Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Sony A37 SLT Offers 16MP and Full HD for $600

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The Sony A37 was announced today alongside the NEX-F3.  Both cameras are entry-level shooters feature 16MP APS-C CMOS sensors and capture full HD video.

The A37 features Sony’s trademark Translucent Mirror Technology to enable phase detection autofocus while maintaining live view on the A37’s 3-inch tilt/swivel LCD screen.  This fast live view autofocus is available in both photo and video modes – something no other DSLR manufacturer has achieved yet.

The A37 also features sensor-based image stabilization, up to 7 frames per second with 8.4MP stills and a sensitivity range of ISO 100-16,000.  The camera also sports a 1440k dot resolution EVF with 100% coverage.

The Sony A37 should be available in June for $600 with an 18-55mm kit lens.  Check availability at B&H Photo.

Alongside the Sony A37, the new 18-135mm zoom lens was introduced.  It should be available in July for $500.  It will also be sold as a kit with the current Sony Alpha SLT cameras beginning in August 2012.  Check availability at B&H Photo.

More details and images below. [Read more…]

 

Sony NEX-F3 Unveiled

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The Sony NEX-F3 is a follow-up to the popular NEX-C3.  While the resolution is the same as the NEX-C3 (via an APS-C 16.1MP CMOS sensor), the NEX-F3 steps up in a couple of departments.  The NEX-F3 offers full HD 1920 x 1080 video capture in 60i or 24p flavors via AVCHD codec.

Additionally, the NEX-F3 features a 180-degree tiltable LCD screen, which allows you to live view from the front of the camera.  The F3 also sports a built-in pop-up flash (something that was missed on the NEX-C3), making it all the more compact to carry.

The existing FDA-EV1S OLED viewfinder is compatible with the NEX-F3 for those preferring a more traditional camera view rather than the live view display.  The Sony NEX-F3 will be available in June for $600 with an 18-55mm kit lens.  Check availability at B&H Photo.

Alongside the NEX-F3, Sony introduced a revised 18-200mm E-mount lens (for NEX models).  The new 18-200mm lens is smaller and lighter than the old version.  It also comes in black rather than the original silver color. The new lens retails for $850 and should be available in July 2012. Check availability at B&H Photo.

More images and details below. [Read more…]

Sony NEX-FS700 Price Confirmed at $7999

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Sony NEX-FS700

B&H now has the price listed for the Sony NEX-FS700 at $7999 for the camera body.  And, the price with the 18-200mm kit lens is $8599.

We kinda expected a pricepoint in this neighborhood; however, now that I’m actually looking at it, it’s hard to believe that Sony is delivering 240fps at full 1080p for $8k.  And, to boot, it’s going to capture 4K via an external recorder.

No pre-orders yet, but stay tuned.  I’ll let you know as soon as they open up.

Sony NEX-F3 and A37 Specs Leaked

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Sony NEX-F3

It looks like the full specs for the Sony NEX-F3 and A37 entry-level cameras are now out in the wild with a release date of May 17, courtesy of SonyAlphaRumors.  Leaked images vis Yangcanggih. Check out the spec lists below.

Sony NEX-F3 Specs

  • 16.1MP CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100-16,000
  • 1080/24p or 1080/60i
  • MP4 codec
  • 180-degree tilting LCD
  • Built-in flash
  • 3fps
  • No touchscreen
  • $599 price point w/ 18-55mm kit lens

One thing that doesn’t jive with the specs and the leaked images is the MP4 codec listed in the NEX-F3 specs.  The images clearly showed the AVCHD logo on the camera body.  Likewise, a 1080/24p and 1080/60i frame rate suggests an AVCHD 1.0 codec.  If anything, I think the MP4 codec would be for a 720p option (like the NEX-C3) – although, the NEX-F3 appears to offer full 1080p HD video capture in addition to a possible 720p MP4 mode…

With the recent NEX models sporting the AVCHD 2.0 codec, it looks like Sony will differentiate the video capabilities on entry-level models by sticking with a max 30fps frame rate at full 1920 x 1080 resolution via the AVCHD 1.0 codec.  This should make the NEX-F3 a perfect consumer camera with great 1080p video.  And, if you want to get your overcranked footage on for smooth slo-mo, you’ll need to step up to the NEX-5N or higher.

Sony A37 Specs

  • 16.1MP CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100-16,000
  • Built-in SteadyShot image stabilization
  • 7fps frame frate
  • 15-point AF system
  • Tilting LCD
  • 1080/24p and 1080/60i video
  • $599 price point w/ 18-55mm kit lens
  • $799 price point w/ 18-135mm kit lens

The A37 looks to be very competent as well for an entry-level shooter.  Frankly though, unless you have to have the phase-detection AF system of the SLT models, I would suggest most people to choose the NEX-F3 as an entry-level go-to camera over the A37.

I’ll have more concrete thoughts on these models once they are officially announced and I get my hands on them.

Stay tuned.

Sony NEX-F3 Pic Leaked, Due for Launch in May

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Sony NEX-F3

Sony Alpha Rumors just published the above image of the upcoming Sony NEX-F3, which is due to replace the excellent Sony NEX-C3.

The new Sony NEX-F3 will sport a 16.1MP image sensor and is rumored to include a 180-degree tilting LCD, along with a built-in flash.  The presence of the AVCHD logo on the above image also suggest 1080p capture (hopefully, it will be AVCHD 2.0 for 60p like the NEX-5N).

The naming scheme is curious given the Sony PMW-F3, which is a PL mount cinema camera and commonly referred to as simply the “F3”.  Likewise, the potential spec-sheet further suggests that the NEX-F3 may outshine the (also excellent) NEX-5N, in which case we can probably expect a summer 2012 replacement for it as well.

For now, the Sony NEX-F3 is rumored to launch in May 2012, alongside the Sony A37, an entry-level DSLR-ish camera with Sony’s translucent mirror technology.

You can expect to hear a lot more about this camera in the coming weeks.  So, stay tuned.

Sony FS100 Firmware Version 2 Upgrade Now Available

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Sony FS100 Firmware Upgrade

The Sony FS100 firmware version 2 upgrade is now available on Sony’s website.  The new firmware adds the following features to the FS100:

  1. Added 50Hz recording system (PAL): 1920×1080 50p, 50i, 25p and 1280×720 50p.
  2. Camera Profile (camera settings can be saved to and loaded from a memory card).
  3. Additional 4x and 8x Expanded Focus magnification: (with user selectable focus area).
  4. Selectable ISO or GAIN sensitivity display.
  5. Selectable Focus indication in FEET or METERS (E-mount lens only).
  6. Selectable Shutter indication as EXPOSURE TIME or SHUTTER ANGLE.
  7. Added the following Aspect-Ratio markers: 2.35:1, 1.85:1 and 1.66:1.
  8. Display ON/OFF button enables Zebra and/or Histogram overlay onto video output.
  9. Compatible with the new A-Mount to E-Mount adaptor, model LA-EA2. One push Auto-IRIS and continuous 15-point, Phase-Detection Auto-Focus operation with most Alpha A-Mount lenses is available. Lens metadata is displayed onscreen and stored real-time to image file.