The Alpha 1 becomes the most powerful all-round mirrorless camera to date, combining the best of the A7 and A9 series. The 61 Megapixel A7r IV may slightly out-resolve it, but the Alpha 1’s photo quality comes close while outpacing the A9 on speed and delivering 8k video that’s absent on the A7s.

Sony has created a camera for professional photographers and content creators that delivers on its promised combination of speed and resolution along with great video capability. It really can do everything very well.

Excellent combination of speed and resolution, Great range of video features including 8K video, Superb electronic viewfinder

It takes a while to figure out the optimum settings, Underwhelming screen specification, Manual switching between the Eye AF subjects

The Sony a1 is the most refined Alpha-series interchangeable lens camera yet. Its combination of speed and resolution for both stills and video set it apart in a crowded field of excellent options, though that combination is also responsible for the price it commands. But the fact remains, most any professional photographer will be able to use the a1 for most anything they'd think to shoot.

Photographers capturing fast action, landscapes, weddings and events, portraiture and studio work or high-quality video.;

Photographers that don't need (or won't benefit from) the a1's combination of abilities. Those that need maximum resolution and dynamic range.;

The Sony a1 is the most refined Alpha-series interchangeable lens camera yet. Its combination of speed and resolution for both stills and video set it apart in a crowded field of excellent options, though that combination is also responsible for the price it commands.

Photographers capturing fast action, landscapes, weddings and events, portraiture and studio work or high-quality video.

Photographers that don't need (or won't benefit from) the a1's combination of abilities. Those that need maximum resolution and dynamic range.

The A1’s price tag is a big one, but professionals who want a single do-it-all camera for both video and photo won’t be disappointed with what it provides in return. Value-wise, the £3,800 A7S III represents a better deal for people who only shoot video (and, aside from 8K, offers much of the same level of performance), while photographers seeking the most resolution can look to the £3,500 61MP A7R IV as a much more affordable alternative. Heck, even the 102MP medium format Fujifilm GFX1000S is £1,000 cheaper, if detail is what matters to you. For someone who wants all their bases covered, though – plus the ability to shoot stills at an incredible speed – there’s nothing quite like the A1. It might drain your bank account, but it’ll fill your portfolio with wonderful photos.

Excellent image quality; Very fast; Wealth of video options;

Tilting screen feels like a step backwards;

Excellent image quality; Very fast; Wealth of video options;

Tilting screen feels like a step backwards;

While it's a shame that picture and sound quality haven't been upgraded, the iPhone 13 was great in these regards and the iPhone 14 is, too Excellent display Admirable headphone performance Solid build quality No upgrades to picture or sound Familiar design Notch is still present

There aren't many cameras on the planet capable of doing everything this one can. It's a magnificent machine capable of 8K video recording through to intense 50-megapixel bursts at lightning speed, all without breaking a sweat. There aren't many cameras as expensive either, though.

High-resolution full-frame sensor; Stunning burst mode performance; Good battery life; Image quality is superb; All the ports you could possibly need;

Flippy screen is limited; It's prohibitively expensive for most; Auto-lock mechanism on dials can be fiddly; Menu button in the wrong place;

Jordan's assignment; Design and handling; Electronic and mechanical shutters; Lossless compressed Raw; Media and buffer; Displays; Autofocus; Flash capabilities; Image quality; Video performance; Who's it for?;

Jordan's assignment; Design and handling; Electronic and mechanical shutters; Lossless compressed Raw; Media and buffer; Displays; Autofocus; Flash capabilities; Image quality; Video performance; Who's it for?;