Stunning: Sony officially announces a new generation of Global Shutter APS-C and MFT sensors!

This is really big news. The flyer we leaked months ago about a new APS-C Global Shutter was indeed real! Sony just updated their sensor page and included a whole bunch of new Global Shutter sensor in nearly all possible formats. This includes an exciting APS-C and MFT global shutter sensor.

The one interesting new sensor is this 31MP APS-C sensor that actually uses a 4:3 format! I am really not sure if that sensor will be used by a Sony APS-C E-mount camera as I cannot see the company using a 4:3 format on an E-mount camera. Still what matters is that Sony has officially announced an APS-C Global Shutter sensor and a variation of this can be used by a future E-mount camera!

So let’s take a look at the specs of this “IMX342LQA” APS-C sensor:

Description
The IMX342LQA is a diagonal 27.9 mm (APS-C) CMOS active pixel type solid-state image sensor with a square pixel
array and 31.49 M effective pixels. This chip features a global shutter with variable charge-integration time. This chip
operates with analog 3.3 V, digital 1.2 V, and interface 1.8 V triple power supply, and has low power consumption.
High sensitivity, low dark current and low PLS characteristics are achieved.
(Applications: FA cameras, ITS cameras)

Features
◆ CMOS active pixel type dots
◆ Built-in timing adjustment circuit, H/V driver and serial communication circuit
◆ Global shutter function
◆ Input frequency
37.125 MHz / 74.25 MHz / 54 MHz
◆ Number of recommended recording pixels: 6464 (H) × 4852 (V) approx. 31.36 M pixels
Readout mode
All-pixel scan mode
Vertical / Horizontal 1 / 2 Subsampling mode
ROI mode
Vertical / Horizontal‐Normal / Inverted readout mode
◆ Readout rate
Maximum frame rate in
All-pixel scan mode: 8 bit 35.4 frame/s, 10 bit: 35.4 frame/s, 12 bit: 25.8 frame/s
◆ 8-bit / 10-bit / 12-bit A/D converter
◆ CDS / PGA function
0 dB to 24 dB: Analog Gain (0.1 dB step)
24.1 dB to 48 dB: Analog Gain: 24 dB + Digital Gain: 0.1 dB to 24 dB (0.1 dB step)
◆ I/O interface
SLVS (2 ch / 4 ch / 8 ch switching) output (594 / 297 Mbps per ch)
SLVS – EC (1 Lane / 2 Lane / 4 Lane / 8 Lane) output (2.376 / 1.188 Gbps per Lane)
◆ Recommended lens F number: 2.8 or more (Close side)
◆ Recommended exit pupil distance: –100 mm to –∞

* Pregius is a trademark of Sony Corporation. The Pregius is global shutter pixel technology for active pixel-type CMOS image sensors that use
Sony’s low-noise CCD structure, and realizes high picture quality.

Sony reserves the right to change products and specifications without prior notice.
Sony logo is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

This is cutting edge tech folks! Give me a Global Shutter on the A7000 and A7sIII and people will forget Nikon and Canon’s mirrorless launch :)

This week SAR readers photos selection


Marcell Faber‎
My favourite shot from last weekend.
A7III + Samyang 35mm 1.4
#sonyalphagallery

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Read more

This 35mm f/2.7 lens is the smallest fastest pancake for Sony E-mount and costs 1199 Euro

You can get it here on Kickstarter. They write:

ExperimentalOptics is back. The geeks from Berlin that brought you the fastest lens in the world, the 50mm f/0.75, are back to bring you something even bigger…
…well, not actually bigger.
Actually it’s the smallest lens in the world! A super flat, super sturdy, super fast and super high image quality pancake lens.

The onyl small caveat…you have to pledge 1199 Euro!!!!!!!!!!!

Sony Tidbits…


NEW Sigma Art for Sony FE – 20mm 24mm 135mm – FIRST IMPRESSIONS – Sony a7III a7RIII a9

Konica AR 40 f1.8 tested on the Sony (Theweekendlens).
At the Bench: LED Lighting Modes and Technology (AbelCine).
Sony A7 III vs Sony RX100 IV? Full Frame vs 1 inch Sensor, Ultimate Power vs Ultimate Convenience… (SonyAlphaLab).
Sony RX100 VI Problems (TheDigitalDigest).
Novel optics for ultrafast cameras create new possibilities for imaging (MIT news).
The Tilta FIZ Lens Control System is Powerful, Flexible, and Easy to Use (Explora).

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

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
I kindly invite you all to follow our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

CamRanger 2 will add full Sony support

Camranger announced that their upcoming new version will add full Sony support. Here is the press text:

CamRanger 2

The original CamRanger has been the standard for wireless tethering. The upcoming CamRanger II will set the new standard for professional photographers.
Faster & Farther

With 802.11ac WiFi, the CamRanger 2 is over 5 times faster. Even the 802.11n WiFi is over 2 times faster. And the usable range is over 3 times farther.
Sony & Fuji Support

Nikon and Canon support will of course continue, but the CamRanger 2 will also support select Sony and Fujifilm cameras. We always said we would not offer support until we could do it in a way that works for professionals. Our new design removes previous limitations, limitations other wireless tethering devices suffer from.
New App Design and Features

Like the new CamRanger Mini software, the new apps have a newer, more modern feel based on customer feedback.

The new app is also packed with new features that we will be unveiling later.
Coming 2019….

Join our mailing list below to be the first to get updates and be notified on the CamRanger 2’s release.

Canon EOS-R officially announced: Claims to have world’s fastest autofocus system

Canon finally announced their first Full Frame mirrorless Canon EOS-R camera (live coverage on CanonWatch). And unlike Nikon there seems to be some clear outstanding feature. For me this mainly the new autofocus system. It has over 5.000 points, works down to EF-6 and Canon claims it’s the fastest autofocus system of the world. This bundled together with their reliable Dual Pixel AF and the fully articulated screen makes it a killer camera for filmmakers and youtubers. It certainly will have a hard time to keep up with the Sony stills quality.

What we have to see if the real tests lives up to the hype. And first issue have been already reported by ThePhoBlographer:

In our very brief tests so far, I have to admit that the focusing on the Canon EOS R is very good. This statement applies to working with the native lenses and those adapted. With linear autofocus though, a few problems can occur.

Filmmkaer Phillip Bloom seems to be very disappointed:

For me this camera isn’t a revolution at all. Canon are playing catch up and with these specs they are far behind the competition, as in Sony and even the new Nikons.

I am going to sum up the PROS and CONS based on technical specs. Of course this list may change after factual tests:

Canon PROS:
– World’s fastest autofocus
– Full compatibility with existing EF lenses
– A cool adapter with drop-in filter (see this cool video by Caleb Pike)
– The new EOS-R lenses are focus by wire and have an extra customizable ring
– The new EOS-R lenses are stunning (50mm f/1.2 and 28-70mm f/2.0)
– It has 10 bit 4:2:2 output just like the Nikon Z
–$2299* for the body only. It will also be sold as a body-and-lens kit with the new RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens for $3399*.

Canon CONS:
– lack of IBIS
– single slot card
– Low battery life: 350 shots
– The EOS R does have eye-AF but only S-AF. (info via Jordan Drake)
– It uses the same “Old” 30MP sensor from the 5D IV (with more phase detection pixels added)
– The cool lenses are expensive: RF 50mm f/1.2L at $2,299, the RF 28-70mm f/2L at $2,999
– Roadmap doesn’t disclose what lenses we can expect
– The dial on the left is just an ON-OFF button
– Canon will not be opening up the RF mount specs to third parties (info via Jordan Drake)
– No AF-C in continuous high drive (slower FPS compared to Sony cameras)
– Still a huge ass crop in 4K recording (1.7 crop). Looks the same as 5D IV. Heavy rolling shutter as well. (info via Jordan Drake)
– 1080p does 60fps and not 120fps
– 34 RAW buffer only
– no compatibility with their EOS-M lenses

Some more images from the camera and lenses.

 

Sony Tidbits…


Sony a7iii top ten things to know!

Is the Sony RX10 IV a great camera for birds and wildlife? (Alin Popescu).
Comparing the Sony A7riii with the Sony RX100v with an Iphone (Enthusiastphotoblog)
Olympus Zuiko 24 f2.8 – Punching above its weight (Theweekendlens).
A wildlife photographer’s perspective on the Sony a9 (Dpreview).
Zacuto Announces New Trigger Grips for Your Camera or Rig (Explora).
Sony FS5 MK II RAW KIT Review – Is it WORTH it? (Max Yuryev).

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

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
I kindly invite you all to follow our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors