This is a quickie before we move on to the NEX/E-system announcements from today, but in addition to two Alpha cameras (the SLT-A65 and SLT-A77), Sony has added one lens to its Alpha line-up, in the form of the DT 2.8/16-50mm SSM. As always, the name says it all, if you know the code. Slipping on my Super-Special-Secret-Sony Decoder Ring here, I can tell you that DT means this is for APS-C bodies only, no full frame. As such, it’ll always be subject to a 15x crop and winds up looking the same as a 24-75mm. The f2.8 constant aperture is self-explanatory and shows that this is a serious lens despite being crop-only. The last part, SSM, just lets you know it uses super-sonic motor focusing, for fast and quiet AF.
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Sony Finally Replaces A700 with SLT-A77 Translucent-Mirrored Camera
We’re going to continue our announcement party today with the SLT-A77, but first we need to have story time. So, fluff those pillows, grab a juice box, and gather ’round.
The year was 2007, and I’d just begun my tenure as Roberts’ resident web guru. It was an exciting year for the digital world. Canon had announced their EOS-1D Mark III, Nikon had announced the D40, their first true consumer DSLR, Olympus announced the E-410 and E-510 twins and with them the return of live view and the introduction of the interactive rear menu, and Sony finally released its first DSLRs after having acquired the failing Minolta brand: the quirky entry-level A100 and the prosumer A700.
Since then, Sony has announced 20 Alpha models. They have added full-frame cameras, and invented the pellicle-mirrored SLT series. But it took them until today, 4 years, for one of those Alphas to finally replace that A700.
So, was it worth that kind of wait? A lot has changed since the A700 hit the market. Live view is no longer seen as a rare gimmick, but now a de facto gimmick. Full-frame has become a prevalent consumer product. Nikon wowed the world with its 51-point AF 3D matrix that acted more like magic than what we knew of AF at the time. Olympus and Panasonic shook things up by announcing a new breed of camera that had the DSLR sensor–but not its mirror–in a point-and-shoot sized body. The megapixel race died off in favor of the high ISO race. HD video in DSLRs became a thing, and then became the norm.
So, after all that, what’s the A77 bringing to the table?
Well, right off the bat it’s using Sony’s new-fangled fixed mirror technology, which allows for traditional fast phase-detection AF, but since the mirror isn’t flapping around it can keep focusing while shooting and can shoot notably faster. It also means there’s no optical viewfinder, and instead there’s an electronic one piping out the sensor’s full-time live view.
In this case, that electronic viewfinder is a 0.5″ OLED one (not LCD) with 2 million friggin’ dots of resolution. And that continuous shooting rate is a very commendable 14 frames per second (which was unheard of when the EOS-1D Mark III claimed to reach it back in 2007, and hasn’t been seen since). It’s got 24 megapixels, 19 AF points, a 3″ 921,000 dot tilt/swivel LCD, ISO 50-25,600 expanded (100-16,000 native), 1080 video with a built-in mic over the pop-up flash, a shutter life of 150,000 actuations, and a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 second. There’s a weather-sealed magnesium body wrapped around it all, with a top-deck LCD and available grip for a second battery. It also includes Sony’s now-typical sweep panorama and 3D shooting modes, as well as all the face-detection bells-and-whistles you could want. And, there’s GPS built in to geotag your photos, no accessory or dongle required.
Interested parties should look into stashing away $1400 for the body only, or $2000 if they’d like to buy it with the newly announced 16-50mm f2.8 DT standard zoom (DT means it’s crop sensor only, and with Sony’s 1.5x crop that’s give it the same field-of-view as a 24-75mm). But, since you’ve had four years to save up, that shouldn’t be so hard, right?
More images and a press release after the jump.
Sony Announces SLT-A65 Translucent Mirror Non-DSLR Camera
We’ve got a lot of announcements to swim through this morning, with six point-and-shoots from Nikon and four cameras, a camcorder, 4 lenses, and a lens adapter from Sony. That’s a lot to field, so bare with us as we look it all over ehre and let you know whats what.
I’m going to kick things off with the Sony SLT-A65. The “SLT” designation denotes that this is the new generation of Alpha cameras, and it seems at this point that the old generation is now over with. These new breed of Alpha cameras aren’t technically DSLRs anymore. The “SLR” stood for “Single Lens Reflex,” and referenced the fact that a mirror sitting in from of the imager directed light up through a viewfinder, andthen had to flip out of the way forthe exposure. The new SLT cameras use a semi-translucent fixed mirror (technically a pellicle mirror) over the sensor to direct a tiny amount of light to the phase-detect autofocus sensor, and the rest straight through to the sensor. This allows full time live view a la compacts and EVILs, but keeps the phase detect AF of DSLRs. Your viewfinder is powered by the live view pumped through a smaller display.
So, the A65 is the newest body in the line up to use this technology, slotting in above the A35 and A55, but below the A77 (which we’ll get to next). There are two immediate things of note:
- The resolution has jumped up to a ludicrous 24 megapixels (the A55 stops at a merely insane 16 of them)
- The electronic viewfinder is no longer LCD, it’s now OLED, and it’s now got over 2 million dots of resolution. Yes, 2 million. The very well-regarded LCDs on most high end cameras have a meager 921,000 dots in comparison. And are 3″ diagonal instead of 0.5″ diagonal. Try to imagine 2 million dots of resolution in a mere .5″ diagonal. That thing is going to be sexy.
So, those are the big points. There are other ones to make, though. The AF points are down to 15 from 19 on the A55, but three of them are cross type. It has a continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second, and since the mirror doesn’t flap around it can keep on focusing while shooting those. It’s got a tilting 3″ 921,000 dot LCD on the back. It also has GPS built in, no dongles and accessories needed here. The ISO can go from 50-25,600 when expanded, and tops out at a paltry ISO 16,000 native. There are three zeroes there, by the way. In my sleep-deprived, bleary-eyed spec reading I thought it said “1,600″ and was quite unimpressed until Nick smacked me for being a dolt.
Also, Sony’s using a new electronic first curtain for all their always-exposed sensors, which solves the problems of needing to cover the sensor before they could make an exposure and dropping the shutter lag from 100ms to a rather competitive 20ms.
Pricing for the A65 will be around $900 body only, or a cool grand with an 18-55mm lens.
More pictures and press release after the jump.
Sony Showing New Concept Camera to Finally Replace Aging A700
Man, 2007 was a younger, wilder time, and Sony had just added a new camera to it’s very fledgling Alpha series: The A700. It was, at the time, a really impressive offering for anyone willing to throw in with the newest kid on the block. The year’s have come and gone, and the low-end has seen multiple revisions, and a new full-frame high end duo was added, and then the new translucent mirror bodies were added as the future of the low end, and still the A700 went without an update. But, finally, no longer. Sony Japan is showing a prototype model of it’s new middle grade shooter, using the same semi-translucent SLT system as the A33 and A55, presumably to be released as the A77. They’re promising a release for the real deal yet this year, and if you can read Japanese you can hit the link below to learn more. When you do, report back to us, yeah?
Unspecified Sigma lenses in a-mount have an aperture related error on a33 a55, Sigma offers free fix
Trickling into the feed today comes news that some Sigma lenses for the a-mount used by Sony are experiencing aperture errors on the a33 and a55 pellicle mirror bodies.
Sigma is offering a free service to correct the issue to owners of a-mount Sigma lenses who have purchased an a33 or a55 body. They caution that for lenses which have been discontinued for a vague number of years a modification may not be available. Follow the source link for more information.
Sony Introduces Alpha A580 and A560 DSLRs
While not the most exciting cameras Sony trotted out today, Sony’s upgrades to it’s 500-series DSLRs are still very solid. They use the dual-sensor system for Live View Sony is renowned for using to date, so even in Live View you get to keep the phase-detect AF. But, that AF module has been upgraded now to 15 points with 3 of them being the better cross-type points.
The A580 will sport a 16 megapixel sensor, and the A560 a 14 megapixel one. They’ll both record 1080i HD video with audio either via intenral mic or via an external phono jack.
Continuing Sony’s trend of putting all its new features into every camera going forward, these DSLRs will support the Sweep Panorama, 3D Sweep Panorama, Auto HDR, and Handheld Twilight modes first introduced on other models, such as the NEX line.
And the “Smart Teleconvertor” digital zoom button has been replaced by a direct movie button. Good call, Sony. Good call.
Of course they maintain the 3″ vari-tilt LCDs and internal sensor-shift image stabilization of the Alpha line up. The controls has been jiggered a bit to hopefully be even more ergonomic, and so forth.
We’re unsure if the A580 is slated for a US release, but the A560 will be available sometime early next year. So, don’t worry current 500 series owners, you’ve got a few months yet to save up your pennies and dimes for the next upgrade.
Sony Introduces Alpha A55 / A55V and A33 DSLRs with Semi-Transparent Pellicle Mirrors
Once again Sony is reworking an already tried idea and claiming it as its own (the last time it did this was with the dual-sensor live view DSLRS, actually pioneered by the Olympus E-330), and once again we’ll probably let them get away with it because what they’re doing is admittedly quite cool. This time they’re reviving an idea Canon apparently tried in the 60′s of using a semi-transparent mirror. The idea was a third of the light went through the viewfinder, and 2/3 through to the film, and the mirror didn’t have to flip. It also meant the viewfinder was dark and the shots needed 1/3 stop more exposure, but hey, kudos for trying.
The Sony is a bit different. As you might know, Sony’s goal has been to make live view as seamless a process as possible, and they’re dedicated to bringing the faster, mirror-requiring phase detect auto-focus speeds to a system that normally requires the use of slower contrast-detect. Their first solution was the previously mentioned dual sensors. If you turned on live-view it shifted the mirror to bounce the light not through the viewfinder, but onto a secondary imaging sensor for live-view output. This allowed the mirror to continue bouncing part of the light into the same auto-focus sensor the camera used in regular mode.
This new solution uses a mirror that’s mostly transparent, it’s only enough of a mirror to redirect enough light into the auto-focus sensor for it to work. The rest barrels straight through the mirror and onto the sensor. This means that an optical viewfinder isn’t possible, and Sony gets around this by using a new time-multiplexed electronic viewfinder with a resolution equivalent to 1,152,000 dots (Canon and Nikon’s high-end offerings only have 921,000 dots on their 3″ screens, for comparison). What you’re left with is an SLR style camera with full-time Live View and full-time phase-detect auto-focus. Sony’s calling the tech “SLT” or “Single Lens Transluscent.” Sounds good to us.
So, these SLTs are neat in concept, and Sony doesn’t let it slide to gimmick by backing them with a host of the usual DSLR features. The A55V will have a 16 megapixel sensor, a GPS module, and thanks to that non-flipping mirror it can shot those 16mp images at 10 frames a second. (There’ll be an A55, too, we hear, but not in the US, and it won’t have the GPS). The A33 is only a paltry 14 megapixels, no GPS, and can only crank along at 7 frames per second. They both use those high-end EVFs, and both sport 3″ 921,000 dot center-hinged tilt-swivel LCDs on the back. And of course they have SteadyShot sensor-shift image stabilization.
The SLT tech also lets them have full 1080i HD movies modes with full-time auto-focus, so that’s a win.
They’ll both also feature those shiny new Sony features the high end compacts and NEX cams have been using, like Sweep Panorama, 3D Sweep Panorama, Auto HDR, and Handheld Twilight modes.
They’ll record to Memory Stick or the much more reasonable SD/SDHC/SDXC.
These two models will reportedly start shipping sometime in October, the A55V will be $750 body only, $850 with an 18-55. The A33 will be $650 body only, $750 with 18-55mm.
Sony Updates Entry-level D-SLR offerings
Side by side, the a-290 and a-390
We’re looking again at Sony’s interchangeable lens line. This time the entry-side Alphas. (Aside, I’d like to note that I’m a little sad that their E-mount isn’t also named for a Greek letter, but Eta mount or Epsilon mount might have thrown a few people if the Greek character were used. Similarly Omega would be hilarious, but I don’t think they’re allied with the Indianapolis Colts.) From a-230 and a-380, we’re getting the a-290 and a-390. It appears that the 90s will be running concurrently with their predecessors for a bit.
Most notably the resolution gets a 40% jump from 10.2 to 14MP on the a-290 and the handgrip has been redesigned for both models. The finish on each has been homogenized. The 290 lacks live-view, but retains wireless flash control, and SDHC support.
The 390, on the other hand, has a tilting LCD, Live view (with a dedicated sensor) and the same resolution as the 380.
Raw Footage and the Sony NEX-5
So, remember that thing, that system that Sony announced recently? You know? yeah? What was it, interchangeable lens compact, tiny body, Alpha sensor, new “E” mount lenses? Ringing any bell? No?
Well, then you probably have no idea why all the hush-hush cloak-and-dagger in this video. Oh well, you should watch it anyway.
And learn.
Executive Panther out.
Sony Announces NEX-3, NEX-5 EVIL Shooters
Sony has finally anounced it’s new interchangeable lens compact system (you know, like Olympus & Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds system). They’re getting in the claim of having the smallest interchangeable lens compacts going, which does quite seem to be the case, with these two bodies carving out some out some of the already diminutive mass of even the Panasonic GF1.
The two bodies, the NEX-3 and NEX-5, are upgrade differentiated more-so than being actually different models. They both feature the new “E” mount (different from the Alpha series “A” mount inherited from Minolta). In true EVIL fashion, there will be an E to A mount adapter for slapping your Alpha lenses on these beasties.
The core of both bodies is a 14.2 megapixel APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor, like you’d find in the Alpha bodies (which means it’s sporting quite a nice sensor, I’ve been rather pleased with Sony’s DSLR’s output quality every time I’ve used them). They’ve got 3″ tiltable LCDs with 921,000 dots and “TrueBlack” for better outdoor viewing. Over which you’ll of course have the full-time live view with face detection and a 25-point contrast-detect AF array.
They’ll have an ISO range of 200-12,800, and will support RAW with a buffer of up to 8 RAW files at 7 FPS (unlimited JPGs at this rate). And, dual memory card slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC (nice!) or Memory Stick, if you’re stuck with their older proprietary cards. They’ll both have a mounting spot for an optional external flash (none built-in, kiddies. Smallest body, remember?), and a spot to mount an EVF designed for use with the default pancake prime (any of this sounding familiar? Just maybe?)
The NEX-3 is a polycarbonate body, available in black, silver, or red, and records 720p video.
The NEX-5 is a metal body, available in black or silver, and can shoot 720p and 1080p video.
They’ll both be available in kits with either a new 16mm f2.8 pancake or a new 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 zoom. There’s apparently also an 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 zoom planned and a wide-angle converter for the prime (curious to see how well that option works for them).
For more details and purported pricing, hit the external link to the wonderful DC Resource. Some pictures of the new system below.
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