p.5 #1 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
It's a .EDU trap! You can't be a student with 6.5K of disposable income.
Already having an A9 and A7RIV, it would be nice to just take one camera with me that can serve both purposes. $6.5K is not out of the realm of reachability, but it will take some saving of discretionary funds - maybe this will be my Christmas present.
p.5 #5 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
arbitrage wrote:
I think when it says "select the bird to be tracked" just means initiate RTT on the bird like we do for animals already. There is no way you would have to go in and select "finch" or "eagle"...
This is what it says in Sony's specifications and features...
In addition to Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals, the α1 employs high-level subject recognition technology to provide Real-time Eye AF for birds. Select the bird to be tracked, and the camera will automatically detect and focus on that bird's eye, whether the bird is still or in flight. Optimized algorithms ensure that tracking is maintained even if a sitting bird suddenly takes flight, or the framing suddenly changes
p.5 #6 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
gocolts wrote:
I'm not gonna judge the person who drops approx. $20k on a supertelephoto and A1 for birds or whatever you like to shoot. I'm a car guy and I know plenty of people who spend that much extra on a version of a car because it performs better and it's their hobby. And really...depreciation, especially on lenses, is easier to manage then most cars anyways.
Writing this down so I have notes for when I talk to my wife next.
p.5 #7 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
arbitrage wrote:
All birders will be selling their A7RIV and A9(II) to make up most of this cost.
I sold my A9 already, selling one of my A7RIVs soon, so I will have the A1 and the A7RIV. I carry two bodies most of the time to minimize changing lenses. I am very glad Sony didn't make the A1 with integrated battery grip.
p.5 #8 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
I have to say, when I first read the announcement with specifications for this camera I reflexively checked today's date as it felt like I wasn’t paying attention and it was suddenly April 1st! Then I moved on to the year to be sure that my desktop computer and I hadn’t accidently walk thru a time portal of some sort dumping us 10 years into the future!
Now that I’ve returned from my time travel trip-out I find out that this is merely an amazing new camera in real time! I can’t wait for the response from the rest of the industry.
p.5 #9 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
Pius Sullivan wrote:
This is what it says in Sony's specifications and features...
In addition to Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals, the α1 employs high-level subject recognition technology to provide Real-time Eye AF for birds. Select the bird to be tracked, and the camera will automatically detect and focus on that bird's eye, whether the bird is still or in flight. Optimized algorithms ensure that tracking is maintained even if a sitting bird suddenly takes flight, or the framing suddenly changes
I am sure what they mean is you select the bird with whatever AF pattern you are using and then the algorithms take over from there.
p.5 #10 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
I am not the target audience for this pro-level camera > it is a way overkill for my usecases.
The price is very steep, but to me it is not the initial price per se but the cost-of-ownership. A year or two from now your A1 will be worth $4K, so at this price level a 30% loss of value becomes several thousand dollars. 30% hit on a $2,500 camera is more doable. Maybe it just in my head. I just don’t like losing money :-)
Lastly, Sony A1 will now surely be the best camera available on the market. Pros will buy/use it. Well-off enthusiasts will surely also pick it up. But Sony really needs to invest in native glass right now. Having this level of machine and then having to use their average performing 24-70/2.8 or 70-200/2.8 isn’t very inspiring. And not having a great 50mm prime (much like the new 35/1.4 or even better, a 50/1.2) is off-putting.
Regardless, this seems like an amazing camera and I’m sure pros and BIF shooters will be ecstatic.
p.5 #12 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
This camera was made for people that just want the best, or close to it, in every dimension, and not to suit one specific type of photography improvement.
This camera is either the best available, or close to it, for every single type of shooting one might ever choose to do.
30fps full resolution raw photos? 50% better than any competitor.
50MP resolution? Only outdone by some medium format cameras and the A7rIV. Plenty of resolution for landscapes.
Video specs? Managed to outdo the A7sIII with the inclusion of S-Cinetone.
Autofocus tracking? Better than the a9 II, which means it's the best available.
EVF lag? Claims to be better than the a9, which means it will be the lowest lag EVF on the market.
EVF quality? 9.44MP and up to 240hz.
And body size? Well, you may think its ergonomics are imperfect but this can be used for travel photography as a result of its small size.
I guess the one thing remaining to be seen is the real world dynamic range.
But based on the current status of the a9 versus its competitors, there will likely never be a camera that bests this one in every dimension from a competitor.
At least in terms of buying the best camera, or nearly the best camera, for every single use. Is there a better landscape camera? Probably, the a7r IV and GFX 100 will both likely offer better resolution and dynamic range. But will those cameras be as good for every other type of photography? No. Certainly not.
That is not to diminish the competition. But if you want to have the best sports camera, and the best video camera, and the best landscape camera, and the best family camera, and the best travel camera, and the best portraiture camera, and the best macro camera, and the best camera for lens nerds... Well, you can now have that.
Of course, it might not be the best best in everything I listed, but it is likely close to tied for the best in every category in which it is not the clear winner.
And in several years, when this camera's sensor capabilities, fast electronic AND mechanical shutter are likely still unmatched, you will likely be able to buy it for $3500 on this forum.
p.5 #14 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
arbitrage wrote:
All birders will be selling their A7RIV and A9(II) to make up most of this cost.
Right, a lot of serious birders have both the A9(II) and the A7rIV. Now you just need one camera, and even though it is more expensive, sell both cameras and have the convenience of just one body. I'm in (as soon as I recover from my 600mm/f4 purchase).
p.5 #17 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
speedmaster20d wrote:
Looks good but I am worried about noise. If it is noisy like the other high mega pixel bodies it’s dead in the water otherwise could be the best camera.
Should have one of these soon
I will also be curious to see if it has any of the issues with the 200-600mm like the A7RIV has/had. Even though after the last R4 update it did seem to become more stable. I would still think 50 megapixels will be less forgiving than 24 just like the 61 megapixels of the R4 is less forgiving when it comes to camera shake, low light noise and proper shooting technique.
p.5 #19 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
Pius Sullivan wrote:
This is what it says in Sony's specifications and features...
In addition to Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals, the α1 employs high-level subject recognition technology to provide Real-time Eye AF for birds. Select the bird to be tracked, and the camera will automatically detect and focus on that bird's eye, whether the bird is still or in flight. Optimized algorithms ensure that tracking is maintained even if a sitting bird suddenly takes flight, or the framing suddenly changes
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galenapass wrote:
I am sure what they mean is you select the bird with whatever AF pattern you are using and then the algorithms take over from there.
I sure hope you're right. I'm not good at bird ID.
p.5 #20 · Pre-Order Sony Alpha A1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K)
Is it just me or is there an almost silence from the usual social media influencers about this camera now the news is out? Almost as if Sony is very certain that the target buyer for this camera couldn't care less about the opinions of a youtube face with little or no experience of the the needs and pressures of the busy sports pro with a deadline to meet...
