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Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM lens hands-on (video)
You don't see many lenses pop up 'round these parts, but Sony's new 500mm f/4 G SSM optic is impressive enough to warrant some hands-on attention. We spotted the new A-mount telephoto mounted on an Alpha A77 at Sony's booth at CP+ 2012, and queued up for a chance to take some shots. The lens focused surprisingly quickly, especially given its massive 500mm fixed focal length. Moving from subject to subject at varying distances, we were typically able to achieve focus in a fraction of a second. Long lenses have traditionally been tricky on the focus front, but this guy handled it like a champ, with speeds that appeared to rival far shorter primes. The SAL500F40G, as it's to be known, will be hand built to order beginning in March, with a yet-to-be-confirmed (likely sky-high) price tag. Click on past the break to see just how quickly we can zero in on some wild CP+ show floor action.
Sony Alpha NEX-7 mirrorless camera review
Remember the NEX-7? Ever since a days-long shooting session back in September, Sony's prized mirrorless cam has eluded us -- and the rest of the world. As you may recall, the flagship Alpha ILC was hit by the Thailand floods, resulting in delay after delay, eventually missing the holiday shopping season entirely before resurfacing late last month. Another week later and our beloved Sony Alpha NEX-7 has finally arrived, ready to take on the streets of New York City. So what exactly is the NEX-7, and why does it cost as much as a mid-range DSLR? First off, the 24.3-megapixel APS-C ILC captures, well, 24.3-megapixel images, offering the highest resolution of any mirrorless model on the market. Its APS-C sensor is identical to the one found in Sony's A77 DSLR, measuring larger than Micro Four Thirds and on par with most full-size digital SLRs.If having the ability to capture mural-size images ranks fairly low on your digicam wish list, you may take comfort in some of the NEX-7's other features, such as its gorgeous and durable magnesium alloy body, built-in XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, 3-inch, 921k-dot articulating LCD and unique tri-navi control interface that enables direct access to key settings adjustments, including both aperture and shutter speed in manual mode. There's also 1080/60p HD movie capture with full manual control and microphone input support, a 10 frames-per-second continuous shooting mode (with exposure and focus locked) and a BIONZ image processor that's capable of delivering low-noise images all the way through ISO 16,000. These features combine to make the NEX-7 one of the most powerful mirrorless cameras to date, but are they enough to justify the $1,200 body-only price tag? Join us past the break to find out.
Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars sample photos and video
We can't say that we were too keen on Sony's DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars at first look -- it really is hard to get past that $2,000 price tag. But after Sony finally allowed us to shoot photos and video (albeit for a mere three minutes) at the company's CEATEC booth, we were pleasantly surprised at the image quality, at least some of the time. The images we shot were in 16:9 format, and were roughly 5.3 megapixels in size (the camera's maximum resolution is 7.1 megapixels). With only a few minutes to play around, we didn't have time to switch the menu from Japanese to English (CEATEC is held just outside Tokyo), so we had no choice but to use the default settings. Still, images shot at f/1.8 appeared crisp, even with moderate shake (it's difficult to keep a heavy pair of binoculars steady when holding them at eye level), with accurate exposure and white balance. When zooming to 10x, however, still photos appeared very noisy, as you'll see in the gallery below. So are they worth the sky-high price tag? Well, it's safe to say that we're not ready to whip out the credit card, though they did perform better than we expected, based only on what we had initially seen through those dual high-res viewfinders. Jump past the break for an HD sample clip, or click the more coverage link below for the untouched samples.%Gallery-135896%
Sony A77 reviewed: A 24.3 megapixel game-changer?
It's been a long time coming, but the patience has paid off with Sony's A77 finally getting its first pro review. Sure, the $1,400 cost of entry (body only) will weigh heavily on even the most enthusiastic cameraman conscious. But, what's a few hundred dollars when it comes to a camera that Popular Photography says has "radically changed the world of DSLRs"? It seems only the rival Canon 7D holds a candle to this would-be king, besting Sony's latest when it comes to noise and performance at higher ISOs. However, the A77 wins on its all-around charm, with a 24.3 megapixel Exmor APS-C sensor, articulated LCD screen, world-first OLED EVF and impressive video-shooting chops. Video-wise, that top dollar gets you a high-end performance of 60fps at 1920 x 1080 with the fast phase-detection auto-focus we've also seen on its predecessors, the Sony A55 and A33. Popular Photography does add a single caveat to the largely very positive conclusion: video enthusiasts should probably hold tight to see what Canon and Nikon counter with. Especially if you're in possession of multiple lenses. Aside from that, what's stopping you? Dig in to all the nitty-gritty details below, and we'd advise cutting down on those impulse eBay purchases -- this magnesium-alloyed beauty will certainly make a financial dent when it lands, if not a physical one.
Sony offers 'adjustment' for NEX-5N camera to reduce clicking sound while recording video
Looks like we weren't the only one afflicted by the Sony NEX-5N camera's annoying click problem. In case you missed it, the camera displayed the disruptive tendency of producing an audible click loud enough to ruin any 1080/60p video if it was moved suddenly while shooting. Tonight Sony updated its support site to promise a "performance improvement" available to all owners under the camera's warranty that it claims reduces the sound. At the moment we don't have any more information on what's causing the sound or what the improvement entails, but owners can dial 888-868-7392 to get their units upgraded.
Sony Alpha NEX-5N makes clicking sound when moved, renders captured audio useless (video)
We've spent a few click days shooting click with click Sony's new click NEX-5N click click click and were very click impressed with its click still image performance click click but click noticed some... Oh man, we've gotta hit Stop. As you can see, the camera suffers from a rather significant yet-to-be-diagnosed condition that outputs a mysterious clicking sound whenever you move it about. Since it's quite faint, this is little more than a minor nuisance when shooting stills, but when you go to playback video click it's impossible to ignore, rendering the audio component of your video virtually useless. We've been able to isolate the sound to the camera body itself, so it's completely independent of the lens and other accessories. We also happen to be testing a variety of new Sony products this week in San Diego, and had Sony reps on hand to acknowledge and confirm the issue, which seems to plague every NEX-5N that we've tried. This is still very fresh, so Sony doesn't have a fix or even a statement to issue, but because 1080/60p video is one of this camera's headline features, we're going to recommend holding off on your purchase until the company can confirm what's causing the issue. Jump past the break to hear it for yourself in our demo video. Update: To clarify our experience, we've only tested four cameras, all of which were likely manufactured at the same time. All four cameras presented the same clicking sound, but Sony is still investigating the issue, and has by no means implied yet that all NEX-5Ns are affected. We will of course share any updates as we receive them from Sony. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars hands-on (video)
Sony Digital Recording Binoculars look like military night vision goggles, cost almost as much ARRI's ALEXA busts out native ProRes recording, plans for RED smiting New Sony Bloggie Mobile HD Snap camera gets bowed design, FCC inspection Sony's imaging wing has been on a roll lately, with the brilliant NEX-7 and equally impressive Alpha A77 DSLR simply blowing us away with brand new features and excellent image quality. But these $2,000 digital binoculars? Yeah, we're not so sure. We went hands-on with a pre-production sample of the 3D binocs, which replace the traditional optical finders with a pair of high-res LCD EVFs. But when you consider that high-end binoculars are a joy to use because of their excellent optical viewfinders, swapping in an electronic version puts the DEV-3 ($1,400) and DEV-5 ($2,000) in a completely new category -- if an excellent (and traditional) viewing experience is what you're after, these "cost-competitive" optics really won't hit the spot. Jump past the break for our impressions.%Gallery-133999%
Sony Alpha NEX-7 hands-on preview (video)
There are some cameras that we would be willing to use in a bind, some that we wouldn't hesitate to shoot with, and a very select few that would motivate a cross-country journey, just for the chance to spend a few days behind the lens. Sony's Alpha NEX-7 falls within that incredibly unique final category -- in fact, we've done just that, flying from New York to San Diego to go hands-on with one of only a half-dozen pre-production samples to have landed on American soil. After seeing a very early NEX-7 prototype a few months ago, it didn't take much convincing to get us on a plane. Sony's 24.3 megapixel APS-C masterpiece represents a giant leap forward for the interchangeable lens market, theoretically capable of capturing images identical in quality to its much larger Alpha A77 counterpart, but in a body only slightly larger than the NEX-C3. Pair that image quality with an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, a revamped tri-navi interface, standard hot-shoe, 1080 / 60p AVCHD video, microphone input, and a built-in flash, and you have one very worthy compact DSLR replacement. That said, the NEX-7 kit's $1,350 price tag is far more than many are willing to spend on a camera. But is that premium pricing justified? Jump past the break to find out.%Gallery-133835%
Sony Alpha A77 hands-on preview (video)
When it comes to cameras, digital SLRs are a breed all their own. Many DSLR owners don't upgrade their bodies often -- if at all -- and even fewer would consider a switch to a competing camera system, especially after investing in a handful of high-end lenses. Manufacturers need to push innovation even further to target this segment of the market -- when some cameras cost thousands of dollars and already offer excellent performance, simply releasing a body with more megapixels and HD shooting options won't prompt photographers to pull out their credit cards. With its massive 24.3 megapixel sensor and high-res OLED electronic viewfinder, however, Sony's $1,399 Alpha A77 may just be the DSLR upgrade you've been waiting for. We spent a few days with a pre-production A77 paired with Sony's brand new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens ($1,999 in an A77 kit), and were very impressed with what will undoubtedly be a worthy successor to the well-received A700. Jump past the break for our initial impressions, along with plenty of still photo and HD video samples.%Gallery-131349%
Sony NEX-5N replaces NEX-5, adds 16.1 MP sensor, 25,600 max ISO, OLED viewfinder option (video)
Without a doubt, today's biggest news on the NEX front is Sony's 24.3 megapixel NEX-7. But for photographers looking for a bit less power (and a lower $600 body-only price tag), the NEX-5N delivers some of the 7's headline features in a slimmed-down magnesium-alloy body. Sony boosted the NEX-5's sensor from 14 to 16 megapixels in the N, also adding 1080 / 60p AVCHD video capture, a 10 fps continuous shooting mode, a touch-enabled 3-inch LCD, and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 25,600. The mid-range NEX cam also supports an optional XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, which attaches to its accessory port and carries a price tag of $350. We should note that although the accessory port appears to be similar to that used on the NEX-C3 and previous gen NEX-5, the OLED attachment is only compatible with the 5N. Want to know more? Jump past the break for a brief overview video, and check out the rather comprehensive gallery of press shots below.%Gallery-131065%
Sony reveals three new NEX E-mount lenses, LA-EA2 A-mount adaptor with translucent mirror
Sony's NEX line of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) deliver quite a lot of bang for your buck, but a diminutive lens selection reduced appeal for advanced shooters. Today, the company is growing its E-mount family of lenses by three, now offering a total of seven compatible lenses. Shipping in October, the Carl Zeiss SonnarT E will take the helm as Sony's flagship optic, delivering a 24mm fixed focal length and f/1.8 aperture, with a minimum focus distance of 16 cm and a sky-high $999 price tag. Also packing a speedy f/1.8 aperture, the $300 E 50mm OSS doesn't sport Carl Zeiss branding, but it does include built-in image stabilization and a circular aperture, promising smooth defocus. Both lenses will ship in December. Hitting stores in October, a new telephoto lens, the $350 E 55-210mm compensates for its sluggish f/4.5-6.3 maximum aperture with optical image stabilization while offering 3.8x magnification. And finally, Sony's LA-EA2 A-mount adapter lets you use your full-size Alpha lenses with the NEX cameras without losing functionality, thanks to built-in Translucent Mirror Technology and a dedicated AF motor. NEX-3, NEX-5, and NEX-C3 owners will need a firmware update to take advantage of the adaptor, but if you already have a collection of A-mount lenses, $400 may be a reasonable price to pay for full compatibility when it ships in November.%Gallery-131067%
Sony unveils NEX-7: 24.3 MP sensor, OLED viewfinder, $1199 price tag (video)
During our trip to Sony HQ earlier this summer to check out the NEX-C3, company reps hinted that the best was yet to come -- and held true to their word. Today's NEX-7 release breaks a handful of digicam records, becoming not only the first mirrorless camera to pack a 24.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, but the first APS-C cam of any shape and size to smash through this notable barrier -- potentially delivering unparalleled image quality for a camera of its size. Sony's new flagship mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) also features the same OLED viewfinder included with its brand-new Alpha A77, delivering XGA (1024 x 768-pixel) resolution directly to your eye. There's also 1080 / 60p AVCHD video capture, a full-size hot shoe, and a completely redesigned "Tri-Navi" interface. We spent a few minutes with a pre-production NEX-7 earlier this month -- jump past the break for our initial impressions.%Gallery-131063%
Sony announces entry-level A65, adds yet another DSLR to the Alpha family
Sony is on a roll with some fairly incredible product unveilings this morning. The Alpha A65 is almost an afterthought when compared to today's NEX-7 and A77 announcements, but this $900 (body only) DSLR targets the vastly popular entry-level category, while still including a new OLED electronic viewfinder, 24.3 megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor, and 1080 / 60p AVCHD video capture. Many of the A77's other features made the cut as well, including Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology, an ISO range of 100-16,000, object tracking autofocus, and a high-speed shooting mode (though the pricier model can shoot 12 fps, compared to 10 fps on the A65). You will be missing out on the A77's nifty three-way tilt and swivel LCD, though the A65's display does support tilt. Also missing is a 19-point AF sensor (the A65's has 15 points), a secondary text LCD, and support for an optional vertical grip. Jump past the break for a brief video walkthrough from Sony, along with a sneak peek at the A77.%Gallery-131370%
Sony Digital Recording Binoculars look like military night vision goggles, cost almost as much
How does $1,399 for a pair of binoculars sound? When they also shoot 1080p HD video and 7.1 megapixel stills -- perhaps slightly less ridiculous. Sony's launching a new category of high-end binoculars with its new DEV-3 and DEV-5, which offer camera-like features and are priced at $1,399 and $1,999, respectively. Each pair includes two Exmor R CMOS sensors for native 3D video capture, dual f/1.8-3.4, 0.5-10x optical zoom lenses, and a pair of 1,227-dot viewfinders. While the pricier model adds a 10x digital zoom, GPS, and accessories like a carrying case and neck strap, those features don't really justify a $600 jump in price -- if you can live without GPS, it probably makes sense to skip the DEV-5. There's also Memory Stick Pro Duo and SDXC support, stereo microphones with an audio input jack, and HDMI out. Coined as the world's first binoculars with HD video recording, we wouldn't expect there to be a terribly huge market for these pricey specs at launch, but if you've been looking for a way to record while bird watching, catching close-ups of the action at a game, or whatever it is you look at through your apartment window, then look for these to hit stores in November. %Gallery-130944%
Sony's A77 continues to tease, brings A65 and NEX-7 along for the ride
Still waiting for August? Don't fret, the Sony rumor mills are still a churnin'. We begin with another official-looking leak of the oft-teased A77 -- this time accompanied by its bodacious portrait-assisting hand-grip. Joining the fray is a plethora of leaked pricing: 1,050€ (or about $1,500) for the body of the aforementioned shooter and 900€ (around $1,300) for its little brother the A65. Fancy something smaller? Okay, well hop after the break for a picture of the firm's upcoming NEX-7, and don't forget to peep the source links for the full monty.
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 review
Traditionally known as DSLRs, interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) have always promised excellent image quality, speed, and versatility. But their enormous size and weight, lofty price tags, and intimidating design have forced casual photographers to focus on compact and superzoom point-and-shoot cameras instead, often leaving those bulky, confusing monstrosities to the pros. Enter mirrorless models, which scrap an optical viewfinder in favor of shrinking both body size and price tag, have provided the rest of us with a welcome mat to the world of powerful sensors, high-speed shooting, and swappable lenses -- with relatively little sacrifice along the way.The 16-megapixel Alpha NEX-C3 builds upon the successes of its predecessor -- the NEX-3 -- sporting a slimmer body and redesigned APS-C sensor. It also adds a reported 20-percent boost in battery life, improved low light performance, and a slimmer, more attractive design. We spent well over a month using the NEX-C3 as our primary camera for product shoots, trade shows, hands-on videos, and vacations, and were blown away by its performance as both a versatile still snapper and a powerful video camera. It's important to note that while the C3 does capture 720p video, it can't shoot in 1080p, so you'll need to look elsewhere if you need full HD. Like all mirrorless cameras, there's also no optical viewfinder, nor is there a traditional hot shoe. Instead, Sony included the same propriety connector found on the NEX-3 and NEX-5, enabling connectivity with a dedicated external microphone and a limited variety of external flashes, including the compact strobe that ships in the box. While some photographers may find the NEX-C3 inadequate for their needs, we absolutely loved shooting with it, and we think you will too. Jump past the break to see why.%Gallery-128646%
Sony's A77 and A65 spied in leaked image, announcement to follow?
First shown nearly a year ago, what appears to be a leaked official photo might finally mean the forever teased A77 is finally on the horizon. If you'll recall, the high-end Alpha was sporting a svelte see-through body, and the only tidbits the Japanese firm would confirm were the 2011 ship date and that all forthcoming Alpha's would have translucent mirrors -- you know, the spiffy kind that enables DSLRs to focus while shooting video. Opportunely, the above pictured image also came with a bevy of specs, which we'll have to assume apply to the pricier A77: a 24 megapixel sensor, 11 point AF, 10 frame per second burst and an ISO of 102,400. Also on the docket is USB 3.0, and a ship date of October. Whether or not the August announcement pans out remains to be seen, but you'll certainly know when we do.
Sony NEX-C3 hands-on (video)
Sony announced the successor to its NEX-3 digital camera earlier this week, so we decided to take a post-E3 road trip down to the electronics maker's US headquarters in San Diego to check out the $599 NEX-C3 for ourselves. We'll analyze the new sensor's image quality in a full review before the camera hits stores later this summer, but from our initial impressions, the new cam appears to offer fairly minor tweaks compared to its predecessor. It's incredibly small for a camera with an APS-C sensor -- perhaps even awkwardly so, when paired with the comparatively massive 18-55mm kit lens or Sony's enormous 18-200mm optic -- but not small enough to be any less functional than the previous iteration. Like the NEX-3, the camera was designed to be held by resting the lens on your left palm, rather than by the grip, so size isn't likely to be an issue. Cosmetic changes include a magnesium alloy top panel, front microphone positioning, and a more efficient display hinge, which helped reduce the camera's thickness. We'll be posting a full review in several weeks, but jump past the break for more observations, and a hands-on video from Sony HQ, shot with the NEX-C3.%Gallery-126159%
Sony announces NEX-C3 and Alpha A35 cameras, new macro lens
We've been (impatiently) waiting for Sony to update its NEX line of digital cameras since the NEX-3 was discontinued earlier this year, and it looks like a worthy successor has finally been named. Announced today, the NEX-C3 appears identical to the model leaked in April, and uses the same format APS-C image sensor as its predecessor, bumping resolution to 16.2 megapixels in a camera body smaller than the NEX-5. Sony says the new entry-level cam is designed to fill the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and is the smallest body to pack an APS-C sensor, offering DSLR-level image quality -- the same 16.2 MP chip is also included in its new full-size Alpha A35, which replaces the A33. Both cameras can shoot at up to 5.5 fps (the A35 adds a 7 fps mode at 8.4 megapixels), and include 3-inch LCDs, with the NEX keeping its hallmark tilt display, and the A35 adding Sony's Translucent Mirror live-view mode, and an electronic viewfinder. We have plenty more to share, including a new lens and flash, along with pricing and availability for all, so jump past the break for the juicy details. %Gallery-125282%
Sony NEX-3 successor NEX-C3, Alpha A35 images leaked?
We were a bit unsettled when Sony suddenly discontinued the NEX-3 after just eight months on the street, but if these leaked images are in fact authentic, then we might just have a worthy successor on our hands. The NEX-C3 is rumored to include the same 16.2 megapixel image sensor used in the Sony Alpha A55 DSLR, as well as HD video capture (as expected) and the new flash seen in the image above. Leaked photos on Sony Alpha Rumors reveal an LCD with the same tilt capability we love on the NEX-3, as well as minor adjustments to the controls. The blog also got its hands on some leaked images of the Sony Alpha A35 DSLR (added after the break), but details on that camera are a bit spotty. Rumor has it Sony originally intended to announce both cameras earlier in the month, but plans were delayed in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake in Japan. No word on cost or availability, but we'd expect to see pricing on the NEX-C3 in line with last year's model -- around $500, with lens. [Thanks Andrea!]
