Sony Alpha a1 II Body (SKU ILCE1M2B.CEC)

The Sony a1 II is the second generation of Sony’s flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. It combines a 50.1MP stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor, the powerful BIONZ XR processing engine, and a dedicated AI unit to deliver very high resolution, extreme shooting speed, and advanced subject recognition. It is designed to maximise capture success in demanding professional stills and video workflows, while also improving efficiency from shooting through to delivery.

Key Capabilities

• Approx. 50.1MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor

• BIONZ XR image processing engine with dedicated AI unit

• AI-based Real-time Recognition AF and Real-time Tracking for a wide range of subjects

• Continuous shooting up to 30 fps with blackout-free view and full AF/AE tracking

• Advanced pre-capture and speed-boost options to help catch decisive moments

• 8K and 4K high-frame-rate recording with professional codecs and profiles

• Up to 8.5 stops of 5-axis in-body image stabilization (centre frame)

• Fast, pro-level wired and wireless connectivity including 2.5G LAN and advanced FTP options

Sensor, Processing and AI

High-resolution stacked sensor with real-time processing

• Approx. 50.1MP stacked Exmor RS CMOS full-frame sensor

• High-speed readout feeds massive amounts of data to the BIONZ XR engine in real time

• Advanced AI processing unit for deep-learning subject recognition

This combination allows blackout-free continuous shooting at up to 30 fps with full AF/AE tracking, while maintaining excellent detail and dynamic range.

Advanced AI subject recognition

• Dedicated AI unit recognises and tracks:

  • Humans (eyes, head, body)

  • Animals (including some small animals)

  • Birds

  • Insects

  • Cars, trains and airplanes

• New [Auto] subject mode allows the camera to choose the subject type automatically in many situations

Human eye detection performance is improved by roughly 30%, with better recognition when subjects are small in the frame, turned away, wearing sunglasses, or partially obscured. Recognition accuracy for animals is also improved, and bird detection is around 50% better than in the previous a1.

Autofocus and Tracking

Fast Hybrid AF with wide coverage

• Up to 759 phase-detection AF points (stills) for dense coverage

• Reliable AF down to light levels around EV –4 (AF-S mode with F2.0 lens)

• Adjustable AF tracking response to better match subject speed changes (useful for birds, fast sports, etc.)

Flexible focus area options

• Focus point sizes now include XS, S, M, L, and XL

• XS spot helps avoid grabbing foreground objects like branches

• Custom focus area shapes can be created with chosen size and aspect ratio

Release time lag control

• Selectable release timing options:

  • Fastest Release/On: prioritises the shortest possible lag (blackout only on first frame)

  • Stable Release/On: minimises variation in release lag for consistent timing

  • Auto/Off: default setting with no blackout when starting continuous shooting

High-speed Continuous Shooting and Timing Tools

Up to 30 fps at full resolution

• Continuous shooting up to 30 fps with electronic shutter, full AF/AE tracking and approx. 50.1MP resolution

• Up to 120 AF/AE calculations per second during continuous bursts

• Blackout-free viewfinder for continuous, uninterrupted framing

Pre-capture and speed boost

• Pre-capture mode buffers a short period of images before you fully press the shutter, so you can record moments that happened just before you reacted

• Recording time for pre-capture is selectable

• Continuous Shooting Speed Boost can temporarily increase burst speed to help you catch critical instants

Together these functions greatly reduce the risk of missing fast, unpredictable moments.

Image Quality and Dynamic Range

High-resolution imaging

• Approx. 50.1MP full-frame capture for very detailed stills

• When shooting in APS-C mode (or cropping to APS-C after capture), resolution remains high at about 21MP

• Designed to pair with Sony G Master lenses for maximum detail and high-quality rendering

RAW sizes and compression options

• Continuous shooting available with compressed RAW at up to 30 fps

• Still formats include:

  • RAW (multiple compression options, including Lossless Compressed)

  • JPEG

  • HEIF

• M and S sizes available for RAW, JPEG and HEIF in both full-frame and APS-C, with the same pixel counts for easy switching between formats and modes

Sensitivity and dynamic range

• Improved noise reduction balances detail and low noise, usable for indoor sports and mid/high ISO shooting

• Approx. 15 stops of dynamic range at low ISO for smooth tonal gradation

Stabilisation and Composite RAW Modes

5-axis in-body image stabilization

• High-precision IBIS unit with advanced gyro sensors and refined algorithms

• Up to approx. 8.5 stops of stabilisation effect at the image centre (with appropriate lens)

• Approx. 7 stops at the frame periphery

• Enhanced cooperation with compatible OSS lenses for improved blur reduction at telephoto focal lengths

Composite RAW modes

• NR Shooting Settings:

  • Captures between 4 and 32 RAW frames and composites them using Imaging Edge Desktop

  • Produces a full-resolution image with much lower noise, especially at mid-to-high ISO

• Pixel Shift Multi Shooting:

  • Captures 4 or 16 pixel-shifted frames

  • Images are composited in software to achieve extremely high resolution and colour accuracy

Both modes are processed in Sony’s Imaging Edge Desktop software.

Video Features

Real-time Recognition AF for movies

• AI-based human pose estimation tracks eyes, head and body for precise focus

• AI recognition extended to additional subjects (e.g. birds in movies), plus animals, vehicles and more

• Real-time AF and tracking use colour, pattern and distance information to maintain accurate focus

8K and 4K recording

• 8K (7680 x 4320) recording with 8.6K oversampling for extremely detailed footage

• 8K XAVC HS 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 10-bit recording with optional Full HD proxy files

• 4K options include:

  • Full-frame 4K in XAVC HS, XAVC S, or XAVC S-I

  • Super 35mm 4K oversampled from 5.8K with full pixel readout and no binning

  • All-Intra (XAVC S-I) recording up to 600 Mb/s for high-quality, edit-friendly files

High frame-rate options

• 4K recording up to 120p in-camera for smooth slow motion (up to 5x when played at 24p)

• Slow & Quick Motion (S&Q) mode for in-camera slow/fast playback

• Full HD up to 240 fps for up to 10x slow motion at 24p

• Intuitive frame-rate selection in dedicated menus

Log, LUTs and colour control

• S-Log3 gamma for extended dynamic range from shadows to mid-tones

• Minimum ISO for S-Log3 is 800, with an extended range down to ISO 200

• Improved detail rendering compared to the original a1 and better match to Sony Cinema Line S-Log3 output

• User LUTs can be imported and used for on-camera preview

Stabilised video

• Standard mode: in-body optical stabilisation

• Active Mode: combines IBIS and gyro data for stronger stabilisation

• Dynamic Active Mode: adds electronic stabilisation for roughly 30% more effect, enabling steadier handheld or moving shots

• Auto Framing: automatically crops and follows AI-recognised subjects to keep them well framed

• Framing Stabilizer: keeps the subject in a fixed frame position when the operator moves alongside them

Breathing compensation and focus tools

• Breathing compensation uses Clear Image Zoom to keep the angle of view consistent during focus changes (with compatible lenses)

• Breathing metadata can be used in Sony Catalyst software for more precise correction in post

• AF Assist allows temporary manual override while using AF, useful for smooth focus pulls

• Focus peaking, AF transition speed and AF subject shift sensitivity controls are available

• Focus Map overlays a depth map on live view for visualising depth-of-field

• Real-time Recognition AF, Real-time Tracking and focus-area settings remain available during digital zoom and Clear Image Zoom operation

Body Design and Handling

Multi-angle LCD

• 4-axis multi-angle rear monitor for flexible composition in horizontal and vertical orientations

• Tilt range approx.: up 98°, down 40°, lateral 180° flip and rotation up to 270°

• 3.2" TFT touchscreen with approx. 2.1M dots, wide colour gamut and good outdoor visibility

Ergonomics and controls

• Improved, deeper grip for stable handling over long sessions

• New C5 custom button for additional direct control

• Optional VG-C5 vertical grip mirrors the feel and layout of the main grip and extends battery life

Viewfinder and eyepiece options

• 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED electronic viewfinder

• Approx. 9.44M dots, 0.90x magnification, long eye point, and high clarity

• Multiple refresh rates: standard, high, and “higher” (up to 240 fps) for smoother tracking

• Supplied with two eyepiece cups:

  • FDA-EP19 standard eyecup

  • FDA-EP21 deeper eyecup to block stray light and improve clarity and comfort

Power and charging

• Uses NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery

• Battery life (CIPA approx.):

  • Stills: around 420 shots (viewfinder) / 520 shots (LCD)

  • Movies (actual recording): around 85–90 minutes

  • Movies (continuous recording): around 140–150 minutes

• BC-ZD1 dual charger included, can charge two NP-FZ100 batteries in approximately 155 minutes when used with a USB PD AC adaptor

• USB-C supports in-camera charging and USB power delivery

Workflow, Networking and Pro Tools

Cards and playback

• Dual memory card slots, both compatible with:

  • SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II)

  • CFexpress Type A

• Contents of both cards can be browsed together, allowing seamless playback as if from a single source

• Burst sequences and interval-timer sequences can be handled as groups, with group-leading images shown for fast identification

• Image Jump and group-based navigation improve on-site review speed

Automated rating and markers

• Automatic star rating can be applied to the first image in a burst or pre-capture group

• Divider frames can be inserted before new groups to make fast scrolling and selection easier

Voice memos

• Built-in, rear-mounted dedicated microphone for clear voice memo recording

• Voice notes can be sent with images over FTP for editorial workflows

Metadata and IPTC

• IPTC metadata support for still images

• IPTC presets can be prepared and loaded via memory card, with up to 20 presets stored in-camera for quick switching (ideal for multi-sport or news events)

High-speed wired network

• Built-in 2.5GBASE-T, 1000BASE-T, and 100BASE-TX LAN terminal

• Support for FTPS (encrypted FTP over SSL/TLS)

• Up to 10 different FTP transfer setups can be saved and loaded from card

Apps and remote tools

• Transfer & Tagging smartphone app:

  • Background FTP transfer via phone

  • Fast tagging and captioning for sports and news photography

• Remote Camera Tool desktop software:

  • Wired LAN tethered shooting

  • Remote camera control including AF and shutter

  • Support for synchronised control across multiple cameras

Creators’ Cloud and Creators’ App

• Creators’ Cloud platform integrates cameras with cloud apps for backup, collaboration and post-production

• Creators’ App connects camera and cloud via smartphone, simplifying transfer and remote operation

Environmental and Accessibility Considerations

Recycled and low-impact materials

• Use of SORPLAS recycled plastic in camera bodies and other components, reducing virgin plastic consumption while maintaining durability and performance

• Manufacturing facilities (e.g. in Thailand) run on 100% renewable energy for certain imaging products

Paper-based, plastic-free packaging

• The a1 II uses an “Original Blended Material” paper-based packaging for the box instead of plastic

• Plant-based non-woven bags are used for product protection, further reducing plastic usage

Accessibility features

• Screen Reader: reads menu text aloud for visually impaired users

• Enlarged Menu Display for easier reading

• Focus magnifier, peaking, subject recognition AF, and intuitive touch tracking help a wide range of users work confidently

• Many features are designed so more people can access advanced stills and video creation

Package Includes

• Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera body

• Sony NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery (2280mAh)

• Sony BC-ZD1 dual-battery charger for NP-FZ100 batteries

• Sony ALC-B1EM body cap for E-mount cameras

• Sony FDA-EP19 eyepiece cup

• Sony FDA-EP21 deep eyepiece cup

• Sony Multi Interface shoe cap

• Cable protector

• Shoulder strap

Specifications

General

• Camera type: Interchangeable-lens digital camera

• Lens mount: Sony E-mount

Image Sensor

• Sensor type: 35mm full-frame Exmor RS CMOS, approx. 35.9 x 24.0 mm

• Total pixels: Approx. 50.5 megapixels

• Effective pixels:

  • Stills: Approx. 50.1 megapixels

  • Movies: Approx. 42.0 megapixels (maximum)

• Anti-dust system: Yes

Still Image Recording

• Recording formats:

  • JPEG (DCF 2.0, Exif 2.32, MPF Baseline compliant)

  • HEIF (MPEG-A MIAF compliant)

  • RAW (Sony ARW 5.0)

• Image sizes (3:2 full-frame):

  • L: 8640 x 5760 (approx. 50 MP)

  • M: 5616 x 3744 (approx. 21 MP)

  • S: 4320 x 2880 (approx. 12 MP)

Movie Recording

• Video compression:

  • XAVC S (H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC)

  • XAVC HS (H.265 / MPEG-H HEVC)

• Audio formats (depending on mode):

  • LPCM 2ch (48 kHz 16-bit)

  • LPCM 2ch (48 kHz 24-bit)

  • LPCM 4ch (48 kHz 24-bit)

Selected Movie Recording Formats

• XAVC HS 8K:

  • 7680 x 4320, 4:2:0 10-bit: 29.97p / 25p / 23.98p (up to 400 or 200 Mb/s)

  • 7680 x 4320, 4:2:2 10-bit: 29.94p / 25p / 23.98p (up to 520 or 260 Mb/s)

• XAVC HS 4K (3840 x 2160):

  • 4:2:0 10-bit: up to 119.88p / 100p (200 Mb/s); 59.94p/50p/23.98p with multiple bitrates

  • 4:2:2 10-bit: up to 119.88p / 100p (280 Mb/s); 59.94p/50p/23.98p with lower bitrates

• XAVC S 4K (3840 x 2160, 8-bit):

  • Up to 119.88p / 100p at 200 Mb/s

  • 59.94p/50p at 150 Mb/s

  • 29.97p/25p/23.98p at 100 or 60 Mb/s

• XAVC S HD (1920 x 1080, 8-bit and 10-bit 4:2:2 options):

  • Up to 119.88p / 100p at 100 or 60 Mb/s

  • 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/23.98p with various bitrates

• XAVC S-I 4K (All-Intra, 4:2:2 10-bit):

  • 59.94p: 600 Mb/s

  • 50p: 500 Mb/s

  • 29.97p: 300 Mb/s

  • 25p: 250 Mb/s

  • 23.98p: 240 Mb/s

• XAVC S-I HD (All-Intra, 4:2:2 10-bit):

  • 59.94p: 222 Mb/s

  • 50p: 185 Mb/s

  • 29.97p: 111 Mb/s

  • 25p: 93 Mb/s

  • 23.98p: 89 Mb/s

• Slow & Quick Motion: Supported

• Proxy recording: Supported

• Timecode / user bit: Supported

• RAW output via HDMI: Supported

Memory Card and Storage

• Slots:

  • Slot 1: SD (UHS-I/II) / CFexpress Type A

  • Slot 2: SD (UHS-I/II) / CFexpress Type A

Autofocus System

• AF type: Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection + contrast-detection)

• AF points (stills): Up to 759 phase-detection points

• AF points (movies): Up to 627 phase-detection points

• AF sensitivity: Approx. EV –4 to +20 (ISO 100, F2.0, AF-S)

• Subject recognition (stills and movies): Auto, Human, Animal, Bird, Insect, Car, Train, Airplane

• Additional AF features include:

  • Adjustable AF response for crossing subjects

  • AF tracking for speed changes

  • Subject shift sensitivity and transition speed (movies)

  • Switchable AF areas for vertical/horizontal orientation

  • AF area registration and recall

  • Focus Map, AF Assist, and more

• AF illuminator: Built-in LED

Exposure and Metering

• Metering type: 1200-zone evaluative metering

• Metering range: Approx. EV –3 to +20 (ISO 100, F2.0)

• Exposure compensation: ±5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps

• ISO (stills): 100–32,000 (expandable 50–102,400), Auto ISO 100–12,800 with limits

• ISO (movies): 100–32,000 equivalent, Auto 100–12,800 with limits

• Anti-flicker shooting: Supported

Viewfinder

• Type: 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED electronic viewfinder

• Resolution: Approx. 9,437,184 dots

• Magnification: Approx. 0.90x (with 50mm lens at infinity, –1 m⁻¹)

• Dioptre adjustment: –4.0 to +3.0 m⁻¹

• Eye point: Approx. 25 mm from eyepiece lens / 21 mm from eyepiece frame at –1 m⁻¹

• Frame rate options (NTSC): 60 / 120 / 240 fps; (PAL): 50 / 100 / 200 fps

LCD Monitor

• Type: 3.2" TFT LCD, tilting and multi-angle

• Resolution: Approx. 2,095,104 dots

• Touch panel: Yes

• Tilt range: Up ~98°, down ~40°, side ~180°, rotation up to 270°

Additional Features

• Creative Look, Soft Skin Effect, Picture Profiles, Time-lapse, Auto Framing, Pre-capture, Continuous Speed Boost, NR Shooting, Framing Stabilizer

• Clear Image Zoom: up to 2x (stills), up to 1.5x in 4K and 2x in HD (movies)

Shutter

• Types: Auto / mechanical / electronic

• Shutter speeds:

  • Electronic (stills): 1/32,000 to 30 s

  • Mechanical (stills): 1/8000 to 30 s, Bulb

  • Movies: 1/8000 to 1 s

• Flash sync speed: 1/400 s (full-frame), 1/500 s (APS-C)

• Electronic front curtain: Yes

Image Stabilisation

• Type: 5-axis sensor-shift IBIS

• Effect: Approx. 8.5 stops at image centre, 7.0 stops at periphery (CIPA, with FE 50mm F1.2 GM, long exposure NR off)

• Modes: Still On/Off; Movie: Dynamic Active / Active / Standard / Off

Flash

• Built-in flash: None

• Control: Pre-flash TTL

• Flash compensation: ±3 EV (1/3 or 1/2 EV steps)

• External flash compatibility: Sony α System flashes via Multi Interface Shoe (with adapter for older Auto-lock flashes)

Drive and Buffer

• Max continuous shooting:

  • Electronic: up to 30 fps (Hi+)

  • Mechanical: up to 10 fps (Hi+)

• Approximate buffer depths (selected examples):

  • JPEG Extra Fine L: 190–400 frames (depending on settings)

  • RAW: up to 240 frames

  • RAW + JPEG: up to 200 frames

  • Uncompressed RAW: up to 84 frames

• Pixel Shift Multi Shooting: 4-shot and 16-shot modes

Playback

• Functions: Magnified view, protect, rating, shot mark (movies), divider frames, crop, frame capture from movies and more

Accessibility

• Functions: Screen Reader, focus magnifier, Focus Map, peaking, subject recognition AF, touch focus/tracking/shutter/AE, multi-angle LCD, enlarged menus, customizable controls

Interface and Connectivity

• PC interface: Mass Storage / MTP

• Multi/Micro-USB: Yes

• USB Type-C: Yes, SuperSpeed 10 Gb/s (USB 3.2)

• Sync terminal: Yes

• Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Bluetooth: Version 5.0

• HDMI output: Type-A connector, up to 8K and 4K output including 10-bit 4:2:2 and 16-bit RAW

• Multi Interface Shoe with digital audio support

• Mic input: 3.5 mm stereo mini jack

• Headphone output: 3.5 mm stereo mini jack

• Wired LAN: 2.5GBASE-T, 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-TX

• Functions: FTP transfer (wired, Wi-Fi, USB tethering), send-to-smartphone, remote smartphone control, PC remote

USB Streaming

• Video formats: MJPEG, YUV420

• Video resolutions: up to 4K (various frame rates) and Full HD/HD modes

• Audio: LPCM 2ch (16-bit, 48 kHz)

Network Streaming

• Video formats: H.264 / H.265

• Resolutions: up to 4K and Full HD with multiple frame rates

• Audio: AAC-LC 2ch (16-bit, 48 kHz)

• Protocols: RTMP, RTMPS, SRT

Audio

• Microphones: Built-in stereo mic plus dedicated voice-memo mic

• Speaker: Built-in mono

Lens Compensation

• Corrections: Vignetting (shading), chromatic aberration, distortion, breathing (for movies)

Power

• Battery: NP-FZ100 rechargeable pack (supplied)

• Still battery life: Approx. 420 shots (EVF), 520 shots (LCD)

• Movie battery life (actual): Approx. 85–90 minutes

• Movie battery life (continuous): Approx. 140–150 minutes

• Internal charging: Via USB-C with USB Power Delivery support

• USB power: Supported via USB-C

Size and Weight

• Dimensions (W x H x D):

  • Approx. 136.1 x 96.9 x 82.9 mm (including grip and monitor)

  • Approx. 136.1 x 96.9 x 72.8 mm (from grip to monitor)

• Weight:

  • With battery and card: approx. 743 g

  • Body only: approx. 658 g

Operating Conditions

• Operating temperature: 0–40 °C / 32–104 °F

Included Accessories

• NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery

• BC-ZD1 dual-battery charger

• Cable protector

• Shoulder strap

• Body cap

• Multi Interface Shoe cap

• Eyepiece cup (FDA-EP19)

• Eyepiece cup (FDA-EP21)