Nikon
Z5 II
Affordable full-frame Z mount body with EXPEED 7 AF, 7.5-stop IBIS, 30fps electronic burst, and 4K video.
$1,699
Released Jan 2025
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
Z5 II is 2 months newer.
Wins
Z5 II
Wins
Alpha 1 II
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,690,000)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 24.5 MP)
- AZ5 II has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 32,000)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5 II
134 × 101 × 72 mm
700 g (1.54 lb / 24.69 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
Z5 II is 2mm narrower and 11mm thinner than Alpha 1 II but it is also 4mm taller.
Z5 II is 43 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm Z5 II · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
Z5 II
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z5 II
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 1 II
✓ 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
Z5 II
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 72
ISO max (native)
64,000 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Weight
700 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 1 II supports it
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
- ✓Burst (electronic) — Both 30 fps
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5 II
Pros
- ✓Full-frame value
- ✓EXPEED 7 AF
- ✓7.5-stop IBIS
- ✓Dual SD card slots
Cons
- –Not a stacked sensor
- –4K 60p crop
- –Entry-level controls
Alpha 1 II
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free burst
- ✓8K 30p video
- ✓Best Sony AF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Complex menus
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, Z5 II or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for Z5 II — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 II and Alpha 1 II?
Z5 II is 24.5 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z5 II and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 II has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 II or the Alpha 1 II?
Z5 II reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 II and Alpha 1 II?
Z5 II weighs 700 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the Z5 II is 43 g lighter.
Do the Z5 II and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
Z5 II: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z5 II and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
Z5 II: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
How much does each cost?
Z5 II launched at $1,699 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The Z5 II is $4,800 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.