Nikon
ZR
Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.
$2,199
Released Sep 2025
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
ZR is 10 months newer.
Wins
ZR
Wins
Alpha 1 II
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 24.5 MP)
- AZR has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 32,000)
- AZR has lower Weight (630 g vs 743 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
ZR
134 × 81 × 49 mm
630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
ZR is 2mm narrower, 16mm shorter, and 34mm thinner than Alpha 1 II.
ZR is 113 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 49mm ZR · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
ZR
134 × 81 mm
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
ZR
134 × 49 mm
Alpha 1 II
136 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
ZR
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
ZR
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
ZR
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 80.5, 49
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Weight
630 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 7.5 stops — 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
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
ZR
Pros
- ✓6K/60p R3D NE RAW
- ✓32-bit float audio
- ✓7.5-stop stabilization
- ✓Compact 535g cinema body
Cons
- –No built-in EVF
- –Cinema-first ergonomics
- –Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow
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, ZR or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.5/10 versus 6.5/10 for ZR — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the ZR and Alpha 1 II?
ZR 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 ZR and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
ZR 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 ZR or the Alpha 1 II?
ZR reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the ZR and Alpha 1 II?
ZR weighs 630 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the ZR is 113 g lighter.
Do the ZR and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the ZR and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
ZR: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
How much does each cost?
ZR launched at $2,199 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The ZR is $4,300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.