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Posts Tagged ‘Sony’

Overview of Several New Sony Cameras

04 Jan

Sony has released several new cameras over the last few months including:

  • The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 Mark II all-in-one camera
  • The Sony A7RII mirrorless camera
  • The Sony A7SII mirrorless camera
  • The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R Mark II full frame fixed lens camera

In these two videos you can get an overview of these cameras’ features and get an idea of which one might be right for you if you’re in the market for a camera:

First up the Cyber-shot RX10 Mark II:

B&H Photo does a good job going over the features of this camera and some of its strengths, including 4K video.

More Sony options – by Adorama TV

Adorama interviews Sony rep, Mike, about some of their A7 line-up.

Have you tried any of these cameras? Still want more info?  Try this pages:

  • The 19 Most Popular Compact System and Mirrorless Cameras with Our Readers
  • The 20 Most Popular DSLRs Among our Readers

Add your comments below if you’ve given any of these a test drive.

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The post Overview of Several New Sony Cameras by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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DPReview Gear of the Year part 5: Barney’s choice – Sony RX1R II

21 Dec
The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II is a 42MP full-frame compact camera, with one of the best AF systems of any non-DSLR camera on the market. And I want one. 

Photo: Sam Spencer.

I’m a sucker for 35mm. I reckon that 90% of the pictures I like to take could be (or are) taken at this focal length. That’s why I have a Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art almost permanently attached to my DSLR, and why when I’m not shooting with that, I can probably be seen out and about using my old Fujifilm X100S. In fact it was the X100S that I wrote about for my last ‘Gear of the Year’ article, way back in 2013 (no offense, noble cameras of 2014. I guess I was just really busy this time last year. I’ll call you). 

It’s because I love 35mm that I really wanted to love the original Sony Cyber-shot RX1 and R. On paper they were perfect: a high-quality 24MP full-frame sensor (without an AA filter, in the case of the RX1R), 35mm F2 lens, with full manual control and the option to add a high resolution external EVF, in a compact body. What’s not to like?

I had a love / hate relationship when shooting with the original RX1R. In low-ish light, the camera’s AF system would routinely fail to accurately acquire focus. Both this image (and the one below) were shot in manual focus mode.  

Sony RX1R, ISO 640, F2.5, 1/80sec 

Quite a lot, as it turns out. Despite high hopes (and to be fair – after taking some pictures that I quite liked) I just didn’t get on with those cameras at all. The external viewfinder was almost essential, but clunky, and made a compact camera into a not-at-all-compact camera the minute it was attached. Battery life was fairly pitiful, and autofocus – dear God the autofocus… Fussy in bright light, unreliable in moderate light and downright unavailable in low light.

Until I tried to take nighttime shots with the RX1R I didn’t believe it was possible for an inanimate object to shrug, but I swear that’s what the damned thing did whenever I half-pressed the shutter button.

Taken by the light of a campfire, this image shows the strength of the original RX1R’s 24MP sensor, but like the previous image I had to resort to manual focus to get a sharp result (focused on the little girl’s face). 

Sony RX1R, ISO 6400, F2, 1/80sec

The original RX1 and RX1R were on the market for a long time, and just when I was beginning to give up hope of ever seeing an improved replacement, along came the RX1R II. 

Compared to the original RX1R, the Mark II version is a breath of fresh air. Inheriting the same 42MP BSI-CMOS full frame sensor (but with an all-new switchable anti-aliasing filter) and 399 phase-detection AF system from the Sony a7R II, the RX1R II is a significant step up.

What I love

  • Excellent resolution
  • High-resolution built-in EVF
  • Very accurate, flexible AF system
  • Compact, relatively lightweight form-factor
  • Large manual controls

Gone is the clumsy add-on FDA-EVM1K, replaced by a built-in, retractable 2.3 million dot OLED finder. I shoot with my eye to the viewfinder almost exclusively, so when Sony representatives first showed us the camera, I nabbed one of the new lockable rubber viewfinder hoods they brought along. The hood prevents the finder from being retracted, but after resorting – twice – to using needle-nosed pliers to loosen the locking screw* I decided just to leave it permanently attached.

With 42MP and a new BSI design, the sensor in the RX1R II is significantly more advanced than the already very good 24MP sensor in the older RX1R. Like all current Sony full-frame sensors it offers extraordinary dynamic range, allowing me to expose just shy of highlight clipping for this ISO 100 shot, and pull up the shadows very significantly in Photoshop. The final result shows a very wide dynamic range from bright to dark without feeling too ‘HDR’. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 100, F6.3, 1/400sec

Just aesthetically, I really like the RX1R II, and it’s a camera that tends to attract admiring glances when I’m out shooting. Like the Fujifilm X100S, more than a few people have commented to me that it looks like a film camera, but the semi-retro styling doesn’t come at the expense of usability (keep walking, Nikon Df…). 

Cosmetics aside, the RX1R II also produces great images, exactly as we’d expect from a camera using such a high-quality sensor. Like recent a7-series cameras, Sony has included an uncompressed Raw option in the RX1R II.This gives maximum quality but at the expense of very large file sizes – roughly 80MB each, to be precise, compared to JPEGs which are typically less than ten. This slows the camera down, and eats through memory cards with frightening rapidity. 

While I didn’t much care for the original RX1/R overall but I did enjoy that 35mm F2 Zeiss lens. And although it was designed for a 24MP resolution it successfully keeps up with the much higher pixel density of the new sensor in the RX1R II. Sadly though, neither the sensor nor the lens is stabilized so with 42MP in play, even though sometimes I’ve gotten away with 1/30sec, I’m in the habit of treating 1/125sec as my safe ‘slowest’ shutter speed when hand-holding.

After dark, the RX1R II’s focus system is far superior to that of its predecessor. This shot was hand-held after dark, and shot wide open at F2.

Sony RX1R II, ISO 400, F2, 1/50sec

Alright, so the sensor is great, the AF system is transformed, and the built-in viewfinder is lovely. What about my one remaining major criticism of the original RX1R? – Battery life. 

Sadly, the RX1R II’s battery is the same NP-BX1 found in the first generation RX1R and all of Sony’s RX100 series compacts. Even just physically, the BX1 is comically small. Like, lose-it-in-your-pocket small. And while it’s rated for a modest 200 shots, in cold weather I’ve come to expect far less. 

In temperatures around freezing, I quickly fell into the habit of holding the battery slipped into a glove, and placing it in the camera only when needed. You know – like we had to do in the 1990s. Fortunately, Sony is shipping the RX1R II with a handy USB-powered charger, which means you don’t need to plug the camera in to charge the battery, as with other RX-series Sony compacts. So that’s one step forward, at least. 

Face detection worked well for this shot in one sense – it resulted in a nicely-balanced exposure, in a situation where my subject could easily be backlit. I should have activated Eye-AF though, because focus has fallen slightly short of my subject’s eyes.

Sony RX1R II, ISO 100, F4, 1/125sec

I’ve been using the RX1R II for a while now and I keep on having to remind myself that despite its high price-tag it is still a Cyber-shot camera, with a lot of the same quirks of much cheaper compact cameras in Sony’s lineup. In fact, it’s impossible to ignore. There’s the same lengthy startup time, the same lag – before – you – can – zoom – in to the images you’ve captured, the same confusing, rather passive aggressive error messages when you try to do something before the camera is ready or when it’s in the wrong mode, and the same somewhat confusingly-named array of AF modes.

Exposed to retain the very delicate warmth in the sky just above the horizon, this ISO 320 shot was converted from a Raw file, and the shadows lifted in Adobe Camera Raw. I performed some very slight noise reduction, but could still smooth out the midtones a lot more if I wanted to. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 320, F2, 1/60sec

There are a couple of outright bugs, too. For example, despite not offering any form of SteadyShot image stabilization in still capture, the RX1R II will still blink a reminder at slow shutter speeds that this non-existent feature is turned off.

After shooting thousands of frames with the RX1R II, I’ve learned to live with these minor annoyances but I do with Sony had sprung for a couple of extra components. A more powerful processor would make a huge difference to the overall handling experience (especially in uncompressed Raw mode) and I wish it had a touchscreen. I’ve come to really value touch-sensitive screens over the past couple of years, mostly for AF placement when shooting from low angles.

This grabshot was taken on a tabletop, using live view. The RX1R II’s flip-out screen is very handy for pictures like this, but even handier would be a touch-sensitive screen, which would have allowed me to position the autofocus point precisely, by touch. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 12800, F2, 1/60

All this being said, after a lot of thought, I picked the RX1R II as my personal choice for gear of the year. And I did that because it’s one of those cameras – like my Fujifilm X100S – that is capable of such good results that I am prepared to work around its quirks and largely forgive its faults. I should give an honorary mention to the Leica Q, though. In some ways the Q is a more pleasant camera to use but its sensor isn’t as advanced, I don’t love 28mm as much as 35mm, and my Christmas bonus* wasn’t generous enough to justify its higher cost.

Not that the RX1R II is cheap, of course. But if I have to move into a tent for a couple of months to save up enough to buy one, I’m willing to consider it. Once it’s stopped raining.

* Pliers were resorted to only after I broke a nail trying to do it with my fingers. Yeah, I know. Shut up.  
** Ha ha ha ha ha. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview Gear of the Year part 4: Barney’s choice – Sony RX1R II

21 Dec
The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II is a 42MP full-frame compact camera, with one of the best AF systems of any non-DSLR camera on the market. And I want one. 

Photo: Sam Spencer.

I’m a sucker for 35mm. I reckon that 90% of the pictures I like to take could be (or are) taken at this focal length. That’s why I have a Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art almost permanently attached to my DSLR, and why when I’m not shooting with that, I can probably be seen out and about using my old Fujifilm X100S. In fact it was the X100S that I wrote about for my last ‘Gear of the Year’ article, way back in 2013 (no offense, noble cameras of 2014. I guess I was just really busy this time last year. I’ll call you). 

It’s because I love 35mm that I really wanted to love the original Sony Cyber-shot RX1 and R. On paper they were perfect: a high-quality 24MP full-frame sensor (without an AA filter, in the case of the RX1R), 35mm F2 lens, with full manual control and the option to add a high resolution external EVF, in a compact body. What’s not to like?

I had a love / hate relationship when shooting with the original RX1R. In low-ish light, the camera’s AF system would routinely fail to accurately acquire focus. Both this image (and the one below) were shot in manual focus mode.  

Sony RX1R, ISO 640, F2.5, 1/80sec 

Quite a lot, as it turns out. Despite high hopes (and to be fair – after taking some pictures that I quite liked) I just didn’t get on with those cameras at all. The external viewfinder was almost essential, but clunky, and made a compact camera into a not-at-all-compact camera the minute it was attached. Battery life was fairly pitiful, and autofocus – dear God the autofocus… Fussy in bright light, unreliable in moderate light and downright unavailable in low light.

Until I tried to take nighttime shots with the RX1R I didn’t believe it was possible for an inanimate object to shrug, but I swear that’s what the damned thing did whenever I half-pressed the shutter button.

Taken by the light of a campfire, this image shows the strength of the original RX1R’s 24MP sensor, but like the previous image I had to resort to manual focus to get a sharp result (focused on the little girl’s face). 

Sony RX1R, ISO 6400, F2, 1/80sec

The original RX1 and RX1R were on the market for a long time, and just when I was beginning to give up hope of ever seeing an improved replacement, along came the RX1R II. 

Compared to the original RX1R, the Mark II version is a breath of fresh air. Inheriting the same 42MP BSI-CMOS full frame sensor (but with an all-new switchable anti-aliasing filter) and 399 phase-detection AF system from the Sony a7R II, the RX1R II is a significant step up.

What I love

  • Excellent resolution
  • High-resolution built-in EVF
  • Very accurate, flexible AF system
  • Compact, relatively lightweight form-factor
  • Large manual controls

Gone is the clumsy add-on FDA-EVM1K, replaced by a built-in, retractable 2.3 million dot OLED finder. I shoot with my eye to the viewfinder almost exclusively, so when Sony representatives first showed us the camera, I nabbed one of the new lockable rubber viewfinder hoods they brought along. The hood prevents the finder from being retracted, but after resorting – twice – to using needle-nosed pliers to loosen the locking screw* I decided just to leave it permanently attached.

With 42MP and a new BSI design, the sensor in the RX1R II is significantly more advanced than the already very good 24MP sensor in the older RX1R. Like all current Sony full-frame sensors it offers extraordinary dynamic range, allowing me to expose just shy of highlight clipping for this ISO 100 shot, and pull up the shadows very significantly in Photoshop. The final result shows a very wide dynamic range from bright to dark without feeling too ‘HDR’. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 100, F6.3, 1/400sec

Just aesthetically, I really like the RX1R II, and it’s a camera that tends to attract admiring glances when I’m out shooting. Like the Fujifilm X100S, more than a few people have commented to me that it looks like a film camera, but the semi-retro styling doesn’t come at the expense of usability (keep walking, Nikon Df…). 

Cosmetics aside, the RX1R II also produces great images, exactly as we’d expect from a camera using such a high-quality sensor. Like recent a7-series cameras, Sony has included an uncompressed Raw option in the RX1R II.This gives maximum quality but at the expense of very large file sizes – roughly 80MB each, to be precise, compared to JPEGs which are typically less than ten. This slows the camera down, and eats through memory cards with frightening rapidity. 

While I didn’t much care for the original RX1/R overall but I did enjoy that 35mm F2 Zeiss lens. And although it was designed for a 24MP resolution it successfully keeps up with the much higher pixel density of the new sensor in the RX1R II. Sadly though, neither the sensor nor the lens is stabilized so with 42MP in play, even though sometimes I’ve gotten away with 1/30sec, I’m in the habit of treating 1/125sec as my safe ‘slowest’ shutter speed when hand-holding.

After dark, the RX1R II’s focus system is far superior to that of its predecessor. This shot was hand-held after dark, and shot wide open at F2.

Sony RX1R II, ISO 400, F2, 1/50sec

Alright, so the sensor is great, the AF system is transformed, and the built-in viewfinder is lovely. What about my one remaining major criticism of the original RX1R? – Battery life. 

Sadly, the RX1R II’s battery is the same NP-BX1 found in the first generation RX1R and all of Sony’s RX100 series compacts. Even just physically, the BX1 is comically small. Like, lose-it-in-your-pocket small. And while it’s rated for a modest 200 shots, in cold weather I’ve come to expect far less. 

In temperatures around freezing, I quickly fell into the habit of holding the battery slipped into a glove, and placing it in the camera only when needed. You know – like we had to do in the 1990s. Fortunately, Sony is shipping the RX1R II with a handy USB-powered charger, which means you don’t need to plug the camera in to charge the battery, as with other RX-series Sony compacts. So that’s one step forward, at least. 

Face detection worked well for this shot in one sense – it resulted in a nicely-balanced exposure, in a situation where my subject could easily be backlit. I should have activated Eye-AF though, because focus has fallen slightly short of my subject’s eyes.

Sony RX1R II, ISO 100, F4, 1/125sec

I’ve been using the RX1R II for a while now and I keep on having to remind myself that despite its high price-tag it is still a Cyber-shot camera, with a lot of the same quirks of much cheaper compact cameras in Sony’s lineup. In fact, it’s impossible to ignore. There’s the same lengthy startup time, the same lag – before – you – can – zoom – in to the images you’ve captured, the same confusing, rather passive aggressive error messages when you try to do something before the camera is ready or when it’s in the wrong mode, and the same somewhat confusingly-named array of AF modes.

Exposed to retain the very delicate warmth in the sky just above the horizon, this ISO 320 shot was converted from a Raw file, and the shadows lifted in Adobe Camera Raw. I performed some very slight noise reduction, but could still smooth out the midtones a lot more if I wanted to. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 320, F2, 1/60sec

There are a couple of outright bugs, too. For example, despite not offering any form of SteadyShot image stabilization in still capture, the RX1R II will still blink a reminder at slow shutter speeds that this non-existent feature is turned off.

After shooting thousands of frames with the RX1R II, I’ve learned to live with these minor annoyances but I do with Sony had sprung for a couple of extra components. A more powerful processor would make a huge difference to the overall handling experience (especially in uncompressed Raw mode) and I wish it had a touchscreen. I’ve come to really value touch-sensitive screens over the past couple of years, mostly for AF placement when shooting from low angles.

This grabshot was taken on a tabletop, using live view. The RX1R II’s flip-out screen is very handy for pictures like this, but even handier would be a touch-sensitive screen, which would have allowed me to position the autofocus point precisely, by touch. 

Sony RX1R II, ISO 12800, F2, 1/60

All this being said, after a lot of thought, I picked the RX1R II as my personal choice for gear of the year. And I did that because it’s one of those cameras – like my Fujifilm X100S – that is capable of such good results that I am prepared to work around its quirks and largely forgive its faults. I should give an honorary mention to the Leica Q, though. In some ways the Q is a more pleasant camera to use but its sensor isn’t as advanced, I don’t love 28mm as much as 35mm, and my Christmas bonus* wasn’t generous enough to justify its higher cost.

Not that the RX1R II is cheap, of course. But if I have to move into a tent for a couple of months to save up enough to buy one, I’m willing to consider it. Once it’s stopped raining.

* Pliers were resorted to only after I broke a nail trying to do it with my fingers. Yeah, I know. Shut up.  
** Ha ha ha ha ha. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony bringing Alpha SLT-A68 to the US and Canada

18 Dec

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Sony is bringing its Alpha SLT-A68 DSLR camera – announced in Europe back on November 5th – to the US and Canada this spring.

The a68 uses the company’s Translucent Mirror Technology, which allows for 8 fps continuous shooting with full-time autofocus, without any blackout between shots. The ‘4D’ autofocus system is borrowed from the more expensive a77 II and features 79 points, 15 of which are cross-type.

The a68 has a 24MP CMOS sensor, which tops out at ISO 25600, and is paired with the not-as-new Bionz X processor. As with all of Sony’s A-mount cameras it has built-in image stabilization, so every lens you attach has shake reduction. 

From a design standpoint the a68 has a curvy, SLR-style body with a 3″ (461k-dot) tilting LCD and SVGA OLED electronic viewfinder. It has twin control dials as well as an info display on the top plate. Also included is a Multi Interface Shoe that supports both flashes and advanced microphones.

The a68 can record Full HD video at 30p with continuous AF using the XAVC S codec, with a top bit rate of 50Mbps. The camera can output clean video over HDMI and also has a jack for an external mic.

Preorders for the SLT-A68 begin in March for shipment in April. The body only kit is priced at $ 599/800 CAD, while adding an 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens brings the price up to $ 699/950 CAD. 

Press release:

Sony Announces ?68 A-mount Camera for US and Canada Markets

New Model Features Ultra-Fast 4D FOCUS, Translucent Mirror Technology and more

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17, 2015 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced the ?68 (model ILCA-68) camera with ultra-fast 4D autofocus to the US and Canada markets.

The new camera, which was announced for the European market last month, is the latest model to feature native compatibility with Sony’s extensive collection of A-mount lenses.  Inheriting many pro-style features from the acclaimed ?77 II, the ?68 features Sony’s unique 4D FOCUS system that delivers extraordinary AF performance under any shooting conditions – even in lighting as low as EV-2 where many other cameras struggle.

This system utilizes 79 autofocus points – the most AF points on any interchangeable lens camera with a dedicated phase-detection AF sensor1.  Included are 15 cross points as well as a dedicated F2.8 AF sensor point for dimly-lit scenes.  This all adds up to extremely fast, wide area AF with predictive tracking that locks faithfully onto fast-moving subjects.  Additionally, the camera utilizes Sony’s unique Translucent Mirror Technology to deliver constant AF tracking at up to 8 fps2.

The camera features a 24 MP3 APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor with a wide ISO 100 – 25,600 sensitivity range4, allowing it to produce outstanding image quality for both still images and video.  The sensor is teamed with a powerful BIONZ X image processor that uses Detail Reproduction and Diffraction-reducing Technologies plus Area-specific Noise Reduction, resulting in pristine, finely detailed shots every time.

Full HD movies use the efficient XAVC S5 format, enabling high bit rate recordings at up to 50 Mbps with outstanding detail and low noise. With Translucent Mirror Technology, shooters can enjoy non-stop continuous autofocus with accurate subject tracking during video shooting, producing crisp, professional looking footage.  With a powerful array of advanced controls and capabilities, the ?68 has plenty to offer experienced amateurs as well as step-up photographers and first time interchangeable lens camera customers.  

Framing stills and movies is a pleasure through the clear, bright OLED Tru-Finder, which features 100% frame coverage with high contrast and accurate color reproduction.  Complementing the Tru-Finder, the 2.7-type LCD monitor tilts up to 135 degrees upwards or 55 degrees downwards for comfortable composition from a wide variety of shooting angles. Serious photo enthusiasts will also value the backlit top display that allows quick confirmation of camera settings, whether shooting handheld or on a tripod.

As found on the critically acclaimed ?7 series, the ?68 has a control wheel on the camera’s rear that allows quick fingertip adjustment of camera settings, as well as 10 customizable buttons6 that frequently-used functions can be assigned to.  There is also a front control dial for quick adjustments of settings and a sturdy grip to ensure a balanced shooting experience, even when using heavyweight prime or telephoto lenses.

The new camera features SteadyShot INSIDE stabilization to reduce the effects of camera shake and allow for blur-free handheld shooting at all focal lengths, with any compatible lens.  Additionally, the inclusion of a Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal lets users expand their creative options with a wide range of optional accessories, including flashes, lights, microphones and remote commanders.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony ?68 interchangeable lens camera will be available in April at authorized Sony retailers in the US for about $ 600 body only or about $ 700 in a kit along with the DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II lens.  In Canada, the body and kit will also be available in April and will be sold for about $ 800 and $ 950 CAD, respectively.

1. According to Sony research, as of December 2015
2. In Tele-Zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE
3. Approximate effective megapixels
4. Still Images: ISO 100 – 25600, Movies: ISO100 – 12800 equivalent
5. An SDXC memory card with a Class 10 or higher speed rating is required for XAVC S recording
6. Total 10 customizable buttons including two dedicated custom buttons + 8 assignable buttons

Sony Alpha SLT-A68 specifications

Price
MSRP €600 (body only), €700 (with 18-55mm lens)
Body type
Body type Mid-size SLR
Body material Composite
Sensor
Max resolution 6000 x 4000
Other resolutions 3:2 (4240 x 2832, 3008 x 2000), 16:9 (6000 x 3376, 4240 x 2400, 3008 x 1688)
Image ratio w:h 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 24 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 25 megapixels
Sensor size APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor Bionz X
Color space sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array Primary color filter
Image
ISO Auto, 100-25600
White balance presets 9
Custom white balance Yes (3 slots)
Image stabilization Sensor-shift
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Super fine, fine, normal
File format
  • JPEG (DCF v2.0, EXIF v2.3)
  • Raw (ARW 2.3)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Phase Detect
  • Multi-area
  • Center
  • Selective single-point
  • Tracking
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Digital zoom Yes (1.4x – 8x)
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 79
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha
Focal length multiplier 1.5×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Tilting
Screen size 2.7″
Screen dots 460,800
Touch screen No
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.88×
Viewfinder resolution 1,440,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Exposure modes
  • Auto
  • Program
  • Aperture Priority
  • Shutter speed priority
  • Manual
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash Yes (via hot shoe)
Flash modes Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
Drive modes
  • Single-frame
  • Continuous high/low
  • Continuous advance priority AE
  • Self-timer
Continuous drive 8.0 fps
Self-timer Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing ±3 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing Yes (3 shots, low/high selectable)
Videography features
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Videography notes Supports XAVC S with 50Mbps bit rate (30p, 24p)
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro HDMI)
Microphone port Yes
Headphone port No
Remote control Yes (wired or smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery and charger
Weight (inc. batteries) 610 g (1.34 lb / 21.52 oz)
Dimensions 143 x 104 x 81 mm (5.63 x 4.09 x 3.19″)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
GPS None

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: a look at the Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II

16 Dec
 

Like much of the DPReview staff, editor Barney Britton is a self-proclaimed super-fan of the 35mm focal length. The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II has the same permanently affixed 35mm F2 lens as its predecessor, but it is backed up by almost completely new internals, including the same 42MP full-frame sensor and autofocus system as the Sony a7R II. Barney’s put the RX1R II through its paces in a wide variety of shooting scenarios, and shares his thoughts about what’s new, what isn’t, and more importantly, whether or not the Mark II version is worth the upgrade. For more sample images, click the link below.

Take a look at our Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II Sample Gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony finalizes buyout of Toshiba’s sensor business

05 Dec

Back in October, Sony announced its intention to buy out Toshiba’s sensor business, and today they’ve sealed the deal. Sony is spending ¥19 billion ($ 154 million) on the acquisition.

Toshiba says that they will ‘transfer semiconductor fabrication facilities, equipment and related assets of Toshiba’s 300mm wafer production line, mainly located at its Oita Operations facility, to Sony Semiconductor as part of the deal’. The company’s 1,100 workers will be offered positions at Sony after the merger closes by the end of the first quarter 2016.

This deal potentially affects every camera manufacturer that has used Sony and/or Toshiba APS-C (and smaller) sensors in the past – which is to say virtually all of them. Except for Canon and Samsung, both of which manufacture their own APS-C and larger sensors, every other camera manufacturer, including Nikon, will now pretty much have to rely on Sony.

That is, assuming Samsung doesn’t become a supplier in its own right. With a question mark hanging over the future of the NX system and long-standing rumors about the company’s investment in full-frame, it is possible that Samsung could step in to provide Nikon, Ricoh and Fujifilm with an alternative to Sony. 

Press release:

Sony and Toshiba Sign Definitive Agreements for the Transfer of Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities

Tokyo, Japan, December 4th, 2015 — Based on the memorandum of understanding entered into between Sony Corporation (“Sony”) and Toshiba Corporation (“Toshiba”) on October 28, 2015, the parties today announced that they have signed definitive agreements to transfer to Sony and to Sony Semiconductor Corporation (“SCK”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, certain Toshiba-owned semiconductor fabrication facilities, equipment and related assets in its Oita Operations facility, as well as other related equipment and assets owned by Toshiba (the “Transfer”). 

Under the agreements, Toshiba will transfer semiconductor fabrication facilities, equipment and related assets of Toshiba’s 300mm wafer production line, mainly located at its Oita Operations facility. The purchase price of the Transfer is 19 billion yen. Sony and Toshiba aim to complete the Transfer within the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, subject to any required regulatory approvals. 

Following the Transfer, Sony and SCK plan to operate the semiconductor fabrication facilities as fabrication facilities of SCK, primarily for manufacturing CMOS image sensors. 

The parties expect to offer the employees of Toshiba and its affiliates employed at the fabrication facilities to be transferred, as well as certain employees involved in areas such as CMOS image sensor engineering and design (approximately 1,100 employees in total), employment within the Sony Group, upon the completion of the Transfer.

Outline of 300mm wafer fabrication facilities, Toshiba Oita Operations

  • Building completion: February, 2004
  • Location: 3500 Oaza Matsuoka, Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
  • Building area: 24,100 m2
  • Total floor space: 48,800 m2
  • Main products: CMOS image sensors, memory controllers

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video Field Test: Theron Humphrey and the Sony A7R II

24 Nov

For our latest Field Test video we went not-quite south of the border to Marfa, Texas. There, photographer Theron Humphrey and his internet-famous dog Maddie help us test the Sony Alpha 7R II and a collection of Sony FE lenses. Despite the oppressive heat and rough roads of Big Bend National Park, the impressive sunsets are well worth the trip. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II real-world sample gallery posted

24 Nov

As far as advanced fixed-lens compacts go, it doesn’t get much more enticing than the Sony RX1R II. Like its predecessor, it couples a full-frame sensor with a fast, wide-angle prime, but this time it’s equipped with a 42.2MP chip to complement its 35mm F2 lens. We were pretty darn excited to get outdoors with the RX1R II and see what it can do. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Gallery posted: Sony a7 II firmware 2.0 uncompressed Raw samples

21 Nov

Earlier this month, Sony announced firmware v2.0 for its Alpha 7 II. This update gives the Sony a7 II uncompressed Raw and better autofocus performance with adapted lenses. Previously, the a7 II could only use Contrast Detect AF to acquire focus when using adapted glass, resulting in quite a bit of hunting. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II added to studio test scene

18 Nov

The Sony RX1R II is the kind of camera that turns heads. With a full-frame 42.2MP sensor, fixed 35mm F2 lens, optical variable low pass filter and a 399-point phase-detect AF system that’s much improved over its predecessor, it’s just about in a class of its own. We’ve had a full-production model for a few hours – just enough time to get it into the studio to see how it handles our test scene. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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