I spent 6 months testing the Sony Alpha 1! Here's my review for movies. Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/2KRt26q // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3trQqsI Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Sony Alpha 1 samples: www.cameralabs.com/sony-alpha-a1-review/ Gordon’s retro gear channel: czcams.com/users/dinobytes Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic 00:00 - Introduction 00:40 - Movie modes 02:33 - Recording times / overheating 03:20 - Why you need 8k 04:16 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k real-life comparison 06:17 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k resolution comparison inc R5 08:25 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k 3200 ISO comparison inc R5 08:52 - dynamic range and s-log 09:31 - S-Cinetone 09:51 - Autofocus and rolling shutter 11:27 - Image stabilisation and Catalyst 13:04 - S&Q mode inc 1080 240 13:51 - 4k 120 demonstration 15:40 - Final verdict As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
The Problem is that the A 1 only achieves to record to UHS II cards by only offering max 100/150byte……the Canon R 5 goes over 400……and on top the A 1 is for what it offers way to expensive. It almost seems that it was developed from the Canon A 7 R IV which has similar weak only 8 bit Video codexes
Gordon, How do you like the dials on a1 vs a more button centric camera like R5? And how quickly can you switch between stills / video - important for hybrid sport shooters who can’t miss a play?
Great video Gordon! I've been fortunate to own the A1 for about 3 months and have been using it alongside my A7Siii. Here are my thoughts on the A1, A7siii and EOS R5. As a CZcams creator who does a lot of run and gun shooting, I typically find I reach for the A7siii more often than the A1. The key reasons being 1) The flip screen is essential and 2) I find the active stabilisation essential and unfortunately the A1 can't do Active stabilisation on 8k footage currently. If I was going to shoot an interview or without handheld, the A1 is easily the one to go for given it can shoot wide at 8k and closeup cropped in at 4k. It's like having two angles in one. The dynamic range on the A1 also appears to be slightly better than the A7siii as well from my experience (albeit only marginally better). As for the EOS R5, I recently worked on a project where I used it as an A camera and while I love the build quality and the flip screen is far better than the Sony cameras, the image was noisier, the camera overheated frequently and the stabilisation was not as good as the Sony (when it's on Active). That last one surprised me, as I'd heard great things about the EOS R5 and its stabilisation. I originally planned to buy an EOS R5, but switched to the A7siii last year and it's a decision I can't say I regret. Sometimes I regret buying the A1, given it was a costly investment and the A7siii can do almost everything for a much more reasonable price. But I think the fact of the matter is I just haven't used the A1 as much as I should've yet and I need to find new ways to use the 8k and 50 megapixel photo capabilities. It's still early days! APOLOGIES for the essay, but I hope this is useful to folks wondering what camera to pick up. Keep up the great work Gordon! I turn to your channel for camera reviews and insights more than most. Truly an invaluable resource!
Can't you use a crop with active stabilisation and get the advantages of that crop being able to move around more with less loss of resolution compared to the SIII?
@@cameralabs do you think the a1 is better buy, than current r5c? according to footages, i can see the r5-s colurs are darker than sony-s am i seeing it right? have you tried mi 11 ultra? or have you seen camera test about it? which camera do you thzink maches the mi 1 ultras video and photo bt manily video colour science more? r5c or a1?
@@k.o.t.o.n. it's not easy for me to answer lots of individual questions in different places. Once you're ready to buy, put all your questions in one place and we can work out an appropriate donation as discussed. Thanks!
I just got the A1(today) as a B camera to my Sony FX9 (and other Sony 4K cameras I have) -You can set up the A1 in 8 K and set it wide and do digital zooms and pans in post. Great for a 1 man band. Great review!!
I love everything about the Sony, except for the price. I can buy an R5 and RF lens for the same price. Kolari now mods the R5 for $399 with copper heatsink to double recording times.
@Whatever Keeps You Calm r5 offer more than enough for most people,why waste money for A1 lol And r5 isn't even the flagship but still offer almost as much as A1😂
Nice honest review, the A1 is the first true hybrid system that nobody has released till now, and fits the whole package for a photographer and fillmmaker set.
Great review Gordon, as always. Your integrity is very refreshing, and I like how you avoid clickbait titles. My A1 arrives today, and your video has made me very excited!
I also have owned the a1 for nearly three months now. One thing that needs to be seen to be believed is the quality of the images that are produced. Even my RAW files need very little editing. The color science in this camera is better than I've ever seen, even when I was a Canon shooter. The only down side to this camera is that it runs through batteries at a faster rate than my a7SIII, a7III, or a7RIII models. The a1 is the camera I always reach for and the camera I need in my hands.
Same experience, went from A9 to A1 and the files are so good, very little needs to be done. With a grip I usually last the whole day with the two batteries but do bring two spare, unlike the RIII where even with 40% left you could go out and shoot the whole day.
Why is there even still a PAL/NTSC switch in Sony cameras? It's so annoying on my A7iii that I can't just choose what I want like on my X-T3. No switching between PAL and NTSC there - No formatting aswell. I don't get it. Sure, there's a reason for those modes, but why implement this unnecessary step in-between??
Currently reading your book “in camera”. Love it. Great style you’ve used, describing each photo, not just settings, but the how and why behind it. Thanks.
Hi Gordon I like your videos so much. Thanks for doing it. One question, which camera do you would say i have to buy. Im looking for a good camer for pictures but also for video. Video i like to make documentary movies. Canon R3 or Sony A1 or maybe another one? Kind regards Florian
If price weren't an issue, I'd say Alpha 1 all the way. One thing I've noticed it has warmer colours in the SOOC footage. For me, Canon still rules supreme in the SOOC colour department. Obviously, most videos are edited before they're published, so a little tweaking of temp and/or tint isn't a big deal; however, I wish Sony finally would reach Canon's standard in this respect. I've heard a dummy battery setup can virtually keep the Alpha 1 in a nonstop recording mode with no overheating. Canon seem to have rushed things a bit there with 8K and the toll it takes on the R5's innards... Another great review, Gordon!
Gordon, did you not apply the latest R5 firmware? You never mention clog3, raw light, nor the Canon can now record most formats to SD cards with low bit rates like the A1. Its a bit of an advantage for the R5 now. One has the choice of low bit rates or higher bit rates when the best quality is necessary (when there is a lot of motion). One other thing to note. In video mode the A1 loses several AF modes such as animal eye detect, If you want to video your pets, birds or animals in the wild, the A1 lacks some important features, The R5 not only has those AF modes but also a default mode that works with humans and animals without changing a setting deep in the menus. And finally if overheating is a worry use the Ninja V or Ninja V+ you mentioned, At the moment only the R5 works with the Ninja V+ and 8K according to the website, but maybe that will change.
All good points. I did have the latest fw for the R5 and made a short video about it, but forgot about the light modes when writing my comparisons here, so factor that in. As I recall though, 10 bit on the R5 always demands c-log and that's always in an H.265 format that's encoded in a way that makes it harder to edit than the Sony footage, so that point about the files being more manageable still holds. You're right about Canon maintaining animal eye detect for video, I know the Sony loses it, but forgot to mention it as a benefit for the R5. There's a lot of back and forth when comparing them! I think the Alpha 1 makes the R5 look like tremendous value and I hope that came across as I mention the price difference twice. And yes, the lower price would allow you to buy an external recorder, thereby fixing the overheating issue, plus a lens too. I'm making a similar video about the R5's movie modes and will be able to mention all of this in it.
I shoot HDR PQ with the R5. It is similar to HLG on the Sony. It’s Uses the BT2020 color space but not a log profile. I find it quicker to use since I don’t need LUTs and it looks good SOOC. So that is an example of 10 bit video but not clog or clog3. On my Mac I can either save it as SDR or HDR and it looks normal. No matter what I am a big fan. I always enjoy your videos.
Somewhat better in quite a few respects than the R5, worse in others, the fact that it's nearly $3000 more, meh. Its value preposition is kinda demolished. A $3900 camera competes quite favorably with it.
@@frankfeng2701 Wrong. They do not come anywhere near the A1 capabilities, whereas the R5 is a direct competitor, capabilities wise and even bests it in some regards. Value is INTRISICALLY relevant in that scenario.
@@derekv6479 in terms of value the cheap old pocket camera that i got for free is better. But in absolute terms the A1 is the best hybrid camera of all time.
Brilliant work. Many thanks. I'm now an R6 owner, and understand the heat issues. The R series got me because of hand-holding comfort against Sony, but the dSLR Canons are easier to use. I feel we still are a few generations away from peak mirrorless where performance and ergonomics mate with amazing haptic interaction. If Sony make a beefier body with fewer fiddly controls I'll happily use their cameras.
Interesting, the Alpha 1 wasn't even on my radar because of its price alone before watching this video. Now I think I might have another look... thanks!
At that price, I can get 2 x R5 to mitigate the over-head problem. When I have 2 bodies, I can do B-roll, 2 camera angle, I got a spare body, I avoid switching lens, and many more, effectively double the everything.
If you need a light setup, sony A1 is the best choice. But for me, my choice is the canon R5 + ninja V+ = DCI format + unlimited 8k prores raw + prores 4k = better codec + monitor + still lower price than A1
Hi Gordon! I was expecting that one for so long! ;D Amazing work! Thank you so much! I kind of miss that you didn't shoot a Dynamic Range comparison between Sony A1's Slog3 and Canon R5's Clog2 or Clog3 though... Any observations of yours in this regard?
I wasn't able to film the same thing at the same time, but I hope to have a similar test with c-log in an upcoming possible R5 video. But this one took me so long to complete I don't know if I'll ever make my EOS R5 review part 2!
@@cameralabs thank you Gordon. From the spec sheets I understand the Sony A1 should have a better Dynamic Range from its sensor to start with but i guess it’s also a matter of how well S-log 3 behaves against C-Log 3, that’s why I’m looking forward to your testing to have a better opinion. Regarding the conversation we had on your other review about the external recording, I’m still wondering if the R5 will get unlimited 8K and 4KHQ recording with the Ninja. I saw mixed reviews from users saying the only way they get no overheating with 4KHQ is losing the ability to use the R5’s LCD. I wonder how that accounts on usability and indeed as you say it tends to make a priori the A1 a more appealing body in terms of reliability.
great camera i will buy later this year. doing nature photography and being able to do both photo and video at the flick of a switch without moving is gold, not to forget you can pul an image from that 8k video file big enough for print or social media. 20-30fps will give you the shots you might have missed on other camera's. and all that in one small little camera. price is a bit much.
Nicely done Gordon: Your very practical what-you-see-is-what-you-get approach together with Gerald Undone's nerdy info covers all the bases and leaves little to question. I also hope Sony adds raw support for the A1 -- as a vote of confidence I just ordered a Ninja V+.
Thanks! I love Gerald's work and agree our videos complement each other. I hope the Ninja V+ will support 8k on the A1 soon, but it's just a guess at this point.
The Alpha 1 is just really amazing. Sony not long ago would have not been thought of in the same breath as Canon Nikon etc. Here they make this flagship that does so much more and better than Canon and Nikon. I would love to see a comparison of the a1 and the Panasonic S1H at 4K head to head. I thought I would never say that the S1H is a bargain compared to this a1. Forgetting AF for the time being and just 4K UHD. I get the option 8K. But I think this a1 and S1H could slug it out on the professional video gigs. Both equipped with their XLR audio option modules and lets go make a movie or two. Which is better? This is a professional camera. So lets take them out to some demanding shoots and really see what this a1 can do. A no mercy video grudge match. Pick the places, let's see what the a1 vs. the S1H can do. I know you would make the comparison great.
@@xray111xxx the problem for me is it's not worth putting several weeks of work into a video that gets this few views. I'll keep an eye on it as some can keep growing steadily, but so far, there's not been enough views on this one.
Have you compared 8k vs 4k low light and higher iso? For example, at iso 12,800 which is above the 4000 iso 2nd gain of the A1 in slog3 to see if there is a difference in noise? 8k vs 8k downscaled to 4k in post vs native 4k
Agreed, the R5 seems sharper. Is this camera really worth 7K (with tax) for just the body only? For that price we should see a difference and I've yet to see a difference in the video quality between the two cameras.
@@cameralabs I agree with you in usability but like you mentioned that ninja v+ might change everything. BTW, I’m a perfectly content FX3 user, but the 1 camera to rule them all aspect of a1 or r5 are intriguing. A1 doesn’t have a flip screen, and r5 has 30m record limit, so those are what held me back.
I've had the opportunity to use both cameras and both are outstanding. I must say, paired with the ninja v it's hard to beat the R5 for video. The R5 is great for video and photos and so is the A1. I really like Canon's glass, so between the two I would go with the R5 if I had to pick.
Been using both A7s3 and A1 for 4 months now and I'm about to replace the S3 with an Fx6 and pair that with the A1. The only issue I'm having with the A1 is how the stabilization is handling a wide lens 20mm and wider. I'm getting some odd wobble artifacts in the corders.. I'm sure it will be fixed in firmware, but that's my only gripe so far.
@@ajvexports well, it depends how much you naturally shake while filming. The movie mode has an active option which improves the stabilisation in some situations, but crops the image a little. Or you could use Sony's Catalyst software to stabilise it on your computer afterwards - see my video abut that. For the best results of all though, buy a gimbal.
C’mon Gordon we know you have a Canon R3 spill the beans! The A1 disappointed that it only recorded in 4:2:0, and the DCI was disappointing and I bet you may have that Atomos V+-the need for the 4:2:2 FX work and work with Red Monstro. I’m anxious to see what the R5 will do with R5 with Atomos V+ I about to order for our new project 20 C70 kits along with a number of Sony FX6 we’re doing creative news and info gathering for a new global media network launching next year and we’ll have many more independent Watcher-Creators. The big feature is language translation.
Long Time subscriber... you didn't shoot a Dynamic Range comparison between Sony A1's Slog3 and Canon R5's Clog2 or Clog3 though... Just curious if you will do a future video comparison?
No problem, I own the R5 already and was just curious if it was able to compete with the A1 dynamic range. Keep up the great work, your at top of my list of reviewers on CZcams.
Gordon, I notice you’re using Catalyst Browse on a Mac. Is this an M1 Mac, and if so how does stabilization runtime work on that? I can’t find any info on the internet as to how it runs in Rosetta or if Sony has compiled an ARM version
I'm not lucky enough to have an M1 Mac yet! It's just a mid 2018 MBP 13in, and that's what I use to edit all my videos too! I'm waiting for the fabled 14in M1!
@@cameralabs Are you saying you edited 8k on the 2018 MacBookpro? What are your specs? What MacBook pro would you recommend for me to edit 8k footage? Specs please...
@@jamescook5931 yep, ALL of the videos I've posted since mid-2018 were all edited on my 2018 MBP 13in with 16GB RAM and a 500GB drive, including my 8k compilations. I use FCP X and that's way quicker than Premiere on a Mac, but my machine does struggle with H.265 footage, be it 8k, 4k or anything else. Editing those 8k videos was very jerky, so I tended to cut them to a music track, marking that first and just snapping the video clips to fit. I would recommend any of the recent M1 Macs or MacBooks for video editing, and I'm waiting to see if a 14in model is coming this year.
@@cameralabs Hey if you didn't want to wait for the M1 Mac, which MacBook pro would you recommend? How would you spec it out? I would start with the 16 inch Mac.
I've heard people say so many times that you can crop in.. I have a 4k camera and still haven't dropped in a single time in all of my usage. I understand that it varies from person to person but I never found it useful.
Can you review the Blackmagic 12K Gordon? It's cheaper than the A1 and has a completely different, 80mp sensor with great colour. It also doesn't have the rolling shutter issues, more resolution in its high frame rate modes and of course it's properly raw, no s log and no pro res. Pro Res doesn't play nice when grading, I don't know why, but it's so cumbersome to work with, whereas braw is a breeze.
Your comment is misleading! Did you fall asleep? I show a bunch of resolution and noise comparisons in 1080, 4k and 8k between the Alpha 1 and EOS R5 around 6 minutes into the video. Please watch it all before commenting.
Thanks Gordon There is no doubt that the Alpha 1 is a great camera But i think it is still behind the Canon R5 camera in very important points For example, 8 k raw - 4.2.2 $ 2500 price difference !!! I do not think it is a wise choice for many people Unfortunately, the Canon overheating problem is exaggerated I guarantee it is not a big problem for many filmmakers in the real world What percentage of us need 30-minute shots in raw 8K format ?? I will share my personal experience with you in a professional project that we shot with R5 I was shooting on a documentary project over 3 months We did not experience the problem of overheating even once We had another R5 to support during the project And our backup camera was never used Format 8K raw And 4K 120 Just keep the camera off when you are not shooting
Sadly on YT if I don't publish a review within a few days of it being launched, the views become so low, it's not worth it. So it's way too late for the Z-9 sadly.
You don't spend much time talking about the cinetone which is pretty beautiful in this camera? Its effects on skintones and vivid scenes create some pretty stunning things.
What is a simple, yet powerful video editing program for a Windows 10 computer. Adobe Premier is crazy expensive for an occasional video shooter. I love my Sony A1, but video is not my forte.
On the charts it appears the R5 has a slight edge over the A1. However, looking at the flowers I see the R5 winning in 1080 but I see the A1 winning in 4K and 8K. It’s funny because in the pond scene I prefer the standard profile. 😄 Is that just PP off or is it one of the PP modes? Finally, I think the A1 photo specs, in terms of fast frame rate and autofocus trump the R5 but I have seen photo comparisons where the R5 image quality seems to have a slight edge. I think the A1’s weakness for photos is noise. Keep it under ISO 4000 and it’s fine. Anything at or above and too much chroma noise starts to show. Overall I’m happy with my A1. I think overall it’s definitely a better performer than the R5 but not necessarily producing better IQ. I will add I wasn’t thrilled with my original purchase. I actually had to exchange my A1 for another one. It had a number of issues that I will blame on poor quality control or just really bad luck. I’ve seen or heard of quite a few A1 duds but the internet is a big place and when a product is mass produced there will always be a certain percentage of rejects. It’d be nice if they got rejected before they went out for sale. My second A1 is fine and with the exception of one occurrence, where IBIS went completely bonkers, I have had no problems at all. BTW, it appears in your IBIS test you may have had a slight delay in one of the scenes. (Start about 11:36 and it appears the first full second is not stabilized.) My single issue was WAY worse. It was like the internals were swinging on a pendulum. It happened when I was trying to zoom with the 200-600 lens. It only happened once. Not sure what caused it. I heard you need to AVOID turning the camera on in portrait orientation.
What is with the AI IBIS?! The 8K shot testing the rolling shutter was bouncing around like crazy 😳😳😳 noticed it on a heap of other A1 shots too... the A7siii and R5 alarmingly seemed more stable ? Are they significantly lighter?
@@deebea6364 there's definitely different amounts of rolling shutter depending on the movie resolution and frame rate, but NONE of my examples in that segment were filmed with IBIS, so you can eliminate that from the equation!
Hey Gordon! The only thing still missing from this very nice review is a real Dynamic Range comparison. I bet the R5 raw or clog3 is on par with the A1’s slog 3, is it? Or is there one superior to another?
I can't comment until I do a head to head but it's hard in real life conditions as the light changes, plus difficult to get both cameras in for testing at the same time with the same lens. I managed it for the noise and res, but not for DR. But I can't do everything and there are many others here who are way more into log and grading than I am. Remember I'm the guy who tries to do everything in camera with no post.
@@cameralabs You sure are doing an outstanding job with your reviews no doubt Gordon! If I may suggest to use a chart for DR as well maybe it will make your process easier ;-)
@@24framestime I do actually have a DR chart for that purpose, but tbh I hate using technical charts - I find them dull and again others are providing the same results, so there's no point in duplication.
@@cameralabs I get your point :-) Just another question passing by: I read some comments about focus breathing being an issue with several Sony lenses and especially on the A1’s large sensor, thus making that camera not the best choice for video work compared to Canon with RF lenses. Can you relate to that in your own experience? What’s your take about that ?
@@24framestime I try to show focus breathing in all my recent lens reviews, so check them out! Most lenses have a compromise of some description and for Sony recently it seems they're not that concerned about focus breathing, so yes, it is quite obvious on many of their lenses. I see it on Canon's too, especially the zooms. This is a lens issue, not a body issue.
Oh yes if I please may ask your opinion Gordon or anyone else in the comments. I just purchased the Panasonic S5 with the 20-60mm kit lens & a second spare battery brand new from Amazon UK for £1180!. Am I right in thinking that’s really quite a good deal!?. Ideally I wanted to get the Sony A7S3 but with a lens & spare battery that would equate to roughly £5000 so almost what four times the cost!. As I’m not a pro, not making money from my camera (yet hopefully lol) and still learning. My thought is will I get four to five times better photos & videos with the Sony probably not!.
@@cameralabsHi, oh yes it's gone back up in price. I got it on the Amazon prime day deals. Amazon dropped the price to £1449 but they also left up the £250 off voucher.. which I claimed went to the checkout and yep it allowed me to use the voucher with the already discounted price!. Think possibly someone at Amazon was meant to remove the £250 voucher before the camera was discounted but forgot.. or forgot to programme the system properly!.
@@cameralabs tks for your quick respond. Saw your review of still photography with A1. What abt IBIS delay in still photo? I do more still photo than video so it is very important for me to decide. Tks again.
Really? Based on me walking back and forth towards a camera or presenting? In honesty, I'd love to give it a go, although I do get very nervous presenting in front of more than two or three people.
I love the A1. I wanted, I wished for my Z7 to be reliable, but even with the Z9 update, it just isn't. And Nikon's management and Canon's management have proved to be such liars about their products, hurting the reputations of their wonderful engineers, in my view, I just don't want their cameras anymore. I don't believe that Nikon can't deliver a Z7 iii that will have any value unless, like Canon, they can match Sony's singular achievement in controlling overheating in a consumer sized form factor.
Hey I watch CZcams on my tv via the built in CZcams app. (Not gloating just for perspective) I have a top line 55” Sony 4K hdr/Dolby vision tv, which has excellent image quality and sharpness. Hence to me the difference between the A1 & R5 is day and night it’s that drastic especially when you compared them using the charts, it wasn’t even close!. Furthermore when you compared the roses/flowers again the Sony was extremely and significantly better than the Canon on a large tv the R5 4K looked like bad 1080p compared to the Sony’s 4K. The Canon has major major softness, I couldn’t even pick up the details in the yellow flower compared to clearly seeing them on the Sony!. I’ve just purchased the Panasonic S5 so not a Sony fanboy, I do have a sony RX100va but yea I’m impartial. Frankly The Canon looked terrible compared to the Sony.
Thanks for your feedback, yes it's important to view on a large screen in the native resolution too, so hopefully your CZcams app was streaming in 4k. if not, that can skew the results.
@@cameralabs hey it was indeed sometimes it automatically changes to 1080p, but I check for videos like this one/yours because there so in-depth. I mean it's a superb comparison you did as all your comparisons, reviews etc are!. I forgot to mention earlier to be fair to Canon, the R5 4k footage etc viewed in isolation would look absolutely fantastic. It's just when compared side by side another comparable camera it really highlights the differences. But that's the same for all cameras. I imagine I don't know of course, but I imagine if you put A1 4k footage side by side with one of the red cinema cameras or a canon is it the C500 or C700 I imagine (again never used them so literally guessing) the A1 footage might look bad compared to those cameras. So apples and oranges lol :).
The A1 costs more than the Canon R5, without any lens. If you add in the trinity of lens for both cameras the price difference is not much at all and you get a better camera with the A1. The RF lens are more expensive than the Sony equivalents. A price comparison of the bodies only, is only half the story. Time to tell the whole story or show us how you use an A1 or R5 without a lens! :)
Gordon, this is the review I’ve been waiting for. I need a hybrid but traditionally shoot Canon. My clients are screaming for high end photo & video. You answered all the questions I needed especially the manageable video file sizes vs the R5. This will be a huge investment changing from Canon so I have one last question. Are the colours of the Sony A1 natural like the Canon? Thanks so much for your review.
Colours are very much a personal preference and while many have historically preferred the look of Canon, it's not necessarily more accurate. So I'd suggest you have a look at my sample images from my reviews of both cameras as they include mostly similar subjects so you can see how each captures the scene.
@@cameralabs isn't it weird? whites should stay pure white, I wonder if they do this intentionally to have those nice skin tones. Anyways, I prefer the new color science of the a1, the camera is a beast and truly worthy of the ALPHA monicker.
If anyone with a huge disposable income would like to donate an Alpha 1 to me, I would be eternally grateful 😂 that's the only way I'd ever get my hands on one!
I would buy the canon if it wasnt for the overheating and expensive lenses. Canon has better ibis, colors, and slightly better auto focus. The problem with Canon is the lack of affordable lenses from Tamron or Sigma.
I’m fortunate enough to be able to buy the canon and the expensive lenses, and I do prefer by far Canon ergonomics and look of the footage, but I’m really scared about IBIS wobble at wide ranges and that overheating issue though. 😭
@@cameralabs I have some doubts, but I may be wrong. My concern is that, unlike Sony which opens up its mount specs to 3d party manufacturers, Canon and Nikon are keeping theirs exclusively in-house, forcing Sigma, Tamron, et. al. to have to reverse engineer the mounts. Right now there are only two 3d party AF lenses for the AF mount, a Samyang 85mm and 14mm, and the autofocus performance appears to be adequate at least on an RP body. Whereas Tamron and Sigma lenses on the e-mount tend to be about 90% as good as native Sony lenses for AF, I'm wondering if AF is going to be more of a problem for 3d party lenses on the RF mount, particularly the newer, faster, or rumored quad-pixel AF bodies.
This shouldn't come as a surprise if you know my channel. I make long videos for people who enjoy or need to know the detail. I already left out more than I wanted to in order to make this video 20 minutes, and I also sacrificed revenue by disabling mid-roll ads. People already complain that I talk too fast. I also script it, so there's minimal chat, and I've chapter-marked it so you can skip straight to any section. Please tell me what I should have done to make it more concise to suit you!
Not even long enough! Please have some respect for somebody who probably took a very long time shooting and editing this video for you to see and get information for free.
I spent 6 months testing the Sony Alpha 1! Here's my review for movies.
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00:00 - Introduction
00:40 - Movie modes
02:33 - Recording times / overheating
03:20 - Why you need 8k
04:16 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k real-life comparison
06:17 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k resolution comparison inc R5
08:25 - 1080 vs 4k vs 8k 3200 ISO comparison inc R5
08:52 - dynamic range and s-log
09:31 - S-Cinetone
09:51 - Autofocus and rolling shutter
11:27 - Image stabilisation and Catalyst
13:04 - S&Q mode inc 1080 240
13:51 - 4k 120 demonstration
15:40 - Final verdict
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The Problem is that the A 1 only achieves to record to UHS II cards by only offering max 100/150byte……the Canon R 5 goes over 400……and on top the A 1 is for what it offers way to expensive. It almost seems that it was developed from the Canon A 7 R IV which has similar weak only 8 bit Video codexes
Gordon,
How do you like the dials on a1 vs a more button centric camera like R5?
And how quickly can you switch between stills / video - important for hybrid sport shooters who can’t miss a play?
Great video Gordon!
I've been fortunate to own the A1 for about 3 months and have been using it alongside my A7Siii. Here are my thoughts on the A1, A7siii and EOS R5.
As a CZcams creator who does a lot of run and gun shooting, I typically find I reach for the A7siii more often than the A1. The key reasons being 1) The flip screen is essential and 2) I find the active stabilisation essential and unfortunately the A1 can't do Active stabilisation on 8k footage currently.
If I was going to shoot an interview or without handheld, the A1 is easily the one to go for given it can shoot wide at 8k and closeup cropped in at 4k. It's like having two angles in one.
The dynamic range on the A1 also appears to be slightly better than the A7siii as well from my experience (albeit only marginally better).
As for the EOS R5, I recently worked on a project where I used it as an A camera and while I love the build quality and the flip screen is far better than the Sony cameras, the image was noisier, the camera overheated frequently and the stabilisation was not as good as the Sony (when it's on Active). That last one surprised me, as I'd heard great things about the EOS R5 and its stabilisation. I originally planned to buy an EOS R5, but switched to the A7siii last year and it's a decision I can't say I regret.
Sometimes I regret buying the A1, given it was a costly investment and the A7siii can do almost everything for a much more reasonable price. But I think the fact of the matter is I just haven't used the A1 as much as I should've yet and I need to find new ways to use the 8k and 50 megapixel photo capabilities. It's still early days!
APOLOGIES for the essay, but I hope this is useful to folks wondering what camera to pick up.
Keep up the great work Gordon! I turn to your channel for camera reviews and insights more than most. Truly an invaluable resource!
𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 ❕
Thanks for your detailed comment!
Can't you use a crop with active stabilisation and get the advantages of that crop being able to move around more with less loss of resolution compared to the SIII?
@@cameralabs do you think the a1 is better buy, than current r5c? according to footages, i can see the r5-s colurs are darker than sony-s am i seeing it right? have you tried mi 11 ultra? or have you seen camera test about it? which camera do you thzink maches the mi 1 ultras video and photo bt manily video colour science more? r5c or a1?
@@k.o.t.o.n. it's not easy for me to answer lots of individual questions in different places. Once you're ready to buy, put all your questions in one place and we can work out an appropriate donation as discussed. Thanks!
And Gordon still remains to be the best reviewer I have ever seen. Good job again! Keep on doing your amazing work.
Thankyou, I really appreciate your comment!
I just got the A1(today) as a B camera to my Sony FX9 (and other Sony 4K cameras I have) -You can set up the A1 in 8 K and set it wide and do digital zooms and pans in post. Great for a 1 man band. Great review!!
I love everything about the Sony, except for the price. I can buy an R5 and RF lens for the same price. Kolari now mods the R5 for $399 with copper heatsink to double recording times.
@Whatever Keeps You Calm r5 offer more than enough for most people,why waste money for A1 lol
And r5 isn't even the flagship but still offer almost as much as A1😂
R3 > A1 for the money
Nice honest review, the A1 is the first true hybrid system that nobody has released till now, and fits the whole package for a photographer and fillmmaker set.
Great review Gordon, as always. Your integrity is very refreshing, and I like how you avoid clickbait titles. My A1 arrives today, and your video has made me very excited!
I also have owned the a1 for nearly three months now. One thing that needs to be seen to be believed is the quality of the images that are produced. Even my RAW files need very little editing. The color science in this camera is better than I've ever seen, even when I was a Canon shooter. The only down side to this camera is that it runs through batteries at a faster rate than my a7SIII, a7III, or a7RIII models. The a1 is the camera I always reach for and the camera I need in my hands.
Same experience, went from A9 to A1 and the files are so good, very little needs to be done. With a grip I usually last the whole day with the two batteries but do bring two spare, unlike the RIII where even with 40% left you could go out and shoot the whole day.
Why is there even still a PAL/NTSC switch in Sony cameras? It's so annoying on my A7iii that I can't just choose what I want like on my X-T3. No switching between PAL and NTSC there - No formatting aswell.
I don't get it. Sure, there's a reason for those modes, but why implement this unnecessary step in-between??
Canon do it as well
Currently reading your book “in camera”. Love it. Great style you’ve used, describing each photo, not just settings, but the how and why behind it. Thanks.
Glad you like it, thanks for buying it!
Hi Gordon
I like your videos so much. Thanks for doing it.
One question, which camera do you would say i have to buy. Im looking for a good camer for pictures but also for video. Video i like to make documentary movies.
Canon R3 or Sony A1 or maybe another one?
Kind regards
Florian
If price weren't an issue, I'd say Alpha 1 all the way. One thing I've noticed it has warmer colours in the SOOC footage. For me, Canon still rules supreme in the SOOC colour department. Obviously, most videos are edited before they're published, so a little tweaking of temp and/or tint isn't a big deal; however, I wish Sony finally would reach Canon's standard in this respect.
I've heard a dummy battery setup can virtually keep the Alpha 1 in a nonstop recording mode with no overheating. Canon seem to have rushed things a bit there with 8K and the toll it takes on the R5's innards...
Another great review, Gordon!
Thanks!
After the two first minutes I was “infoxicated”. But I made it to the end!!💪🏼
Glad you made it through!
Best review of this camera so far. The test charts are so important and practically every CZcamsr ignores this. Thanks for your hard work
Thanks, glad you found it useful! I wish more people would watch it as it took a lot of work!
Useful info on A1 8K
4320 x 7680 and the R5
Informative 20mins.
Gordon, did you not apply the latest R5 firmware? You never mention clog3, raw light, nor the Canon can now record most formats to SD cards with low bit rates like the A1. Its a bit of an advantage for the R5 now. One has the choice of low bit rates or higher bit rates when the best quality is necessary (when there is a lot of motion).
One other thing to note. In video mode the A1 loses several AF modes such as animal eye detect, If you want to video your pets, birds or animals in the wild, the A1 lacks some important features, The R5 not only has those AF modes but also a default mode that works with humans and animals without changing a setting deep in the menus.
And finally if overheating is a worry use the Ninja V or Ninja V+ you mentioned, At the moment only the R5 works with the Ninja V+ and 8K according to the website, but maybe that will change.
All good points. I did have the latest fw for the R5 and made a short video about it, but forgot about the light modes when writing my comparisons here, so factor that in. As I recall though, 10 bit on the R5 always demands c-log and that's always in an H.265 format that's encoded in a way that makes it harder to edit than the Sony footage, so that point about the files being more manageable still holds. You're right about Canon maintaining animal eye detect for video, I know the Sony loses it, but forgot to mention it as a benefit for the R5. There's a lot of back and forth when comparing them! I think the Alpha 1 makes the R5 look like tremendous value and I hope that came across as I mention the price difference twice. And yes, the lower price would allow you to buy an external recorder, thereby fixing the overheating issue, plus a lens too. I'm making a similar video about the R5's movie modes and will be able to mention all of this in it.
I shoot HDR PQ with the R5. It is similar to HLG on the Sony. It’s Uses the BT2020 color space but not a log profile. I find it quicker to use since I don’t need LUTs and it looks good SOOC. So that is an example of 10 bit video but not clog or clog3.
On my Mac I can either save it as SDR or HDR and it looks normal.
No matter what I am a big fan. I always enjoy your videos.
Amazing amount of work to produce this video. Thanks so much Gordon 😊👍🏻
@@cameralabs it’s bound to gain traction. I’ll spread it too. All the best from NZ.
@@promedianz thanks!
Yes! Hats off to the amazing amount of work! Much appreciated! (Subb'd)
@@cogmission1 Thanks!
A1 is the best bybrid camera of all time.
Somewhat better in quite a few respects than the R5, worse in others, the fact that it's nearly $3000 more, meh. Its value preposition is kinda demolished. A $3900 camera competes quite favorably with it.
I'd agree if you need the highest reliability and practicality.
@@derekv6479 This is not about value. In terms of value, a7iii, RP, Z5 are even better.
@@frankfeng2701 Wrong. They do not come anywhere near the A1 capabilities, whereas the R5 is a direct competitor, capabilities wise and even bests it in some regards. Value is INTRISICALLY relevant in that scenario.
@@derekv6479 in terms of value the cheap old pocket camera that i got for free is better. But in absolute terms the A1 is the best hybrid camera of all time.
Brilliant work. Many thanks. I'm now an R6 owner, and understand the heat issues. The R series got me because of hand-holding comfort against Sony, but the dSLR Canons are easier to use. I feel we still are a few generations away from peak mirrorless where performance and ergonomics mate with amazing haptic interaction.
If Sony make a beefier body with fewer fiddly controls I'll happily use their cameras.
Interesting, the Alpha 1 wasn't even on my radar because of its price alone before watching this video. Now I think I might have another look... thanks!
You're welcome!
At that price, I can get 2 x R5 to mitigate the over-head problem. When I have 2 bodies, I can do B-roll, 2 camera angle, I got a spare body, I avoid switching lens, and many more, effectively double the everything.
Great video. Two A7S3s or an R5 and an R6 for the same price, is the obvious, but not often mentioned, correct conclusion!
If you need a light setup, sony A1 is the best choice.
But for me, my choice is the canon R5 + ninja V+ = DCI format + unlimited 8k prores raw + prores 4k = better codec + monitor + still lower price than A1
Yes, that's a great setup. I'm going to mention all this in a future video about the R5's movie mode.
Hi Gordon! I was expecting that one for so long! ;D Amazing work! Thank you so much! I kind of miss that you didn't shoot a Dynamic Range comparison between Sony A1's Slog3 and Canon R5's Clog2 or Clog3 though... Any observations of yours in this regard?
I wasn't able to film the same thing at the same time, but I hope to have a similar test with c-log in an upcoming possible R5 video. But this one took me so long to complete I don't know if I'll ever make my EOS R5 review part 2!
@@cameralabs thank you Gordon. From the spec sheets I understand the Sony A1 should have a better Dynamic Range from its sensor to start with but i guess it’s also a matter of how well S-log 3 behaves against C-Log 3, that’s why I’m looking forward to your testing to have a better opinion. Regarding the conversation we had on your other review about the external recording, I’m still wondering if the R5 will get unlimited 8K and 4KHQ recording with the Ninja. I saw mixed reviews from users saying the only way they get no overheating with 4KHQ is losing the ability to use the R5’s LCD. I wonder how that accounts on usability and indeed as you say it tends to make a priori the A1 a more appealing body in terms of reliability.
Awesome review. Extremely thorough💪💪. Thank you Gordon.
You're very welcome!
A1 (Sony) a MASTERPIECE dream of a camera. As always, superior review Gordon! Keep it up!
great camera i will buy later this year. doing nature photography and being able to do both photo and video at the flick of a switch without moving is gold, not to forget you can pul an image from that 8k video file big enough for print or social media. 20-30fps will give you the shots you might have missed on other camera's. and all that in one small little camera. price is a bit much.
Nicely done Gordon: Your very practical what-you-see-is-what-you-get approach together with Gerald Undone's nerdy info covers all the bases and leaves little to question. I also hope Sony adds raw support for the A1 -- as a vote of confidence I just ordered a Ninja V+.
Thanks! I love Gerald's work and agree our videos complement each other. I hope the Ninja V+ will support 8k on the A1 soon, but it's just a guess at this point.
Another great video. Very precise and honest review.
Thanks!
The Alpha 1 is just really amazing. Sony not long ago would have not been thought of in the same breath as Canon Nikon etc. Here they make this flagship that does so much more and better than Canon and Nikon. I would love to see a comparison of the a1 and the Panasonic S1H at 4K head to head. I thought I would never say that the S1H is a bargain compared to this a1. Forgetting AF for the time being and just 4K UHD. I get the option 8K. But I think this a1 and S1H could slug it out on the professional video gigs. Both equipped with their XLR audio option modules and lets go make a movie or two. Which is better? This is a professional camera. So lets take them out to some demanding shoots and really see what this a1 can do. A no mercy video grudge match. Pick the places, let's see what the a1 vs. the S1H can do. I know you would make the comparison great.
Thanks! All the Lumix S cameras are capable of great looking video.
I suppose we could talk about the FX-3 too.
@@xray111xxx the problem for me is it's not worth putting several weeks of work into a video that gets this few views. I'll keep an eye on it as some can keep growing steadily, but so far, there's not been enough views on this one.
Have you compared 8k vs 4k low light and higher iso?
For example, at iso 12,800 which is above the 4000 iso 2nd gain of the A1 in slog3 to see if there is a difference in noise?
8k vs 8k downscaled to 4k in post vs native 4k
No I haven't
Lovely footage in the middle of the review, really nice 👍🏻
Thanks!
As a Sony user, I must say I prefer the R5 footage. If only it survived the Canon cripple hammer 🔨. I would have seriously considered switching.
Agreed, the R5 seems sharper. Is this camera really worth 7K (with tax) for just the body only? For that price we should see a difference and I've yet to see a difference in the video quality between the two cameras.
@@johnw6461 there's little if any difference in video or AF quality BUT in usability and practicality, the Alpha 1 proved way more reliable for me.
@@cameralabs I agree with you in usability but like you mentioned that ninja v+ might change everything. BTW, I’m a perfectly content FX3 user, but the 1 camera to rule them all aspect of a1 or r5 are intriguing. A1 doesn’t have a flip screen, and r5 has 30m record limit, so those are what held me back.
@@johnw6461 I personally use the fx3. But if I had to choose between the 2, r5 + ninja V+ looks very intriguing.
I've had the opportunity to use both cameras and both are outstanding. I must say, paired with the ninja v it's hard to beat the R5 for video. The R5 is great for video and photos and so is the A1. I really like Canon's glass, so between the two I would go with the R5 if I had to pick.
Awesome review! Thanks Gordon!
You're very welcome!
Your reviews are my favorite, l am not a Sony fan or shooter but l will agree this is the best camera on the market at the moment.
Great review as always, Gordie!!!
Trying to find one that is 4k 60fps for CZcams and streaming as well. so hard to choose
Any camera with 4k 60? There's all of Panasonic's, Fujifilm's and Canon's recent models!
Great info as always!
Thanks!
Been using both A7s3 and A1 for 4 months now and I'm about to replace the S3 with an Fx6 and pair that with the A1. The only issue I'm having with the A1 is how the stabilization is handling a wide lens 20mm and wider. I'm getting some odd wobble artifacts in the corders.. I'm sure it will be fixed in firmware, but that's my only gripe so far.
Hi, i plan to buy Sony Alpha A1 camera for Handheld furniture videography, any settings for jitter free videos. suggestions please!
By jitter, do you mean shake? Or choppy from the shutter speed?
@@cameralabs yes camera shake, Handheld moving around furniture items while shooting videos.
@@ajvexports well, it depends how much you naturally shake while filming. The movie mode has an active option which improves the stabilisation in some situations, but crops the image a little. Or you could use Sony's Catalyst software to stabilise it on your computer afterwards - see my video abut that. For the best results of all though, buy a gimbal.
C’mon Gordon we know you have a Canon R3 spill the beans! The A1 disappointed that it only recorded in 4:2:0, and the DCI was disappointing and I bet you may have that Atomos V+-the need for the 4:2:2 FX work and work with Red Monstro. I’m anxious to see what the R5 will do with R5 with Atomos V+ I about to order for our new project 20 C70 kits along with a number of Sony FX6 we’re doing creative news and info gathering for a new global media network launching next year and we’ll have many more independent Watcher-Creators. The big feature is language translation.
Long Time subscriber... you didn't shoot a Dynamic Range comparison between Sony A1's Slog3 and Canon R5's Clog2 or Clog3 though... Just curious if you will do a future video comparison?
I wasn't able to do that side by side with both cameras, but I will have some c-log demos in my upcoming R5 video review.
No problem, I own the R5 already and was just curious if it was able to compete with the A1 dynamic range. Keep up the great work, your at top of my list of reviewers on CZcams.
@@Davitor1 thanks!
I have this camera but I’m still watching lol.
Don't worry, there'll be no buyer's remorse! Tell me what you think of the camera - and my videos about it!
I have this camera too and still enjoyed the video. Thanks, Gordon, for your thorough reviews.
Insane camera!
Brilliant review thank you.
Thanks!
Superb video thank you!!!
You're welcome!
Gordon, I notice you’re using Catalyst Browse on a Mac. Is this an M1 Mac, and if so how does stabilization runtime work on that? I can’t find any info on the internet as to how it runs in Rosetta or if Sony has compiled an ARM version
I'm not lucky enough to have an M1 Mac yet! It's just a mid 2018 MBP 13in, and that's what I use to edit all my videos too! I'm waiting for the fabled 14in M1!
@@cameralabs Are you saying you edited 8k on the 2018 MacBookpro? What are your specs? What MacBook pro would you recommend for me to edit 8k footage? Specs please...
@@jamescook5931 yep, ALL of the videos I've posted since mid-2018 were all edited on my 2018 MBP 13in with 16GB RAM and a 500GB drive, including my 8k compilations. I use FCP X and that's way quicker than Premiere on a Mac, but my machine does struggle with H.265 footage, be it 8k, 4k or anything else. Editing those 8k videos was very jerky, so I tended to cut them to a music track, marking that first and just snapping the video clips to fit. I would recommend any of the recent M1 Macs or MacBooks for video editing, and I'm waiting to see if a 14in model is coming this year.
@@cameralabs Same boat as you! I was bummed that at their Developer Conference Apple still has not announced new 14” and 16” models.
@@cameralabs Hey if you didn't want to wait for the M1 Mac, which MacBook pro would you recommend? How would you spec it out? I would start with the 16 inch Mac.
Is there a true 24p mode (not NTSC) on the Alpha one? It's tough buying a 6000$ B-cam for an FX9 or even a Venice that can't match their framerates...
There is not. It's 23.976
I've heard people say so many times that you can crop in.. I have a 4k camera and still haven't dropped in a single time in all of my usage. I understand that it varies from person to person but I never found it useful.
Can you review the Blackmagic 12K Gordon?
It's cheaper than the A1 and has a completely different, 80mp sensor with great colour.
It also doesn't have the rolling shutter issues, more resolution in its high frame rate modes and of course it's properly raw, no s log and no pro res. Pro Res doesn't play nice when grading, I don't know why, but it's so cumbersome to work with, whereas braw is a breeze.
The title is misleading! You spent entire video time to talk about alpha 1 video without any head to head video quality comparison with R5.
Your comment is misleading! Did you fall asleep? I show a bunch of resolution and noise comparisons in 1080, 4k and 8k between the Alpha 1 and EOS R5 around 6 minutes into the video. Please watch it all before commenting.
Thanks Gordon
There is no doubt that the Alpha 1 is a great camera
But i think it is still behind the Canon R5 camera in very important points
For example, 8 k raw - 4.2.2
$ 2500 price difference !!!
I do not think it is a wise choice for many people
Unfortunately, the Canon overheating problem is exaggerated
I guarantee it is not a big problem for many filmmakers in the real world
What percentage of us need 30-minute shots in raw 8K format ??
I will share my personal experience with you in a professional project that we shot with R5
I was shooting on a documentary project over 3 months
We did not experience the problem of overheating even once
We had another R5 to support during the project
And our backup camera was never used
Format 8K raw
And 4K 120
Just keep the camera off when you are not shooting
Thanks for your comment! I agree there's ways to handle the R5's issues and if you can manage to do that, it's a tremendous camera.
Please review the Nikon Z9 video capabilities. You haven't put out a Z9 detailed review video yet.
Sadly on YT if I don't publish a review within a few days of it being launched, the views become so low, it's not worth it. So it's way too late for the Z-9 sadly.
You don't spend much time talking about the cinetone which is pretty beautiful in this camera?
Its effects on skintones and vivid scenes create some pretty stunning things.
What is a simple, yet powerful video editing program for a Windows 10 computer. Adobe Premier is crazy expensive for an occasional video shooter. I love my Sony A1, but video is not my forte.
Through, brilliant work, Gordo!
On the charts it appears the R5 has a slight edge over the A1. However, looking at the flowers I see the R5 winning in 1080 but I see the A1 winning in 4K and 8K. It’s funny because in the pond scene I prefer the standard profile. 😄 Is that just PP off or is it one of the PP modes? Finally, I think the A1 photo specs, in terms of fast frame rate and autofocus trump the R5 but I have seen photo comparisons where the R5 image quality seems to have a slight edge. I think the A1’s weakness for photos is noise. Keep it under ISO 4000 and it’s fine. Anything at or above and too much chroma noise starts to show. Overall I’m happy with my A1. I think overall it’s definitely a better performer than the R5 but not necessarily producing better IQ.
I will add I wasn’t thrilled with my original purchase. I actually had to exchange my A1 for another one. It had a number of issues that I will blame on poor quality control or just really bad luck. I’ve seen or heard of quite a few A1 duds but the internet is a big place and when a product is mass produced there will always be a certain percentage of rejects. It’d be nice if they got rejected before they went out for sale. My second A1 is fine and with the exception of one occurrence, where IBIS went completely bonkers, I have had no problems at all.
BTW, it appears in your IBIS test you may have had a slight delay in one of the scenes. (Start about 11:36 and it appears the first full second is not stabilized.) My single issue was WAY worse. It was like the internals were swinging on a pendulum. It happened when I was trying to zoom with the 200-600 lens. It only happened once. Not sure what caused it. I heard you need to AVOID turning the camera on in portrait orientation.
That's super detailed that it deserves a 👍👍
Thanks!
Thank you, Gordon!
You're welcome!
What is with the AI IBIS?! The 8K shot testing the rolling shutter was bouncing around like crazy 😳😳😳 noticed it on a heap of other A1 shots too... the A7siii and R5 alarmingly seemed more stable ? Are they significantly lighter?
IBIS was turned off for my rolling shutter tests, otherwise you'd be looking at IBIS not skewing artefacts.
@@cameralabs hmm interesting - I didn’t notice the same bouncing on either of the other comparisons!
@@deebea6364 there's definitely different amounts of rolling shutter depending on the movie resolution and frame rate, but NONE of my examples in that segment were filmed with IBIS, so you can eliminate that from the equation!
The lack of a flip screen on the A1 is a bit of a dealbreaker. The flip screen on the Canon is so much better.
There's always the A7S III too...
Hey Gordon! The only thing still missing from this very nice review is a real Dynamic Range comparison. I bet the R5 raw or clog3 is on par with the A1’s slog 3, is it? Or is there one superior to another?
I can't comment until I do a head to head but it's hard in real life conditions as the light changes, plus difficult to get both cameras in for testing at the same time with the same lens. I managed it for the noise and res, but not for DR. But I can't do everything and there are many others here who are way more into log and grading than I am. Remember I'm the guy who tries to do everything in camera with no post.
@@cameralabs You sure are doing an outstanding job with your reviews no doubt Gordon! If I may suggest to use a chart for DR as well maybe it will make your process easier ;-)
@@24framestime I do actually have a DR chart for that purpose, but tbh I hate using technical charts - I find them dull and again others are providing the same results, so there's no point in duplication.
@@cameralabs I get your point :-) Just another question passing by: I read some comments about focus breathing being an issue with several Sony lenses and especially on the A1’s large sensor, thus making that camera not the best choice for video work compared to Canon with RF lenses. Can you relate to that in your own experience? What’s your take about that ?
@@24framestime I try to show focus breathing in all my recent lens reviews, so check them out! Most lenses have a compromise of some description and for Sony recently it seems they're not that concerned about focus breathing, so yes, it is quite obvious on many of their lenses. I see it on Canon's too, especially the zooms. This is a lens issue, not a body issue.
Maybe I missed it, but I would’ve liked to see the Sony’s best 8k against the Canon 8k raw.
I have nothing that can process Canon's RAW - none of my computers will do it.
Gordon amazing Review! tell me. can i use apc crop mode in 8k on this beast?
Sadly not, you need all the pixels to record in 8k! The crop mode is only up to 4k.
@@cameralabs wel dang one can dream i suppose!
Oh yes if I please may ask your opinion Gordon or anyone else in the comments. I just purchased the Panasonic S5 with the 20-60mm kit lens & a second spare battery brand new from Amazon UK for £1180!. Am I right in thinking that’s really quite a good deal!?. Ideally I wanted to get the Sony A7S3 but with a lens & spare battery that would equate to roughly £5000 so almost what four times the cost!. As I’m not a pro, not making money from my camera (yet hopefully lol) and still learning. My thought is will I get four to five times better photos & videos with the Sony probably not!.
Do you mean 1880? I just checked and that seems to be the price with the lens? Either way, it's a great camera.
@@cameralabsHi, oh yes it's gone back up in price. I got it on the Amazon prime day deals. Amazon dropped the price to £1449 but they also left up the £250 off voucher.. which I claimed went to the checkout and yep it allowed me to use the voucher with the already discounted price!. Think possibly someone at Amazon was meant to remove the £250 voucher before the camera was discounted but forgot.. or forgot to programme the system properly!.
@@dejavuking you got an excellent deal!
Brill, thanks a lot.
You're welcome!
Have you experience any issue with EVF blackout under some backlight condition and IBIS delay kicking in as reported by some A1 owners in some forums?
No, but as you can see in my stabilisation section, IBIS does incur a delay of a few seconds before it's most effective.
@@cameralabs tks for your quick respond. Saw your review of still photography with A1. What abt IBIS delay in still photo? I do more still photo than video so it is very important for me to decide. Tks again.
Good One Sir..I like it..15:35 beautiful
Thanks! Hopefully it's enjoyable and useful even if you're not shopping for the Alpha 1
PS - much of that 4k 120 compilation was filmed earlier this year during snow!
@@cameralabs yes sir..I am planing to buy canon 90 d..sony lens prices are high soo i decided to buy canon
It would be nice if actual Canon R5 clips were included in this 'comparison.'
Did you fall asleep? The resolution charts included Canon R5 clips and so did the noise section.
I can see you as a actor brother
Really? Based on me walking back and forth towards a camera or presenting? In honesty, I'd love to give it a go, although I do get very nervous presenting in front of more than two or three people.
"The difference could buy you a spare R6 to use while the R5 cools down" lmao true but savage.
I love the A1. I wanted, I wished for my Z7 to be reliable, but even with the Z9 update, it just isn't.
And Nikon's management and Canon's management have proved to be such liars about their products, hurting the reputations of their wonderful engineers, in my view, I just don't want their cameras anymore. I don't believe that Nikon can't deliver a Z7 iii that will have any value unless, like Canon, they can match Sony's singular achievement in controlling overheating in a consumer sized
form factor.
Hello Gordon
hello!
Hey I watch CZcams on my tv via the built in CZcams app. (Not gloating just for perspective) I have a top line 55” Sony 4K hdr/Dolby vision tv, which has excellent image quality and sharpness. Hence to me the difference between the A1 & R5 is day and night it’s that drastic especially when you compared them using the charts, it wasn’t even close!. Furthermore when you compared the roses/flowers again the Sony was extremely and significantly better than the Canon on a large tv the R5 4K looked like bad 1080p compared to the Sony’s 4K. The Canon has major major softness, I couldn’t even pick up the details in the yellow flower compared to clearly seeing them on the Sony!. I’ve just purchased the Panasonic S5 so not a Sony fanboy, I do have a sony RX100va but yea I’m impartial. Frankly The Canon looked terrible compared to the Sony.
Thanks for your feedback, yes it's important to view on a large screen in the native resolution too, so hopefully your CZcams app was streaming in 4k. if not, that can skew the results.
@@cameralabs hey it was indeed sometimes it automatically changes to 1080p, but I check for videos like this one/yours because there so in-depth. I mean it's a superb comparison you did as all your comparisons, reviews etc are!. I forgot to mention earlier to be fair to Canon, the R5 4k footage etc viewed in isolation would look absolutely fantastic. It's just when compared side by side another comparable camera it really highlights the differences. But that's the same for all cameras. I imagine I don't know of course, but I imagine if you put A1 4k footage side by side with one of the red cinema cameras or a canon is it the C500 or C700 I imagine (again never used them so literally guessing) the A1 footage might look bad compared to those cameras. So apples and oranges lol :).
Thanks for dropping midrolls 🙏🏻
It does cost me, but I'd prefer people watched the whole thing.
The R5 must be an epic camera if it is being compared to Sony’s flagship camera!
It is!
It "peaks" as a comparison, but "settles" as an impractical alternative... Like comparing a Cheetah to another animal that can idle at 75mph...
The A1 costs more than the Canon R5, without any lens. If you add in the trinity of lens for both cameras the price difference is not much at all and you get a better camera with the A1. The RF lens are more expensive than the Sony equivalents. A price comparison of the bodies only, is only half the story. Time to tell the whole story or show us how you use an A1 or R5 without a lens! :)
That's a very good point.
@@cameralabs That is another reason why I like your reviews, you are open to questions.
@@michaelhains2291 I try to reply to every single comment! It takes ages, but I enjoy the engagement and feedback. Well, the polite ones anyway!
@@cameralabs I did add a emoji to my point to avoid any misunderstanding.
Gordon, this is the review I’ve been waiting for. I need a hybrid but traditionally shoot Canon. My clients are screaming for high end photo & video. You answered all the questions I needed especially the manageable video file sizes vs the R5. This will be a huge investment changing from Canon so I have one last question. Are the colours of the Sony A1 natural like the Canon? Thanks so much for your review.
Colours are very much a personal preference and while many have historically preferred the look of Canon, it's not necessarily more accurate. So I'd suggest you have a look at my sample images from my reviews of both cameras as they include mostly similar subjects so you can see how each captures the scene.
Canon has better colors.
Having more money does make a difference.
both cameras lack in-built ND
You generally only find that on dedicated cinema cameras.
@@cameralabs yes, but for that amount of money a1 could have one 😇
@@aus_vlog I agree, but that's a differentiation the manufacturers make between 'cinema' cameras and these non-cinema models!
@@aus_vlog not possible to pair IBIS with built in ND's
at 8:04 the magenta cast on the r5 is awful.
I took a custom WB reading from the chart, and this is what it measured it as.
@@cameralabs isn't it weird? whites should stay pure white, I wonder if they do this intentionally to have those nice skin tones. Anyways, I prefer the new color science of the a1, the camera is a beast and truly worthy of the ALPHA monicker.
If anyone with a huge disposable income would like to donate an Alpha 1 to me, I would be eternally grateful 😂 that's the only way I'd ever get my hands on one!
With that magnification to see the difference, then Ill just go with the cheaper r5
OK, I would love to try one A1. But I do not dare. My wallet would never forgive me!
There's only one way to find out!
I would buy the canon if it wasnt for the overheating and expensive lenses. Canon has better ibis, colors, and slightly better auto focus. The problem with Canon is the lack of affordable lenses from Tamron or Sigma.
Surely Tamron and Sigma RF lenses will come at some point though. Surely!
I’m fortunate enough to be able to buy the canon and the expensive lenses, and I do prefer by far Canon ergonomics and look of the footage, but I’m really scared about IBIS wobble at wide ranges and that overheating issue though. 😭
@@cameralabs I have some doubts, but I may be wrong. My concern is that, unlike Sony which opens up its mount specs to 3d party manufacturers, Canon and Nikon are keeping theirs exclusively in-house, forcing Sigma, Tamron, et. al. to have to reverse engineer the mounts. Right now there are only two 3d party AF lenses for the AF mount, a Samyang 85mm and 14mm, and the autofocus performance appears to be adequate at least on an RP body. Whereas Tamron and Sigma lenses on the e-mount tend to be about 90% as good as native Sony lenses for AF, I'm wondering if AF is going to be more of a problem for 3d party lenses on the RF mount, particularly the newer, faster, or rumored quad-pixel AF bodies.
The A1 leisurely enjoys it's time on top of the hill while the chip shortage stalls the entire world.
Long video, let be brief and concise.
This shouldn't come as a surprise if you know my channel. I make long videos for people who enjoy or need to know the detail. I already left out more than I wanted to in order to make this video 20 minutes, and I also sacrificed revenue by disabling mid-roll ads. People already complain that I talk too fast. I also script it, so there's minimal chat, and I've chapter-marked it so you can skip straight to any section. Please tell me what I should have done to make it more concise to suit you!
You can skip to the verdict if you want the cliff notes my dude.
@@jamesburns679 exactly, I even chapter marked it.
Not even long enough! Please have some respect for somebody who probably took a very long time shooting and editing this video for you to see and get information for free.
@@24framestime thanks!