Sony Airpeak S1: a drone for full-frame cameras

Since November 2020, we've known that Sony will soon enter the drone market. Now more details have been released. The Sony Airpeak S1 won’t be an entry-level drone. It’s designed to create professional productions.

The Airpeak S1 is capable of carrying a full-frame camera and lens. Its max. load is 2,534 grams. The drone itself weighs 3,144 grams without the battery. It reaches speeds of up to 90 km/h and can withstand strong winds of up to 72 km/h. However, the flight time is only 12 minutes with a Sony Alpha A7S III with the SEL24F14GM lens – that’s in calm conditions and at moderate speed.

With five stereo image sensors, the camera is intended to avoid obstacles and navigate without requiring satellite navigation. This means it’s also suitable for indoor use.

There’s no RRP yet, but Sony estimates the drone's market price at one million yen. That is about 8,200 Swiss francs or 7,500 euros. That’s without gimbal, camera and lens.

Sony lists the following cameras as compatible: A1, A7 III, A7C, A7R IV, A7S III, A9, A9 II and FX3. However, Sony adds that not all functions are available with every model and every firmware. When it comes to lenses, Sony specifies 13 models, all of them with fixed focal lengths between 14 and 85 mm. Update: I've been told by Sony that there are no plans to launch the drone in Europe before 2022. It will only be launched in Japan and the US for now.