The A1’s price tag is a big one, but professionals who want a single do-it-all camera for both video and photo won’t be disappointed with what it provides in return. Value-wise, the £3,800 A7S III represents a better deal for people who only shoot video (and, aside from 8K, offers much of the same level of performance), while photographers seeking the most resolution can look to the £3,500 61MP A7R IV as a much more affordable alternative. Heck, even the 102MP medium format Fujifilm GFX1000S is £1,000 cheaper, if detail is what matters to you. For someone who wants all their bases covered, though – plus the ability to shoot stills at an incredible speed – there’s nothing quite like the A1. It might drain your bank account, but it’ll fill your portfolio with wonderful photos.

Excellent image quality; Very fast; Wealth of video options;

Tilting screen feels like a step backwards;

The Alpha 1 has been designed primarily for professional photographers and videographers. It is especially well suited to photo and video journalists as well as sports shooters and the like, who need to deliver the images and movie recordings they capture to bureaus or clients as quickly as...

The Sony Alpha 1 offers a hell of a lot. Video users will be extremely happy with 8K 30fps / 4K 120fps footage, and this will be overkill for the average videographer. High-speed stills photographers will be impressed by the 30fps on offer, and even those looking for high-resolution shots will be...

Large high-resolution electronic viewfinder, 30fps continuous shooting at 50mp with AF/AE, 8K 30/25fps video recording, 4K 120/100fps video recording, Improved menu system with touch-control, Excellent range of lenses available, USB power / charging

High-price, Multi-shot high-res shots aren't auto-created in camera, No in-camera raw editing (just crop/rotate), The screen feels like a budget choice, considering the camera price, Subject type must be manually selected (animals/human/birds)

The Sony a1 is the most refined Alpha-series interchangeable lens camera yet. Its combination of speed and resolution for both stills and video set it apart in a crowded field of excellent options, though that combination is also responsible for the price it commands. But the fact remains, most any professional photographer will be able to use the a1 for most anything they'd think to shoot.

Photographers capturing fast action, landscapes, weddings and events, portraiture and studio work or high-quality video.;

Photographers that don't need (or won't benefit from) the a1's combination of abilities. Those that need maximum resolution and dynamic range.;

The Sony a1 is the most refined Alpha-series interchangeable lens camera yet. Its combination of speed and resolution for both stills and video set it apart in a crowded field of excellent options, though that combination is also responsible for the price it commands.

Photographers capturing fast action, landscapes, weddings and events, portraiture and studio work or high-quality video.

Photographers that don't need (or won't benefit from) the a1's combination of abilities. Those that need maximum resolution and dynamic range.

The Alpha 1 becomes the most powerful all-round mirrorless camera to date, combining the best of the A7 and A9 series. The 61 Megapixel A7r IV may slightly out-resolve it, but the Alpha 1’s photo quality comes close while outpacing the A9 on speed and delivering 8k video that’s absent on the A7s.

The Sony A1 is a truly remarkable camera that covers almost every photographic niche thanks to its high-resolution sensor, super-fast burst shooting, lightening quick AF, professional connectivity and 8K raw video. It’s a stunning camera to use and the image quality is second-to-none, but the price tag puts it out of the reach of the most photographers.

Captures incredible detail; Blisteringly fast AF; Super-speedy burst shooting; Rare blend of speed and resolution;

Prohibitively expensive; Overkill for most photographers; Menu system is complicated

Jordan's assignment; Design and handling; Electronic and mechanical shutters; Lossless compressed Raw; Media and buffer; Displays; Autofocus; Flash capabilities; Image quality; Video performance; Who's it for?;

Jordan's assignment; Design and handling; Electronic and mechanical shutters; Lossless compressed Raw; Media and buffer; Displays; Autofocus; Flash capabilities; Image quality; Video performance; Who's it for?;

Recently the Sony Alpha 1 was officially released and as such, the photographers, influencers, and early reviewers on YouTube had their embargos lifted, letting them share their thoughts from their pre-release time with the new landmark mirrorless system.