p.1 #1 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
I’m looking at picking up a Sony A1 for a second body to my A9III. Ideally I’d like one with a little more use for a good price. Since I shoot mostly electronic shutter on it, I’m really not too worried as long as it is in sound mechanical condition. I found a used import model locally for a pretty decent price. It would be out of warranty whether it is USA or import. Are there any considerations if I ever had to get it serviced? I’m guessing it should be pretty reliable but It’s still a big investment even at a good price if it ever became non repairable. So I don’t know if there is a “right price” I should consider or just stay looking for USA models. I’m sure I’ll resell it in a few years to upgrade to another body with the AI AF, but it’s still a great camera for the time being with a bunch of depreciation already knocked off.
p.1 #2 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
I didn't know there is a special USA model.
I though it was japan models (no western languages in the menu) versus the rest of the world. How to identify the US model?
p.1 #3 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
GGEIS wrote:
I’m looking at picking up a Sony A1 for a second body to my A9III. Ideally I’d like one with a little more use for a good price. Since I shoot mostly electronic shutter on it, I’m really not too worried as long as it is in sound mechanical condition. I found a used import model locally for a pretty decent price. It would be out of warranty whether it is USA or import. Are there any considerations if I ever had to get it serviced? I’m guessing it should be pretty reliable but It’s still a big investment even at a good price if it ever became non repairable. So I don’t know if there is a “right price” I should consider or just stay looking for USA models. I’m sure I’ll resell it in a few years to upgrade to another body with the AI AF, but it’s still a great camera for the time being with a bunch of depreciation already knocked off....Show more →
Make sure it's updated to the latest (3.x) firmware. There were a lot of reports of wifi and/or bluetooth breaking after the update...
p.1 #4 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
Thanks, I’ll make sure it’s updated. So even when it’s running 3.01 it stops connecting to the phone via Creators app?
Do you know if there are any other issues having an import camera? It’s out of warranty, so any potential repairs would be paid anyway. I know some manufacturers won’t service import models and make you send them to country of origin. I couldn’t find one way or the other for Sony.
j4nu wrote:
Make sure it's updated to the latest (3.x) firmware. There were a lot of reports of wifi and/or bluetooth breaking after the update...
p.1 #5 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
GGEIS wrote:
Thanks, I’ll make sure it’s updated. So even when it’s running 3.01 it stops connecting to the phone via Creators app?
Do you know if there are any other issues having an import camera? It’s out of warranty, so any potential repairs would be paid anyway. I know some manufacturers won’t service import models and make you send them to country of origin. I couldn’t find one way or the other for Sony.
I don't really know much about buying import cameras. Some vendors in EU actually offer warranty even on imported cameras...
As for A1 specifically, if it's running FW 3.01 and connects to Creator's App, you should be good. Most issues happened after the update to 2.x and 3.x.
p.1 #6 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
GGEIS wrote:
I’m looking at picking up a Sony A1 for a second body to my A9III. Ideally I’d like one with a little more use for a good price. Since I shoot mostly electronic shutter on it, I’m really not too worried as long as it is in sound mechanical condition. I found a used import model locally for a pretty decent price. It would be out of warranty whether it is USA or import. Are there any considerations if I ever had to get it serviced? I’m guessing it should be pretty reliable but It’s still a big investment even at a good price if it ever became non repairable. So I don’t know if there is a “right price” I should consider or just stay looking for USA models. I’m sure I’ll resell it in a few years to upgrade to another body with the AI AF, but it’s still a great camera for the time being with a bunch of depreciation already knocked off....Show more →
Why do you feel like you need the A1 as a second body?
Between the two I would reach for the A9iii most of the time.
p.1 #7 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
With all the problems the A1 had, I would be weary of a used US model let alone a used grey market. With chip shortages, Sony used a variety of parts across the life of the a1 model. Some of those parts haven't played well nicely with various firmware updates. It's not the shutter I would worry about with the a1, but motherboards/wifi chips.
p.1 #8 · Should I Consider Buying A Used Import A1?
In general, it’s just nice to have a second body with a second lens on it so I can have my 400 on one camera and a 70-200 on another. Specific advantage of the A1 would be resolution for basically a digital teleconverter. So instead of using a 70-200 with a 1.4x TC shooting at F4 for baseball, I could remove the TC, shoot it as a 70-200 2.8 and hit the crop mode to go to effectively 300mm F4 with 24 MP. Or keeping the TC just reach farther.
It should also have a little better low light performance. Don’t get me wrong, I love the A9 III. Any “weaknesses” it has in image quality/resolution are very minor and it is an amazing camera that puts out amazing files. I rarely if ever need a 50MP file other than cropping in to stretch my lenses when I can’t move to get there, particularly in sports.
aCuria wrote:
Why do you feel like you need the A1 as a second body?
Between the two I would reach for the A9iii most of the time.
