The year was 2021 when Sony launched the a1, a successor to an already potent lineup, the Sony a9. The new device not only boasts a staggering 50.1-MP 35 mm full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory but also 9.44 million dot EVF with a refresh rate of 240 fps and a mechanical shutter speed of 1/400th of a second and 1/200th with the electronic shutter. In short, it is a beast of a camera, the best of the best from Sony’s innovative technology. So, when there were speculations about the Sony a1 II’s launch, many began to wonder what the company could do to outperform its benchmark? Well, you don’t have to think too much because Sony just launched the a1 II: Will it perform better than the last, or will it falter?
Sony a1 II: Same but Different
The Sony a1 certainly offers an upgrade over the three-year-old camera, but the question remains whether one finds it significantly different. For starters, Sony has not changed the 50.1MP sensor, but they use the latest version of the BOINZ XR. With the latter, the Sony a1 II supposedly has better noise reduction at higher ISO, a feedback that many professionals gave them. There is also now a 15-stop dynamic range, which reportedly was 14.5 stops. The shutter, 8K/30 fps and 4K/120 fps video capture ability, memory card slot, and EVF remain the same.
Now, coming to the bigger changes, it features a dedicated AI processing chip, which will help with better autofocus and image processing abilities. For instance, Sony states that an AI processing chip will recognize the scene better and faster and help recognize the human and animal eyes 30% better. There is also a 50% improvement in bird eye recognition. The a9 II includes auto framing alongside real-time tracking. Furthermore, they have included two new additional focus areas, XS and XL. In addition to existing subject recognition (human, animal/bird), the company has included insects, cars, trains, and airplanes, with an AI processing unit for photos and videos. There is also now an Auto mode when the camera will recognize all the subjects. This could be helpful for people who dabble with more than one genre. The camera also offers composite RAW functions and noise-reducing shooting alongside existing pixel shift multi-shooting.
Because of this chip, the Sony a1 II also incorporates a new feature, first seen in Olympus and now in the Nikon Z9: Pre-Capture. The function allows photographs to record a scene before it’s captured. To simplify, when you choose pre-capture, you press the shutter button, and the camera will record the images a second before the shot and a bit after. However, Sony states that the a1 II’s Pre-Capture feature is set to compete with the EOS R1 and Nikon Z9. Users can shoot an image up to 30 fps, with full AF/AE tracking. The Pre-Capture can be turned on from the menu and can be set to 0.03 to 1 second. In the a9 III, the mode can be set between 0.05 to 1 second.
A Few Physical Changes
Another big update is an 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, which was initially at 5.5-stops in the older model. Because of this, video stabilization modes gain two new settings: framing stabilizer and dynamic active. The LCD also gets an update. The new screen is a 3.2-type, 2.1 million-dot panel with a 4-axis multi-angle. While the EVF remains the same at 9.44 million dollars, it gains the ability to shoot 120 fps without any lag. Initially, the camera could shoot without any black oust in normal 60 fps mode.
Regarding ergonomics, we mentioned that the A1 is not as comfortable as Nikon or Canon. So, it seems like Sony listened, as the a1 II now features a redesigned grip, while the C5 button helps to activate the 120 fps mode. So, if photographers are shooting with 20 fps, they can quickly switch to 120 fps when the need arises. The a9 II also features a quick response shutter button, which is likely designed to help with the Pre-Capture feature. There is also a Stills/Movie/S&Q dial that is compatible with the VG-C5 vertical grip.
The built-in WiFi remains the same, but the a9 II also gets a 2.5GBASE-T Wired LAN, which was initially 1000BASE-T. This means your files can transfer much faster, saving you time. Thanks to the new BC-ZD1 charger, users can now charge two batteries simultaneously in 155 minutes.
On paper, it seems Sony heard what photographers wanted and made those slight improvements to the camera. The AI chip seems like the biggest achievement here, but the Pre-Capture feature was already there in the a9 III. The LCD is an improvement, but will it really make a huge difference? Thus, it remains to be seen how the device actually performs and whether the upgrades are worth investing another $6000.
The a9 II will be available from mid-December 2024. For more information, visit Sony’s website.