The α1 II gives users everything they need to achieve a higher capture success rate and more, including 50MP high resolution, AI-based subject recognition AF, high-speed continuous shooting, and an advanced workflow from capture to delivery that provides professionals with unrivalled efficiency and freedom.
The massive volume of data from the approximately 50.1 effective megapixel full frame Exmor RS™ image sensor is processed in real time by Sony’s BIONZ XR™ image processing engine. An advanced AI processing unit applies high-level subject recognition to reliably recognise a wide range of subjects. These state-of-the-art technologies come together to make it easy to capture even the most challenging subjects in extraordinary resolution, with blackout-free viewing and full AF/AE tracking performance at up to 30 fps.1
Advanced AI processing unit for high-level subject recognition
The α1 II features a dedicated AI processing unit that helps to recognise people more accurately based on human pose estimation, and also supports recognition of a wide range of subjects other than people, such as animals, vehicles and insects,2 with high accuracy. This results in a dramatic improvement in Real-time Recognition AF and Real-time Tracking capability, and higher overall AF performance.
Human eye recognition improved by up to approximately 30%3
Real-time Recognition AF has improved human eye recognition by approximately 30%3, with human pose estimation improving recognition of subjects facing away from the camera, wearing sunglasses, or with the face obscured. Recognition of distant human subjects occupying only a small part of the frame has been notably improved, and subjects can be tracked better across occlusions.
A wide variety of subjects accurately recognised24
A wider variety of subjects2 is now recognised for stills and movies, with a new [Auto] mode letting the camera select.5 Recognition of animals overall is improved by approximately 30%3, with eyes of some small animals added, and the eyes, heads and faces of animals like dogs and cats recognised. Recognition of birds is improved by 50%3.
AF tracking response settable to match subject speed changes
Fast Hybrid AF provides 7596 phase-detection points for tenacious tracking and pinpoint focusing, now with adjustable tracking response speed, useful for example in bird photography, and in light levels down to EV-4.07 in AF-S mode.
Flexible focus area settings
XL and XS focus area spot sizes are now available as well as L, M, and S. XS can be useful to avoid focusing on foreground objects such as branches. It is also possible to create a custom focus area of specified size and aspect ratio.
Selectable release time lag
Selectable release time lag modes are available via the [Release Lag] / [Start Display] menu. With blackout occurring on only the first image in a continuous burst, [Fastest Release/On] provides the shortest possible release time lag, while [Stable Release/On] minimises variations in release time lag making it easier to release the shutter at the intended moment. The default [Auto/Off] setting gives no blackout when shooting is started.
High-speed continuous shooting at full 50.1 MP8 resolution
High-speed continuous shooting at up to 30 fps1 with full AF/AE tracking is possible at 50.1 MP8 resolution, with up to 120 AF/AE calculations per second9. Blackout-free shooting with no loss of viewfinder image allows seamless framing and capture of the subject as if viewed with the naked eye.
More control over timing to capture decisive moments
Pre-capture retroactively captures moments that occurred before the shutter was released1011, without compromising resolution, even when shooting continuously at up to 30 fps1 with selectable recording time options. Continuous Shooting Speed Boost can temporarily change the burst speed. Both features reduce the chance of missing that vital instant.