Tony also continues to claim the A9 is useless for sports and BIF. That is such incredible BS, I wouldn't even dream of trying to have a reasoned argument with him.
I have the A9II, had the A9 before, had the A7RIV (sold to help fund A1) and I have the R5. I've shots 10,000s of BIF frames with all those cameras. A lot of what I'm reading on this thread is complete hyperbole in both directions. On one hand there are claims that R5 is at most 10% of the A1/A9 for fast action...hogwash. On the other hand you claiming the R5 is 90+ of anything the A1 can do is also unsupported. Now I can't yet make claims about the A1...mine is prioritized through Sony Pro Support for first day shipment and my preorder was in a week before Sony even announced the camera just in case it was any good. I'll have it in my hands early March. Only then after shooting for awhile will I be able to say how it compares to the A9 and how it compares to the R5. But at least I'll have all three in my hands to figure that out for myself and share my opinions with others that may be still deciding between those different cameras.
All I can say right now is my clear thoughts on how the A9II and R5 compare. R5's Bird Eye-AF is an excellent feature...I love it....A9II Bird Eye-AF isn't worth the time and not even officially supported (but it does work under certain conditions/species). A1 Bird-Eye AF remains to be seen...Tony's impressions don't sound great but it's Tony...remember the guy who told us the R5 was useless for BIF while he had it totally setup wrong and was using an outdated lens that couldn't even take advantage of the full performance?....yeah that guy...LOL
When it comes to shooting faster BIF, the A9II still has the edge in quick acquisition and holding the subject. The R5 still can jump off subject if backgrounds have too much contrast or bright highlights. Also the ease of shooting the A9II because of the live feed to the EVF is easier than the R5. Anytime you let off the R5's shutter while tracking a fast moving BIF you get thrown ahead in time because it had been showing you a previous interpolated frame even at 20FPS ES. While you actively hold down the shutter and pan with the BIF, it isn't too far off the A9II but I much prefer small controlled bursts as the bird approaches and the R5 isn't as easy to do that with. I still have yet to test the R5 on my most challenging subject...that will happen early March when the Violet-Green Swallows return to my shooting spot...which is now even more perfect because I can throw all three cameras at them.
While I can agree with a lot of what you are saying, I can say that I haven’t had the trouble with tracking on the R5 that you describe - but that could be a difference in conditions between us or a difference in technique. In my limited experience the R5 holds it weight and earns it’s keep.
Sony Northrup aside, if you placed the A1 and the R5 side by side, there is no way you would be able to convince me that the A1 is going to track a bird $3000 better than an R5.
You mention ‘an outdated lens’ but don’t mention that’s what a lot of people have. I read over at Reddit a lot (it’s good entertainment and I learn) and a lot of the folks who spring for an R5 or even an R6 are putting their legacy gear on the front of it because that’s all they can afford. I’m not familiar with the Northrup review you’re talking about because I don’t watch his videos (it was there so I clicked - I don’t subscribe). Having said that, the R5 has performed natively and without issue with every single lens I’ve put on it and some of them are absolutely outdated.
Your response is fair and I’ll certainly wait to see what other reviewers and actual users think before I form a real opinion about the A1. So far, from what I’ve seen on the spec sheet and heard from now two sources, someone must have the A1 set up wrong as well because no way is it worth two R5s, bird-eye autofocus and/or tracking or no.
It’ll also be interesting to see if the A1 gets roasted (pun) for overheating in 16 minutes unless it’s placed in “cook me daddy” mode, and how well it’s weak rear screen is received seeing as how this is Sony’s 8K mirrorless flagship. Really? THAT screen on a $7000 (with grip that should already be there) camera?
I’ll take two R5s please.