RoamingScott wrote:
The smartest thing Sony can do, IF the A1 II winds up being "old tech" after this release, is price it to be competitive with the Z8, or at least halfway between the Z8 and Z9.
Yeah and if they do that it might end up selling better than the A7RVI. Would be interesting to see.
RoamingScott wrote:
The smartest thing Sony can do, IF the A1 II winds up being "old tech" after this release, is price it to be competitive with the Z8, or at least halfway between the Z8 and Z9.
IF the rumor speculation on this thread is true, and the A1 II winds up being "old tech", this would be the only logical course of action... but then, Sony has been able to thrive always being the highest price vs. feature mainstream manufacturer (excluding Leica, etc) out there. I have used the Z8, and being an old Nikon guy, really liked it except for the size/weight, low-resolution EVF and differing card slot formats.
Also, IF the rumors are true, it may be the catalyst to quell much of my GAS. I will be unhappy, likely angry, about spending a premium price for my A1 II just a year ago IF the much cheaper A7RVI offers similar spec's. I was planning on pre-ordering the A7RVI to replace my A7RV, but now might just cool my jets until Sony releases a higher MP Global Shutter camera, which is the capability I am really looking for. Hopefully, I am learning a lesson, here. Over the last twelve years, I have continually upgraded from the A7R, A7RII, A7RIII, A7RIV, A7R5, A1, A9, A9II and this might be a good time to pause.
Logan Nolag wrote:
I hope so but to be honest the only reason I hope so is because I was one of those suckers who bought an A1II last year AFTER the price increase. If I still had my A7RVs I would be so excited right now but instead I find myself trying to make the same argument that there is no way Sony will kill the A1II.
I think it's entirely possible Sony realized they screwed up with the A1II pricing. Its closest competitors from other brands like the Z9 and R5MK2 are significantly cheaper.
My only question is how will Sony continue selling the A1 and A1II once this camera is released. The only thing I can think of is that they will have to drop the price dramatically....Show more →
From the leaked specs and what has been shared in this thread by Alex, it appears there will still be a variety of things about the A1 II that are preferred by some shooters:
- 120fps AF calculations, vs 60fps on the A7RVI
- 3.8ms sensor readout speed, vs Alex’s estimated 5 to 10ms [EDIT: now known as 19.6] for A7RVI
- Additional control cluster on top left
- Larger buffer (not confirmed but many assume and it makes sense with the smaller 50mp files)
- Less noise on 50mp sensor (Alex has commented on more noise with the 67mp A7RVI)
- Using the common Sony battery vs being forced into new larger A7RVI battery that is more expensive at $120
And probably a few other things we’ll know tomorrow that will have some A1 II owners keeping their cameras.
bwcolor wrote:
I think that you made some good points in your rant, but things are not so absolute. Your quest for ultra high full frame resolution is a bit foolish. If you want very high resolution, the X2D2 is the best camera that I’ve ever used and it isn’t quite as limited with regards to noise and moire as with FF. I’m all for Sony staying profitable. Making sensors for cameras is a rather niche market. Sony’s focus and profits are centered around non-photographic sensors. You will be happy to hear that Leica’s upcoming M12 sensor will not be from Sony. In general, I learn to use cameras as tools. This means that I work around the design choices made by the manufacturer. I hope that you open your eyes and recognize that the better “landscape camera” is medium format and not because of anything that Sony says. The fact that you are complaining vs purchasing an X2D2 system tells me that you aren’t serious in your supposed effort to use the best “landscape camera”. That said, the new A7Rvi will likely be the best full frame “landscape camera”. It would have faced serious issues (noise & moire), as dictated by physics, should Sony have gone for even more resolution....Show more →
What you say about the limitations of full frame, as resolution increases, is, from my perspective, one of the essential points in this discussion. For some time, I have been sceptical as to whether higher resolution (at least, in isolation) makes sense for full frame (I said as much a couple of days ago, post #1 in page 10 of this thread), as opposed to, for instance, improving dynamic range. So I quite agree that medium format is probably the better way to materially improve IQ for landscapes and architecture -- although if I do succumb to temptation and buy an X2D II, my primary motivation will be the IBIS / low light performance (and, secondarily, dynamic range), rather than resolution per se.
Camera technology is, for me, now so amazing that I will only upgrade a camera if the new model enables me to do something that I can't currently (and want to be able to). So global shutter plus the latest AF would be a sufficient reason to upgrade my A1. But increased resolution, on its own, will not give me much that I can't already do with my A7R IV or M11.
RoamingScott wrote:
I've been around long enough to watch people sell their A1 for the A7R5. That's not how things work around here
Yeah it seems like upgrading whenever a new R series camera comes out is the best way to always have the newest generation for the longest time.
The A7IV was the first camera with the programmable exposure comp dial and the stills/video/s&q selector while the A7RV had all that plus it was the first camera with the tilty/flippy screen and the AI chip.
Similarly the A7V was the first camera with the new processor but otherwise is more or less the same as the previous generation feature wise.
The A7RVI presumably has the same new processor as the A7V but adds the new battery and the backlit buttons.
Based on this pattern the R cameras are the most up to date features wise for the longest while the standard A7s are the most up to date for the shortest.
The A1 slammed the A7Riv. It was a realistic alternative, cost more but brought more. Now, maybe, the A7Rvi has closed that "performance" and price gap, perhaps "enough" to reduce the demand/value of the "A1."
So, what's next for the A1 series?
And, if the new sensor is really good for the A7Rs, will it be even better for the A7CRs?
Other good advice may be to always avoid the Mark II versions of the high end lineup.
A9II and A1II were pretty lame upgrades even though I bought both and enjoyed the improvements in both. But they really never introduced anything very exciting.
EB-1 wrote:
I'm curious the thoughts on the impact of the a7rVI on other brands. Will Canon make a high-res body now that the R5 II is so far behind? I'm not sure what Nikon can do since they are dependent on Sony for sensors. Z9 II will no doubt be improved and doesn't really need more pixels for that pro market.
Will we see the trend of other mid-sized bodies adopting higher power/capacity batteries?
EBH
I cannot figure out what Canon is thinking relative to a higher res body. At one point, the 5Ds/5DsR was the highest resolution full frame sensor at 50MP when Sony was still at 36MP. But their current highest MP sensor, a decade after their 50MP sensor models, is not only 45MP!
May 12, 2026 at 03:29 PM
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gdanmitchell wrote:
I cannot figure out what Canon is thinking relative to a higher res body. At one point, the 5Ds/5DsR was the highest resolution full frame sensor at 50MP when Sony was still at 36MP. But their current highest MP sensor, a decade after their 50MP sensor models, is not only 45MP!
I of course don't know, but I think Canon has been waiting for Sony to play their cards with the A7r VI and then I expect Canon to bring out an R5s that is at least competitive with it and perhaps passes it in some ways. Now (well really tomorrow) that Sony has revealed this camera and if it is 67 MP, Canon can bring out an R5s based on a FF version of the R7 32.5 MP APS-C sensor, which would be about an 80 MP sensor. It won't have a blazing sensor scan speed or likely the dynamic range of the new Sony sensor, but it would have better resolution. This would similar to what they did with the 5Ds. It is my guess that Canon was waiting to see what Sony did with this camera and now that they have seen it they have a fairly easy to implement response.
Craig Gillette wrote:
So, what's next for the A1 series?
This is completely a fantasy: maybe a global shutter sensor from their 4.5 ㎛ pixel pitch series? That translates to about 42 MP. For reference a9 III's pixel pitch matches their 5.86 ㎛ series.
Rialto wrote:
This is completely a fantasy: maybe a global shutter sensor from their 4.5 ㎛ pixel pitch series? That translates to about 42 MP. For reference a9 III's pixel pitch matches their 5.86 ㎛ series.
I can’t imagine they would decrease the resolution of the A1III even if they move to a global shutter. I could see them increasing the resolution of the A91V however.
gdanmitchell wrote:
I cannot figure out what Canon is thinking relative to a higher res body. At one point, the 5Ds/5DsR was the highest resolution full frame sensor at 50MP when Sony was still at 36MP. But their current highest MP sensor, a decade after their 50MP sensor models, is not only 45MP!
I shot the 5DSR for several years (alongside Sony mirrorless) and loved it, although the dynamic range was not great compared to my Sony mirrorless cameras. It seems that Canon did not sell many 5DS/5DSR cameras compared to their hugely successful lower resolution 22mp/30mp 5DMk III's and 5DMk IV's.
My Sony A7R5 does everything I need it to. It was a big improvement to the A7R3 which was my first Sony camera. I’m going to wait to see what the A1III looks like and if it’s really good, I’ll bite the bullet and buy it. It will very likely be the last camera I’ll ever need.
Logan Nolag wrote:
I can’t imagine they would decrease the resolution of the A1III even if they move to a global shutter. I could see them increasing the resolution of the A91V however.
Why would Sony keep the A9 and A1 series if both had global shutters?
