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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
Alpha 9

Sony

Alpha 9

First stacked-sensor mirrorless sports camera with 20fps blackout-free shooting.

$4,499

Launch price

Released Apr 2017

Alpha 1 II is 7.6 years newer.

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Wins

11categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

Wins

3categories

Alpha 9

PortraitTravel

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 1 II wins 5 categories·Alpha 9 wins 0 categories
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 29.97 fps)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,686,400)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 5 fps)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher EVF refresh rate (240 Hz vs 120 Hz)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 1 IIAlpha 9
Resolution50.1 MP24.2 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max32,00051,200
Burst30 fps20 fps
4K120 fps29.97 fps
IBIS8.5-stop5-stop
Weight743 g673 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 9 front view

Alpha 9

127 × 96 × 63 mm

673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)

Alpha 1 II is 9mm wider, 1mm taller, and 20mm thicker than Alpha 9.

Alpha 1 II is 70 g heavier than Alpha 9.

Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 1 II · 63mm Alpha 9

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

Alpha 1 II

136 × 97 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 9 back view

Alpha 9

127 × 96 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

Alpha 1 II

136 × 83 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 9 top view

Alpha 9

127 × 63 mm

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 1 II

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

Alpha 9

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 1 II

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Alpha 9

✓ 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 9
Portrait
8.5Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
9.5Excellent✓ wins
4.5Fair
Landscape
9.0Excellent✓ wins
7.0Good
Travel
6.0Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
9.5Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
4.0Fair

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

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265…

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 29.97 fps — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Bird, Insect, Car/Train…

  • EVF resolution

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

  • Resolution

    50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 9

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 126.9, 95.6, 63

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC…

  • Codecs

    Adds AVCHD, MP4

  • ISO max (native)

    51,200 vs 32,000 — higher is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    650 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    673 g vs 743 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • RAW buffer depthBoth 200 frames

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 9

Pros

  • Stacked sensor pioneer
  • 20fps silent burst
  • Pro sports AF

Cons

  • Superseded by A9 II/III
  • 24MP
  • Expensive when new

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9
Resolution
50.1 MP2.1× more
24.2 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 24.0 mm
35.6 x 23.8
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9
Processor
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
BIONZ X
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
32,000
51,200+0.7 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/32000

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for video, Alpha 1 II or Alpha 9?

Alpha 1 II scores 9.5/10 versus 4.5/10 for Alpha 9 — 8K recording for future-proof footage.

What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9?

Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP and Alpha 9 is 24.2 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 9 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 1 II or the Alpha 9?

Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 9 reaches 20 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9?

Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g and Alpha 9 weighs 673 g, so the Alpha 9 is 70 g lighter.

Do the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 record 4K video?

Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 9: 4K up to 29.97p.

Are the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 weather sealed?

Alpha 1 II: Yes. Alpha 9: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 1 II and 650 shots for the Alpha 9, giving the Alpha 9 the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 1 II launched at $6,499 and Alpha 9 at $4,499. The Alpha 9 is $2,000 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 1 II vs Alpha 9 vs X comparison.

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

Product images courtesy of Sony press materials.