Probably shipping early 2025. A9III body unlike the previous A1 body rumour and that was confirmed by the same source that originally said A1 body (I guess he had seen a testing prototype encased in A1 body).

Biggest bummer is the price rumour of being more expensive than A1. Still not fully confirmed and no mention how much more.
Click to expand...
I am betting $7500 and if so they can keep it. There’s no functionality I need to justify a price that high.
 
Member's gallery
Jose Raposo said:
More expensive than the original launch price of the A1 will be a difficult pill to swallow, was expecting it to be more competitive with the Z9 pricing.
Click to expand...
That would certainly be a very smart move on their part. I think the sales numbers will be very low just like the A9iii to be honest. I am still not happy with Sony over the A1 firmware that still plagues my body and will not buy a new body to have a fix! The way I see it, once the mark 2 is released, I would be doing great to get even $4K out of my mint condition A1. So hypothetically, even if it's just $7500, once you factor in tax, that's a nearly $4k price tag difference for something with more than likely minimal improvements. There's not a chance in hell I would pay $4k for pre capture and a flip screen. I already have the new style body in the A7RV and bought that body mostly for focus bracketing. Now if they're smart and release it at $6k to compete with Nikon, that might be tempting.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
sh1209 said:
That would certainly be a very smart move on their part. I think the sales numbers will be very low just like the A9iii to be honest. I am still not happy with Sony over the A1 firmware that still plagues my body and will not buy a new body to have a fix! The way I see it, once the mark 2 is released, I would be doing great to get even $4K out of my mint condition A1. So hypothetically, even if it's just $7500, once you factor in tax, that's a nearly $4k price tag difference for something with more than likely minimal improvements. There's not a chance in hell I would pay $4k for pre capture and a flip screen. I already have the new style body in the A7RV and bought that body mostly for focus bracketing. Now if they're smart and release it at $6k to compete with Nikon, that might be tempting.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I upgraded to v2 and I've been testing it over the last month or so primarily for a feature that was included in that version. I'm still assessing the AF performance with V2, initially it felt like it was all over the place even with my old settings re-applied, specifically for BIF. I was a little more confident with it the last time I went out with it, much more keepers but I still think it is a step down from the version I was running.
 
Member's gallery
Ltgk20 said:
Over the past few years, Sony has seemingly done a very good job of minimizing rumors and, one might suspect, feeding those that they want in the market. I wonder if there's a feed for a more expensive price tag such that when they come in at the same price or very near it. It's perceived better.
Click to expand...
I think it would serve them really well to come in at the same price or less to be honest. Even $6500 is stretching what I want to spend on a camera body. I love my A1 but would be perfectly content using my A7RV for 95% of what I shoot.
 
Member's gallery
Jose Raposo said:
Yeah, I upgraded to v2 and I've been testing it over the last month or so primarily for a feature that was included in that version. I'm still assessing the AF performance with V2, initially it felt like it was all over the place even with my old settings re-applied, specifically for BIF. I was a little more confident with it the last time I went out with it, much more keepers but I still think it is a step down from the version I was running.
Click to expand...
It's really frustrating and the most irritating part is, it's something they created as far as the problem. Mine was very noticeably better at version 1.20 in many respects.
 
Member's gallery
Don’t believe the rumors. Frankly even day of launch Sony Alpha Rumors hasn’t been 100% accurate.
I would be surprised if the price went up in the US Market. Can’t say in other markets based on exchange rates.
The current rumors align with what I’ve been saying the mark 2 will bring to the table.
I already have pre capture so depending on the fps and format it can do pre capture will dictate if I spend the money to upgrade a body.
 
Member's gallery
sh1209 said:
It's really frustrating and the most irritating part is, it's something they created as far as the problem. Mine was very noticeably better at version 1.20 in many respects.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I just find that with busy backgrounds it has a harder time sticking to the subject when it's a bird in flight. I know the previous version worked better in that respect in the same situations with the same settings. I have a field that is frequented by a specific female harrier quite often, she flies low, close to the tall grass, first time I shot her with the new version in the same location AF was all over the place, hugely frustrating. I know the previous version would have stuck to the subject like glue, I have numerous perfect sequences of her under the same conditions.
 
Member's gallery
Jose Raposo said:
Yeah, I just find that with busy backgrounds it has a harder time sticking to the subject when it's a bird in flight. I know the previous version worked better in that respect in the same situations with the same settings. I have a field that is frequented by a specific female harrier quite often, she flies low, close to the tall grass, first time I shot her with the new version in the same location AF was all over the place, hugely frustrating. I know the previous version would have stuck to the subject like glue, I have numerous perfect sequences of her under the same conditions.
Click to expand...
It would sure be nice to see them make some effort to make the current A1 better, if even making it as good as it once was. That kind of customer service makes me very weary of another large purchase.
 
Member's gallery
RikWriter said:
I didn't do the firmware update and I'm glad I waited. The only thing I want that my A1 doesn't have is pre-capture. I don't want it bad enough to pay over $7K for a body, though.
Click to expand...
There's a return sum for your A1 of course, should you choose to upgrade, you won't be paying 7-8k for the switch.
Assuming you can get 3500,- for the A1, it would be 4k for the new A1II.
And for that, you get a brandnew body.

Still a lót of money though, and I assume the price for an used A1 will rapidly start to fall after the release of the new mkII, and the market for used A1 will start to saturate, so a benefit for the early adopters.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top