Sony » Dan Carr Photography - Photography Product Reviews + Ski, Snowboard and adventure photography tips

Sony's New NEX-7 Packs 24MP Sensor Into Tiny Mirrorless Body

Aug 232011

The mirror less camera market is a fierce battlefield this year with a seemingly endless stream of new products from Panasonic, Sony and Olympus. This kind of rivalry is only a good thing for consumers though as the top players fight for the spotlight with new features and impressive price points. Today Sony unveiled a new top of the line NEX-7 camera ( as well as an NEX-5N) that packs a staggering 24 MP APS-C sensor in an incredibly small package. Not only does this make it the largest sensor in the mirror less field, but also the largest APS-C sensor full stop.

All-new 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor (shared with the SLT-A7 and A657)
ISO 100-16000
Built-in 2.4M dot OLED EVF with eye sensor
Electronic first-curtain shutter (cuts response time from 100ms to 20ms)
‘AVCHD Progressive’ 1080p60 HD movie recording with built-in stereo mic
Tilting rear screen
Three-dial user interface
Built in flash and Alpha hotshoe
Infra-red remote control receiver

Sony Launches New A77 Camera

Industry News, Sony No Responses »

Aug 232011

As I mentioned in a previous posts this has been Sony’s worst kept secret. In fact there have been so many leaks about it that I have a hard time believing it to be anything other than intentional on Sony’s part. Regardless it’s a very interesting camera and Sony have every right to create some buzz and fanfare!

Lets take a look at the major specs:

24.3 MP Exmor HD CMOS sensor
19 points AF sensor with 11 cross sensors
ISO 100-16000, with expandeable ISO 50 option
1920 x 1080 60p/24p AVCHD 2.0
P/A/S/M manual controls while recording video
1200 zone metering
Completely new developed Bionz processor
12 fps
1/8000 shutter speed
TrueBlack 921k 3-way tilt LCD
3 million dot OLED viewfinder
Smart teleconverter function with 1.4x and 2.0x option
Built-in flash
Built-in GPS
Battery life with over over 500 shots
Magnesium alloy body
Dust and Moisture proof
Multi Frame NR
SD card

Sony's Worst Kept Secret - The A77

Industry News, Sony 1 Response »

Aug 092011

Sony revealed the shell of a prototype camera at CES 2011 back in January so it’s never been a secret that something interesting is on it’s way. In recent weeks though we’ve seen a steady leak of information and even pictures of Sony’s next flagship camera and it appears to boast a very interesting selection of features. The A77 will be announced on August 24th (alongside an A65) and continue to use the pellicle mirror technology that we saw in the A35 and A55 and it has a few more tricks up it’s sleeve.

Lets take a look at the major specs:

24.3 MP Exmor HD CMOS sensor
19 points AF sensor with 11 cross sensors
ISO 100-16000, with expandeable ISO 50 option
1920 x 1080 60p/24p AVCHD 2.0
P/A/S/M manual controls while recording video
1200 zone metering
Completely new developed Bionz processor
12 fps
1/8000 shutter speed
TrueBlack 921k 3-way tilt LCD
3 million dot OLED viewfinder
Smart teleconverter function with 1.4x and 2.0x option
Built-in flash
Built-in GPS
Battery life with over over 500 shots
Magnesium alloy body
Dust and Moisture proof
Multi Frame NR
SD card

NAB Show Report Index

Canon, DSLR Video, Featured, Leica, Panasonic, RED, Site news, Sony 1 Response »

Apr 102011

Right now I’m sitting in Vancouver airport on my way to Las Vegas to check out the NAB trade show. I’ll be posting regular updates on some of the cool new gear that I find out there and I’m sure there will be a ton if it. I’m mainly interested in the HDSLR movie making gear but I’m also going to check out a lot of the newer Cine lenses and the RED Epic and Scarlet among other things that RED are set to announce tomorrow morning. The show kicks off at 9am tomorrow morning with a keynote speech from James Cameron on the future of 3d movie making which should be an interesting start to the day. At 10:30 Red is set to make an announcement of some sort and I’ll certainly go and see what that is all about. I’m going to make this page a sticky at the top of the blog as an index to all the separate posts I’ll make in the next few days. I intend to take lots of photos and the odd video here and there too. Bookmark this page to stay up to date and please share it with your friends/colleagues on Twitter and Facebook too!

Sony Demonstrates 8k CineAlta F65 Video Camera.

Adobe launches Creative Suite 5.5 including subscription service and native RED support in Premiere Pro.

Manfrotto brings 6 interesting new products to NAB including support options and LED panel lights.

ARRI Launches Alexa Studio version with optical viewfinder and support for 2x anamorphic lenses via full sized 4:3 sensor.

New Marshall LCD monitors great for HDSLR make appearance at NAB

Leica and RED teaming up to bring Epic package.

Zeiss shows M4/3 and E-Mount versions of the CP.2 compact prime range.

Red announces Red Dragon Monstro sensor program + 4k Projector + lots of photos of Scarlet/Epic and more.

Think Tank Retrospective 5 Shoulder Bag

New Angenieux Optimo 45-120mm t2.8 zoom lens.

Sachtler Cine DSLR Fluid Head

Hands on with the Zacuto EVF

Hands on with Canon XA10

Canon’s new PL mount Cine Zooms

Great new lightweight slider from Cinevate, the Atlas FLT. (Via PPC)

Small HD brings new DP4 LCD/EVF Combo to NAB 2011

Redrock Micro wired and wireless remote follow focus system. microRemote, microTape.

ARRI launches new MMB-2 Matte Box for small cameras

Sony launches the NEX FS 100 - S35 sized digital sensor video camera

Industry News, Sony, video No Responses »

Mar 242011

We new it was coming, Sony teased some specs and initial design drawings of it many months ago but now we have a full spec sheet, price point and final production name for the NEX FS 100. The Sony F3 was released just a few months ago, featuring a Super 35 sized digital sensor it was met with much acclaim but a $10,000 + price tag will keep it out of reach for many people. With this new FS 100, Sony is aiming squarely at those filmmakers considering the Panasonic AF100 or a DSLR setup. The FS 100 also features a Super 35 sized digital sensor which makes it a little larger than the m4/3 sensor of the AF100, and a little smaller than a APS-C crop sensor of something like a Canon 60d. Sony have gone for a modular nature with the design so you can have a small handheld rig not much bigger than DSLR, or you can rig it up with all the trimmings and create a tripod based movie making monster. Continue reading »

Sony Releases a Rretty Cool Looking 5" DSLR Monitor

Industry News, Sony 1 Response »

Jan 122011

Clip-on LCD monitor from Sony for HD video shooting with Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras
13 January 2011

No word on pricing of this monitor but it looks like a decent mid range solution for DSLR movie making if you want a compact setup. The built in swivel is a nice touch and means no need to get an articulating arm or a small fiddly extra ballhead. You can of course use this on ANY DSLR with HDMI output, not just Sony cameras. No word on how this screen deals with the weird output signal from a Canon 5dmkII though…

• Clip-on LCD monitor attaches to DSLR camera
• Large (5″) WVGA panel offers superb high-resolution view while shooting HD video
• Tilt/swivel for comfortable viewing at any angle
• Colour peaking and pixel magnification for precise focus confirmation Continue reading »

Some Predictions For The Photography Industry in 2011

Canon, DSLR Video, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Site news, Sony 3 Responses »

Jan 022011

Last week I went through 10 new years resolutions for 2011 and today I want to put down some predictions for how 2011 will shape up. I haven’t done this before, but if nothing else it’ll be fun to look back on in a years time! None of this stuff is based on any secret inside sources that I have , just pure conjecture based on readily available information and my knowledge of the industry.

Nikon

Nikon will certainly release a mirroless interchangeable lens camera sometime in Q2 or Q3 this year. We have seen many patents filed for such a system by Nikon (see image below) and DSLR Magazine has just published a speculative article about it themselves. Print magazines tend to stay clear of conjecture unless it is from a VERY good source and these guys have a good track record. Interestingly they claim that the Nikon EVIL camera will be “more professional” than other current EVIL cameras. I hope this turns out to be true because so far I have not been tempted to buy any of the m 4/3 cameras or other such EVIL options. Continue reading »

Sony goes back to the future with their new SLR technology

Industry News, Sony 8 Responses »

Aug 242010

Continuing with the major camera announcements, Sony is now taking their turn in the spotlight with 4 new cameras and a collection of Sony Alpha lenses. But there is something different about the new A33 and A55 cameras that fit into the lower end of Sony’s camera lineup. Normally I would post all the details but in this instance I’m less interested in the overall release and far more interested in some new technology that Sony introduced. Well , half new technology. Continue reading »

Sony drops a bombshell! Announces the NEX-VG10 camera

DSLR Video, Industry News, Sony 1 Response »

Jul 142010

Sony has announced an interchangeable lens video camera today based around the sensor from their new NEX camera series.Â This has surprised a few people, myself included!Â We all figure Canon is working on something like this, we know Panasonic is because they have officially released prototype drawings of it, called the AG-AF100 but Sony always seemed a little bit behind in the race because their Alpha line of SLR cameras is really the only major SLR lineup that currently does not feature video recording.Â Continue reading »

Sony NEX-3 & NEX-5

Industry News, Sony 1 Response »

May 102010

The popularity of smaller form-factor cameras such as the Panasonic and Olympus Micro 4/3 cameras in on the increase. Samsung recently introduced their version, the NX-10 with its mirrorless design and APS-C sized sensor. Sony announced their intention to join the so called EVIL camera market back at PMA when they displayed prototype cameras, but today the NEX-3 and NEX-5 cameras were finally made official. And at first glace it looks like they will have been worth the wait! Continue reading »