Should I Get the Canon EOS R5 II or the Sony Alpha 1?
I've been using a pair of Alpha 1 cameras for Sony lens testing and for field use when a Sony lens better fit the need. The flagship a1 is an outstanding camera. What are the differences between the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the Sony Alpha 1?
Check out the R5 II vs. a1 specification comparison along with the visual comparison of these cameras.
Here is a summary of the R5 II's advantages:
- Eye Control AF vs. no (dramatically faster AF point or area positioning)
- Pre-continuous shooting (hindsight is far clearer than foresight, and recording an image of an action in the near past is game-changing)
- AF working range of EV -7.5 to 21 vs. EV -4 – 20 (the Canon camera focuses in considerably darker environments)
- 6144-zone metering vs. 1200-zone (more areas evaluated yields potential improvement in auto exposure results)
- More framerate options – 30, 20, 15, 12, 10, 7.5, 5, 3, 2, and 1 compared to 30, 20, 15, and 5 (with electronic shutter, but the mechanical shutter adds 10, 8, 6, and 3)
- Up to 8k DCI 60p RAW vs. 8K 30p
- 2.1 million dot vari-angle LCD vs. 1.44 million tilt
- CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD slots vs. dual multi slot for UHS-II SD and CFexpress Type A (Type B cards are faster and less expensive than A cards, but A cards are smaller and faster than SD cards)
- 8.5-stop IBIS vs. 5.5
- Neural Network upscaling (2x larger in both dimensions to 179 megapixels) and noise reduction processing in camera (both with JPG output only)
- High-Frequency Anti-Flicker shooting (evaluates the scene and precisely adjusts the shutter speed to avoid banding and flicker, including from LED signage)
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 GHz vs. 802.11ac (5 GHz)
- 4-Channel 24-Bit LPCM Audio vs. 2-Channel 16-Bit
- Modestly lighter
- Far lower price
That is a solid list.
Here are the a1's advantages:
- 50 megapixels vs. 45 megapixels (50 is my favorite, but 45 is close)
- 3.8 ms imaging sensor readout speed vs. 6.3 (faster readout reduces electronic shutter issues)
- +/- 5 stops exposure compensation vs. 3
- 240 fps EVF vs. 120
- Pixel Shift Multi Shooting (provides dramatically higher resolution after post processing, but everything in the frame must be still)
- 0.64" (16mm) 9.44 million dot EVF vs. 0.50" (12.7mm) 5.76 million dots
- 1/400 max flash sync vs. 1/250
- Ethernet port vs. available with accessory grip
- Modestly smaller
Comparing across brands is significantly challenged by the differing interface and ergonomics, and these two cameras have significant differences in those regards. Advantages will often be determined by personal preference.
The bottom line is that both cameras are incredible and my two favorites. However, the R5 II's $2,199.00 lower price makes it a considerably better deal.
If you have not already done so, order the R5 II immediately if you have even a remote interest in it.
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