- 35mm 861.6mm2
- 50.1 megapixels
- ISO 100 - 32,000
- Go in depth with our full Sony A1 Review.
- See real-world photos taken with the A1.
- Compare Sony A1 image quality against competitors.
| Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prices: | Compare Prices | |
| Manufacturer URL: | Manufacturer website | Manufacturer website |
| Predecessor: | ||
| Successor: | ||
| General | ||
| Model Number: | E-PL3 | A1 |
| Alternate Model Number(s): | ILCE-1 | |
| Camera Format: | Compact System Camera | Compact System Camera |
| Currently Manufactured: | No | Yes |
| Retail Price: | $699.99 | $6500.00 |
| Street Price: | $5,498.00 | |
| Date Available: | 2011-09-15 | 2021-03-01 |
| Tripod Mount: | Yes | Yes |
| Weight: |
15.1 oz
(428 g)
includes batteries, kit lens |
26.0 oz
(737 g)
includes batteries |
| Size: |
4.3 x
2.5 x
1.5 in. (110 x 64 x 37 mm) |
5.1 x
3.8 x
3.2 in. (129 x 97 x 81 mm) |
| Waterproof: | No | No |
| Waterproof Depth: | n/a | n/a |
| Image Sensor | ||
| Sensor Type: | Live MOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Manufacturer: | Panasonic | Sony |
| Effective Megapixels: | 12.3 | 50.1 |
| Sensor Format: | 4/3 | 35mm |
| Sensor size: | 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm) | 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) |
| Approximate Pixel Pitch: | 4.29 microns | 4.16 microns |
| Focal Length Multiplier: | 2.0x | 1.0x |
| Aspect Ratio: | 4:3 | 3:2 |
| Color Filter Type: | RGBG | RGBG |
| Anti Aliasing Filter: | Fixed | None |
| Self-Cleaning: | Yes | Yes |
| Sensor shift image stabilization: | Yes | Yes |
| On-Sensor Phase Detect: | No | Yes |
| DxO Sensor Score: | 52 | |
| DxO Color Depth Score (bits): | 20.9 | |
| DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): | 10.3 | |
| DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): | 499 | |
| Image Capture | ||
| Image Resolution: |
4032 x 3024
(12.2 MP,
4:3), 3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3), 2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3), 1920 x 1440 (2.8 MP, 4:3), 1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3), 1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3), 1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3), 640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3) |
8640 x 5760
(49.8 MP,
3:2), 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP, 3:2), 4320 x 2880 (12.4 MP, 3:2), 7680 x 5760 (44.2 MP, 4:3), 4992 x 3744 (18.7 MP, 4:3), 3840 x 2880 (11.1 MP, 4:3), 8760 x 4864 (42.6 MP, Other), 5616 x 3160 (17.7 MP, 16:9), 4320 x 2432 (10.5 MP, 16:9), 5760 x 5760 (33.2 MP, 1:1), 3744 x 3744 (14.0 MP, 1:1), 2880 x 2880 (8.3 MP, 1:1) |
| Image File Format: | JPEG (EXIF 2.2), MPO (3D), 12-bit RAW (.ORF) | JPEG, HEIF, Compressed RAW, Lo, RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG, RAW+HEIF |
| Continuous-mode frames/second: | 5.3 | 30.0 |
| Video Capture | ||
| Can take movies: | Yes | Yes |
| Movie Resolution: |
1920x1080 (60i (20Mbps/17Mbps))
1280x720 (60p (17Mbps/13Mbps)) 1280x720 (30p) 640x480 (30p) |
7680x4320 (30p/25p/24p)
3840x2160 (120p/100p/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p) 1920x1080 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p) 1920x1080 (1p/2p/3p/4p/6p/8p/12p/15p/25p/30p/50p/60p/100p/120p/200p/240p) |
| Movie File Format: | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4) |
| Composite Video Out: | Yes | No |
| NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: | Yes | n/a |
| Video Usable as Viewfinder: | n/a | |
| HD Video Out: | Yes | Yes |
| HD Video Connection: | HDMI | HDMI |
| Lens & Optics | ||
| Lens Mount: | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Lens: | Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R MSC M.Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens | n/a |
| Focal Length (35mm equivalent): | 28 - 84mm | |
| Focal Length (actual): | 14 - 42mm | |
| Zoom Ratio: | 3.00x | |
| Aperture Range: | f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22 | |
| Integrated ND Filter: | No | No |
| Normal Focus Range: |
25 cm to Infinity 9.8 in to Infinity |
|
| Macro Focus Range: | ||
| Filter Thread: | 37.0mm | n/a |
| Thread Type: | n/a | n/a |
| Optical Image Stabilization: | No | No |
| Digital Zoom: | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Zoom Values: | 2x | Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom |
| Auto Focus | ||
| Auto Focus: | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Focus Type: | Contrast Detect: High-speed, 35-point with Face Detection and Tracking. Auto from all 35 area, Single area from 35 area, Group Target area (9 area) from 35 area, Up to 8 Faces Detected | Fast Hybrid 4D AF: 759 points (PDAF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF); Wide (759 points (PDAF), 425 points (CDAF))/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot/Tracking (Wide/Zone/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot); Touch AF |
| Auto Focus Assist Light? | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Focus: | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder: | LCD | EVF / LCD |
| Viewfinder Type: | Optional EVF mounted in flash hotshoe | EVF: 0.64" 9.44M-dot QXGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.90x magnification, 60/120/240fps refresh rates, -4.0 to +3.0 diopter, 25mm eyepoint from the eyepiece lens |
| Focus Peaking: | No | Yes |
| EVF Resolution: | n/a | 9,437,184 dots (3,145,728 pixels) |
| Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): | 0.90x | |
| Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): | 0.90x | |
| Display | ||
| Eye-level Viewfinder: | No | Yes |
| Rear Display: | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Display Size (inches): | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Rear Display Resolution: | 460,000 dots (153,000 px) | 1,440,000 dots (360,000 px) |
| Touchscreen: | No | Yes |
| Articulating Screen: | Yes | Yes |
| Tilt Swivel Screen: | No | |
| Selfie Screen: | No | |
| Max Playback Zoom: | 14.0x | |
| Top Deck Display: | No | No |
| Exposure | ||
| Maximum ISO (native): | 32000 | |
| Minimum ISO (native): | 100 | |
| ISO Settings: | Auto (customizable range), 200 - 12800 (1/3, 1 EV steps) | AUTO, ISO 100 - 32000, expandable to ISO 50 - 102400 |
| Auto ISO Mode: | Yes | Yes |
| White Balance Settings: | Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Underwater, Custom WB, One-touch WB | Auto (with Priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (4 settings), Flash, Underwater, Custom, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation) |
| Shutter Speed Range: | 1/4000 - 60 sec | 1/32000 - 30 sec |
| Bulb Mode: | Yes | Yes |
| Exposure Compensation: | +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps | +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps |
| Metering Modes: | 324-zone Digital ESP, Center Weighted Average, Spot (~1%, with Highlight/Shadow modes) | 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Standard/Large, Entire Screen Avg., Highlight |
| Program Auto Exposure: | Yes | Yes |
| Aperture Priority: | Yes | Yes |
| Shutter Priority: | Yes | Yes |
| Full Manual Exposure: | Yes | Yes |
| Creative Exposure Modes: | Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Macro, Sport, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Document, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv, Wide Conv, Macro Conv, 3D, Underwater wide, Underwater macro; Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone) | Picture Effect: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal / Cool / Warm / Green / Magenta), Soft High-key; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step) |
| Self Timer: | 2 or 12 seconds | 2, 5, 10; 3/5 shots after 2/5/10 seconds |
| Time Lapse (intervalometer): | ||
| High Resolution Composite: | No | No |
| Flash | ||
| Built-in Flash: | No | No |
| Flash Modes: | Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64), Off. Wireless flash control supported. | Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed Sync, Wireless; Red-eye reduction: On/Off |
| Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): | 7.0 m / 23.0 ft. | n/a |
| Flash Range Description: | Bundled external flash has GN of 7m (ISO 100) or 10m (ISO 200) | n/a |
| Max Flash Sync: | 1/160 | 1/400s (1/500s APS-C crop mode) |
| Flash Exposure Compensation: | +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps | +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps |
| External Flash Connection: | Hot shoe | Multi Interface Hot Shoe with Digital Audio Interface, Sync Terminal |
| Built-In Wireless Flash Control: | No | |
| Image Storage | ||
| Usable Memory Types: | SD / SDHC / SDXC | SD / SDHC / SDXC / CFexpress |
| UHS Support: | UHS-II | |
| Other Memory: | 2x CFexpress Type A+SD UHS-II | |
| Dual Card Slots: | No | Yes |
| RAW Capture Support: | Yes | Yes |
| Uncompressed Format: | 12-bit RAW (.ORF) | RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG, RAW+HEIF |
| Movie File Format: | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | XAVC S (Long GOP, H.264 MP4); XAVC HS (Long GOP, H.265 HEVC); XAVC S-I (All-Intra, H.264 MP4) |
| Included Memory: | No memory included | No memory included |
| Included Memory Type: | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Built-In Wi-Fi: | No | Yes |
| NFC: | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth: | No | Yes |
| Built-In GPS: | No | No |
| Microphone Jack: | No | Yes |
| Headphone Jack: | No | Yes |
| External Connections: | USB 2.0 High Speed | USB 2.0 High Speed,USB 3.0 Super Speed,Ethernet,Bluetooth,WiFi |
| PictBridge Compliant: | Yes | No |
| DPOF Compliant: | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Control: | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Control Type: | Optional RM-UC1 wired remote | Optional via IR, USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth |
| Connections (extended): | Accessory Port 2, Multi Connector (USB/AV/Remote), Mini HDMI (Type C) | USB-C (USB 3.2 10Gbps), Type-D Micro HDMI, 1000Base-T Ethernet, 3.5mm Microphone and Headphone Jacks, Sync Terminal |
| Performance Timing | ||
| Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): | 0.57 | |
| Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): | 0.56 | |
| Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): | 8 | |
| Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): | ||
| Camera penalizes early shutter press? | No | |
| JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): | 5.3 | 30.0 |
| Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): | 9 | 165 |
| RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): | 20.0 | |
| Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): | 155 | |
| RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): | ||
| Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): | ||
| Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): | 0.24 seconds | |
| Shutter lag (full AF, tele): | ||
| Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): | ||
| Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): | ||
| Shutter Lag (manual focus): | 0.113 seconds | |
| Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): | 0.43 seconds | |
| Shutter Lag (prefocused): | 0.073 seconds | |
| Shutter Lag (notes): | ||
| Startup Time: | 2.1 seconds | |
| Play -> Record Time: | 0.6 seconds | |
| Flash cycle time, full power: | 4.9 seconds | |
| Power | ||
| Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): | 300 shots | 530 shots |
| Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): | 430 shots | |
| Battery Life, Video: | 150 minutes | |
| Battery Form Factor: | Proprietary BLS-1 or BLS-5 | Proprietary |
| Usable Battery Types: | Lithium-ion rechargeable | NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable |
| Batteries Included: | Proprietary BLS-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable | 1 x Proprietary NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable |
| Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated Battery Charger Included: | Yes | |
| Internal Charging Supported: | Yes | |
| Software | ||
| Included Software: | OLYMPUS Viewer 2/[ib] CD-ROM | Capture One Express (for Sony) free download; Sony Imaging Edge Remote, Viewer and Edit |
| OS Compatibility: | Windows, macOS | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Notes & Features: | Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, 3-inch 460k-dot Tilting LCD, TruePic VI Image Processor, "FAST" AF System, Burst mode up to 5.5fps, Full HD movies, 6 Art Filters. External FL-LM1 flash bundled. Available in Black, White, Silver and Red. | |
