Hire Sony Alpha 1 (a1)

Our thoughts

'This full-frame powerhouse doesn't shy away from delivering exceptional performance, with a 50.1-megapixel sensor and rapid real-time tracking capabilities. Its blend of speed and resolution is a photographic tour de force, enabling 30fps continuous shooting that's perfect for capturing those fleeting moments in crisp detail. Whether you're aiming to hire the Sony a1 for high-speed sports photography or the delicate art of portraiture, the camera’s image stabilisation and advanced autofocus systems are poised to elevate your work.'

Key Features

• Mighty Full-Frame Sensor: The 50.1MP 35 mm full-frame stacked CMOS sensor is at the heart of the a1, delivering images rich in detail and full of life.

• Breakneck Speed: Experience blackout-free shooting at a blistering 30 fps, ensuring you never miss the action.

• Advanced Autofocus: The camera's 759-point phase-detection and 425-point contrast detection autofocus system cover a wide frame area for precise focusing, even in fast-paced scenarios.

• Real-Time Eye AF and Tracking: Real-time tracking paired with Eye AF technology ensures sharp focus on your subject, a boon for both still photographers and videographers alike.

• Image Stabilisation: 5-axis optical in-body image stabilisation affords a 5.5-step shutter speed advantage, keeping your shots steady and sharp.

• Video: Push the boundaries of video with 8K 30p and 4K 120 fps recording, making the Sony a1 a formidable tool for filmmakers.

• Menu Structure and Customisation: A user-friendly menu structure allows for streamlined navigation and customised settings, tailored to your shooting preferences.

• 16-Bit RAW Output: The a1 supports 16-bit RAW output to preserve the maximum detail and dynamic range, essential for post-production flexibility.

Sensor and Resolution

The Sony Alpha 1 boasts a 35mm full-frame (35.9 x 24.0mm) Exmor RS CMOS sensor, ensuring a high-resolution output with approximately 50.1 effective megapixels. This powerful sensor captures every detail with precision, facilitating a rich and immersive image that professional photographers expect.

ISO Range

Its expansive ISO sensitivity range for still images is ISO 100-32000, which can be expanded from ISO 50 to an astonishing ISO 102400, providing incredible flexibility in various lighting conditions. For video, the camera offers an equivalent ISO range, with both Auto and manually selectable limits to cater to a filmmaker's vision.

Speed and Performance

Blazing through shots with real-time tracking and phase detection autofocus, the Alpha 1 delivers up to 120 fps for ultra-smooth 4K video, and its still image capture isn't far behind with a remarkable 30 fps burst rate. This full-frame beast ensures no moment is missed, thanks to its 5-axis optical in-body image stabilisation, which is essential for maintaining clarity and sharpness in your shots.

Battery Life

The stamina of the Alpha 1 is impressive, with battery life offering approximately 430 shots when using the viewfinder and about 530 shots when using the LCD monitor, as per CIPA standards. This makes the camera reliable for extended shoots and lessens the need for constant battery swaps.

Viewfinder and Monitor

Composing your shot is a pleasure with the 1.6 cm (0.64 type) electronic viewfinder, delivering a crisp, clear, and colourful view of your subject. The 7.5cm (3.0-type) TFT LCD monitor allows for intuitive menu navigation and image review, ensuring that what you see is what you get.

Additional Features

With the robust menu structure of the Sony a1, you can customise settings to match your shooting style, and dual card slots with UHS-II support keep up with the high data rate of 16-bit raw files and high-speed shooting modes. Videographers and filmmakers will appreciate the camera's ability to record at 120 fps for 4K or 8K at 30 fps. This provides them with great options for editing.

The Sony A1 In Detail

The Sony Alpha 1 thrives on delivering clarity and precision with every shot. The full-frame sensor works in tandem with the BIONZ XR engine to ensure image quality that's second to none. With an ISO range that reaches up to 32000, and expandable beyond, the a1 performs exceptionally well in various lighting conditions. The real-time tracking and Eye AF systems are further enhanced by the camera's capacity for 120 fps in 4K, providing silky smooth slow-motion that maintains sharp focus on your subject.

For still photographers, the pixel shift multi shooting feature takes image resolution to new heights, creating a 199 million pixel image when combining 16 separate captures.

Adding to the professional experience, the a1's dual card slots support UHS-II cards for fast read/write speeds, ensuring that the camera keeps up with the high-speed shooting modes. The built-in image stabilisation offers a 5.5-step advantage, essential for capturing clear, blur-free images at slower shutter speeds or when shooting hand-held.

Choosing to Hire The Sony A1

Choosing to hire the Sony Alpha 1 is to embrace cutting-edge imaging technology. With its advanced phase detection, swift real-time tracking, and impressive 30 fps burst rate, it's a camera that empowers photographers and videographers to push the boundaries of their creativity. The inclusion of a robust image stabilisation system, detailed menu structure for personalisation, and support for high-capacity UHS-II cards makes the a1 an unrivalled choice for professionals who demand the best from their equipment. Whether it's the nuanced tonality of 16-bit raw output or the sheer flexibility of 120 fps shooting, the Sony a1 stands as a monument to what's possible in the realm of digital imaging.

V1.30 firmware update:

• Allows you to select M and S sizes in addition to L when using the RAW recording lossless compression method
• Adds the 4:2:2 10bit selection when shooting XAVC HS 8K
• Allows proxy recording during a remote computer connection