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How do you follow up a product that has reigned as the king of mirrorless cameras for the last four years? For Sony, the answer with the A1 was simple: just improve everything. The result is the $6,500 A1 II, a powerful pro-level hybrid mirrorless camera thats Sonys best to date. The A1 II is equipped with a 50-megapixel stacked sensor, not a global sensor like the A9 III, so its not quite as fast. However, its blend of speed and resolution makes it the most versatile camera in Sonys lineup. It also impresses on the video side with 8K 30 fps 10-bit capture, along with 4K slo-mo at up to 120 fps. I expect a lot out of a Sony flagship camera, though, and while the A1 II has lots of small improvements, theres nothing terribly innovative. Its also up against impressive (and cheaper) competition like the $4,300 Canon EOS R5 II and $4,000 Nikon Z8. Plus, theres the similarly priced pro-level Canon R1 and Nikon Z9. So despite its strengths, I found Sonys new flagship to be slightly disappointing. Body and handling The A1 II is Sonys best-handling camera to date. In terms of design and control placement, its nearly identical to the companys high-end A9 III. At 743 grams (1.64 pounds), its heavier than the 617-gram (1.36 pound) A1, but still a featherweight compared to other professional models like the three-pound Z9. The new grip has slightly softer materials and more rounded contours, so its more comfortable and secure to hold than the hard-edged A1. Thats a big help to working pros with heavy lenses. If you like manual controls, the A1 II is a dream. It has three primary dials, compared to just two on rival flagships. Theres a mode selector ring to choose photo, video and so-called Slow & Quick modes, along with a dual-control wheel for both shooting and autofocus. Around back, theres yet another dial, plus a joystick and numerous customizable buttons. The A1 IIs menu system has been refreshed to match the A9 III. It now offers a home setting for your most-used features, and everything is neatly organized into sub-menus. Sony also added an easy-to-use section for customizing buttons, dials, the quick menu and more. Steve Dent for Engadget Despite the price difference, its natural to compare the A1 IIs design and setup with the Canon R5 II as both are high-performance, high-resolution cameras. The R5 II does feel a bit nicer thanks to the more rounded shape and softer materials. But the A1 II has a larger array of controls, so its easier and faster to shoot with it once you get used to them. Sony also has a more intuitive menu system that makes it easier to find key settings. Then theres the A1 IIs sublime electronic viewfinder (EVF). Though it has the same resolution as the A1 at 9.44 million dots, it no longer drops in resolution at its default 120 fps frame rate. With that, its so sharp and bright that it blows away any argument for an optical viewfinder. Sony even provides two eyepiece cups, including what it calls a squishy option that molds around your eye to block out light, giving me a fully immersive experience. With all of that, this is easily the best EVF Ive ever used. Vloggers complained about the lack of a fully articulating display on the A1. Sony addressed that by outfitting the A1 II with a bright, 3-inch, 2.1-million-dot screen that not only tilts up and down but also fully swivels ideal for both photographers and content creators. As before, the A1 II has a dual card slot system with support for both SD UHS II and (sigh) Sonys CFexpress Type A cards that no one else uses. Those are faster than SD, but not as fast as the CFexpress Type B slots found on the R5 II, Z8 and others. Steve Dent for Engadget The Z-type battery delivers a decent 520 shots on a charge, which is just slightly less than the 530 on the A1. It comes with a nice array of ports, including full-sized HDMI and high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 that allows rapid 10Gbps file transfers. You also get mic and headphone ports, a 2.5 Gbps ethernet connection and a flash sync port. Even the Wi-Fi was upgraded with 2x2 MIMO support that allows 2.5Gbps transfer speeds instead of 1Gbps as before. Performance The A1 II is the fastest high-resolution camera available, letting you hit burst speeds up to 30 fps when shooting RAW with continuous autofocus enabled in electronic mode, or 10 fps with the mechanical shutter. Those speeds match or beat its main rivals, but arent an improvement over the four-year-old A1. Thats a bit of a surprise, given that the A1 II has a much faster Bionz XR image processor borrowed from the A9 III. The autofocus is a big improvement, though. It locks onto subjects quicker than before, so I saw fewer out-of-focus shots when firing off bursts. The A1 II also has Sonys latest algorithms and AI features from the A9 III that make subject-recognition faster and more user-friendly. It can now recognize human bodies, faces and eyes, along with animals, birds, insects and several types of vehicles. On top of that, the A1 II is Sonys first camera to automatically identify those subjects so you dont have to tediously select them yourself. In other words, if youre photographing birds and happen to see a bear, you wont waste valuable time switching modes. Sony is a bit late to the game with this auto subject selection, as Canon and other brands have had it for a while. However, the A1 II has the best implementation Ive seen to date, as it chooses and locks onto subjects more quickly. Like other cameras, it can get tripped up in situations with multiple subjects, occasionally selecting the wrong one. With human subjects, Canon has an edge thanks to its face-memorization feature on the R1 and R5 that will always try to lock onto a specific person. Steve Dent for Engadget While the A1 II has both a mechanical and electronic shutter, the stacked sensors fast readout speeds mean you can use the latter almost exclusively. Even in sports like golf with high speed movements, skewing and distortion is rarely an issue when using the electronic shutter, and you can shoot photos silently without disturbing participants. Pre-capture is a key new feature, letting you keep up to 70 frames when half-pressing the shutter button, before fully pressing it. That reduces the odds of missing a decisive moment in a scene. When it comes to stabilization, the A1 II also represents a first for the company. It offers 8.5 stops, beating the A9 III by a half-stop and matching the EOS R5 II and R1. Thanks to that, I was able to nail sharp photos even at ridiculously slow shutter speeds, like a full second. Thats ideal when you need to shoot in low light or deliberately blur moving subjects without using a tripod. While the A1 II is quick, it didnt bring the generational leap I expected compared to a four-year-old camera. My professional photographer friends (who already own A1s) felt the same way and wont be upgrading. Image quality The A1 II is not just fast, but also delivers high resolution, and that combination is why you pay the big bucks. Images are sharper than just about any full-frame camera, with the exception of Sonys own A7R V. Dynamic range is excellent and colors are accurate when shooting JPEGs, though I prefer Canons warmer images straight out of the camera. The new model has the same sensor as the A1, but Sony managed to boost dynamic range very slightly at higher ISOs. As a result, you get minimal noise up to around ISO 6,400 and images are very usable at ISO 12,800. This is outstanding for a 50MP camera, and better than Canons EOS R5 II. Beyond that, and up to the cameras maximum ISO 32,000, noise starts to become distracting. RAW files give photographers ample room to dial down blown out highlights or boost detail in shadow areas. If you need the maximum amount of dynamic range, youll want to shoot using the lossless compressed RAW format, as lossy compressed RAW files are noticeably worse in highly detailed images. The downside to the latter is that shooting them limits burst speeds to 20 fps and fills your memory card much faster. While image quality is outstanding, its not much of an improvement over the A1. For studio and landscape photographers who value image quality above all and already own an A1, the A1 II likely isnt worth the investment. Video On paper, the A1 II is a powerhouse for video, offering up to 8K 30 fps recording and 4K 60 fps(up to 4K 120 fps with no sound), with 10-bit log shooting available. It comes with a new feature that lets you load custom LUTs when shooting in log (S-Log3) mode, so you can better judge your exposure. It also has a setting that lets you better match footage with Sonys professional cinema cameras. Thats on top of the other improvements I already mentioned, like the fully articulating display and upgraded stabilization, that are also beneficial when recording video. Frame of 8K video from the Sony A1 II Steve Dent for Engadget Autofocus is much improved with more reliable tracking of moving subjects, as I found when shooting a fast-moving soccer event. It also supports the same subject tracking modes available when capturing photos (eyes, faces, bodies, birds, animals and vehicles). Looking closer, though, the video capabilities are slightly disappointing. Unlike the much cheaper Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 II cameras, the A1 II doesnt offer internal RAW recording, possibly because the CFexpress Type A slots cant handle the required bandwidth. That can make a big difference with video quality and the ability to adjust colors and levels when editing. Still, when recording 8K or 4K 10-bit log video at the highest data rates, image quality and dynamic range are solid. The S-Log3 and 10-bit features give content creators a lot of room to tweak footage shot in dim interiors or a bright sunny day. The in-body stabilization may be the best Ive seen on any camera to date. The optical mode does a great job removing any hand jitters if you dont move around too much. And for walking or running, the electronic stabilization (not available in 8K) provides near GoPro-like smoothing, with none of the sudden jolts seen on other models. If you do need to move the camera quickly, rolling shutter is usually a non-issue. I only saw any distortion when shooting 8K video, and even then, it was minimal. Wrap-up Steve Dent for Engadget The A1 II is an awesome camera and near the top of the food chain in terms of speed and power. Nearly every aspect has been improved over the A1, including the stabilization, body design and autofocus. However, the innovation that Sony is known for is lacking here, and on top of that, the A1 II is very expensive. With that taken into account, I think it falls short. The A1 II is only a mild upgrade over the A1 and when it comes to video, its lagging behind the Nikon Z8 and Z9 as well as the Sony R5 II. If you already have the A1, I dont think the A1 II offers enough extra to justify a new investment. And anyone who is more serious about video should consider either the Canon R5 II or Nikon Z8, as both offer higher-quality RAW video at up to 8K 60p for less money. However, for pros or serious amateurs going into the A1 lineup for the first time, who focus on photos and have no qualms about the $6,500 price, the Sony A1 II is a great pick.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/sony-a1-ii-review-a-powerhouse-camera-that-falls-short-of-its-own-high-standards-150053430.html?src=rss
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Google Pixel fans who dont wish to break the bank often look to the more affordable A series of Pixel smartphones. The successor model of this series, the Pixel 9a, hasnt been released yet, but at this point nearly everything important about the handset has been leaked. Here's everything we know so far. The Pixel 9a will come with a slightly modified Google Tensor G4 chip with the Exynos Modem 5300 found on the Pixel 8 series instead of the newer Modem 5400 on the other Pixel 9 smartphones, according to Android Authority. Android Headlines reported that other specs include 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage space, dimensions measuring 6.1x2.9x0.4 inches (154.7x73.3x8.9mm) and a weight of 6.6 ounces (185.9 grams). Itll also get the largest battery on a Pixel device ever so far, with a capacity of 5,100mAh, which is 40mAh more than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Pixel 9a will also reportedly have a 48-megapixel main sensor, 13MP ultrawide sensor and 13MP front camera. Theres a new pill-shaped camera housing instead of the familiar camera bump. It fits flush with the back of the phone, a welcome departure from previous models. The Pixel 9a is expected to come in four colorways, the names of which are not finalized: Iris (purple), Obsidian (black), Peony (hot pink) and Porcelain (white). It's believed the handset will cost $499 for the 128GB version and $599 for the 256GB upgrade. A Verizon mWave model will reportedly tack on an extra $50 charge as well. According to a source who spoke to Android Headlines, the smartphone will launch on March 26, but Google will start accepting pre-orders on March 19.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-we-know-about-the-rumored-google-pixel-9a-so-far-141908754.html?src=rss
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Think you might have met someone attractive, single and successful on Facebook or Instagram? You might want to think again, Meta says. Ahead of Valentines Day, the company is once again warning users not to fall for romance scams. These kinds of schemes, in which scammers create fictitious identities to form online relationships with unsuspecting victims, arent exactly new. (The FTC says that people lost more than a half billion dollars to romance scams in 2021.) But the people behind these scams are apparently persistent. Meta says that already in 2025 its taken down more than 116,000 accounts and pages across Facebook and Instagram that were linked to romance scams. In 2024, it removed more than 408,000 such accounts. According to Meta, these scam accounts often originate in West African countries with scammers impersonating members of the US military or famous celebrities. In both cases, theyll claim to be looking for love and will strike up conversations with people on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as well as other messaging platforms. Eventually, the scammer will request gift cards, crypto, or other types of payments. Meta has taken steps to fight these types of schemes. The company said last year it would bring back facial recognition tech to address celebrity impersonation. It also works with other companies to shut down organized groups of scammers. Still, David Agranovich, director of threat disruption at Meta, noted that "scammers evolve consistently." Researchers also say that AI has made it even easier for scammers to assume convincing fictitious identities. In the last three or four months, there's a couple of different tools that have come out where they're free, they're accessible, they're easy to use, and they allow the attacker to transform their face dynamically within the video call, Rachel Tobac CEO of SocialProof Security said during a call with reporters. They can also use these deepfake bots that allow you to build a persona, place phone calls, use a voice clone and a human actually doesn't even need to be involved.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-warns-users-not-to-fall-for-romance-scammers-posing-as-celebrities-or-military-140031858.html?src=rss
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Adobes Firefly Video Model is in public beta as of today, meaning the days of praying you had a chance to test it are over. The company claims that its the first commercially safe generative AI video model in the market. Previously, it was only available in the Adobe Premiere Pro video editor with Generative Extend, but you can also access a standalone Firefly web app now. For those unaware, Adobes Firefly Video Model powers the Generate Video feature, which can generate video clips from a text prompt or image. It can also edit images, turn them into videos, create 3D worlds and more. The content is safe for commercial use too, since the AI applies watermarks signifying which parts have AI assistance, and that can be checked with the Adobe Content Authenticity web apps Inspect tool. In other words, its safe because people can check if AI was used in the content due to embedded data. The Firefly web app integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud apps such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Express and more. Three new features available on the app today include video generation and scene-to-image generation with the ability to fine-tune footage, allowing users to make images from 3D sketches, plus audio and video translation into supported languages. Currently, there are two pricing plans: Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro. The former grants access to 2,000 video/audio credits a month and 20 five-second 1080p video generations, while the latter increases the number of credits to 7,000 and video generations to 70. A Firefly Premium plan for professionals is coming soon. You can now purchase a Firefly Standard subscription for $10 a month, while a Firefly Pro subscription costs $30 a month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/adobes-firefly-generative-ai-video-app-is-now-in-public-beta-140030134.html?src=rss
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Qualcomm is bringing AI to its mid-range mobile chip lineup with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Mobile Platform, the company announced. The new chips also promise improved CPU and GPU performance, lower power requirements and faster Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity compared to the previous chip. The new AI features are made possible with support for Qualcom's on-device Gen AI support, allowing voice-activated assistants, background noise reduction during calls and more. It's also the first 6-series Snapdragon processor with support for INT4 that allows generative AI to run more efficiently on small devices. Qualcomm Qualcomm is also promising 11 percent improved CPU performance via its latest Kryo CPU and a 29 percent boost in GPU performance. Neither of those gains will stress your battery, thanks to a 12 percent savings in power. Qualcomm is also debuted its 5G Modem-RF systems that promises to improve 5G speeds and compatibility, while introducing Wi-Fi 6E connectivity via its FastConnect system. Other. new features include lossless audio and a triple ISP that will allow phones to take photos and record videos simultaneously. All of that means that Android users won't need to break the bank on flagship devices to get the latest AI features and decent speed. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Mobile Platform will soon appear on Oppo, Honor and other devices, the company said. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/qualcomms-snapdragon-6-gen-4-is-its-first-mid-range-chip-with-ai-support-140005612.html?src=rss
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