This is what you can do with Sony A9III and Sony LR1 cameras!

You save up to 30% on all kind of Nextorage cards sold by Amazon, and BHphoto!

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Deals selection:

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Storage deals:

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Sony Camera Holiday deals:

• $1000 off on the Sony A1 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama.
• $400 off on the Sony A7IV at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama.
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Sony Lens Holiday deals:

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• $100 off on the 16-35mm f/4.0 PZ at Amazon, BHphoto. Adorama.
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Sony general manager Masanori Kishi explained in a BCN interview why the Sony A1II kept the same Sony A1 sensor:

The sensor used in the α1 has a fast readout speed comparable to a global shutter, and has very little image distortion. It was a sensor with high potential to begin with. This time, we improved the image processing algorithm to improve image quality. The α1 II has evolved to be worthy of a new flagship camera.” The sensor had a lot of “room for growth”, so it was reused.
The highlight of this model is the inclusion of AI. By increasing the subject recognition rate, the focus accuracy has been greatly improved.

The journalist from BCNranking added some speculations:

It is said that it is difficult to achieve high pixel count and high image quality with a global shutter, so this may be one of the reasons why it was not used this time. If I were to speculate, for example, resources may have been taken up in the development of a sensor equipped with a global shutter, and there may not have been room for the development of a new sensor to be installed in the α1 II.

I agree that the original Sony A1 sensor was and still is fantastic. The limitations of the Sony A1 were in other aspects, some of which have been addressed with the new A1II (some others, like the lack of 8k60p, have not).

It’s also perfectly normal for Sony to “reuse” previous generation sensors. My own Sony A7rV still uses the 61MP sensor from the older Sony A7rIV released in 2019. I can’t say that this has disappointed me. That said, I’ve never found a Sony sensor to be a limitation in any of their models. If we want to criticize Sony, then we can talk about the high price, the less than spectacular firmware support strategy and so on.

What do you think about my take?

Preorder links:
Sony A1II at  BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.
Sony 28-70mm f/2.0 GM at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.

Use code “BFCM24” to get a 10% off on nearly everything sold by Keh.com (Click here). You can find the Sony cameras here and the E-mount lenses here.

Sony Japan issued an official press release that stated:

We have received orders for the full-size mirrorless SLR camera “α1 II” (ILCE-1M2), which we started accepting orders for on November 26, 2024 (Tuesday), far exceeding our expectations, and it may take some time before we can deliver the product. We are working as hard as possible to meet customer needs, so we ask for your patience.

I might add that my store managers contacts also do say that reorders are strong on the Sony A1II. So better you reorder one now if you wanna be sure to get it as soon as possible!

Preorder links:
Sony A1II at  BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.
Sony 28-70mm f/2.0 GM at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.

Some people claim that the Sony A1II is just a “firmware update” Sony A1. They obviously didn’t understand that the new camera includes many hardware changes, like the new body, the new AI chip and so on. In the video above, Tony Northrup explains these changes (from minute 5.55).

My thoughts on this camera are clear: For professionals, this is a solid update that improves almost every aspect of the first-generation Sony A1. And no, it’s not groundbreaking and no, it doesn’t kill the competition. But that wasn’t Sony’s goal either. Many have complained that some entry-level cameras (like the A6700) had features that the Sony A1 didn’t have. Sony has responded by finally incorporating the AI chip into the A1II, which enables these new features. But you really don’t have to worry, Sony will surely bring big innovations to future camera models, just like they did with the global shutter on the A9III. They are world leaders on the sensor front and I expect big things from them!

Preorder links:
Sony A1II at  BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.
Sony 28-70mm f/2.0 GM at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, CameraPro. Sony Australia.