Sony teases new Alpha camera launch – and rumors point to a long-awaited A1 II

• Sony Japan has announced a 'special event' for Alpha cameras
• The hands-on instrumentality events return spot from November 20 successful Tokyo
• Separate rumors person suggested that a flagship Sony A1 II is imminent

It's been an uncharacteristically quiet twelvemonth for caller Sony cameras, but a caller teaser and rumors propose that nan barren spell will extremity soon – perchance pinch a caller Sony A1 II flagship camera.

Sony Japan has now posted a 'special event' teaser connected its Alpha Universe page, wherever fans tin get their "hands connected a mirrorless Alpha" connected some November 20 and 21. The page doesn't specify that it's for a new Alpha camera, but that's nan proposal – and immoderate speculation from nan reliable Sony Alpha Rumors suggests nan camera could beryllium nan A1 II.

The original Sony A1 was a revolutionary mirrorless camera erstwhile it landed retired of nan bluish successful January 2021, combining a high-resolution 50.1MP sensor pinch (for then) unthinkable shooting speeds of 30fps. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, nan successor could beryllium a comparatively mild upgrade (on paper, astatine least).

The tract says nan camera's "likely" specs will see nan aforesaid stacked 50MP full-frame sensor arsenic nan Sony A1 but alongside faster framework rates and autofocus. There'll besides apparently beryllium a caller AI spot and support for CFexpress Type A cards pinch nan 4.0 modular (supporting doubly nan speeds arsenic before).

Lastly, Sony Alpha Rumors says nan A1 II will beryllium "more costly than nan existent Sony A1", which isn't a immense astonishment fixed that nan camera is almost 4 years aged and that it'll beryllium disposable to bargain successful "early 2025". As a guide, nan Sony A1 costs $6,500 / £6,499 / AU$10,499 (body only) erstwhile it became disposable successful March 2021.

With those 'special event' days announced by Sony Japan taking spot from November 20, we'd ideate nan caller camera could get soon earlier past – but nan image will nary uncertainty go overmuch clearer successful nan adjacent fewer weeks.

Camera tech hits a ceiling?

If these Sony A1 II spec rumors are correct, they propose that camera tech is hitting thing of a plateau – surely erstwhile compared to nan original Sony A1. That flagship was nan closest point we'd seen to a 'no compromise' camera, 1 that could blur nan lines betwixt a high-resolution scenery body, a speedy sports camera, and an 8K video sidekick.

Since then, rivals person caught up, pinch hybrid cameras for illustration nan Nikon Z8, Nikon Z9, and Canon EOS R1 following its 'kitchen sink' blueprint and combining awesome photograph and video powerfulness successful 1 pro-friendly body.

According to nan rumors, nan A1 II whitethorn not rustle nan title distant again, but package upgrades could surely nudge it backmost retired successful beforehand for creators who want a azygous camera that does it all. Lens prime whitethorn besides play a role, and Sony Alpha Rumors suggests that a caller Sony 28-70mm f/2 zoom could beryllium announced alongside nan caller flagship camera.

That lens will seemingly beryllium Sony's first zoom lens pinch a changeless f/2 aperture, but could besides travel pinch an inevitably precocious value tag of astir $3,000 (which converts to astir £2,330 / AU$4,570).

The caller launches whitethorn not precisely beryllium affordable, then, aliases dramatically displacement nan photography needle successful nan style of nan original Sony A1 – but they could besides perchance beryllium caller best-in-class devices that could problem nan precocious regions of our best cameras buying guide.

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