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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 9 II

24MP sports body with 20fps and proven pro workflow.

$4,499

Launch price

Released Oct 2019

Alpha 1 II is 5.1 years newer.

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Wins

10categories

Alpha 1 II

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

Wins

3categories

Alpha 9 II

PortraitTravel

5 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 1 II wins 5 categories·Alpha 9 II wins 0 categories
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 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 EVF refresh rate (240 Hz vs 120 Hz)
  • AAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 120 frames)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 1 IIAlpha 9 II
Resolution50.1 MP24.2 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max32,00051,200
Burst30 fps20 fps
4K120 fps30 fps
IBIS8.5-stop5.5-stop
Weight743 g678 g
Battery520 shots690 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 II

129 × 96 × 78 mm

678 g (1.49 lb / 23.92 oz)

Alpha 1 II is 7mm wider, 1mm taller, and 5mm thicker than Alpha 9 II.

Alpha 1 II is 65 g heavier than Alpha 9 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 1 II · 78mm Alpha 9 II

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 1 II

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

Alpha 9 II

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 II

✓ 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 II
Portrait
8.5Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
5.0Fair
Video & Hybrid
9.5Excellent✓ wins
5.0Fair
Landscape
9.0Excellent✓ wins
7.0Good
Travel
6.0Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
9.5Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
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…

  • EVF resolution

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

  • Codecs

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

  • Resolution

    50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only Alpha 1 II supports it

Reasons to choose

Alpha 9 II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 128.9, 96.4, 77.5

  • ISO max (native)

    51,200 vs 32,000 — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds AVCHD

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    690 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    678 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
  • Burst (mechanical)Both 10 fps

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 II

Pros

  • 20fps silent burst
  • Sports AF
  • Dual slots

Cons

  • 24MP resolution
  • Older than A9 III
  • No global shutter

Decided which one is right for you?

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

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Full specifications

= category winner

Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9 II
Resolution
50.1 MP2.1× more
24.2 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 24.0 mm
35.6 × 23.8 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9 II
Processor
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
BIONZ X
Alpha 1 II
Alpha 9 II
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 II
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

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

Alpha 1 II scores 10.0/10 versus 5.0/10 for Alpha 9 II — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

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

Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP and Alpha 9 II 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 II have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 9 II has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

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

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

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

Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g and Alpha 9 II weighs 678 g, so the Alpha 9 II is 65 g lighter.

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

Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 9 II: 4K up to 30p.

Are the Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 II weather sealed?

Alpha 1 II: Yes. Alpha 9 II: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 1 II and 690 shots for the Alpha 9 II, giving the Alpha 9 II the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 1 II launched at $6,499 and Alpha 9 II at $4,499. The Alpha 9 II 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 II vs X comparison.

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

Product images courtesy of Sony press materials.