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
Released Jul 2024
Sony
Alpha 1
Original 50MP stacked flagship for sports and wildlife pros.
$6,499
Released Jan 2021
EOS R1 is 3.5 years newer.
Wins
EOS R1
Wins
Alpha 1
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 32,000)
- 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)
- BAlpha 1 has lower Weight (737 g vs 1115 g)
- AEOS R1 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 759)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
1115 g (2.46 lb / 39.33 oz)
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 378 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
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
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
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only EOS R1 supports it
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 5.5 stops — higher is better
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 1115 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
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 8.5/10 versus 6.5/10 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 1115 g and Alpha 1 weighs 737 g, so the Alpha 1 is 378 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.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and Alpha 1 at $6,499. The EOS R1 is $200 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sony press materials.