SONY α1 – Review
When SONY α1 was launched I was pleasantly surprised because I’ve read it was a sure bet: the most powerful “all in one” camera on the market.
That meant it would bring a lot of things that I don’t especially need: from connectivity and transfer (which could be very useful for agencies) to really amazing video capabilities. But what surprised me the most was all that power and high performances that I do require and apply to nature and action photography. This time they took things to an unimaginable level, SONY pounded on the table with his fist.
A few weeks later, I was asked by SONY to do a performance testing with a unit they were going to send me. After a few days using it, this is my first review. It may be incomplete and probably with some failure or questionable valuation because the duration of testing time was limited, and in nature photography the testing duration is much slower than in other genres where prolonged testing options are available (because of recurring subjects, backgrounds, actions and moments of light much more controlled, as it could be sports photography at a sports centre, for example).
To a nature photographer like me the α1 actually is more powerful than I’d thought I would require, basically because the α9 was "almost perfect for me". But after a week of testing, I can clearly say that they have reached a much higher level.
In nature photography, particularly action photography, requires high performance in certain aspects. I’ve done specific tests of everything that this camera offers, trying to push the boundaries and taking advantage to the most.
In my opinion, the most outstanding points to emphasize from my SONY α1 testing process are these:
Shutter
A great and efficient electronic shutter that, as we know, can shoot in absolute silence, something very important when working with wildlife. Besides, there is no rolling shutter effect or viewfinder blackout.
Buffer
The combination of this buffer and the new CF Express Cards with transfer speed of 800 mbs allows us to use burst shooting speed of 30 fps. In my tests, I could shoot compressed 150 RAW photos continuous bursts for 5 seconds before the buffer speed started to decrease.
Sensor
It’s also incorporated a 50 mpx sensor that allows us to crop a lot or to directly apply the crop sensor in camera, so that we have a APSC format, and turning the sensor of 50 mpx into a 21 mpx one, but having increased the focal to 25x; thus a 600 mm f/4 turns into a 750 mm f/4 with a 21 mpx sensor.
In addition, one thing other cameras don’t have (unless I’m not aware of it) is that when we switch to APSC all the focus points are maintained in the same way as in FF, covering the entire sensor. Besides, we can change from FF to APSC or vice-versa without stopping the shooting, which bothered me in the a9 and now it has been also solved.
AF Tracking and burst
This leads us to another of the most sensational strengths for me: AF tracking based on “I don`t know what magic tracking algorithm” which, once our subject is focused the camera no longer releases it (amazing continuous tracking as it happened with the α9), but now they’ve looped the loop. When the AF tracking "green frame" determines by contrast detection a bird’s eye, it automatically becomes a small, sticky green frame fixed in that eye, and no longer will unstick from it. This process is extraordinary when you see it in a fast-flying bird that is erratically avoiding obstacles… we can even zoom in, re-frame
However, we have to set the camera properly according to the situation we are going to be involved in and depending on how we want the camera to capture our scenario/objective. The frame can identify the eye of a bird standing at a fair distance (a kestrel at 30 meters), and when the bird starts to fly the frame amplifies, staying "stuck” to the subject, as it happens with the α9. The difference with the α1 is that when the eye of that flying bird is close enough to be identified as such, the camera automatically returns to the eye with that smaller framing and captures it, keeping the tracking with an amazing accuracy.
In these situations, I always use the “expanded flexible spot focus " AFC, although depending on what we want to achieve we have a wide menu of possibilities, both AF types and its sensitivities.
It will depend on whether it fails or not, contrast conditions that can make the eye evident, but in any case, the focus frame is constantly looking for that eye at the head of the bird. If the eyes disappear briefly because the bird turns its head, the frame stays on the back of the head waiting for the eyes to appear again.
My conclusion at this point is that although in some complicated condition it may fail, in the large majority of cases we’ll get the photo focused exactly where we want.
For instance, if I shoot a bird of prey in flight about 15 meters away with a 600 mm at f/4 we will get a very limited depth of field of barely 15 cm, the focus could perfectly slide to a wing and the eye wouldn’t be focused
With this system it doesn’t happen because the focus will always be on the eye.
As SONY told me, the database was developed based on a bank of birds’ images. Many species of birds were collected in order to create the eye recognition algorithm, but some species were particularly emphasised: one of them was Bonelli’s eagle
Through my tests I have found that this tracking combines the identification of a bird as such, understanding where the head is placed and quickly fixing the AF frame on it, and it maintains there until detects an eye (which I suppose it’ll do by contrast detection). I’ve checked this process with birds standing absolutely in the shadow but noticing a bird’s contour, and even in that complicated case the system is infallible.
Stabilizer
The stabilizer, another surprise which potential you will ignore until you’ll try it. It’s like everything
By hand, focal distance at 600 mm with Steady shot ON and Mode 3, at f/5, ISO 100 and the most amazing: 1/125 shutter speed!!!!
Viewfinder
The electronic viewfinder is something else that I didn’t think it could be improved so much, because the one on the α9 was already a success, but on the α1 it’s superb. When I left the SLR system I knew the optical viewfinder was something I was going to miss. The evolution in this regard has been so great that now I don’t even remember that I work with an electronic viewfinder.
Although being realistic, electronic viewfinders offer unsurpassable advantages compared to any optical one.
But the most important aspect for me is certainly the possibility of having the preview of the final image.
I remember looking at my old SLR cameras’ screen after each shot to verify that I had correctly exposed. With an electronic viewfinder you can see the final result of both the exposure and the depth of field before even shooting.
Customization
And finally, something really important for my workflow is the possibility to customize the camera with all the necessary settings to turn it into what I want it to be: a useful, quick to handle and simple tool. I have it set for the use that I usually give it, but if eventually I’ll have to make a video, a landscape or a macro, the quick accesses to my settings make work much easier.
Price
Speaking about the aspects to be improved, I can’t thing about any significant one until today’s test.
I wish I could talk about the typical ones: for instance, the duration of the batteries tends to be more recurrent because certainly the SLR cameras win by a landslide regarding this matter. However, it doesn’t particularly affect to me because I don’t shoot so much in the same day as to drain more than two batteries. And, for example, if I’m in a safari exhausting the shutter, I just connect a power bank to the camera’s USB-C and solved the problem.
I only have one problem even before trying the camera: it’s price, but I’ll clarify it because of several nuances: I don’t think it’s an expensive camera considering what it offers, and its price is similar to its direct competitors of Nikon or Canon, being the α1 very superior in almost everything.
Yet another thing is whether that price is affordable to any nature photographer or not.
In conclusion, I think this camera costs what it’s worth.
What I’m wondering is what’s the price for this "all in one" camera. In my case, if I could get rid of all I’m not going to require, as well as of the proportionate price from features I won’t need, then it would be the perfect choice for me.
In any case, certainly we are talking about one of the best options (in terms of performance) for a nature photographer who could require its features.
So far, this has been a relatively superficial review of my first impressions in a short time of use.
I hope to be able to offer more conclusions as far as I explore new experiences.
