We told you that Sony would announced a few new camcorders and that they would become very interesting even for Alpha-NEX camera owners ;)

After the PL mount Super-35mm camera Sony announced the E-mount Super-35mm camcorder. Now you can use your [shoplink 3003]NEX lenses[/shoplink] on a professional camcorder! The Super-35mm sensor has 2k sensor with large 12 microns. It can capture 4 times more light than the [shoplink 3028]Sony A850/A900[/shoplink] cameras. Imagine what you can do in very dim light!

“Sony Corporation announced today that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. This new addition to Sony’s professional “NXCAM” line will be available in the middle of 2011.” (Source: Sony.net)

Full press release:

Sony to expand 35mm large format sensor camcorder lineup
“NXCAM” HD camcorder under development, featuring E-mount lens system Sony Corporation announced today that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. This new addition to Sony’s professional “NXCAM” line will be available in the middle of 2011.

Already a key player in the 35mm digital cinematography business with the highly acclaimed “CineAlta” F35 and SRW-9000PL for high-end digital cinema production, Sony has just strengthened its lineup in this category with the recent PMW-F3 announcement. In addition to this, with this new “NXCAM” HD camcorder now (still under development), Sony looks to further strengthen its position in the entry-level segment by providing an affordable yet highly capable professional solution for many applications including independent film, music video and corporate communications all looking for the cinematic look.

This “NXCAM” HD camcorder under development will be equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent sensor, a widely used film stock size in the film industry that is perfectly designed for capturing motion picture. This new sensor will have extraordinary performance in terms of picture quality and sensitivity, and is able to create rich “Bokeh” effect (beautifully defocused image) that is perfect for artistic story-telling in motion picture.

Thanks to the adoption of the E-mount interchangeable lens system that is identical to the “α” series NEX-5, 3 and “Handycam” NEX-VG10, the E-mount lenses will be compatible with this new professional camcorder. In addition, a very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) let various “α” A-mount lenses be mounted via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). Furthermore, it is also possible to attach many other lenses using third-party mount adaptors*1. With such flexibility, users will be able to experiment with various creative expressions by exploiting the characteristics of different optics.

*1: Not all types of adaptors and lenses are guaranteed.

The recording format for this new HD camcorder will be AVCHD, a widely supported format by many non liner editing software vendors and the same format as HXR-NX5 “NXCAM” camcorder.
There is also a plan to implement 1080p (60p / 30p / 24p*2 or 50p / 25p) recording modes.
(MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression will be used for these modes.)

Calm down guys, the title is a joke ;)
But what you can’t deny is that Sony started a second (or new) life. According to BCNranking the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] was the third most sold system camera in October (Japan only). And the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] is on place 8th! And let’s go further with the next world domination facts: The Time magazine selected the 50 Best Inventions of 2010 and look….there is the Sony A55! And finally the german magazine Chip.de placed four Sony cameras under the best entry-level DSLR!

Sony…let’s continue: Realease the NEX-7, A77 and A950 ;)

I just found the United States Application US20100277637 which refers to a new Sony half-mirror patent (Click here to dowanload the pdf). It has been just published and it doesn’t reveal anything new. But I thought some of you might be interested to read the technical details of the SLT technology.

SLT mirror removal made easy (Dpreview forum)

[shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] and 16mm at ISO 6400 on the Light Rail! (Steve Huff)

LA-EA1 adapter design flaw. (Dpreview forum)

The new Silkypix 4.0 now supports the A33/A55 (Silkypix.com)

The new Sony financial report shows that the sales of gigital imaging products declined by 2.1% to 162.5 billion yen (about 1.46 billion €), although the digital camera sales rise to 6.2 million units (of the order of 1 million shares, or nearly 20% more than in Q2 09). The cause of that decline are the decreased sales prices. The [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX[/shoplink] cameras pushed the unit sales.
The annual forecast for digital camera sales leaves Sony unchanged at 23 million units.

Sony also announced its first cinema camcorder (PMW-F3) with its new “Super 35 CMOS sensor” onboard. The camcorder has a PL mount lenses, MPEG-2 Long GOP video compression scheme and XDCAM EX Recording format. To bad the camera has no Alpha mount but I guess it makes a lot more sense to use the PL mount to appeal the pro-market. PL-mount lenses are especially designed for video and very expensive lenses ([shoplink 4596]I found lenses up to $38.000 here on eBay[/shoplink]).

Press release:

The PMW-F3K is part of the CineAlta 24P family of digital cinematography products and its support for multiple frame rates includes a filmic 23.98P as well as S-Log workflows.

Sony’s Exmor™ Super35 CMOS sensor was designed with the benefit of two decades experience in Digital Cinematography, pioneering digital HD acquisition for feature films and broadcast TV through the legendary CineAlta product range. It brings a true ‘film look’ and superior image quality into reach for independent movies, pop promos, commercials and other applications, as well as making the PMW-F3K an ideal B-camera for high-end feature film production.

The PMW-F3K is supplied with three high quality Sony lenses and an industry standard PL Mount adaptor providing compatibility with industry standard 35mm lenses. (Also available is the lens-less PMW-F3L.)

Exceptional flexibility is a key feature of the PMW-F3K along with with multiple workflow options. XDCAM EX’s proven high-speed, intuitive workflow offers seamless integration with leading nonlinear editing software – as standard. In addition, a 10bit 4:2:2 HD-SDI output opens up hybrid recording possibilities with a variety of external recording devices. And from April 2011, a Dual Link HD-SDI option will enable 10bit RGB uncompressed signal output – ideal for the high-end film production.

This product comes with PrimeSupport – fast, hassle-free repairs and a helpline offering expert technical advice. Which gives you the peace of mind that Sony is looking after your equipment, and your business.

Sony intend to release it on the 1st of February in with-lens (2,205K JPY) and without-lens (1,522.5K JPY) packages.

Superdrift Challenge 2010 Final Show (shot with the [shoplink 3058]Sony NEX-VG10[/shoplink])

Dcresource tested the new [shoplink 3617]Sony Alpha SLT-A55[/shoplink]: “Despite a few annoyances (which every camera will have, in one form or another), it’s hard not to like the Sony Alpha SLT-A55. It’s a great choice for those who want to capture fast action, instantly create panoramas, or just take great pictures without having to take a class first. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first D-SLR, or already have a collection of A-mount lenses, the SLT-A55 is definitely worth your consideration.”

American Peyote posted a new [shoplink 3058]Sony NEX-VG10[/shoplink] User Review. What is really amazing are their Studio Portrait pictures made with the camcorder! Check out their Flickr page. They say that it: “Works much better than the NEX5 would (which has no hotshoe to trigger the stobes)”

Sony Alpha A580 at photocomment.

Blake Lively and her Sony NEX-5 (SonyAlphaNex)

Sony NEX VCLECF1 Fisheye Conversion and Italy (SonyAlphaNex)

Full Sony A33 review at Imaging Resource.