p.1 #1 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
My Sony journey started with the A7III, but it struggled to keep up with my toddler. I upgraded to the A9 soon after, and that camera handled everything I needed. I loved shooting in electronic shutter mode and it quickly became my favorite body. Later, I picked up the A7RIV to explore the high megapixel side of the lineup, and the jump in resolution and detail compared to the A9 was immediately noticeable, so I sold the A9.
After that, I decided to try the A1, hoping it would give me the best of both worlds. I wanted the speed and electronic shutter performance of the A9 combined with the high resolution and detail of the A7RIV. On paper, it seemed like the perfect all in one solution for both fast action and detailed work. Over time, though, my shooting needs changed. My toddler is no longer running around at full speed, and the A7RIV handles her easily even without the autofocus performance of the A9 or A1. I also shifted toward slower, more deliberate photography, especially landscapes, where resolution and dynamic range matter far more than blackout free bursts or electronic shutter performance. I eventually stopped using electronic shutter altogether. I enjoy the sound and feel of the mechanical shutter, and if it wears out one day, that will simply be the natural moment to upgrade.
Because of this shift, my A1 has barely been used in more than a year. I am seriously considering selling it, but I want to make sure I am not overlooking anything before letting it go. I should also mention that I don't shoot video at all and don't care about video specs. I am not tied to the A7RIV specifically, but I know the A7C line will not work for me since I already find the A7RIV a bit small and added an RRS plate to improve the grip. The only thing I think I might miss from the A1 is the larger viewfinder, but I am not sure that alone is enough reason to keep it.
Given my current shooting style, is there any meaningful reason to keep the A1 instead of the A7RIV that I might not be considering?
p.1 #2 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I have the A1 II and A7R V, and previously owned the A7R IVa. Honestly, all these cameras feel the same to me and none of them ever felt like a bottleneck for my photography. But their prices... very different! ;-) I too added the A1 II to photograph my kids but didn't notice any improvements in the keeper rate: the autofocus is the same, and 7fps of the A7RV is more than enough. Honestly I am not sure who the A1 is for... If I were shooting football games, the A9 would have been better but technically that's just video frame plucking and not photography. And for everything else the A7RV is the same or better, for half the price.
I recommend selling both and upgrading to the A7RV mainly for much improved IBIS and better rear LCD.
p.1 #3 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I made a similar change in shooting priorities last year. Image quality became my primary concern. Once that decision has been made you should consider other components than just the camera body and sensor. Primarily the lenses.
The highest IQ glass ever made for Full Frame camera systems are the Leica APO-SL lenses. Measurably better on MTF charts, and visually better when printing. Fortunately these native L mount lenses were designed for the Leica SL3 system which has a similar 60mpx Sony sensor like the A7R5. With Leicas multi shot capability you can get 256mpx even hand held. The latest 4.0 firmware provides competative AF so few compromises.
After I aquired my SL3 system I also didn't shoot my A1 for more than a year. So, it made sense to sell it.
If you are not too price sensitive research the Leica. You will be impressed. The cost issue can mostly be mitigated on the used market.
p.1 #4 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
Your experience is somewhat related to mine. My first Sony camera was the A7III, then I added the A1 soon after the release. My initial thinking was that the A1 could be the last camera I would need to buy. I was naturally naive and wrong, and have since added 3(!) more camera bodies (non-Sony).
Like you, my interests changed as well toward "slower, more deliberate photography." I noted your preference for somewhat larger bodies.
Here's what you may want to look into and see wheter you should like it - the GFX100S II. I added the camera with two lenses (GF20-35MM F4 and GF55MM F1.7), last month, and have sice used the system while traveling in Costa Rica and St. Maarten. So far, I like the experience, and the image quality is arguably the very best one can technically obtain with a camera that costs similar to the top of the line Sony bodies. The GF lenses are optically outstanding. This system is not as fast as the latest Sonys and it is not for sports or BIF, but I understand that this shouldn't be a concern to you.
p.1 #5 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
you will never improve your photography by collecting gear. What happens when kids start playing sports? Better to learn what you have now inside out and set it up correctly. This coming from someone who has owned almost everything full frame and Medium format, except phase one wife would definitely leave me,could be a good thing.
p.1 #6 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
The R Sonys are creeping up in weight but still good - 723g for the a7r5 where the a7r4 is 665g. DR of your current Sony R shades the SL3 at base, and gives up 0.6 stops to the GFX mentioned above, at this landscape ISO level. a7r5 has a tiny smidgen more DR than the IV model.
SL3 is 854g, GFX100S II is 883g. Many modern lenses are E-mount only (exotics as well), and the 200-250g difference covers all adapters twice over. Heavier cameras beget heavier lenses.
a7r4 is smaller than they in all dimensions, by around 10%. These are fundamentals to many of us. You can do so much in the Sony ecosystem, with just one camera model. If versatility and the widest lens options matter as much or more than brand preference.
p.1 #7 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I moved from A7RV to A1 II, for the following reasons:
1) One of my use cases is wildlife and A1 M2 clearly outshines A7RV in frame rate and in buffer etc. I come from using Nikon Z9 for 4 years prior to moving to Sony and A1 M2 feels like a bit of an AF upgrade over the Z9 while A7RV felt like a bit wanting for fast moving birds
2) Low light performance of A1 M2 feels better vs A7RV, over ISO 2000. I had felt that images beyond ISO 4000 needed heavy noise reduction while images up to ISO 6400 on A1M2 require very lite noise management, if any. My daughter is now ready to go to college, but I have used Nikon 45MP cameras with decent low light capabilities throughout her school life, for stage performances etc where light is a bit low at times. Also, as she was growing up, 70-200 f2.8 and 24-70 f2.8 lenses were really handy as they were fast enough to keep pace with the fast AF of D850, D5 and later Z9.
3) Buttons and dials feel better and more useful vs A7RV, but thats more personal muscle memory
I have used GFX100 in the past and do really enjoy 100MP files and larger sensor, but I find 40-50MP in the sweet spot for most of my applications. If you can go for GFX, I would say just go for it, as the files are gorgeous coming out of that sensor, but you’ll find AF lagging Sony’s.
p.1 #8 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
Thanks everyone for chiming in and sharing your experiences and suggestions. I am actually very happy with my Sony system and have no real desire to migrate again. I already moved from Nikon to Sony, and I do not want to go through another system switch. The autofocus is excellent, the lenses are compact, and there is a huge range of options. You can play with character lenses from Zeiss, Voigtländer, and now several Chinese brands, or go with optically perfect glass from Sony, Sigma, and Tamron. The used market is also incredibly healthy, which makes experimenting much easier.
Leica: At some point I will pick up a Leica M system, but my kids are still young and I need autofocus. Leica is still a few years away for me.
Fuji Medium Format: The GFX 100S II system is very tempting, especially with the two lenses that @ruthenium mentioned above. That setup might be all I need. My hesitation is the added weight and size, and I need to figure out how to try the camera in person. I am also concerned about Fuji’s autofocus. If it performs anything like the AF in my Fuji X100VI, I know I will not enjoy using it.
A7RV: I honestly had not thought much about the improved IBIS. I knew about the advanced AI autofocus, and while that could be useful, I am already quite satisfied with the AF in the A7RIV. I am curious how much better the IBIS actually is in real‑world use. I rarely use the LCD since I am very much a viewfinder shooter. I am also unsure whether upgrading to the A7RV makes sense right now, given that the camera is already three years old and Sony will almost certainly release its successor soon. If this is the direction I end up taking, it might make more sense to keep using the A7RIV and wait to see what comes next.
@macwest, I am in 100% agreement with you. I am not trying to collect more gear. This thread is about downsizing and just keeping what I need.
p.1 #9 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
You will not enjoy the fuji gfxs 100 11 autofocus. The only half way decent lens for portrait af indoors is the 45-100 mm . My current gear that I am very happy with is a1 11 , Sigma 500mm 5.6 BIF Sony 85 1.4 sony 35 1.4 Sony 135 1.8 all purchased used except camera and sigma lens. over Christmas I purchased all the Sony versions of the Viltrox all new all were retuned . Some would update firmware some wouldnt some focused great next day dead one wouldnt even turn on anyway Good luck Happy New Year and take alot of photos
p.1 #10 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I'd keep it and sell the R, unless you're doing huge crops that need to squeeze out the few extra MP.
I'm thinking about jumping from my RV to a A1 mk1 myself.
Or keep both.
p.1 #11 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I currently have the a7Rv, prior camera was the a7Riv. Both really excellent cameras, I upgraded mainly because of the EVF. The improved IBIS, focus, and CPU were all welcome. The a7Rv has pretty much everything I could want except for a fast sensor readout speed.
As far as your situation, think about the future. My daughter’s played soccer, then softball, basketball, volleyball. There were times when a silent shutter would be good. Even with the sports the R series cameras were very capable. I could see potential reasons you might want to keep the A1 for the future, but I could also see just using the a7Riv would be fine as well. I usually sell the old body when I upgrade, so if you’re saying the A1 has been sitting unused, then go ahead and sell it. If you decide later on you want one again, you can pickup another one on the used market.
p.1 #12 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
Most likely for you there currently isn't a good reason to keep the A1. The question I would ask is what will your youngster be doing in the next 5 years that might bring the A1 into play? It doesn't hurt to keep it but if there is other photographic equipment you could be putting to good use then sure sell it and use the funds.
p.1 #13 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
Another vote for keeping the A1. As mentioned earlier, when your kids start activities like sports or even dancing/gymnastics, A1 will be a safer choice.
p.1 #14 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
buy whatever gear best fit your current shooting situations...when your kid gets older, just pick up a used A1 when situations call for it...used prices will continue to drop on all these bodies, A1, A7V...
p.1 #15 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
ramesesthe2nd wrote:
My toddler is no longer running around at full speed, and the A7RIV handles her easily even without the autofocus performance of the A9 or A1.
Really? Mine never stopped running around, if anything they got faster...
A7RIV AF is ok at slower apertures, but at f/1.4 hit rate is not so good.
p.1 #16 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I am the opposite. I get tremendous joy from silent, vibration free shooting. I find it very freeing. I cannot see myself ever going back to a Sony mechanical shutter again.
p.1 #17 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
aCuria wrote:
Really? Mine never stopped running around, if anything they got faster...
A7RIV AF is ok at slower apertures, but at f/1.4 hit rate is not so good.
Maybe it is me who slowed down, but I shot quite a few softball games last season and never once felt that the camera was slowing me down.
I also asked them to pose and they know if they pose I will leave them alone, but if they don’t I will be running behind them the entire time. Sometimes you have to use your dad powers to get the results.
p.1 #18 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
shadow9d9 wrote:
I am the opposite. I get tremendous joy from silent, vibration free shooting. I find it very freeing. I cannot see myself ever going back to a Sony mechanical shutter again.
The electronic shutter on the A7RIV is completely silent and vibration free. I do not mind the “fake” shutter sound the A1 uses in electronic mode to mimic a shutter slap, but I still prefer the real sound and feel of a mechanical shutter. A completely silent shutter is not for me because it feels a bit like taking photos on an iPhone, but to each their own.
p.1 #19 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
Audible shutter reports respect the subject(s) by signalling the end of the process, as well as fitting in with long-established tradition. Waiting for the photographer is not easy, they can't see your trigger finger move, if you have regular hands.
People (seriously) love hearing the a7r (v1) That's a camera with a hairy chested sound. Silent is for places you should not be doing it. Done plenty of that too.
a7rIV is a do-it-all high res camera, not many as good as that one. Good prices now, on clearance.
p.1 #20 · Looking for Advice on Keeping or Selling My A1
I own the a7riv, and no it is not.
The silence and complete lack of feedback/vibration is extremely liberating to me. I am in awe and joy every time. It feels like a superpower, and lets me connect to my photography on a whole new personal level.
ramesesthe2nd wrote:
The electronic shutter on the A7RIV is completely silent and vibration free. I do not mind the “fake” shutter sound the A1 uses in electronic mode to mimic a shutter slap, but I still prefer the real sound and feel of a mechanical shutter. A completely silent shutter is not for me because it feels a bit like taking photos on an iPhone, but to each their own.
