Sony - Alpha 1 II Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - Black

Overall, I am impressed with the camera. I have the Mark I and it was great, but the autofocus is a lot better on the Mark II (especially for birds). The fact that the LCD screen will finally swivel is also worth the upgrade itself (if you do landscapes from down low). The price is the only negative. It is clearly more than the equivalent cameras from the other main manufacturers. I am invested in Sony, so will stick with it—but I can’t say the high price is worth it for someone that is not already down the Sony rabbit hole with a lot of lenses.

This literally takes all the best qualities from the A7RV and A9iii and takes it up a notch. This will be my forever camera until it needs replacement years down the line. It has been fantastic for shooting photos/videos at weddings, sporting events, and also for family photos. I wish the body was slightly larger to accommodate people with larger hands but not a big deal as the VG-C5 battery grip takes care of that issue.

Sony offers a little bit for everyone and this sits at the top of the pile. Shooting sports or high speed action? Get the A9 III with the global shutter and 120 fps. Shooting high detail product photos or studio sessions? The A7R V is perfect. Just getting started or looking for a budget back up? The A7 IV is the gateway drug. But if you’re looking for the best of them all? Look no further than the A1 II. It offers high speed 30 fps shooting, stacked 50mp sensor and what I feel is the best AF/AE tracking. My only complaint isn’t about the camera but Best Buy. I checked everyday since December waiting to pick one up. (I mistakenly pre-ordered the 50-150 thinking it would be harder to find at launch). And just a few days after the price raised $500 due to tariffs, it’s magically in stock. 6 months later. Then when it gets shipped it arrives in a larger box with no packing or protection.