(UPDATED) New A99, NEX-6 and RX1 tests.
RX1 video sample
Sony held a meeting with blogger in San Francisco and every couple of hours we see new posts with image samples and test. Particularly ThePhoBlographer was active in publishing new stuff (great work guys!). And the administrator even writes: “I am extremely close to purchasing the A99. This is pretty much everything I wanted in a Full Frame DSLR.” So here are the links to his test:
Quick Unscientific High ISO Comparison: Canon 5D Mk II, Sony A99, and Sony RX-1 (ThePhoBlographer)
Using the Sony A99 and HVL-F60M Flash for Studio Photography (ThePhoBlographer).
High ISO Cityscape Image Sample from the Sony A99 and a Long Exposure (ThePhoBlographer).
Quick Informal High ISO Comparison: Fujifilm X Pro 1 and Sony NEX 6 (ThePhoBlographer):
But than we have more tests from other websites too:
Newly added: Full size samples at Imaging Resource.
Newly added: More image samples by Steve Huff.
Newly added: Another portrait pic from SLRlounge.
More A99 fashion shots by Armani Quintas on Facebook.
Engagdet published a first RX1 preview including a first video sample you can watch on top of this post. There are also untouched smaple images available for download (Click here). Engadget writes: “Overall, the RX1 is a really, really nice compact camera. Shoving a full-frame sensor in a 4.5 x 3 inch chassis is quite a technical achievement, and the photos it produces are the highest quality we’ve ever seen in a shooter that size.”
NEX-6 image samples by Webgeek.
High ISO RX1 samples by Steve Huff.
Joe Gunawan from fotosiamo sent me the links to A99 out of camera images (Click here) and with very minor retouching (Click here).
A99 hands-on by Thistonybridge.
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Sony preorder list:
A99 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
A99 with kit lens links Alphacameradeals.
RX1 Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Wex Germany Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 with kit lens Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex Uk ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG900 Amazon, BHphoto, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, Wex Uk and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-VG30 Adorama, Amazon, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 16-50mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals .
Sony E-mount 35mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 10-18mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony A-mount 300mm f/2.8 Amazon, BHphoto, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH.
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alta
9 months ago |Nice one duckie!
alan
9 months ago |very nice result, very nice picture! thumbs up!
emopunk
9 months ago |I see that you finally could open the link to Thistonybridge. Good!
The Lotus Eater
9 months ago |I can’t get that video to work. Audio plays, but video is blank.
Either the RX1 isn’t very good, Viddler isn’t very good, or my PC is missing something.
Patrick
9 months ago |Your PC is missing something. I can watch it. That being said, the handheld technique is a bit poor.
Frank
9 months ago |Update Adobe Flash.
The Lotus Eater
9 months ago |Flash update didn’t work – nice idea though.
Wow
9 months ago |X-Pro1 vs NEX6 is a good ad for the Fuji. Colors, exposure, noise, etc, all obviously better with the Fuji, but then the prices are way different too. I wonder what the point of that comparison is ?
Miika
9 months ago |When brightness is normalized in post processing they are equally noisy. NEX is obviously a lot more sensitive at same (manual) settings. NEX would probably have been equally bright at ISO 4000. After all, a different color filter doesn’t make a sensor more sensitive.
Wow
9 months ago |Disagree completely. Better test is needed.
The Lotus Eater
9 months ago |So why claim it is a good ad for the Fuji if the test is no good?
Miika
9 months ago |A better test is needed, that is for sure.
I don’t quite understand your point though. Does it mean you disagree with everything I said?
How come Fuji shot is darker, when they are shot at same shutter speed, aperture and ISO sensitivity? I doubt that the Fujinon lens has that much poorer light transmission.
Open both photos in Lightroom for instance, and equalize brightness. Very little between those two.
And how does a color filter array make a sensor more sensitive?
Sky_walker
9 months ago |The issue is probably in how Fuji is naming it’s ISO sensitivities. We’ve been through this already in other models.
Testers who don’t bother just post stuff like that:
- Take a look at Fuji vs Competitor – Fuji is clearly better.
No matter that what Fuji marked as ISO 800 is almost ISO 1600 in the other camera.
lol.
Cheap trick but worked great – now there are hundreds of people thinking Fuji cameras rule everything else out there. (edit. Just look at the comment of G down below, as a clear proof of brain-washing by Fuji)
Denis
9 months ago |It’s rather fuji prime lens has noticeably higher light transmission (I mean “steal” less light) vs sony zoom lens, as usual. So the fuji plays as usual: lots of marketing B$.
G.
9 months ago |Fuji destroyed nex…no other words need.
john
9 months ago |Drink on
Vlad3D
9 months ago |Those cameras have different ISO standards. Because of that Fuji is darker than Sony and Fuji looks little less noisy. With proper test they would be equal or Sony would be little better. Proper test I mean – set same shutter speed and aperture and adjust the ISO just to get same brightness.
tom
9 months ago |Yes, thank you for the ‘short and sweet’ explanation.
Dave Cox
9 months ago |The A99 RAW image in the hotel room is underexposed (no doubt the effect of the SLT). That will cause people to say the noise is worse. Having said that, it’s many times better than A77 and the colour rendition is loads better than the 5D.
Looking good!!
Daniel
9 months ago |Comparing the A99 and the 5D mkII..favours the second in my opinion, when it comes to visible noise, except the crappy white balance. It handles noise and detail a hair better. But, as Dave said, and i totally agree to that, the A99 shot is underexposed. Even so it is able to show more detail in some areas.
Damn that mirror!! If it had not been for the mirror…
That brings me to the RX1..how should i put it…i’ve seen other samples too…good work. Great high ISO performance, the sensor does its best here, low noise levels, retains a lot of detail at high ISO, color, contrast, much more in the hotel shots taken at 6400 compared to he Canon.
Does a better job than the A99 also, but the lens…i suspect the lens isn’t that good.
Somehow..the RX1 hotel shot seems just a little soft. There can be only twoo reasons for that: the lens itself(also slight traces of magenta) or Sony’s native noise reduction.
Sky_walker
9 months ago |SLT Mirror doesn’t influence shot exposition. It’s just a metering system hitting the wrong spot.
tesilab
9 months ago |You have that wrong. The exposure was fixed for all three cameras at f2.8, 1/1000th and ISO 6400. The only automated part of the exposure was the white balance.
Daniel
9 months ago |Giving that it deflects some of the light…it messes with exposure…meaning that using same shutter speeds, same ISO the sensor on the Canon 5D mkII gets a little more light to play with. The Sony sensor on the A99 has to come up with the same performance with a little less light. Sony has made it more light sensitive, enhanced the capacity of each photosite to gather more light and thus more color info and a better dynamic range. The A99 has to work with a compromise, increased signal to noise ratio. Just how much signal to noise do you need to apply to compensate for the light loss. Too much and you get noisy pictures and less detail, to little and you get underexposed pictures which show little detail in dark areas and may also suffer from poor dynamic range.
The sensor itself is great. The RX1 proves that. I think that’s its main reason to be…to give us confidence for the future. In a few years the mirror will be a thing of the past. We will have on sensor autofocus.
Sony has already done it by applying another layer on the sensor that does exactly so in comparison with the sensor sold to Nikon which seats in the D600.
As i go further with this thought in mind i wonder if this layer does add to the light loss effect of the mirror.
We will see when the A99 is compared against the D600.
If so this is only a transition product(the A99) with a technology still not mature enough to assure its users that they have the no.1 FF on the ma
Daniel
9 months ago |We all understand that the mirror does not control exposure.Its only purpose is to let the secondary smaller autofocus sensor do its job(being active all the time)..but it steals light…so it does affect exposure afterall. Same aperture, same shutter speed, same ISO, the A99 does look underexposed… by how much i am not able to tell exactly just from looking at the pictures this way so i wouldn’t pass a judgement. Dave got that right and so did others.
Without the mirror you get enough light in order to have better SNR. The RX1 is a proof to that.
tom
9 months ago |If one calculates the ISO sensitivity of two cameras by the same method, then at the same shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, they should both have the same exposure. Maybe the A99 ISO is calculated by a different method, or calculated incorrectly. For SLTs the ISO value depends on the transmittance of the mirror. If the gain settings are not tuned to the individual mirrors and the transmittance of the mirrors of different cameras has significant variation, one could see exposure errors. But in a well calibrated camera, the effect of the mirror should show up as higher noise, not as badly exposed images at the same settings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed#Digital_camera_ISO_speed_and_exposure_index
Daniel
9 months ago |Might not be a perfectly calibrated camera…i agree with your post…this is the theory. I would bet my money on the following..Sony uses increased gain especially when it comes to higher ISOs in comparison to Canon and Nikon at what we consider to be the same ISO. Actually it is not the same ISO. The provided value by SLTs is something we are used to from conventional DSLRs with higher gain and thus an actual higher ISO.
It’s obvious by comparing the A77 to the NEX 7 and as we see here the A99 to the RX1.
That’s why i said damn that mirror before…no mirror no step up in visual noise due to increased gain.
We don’t have such tests yet…but it is well known that SNR is closely related to dynamic range. So it would be interesting to have someone test the SNR values of the A99, RX1…between themselves and competition.
That would tell the story. Hopefully DXO will do so soon.
Weakling
9 months ago |Is it me or has it gone extremely quiet on the NEX-5R front? It’s like it vanished from the face of the earth judging from the lack of news, sample pictures or reviews. As far as I know, the 5R will be released any day now, but not a single word of news. Only NEX-6 stuff pops up. Odd.
Frank
9 months ago |It’s just another NEX-5, they get released so often that nobody cares after the initial announcement.
Weakling
9 months ago |Should change my name to nobody then I guess.
Daniel
9 months ago |you have a point there;)
)
Frank
9 months ago |Only if you go through life taking everything that is ever said to you in the literal sense.
Weakling
9 months ago |Lol, yeah that would be fun. Although my feet would hurt by now for all the times I was told to take a hike.
Patrick
9 months ago |Admin, why has my comment been removed?
derrick s
9 months ago |looks very good a99 with flash:
http://www.thephoblographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Chris-Gampat-The-Phoblographer-Sony-A99-Studio-Samples-continued-9-of-9ISO-100.jpg
Rick
9 months ago |The phoblographer RX1 6400 ISO shot is simply stunning, amazingly low noise and incredible detail.
Daniel
9 months ago |No scientific comparison, that’s true!!:P
We should keep in mind that these are JPEGS and with a Sony camera you will always get better result with RAWS..i wonder who would buy the A99 and shot JPEGS anyway!? Not me…and i’ve always achieved great results with the A900 before. On par and sometimes better than Canon 5d mkII( just as good and most of the times better between ISO 100-800, on par between 800 and 1600, behind from 1600) when shooting RAW.
Frank
9 months ago |Not everyone has the time to convert RAW files when there are deadlines to meet. Some people need to get their pictures emailed off as soon as taken.
Sky_walker
9 months ago |True. But unless you work with your camera and got very tight deadline – you ALWAYS should be doing RAWs.
Daniel
9 months ago |I disagree…there will be DXO support soon for example…with my 18.4” i7 it would only take a few minutes to automatically convert them(custom settings for the camera and certain lenses).
You download your pictures and look at them and choose among them before sending any of them don’t you…and that takes a few minutes, doesn’t it.!?….so in the meanwhile would it be so hard to obtain some JPEGS with DXO !?
You don’t send pictures straight from the camera do you!?
So you do a quick batch processing only adjusting automatically corrected parameters with DXO modules(depending on lens). This gives you no art work, but offers contrasty, well corected, noise free, distorsion free and exposure corected JPEGS better than in camera processing…
Let me get one thing staight here…if you have deadlines in mind and send your work via email(just how many large files can you send via meail anyway!?) this might not be the best cameras to take into consideration!!
These are workhorses meant for people who need to get the best results…and this implies shooting RAW.
If you really need good high ISO JPEGs than you should be on NIkon rumors right now!!Sadly it still remains the only way…
Neo NiGHTS ®
9 months ago |Some people shoot mostly with JPEG. As well as some pro photojournalists do some of their job with their phonecameras…
(People also forget that shooting RAW requires more space, more processing power, more everything)
If you have the time, patiance, skills and right equipment to shoot RAW only, good for you. Some other people don’t. Just live with that.
Not to mention that RAW vs JPEG discussion is SO last decade. The trend now is EVF vs OVF
Daniel
9 months ago |Don’t get me started on that:P
)
Well i’m not so sure about pros that shoot JPEGs…maby some of the photojournalists do..regarding their type of work, but that’s to be expected.
Other than the case of photojournalism that implies time, space and equipment…other type of pros will sure find RAWs more suited for proper result.
Don’t get me wrong..and don’t start throwing rocks at me for saying so but i don’t always agree that paparazzi are real pros. Nature, wildlife photographers, guys that shoot a lot of indoor events, wedding photographers and so on..will get the most out of their shots by using raw.
That’s an actual fact, it will remain the case…there is no raw vs jpeg debate.
If you need creative freedom for your work than there’s one obvious choice.
Actually this is no outdated thing, this is common sense, something that doesn’t get outdated.
I really hope Sony kept some serious shooters among the community and this didn’t turn it into a geek circus.
I admit that the OVF vs EVF debate is bothering some and there’s no need to get into it anymore, but again, it’s a gesture of common sense to listen to everyone’s opinion..the EVF is still not mature enough, it brings advantages allowing adjustments in real time.Still for many it doesn’t make forgotten the superb OVF of the A900 which has a very natural feeling.
poke
9 months ago |I guess I will be waiting for the DXO scores, but the iso performance looks OK but nothing great. It definately will be a step up from the 850.
Steve
9 months ago |So far the images from the a99 are most impressive and high ISO performance looks to be a big improvement over my a850.
For those fanboys that care, I think this camera is a Canon 5DmkIII killer for both still and video…
Nice camera……..now fix the Lens catolog by updating to make more of them a99 ready and replace/add/update two of three fast primes and two or three fast zooms and a few slow zooms also
You made the camera(s) a few lenses should be easy…..right!
Nice job Sony!
I hope it sells
Brüno
9 months ago |Hahaha very good joke! You made my day!! Face it: It WILL NOT BE AN 5D Mark III killer!!!
Jules
9 months ago |I agree!!
Just to see the difference…it’s evident!
SONY doee a Half job.
Just a bit better than A77 but double the price.
I have an A77 , do your job SONY give us new firmware, not an half job new
camera at 2x price……
Do your homework, we are not blind!
NEXfive
9 months ago |The ugly wind noise makes the video sound damn cheaply
emopunk
9 months ago |Seve Huff’s coverage is short of amazing. They’re all so good cameras, RX1, NEX-6 and A99. We’ve got goods for all tastes!! I am pretty sure someone in Canon and Nikon quarters start to feel a tad nervous..
Palp
9 months ago |Okay. The RX1 is mine.
Kevin B.
9 months ago |Sorry Sony once again behind the competition in high ISO… Wish they could get it together. 2012 and they are still a few years behind in noise control… Today as more professional require higher iso’s Sony has shown us once again that is not their market.
A 5d3 killer hardly !! not even a d600 killer….
Denis
9 months ago |Are you mad? RX1 is definitely superior over 5d3, A99 is about on par.
Kevin B.
9 months ago |Have you shot with either camera? I have shot the 5d3 and from these samples.. Sorry Sony is not there yet… the 5d3 8000 iso look like Sony’s 3200 fact !!
Denis
9 months ago |http://www.thephoblographer.com/2012/10/10/quick-unscientific-high-iso-comparison-canon-5d-mk-ii-sony-a99-and-sony-rx-1/#more-29993
It’s about the same for me.
Miika
9 months ago |I have shot 5D3 too, and that is not a fact. A99 is at least on par with 5D3 and RX1 obviously slightly better.
The high ISO raws from A99 are at least as good as 5D3 and the low ISO raws from A99 are so much better that it’s not even a competition.
Rick
9 months ago |I’ll wait for the Dpreview scene and other RAW tests, then compare them side by side before judging any camera to be superior to another. If you’re basing your argument on some hastily shot images from a press event, enjoy your 5d3 and give the troll-bait a rest.
alphadude
9 months ago |While the A99 still remains to be seen to be a competitor for the 5D3 as far as stills goes, it definitely won’t be a better video camera. People are saying how amazing it will be for video but it simply won’t. Until the AVCHD2.0 codec is abandoned/hacked at least. The All-I 100Mbit codec on the 5D3 is much cleaner and retains more detail per frame. I am expecting the stabilisation crop to still exist on the A99 and not be able to be turned off like the A77 also. Apart from having better noise control and FF DOF as well as the audio/silentdial/cleanhdmi for the general video user it’s not a huge upgrade from what the A77 will produce for video as it’s still crippled by the AVCHD2 codec. Also having a volume control now is a bit pointless as I’ve read it still has automatic gain compression that cannot be disabled.
I guess having best of both worlds in a camera is too much to ask.
For video might just have to see how the hacked GH3 will turn out to be.
I also have to admit that RX1 video above is a pretty awful example to what the RX1 would be capable of.
BigP
9 months ago |It does not matter who has a bit better performance in the ISO if Canon 5D mark 3 or Nikon D600 or Sony A99. Mainly that sony has a competitive model that performs well also in 6400!
A good photo is not about the camera! The A99 main obstacle falls in isa 1600 – 3200 – 6400 and more good photographer no needs! Dynamic range is a top tip! Now leveled and ISO. Amazing!
Sony has done a very good camera.
danny
9 months ago |ISO performance on A99 and 5DMarkIII is very similar but hardly useable for me at ISO6400. RX1 performs better than both.
poke
9 months ago |Definitely true! The RX1 looks to be producing as good as anything I have ever seen. 6400 looks pretty darn clean. Produce interchangeable lenses and I would be all over that camera. I just need something more towards action and sports. I need a bit more versatility, but no one can question the IQ. It is stunning. I have to get the 99.
Wayne Summers
9 months ago |When cameras start going up to this range nothing is killing anything. Just get what you want or what best suites your needs and shoot something.
Daniel
9 months ago |+1
jaurdine
9 months ago |Sony should release 24/2, 50/1.4, and 85/1.4 full frame RX cameras. The wedding photographer’s cameras.