New Sony a1 MK II Camera Test - 04 May 2026

I FINALLY took delivery of a new Sony Alpha a1 MK II camera. It wasn't easy. 

Robin gave me permission to purchase a new camera after inquiring about starting to get into photography herself. Before she could change her mind I ordered the camera from B&H Photo last Thursday night. For an extra $20 I could get it delivered Friday after 5 pm.

Friday came and we went to lunch. I then got notice that FedEx tried to deliver the camera at 12:30 pm but noone was available for a signature so they kept the package. GRRRR...  I spent the afternoon trying to figure out how to get the camera. Everything came back Monday before 8PM. GRRR... I then hoped that they might drop it off at Walgreens nearby but had to wait for FedEx to confirm the address change.

It never came. So, I had to wait until Monday (today) for the camera to arrive. I sat by the front door and checked every hour for an update to the shipping status. Everything said that the package was at the Romulus Shipping Center and that it would arrive before 8 pm. At one point the FedEx truck stopped 2 doors down for a delivery at 1 pm but took off before I could catch the driver. 

At 4 pm I finally called the FedEx Shipping Center and found out that they delivered to Walgreens at 1 pm. But, never notified me. So, after a quick run to Walgreen I was finally able to give a signature and secure the shipment (but not before the person in front of me couldn't get her package because the scanning software in the store stopped working...).

Once home I had 2 batteries charged and was able to fire up the new camera. It is essentially identicle to the Sony a1 that I currentyly use, but has a newer AI chip that is supposed to improve AF performance (Bird Eye AF) by 50%. It also has Pre-Capture capabilities that stores images even before the shutter is released. The body is slightly bulkier with a larger hand grip, and has extra FN buttons (F5 Speed Boost in front). After a couple hours of setting up menus I was ready to give it a try.

It was already near dusk and rain was beginning to fall, but a Baltimore Oriole was singing in the tree next to the deck. Bird Eye AF worked well even though the oriole was backlit, and I was able to get some pics at ISO 40,000 (1/4000 s).

An American Robin was foraging below the feeder. ISO 51,2000. 

Northern Cardinal and House Finch were on the platform feeder and I was able to get pics at ISO 64,000 using the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens.

The focus-capture feature on the camera allows me to see where the focus box is on playback images, and sure enough, the camera did a wonderful job of tracking eyes. Images were sharp (albeit noisy) and applying Denoise AI (50%) in Lightroom did a nice job giving me very respectable images given the high-ISO / low light situation.

More to come!