The Sony a1 II mirrorless camera is the company’s most versatile camera yet, offering the best overall mixture of speed, video capabilities, high-resolution stills, and a robust, professional-worthy body design. It pulls much of the original a1’s well-rounded feature-set into an a9 III body and adds the AF and IBIS technologies introduced with the a7R V. It’s a camera meant for working professionals that can excel in commercial studio applications while also having a distinct appeal to wildlife photographers. Released alongside the new camera is the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens, a wide-to-portrait-length zoom with a supremely fast design that will be especially attractive for news, event, and wedding photographers.
A Studio Powerhouse
For shooters working in the studio, whether in editorial, product, fashion, advertising, or fine art applications, the Sony a1 II has a robust feature set ideal for the precision of studio work.
At its heart is the same full-frame 50MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor as the a1, now outfitted with upgraded BIONZ XR processing, that mixes high resolution with the speed and reduced rolling shutter of a stacked design to suit the meticulous nature of the studio. The sensor also affords 15 stops of dynamic range, retaining information on both ends of the histogram and maximizing flexibility during post-production. The 50MP image size renders precise detail and allows for larger print sizes, and the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode leverages a shifting sensor to create a composite 199MP image ideal for blow-ups on the biggest scale.
Joining the group for the first time is an additional dedicated AI processing unit, offering an improved autofocus experience with refined, responsive, and intelligent subject tracking and detection of humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes. A human pose estimation feature tracks body and head positions for accurate focus in portraiture while Real-time Eye AF performance has been improved by 30%. Additionally, human pose estimation can distinguish between multiple people and maintain focus on the targeted subject, meaning that even if someone crosses in front, the camera maintains focus on the key person.
The camera also features full-time Direct Manual Focus, allowing the user to adjust the lens’s focus ring even when working with AF. Focus bracketing is also supported, with the ability to record up to 299 frames of sequentially shifted focus points for the creation of composite images during post-production with greater-than-possible depth of field.
For the strobists, the a1 II maintains the high maximum sync speed of its predecessor, topping out at 1/400 second when using the mechanical shutter to better freeze action without engaging battery-draining HSS modes on the flash head. In addition to mounting a compatible flash or trigger on the Multi Interface Shoe, the camera features a PC sync terminal for wired flash sync with strobe packs or other wireless radio remotes. The a1 II also inherits a unique live view setting that allows users to maintain the ambient exposure in the live view even when the flash is mounted to the camera.
The Sony a1 II camera’s design and connectivity will also appeal to studio shooters. The camera’s customization options have increased, with an additional fifth custom C5 button on the front of the camera. Benefitting high-profile tethered shooting, an upgraded 2.5GBASE-T wired LAN port offers faster transfer speeds, and the camera also supports wireless tethering with the optional Capture One software. The rear LCD has been switched to the same design featured on the a7R V and a9 III— a 4-axis vari-angle 3.2” touchscreen LCD with a 2.1m-dot resolution, improving the ease of image review for the shooter and the client.
The body’s improved ergonomics match the intuitive layout, Dual CFexpress Type A/SD memory card slots offer file saving flexibility, and a compatibility with Sony’s latest VG-C5 Vertical Grip extends battery life for longer studio sessions deploying the camera’s most advanced features.
Fast, Durable, Capable; Consummate for Wildlife
Leaving the intricate control of the studio and entering the wild world of life, adventure, and possibility, the Sony a1 II still shines. The camera is versatile enough to stand on its own as an excellent option for wildlife photography, where its speed, power, functionality, and build work together to deliver stunning imagery at the decisive moment.
While the upgraded BIONZ XR processing engine still rattles off a speedy 30 fps at the full 50MP resolution, which alone is fast enough to capture wildlife in the moment of peak action or quiet stillness, the a1 II adds both Pre-Capture and Speed Boost functions that debuted on a9 III. Pre-Capture shooting records at up to 30 fps for up to 1 second prior to fully pressing the shutter, helping to ensure you don’t miss fleeting moments, while Speed Boost lets you vary your continuous shooting speed mid-burst, raising or lowering it to suit the pace of the action. The camera maintains autofocus and auto-exposure functions while operating in its burst mode.
The 50MP, full-frame sensor also affords a lot of room to crop into a photo when a lens might not have the reach. Additionally, the sensor’s performance at higher ISOs—expandable up to ISO 102400—allows shooters to increase shutter speeds without sacrificing image quality.
Speaking of the autofocus, that AI processing unit brings the full suite of subject tracking and detection including algorithms for animals, birds, and insects with the a1 II clocking animal eye detection 50% faster than before. The camera automatically detects and selects the subject type while real-time tracking also benefits from AI-based subject recognition. This ability to follow moving subjects is well-suited for wildlife photography, as are the customizable AF focus areas. The phase-detection AF system itself still comprises 759 points, covering about 96% of the sensor area.
Another improved feature beneficial to wildlife photographers is the in-body image stabilization, where the a1 II sees a three-step leap over its predecessor for a total of 8.5 stops of compensation in the center of the frame. This is especially useful when shooting in low-light situations or with telephoto and super telephoto lenses, whose extended reach requires higher shutter speeds for sharpness and clarity.
In addition to the build qualities listed before, the a1 II has improved weather-sealing over its predecessor in addition to a sensor-protecting shading curtain, allowing users to feel confident using it in the wild.
A Note on Video
While this article is focused on photography, it’s important to note that for hybrid shooters, the a1 II offers robust video capabilities to augment both studio and wildlife applications. Inheriting the core video specs from its predecessor like 8.6K 30p and 4K 120p video in 10-bit while adding supportive modes and features including access to Dynamic Area Stabilization, Framing Stabilizer, Breathing Compensation, and support for a true 24.00 frame rate for a cinematic look.
Bright, Broad Versatility: The FE 28-70mm f/2 GM Lens
To match the well-roundedness and resolving power of the a1 II mirrorless camera, Sony has also released the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens, which offers a fast maximum aperture in exchange for a few millimeters on the wide end of the zoom. Covering some of the most frequently used focal lengths, the hybrid lens offers impressively fast AF and is well-suited for almost all applications, but especially news, event, and wedding photography.
For use in commercial studio applications, the lens’s angle of view suits still-life photography, especially when used in scenes for food and products, as well full-body and group portrait photography. For wildlife photography, the lens benefits shooting animals that can be safely approached or are shot in within the context of their habitat, bringing intimacy on the wide end and a smooth, circular bokeh at the tele end when using the maximum aperture.
The lens’s strengths are best expressed in news, event, and wedding applications -perhaps the native environments for this class of lens—where the photo and video demands of today’s shooters are most benefitted by the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens’s hybrid features. In addition to the crucial, extra stop of light, the lens sports four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors for fast and responsive autofocus compatible with continuous shooting speeds up to 120 fps or high-speed video recording at up to 240 fps. The short-throw zoom lens only extends 0.7” when changing from 28mm to 70mm positions, meaning gimbal settings can remain the same when changing the zoom position, benefitting video.
Reduced focus breathing also benefits video, along with a de-clicked, manual aperture ring for smooth and quiet adjustments. Especially when paired with the a1 II mirrorless camera, the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens brings a GM-level image quality to its focal-length versatility that will prove alluring to many news, event, and wedding photographers.
For more information about the new camera or lens, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages for the Sony a1 II and FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
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