Sony A1 cleans up the R5 with real 8k modes

[GDRRiley]

Summary

Sony just released their latest hybrid camera with 4k and 8k video along with 50mp stills at up to 30fps

 

Quotes

From DP review

Quote

The headline figure is that the a1 can shoot its full 50MP resolution at up to 30 fps. Sony says this utilizes full 14-bit readout but is only available in lossy compressed Raw mode: the use of lossless or uncompressed Raw sees the capture rate drop to 20 fps.

Mechanical shutter shooting tops out at 10fps, as does shooting with A-mount lenses, using the LA-EA5 adapter.

 

In terms of 4K capture, the camera can't produce over-sampled 4K from its 8K footage, so you'll have to do that in 'post if you wish. Instead it offers pixel-binned 4K from the full width of its sensor at up to 60p, or up to 120p with a 1.1x crop. These can be captured as up to 10-bit 4:2:2.

 

Oversampled 4K is available in Super35 mode, which uses 5.8K capture. 4K footage can be saved with a choice of XAVCS HS (H.265) or XAVC S-I All-I (H.264) formats.

A 16-bit ~4K Raw video stream made from 4.3K capture is available in parallel with all shooting modes. We don't have details of which recorders will work with this stream but the Atomos Ninja V saving as ProResRAW seems likely.

8K video can be captured at up to 30p (or 25p for PAL users), and can be saved as 10-bit 4:2:0 XAVC HS files (H.265). HD proxy video can be captured alongside this footage, to make editing easier. The highest-quality 400 Mbps footage can be written to a V90-rated UHS-II SD card but there's also a 200 Mbps option that can be recorded to a V60 card, so you don't need to invest in CFexpress cards to capture 8K.

8K can also be output over HDMI but only in 8-bit 4:2:0 format

from Gerald
 

Quote

Test done at ~75F

8k last for about 90 mins with a battery in and a 5 min cool down gives you another hour. The battery lasts about 90msin 8k

4k doesn't have a record limit with the battery in and lasts for ~120 mins before it dies

8k with a dummy battery lasts for 3 hours+

My thoughts

Well sony made the R5 overheat issue look dumb. the only problem now is that it is more expensive than an R5+R6 or a A7Siii + A7Riv but if you need 1 body that can do it all price no issue this is it.

really happy to see short cool down times with internal batteries and for those who run external expect to shoot as long as you want at least in moderate temps

 

Sources

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/3386319853/sony-a1-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-powerful-full-frame-flagship?slide=3

 

 

 

[Guest]

I mean... at that price, it better have lol.

[AbydosOne]

I want a Brandon unboxing if only because I enjoy a) Sony cameras and b) Brandon unboxing cameras.

[D13H4RD]

None of this should really be a surprise. 

 

You would expect Sony’s 8K implementation on a mirrorless body to be superior than Canon’s not just because it launched later but also because it’s much more expensive. 

 

If Sony’s 8K was just as deficient, we have a problem...

[Distinctly Average]

Unfortunately there are already reports of problems with the A1. I’m sure Sony will fix it though. Shame they couldn’t get the 12fps the R5 can do in mechanical shutter mode. Will also be interesting to see what Canon do with the R1 when we see it, which will probably be a better comparison with the A1, certainly in the same price bracket, Most interested to see how the A1 handles the kinds of abuse a 1D class Canon does, the A1 looks less well built but hard to compare without handling one. Going on older Sony cameras I have use they have generally had a shorter life than Canikon.

 

As for the R5 overheat issues, even froknowsphoto is using one and he was a really Sony chap for a long time. For most, the firmware updates and real world use have meant it is a non issue. 

[D13H4RD]

11 minutes ago, Distinctly Average said:

As for the R5 overheat issues, even froknowsphoto is using one and he was a really Sony chap for a long time. For most, the firmware updates and real world use have meant it is a non issue. 

The FW update made it much more usable on the video side. It's no a7Siii, but I'd wager that it is actually more than usable for some video work, especially on the side.

 

The only downside is that Canon's codecs on the R5 are pretty bloated, which can make editing a chore even on a high-end machine. It is an absolute photographic beast, however.

[Distinctly Average]

44 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

The FW update made it much more usable on the video side. It's no a7Siii, but I'd wager that it is actually more than usable for some video work, especially on the side.

 

The only downside is that Canon's codecs on the R5 are pretty bloated, which can make editing a chore even on a high-end machine. It is an absolute photographic beast, however.

I would agree with you on every point there. Hopefully an R7 will arrive as I don’t do much video and prefer to travel a little lighter so a crop is more suited to me.

 

Sony have definitely pushed the competition and for that they have to be applauded. A mate of mine already has an A1 on order and I am looking forward to having a play when we are finally out of lockdown. He is one of those people who has more money than he knows what to do with so buys every new high end camera which is good for me as he is never adverse to lending them to me for a bit. 

[D13H4RD]

2 minutes ago, Distinctly Average said:

Sony have definitely pushed the competition and for that they have to be applauded. A mate of mine already has an A1 on order and I am looking forward to having a play when we are finally out of lockdown. He is one of those people who has more money than he knows what to do with so buys every new high end camera which is good for me as he is never adverse to lending them to me for a bit. 

I think regardless of manufacturer, we do have to applaud any meaningful technological shift that happens. In photography, whilst Sony has been responsible for a lot of it, I think Canon also deserves some credit for making a high-resolution camera body that shoots tremendously quickly and is a genuinely brilliant all-rounder, alongside other players like Fujifilm for making digital medium-format more accessible to a wider spectrum of photographers.

[Distinctly Average]

33 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

I think regardless of manufacturer, we do have to applaud any meaningful technological shift that happens. In photography, whilst Sony has been responsible for a lot of it, I think Canon also deserves some credit for making a high-resolution camera body that shoots tremendously quickly and is a genuinely brilliant all-rounder, alongside other players like Fujifilm for making digital medium-format more accessible to a wider spectrum of photographers.

And Panasonic for pushing some video features, probably even GoPro. I think it is a fantastic time to be a photographer. When I first tried macro I gave up as with film the steep learning curve was just too expensive, but when I got my first Canon DSLR the addiction begun. Same with wildlife. Film is great but it is hard to learn as a student and the slow feedback. It makes me really appreciate how much effort it took togs back in the day to get some of their amazing images. First time I visited the natural history museum to see the wildlife photographer of the year display in he 80s my jaw dropped. It still takes a shed load of talent and creativity (which I really lack) to get the shot but modern tech takes so much of the guesswork out of the equation.

[D13H4RD]

4 minutes ago, Distinctly Average said:

And Panasonic for pushing some video features, probably even GoPro. I think it is a fantastic time to be a photographer. When I first tried macro I gave up as with film the steep learning curve was just too expensive, but when I got my first Canon DSLR the addiction begun. Same with wildlife. Film is great but it is hard to learn as a student and the slow feedback. It makes me really appreciate how much effort it took togs back in the day to get some of their amazing images. First time I visited the natural history museum to see the wildlife photographer of the year display in he 80s my jaw dropped. It still takes a shed load of talent and creativity (which I really lack) to get the shot but modern tech takes so much of the guesswork out of the equation.

Most definitely. I've been doing photography as a legitimate hobby since about 2014, only pushing further on since 2017. It's quite amazing just how capable modern camera bodies have become. I've been very pleased with the results from my Fujifilm X-T3, so much so that I have basically been investing more into glass alongside equipment like tripods and support gear. 

 

And I haven't even got into how powerful post processing tools have gotten. 

[GDRRiley]

4 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

None of this should really be a surprise. 

 

You would expect Sony’s 8K implementation on a mirrorless body to be superior than Canon’s not just because it launched later but also because it’s much more expensive. 

 

If Sony’s 8K was just as deficient, we have a problem...

okay then compare it to a 1dxmk3. Yes it and the R5/R6 are 6 months old but sonys managed to do a lot more in a small body than it.

 

42 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

I think regardless of manufacturer, we do have to applaud any meaningful technological shift that happens. In photography, whilst Sony has been responsible for a lot of it, I think Canon also deserves some credit for making a high-resolution camera body that shoots tremendously quickly and is a genuinely brilliant all-rounder, alongside other players like Fujifilm for making digital medium-format more accessible to a wider spectrum of photographers.

As a hybrid shooter all the kneecaping canons means I refuse to call they a proper hybrid. from still 30 min record times to having massive crops and low bitrates or bad codec and insane bitrates (4k 5dmk4). I've got a SL2 and have shot on their entire rebel line along with their xxD line but I wouldn't buy one for a hybrid in the last 2-3 years, That is Fuji's game

4 minutes ago, Distinctly Average said:

And Panasonic for pushing some video features, probably even GoPro. I think it is a fantastic time to be a photographer.

Gopro hasn't pushed much other making a good codec for editing. Yes it is

[D13H4RD]

5 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

okay then compare it to a 1dxmk3. Yes it and the R5/R6 are 6 months old but sonys managed to do a lot more in a small body than it.

A 1DX3 is closer in terms of capability to an a9ii. That camera wasn't really meant to be used as a big video tool because.....it's a DSLR, one that's laser-focused on sports, action and wildlife on the highest levels of professional photography to boot. DSLRs historically have never been stellar video cameras, something mirrorless cameras do better in. 

 

The a1 is really more of a product meant to showcase the best of Sony's technologies, packed into a camera body that's essentially an a7Riv, a7Siii and a9ii combined. Not a lot of people actually need a camera that shoots 50 megapixels stills 30 times a second, and that's fine. They didn't make this to blow sales numbers. They made this to showcase Sony's imaging technologies alongside the future of their camera lineup. 

[ThePointblank]

Tony Northrop apparently doesn't like the A1, noting issues with autofocus (issues with autofocus wandering, and eye, animal and bird AF being inconsistent and front-focusing), an inability to reach the stated 30fps against moving subjects, and if you are using a non-Sony lens, the A1 is apparently hard-coded to drop down to lower frame-rates, down to 15fps, and 8K recording is limited to 16 minutes due to overheating in standard mode:

 

 

Otherwise, he praises the excellent EVF, the fast flash sync speed and the almost non-existent rolling shutter. But the price... the A1 makes the R5 look like a relative bargain.

[Distinctly Average]

16 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

A 1DX3 is closer in terms of capability to an a9ii. That camera wasn't really meant to be used as a big video tool because.....it's a DSLR, one that's laser-focused on sports, action and wildlife on the highest levels of professional photography to boot. DSLRs historically have never been stellar video cameras, something mirrorless cameras do better in. 

 

The a1 is really more of a product meant to showcase the best of Sony's technologies, packed into a camera body that's essentially an a7Riv, a7Siii and a9ii combined. Not a lot of people actually need a camera that shoots 50 megapixels stills 30 times a second, and that's fine. They didn't make this to blow sales numbers. They made this to showcase Sony's imaging technologies alongside the future of their camera lineup. 

Deffo a showcase. Shame it uses type A cards which run at half the speed of type B the Canon uses. Takes a while to clear the buffer as a result though not as bad a SD which could mean going for a pint while you wait. Also potential purchasers need to cost in the £400 per card early adopters fee. Most togs will want at least two memory cards and the card readers are over £100 here too. So best part of a grand on the list price just to get started. 

[D13H4RD]

2 hours ago, Distinctly Average said:

Deffo a showcase. Shame it uses type A cards which run at half the speed of type B the Canon uses. Takes a while to clear the buffer as a result though not as bad a SD which could mean going for a pint while you wait. Also potential purchasers need to cost in the £400 per card early adopters fee. Most togs will want at least two memory cards and the card readers are over £100 here too. So best part of a grand on the list price just to get started. 

I actually like the idea of a hybrid CFX-A and SD card slot, mainly due to the flexibility as you can have 2x SDs, 2x CFX-As or a single CFX-A with an SD card.

 

2 hours ago, ThePointblank said:

snip

I just haven't cared for the opinions of the Northrups for a good long while now at this point. I really disagree with many of their viewpoints and some of them were just too silly like 4K being a "failure".

[Distinctly Average]

2 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

I actually like the idea of a hybrid CFX-A and SD card slot, mainly due to the flexibility as you can have 2x SDs, 2x CFX-As or a single CFX-A with an SD card.

 

I just haven't cared for the opinions of the Northrups for a good long while now at this point. I really disagree with many of their viewpoints and some of them were just too silly like 4K being a "failure".

On he SD/Type A thing I agree it is a very neat idea. In a camera of this price, and one that appears to be trying to show the pinnacle of Sony tech, I would have thought it better to use the fastest option in some ways. However, a bit like Canon did with the 1DX3, it would mean it is the only body in the lineup with that particular card slot which from a marketing POV is a poor choice. 
 

Northrups have always been click bait crap to me. I cannot say I have watched any of their stuff for two years now. Before that I never really enjoyed it so just gave up.

[GDRRiley]

6 hours ago, ThePointblank said:

Tony Northrop apparently doesn't like the A1, noting issues with autofocus (issues with autofocus wandering, and eye, animal and bird AF being inconsistent and front-focusing), an inability to reach the stated 30fps against moving subjects, and if you are using a non-Sony lens, the A1 is apparently hard-coded to drop down to lower frame-rates, down to 15fps, and 8K recording is limited to 16 minutes due to overheating in standard mode:

AF is firmware

That could be some early firmware limits. sony is someone to release a camera only 90% done

why would you ever base your video run time on standard mode? so Far I know Gerald has tested with both a batter inside and a dummy batter and the dummy batter makes it last for hours without heat issues.