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Sony A1 vs Canon R5

By admin, on January 27th, 2021

Sony A1 vs Canon R5 Specification Comparison – Sony announced a brand new Sony A1 Mirrorless camera with a newly developed 50MP sensor. We are comparing the core specification of the Sony A1 and the Canon EOS R5 camera.

Table of contents

1. Sony A1 Camera Image Sensor with Stacked BSI CMOS tech
2. ISO Range, Shutter, Metering Method, and much more…
3. Best Camera for Sports Photography Sony A1
4. Auto Focus, Canon still Lead with DPAF II
5. 8k Video Capable Mirrorless Camera saga
6. Verdict

1. Sony A1 Camera Image Sensor with Stacked BSI CMOS tech

Sony A1 camera features a newly developed 50MP Stacked BSI Hybrid CMOS sensor. The Canon EOS R5 uses a 45MP Conventional DPAF CMOS sensor. We have very little difference in resolution of both the camera. As you all know, BSI sensors are known for better low-light performance. However, we will soon publish the High ISO test between the two cameras and will also update this article.

	Sony A1	Canon EOS R5
Lens Mount	Sony E	Canon RF
Camera Format	Full-Frame (1x Crop Factor)	Full-Frame (1x Crop Factor)
Sensor Resolution	Actual: 50.5 Megapixel Effective: 50.1 Megapixel	Actual: 47.1 Megapixel Effective: 45.0 Megapixel
Aspect Ratio	1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9	1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Sensor Type	BSI CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Size	35.9 x 24 mm	36 x 24 mm
Image File Format	JPEG, Raw, HEIF	JPEG, Raw, HEIF
Bit Depth	14-Bit	14-Bit
Image Stabilization	Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis	Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis

2. ISO Range, Shutter, Metering Method, and much more…

THE standard ISO sensitivity of the Canon R5 camera is more than that of the Sony A1 camera. But, with the Sony A1 camera you can push the base ISO up to 50. Which will bring an enormous amount of details inside the camera, and really very helpful for professional Landscape shooters.

Canon EOS R5 features TOP LCD display panel and DSLR styled body controls

3. Best Camera for Sports Photography Sony A1

The Canon R5 brings AF support to 20 fps continuous shooting mode. Now, moving a step forward Sony captures 30FPS while maintaining the Full 50MP sensor resolution.

High-Speed Shooting up to 20 fps in Canon EOS R5. The EOS R5 can capture fast-moving subjects in high-speed burst. At up to 12fps with a mechanical shutter and up to 20fps with a silent shutter, the EOS R5 can capture the split-second details between a subject’s movement.

Sony A1 offers 50.1 megapixels at up to 30 frames/second – The α1 offers an extraordinary combination of high resolution and blazing speed. Ultra-fast readout from the 50.1-MP sensor allows continuous bursts at up to 30fps with AF and AE tracking using the electronic shutter. Perfect for sports or any situation where the critical action is over in an instant.

New Features added inside the Sony A1 camera

Anti-distortion Shutter
The newly developed algo of Fast sensor readout minimizes still-image distortion when using the electronic shutter2. The BIONZ XRTM engine and a large buffer achieve about 1.5x less distortion than the α9 II.

Flash sync with the electronic shutter
For the first time in an α camera, electronic shutter flash sync is possible thanks to high readout speed from the stacked CMOS sensor. All electronic shutter advantages remain available for flash shooting.

Dual driven shutter drive for flash sync up to 1/400 s.
The world’s first5 dual driven shutter system allows flash sync up to 1/400 s., making it easier to capture dynamic action, and opening the door to new creative possibilities.

	Sony A1	Canon EOS R5
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 100 to 32000 (Extended: 50 to 102400)	Auto, 100 to 51200 (Extended: 100 to 102400)
Shutter Speed	Mechanical Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode Electronic Shutter 1/32000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode 1/8000 to 1/4 Second in Movie Mode	Mechanical Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Seconds Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Seconds Electronic Shutter 1/8000 to 0.5 Seconds
Metering Method	Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multiple, Spot	Center-Weighted Average, Evaluative, Partial, Spot
Exposure Modes	Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority	Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation	-5 to +5 EV (1/3 EV Steps)	-3 to +3 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps)
Metering Range	-3 to 20 EV	-3 to 20 EV
White Balance	Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Color Temperature Filter, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater	Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (White), Shade, Tungsten
Continuous Shooting	Electronic Shutter Up to 30 fps at 50.1 MP for up to 155 Frames (Raw) / 165 Frames (JPEG) Up to 20 fps at 50.1 MP for up to 238 Frames (Raw) / 400 Frames (JPEG) Up to 15 fps at 50.1 MP Up to 5 fps at 50.1 MP Mechanical Shutter Up to 10 fps at 50.1 MP (Raw) / (JPEG) Up to 8 fps at 50.1 MP Up to 6 fps at 50.1 MP Up to 3 fps at 50.1 MP	Mechanical Shutter Up to 12 fps at 45 MP for up to 180 Frames (Raw) / 350 Frames (JPEG) Electronic Shutter Up to 20 fps at 45 MP for up to 83 Frames (Raw) / 170 Frames (JPEG)
Interval Recording	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	2/5/10-Second Delay	2/10-Second Delay

4. Auto Focus, Canon still Lead with DPAF II

Canon features a total no of 5940 AF points in its sensor. These overall AF points are grouped into 1053 AF zones. In Sony A1 camera we have a total of 759 AF points in the sensor supported by 425 contrast-based AF points.

AF coverage has been expanded to approximately 100% × 100% of the image area of Canon EOS R5 whereas in Sony we have 92% coverage and less density of AF points compared to the R5 sensor.

Focus Type	Auto and Manual Focus	Auto and Manual Focus
Focus Mode	Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S)	Continuous-Servo AF (C), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points	Phase Detection: 759 Contrast Detection: 425	Phase Detection: 1053
Autofocus Sensitivity	-4 to +20 EV	-6 to +20 EV

5. 8k Video Capable Mirrorless Camera saga

Canon EOS R5 knows of overheating issue in its 8k video mode, however, after the latest firmware update, the camera now allows you to record 2X more time in a single run. Canon EOS R5 overheating chart below

Sony A1 uses an A7S III Heat sink unit, Now the Sony A1 camera down samples 8.6K footage from a 50MP sensor whereas the Sony A7S III uses a 12MP sensor. So. how much capable the Sony A1 heat sink unit is capable of we will know soon once the camera reached in the hand of real-world users. There are now a few confirmed reports by the first Sony A7S III reviewers that the camera has an overheating problem in the bright midday sun.

4k from 8k (Canon R5) and 5.8k (Sony A1): As you can see, the HQ 4k footage of Canon EOS R5 is being created from an 8k oversampled file, so it contains an enormous amount of fine details captured by the sensor. Sony A1 uses 5.8k oversampled footage to create 4k video.

	Sony A1	Canon EOS R5
Recording Modes	H.265/XAVC HS 4:2:2 10-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [50 to 280 Mb/s] H.265/XAVC HS 4:2:0 10-Bit UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p [200 to 400 Mb/s] UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [30 to 200 Mb/s] H.264/XAVC S-I 4:2:2 10-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [240 to 600 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [89 to 222 Mb/s] H.264/XAVC S 4:2:2 10-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [100 to 280 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p/200p/239.76p [50 Mb/s] H.264/XAVC S 4:2:0 8-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [60 to 200 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p/200p/239.76p [16 to 100 Mb/s]	Raw 12-Bit DCI 8K (8192 x 4320) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p [2600 Mb/s] H.265 4:2:2 10-Bit DCI 8K (8192 x 4320) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p [680 to 1300 Mb/s] UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p [680 to 1300 Mb/s] DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [170 to 1880 Mb/s] UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [170 to 1880 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [28 to 230 Mb/s] H.264 4:2:0 8-Bit DCI 8K (8192 x 4320) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p [470 to 1300 Mb/s] UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p [470 to 1300 Mb/s] DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [120 to 1880 Mb/s] UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [120 to 1880 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [12 to 180 Mb/s]
External Recording Modes	Raw 16-Bit 4.2K (4264 x 2408) up to 59.94p 4:2:2 10-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/50p/59.94p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50i/59.94i 4:2:0 8-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/50p/59.94p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50i/59.94i	4:2:2 10-Bit DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) up to 59.94p UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) up to 59.94p
Recording Limit	Unlimited	Up to 29 Minutes, 59 Seconds
Video Encoding	NTSC/PAL	NTSC/PAL
Audio Recording	Built-In Microphone (Stereo) External Microphone Input (Stereo)	Built-In Microphone (Stereo) External Microphone Input
Audio File Format	AAC LC, Linear PCM (Stereo)	AAC, Linear PCM

Viewfinder of the new Sony A1 camera feature 9 Million resolution , Sony uses class leading viewfinder display in it’s A1 camera.

Viewfinder Type	Electronic (OLED)	Electronic (OLED)
Viewfinder Size	0.64″	0.5″
Viewfinder Resolution	9,437,184 Dot	5,760,000 Dot

The weight same but physically Canon EOS R5 is highly large compared to Sony A1.

Battery	1 x NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh (Approx. 430 Shots)	1 x LP-E6NH Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
Dimensions (W x H x D)	5.07 x 3.81 x 2.74″ / 128.9 x 96.9 x 69.7 mm	5.43 x 3.84 x 3.46″ / 138 x 97.5 x 88 mm
Weight	1.6 lb / 737 g (Body Only)	1.62 lb / 738 g (Body with Battery and Memory)

6. Verdict

Sony has better sensor technology, a usable AF system (not as good as Canon EOS R5), and faster continuous shooting speed. On the video side, we do have better heat management (as promised by the camera maker) with 8k video capability. The only difference now left is the price, if you’re ok with the Sony price tag then go and buy the Sony A1. Otherwise if you are a photographer and with limited video requirements, you can go with Canon EOS R5.