Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
Alpha 1 II is 4.3 years newer.
Wins
Z5
Wins
Alpha 1 II
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- 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 Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 4.5 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5
134 × 101 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
Z5 is 2mm narrower and 13mm thinner than Alpha 1 II but it is also 4mm taller.
Z5 is 153 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
Z5
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
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
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Weight
590 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
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
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher 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
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5
Pros
- ✓Dual slots at entry price
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Full-frame
Cons
- –Older AF
- –4K crop
- –Slow burst
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 wildlife, Z5 or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for Z5 — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and Alpha 1 II?
Z5 is 24.3 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 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the Alpha 1 II?
Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 and Alpha 1 II?
Z5 weighs 590 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the Z5 is 153 g lighter.
Do the Z5 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
Z5: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z5 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
Z5: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 470 shots (CIPA) for the Z5 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the Alpha 1 II the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z5 launched at $1,399 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The Z5 is $5,100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.