p.1 #1 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I have a portrait business and recently I have started to get somewhat busy (at least for a guy with a full time job , I'm getting about 5 gigs a month and will advertise soon). I've been thinking about buying a second/back up camera. I am currently using the Sony A7RV and am very happy with the results but for a second camera I want something with a faster sensor, fairly large amount of megapixels and the ability to shoot strobes/flash while using electronic shutter. That leaves three choices in my budget using Sony:
1) New Sony A7V
2) Used Sony A1 (Gen 1)
3) Save the money and own only one camera
I mostly shoot in a studio (especially this time of year) and I tend to use constant LED lights most of the time. In summer and fall I shoot outdoors a fair bit for family and high school sr shoots. I shoot a few concerts (not many) and anything with a faster sensor than the RV will help for those gigs.
I've read reviews on both cameras and really feel that the A1 is the right choice for me. I'm curious what others think and would love to hear thoughts on any of the options listed above.
p.1 #2 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I would by a used A1 (partly as i did just that). The A7V sensor is not at all as fast as the A1 sensor. The A1 has a quirk or two but all in all it is a wonderful camera not letting the user down in any situation.
You need to look out for a problem i think is specific to the A1: Sony seem to have used different components (or something to the same effect) over time when mounting the motherboard. As a result not all A1 cameras can connect using WiFi and/or Bluetooth after later FW updates. So, check that this works before paying, or make sure you can get your money back if needed.
p.1 #3 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
A1 hands down as Jonas suggested
The extra pixels is worth it
Nothing can replace displacement like they say
Only thing A7V is better is pre capture which may not be of interest to your genres of shooting
p.1 #5 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
If it’s going to benefit your business, get the A1 and don’t overthink it. The obsession with “newer” gear is mostly noise. My opinion. Great cameras don’t suddenly stop being great because a spec sheet gets updated. I can’t imagine a scenario where an A1 would disappoint you.
I’m saying that as I still shoot a first-generation Sony A9 and it’s been outstanding for years. It delivers clean high ISO photos, handles beautifully and with a RRS plate it balances GM lenses without a second thought. I’ve used it for everything from my kids sports to everyday shooting and it has never felt like a limitation.
p.1 #7 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I have the A1 II and A7R V and I too primarily shoot in a studio. If I were you, as a backup I'd get the 2nd A7RV. It is much easier from the consistency perspective to work with one camera model. You can use both bodies on the same shoot with different lenses and then process all images exactly the same way, producing the same consistent look. This saves a ton of time. Despite coming from the same manufacturer, the RAW files from the A1 and A7R are slightly different, they have different DCP profiles in Adobe ecosystem, and even Sony's own "creative looks" do not exactly look the same in their own RAW converter. These differences aren't huge but enough to prevent you from copy-pasting adjustments across a photo set.
The 2nd advantage of having the same model is that you can easily transfer settings across cameras using a flash card. I am on my 3rd year with the Sonys and I am still finding more efficient ways of configuring them and using them. Manually synchornizing their settings is a huge PITA and it will be much worse with the A1 Mk1 because menus aren't the same. So again, consistency suffers.
When you say that you want a faster sensor... Are you sure? Or you're just trying to justify GAS? (something I would have done for sure lol). On a more serious note: I shoot the A7RV with an electronic shutter quite often, and a rolling shutter in stills is simply not a problem in a studio, unless you're doing more active kind of portraiture.
I am not shitting on the A1, it's a monster of a camera. But as a backup to the A7RV in a studio environment, it easily loses to another A7RV. Can't comment on the A7V as I have no experience with it, but I imagine the consistency problem will be there as well. IMO the only reason to buy another model as a backup is to save money.
TLDR: having a different model for a backup camera causes consistency headaches, but brings no advantages in a studio, so it's really about the electronic shutter for concerts which I don't quite understand: just use mechanical, and if silence is a requirement that must be the kind of concert (classical?) where a rolling shutter won't show.
p.1 #8 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
@old-gregg
Those are some valid points and I thought for a long time that I would eventually buy a second A7RV.
As for GAS it doesn't really feel that way to me (I've had it in the past and this is different). Basically I need a second camera in case my one and only goes down in the middle of a job. For about the same amount of money I can find a new A7V, A7RV or used A1. The A1 appeals to me for the faster sensor so that I can use Electronic shutter most of the time as well as the 1/400 sync speed with mechanical shutter.
To your first point the profiles on the RAW files: I've been using an AI editor when it comes to color profiles and I'm pretty sure (won't know until I try it) that program will match files between cameras pretty well. I totally agree with your second point (I remember the old menu system and prefer the new one).
I appreciate your opinions and everyone else's in this thread. It's so nice that there are options in life and that people are willing to share their experiencers and thoughts.
p.1 #9 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
a1 can focus on a crow’s eye, in a mineshaft, at midnight. It can also crank out 30fps, if you ever have a need for anything close to that. Pre-capture and the ability to supposedly recognize the best part of a train to focus on are the only new whistles on the v2. The a1 is far more camera than almost anyone would ever need. I shot in tandem with mine and a rented a7Rv for three weeks, most of which in Alaska on landscapes and wildlife. There was a noticeable difference, favoring the a1.
p.1 #10 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I have the A7RV and A1 II at the moment, and I had the original A1.
The A1 is a fine camera, but it has some inconsistencies vs the A7RV. If you can live with those, then you'll be getting a very capable camera.
I'm more comfortable using the A1 II beside the A7RV, but that probably won't justify the difference in price to you :-)
The original A1 already has:
the same EVF
the same memory card slots
The A1 II adds the awesome rear screen and the improved body design.
I think a few of the extras in the A1 II were added to the A1 in the recent firmware update. Yes, just checked - it added both XS and XL Spot, plus three custom focus areas - very nice additions. There was more if you use things like wireless transfer of images.
All up, the original A1 is still a very capable camera.
p.1 #11 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I have a1 mk1 for 2years+, now have 7V. I will vote 7V, more fun.
The only downside for 7V might be the small EVF, and 2nd card slot is SD only(fine for 4K video storage).
p.1 #12 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
If you have an A7R V, I'm not sure what the attraction of the A7 V would be. I have A1 II and had an A1 and A7R V when I bought the A1 II. I chose to keep the A1 and sell the A7R V. If you need speed the A1 is awesome. If you don't then you already have A7R V. A7 V is a great upgrade from A7 IV but I can't see it over A7R V or A1.
p.1 #13 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
I have not owned an A7Rv (or iv), but I owned an A1 and now own an A1ii. While I agree that the controls aren't exactly the same, Sony works very hard to keep the controls on their cameras very similar and I don't think there's much difference between the A7Rv. I went from the a9ii to the a1 and it was a very easy switch. I do suspect the output would be slightly different between the cameras, but for me, the speed and resolution is awesome. The camera does everything well.
p.1 #14 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
billsnature wrote:
If you have an A7R V, I'm not sure what the attraction of the A7 V would be. I have A1 II and had an A1 and A7R V when I bought the A1 II. I chose to keep the A1 and sell the A7R V. If you need speed the A1 is awesome. If you don't then you already have A7R V. A7 V is a great upgrade from A7 IV but I can't see it over A7R V or A1.
For me the attraction of the A7V over the A7RV is the reduced rolling shutter, file size, and pre-capture capability. I own the A1 and A7RV. The first I primarily use for BIF and wildlife and the second for landscape and portraits. Both of those are setup with a battery grip. The A7V I’m planning on using for general purpose work with no battery grip.
p.1 #15 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
swldstn wrote:
For me the attraction of the A7V over the A7RV is the reduced rolling shutter, file size, and pre-capture capability. I own the A1 and A7RV. The first I primarily use for BIF and wildlife and the second for landscape and portraits. Both of those are setup with a battery grip. The A7V I’m planning on using for general purpose work with no battery grip.
If I were on your situation, I would sell the A1 and A7R V to buy an A1 II before I would get an A7 V. That will give you everything you want and more. You'll get pre-capture an improved AI recognition and a really good rolling shutter. I think you will find the A7 V rolling shutter to be better than A7R V but not great, and at 33 MP, the loss of 18-27 MP would be problem for me.
p.1 #16 · Thoughts on buying Sony A1 (gen 1) in 2026?
billsnature wrote:
If I were on your situation, I would sell the A1 and A7R V to buy an A1 II before I would get an A7 V. That will give you everything you want and more. You'll get pre-capture an improved AI recognition and a really good rolling shutter. I think you will find the A7 V rolling shutter to be better than A7R V but not great, and at 33 MP, the loss of 18-27 MP would be problem for me.
I’ve considered getting an A1 II for quite a while now but still need to have at least two bodies for the way I like to shoot. After the New Year I will see what I can get for my A1 and A7RV but I’m the one who needs to try and upgrade the A1 to firmware version 4.0 and hope the A1 still is fully functional and doesn’t suffer from a failure due to the trying the upgrade. Also will have the added expense of the version 5 battery grip which I need to find.
