Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Launch priceReleased Jul 2024
Sony
Alpha 1
Original 50MP stacked flagship for sports and wildlife pros.
$6,499
Launch priceReleased Jan 2021
EOS R1 is 3.5 years newer.
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Wins
EOS R1
Wins
Alpha 1
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 32,000)
- AEOS R1 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1330 shots vs 530 shots)
- BAlpha 1 has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP)
- AEOS R1 has higher IBIS effectiveness (8.5 stops vs 5.5 stops)
- AEOS R1 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 759)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
920 g (2.03 lb / 32.45 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 1
129 × 97 × 81 mm
737 g (1.62 lb / 26.00 oz)
EOS R1 is 29mm wider, 53mm taller, and 7mm thicker than Alpha 1.
EOS R1 is 183 g heavier than Alpha 1.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 81mm Alpha 1
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 1
129 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 1
129 × 81 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Alpha 1
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
Alpha 1
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R1
AF low-light limit
-7.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
1330 shots vs 530 shots — higher is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only EOS R1 supports it
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 128.9, 96.9, 80.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
Weight
737 g vs 920 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
Alpha 1
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked
- ✓30fps burst
- ✓8K video
- ✓Pro AF
Cons
- –Superseded by A1 II
- –Very expensive
- –Large files
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the EOS R1 and Alpha 1 at major authorized retailers.
Canon EOS R1
Sony Alpha 1
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, EOS R1 or Alpha 1?
EOS R1 scores 10.0/10 versus 8.0/10 for Alpha 1 — 40fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and Alpha 1?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and Alpha 1 is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and Alpha 1 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 1 has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the Alpha 1?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. Alpha 1 reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and Alpha 1?
EOS R1 weighs 920 g and Alpha 1 weighs 737 g, so the Alpha 1 is 183 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and Alpha 1 record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 1: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R1 and Alpha 1 weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. Alpha 1: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,330 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R1 and 530 shots for the Alpha 1, giving the EOS R1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and Alpha 1 at $6,499. The EOS R1 is $200 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way EOS R1 vs Alpha 1 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sony press materials.