UPDATED: You have been fooled :)

UPDATE: It’s now April 2. Time to say you have been fooled :)

This is the Fool news:

After many weeks of work I can finally unveil that Sony is about to launch two new Full Frame cameras based on the same brand new Sony 3 layer sensor (Similar to Foveon tech). On May 1 Sony will unveil the A91 A-mount and the A9 E-mount cameras featuring the 54 Megapixel 3 layer sensor.

3 layer sensor: Every layer captures 18 megapixel. The resolution and color richness is said to be world-class leading. No other camera of the world can nearly match the IQ from those cameras!

AF: The sensor contains 345 phase detection AF points covering 97% of the imaging area.

A and E-mount: The cameras are very similar but the A91 will have on sensor stabilization. The A91 will also be the first A-mount camera that is completely mirrorless and without the SLT mirror!

I have no other specs nor price info yet. But stay tuned!

 

Sony EU Stores now offline. Will offer you 5% discount for 24hours as soon as they will be back online.

Sony Europe stores (Click here) are offline. And the site mentions a cool rebate that will go live as soon as the site is back online. Just use the voucher code “SORRY225” to get a 5% discount!

I don’t think the site is off because of a product announcement. Usually they don’t go offline for that. Although they could take the chance to add the A3500 which has been already released at Sony Australia.

UPDATE: 10% off on the A6000 at Sony Australia (Click here) with code “A6000PC10”. Runs for 48 hours from now!

Sony TidBits…


Sony A7R Review with Canon EF lenses – First Impressions

Sony 20mm f2.8 review at ThePhoBlographer.
Zeiss 18-105mm review at Thephoblographer.
A3000 review at ThePhoBlographer.
A5000 test at Trustedreviews and ePhotozine.
That could be the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 A-mount lens patent (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2014/0071331.html)
New phase detection patent (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2014/0071318.html).
A7 preview at Bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.
Second season starts at the ‘Year of the Alpha – 52 weeks of Sony Alpha Photography. Follow 10 weeks of Sony photography with Lensbaby products (and don’t forget to check earlier pictures of season one as well). http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS lens review at DxOmark.
RX10 is the digital camera of the year for Engadget.
Sony RX10 review by Focus Numerique.
Sony A5000: First batch of gallery images posted (Imaging Resource).
Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 lens review at Focus Numerique.

Iliah:The current version of RawDigger includes the tool that help to visualize any areas where artifacts may result from lossy compression used in ARW2 files.
From the changelog,
Preferences – Data Processing – Sony ARW2 processing options
Applies only to processing of Sony cRAW format Settings:
• None (standard processing) – standard processing
• Only base pixels – In each 16-byte block, only pixels that have exact values are unpacked. The values of other pixels are set to zero.
• Only delta pixels – In each 16-byte block, only the pixels that are coded as deltas from the minimum value in the block are unpacked. The base value (minimum in the block) is added to the result.
• Delta pixels relative to zero – same as above but the base value is not added. This mode helps to locate compression artifacts.

Joe:I’ve finished my second (well, third actually) article on the A7R shutter shake issue, which details the new things I’ve learned, with help from several friends and other investigators, and is quite explicit in explaining it. Some important illustrations too.
It looks, though I don’t have in hand yet (it will take two more months to get) the finished deadweight (nor the two new Sony zooms, one coming in two days, according to the latest statements by Sony’s warehouse in Carson, CA, the 24-70 will ship tomorrow, it’s just the new orders that are stated as late February), that… my setup will do all that I would hope, out to 200 mm.
We’ll see, but it’s looking good. The results are thrilling when everything comes together.
http://www.josephholmes.com/news-sonya7rshuttershake_followup1.html

Massimo: “Using the A7R with the 17TSE and a proper RAW developer – ACR vs Iridient Developer. http://www.massimocristaldi.com/blog/sony-a7r-perche-tutto-e-cambiato/

Anonymous:Good morning from spain Andrea, a little piece 1’ with Sony RX10, retrozoom included: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvqNRQexSLQ

Brandon:I made this artistic short film about the Dubai shipyard workers, shot on Rx100mkII. Heavy utilization of slow motion, plus the articulated screen for low angles.
http://vimeo.com/88224399

Phil:I bought the Sony alpha 7 full frame camera with the purpose of shooting real time video of low light things like aurora borealis, fireflies etc
My first trip to shoot the northern lights in Iceland returned some very spectacular footage which has been blogged about on numerous sites. A lot of people have said it’s the best they have ever seen. A lot of northern lights footage is filmed with time lapse stills, but now with large sensors it possible to film real time video which is what you see in my footage Here Phil Plaiit, “the Bad astronomer” describes the footage (video is embedded)
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/02/20/aurora_video_real_time_footage_of_the_northern_lights_moving.html
Hope you like, feel free to mention on you sight. If you do let me know by hitting reply to all.

Sony: Reinventing Photography One Camera Market Niche at a Time (Guest post by Andrew Michael Buckmaster).

The following article is a Guest Post from Andrew Michael Buckmaster (virtualphotographystudio.com). You can submit articles to be posted on SAR at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

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Gone are the days when photography enthusiasts really only considered Canon and Nikon the best choices for cameras. Today’s Sony Camera, which comes in numerous iterations, has a lot going for it. And, as the company continues to expand its range with complex full-frame and SLT cameras, it’s also taking into consideration the emerging world of smartphone photography, by releasing groundbreaking accessories. Take a look at what Sony has done (and continues to do) for the world of picture taking.

The 3 Sony camera tiers

Sony Cybershot

Until rather recently, the Sony Cybershot line was solely dedicated to low and mid-range point-and-shoot cameras. The Cybershot tier seems to be changing with the introduction of the RX line of higher-end devices into the mix. Aspiring photographers have plenty of good choices to be made from this range depending on what they’re after. The Sony HX200V, for instance, is great for travel photographers, thanks to its 30x optical zoom. The HX300 comes with an amazing 50x optical zoom and has got a truly versatile built-in lens. It has a 1/2.3 inch sensor, which means it’s not quite DSLR quality after all is said and done. But, don’t knock the HX300 either. Then there’s the 24.3 MP non-zoom Sony RX1, a full-frame sensor camera. This model has ‘upped the ante’ on this segment. It’s full-frame, but also compact enough to carry around in your pocket – a must-have for photo enthusiasts thinking of going pro.

Sony Alpha DSLR

Is the Sony Alpha DSLR camera really a DSLR, or is it not? Technically speaking, it’s not, since it comes with a fixed translucent mirror, which makes their official name Single Lens Translucent cameras, or SLTs. What does this mean? That means you can use phase detection when auto-focusing irrespective of whether you’re composing the image onscreen or in the viewfinder. In other words, you’ll be able to detect the contrast quicker than with a traditional SLR camera. And, as a logical consequence, you also get an electronic viewfinder (as opposed to an optical viewfinder). So, what’s your best bet? There are plenty of cameras to choose from: you could, for instance, spring for the Sony Alpha a37 if you’re a novice or a would-be enthusiast on a budget. The a65, which is cheaper than the a77, is something of a bargain with full-time phase detection AF. Finally, the a99 is the first ever full-frame camera with an interchangeable lens as well as an EVF. It’s great for capturing details and low image noise.

Sony Alpha NEX

The experts tend to agree that the Sony Alpha NEX Camera range has managed to provide photo enthusiasts with something yet unheard of: the Sony NEX-7, a compact camera that also offers great control over settings, and a nearly impeccable high-res built-in EVF. And that’s not even the best part: the NEX-7 has a 24.3 MP APS-C sensor. Is this really the best camera Sony has ever made? It certainly seems so. For a hybridized version, you could also take the NEX-6 for a spin: it’s got the great shutter speed and image quality, but it’s far more user-friendly in terms of controls. And, yes, it’s also more affordable.

Turning your Sony Android camera into a point-and-shoot

Taking pictures with the Sony XperiaZ/Xperia Z1S smartphones

The Sony Xperia Z series really proved to be a game changer, in terms of Sony’s position on the smartphone camera market. While previous attempts in conjunction with Ericsson yielded nearly disastrous results, this time around Sony got many things right. Complaints still persist regarding the ISO, low light performance, and the absence of a shutter button on the Xperia Z. However, the phones are completely waterproof, which begs a comparison with the famed Sony waterproof camera. The back camera on the Sony Xperia Z is an impressive 13.1 MP, with 4128 x 3096 shooting capabilities. The Xperia Z1S comes with 20.7 MP and produces images that measure 5248 x 3936 (at a 4:3 aspect ratio). No doubt about it, the Z1S has the superior camera to most competitors and that comparison is consistent in all lighting conditions. While the Xperia Z is average at best (even in full blown natural light), the Z1S far beats Samsung’s offer in this department. It even comes close to the iPhone and Nokia Lumia experience.

A lot of clarity and sharpness of detail exists in pictures taken with the Z1S – although the 800 ISO limit in 20 MP mode is a bit of a letdown (you can go all the way up to 6400 when shooting in 8 MP). Reviewers would also have enjoyed HDR mode and burst modes in 20 MP, but what the Z1S is able to do is impressive nonetheless. And while the Z1 does leave a lot to be desired in terms of image quality in various light conditions, you can still tell it’s powered by the new Exmor Sensor, which places the Xperia a definite step ahead of the competition on the smartphone camera market.

The DSC-QX10 and QX100 wireless camera lens for smartphones

A lot has been written about Sony’s groundbreaking foray into the world of wireless camera lens accessories for smartphones. The lens, which is also a standalone camera of its own, is also compatible with the iPhone. Now, since it’s the first attempt of this sort, it’s laudable even for the kind of courage such an effort entails. Also, the camera lens comes with some very tangible pluses. These pluses include:

  • Design. The QX-10 camera is light, easy to carry around in one’s pocket (though not the same can be said of the comparatively larger QX-100) and the clamping system of the lens is secure. It also comes with wireless connectivity features, which means it can be used entirely on its own. To boot, there’s a standard tripod mount, a shutter button, and two embedded mics for stereo sound recording.
  • The 18-megapixel Exmor RCMOS ½.3 inch sensor with the 10x optical zoom and Sony G lens on the QX-10 (carried over from Sony’s WX2200 point-and-shoot camera). There are plenty of smartphones that take good photos out there, but the 10x optical zoom is something that these sleek devices can’t offer on their own. The QX-100 steps the game up a notch with a wide-aperture Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens.
  • Wi-Fi connectivity and remote control capabilities. This is great for families or groups of friends who want to have their picture taken together.
  • Picture quality. Yes, this accessory makes pictures taken with your smartphone absolutely indistinguishable in terms of quality from those taken with a standard point-and-shoot camera. The focus is great, there is more detail in the pictures, and the colors tend to be more vibrant.

Of course, there are downsides, too. Here are some of our biggest qualms with the groundbreaking device:

  • The Wi-Fi overload risk. When using the camera at a major event (such as a sporting event or concert, for instance), a lag develops between camera and smartphone, which can make the device’s speed less than desirable.
  • The software. Since the release of the camera lens last year, Sony has also put out several updates to the device’s software, which have significantly improved the experience. However, the PlayMemories app which the camera uses can take a whole lot of time to connect and enable shooting (think up to 10 seconds). Missed a great shot? Well, sorry about that…

All in all, would we recommend this gadget? Absolutely. It’s not rocket science to figure out that some smartphone users are in it for the pictures and would prefer to replace the older style point and shoot camera with a smart phone. Not every smart phone is up to the challenge of replacing a dedicated camera. But, the QX10 and QX100 seeks to do exactly this by adding to your preexisting phone. The devices still come with some limitations, but they clearly have potential and a lucrative market segment to build upon.

 

About Me:

My name is Andrew Buckmaster. I love photography and technology. When I’m not busy stealing my wife’s Sony point and shoot for that perfect shot of the countryside around beautiful Lancaster, PA, I love blogging about photography on http://virtualphotographystudio.com/. I work for an online marketing and business consultation company.

RCCDroid APP now officially supports the A99!

The new RCCDroid Android App (Download here at play.google.com) now added support for the Sony A99! This is the description of what you can do:

Remote Camera Control for Sony SLT-A58/A99 over USB, to replace Sony RM-VPR1
– Tethering A58/A99 (an OTG adapter must be connected to the android device)
– Contactfree shots
– Contactfree BULB
– Preview of taken pictures
– Display of camera parameters

It is planned to implement the following features:
– Change of camera parameters
– HDR-shots with different values
– Timer-shots
– Video-shots