I got the chance to use the SonyA1 for some sport assignment.
In Brief - my name is Claus Fisker - a Denmark based photographer. I been working in the field for over 30 years now. Mostly as a staff at the danish agency Ritzau / Scanpix - but the last 5 years as freelance. My main income is sport. Soccer, Handball, Badminton you name it. Olympic, WC etc. I been on the all most normal road from Nikon to Canon, back to Nikon and then changed to Sony a little over a year ago. I’m not paid by Sony to share this. Today I use Sony A9ii’s and A7siii - lenses from almost zero to 400 mm.
I’m a hand on photographer and at all not a guy who jumps into manuals and specs. I don’t think I ever read a camera manual.
Sony A1: I only took jpeg x-fine. Normally I shot raw but I use PS and have to wait a little.
My workflow is a fast one. Transmitting pictures directly from the camera to ftp server via Nighthawk wifi net. Before the event I make a iptc text which is automaticly attached to all the files I transmit. It is not the iptc in the camera I use but a template in the receiver end. In the break of an event I edit some pictures in Photoshop and text them with the needed data. Mostly all the pictures - direct from camera and the edit ones goes automaticly out to all end costumer - in this case all Danish Newspapers, national TV stations and many web based sites. Internationally the pictures goes to AP, AFP, Reuters and so on. The wifi (two of them) on the Sony A1 seems to be better - my modem get on at once. Futhermore it’s ready for 5G - there might be a battery issue - I’m not sure - but two wifi anttenas, bigger censor will need more battery. At yesterdays soccer game it was minus 5 degree Celsius so not totally sure, but I used more battery than normal.
File size and Buffer. I´m impressed. This is the first - as I know - camera with this speed - 30 fps - and a file size of 50 mp. This opens some doors. The buffer is fast as …. (remember only jpeg until now) but the buffer was of my concern - not anymore - it is much faster then the A9ii. The file size is then it comes to sport a nice way to crop .
Inhouse crop function. Sony’s big problem. Then some of us changed to Sony 1,5 year ago we asked for the inhouse crop function. Sony told us: a matter of a few months - and they told us again and again and again. This have been the biggest downside in making the step from Nikon to Sony. We need that tool and we need it in a fast workflow - so not via a phone, tablet or Mac. And now it’s here. It works and it works well. I programmed the c2 for crop mode. The dial on the back is the tool and hit OK and in my case hit the c3 for ftp. Fast and very easy. Jubiiii. But the downside is no way to level the horizon in the camera - no way to adjust the RAW before crop - Hopefully Sony will come with an update on this one. Nikon/Canon had this for years.
On the crop side you also can program a function key (ex the one on the lens) to crop 1.6 - that means a 400 mm 2.8 goes to be a 640 mm 2.8 - with a resolution of 21 mp as I recall nearly the same as a A9ii - I know another way to crop but…
The autofocus have been improved - no doubt. It’s faster and more precise. It is impossible to test this during 2 games of soccer. With my collegues we discuss autofocus details almost every time we are in a press room, and it is very small adjustments that make big big changes in how the AF is working. On this one the time have to show who much better and precise.
Banding - On this one I´m not sure - it is better - but if its good will again depend on more work. There is in the Sony A1 tools to finetune, but I have not been around them.
The view finder is fantastic! The menu is a big step up.
Iso in lowlight.
I think the result was OK. I’m happy with it. The first game was at 6400 iso - the second game was at 3200 iso, by the way in a snowstorm. I attached some photo’s so you can make your own judgement. I know you can look at this issue from many sides - my way is to see the result I transmit and if I’m happy with the result I’m fine. This is a give and take. There is camera out there which preform better on single things - but I have not seen a camera like this one. It is not the perfect camera, but for my work and needs we are getting closer
Video - did not try it at all - was told that you now are able to transmit video from the camera and work while it transmit - if that right it’s a big thing for news.
If you can’t work with the camera then you transmit it’s an issue
Downs - If you want the 30 fps you need to invest in sony express cards - and they are priced in the sky.
Ups and Downs - Inhouse crop - Jubii, but they still need to work on this regarding leveling and adjust raw
Downs - In this flagship the contacts for the flash is still not good - and totally open for everything - I know I also leaned to put on the protection - but please Sony….
Downs - The price. This can be discussed I know - It is a expensive camera - In my eyes a fantastic camera. The problem is also that the speed of new models of Sony is fast. Maybe to fast.
I just used a tiny bit of this camera and I think this camera is going to set new standards, and in my work it will probably be a must have.
It went a little longer than planned - Sorry.
