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Alpha 1 II

Sony

Alpha 1 II

50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.

$6,499

Launch price

Released Nov 2024

vs

Sony

Alpha 7R III

42MP workhorse for landscape and studio before the A7R IV/V era.

$3,199

Launch price

Released Oct 2017

Alpha 1 II is 7.1 years newer.

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Wins

10categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

Wins

2categories

Alpha 7R III

PortraitLandscape

6 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 1 II wins 5 categories·Alpha 7R III wins 0 categories
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 fps)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,686,400)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher EVF refresh rate (240 Hz vs 120 Hz)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 399)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 1 IIAlpha 7R III
Resolution50.1 MP42.4 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max32,00032,000
Burst30 fps10 fps
4K120 fps30 fps
IBIS8.5-stop5.5-stop
Weight743 g657 g
Battery520 shots650 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Alpha 1 II front view

Alpha 1 II

136 × 97 × 83 mm

743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 7R III

127 × 96 × 74 mm

657 g (1.45 lb / 23.18 oz)

Alpha 1 II is 9mm wider, 1mm taller, and 9mm thicker than Alpha 7R III.

Alpha 1 II is 86 g heavier than Alpha 7R III.

Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 1 II · 74mm Alpha 7R III

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 1 II

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

Alpha 7R III

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 1 II

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Alpha 7R III

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

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

Use caseAlpha 1 IIAlpha 7R III
Portrait
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
3.5Limited
Video & Hybrid
9.5Excellent✓ wins
5.0Fair
Landscape
9.0Excellent✓ wins
8.5Excellent
Travel
6.0Good
6.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
9.5Excellent✓ wins
4.5Fair
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
4.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Alpha 1 II

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Bird, Insect, Car/Train…

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better

  • EVF resolution

    9,437,184 vs 3,686,400 — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only Alpha 1 II supports it

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7R III

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 126.9, 95.6, 73.7

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Codecs

    Adds AVCHD

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    650 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    657 g vs 743 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • ISO max (native)Both 32,000
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Alpha 1 II

Pros

  • 50MP stacked sensor
  • 30fps blackout-free burst
  • 8K 30p video
  • Best Sony AF

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Complex menus
  • Large files

Alpha 7R III

Pros

  • 42MP proven
  • 10fps with AF
  • Dual slots
  • Great used value

Cons

  • Superseded
  • No 8K
  • Older AF

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

Alpha 1 II
Alpha 7R III
Resolution
50.1 MP+18%
42.4 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 24.0 mm
35.9 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 7R III
Processor
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
BIONZ X
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 7R III
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
32,000
32,000
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 7R III
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/8000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, Alpha 1 II or Alpha 7R III?

Alpha 1 II scores 10.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for Alpha 7R III — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III?

Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP and Alpha 7R III is 42.4 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7R III has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 1 II or the Alpha 7R III?

Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 7R III reaches 10 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III?

Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g and Alpha 7R III weighs 657 g, so the Alpha 7R III is 86 g lighter.

Do the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III record 4K video?

Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7R III: 4K up to 30p.

Are the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 7R III weather sealed?

Alpha 1 II: Yes. Alpha 7R III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 1 II and 650 shots for the Alpha 7R III, giving the Alpha 7R III the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 1 II launched at $6,499 and Alpha 7R III at $3,199. The Alpha 7R III is $3,300 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 1 II vs Alpha 7R III vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.

Product images courtesy of Sony press materials.