This week SAR readers photos selection


Tobias Rösli‎
Full moon behind “our” tree in Wolhusen, Switzerland.
700mm , a99ii, F/9, 1/250sec, iso 4000
(No photoshop, one shot)
instagram.com/tobias.roesli/
#sonyalphagallery

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Sony Tidbits…


Explaining Sony Lenses: by Patrick Murphy-Racey

Note: If you are interested in electric cars check out our new website Electric-fun.com
Top 5 Reasons You Need ND Filters When Shooting Video (Explora).
Sony Macro Lens Range review by Jessops.
Testing the Sony FX9 for Live Streaming (Gerald Undone).
MonsterAdapter EA4r, the reengineered Sony LAEA4 by Xu Feng
Doing lots of nothing in Isolation // Shot on A7III + 24mm F1 4 GM (Chris Brockhurst)

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

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Sony reveals all time low Alpha camera sales of 400K

Sony reconsidered published those two graphs that highlight the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. He writes:

I could see a scenario where Alpha sales collapse by more than 50% to 1.2 million for FY20.

The only saving grace for Sony will be if the world is back to some semblance of normalcy by fall and that consumer appetite and spending roars back during Q3 FY20, the ever-important holiday season. Even then, will global or local travel have recovered to a meaningful degree? What if there is the feared second wave of COVID-19? For that very same reason, Sony and other companies are holding back future projections for Q1 though I could see that expending till 2021.

I should also point out, it’s the optimist in me that’s predicting 1.2 million sales. I can envision a scenario in which Sony ships 800K cameras total in FY20. If that were to happen, it would trigger a significant roadmap shift within Sony (and other camera makers) as they face a market that went from have a light appetite for cameras to nearly none. Suddenly, Sony wouldn’t need five different cameras not because there aren’t meaningful differences between the lines, but because the costs to maintain them wouldn’t justify the market.

 

Sony to Release World’s First Intelligent Vision Sensors with AI Processing Functionality

Sony issued the following press text:

Sony to Release World’s First Intelligent Vision Sensors with AI Processing Functionality*1

Enabling High-Speed Edge AI Processing and Contributing to Building of Optimal Systems Linked with the Cloud

Tokyo, Japan — Sony Corporation today announced the upcoming release of two models of intelligent vision sensors, the first image sensors in the world to be equipped with AI processing functionality.*1 Including AI processing functionality on the image sensor itself enables high-speed edge AI processing and extraction of only the necessary data, which, when using cloud services, reduces data transmission latency, addresses privacy concerns, and reduces power consumption and communication costs.

  • *1Among image sensors. According to Sony research (as of announcement on May 14, 2020).

These products expand the opportunities to develop AI-equipped cameras, enabling a diverse range of applications in the retail and industrial equipment industries and contributing to building optimal systems that link with the cloud.

Intelligent vision sensors
Left: IMX500 Right: IMX501
Model name Sample shipment date Sample price (excluding tax)
IMX500 1/2.3-type (7.857 mm diagonal) approx.
12.3 effective megapixel intelligent vision sensor (bare chip product)		 April 2020 10,000 JPY
IMX501 1/2.3-type (7.857 mm diagonal) approx.
12.3 effective megapixel intelligent vision sensor (package product)		 June 2020 (planned) 20,000 JPY

The spread of IoT has resulted in all types of devices being connected to the cloud, making commonplace the use of information processing systems where information obtained from such devices is processed via AI on the cloud. On the other hand, the increasing volume of information handled in the cloud poses various problems: increased data transmission latency hindering real-time information processing; security concerns from users associated with storing personally identifiable data in the cloud; and other issues such as the increased power consumption and communication costs cloud services entail.

The new sensor products feature a stacked configuration consisting of a pixel chip and logic chip. They are the world’s first image sensor to be equipped with AI image analysis and processing functionality on the logic chip. The signal acquired by the pixel chip is processed via AI on the sensor, eliminating the need for high-performance processors or external memory, enabling the development of edge AI systems. The sensor outputs metadata (semantic information belonging to image data) instead of image information, making for reduced data volume and addressing privacy concerns. Moreover, the AI capability makes it possible to deliver diverse functionality for versatile applications, such as real-time object tracking with high-speed AI processing. Different AI models can also be chosen by rewriting internal memory in accordance with user requirements or the conditions of the location where the system is being used.

Main Features

World’s first image sensor equipped with AI processing functionality

The pixel chip is back-illuminated and has approximately 12.3 effective megapixels for capturing information across a wide angle of view. In addition to the conventional image sensor operation circuit, the logic chip is equipped with Sony’s original DSP(Digital Signal Processor) dedicated to AI signal processing, and memory for the AI model. This configuration eliminates the need for high-performance processors or external memory, making it ideal for edge AI systems.

Metadata output

Signals acquired by the pixel chip are run through an ISP (Image Signal Processor) and AI processing is done in the process stage on the logic chip, and the extracted information is output as metadata, reducing the amount of data handled. Ensuring that image information is not output helps to reduce security risks and address privacy concerns. In addition to the image recorded by the conventional image sensor, users can select the data output format according to their needs and uses, including ISP format output images (YUV/RGB) and ROI (Region of Interest) specific area extract images.

Data output format selectable to meet various needs

High-speed AI processing

When a video is recorded using a conventional image sensor, it is necessary to send data for each individual output image frame for AI processing, resulting in increased data transmission and making it difficult to deliver real-time performance. The new sensor products from Sony perform ISP processing and high-speed AI processing (3.1 milliseconds processing for MobileNet V1*2) on the logic chip, completing the entire process in a single video frame. This design makes it possible to deliver high-precision, real-time tracking of objects while recording video.

  • *2MobileNet V1: An image analysis AI model for object recognition on mobile devices.
Example of real-time tracking with product and task at a register

Selectable AI model

Users can write the AI models of their choice to the embedded memory and can rewrite and update it according to its requirements or the conditions of the location where the system is being used. For example, when multiple cameras employing this product are installed in a retail location, a single type of camera can be used with versatility across different locations, circumstances, times, or purposes. When installed at the entrance to the facility it can be used to count the number of visitors entering the facility; when installed on the shelf of a store it can be used to detect stock shortages; when on the ceiling it can be used for heat mapping store visitors (detecting locations where many people gather), and the like. Furthermore, the AI model in a given camera can be rewritten from one used to detect heat maps to one for identifying consumer behavior, and so on.

Example of camera usages in a facility

Key Specifications

Model name IMX500 (bare chip product) IMX501 (package product)
Number of effective pixels 4056(H)×3040(V), approx. 12.3 megapixels
Image size Diagonal 7.857 mm (1/2.3 type)
Unit cell size 1.55μm(H)×1.55μm(V)
Frame rate Full pixel 60fps
Video 4K（4056×2288）60fps
1080p 240fps
Full/video+AI processing 30fps
Metadata output 30fps
Sensitivity (F5.6 standard value) Approx. 250LSB
Sensor saturation signal level (minimum value) Approx. 9610e-
Power supply Analog 2.7V
Digital 0.84V
Interface 1.8V
Main functions AI processing function, ISP, HDR shooting
Output MIPI D-PHY 1.2 (4lane)/SPI
Color filter array Bayer array
Output format Image (Bayer RAW), ISP output (YUV/RGB), ROI, metadata
Package – Ceramic LGA 12.5mm(H)×15.0mm(V)

Tamron promises to release a new firmware update for the 17-28mm and 70-180mm FE lenses to fix an issue

Tamron 70-180mm now in Stock and/or shipping from today!
in USA at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama and FocusCamera.
In Germany at FotoKoch DE, Amazon DE, Calumet DE.
In UK at Amazon UK, WexUK, ParkCameras.
In Amazon EU stores at Amazon FR, Amazon IT, Amazon ES, Amazon NL.

Tamron informed about a smaller issues on the two lenses. They will soon fix them via FW update:

–

We would like to announce that we found some issues with our new lens, 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A056) for SONY mirrorless cameras, which will be released on May 14, 2020.

[Symptom]
1. A malfunction of Inner body image stabilizer occurs when used at about 70-85mm focal length and at more than 5.5m of object distance.
Applicable camera models: α7 II
Please turn the inner body image stabilizer function “OFF” when you use this lens at less than an 85mm focal length.
2. When you use flashes, there is a delay from the time the shutter button is pressed to the time the shutter and the flash release.
Applicable camera models:α7, α7 II, α7R, α7R II, α7S, α7S II, α5000, α5100, α6000 α6300, α6500, NEX-3N, NEX-5R, NEX-5T, NEX-7, NEX-F3, NEX-6

We are currently working on the cause of the error and expect this to be solved with a firmware update. Early June is the target date for the release of the firmware update.
Regarding the firmware updating process, please be assured that the process is accomplished directly through the SONY camera and supported by the Sony firmware updating function. As soon as the process is finalized, we will explain the process in detail on our website.
We sincerely apologize to all users and potential purchasers for any inconvenience this issue may cause.

We would like to announce that we found an issue with our 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046) for SONY mirrorless cameras.

[Symptom]
When you use flashes, there is a delay from the time the shutter button is pressed to the time the shutter and the flash release.
Applicable camera models: α7, α7 II, α7R, α7R II, α7S, α7SII, α5000, α5100, α6000, α6300, α6500, NEX-3N, NEX-5R, NEX-5T, NEX-7, NEX-F3, NEX-6

We are currently working on the cause of the error and for the solution to this matter. We expect this issue to be resolved very shortly and we will release a firmware update at that time.
Regarding the firmware updating process, please be assured that the process is accomplished directly through the SONY camera and supported by the Sony firmware updating function. As soon as the process is finalized, we will explain the process in detail on our website.
We sincerely apologize to all users and potential purchasers for any inconvenience this issue may cause.