Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Sony NEX-FS100

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Sony has just released details on its new professional grade NEX camcorder – the NEX-FS100.  This new camcorder is the big brother to the popular NEX-VG10 and accepts all E-Mount lenses, as well as A-Mount lenses with the use of an adapter.

The Sony NEX-FS100 sports an APS-C / Super35mm format sensor and is capable of recording 1920 x 1080 60p at 28Mbps.  The NEX-FS100 will also capture at 30p and 24p frame rates – and it offers the ability to shoot with a proper 1/48s shutter speed when recording 24p video.  Additionally, the NEX-FS100 includes built-in controls for over- and under-cranking footage at full 1920 x 1080 resolution. [Read more…]

 

Sony NEX-7 Coming Soon?

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The rumor mill is churning about a new NEX flagship camera from Sony.  The rumored Sony NEX-7 was tipped to Photo Rumors as a follow up to the popular NEX-3 and NEX-5, along with the following description:

When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body.

That description reminds me of the recently announced JVC GC-PX1, although it is a fixed lens camera.  Not much more about the new mirrorless camera is known at the moment.

[via Photo Rumors]

Sony Alpha Instant Rebates

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Sony has a number of Alpha models (both DSLR and NEX) on special through March 5, 2011.  Most of the instant rebates are $50 off and include the new Sony A33 and NEX-3.  Additionally, the A900 has a $200 instant rebate; however, those are apparently in short supply at the moment.

See the full list of available Sony instant rebates over here at B&H Photo.

Sony Opens E-Mount for Third-Party Lenses

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Sony has announced that it will be unlocking the keys to its popular NEX camera models (i.e., the E-mount specifications) and allow third-parties to develop lenses for the system.  What’s more, Sony won’t charge them a dime.

Given the initial popularity of cameras like the NEX-5 and NEX-VG10, I would expect to see plenty of lenses down the road from the likes of Sigma and others.  In fact, Sony is touting the endorsement of the move by Sigma, Zeiss, Cosina, and Tamron.

No specifics on what glass will be the first on store shelves, but my guess is that these guys already have stuff in progress.

Any Sony NEX owners out there with a wish-list of lenses from Zeiss, Sigma, etc.?

Sony Bringing Translucent Mirror to NEX-Format Cameras?

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If a recent patent application from Sony is any indicator of coming products, it looks like we could see a translucent mirror in future NEX-format cameras.

The obvious benefit of using this design in future NEX cameras is the ability to use a phase-difference autofocus mechanism (as typically found in DSLRs) instead of the slower, less accurate contrast-detection method that so-called “mirrorless” cameras have used to date.

Sony has already forged this technology in current Alpha “DSLR” models – Sony A33 and A55.  The rapid live view and video autofocus in the A33 and A55 looks to be a hit among reviewers so far.

Essentially, this patent application presents the A55 in an NEX-5 body.  It’s actually a design that should have been pretty easy to see coming.  There’s nothing really new that’s not already in the A55 . . . Sony’s just taking out the parts that make it look like a DSLR and presenting it in a smaller package more akin to the NEX cameras we already know.  And, it could very well be an Alpha mount camera in a compact shell, which would mean native functionality with Alpha lenses.

While I found the AF speed and accuracy in the Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 to be quite acceptable, taking it up a notch or two wouldn’t hurt at all.

What do you think about this design?  Would you be interested in an APS-C camera that is this compact and has DSLR-like AF speed?

[via PhotoRumors]

Sony NXCAM HD Camcorder in Development, Uses NEX E-Mount

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Sony is teasing the development of a new pro-level NXCAM camcorder that uses the same E-Mount lenses found on the popular NEX-series of cameras, like the 18-200mm lens packaged with the Sony NEX-VG10.

Because the NXCAM uses features the E-Mount system, it can accept Sony Alpha mount lenses like the 70-400mm with the aid of the LA-EA1 adapter, which appears to be attached in the above screenshots.

Good news on the recording format front – it looks like the NXCAM will feature full 1920 x 1080 resolution in AVCHD format at a variety of frame rates, including 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and the all-important 24p.  Check out the video below for the rest of the teaser. [Read more…]