Jeremy Gray
Two Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras side by side on a yellow-orange gradient background. The cameras have prominent lenses with silver edges and dials on top.

The Biggest Differences Between the Sony a1 and the New Sony a1 II

Sony has a new flagship camera, the Alpha 1 Mark II. However, while the a1 II brings a lot of improvements, it is not a wholesale revolution compared to its predecessor, which was admittedly way ahead of its time when it launched in early 2021. So, what's new with the a1 II? How is it better?

Chris Niccolls

Sony 28-70mm f/2 GM Review: One of the Best Lenses Ever Made

A person holding a Sony camera with a large lens in a dimly lit street, smiling slightly. The background features illuminated signs and blurred lights. Overlay text reads "PetaPixel Reviews.

I’m an outlier in the photo world, especially regarding glass. I dislike the 35mm focal length, and as much as I love a good 24mm lens, a 28mm lens is even better. Maybe this is why I immediately gravitated to the quirky Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 zoom when it first came out. Despite its massive form factor, this bulbous gem of a lens quickly became a favorite of mine.

Jeremy Gray
A Sony Alpha mirrorless camera is displayed against a dark background. The camera's body, with its lens mount visible, is highlighted, showcasing its sleek design and textured grip.

Sony’ New a1 II Pairs Updated Design With Largely Familiar Performance

The Sony a1 series has been in a slightly awkward position since the a7R V and a9 III landed, each sporting a new dedicated artificial intelligence processor and improved autofocus features. The a9 III especially brought a lot to the table, including an excellent new design and user experience. Finally, Sony's flagship camera has these new features, bringing much-needed modernization.

Chris Niccolls

Sony a1 II Hands-On First Impressions: Expensive Excellence

A photographer with a large telephoto lens takes a picture at a crowded outdoor sports event. The stadium is filled with spectators, and a large screen is visible in the background. The image has a "PetaPixel Hands-On" text overlay.

The original Sony a1 is one of the most capable, advanced, and expensive flagship cameras ever. When it first came out, it wowed potential buyers with a fast-scanning 50-megapixel sensor without major rolling shutter issues while offering fast burst rates. It has been almost four years since then, and now we have a version II from Sony in our hands. Does the apple fall far enough from the tree to make it worth the $6,500 cost?

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Left image: A person wearing a beanie and brown pants stands on a wooden bridge, placing a camera into a black shoulder bag. Right image: A person in a blue jacket with a black backpack stands in a snowy landscape, photographing mountains.

Deal Alert: Save 15% on Select ProMaster Camera Bags and Gloves

ProMaster products are designed and developed in the US by a small team of enthusiastic photographers for fellow creatives, storytellers, artists, and adventurers. Each product is thoughtfully designed to be practical, dependable, and enjoyable to use.

Matt Williams
Image of two black camera mode dials. Each dial includes settings like "P," "A," "S," "M," and "AUTO," along with icons for portrait, landscape, macro, and sports modes. The dials are against a light gray background.

How the Defunct APEX System Inspired Aperture and Shutter Priority Modes

Photography is an art and science deeply rooted in the manipulation of light. From the earliest days of the camera obscura to the digital age, photographers have sought to control exposure—the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film—to create compelling images. Central to this control are the variables of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (no, ISO does not actually change the sensitivity but nevertheless plays an integral role in exposure choices).