Do You know Gordon's ( czcams.com/video/uazLXO3oLS4/video.html ) and for 8nstance Dustin Abbotts reviews. Just saying because I for one really are surprised of your saying.
i just bought the a1 today just because of this video. with the 70-200 2.8 gm and the 50mm 1.2 gm. with the a1x profoto flash. i switched from the a6600. Thank you for your review.
Loved this..No mention of not being able to use the menu system,and no mythical nonsense about 'overheating'.This further proof that once you learn a camera,master it,and actually use it in the field,THEN you place yourself to truly have an accurate viewpoint.Now I need to get outside with two cups and get enough change to get back to Sony...
I appreciate your insightful comments and honesty about working with the a-1. I picked up one yesterday and traded a ton of gear to offset the cost. I’ve only taken a few pix around the house and even then I could see the a-1 is both different AND better than anything I’ve used before. I’ve been a hybrid shooter for some time and have multiple formats for different applications. I shoot a variety of subjects in unpredictable settings like a photojournalist. I was drawn to the a-1 because I thought it might offer a way for me to simplify...settle on one camera and one format for 95% of what I do. So far I think the a-1 opens the door for that. And As much as the a-1 excels for action photography I have to say that it’s amazing in the way it renders an image (especially skin tones) in even crummy mixed lighting. I think the new sensor is something special in a multitude of ways. Do you know if the a-1 will still do 30fps with the Tamron 2.8 trinity or is the 30 FPS limited to Sony glass?
@@PMRTV hi again, recently I tested gfx100s with 102 mp and amazing film simulations. Despite of some features (such as slower af system, lower build quality, bulky lenses, only 5 FPS, not very good for vacation, sport, and videography), just for “image quality” (pixel-details, sharpness, dynamic range rendering, etc) what’s your professional opinion (not as sport photographer) about images by Sony a1 vs Fujifilm gfx100s? Thank you
Thanks for sharing your experience!!!! I own a canon 1dx Mark II , a Sony A7R4 and new the Sony A1. Its unbelievable what amazing results I get with the A1 together with my canon 85mm f1.2 lens . SUPER SHARP focus on the eye with almost no miss . Much better than the A7R4 . My canon 1dx Mark II does not even come close in terms with the autofocus to the A7R4. The A1 is a total game changer !
I'm surprised that you're surprised about the value of 50MP in a sports camera, when you shot the 42MP a99ii for so long. Amazing to hear that the A1 is so much better than the A9/9ii, which is so much better than almost anything else already! 30fps just sounds to me like I need a whole other NAS for storage though. Great video, but I think the DOF is even a little TOO shallow on the talking head here (eye focus tracking, especially with the glasses, is impressive though). That basketball underexposed shot is incredible - the fact that the focus was spot on while so underexposed in something that can't be denied. Also, on deleting - does that delete from both cards? Finally, on the whole video though - production values: enhanced!! Great work, thank you!
Been shooting for a while now with the A1's as a pro sport photog: it is truly amazing. Issues: EVF switching malfuntions when the sun hits from the right rear in my case. Plus the camera sometimes locks up while shooting with the 70-200. Has happened quite a few times, but I can't pinpoint the exact circumstances when and why this happens. I suspect both can and will be solved with firmware updates. Everything else about these camera's is simply great. AF performance stunning, CF-A cards are fast enough (though I would still prefer faster XQD's), wireless FTP transfer easy and reliable, High ISO performance and the noise are very good. Ergonomics have been improved compared to the A9-2, but a larger body would still be good to have. The files allow lots of room for post processing if you want or need it. The new primes are great. I had a lot to complain about the A9-2's, but the A1 is really, really great.
Arnd, Sony is aware of the EVF switching issue and they are working on a fix. Agreed on all points--it's a pleasure to use and does everything FAST!!!!
So glad you continue to do reviews, PMR. There are dozens of CZcams based camera reviewers who could take a page or 4000 from your work. So tired of high gloss influencers. You're the real deal.
Thank you for for taking the time to put that together. I picked up an A1 yesterday and to be honest it was a tough pill to swallow, considering the price here in Australia (9000$, body only). I guess I was looking for a video to put my nerves at ease and your video definitely did that for me so I’m 110% keeping it. On a side note, do you shot with the electronic shutter full time? Even for portrait and landscape. And is there a compromise in quality versus the mechanical shutter? Keep up the good work sir.
I use electronic shutter all the time, yes, even when using strobes. It's a pretty cool feature that allows this. Congrats on the a1. I doubt very much you will regret the purchase :)
Patrick, always good to see a new video of yours drop. Have you considered chapter markers? I'm absolutely going to watch the whole video, but chapter markers would be helpful when needing to refer back to a certain section for review. (But if markers take away from your YT algorithm by letting viewers skip around, then forget I said anything!)
I'll try to figure it out--I'm better at making the content than understanding everything in the back end of YT. It's a great idea and it would help people. thanks! pm-r :)
I love this camera and have already gotten some wonderful images. I do have a complaint in that during post I just end up with too many great images. For those of you that do bird photography I have a little warning, you are going to fall in love with taking shots of birds in flight to the point you will be taking shots knowing that you won't be keeping them. Also I have found myself taking shots of moths in flight just because they were there, nothing else was happening and because I could.
Unfortunately the new eye sensor location often is a bit of a problem for bird photographers. Most of our shots are with the sun at our back, depending on our position, or how the camera is positioned the sensor seems to catch a lot of light and the EVF remains in blackout when we bring it to our eye. Lot's of sturm and drang over the issue and Sony has been notified. Other than that it's a fantastic camera. 100x better the the Canon 7DII I was shooting a year ago.
Great video! I have started referring to the refresh rate of the EVF as 240Hz instead of 240fps to avoid confusion between shooting speed and EVF refresh rate.
Finally, a review that mentions the dual view EVF. I wear glasses and shoot with my left eye, so this could be the big game changer. Thank you Patrick, for your in depth and in the field description. Cheers Hamish
I emailed pro support about the EVF glitch, I'm sure it'll be a firmware thing they can resolve. Doesn't feel like a design flaw to me. I've had it happen a fair amount and lost a few moments. Another thing I noticed, is if you have S-Cinetone enabled for movies, it will disable the base (100), and extended (50, 64, 80) iso's even if you revert to shooting still images. Hopefully they can allow both soon... Other than that, it's a hot rod in a pinto sized body haha
For me from a video 90% and 10% photo perspective, the a1 isn't really too expensive for my needs. It opens up possibilities that are beyond reach for my a7S III. 8K@30fps (now 4:2:2) you can crop in 2x with 100% 4K that you can still crop in further for some critical moments in nature and use an AI upscaler to 4K after. That gets you 1200mm from the 200-600mm G and 10x magnification in macro from Laowa 2.5-5x ultra macro lens which is perfect for 1-2mm insects. Not to mention the 4K@60fps with 1.5x crop while I would mostly shoot in 4K@120fps for BIF or extremely erratic insects. The 8K size files are pretty small actually and I'm not interested in RAW hassle. These specs are worth more than the price of the $6500 pricetag and can make or break some documentary films I'm working on.
Out of all the reviewers out there, I appreciate your opinion the most. Unfortunately, no matter how great this camera is, it is way above my pay grade! But thanks for the incentive... lol!
Greetings from Africa Patrick. What have you gone and done to me!??? :-p I get my A1 on Wednesday, and I was nibbling at a second A1, but now I can definitely see my A9ii going, and being replaced by a second A1...EISH! Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhh! Great video Patrick... Keep up the great work. Take care, and be safe out there :-p Best regards. Tim
@@PMRTV Greetings again from Africa. I did it! I joined the SKIN Club ( Spend the Kids Inheritance Now) Sony were also very kind.....No2 will be with me tomorrow! :-p .... Take care and be safe out there. Keep up the great work :-p
I have the A1, how do you set S-Cinetone to work with photos as well as videos? I found the picture profile setting and set it to P11 (S-Cinetone), when I set the profile setting to S-Cinetone, does that auto apply to photos and videos or just video?
The EVF sensor sucks and the bird eye misses quite a bit. Massive blackouts shooting wildlife. Not sure how the EVF sensor problem was missed during the testing period. They also need t o improve the bird eye autofocus. It's not perfect, but a very good camera overall minus the bird eye and the EVF sensor issue.
Sounds like you have never even used the A1. I have and your comments are complete nonsense or you do not know how to use the camera - the A1 is beyond your abilities and you need to improve your technique.
@@mirwaisazami7964 I do own it and I do not have the issue - perhaps I use a better technique. A rare and intermittent issue does not qualify as "massive blackouts". Your exaggerated feedback impacts your credibility.
I know, right? He kicked the a1 with the pocketwizard and godox trigger so hard it knocked the AA batteries out of the trigger! both my shins were bloody after but the scabs came off a couple weeks later. it hurt!!!!
Patrick, have you shot in bright sunlight? My EVF locks up and I know others are experiencing this issue. I have re-initialised the camera and also tried a a deeper eyecup. Apart from that I have no issues, but it has meant missed opportunities.
SONY is aware of this issue and is working on a solution. I actually got a call from a SONY Pro Service Rep. asking me about this BEFORE I ever experienced it myself. Crazy good, those people...
Not bad. You convinced me to buy this camera. However, a softer light, more depth of field an maybe a bit of makeup would make this talking head style video more enjoyable.
I love the A1 but have had lots of issues with the bright sun locking my evf and also a bigger problem is the camera just locking up and having to remove the battery. I still use it over my a9ii just for the apsc punch in for football. Just wish it was a smoother camera with less issues for the price. I know sony knows about these issues so maybe a update will clear some things up.
I’ve heard of this blackout issue from several users....bad enough that some people had to return the camera...hopefully they fix with a firmware update 😯
Nicely done. I am wondering... I've notice in my photos when I view them thru Sony A1 monitor they look amazingly sharp however when I transfer them to my laptop MacBook late 2019 photo images do not look as sharp vs. in camera monitor? I'm using Lightroom and Photoshop.
try shooting jpg--they will look awesome all the time! I think what you might be seeing is low rez thumbnails from shooting RAW only files. Try shooting RAW + jpg and it should radically improve.
Yes, absolutely. Remember, it's not just about mp size but rather the processing of the images--you will be jumping an entire generation of camera (a7RIV) to get to a1. It will blow your mind...
Thanks for the video Patrick the A1 is the first E-mount camera that I feel can allow me to replace my 3-A99m2's without having to worry about giving up something!
Just had a quick question, we have been shooting my son‘s baseball game with a 7RIII and a 70 to 200 mm 2.8. I was looking at getting a Sony a II but then the Sony a 1 came out and my question to you is what will be The camera to get. We are also looking at getting a 600 mm lens to catch the outfield action that we can’t get with a 70-200 lens. Thank you for your time.
How do you set the S-Cinetone to still photos in the menu? Is applied to raw? I am not clear what you mean. I am not too familiar with Sony menus either. Thanks.
Hello again I'm waiting for my a1 to arrive in Germany. I get the next one. I like to do sports but I haven't purchased my 400 2.8 GM yet (it might be quite awhile for obvious reasons). I do have the 100-400 and 200-600 lenses. Have you tried those yet and how do they do with the a1? Thanks in advance.
Hi, that's a great review! Thanks. I'm considering dropping my Nikon gear and moving over to Sony. One question, I understand you have all the focus points in APS-C mode available, but how is the viewfinder quality when you're in crop mode? Is it on par with the FF mode? Any concessions on the resolution vs frame rate front? In general, assuming you use a FF lens, is there any difference between crop and FF mode? Thanks, Greg.
because you are starting out with so many pixels in the EVF in the first place, you don't really notice that much when you punch in. the Exception is when you are using the full bplast 240hz setting in the EVF for the fastest and least latency--here you will notice a change when punching in--but it doesn't really matter all that much. the reason? because most of your frames will be tack sharp anyways... you learn to trust what the camera can do. I am rarely disappointed!!!!
Haven't found any info yet on if the auto setting for electronic or mechanical shutter is good or if one should just select either manually for the proper usage. What is your experience with this Patrick?
if you use a TTL flash, it will automatically set it to mechanical for you and change your live view/setting effect to off. If you use a pocket wizard, you will need to manually control the type of shutter you need.
I am not very happy with my a1 after 2 weeks of use. HSS doesn't work properly at higher shutter speed, lots of bandings on the images. The IBIS takes much longer to stabilize, and in the past generation it used to be instantaneous. The EVF eye sensor position of the a1 is also more vulnerable to improper detection under harsh sunlight. The battery life is much worse than the a9 which I have been using for almost 4 years, and only after 15-20mins use, the camera is uncomfortably warm. And since the back dial is now elevated above to the surface of the top plate, the PASM dial lock made even less sense, unlocking it would easily cause accidental rotation of the back dial. I would still be keeping it for its amazing 50MP 30fps features, but I really love it less and less the more I use it.
you are certainly in the minority of those who are using the a1, but I copied and pasted your comments and sent them to the engineers today. Kindest regards, pm-r :)
@@PMRTV Thanks! I am also going to report to the service center here in Taipei. But I really appreciate your help! I really want the HSS problem and IBIS fixed with a firmware update. I can't keep my hopes up regarding the heat though, considering how powerful the a1 is, it is physics that makes the camera hot.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 I can say this from my own experience--that Godox doesn't allow 1/8000th on much of their product line where I can shoot over 1/4000th with other brands like profoto, Elinchrom, and even Jinbei. if you are having HSS issues and you are using godox, it's not likely your camera.
@@PMRTV my Godox lights work properly with my a7R2 and a9 without banding regardless of the shutter speed. In the mean time you can check out "Is the Hype Real? Fstoppers Reviews the Sony a1" by Jason Vinson. Based on his test Elinchrom lights are affected as well. Based on my own testing with the a1, banding is more severe when the flash output power is low - say 1/128. At 1/2 or 1, it is not noticeable. The banding pattern also gets more severe when the shutter speed is shorter.
This is a great video and reflection of one of the best cameras I've ever used. Anyone know how to fix my A1 constantly freezing up on me shooting in sunny conditions (i do a lot of outdoor and seems to happen around ISO 200 / 70-200GM) and how do i get 30fps Raw; no lossy compression? for my $6500.00 + $800.00 for memory + commie tax $710.00 camera?? If i only get 20 fps no lossy raw; i might return it for a cheaper brand/body that can do 20fps raw and save some money. - ok, found some posts online about A1 freezing up... i'm not the only one.
There are some camera reviewers which I respect a lot, like Gordon Laing (and Kasey Stern), but ultimately, I do want to hear from people who use the cameras for work. I think that one of the great things about Sony cameras is that they let you use log profiles for JPEGs, not just video. It's a pretty good way to preserve more DR in a format that can be immediately published as-is. It's not as good as JP2K or HEIF but it's better than nothing. Olympus gives you tone curve control which is a bit different. I'd be curious to know if the A1 is ISO invariant or not. That's kind of important if you're shooting RAW. BTW I *love* that shot at 8:10! It's like a Renaissance painting.
@@PMRTV In short: ISO invariance is when underexposing (the RAW file) yields a result no different than changing the ISO setting. The advantage of this is that you can underexpose and protect your highlights, while your shadows don't change. That's the theory, and some cameras are different than others. This is the opposite of 'expose to the right', which kind of gets you thinking!
thanks for the review but,i do not see anything that the R5 won't do for almost 1800 cheaper. plus they are still using the cheap dials instead of of a top lcd screen and ,also. the speed. the cfxexpress b are twice as fast as the A.
all I can say is... wow! 30 fps, 1/400th strobe sync, 1/32,000th shutter speed, tracking AF, full sized HDMI port, Ethernet Port, S-Cinetone, -- that's 7 things off the top of my head...
The impressive specs of this camera are held back by the severely outdated lcd screen. Competitors have had more touch capable, far higher resolution, screens for several years now. The fact that Sony is still using this outdated screen is an enormous blemish on an otherwise incredible camera.
This peremptory attitude is childish. Also, Fujis 50 milion and its 100 million sensors are also 'their very own sensors." Canon's are also their own built. Even if you only want to hurt Nikon, so what ? Are You talking model or tribe ? Canon's R3 means they totally catched up+ (to the A9II) even if they where 3 years behind. R3 with the R5 sensor would roughly totally match the A1. Granted they might come with still another sensor for a R1, but its absolutally not lost for Canon at all. Granted also that we have far more (interesting and variety of) lenses (and the latest 135mm 35mm and 50 GM"s are "proof of best lenses". This video's attitude is a pain. Check out for instance Gordon's R3 and A1 reviews : czcams.com/video/uazLXO3oLS4/video.html
@@PMRTV You should at least mention the Canons so it would not sound like an extended Sony advertisement. I loved my A7R series bodies until I had repeatedly, amazingly bad experiences with Sony service. Multiple events, multiple issues with just terrible service. I have had very good service from Canon (and amazingly good from Olympus)... The A1 has some great capabilities but Sony has become known for some very bad service experiences. Hopefully they will improved but there is no way I would chance my livelihood on Sony service if I needed a quick repair or loaner.
@@dcd It's a video about the A1. Why would he talk about Canon.? And yet he is accused of being a fanboy and making an advertisement for Sony. Go figure.
![Sony Alpha 1 Menu Settings for Sports and Action Photography by Patrick Murphy-Racey [sony a1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mKpgwVG8Xv8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Sony Alpha 1 Menu Settings for Sports and Action Photography by Patrick Murphy-Racey [sony a1]](/img/tr.png)
Wonderfully thoughtful, specific and relaxed take on the A1 from an accomplished pro photographer and profoundly decent human being.
Wow, thanks so much for the guy who owns class and deep thoughtfulness on YT!!!! UDAMAN
Here here
This was the best review that I have seen as to what makes the Sony A1 different/better than other high end cameras
thanks Jordan!!!
Thank you for the great Review. I also will go for the a1 this year (Currently own a9 and a7iii). Cannot wait to use such great Piece of Technology.
Glad I could help!
Always nice to hear from a working professional photographer who's been at it long enough to have some perspective.
thanks much!!!
Do You know Gordon's ( czcams.com/video/uazLXO3oLS4/video.html ) and for 8nstance Dustin Abbotts reviews. Just saying because I for one really are surprised of your saying.
i just bought the a1 today just because of this video. with the 70-200 2.8 gm and the 50mm 1.2 gm. with the a1x profoto flash. i switched from the a6600. Thank you for your review.
welcome to a very exclusive club! Glad I could help you decide :)
Loved this..No mention of not being able to use the menu system,and no mythical nonsense about 'overheating'.This further proof that once you learn a camera,master it,and actually use it in the field,THEN you place yourself to truly have an accurate viewpoint.Now I need to get outside with two cups and get enough change to get back to Sony...
lol
Thanks for this comprehensive review of the a1. Really appreciated how you stepped through the camera’s specs and features.
Glad it was helpful!
I appreciate your insightful comments and honesty about working with the a-1. I picked up one yesterday and traded a ton of gear to offset the cost. I’ve only taken a few pix around the house and even then I could see the a-1 is both different AND better than anything I’ve used before. I’ve been a hybrid shooter for some time and have multiple formats for different applications. I shoot a variety of subjects in unpredictable settings like a photojournalist. I was drawn to the a-1 because I thought it might offer a way for me to simplify...settle on one camera and one format for 95% of what I do. So far I think the a-1 opens the door for that. And As much as the a-1 excels for action photography I have to say that it’s amazing in the way it renders an image (especially skin tones) in even crummy mixed lighting. I think the new sensor is something special in a multitude of ways. Do you know if the a-1 will still do 30fps with the Tamron 2.8 trinity or is the 30 FPS limited to Sony glass?
I think it drops the fps slightly in the 20 fps range with Tamron E mount lenses--not sure if this is actually published anywhere though...
This was a refreshing video to watch. I was able to understand all the points more, great clear simple style.
I like your statements cause your words are upon field experience and trustable. Thank you
thanks so much!!!
@@PMRTV hi again, recently I tested gfx100s with 102 mp and amazing film simulations. Despite of some features (such as slower af system, lower build quality, bulky lenses, only 5 FPS, not very good for vacation, sport, and videography), just for “image quality” (pixel-details, sharpness, dynamic range rendering, etc) what’s your professional opinion (not as sport photographer) about images by Sony a1 vs Fujifilm gfx100s? Thank you
Thanks for sharing your experience!!!!
I own a canon 1dx Mark II , a Sony A7R4 and new the Sony A1. Its unbelievable what amazing results I get with the A1 together with my canon 85mm f1.2 lens . SUPER SHARP focus on the eye with almost no miss . Much better than the A7R4 . My canon 1dx Mark II does not even come close in terms with the autofocus to the A7R4. The A1 is a total game changer !
yep--welcome to Sony!!!
I'm surprised that you're surprised about the value of 50MP in a sports camera, when you shot the 42MP a99ii for so long. Amazing to hear that the A1 is so much better than the A9/9ii, which is so much better than almost anything else already! 30fps just sounds to me like I need a whole other NAS for storage though. Great video, but I think the DOF is even a little TOO shallow on the talking head here (eye focus tracking, especially with the glasses, is impressive though). That basketball underexposed shot is incredible - the fact that the focus was spot on while so underexposed in something that can't be denied. Also, on deleting - does that delete from both cards? Finally, on the whole video though - production values: enhanced!! Great work, thank you!
thanks Bob!!! I appreciate your comments :)
Thanks PM-R . We needed this clear voice from a working pro. Cheers
Glad it helped
This video pushed me over the edge. Placed my order yesterday. Can't wait to get it in my hands
That picture at 15:08 is just jaw-doppingly good.
thanks so much! She's a really nice person too. The 135mm f/1.8GM is my go to lens for portraits--any excuse to use it works for me!!!
@@PMRTV Hi, Patrick. How far back do you typically have to shoot from for portraits with the 135?
Another great video with great insights. Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Been shooting for a while now with the A1's as a pro sport photog: it is truly amazing. Issues: EVF switching malfuntions when the sun hits from the right rear in my case. Plus the camera sometimes locks up while shooting with the 70-200. Has happened quite a few times, but I can't pinpoint the exact circumstances when and why this happens. I suspect both can and will be solved with firmware updates. Everything else about these camera's is simply great. AF performance stunning, CF-A cards are fast enough (though I would still prefer faster XQD's), wireless FTP transfer easy and reliable, High ISO performance and the noise are very good. Ergonomics have been improved compared to the A9-2, but a larger body would still be good to have. The files allow lots of room for post processing if you want or need it. The new primes are great. I had a lot to complain about the A9-2's, but the A1 is really, really great.
Arnd, Sony is aware of the EVF switching issue and they are working on a fix. Agreed on all points--it's a pleasure to use and does everything FAST!!!!
So glad you continue to do reviews, PMR. There are dozens of CZcams based camera reviewers who could take a page or 4000 from your work. So tired of high gloss influencers. You're the real deal.
Thank you Patrick for your amazing 👏 Review
My pleasure!
Thank you for for taking the time to put that together. I picked up an A1 yesterday and to be honest it was a tough pill to swallow, considering the price here in Australia (9000$, body only). I guess I was looking for a video to put my nerves at ease and your video definitely did that for me so I’m 110% keeping it.
On a side note, do you shot with the electronic shutter full time? Even for portrait and landscape. And is there a compromise in quality versus the mechanical shutter? Keep up the good work sir.
I use electronic shutter all the time, yes, even when using strobes. It's a pretty cool feature that allows this. Congrats on the a1. I doubt very much you will regret the purchase :)
Patrick, always good to see a new video of yours drop. Have you considered chapter markers? I'm absolutely going to watch the whole video, but chapter markers would be helpful when needing to refer back to a certain section for review. (But if markers take away from your YT algorithm by letting viewers skip around, then forget I said anything!)
I'll try to figure it out--I'm better at making the content than understanding everything in the back end of YT. It's a great idea and it would help people. thanks! pm-r :)
I love this camera and have already gotten some wonderful images. I do have a complaint in that during post I just end up with too many great images. For those of you that do bird photography I have a little warning, you are going to fall in love with taking shots of birds in flight to the point you will be taking shots knowing that you won't be keeping them. Also I have found myself taking shots of moths in flight just because they were there, nothing else was happening and because I could.
Totally agree
Unfortunately the new eye sensor location often is a bit of a problem for bird photographers. Most of our shots are with the sun at our back, depending on our position, or how the camera is positioned the sensor seems to catch a lot of light and the EVF remains in blackout when we bring it to our eye. Lot's of sturm and drang over the issue and Sony has been notified.
Other than that it's a fantastic camera. 100x better the the Canon 7DII I was shooting a year ago.
Great video! I have started referring to the refresh rate of the EVF as 240Hz instead of 240fps to avoid confusion between shooting speed and EVF refresh rate.
I should take that from you--thanks for the correction as you are right!
Great review - thanks for sharing, Patrick!
My pleasure!
Finally, a review that mentions the dual view EVF. I wear glasses and shoot with my left eye, so this could be the big game changer. Thank you Patrick, for your in depth and in the field description. Cheers Hamish
thanks Hamish! It really is nice to switch it back and forth depending on what I'm shooting!
I really enjoyed listening to this, thank you.
Always enjoy your videos! Great to get the real oil from a person who makes his living from actually using the camera!!
Right on!
Doesn't the S-cinetone and log settings make a difference to JPeg shooting? But makes no difference to the RAW files.
correct
Thanks. This was my question too.
I emailed pro support about the EVF glitch, I'm sure it'll be a firmware thing they can resolve. Doesn't feel like a design flaw to me. I've had it happen a fair amount and lost a few moments. Another thing I noticed, is if you have S-Cinetone enabled for movies, it will disable the base (100), and extended (50, 64, 80) iso's even if you revert to shooting still images. Hopefully they can allow both soon... Other than that, it's a hot rod in a pinto sized body haha
love the pinto reference!!!!
For me from a video 90% and 10% photo perspective, the a1 isn't really too expensive for my needs. It opens up possibilities that are beyond reach for my a7S III. 8K@30fps (now 4:2:2) you can crop in 2x with 100% 4K that you can still crop in further for some critical moments in nature and use an AI upscaler to 4K after. That gets you 1200mm from the 200-600mm G and 10x magnification in macro from Laowa 2.5-5x ultra macro lens which is perfect for 1-2mm insects. Not to mention the 4K@60fps with 1.5x crop while I would mostly shoot in 4K@120fps for BIF or extremely erratic insects. The 8K size files are pretty small actually and I'm not interested in RAW hassle. These specs are worth more than the price of the $6500 pricetag and can make or break some documentary films I'm working on.
I agree. I use the a1 for both stills and video all the time. I no longer see the need for the a7sIII or FX3...
@@PMRTV Enjoy that beast! Might join the club soon or wheb A1 II hits with 8K@60fps/4K@240fps/1080p@480fps!
Thanks Patrick, but what is Sony telling you about a long overdue proper firmware update for the A1 ?
I wish I knew... But it has to be coming!!!
Out of all the reviewers out there, I appreciate your opinion the most. Unfortunately, no matter how great this camera is, it is way above my pay grade! But thanks for the incentive... lol!
Fair enough!
PMR, best choice for a 300 2.8 on A-1?
Canon /metabones
Sigma 120-300 /mc11
Sony / LA-EA5
Sub $10k option, thanks?
Sigma right now with MC11
I have some news for ya. 30 frames a second, uh, that’s called a MOVIE 😂😂🤪
It would be good if this guy could do a comparison between Canon and Sony
Greetings from Africa Patrick. What have you gone and done to me!??? :-p I get my A1 on Wednesday, and I was nibbling at a second A1, but now I can definitely see my A9ii going, and being replaced by a second A1...EISH! Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhh! Great video Patrick... Keep up the great work. Take care, and be safe out there :-p Best regards. Tim
thanks Tim. I ended up with two myself--the financial pain eases some each time I shoot them though...
@@PMRTV Greetings again from Africa. I did it! I joined the SKIN Club ( Spend the Kids Inheritance Now) Sony were also very kind.....No2 will be with me tomorrow! :-p .... Take care and be safe out there. Keep up the great work :-p
Excellent review, Thank you! Subbed ^^
Awesome, thank you!
I have the A1, how do you set S-Cinetone to work with photos as well as videos? I found the picture profile setting and set it to P11 (S-Cinetone), when I set the profile setting to S-Cinetone, does that auto apply to photos and videos or just video?
exactly-- S-Cinetone is active for both stills and video
@@PMRTV I wish Sony would let me set a profile for photos and a separate profile for video.
The EVF sensor sucks and the bird eye misses quite a bit. Massive blackouts shooting wildlife. Not sure how the EVF sensor problem was missed during the testing period. They also need t o improve the bird eye autofocus. It's not perfect, but a very good camera overall minus the bird eye and the EVF sensor issue.
Sounds like you have never even used the A1. I have and your comments are complete nonsense or you do not know how to use the camera - the A1 is beyond your abilities and you need to improve your technique.
@@michaelhains2291 Haha...
@@michaelhains2291 Why would I comment if I didn't own it. Obviously you don't own it because you would know about the EVF sensor problem.
@@mirwaisazami7964 I do own it and I do not have the issue - perhaps I use a better technique. A rare and intermittent issue does not qualify as "massive blackouts". Your exaggerated feedback impacts your credibility.
@@mirwaisazami7964 Yawn….zzzzz.
This will be my first Sony; but used camera in the future; when version two is out
.
understandable
Very informative video Patrick , do you use PPl11 profile all the time as your default or only in bright sunny conditions ?
only when light is harsh with high contrast
Thanks for the superb review. OMG, 21:51, gear broken? Something’s flying away...
I know, right? He kicked the a1 with the pocketwizard and godox trigger so hard it knocked the AA batteries out of the trigger! both my shins were bloody after but the scabs came off a couple weeks later. it hurt!!!!
Patrick, have you shot in bright sunlight? My EVF locks up and I know others are experiencing this issue. I have re-initialised the camera and also tried a a deeper eyecup. Apart from that I have no issues, but it has meant missed opportunities.
I have the same problem, the EVF will not work when is pretty bright, i even try to turn off the camera and it would not help
SONY is aware of this issue and is working on a solution. I actually got a call from a SONY Pro Service Rep. asking me about this BEFORE I ever experienced it myself. Crazy good, those people...
@@sierrajuan2982 please see my replay to spitfire...
@@sierrajuan2982 if you just put your finger over the sensor and take it off again, it starts working again.
Not bad. You convinced me to buy this camera. However, a softer light, more depth of field an maybe a bit of makeup would make this talking head style video more enjoyable.
I love the A1 but have had lots of issues with the bright sun locking my evf and also a bigger problem is the camera just locking up and having to remove the battery. I still use it over my a9ii just for the apsc punch in for football. Just wish it was a smoother camera with less issues for the price. I know sony knows about these issues so maybe a update will clear some things up.
I’ve heard of this blackout issue from several users....bad enough that some people had to return the camera...hopefully they fix with a firmware update 😯
Always great content 👍👍
Much appreciated
Nicely done. I am wondering... I've notice in my photos when I view them thru Sony A1 monitor they look amazingly sharp however when I transfer them to my laptop MacBook late 2019 photo images do not look as sharp vs. in camera monitor? I'm using Lightroom and Photoshop.
try shooting jpg--they will look awesome all the time! I think what you might be seeing is low rez thumbnails from shooting RAW only files. Try shooting RAW + jpg and it should radically improve.
Great review, ready to jump from A7Riii to this. Will I notice a difference in image quality from the 42mp of the A7Riii to the 50mp of an A1?
Yes, absolutely. Remember, it's not just about mp size but rather the processing of the images--you will be jumping an entire generation of camera (a7RIV) to get to a1. It will blow your mind...
Thanks for the video Patrick the A1 is the first E-mount camera that I feel can allow me to replace my 3-A99m2's without having to worry about giving up something!
Glad to help
No one has noise issues? ilove that camera but i was wondered how much noise you get. Am i the only one with that problem?
I don't use the back LCD much but with Sony updating the lcd on the A7RIV is there any danger of them doing the same with the A1?
I hope they don't do the flippy screen thing on anything that follows the a1, a9II--I hate that screen!!!!
Just had a quick question, we have been shooting my son‘s baseball game with a 7RIII and a 70 to 200 mm 2.8. I was looking at getting a Sony a II but then the Sony a 1 came out and my question to you is what will be The camera to get. We are also looking at getting a 600 mm lens to catch the outfield action that we can’t get with a 70-200 lens. Thank you for your time.
Just started shooting my A1 haven’t been able to enjoy the resolution ? What I’m I doing wrong ??😊
I'd need much more information to help you... don't know where to start???
How do you set the S-Cinetone to still photos in the menu? Is applied to raw? I am not clear what you mean. I am not too familiar with Sony menus either. Thanks.
no problem--it is picture profile 11, which you can only achieve in jpg, not RAW.
Thanks!
S-cinetone doesn't work on RAW photos, correct?
correct!
waiting for it to dropped price wise? needed badly to complete my kit a7s3 and A1 will be perfect combo ....
it could be quite some time before that happens... :(
Hello again I'm waiting for my a1 to arrive in Germany. I get the next one. I like to do sports but I haven't purchased my 400 2.8 GM yet (it might be quite awhile for obvious reasons). I do have the 100-400 and 200-600 lenses. Have you tried those yet and how do they do with the a1? Thanks in advance.
you will be very very happy Peter!!!! :)
To say the A9ii is sluggish and slow is just untrue!
26:45, I shoot backup to 2nd card slot. Is there a possibility to delete synchronised slot 1 and 2? Couldn’t figure out this on my a9ii.
Hi, that's a great review! Thanks. I'm considering dropping my Nikon gear and moving over to Sony. One question, I understand you have all the focus points in APS-C mode available, but how is the viewfinder quality when you're in crop mode? Is it on par with the FF mode? Any concessions on the resolution vs frame rate front? In general, assuming you use a FF lens, is there any difference between crop and FF mode? Thanks, Greg.
because you are starting out with so many pixels in the EVF in the first place, you don't really notice that much when you punch in. the Exception is when you are using the full bplast 240hz setting in the EVF for the fastest and least latency--here you will notice a change when punching in--but it doesn't really matter all that much. the reason? because most of your frames will be tack sharp anyways... you learn to trust what the camera can do. I am rarely disappointed!!!!
Thanks for your feedback.
Is the audio sync a lil off?
probably!
What light do you use to create so many bokeh (light circles) in the background?
What 3 lenses do you believe are critical for Sony to release or update?
1. FE300mm f/2.8GM
2. FE300mm f/4G
3. FE200-400mm f/4GM
Hah, spoken by a true sports guy!
Haven't found any info yet on if the auto setting for electronic or mechanical shutter is good or if one should just select either manually for the proper usage. What is your experience with this Patrick?
if you use a TTL flash, it will automatically set it to mechanical for you and change your live view/setting effect to off. If you use a pocket wizard, you will need to manually control the type of shutter you need.
Do you shoot in uncompressed RAW or lossless compressed RAW? And why?
He doesnt shoot raw. Because he's a sports photographer who needs to output fast he shoots jpeg.
I am not very happy with my a1 after 2 weeks of use. HSS doesn't work properly at higher shutter speed, lots of bandings on the images.
The IBIS takes much longer to stabilize, and in the past generation it used to be instantaneous.
The EVF eye sensor position of the a1 is also more vulnerable to improper detection under harsh sunlight.
The battery life is much worse than the a9 which I have been using for almost 4 years, and only after 15-20mins use, the camera is uncomfortably warm.
And since the back dial is now elevated above to the surface of the top plate, the PASM dial lock made even less sense, unlocking it would easily cause accidental rotation of the back dial.
I would still be keeping it for its amazing 50MP 30fps features, but I really love it less and less the more I use it.
you are certainly in the minority of those who are using the a1, but I copied and pasted your comments and sent them to the engineers today. Kindest regards, pm-r :)
@@PMRTV Thanks! I am also going to report to the service center here in Taipei. But I really appreciate your help! I really want the HSS problem and IBIS fixed with a firmware update. I can't keep my hopes up regarding the heat though, considering how powerful the a1 is, it is physics that makes the camera hot.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 I can say this from my own experience--that Godox doesn't allow 1/8000th on much of their product line where I can shoot over 1/4000th with other brands like profoto, Elinchrom, and even Jinbei. if you are having HSS issues and you are using godox, it's not likely your camera.
@@PMRTV my Godox lights work properly with my a7R2 and a9 without banding regardless of the shutter speed.
In the mean time you can check out "Is the Hype Real? Fstoppers Reviews the Sony a1" by Jason Vinson. Based on his test Elinchrom lights are affected as well.
Based on my own testing with the a1, banding is more severe when the flash output power is low - say 1/128. At 1/2 or 1, it is not noticeable. The banding pattern also gets more severe when the shutter speed is shorter.
This is a great video and reflection of one of the best cameras I've ever used. Anyone know how to fix my A1 constantly freezing up on me shooting in sunny conditions (i do a lot of outdoor and seems to happen around ISO 200 / 70-200GM) and how do i get 30fps Raw; no lossy compression? for my $6500.00 + $800.00 for memory + commie tax $710.00 camera?? If i only get 20 fps no lossy raw; i might return it for a cheaper brand/body that can do 20fps raw and save some money. - ok, found some posts online about A1 freezing up... i'm not the only one.
There are some camera reviewers which I respect a lot, like Gordon Laing (and Kasey Stern), but ultimately, I do want to hear from people who use the cameras for work.
I think that one of the great things about Sony cameras is that they let you use log profiles for JPEGs, not just video. It's a pretty good way to preserve more DR in a format that can be immediately published as-is. It's not as good as JP2K or HEIF but it's better than nothing. Olympus gives you tone curve control which is a bit different.
I'd be curious to know if the A1 is ISO invariant or not. That's kind of important if you're shooting RAW.
BTW I *love* that shot at 8:10! It's like a Renaissance painting.
thanks so much!!! Can you help me understand what you mean my ISO Invariant? Never heard that term before....
@@PMRTV In short: ISO invariance is when underexposing (the RAW file) yields a result no different than changing the ISO setting. The advantage of this is that you can underexpose and protect your highlights, while your shadows don't change. That's the theory, and some cameras are different than others. This is the opposite of 'expose to the right', which kind of gets you thinking!
Thank You Patrick, any idea of how the sigma 500mm f4 may work with the A1
While I haven't tried it, it should be the best of all the cameras with adapted glass.
@@PMRTV I agree, i tried the 120-300 Sigma and It does pretty good, not perfect but for the price is great combo
What do you do for initial software at import to cull volumes of massive files quickly?
Photo Mechanic - Awesome for culling, captions, re-naming, and ftping
For sports, specifically high school football.
What lens are you using?! The DoF is stunning!
that is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 on the a6600. Sweet, isn't it? :)
thanks for the review but,i do not see anything that the R5 won't do for almost 1800 cheaper. plus they are still using the cheap dials instead of of a top lcd screen and ,also. the speed. the cfxexpress b are twice as fast as the A.
all I can say is... wow! 30 fps, 1/400th strobe sync, 1/32,000th shutter speed, tracking AF, full sized HDMI port, Ethernet Port, S-Cinetone, -- that's 7 things off the top of my head...
@@PMRTV can u spell R3!!!!!!! bye bye A1
@@stevefitzgerald9193 What R3? Can you buy that right now?
You are almost convincing me to buy a second a1 lol
Shut up and take my money Sony
Has anyone seen 13 cameras? Hahaha
Canon R3 comes and smashed A1 out of the park!
ya think? lol
That kind of sums things up - by a real pro. Sony A1 is in a class by itself.
The impressive specs of this camera are held back by the severely outdated lcd screen. Competitors have had more touch capable, far higher resolution, screens for several years now. The fact that Sony is still using this outdated screen is an enormous blemish on an otherwise incredible camera.
yeah the LCD was a reaaallyyy weird decision by them
audio is out of sync
Why does your cheeks out of focus?
This peremptory attitude is childish.
Also, Fujis 50 milion and its 100 million sensors are also 'their very own sensors." Canon's are also their own built. Even if you only want to hurt Nikon, so what ? Are You talking model or tribe ?
Canon's R3 means they totally catched up+ (to the A9II) even if they where 3 years behind. R3 with the R5 sensor would roughly totally match the A1. Granted they might come with still another sensor for a R1, but its absolutally not lost for Canon at all.
Granted also that we have far more (interesting and variety of) lenses (and the latest 135mm 35mm and 50 GM"s are "proof of best lenses".
This video's attitude is a pain.
Check out for instance Gordon's R3 and A1 reviews : czcams.com/video/uazLXO3oLS4/video.html
the arrogant title alone tells the story
and this guy just shoots JPG, so not really the best reviewer for such a camera!!!
most sports shooters shoot only jpg... just sayin'
Sounds like a Fanboy Review...
That's because he's a Sony ambassador, which means he's going to exaggerate the camera's strengths and gloss over its deficiencies.
you've got that right!
@@PMRTV You should at least mention the Canons so it would not sound like an extended Sony advertisement. I loved my A7R series bodies until I had repeatedly, amazingly bad experiences with Sony service. Multiple events, multiple issues with just terrible service. I have had very good service from Canon (and amazingly good from Olympus)... The A1 has some great capabilities but Sony has become known for some very bad service experiences. Hopefully they will improved but there is no way I would chance my livelihood on Sony service if I needed a quick repair or loaner.
@@dcd It's a video about the A1. Why would he talk about Canon.? And yet he is accused of being a fanboy and making an advertisement for Sony. Go figure.