Today marks a monumental announcement from Sony Alpha. Sony has released two groundbreaking new products that will shake up the photo and video industry. The Sony Alpha 1 II Mirrorless Camera and the FE 28-70mm F2 GM lens. The Sony Alpha 1 expands on the already impressive features of the original Alpha 1. Basically known as Sony’s do-it-all camera body. When you demand the most out of your camera for both photo and video, the Alpha 1 has you covered. The FE 28-70mm f/2 is the first ever F2 GM zoom lens in the Sony lineup. It covers some of the most popular focal lengths for all kinds of photography. Let’s look closer at the best new features of the new lens and camera.
Key Features of the Sony Alpha 1 II Camera
- 50.1 MP Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor
- 8.5-step central / 7.0-step peripheral image stabilization
- 759-point phase detection AF (92% coverage)
- 30 fps continuous shooting with no blackout
- 8K/30p and 4K/120p footage
Key Features of the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Lens
- F/2 fixed max aperture
- Exceptional image quality
- 918g/2.02lbs
- Advanced Nano AR Coating II reduces flare and ghosting
- Four XD Linear Motors offer fast and accurate autofocus
- Focus breathing suppression
- Minimum focusing distance of 14.8 inches
What’s New About the Alpha 1 II and 28-70mm F2 GM?
Both of these new products are designed for the most demanding creators on the market. The Alpha 1 II offers incredible autofocus capabilities and coverage, delivering sharp images and videos with outstanding speed and accuracy. The 50.1-megapixel sensor gives plenty of resolution to crop or upscale images substantially. 30 fps of continuous shooting with no blackout is quick enough for just about any live action you could capture. On the other hand, the new 28-70mm F2 GM lens is the first constant f/2 GM lens that you can expect to deliver stunning sharpness and bokeh. This lens uses all the best technology available from your camera body. The 28-70mm F2 GM delivers incredible autofocusing speeds and accuracy to keep your subjects sharp. Let’s dive into the many new features of these new products.
50.1 MP Sensor
The 50.1-megapixel sensor of the Sony Alpha 1 II doesn’t just offer fantastic resolution. This Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor is paired with a powerful BIONZ XR image processing engine, improving image quality at mid and high-ISO ranges. You’ll notice the improved image quality right out of the box, allowing you to capture images in lower light without compromising quality. 50 megapixels is more than enough for creators to be able to crop their images down, blow images up for larger prints, or even just relish in all the finer details of your scene.
Outstanding Video Resolution
When you need high-resolution video, the Sony Alpha 1 II has you covered. Offering 8K 30p or 4K 120p footage, you can truly capture the finest details of your videos. Shooting in 8K allows you to future-proof your footage or even downsample for the best quality. 4:2:2 10-bit recording offers excellent dynamic range and colors, and Breathing Compensation, Auto Framing, and a Framing Stabilizer can all help ensure the best quality footage straight out of the camera. Finally, the Alpha 1 II can import custom User LUTs so you can see how your footage will look with your favorite LUTs applied in the camera.
30 FPS Continous Shooting
No matter what kind of action you’re capturing, more frames per second gives you the capability to have even more control over selecting the perfect moment. The Sony Alpha 1 II boasts an impressive 30fps continuous shooting with no blackout, helping you keep your eyes on the action and your finger on the shutter. In compressed RAW, you can shoot up to 153 images before buffering, meaning you get multiple seconds of action before hitting a buffer.
Fast, Accurate AF Systems
When the action moves quickly, we rely on fast and accurate autofocus to keep our images and videos in tack-sharp focus. Both the Alpha 1 II and the 28-70mm f/2 have impressive features allowing for top-tier focusing. On the Sony Alpha 1 II, you have a 759-point high-density phase detection autofocus that covers 92% of the sensor and uses an AI Processing Unit to achieve Real-time Recognition AF for images and video. The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Lens utilizes four XD Linear Motors with quick, accurate, and silent autofocus that can track subjects up to 120 frames per second.
Exceptional Image Quality
The first f/2 G-Master zoom lens will deliver images and video that are nothing short of extraordinary. The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM lens is perfect for low-light situations. Indeed, anytime a beautiful background bokeh is essential. An advanced Nano AR Coating II dramatically reduces flare and ghosting, resulting in images that are filled with contrast, even in the toughest of lighting conditions. Focus breathing suppression is also present on this lens and can be combined with in-body breathing compensation on many Sony cameras. Sony has left no stone unturned when delivering top-notch optics with this lens.
Loaded with Video Features
The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Lens comes equipped with some of the most highly demanded video features to help support filmmakers. Silent and internal autofocus ensures that you’ll never hear the lens focus. A dedicated clickless aperture ring allows for quick and seamless adjustment of your aperture on the go. Finally, minimal zoom throw and a linear response MF are included for ease of use and the highest possible video quality.
Who Should Buy This Camera and Lens?
The Sony Alpha 1 II and the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM are aimed toward the most serious industry professionals and prosumers who demand the absolute most from their equipment. If you need to capture professional-quality photos and videos on the same camera body and lens, both the Alpha 1 II and the 28-70mm F2 are the perfect fit. The Alpha 1 II is especially ideal for wildlife, sports, news, and commercial photographers with its impressive features. The 28-70mm F2 lens spans the perfect focal range for portraits, sports, live events, and filmmaking. Bottom line: if you’re looking for best-in-class photos and videos, this is the camera and lens for you.
Comparable Lenses in the Sony Lineup
Two lenses, in particular, will pair very well with the new Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM. The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens will complete the holy trinity of lenses. Essentially, three lenses that offer wide-angle to telephoto focal range. With fixed f2.8 apertures, these lenses are excellent for low light situations anytime you need the maximum amount of background bokeh to help your subject stand out. These lenses also have some of the finest optics available to offer outstanding image quality across the focal range.
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of photographer or videographer you are, today’s announcements are exciting in bringing the technology of the future to today’s market. If you’re a hybrid shooter that demands all of the best photo and video features with image quality that is second to none, the Sony Alpha 1 II Mirrorless Camera and the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Lens should be at the top of your list.
Sony Alpha 1 II and FE 28-70mm F2 GM in the Field
