Digitalrev attacks Sony’s A6300&A6500 release strategy

bildschirmfoto-2016-10-07-um-18-40-39

Digitalrev attacked Sony’s A6300 and A6500 strategy:

This is a depressingly short-sighted approach from Sony (might I add, even for Sony standards), since the A6300 was only announced in February and shipped in March. Instead of launching an A6300/A6500 hybrid as a more complete product at Photokina for example, Sony released a good, but not perfect A6300 in February.

Well I have to play the devils (Sony’s) adovcate to balance the story:

  1. The A6500 does NOT replace the A6300 and costs $400 more which is really a lot more $$$
  2. The current A6300 did not get any price drop. If you paid $1,000 for your camera and are happy with it you shouldn’t feel screwed at all.

The real weakness with the Sony APS-C E-mount system are the lenses. Sony cannot expect A6xxx camera owners to buy FE lenses only! They are bigger, have not the “right” focal length and you pay more for it than you should (more glass in use in FF lenses).

And Dpreview posted an article about “what’s changed, and what still needs to change”. They have a couple of complains and imrpovements suggestions. The touchscreen is too laggy and one more annoying thing is:

the a6500’s battery life rating has actually decreased compared to the a6300 by over 10%. It goes without saying that’s a change in the opposite direction than we would like.

Preorders (Start on October 10 at 11am NYC time):
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

New A6500 video tests by Digitalrev, Mirrorlessons and Newsshooter


Sony a6500 RX100V First Impression Hands-on

Those are the next three A6500 videos from Digitalrev, Mirrorlessons and Newsshooter.


Newsshooter A6500 touchscreen AF in video mode demo


A6500 hands-on by Mirrorlessons.

New Sony A6500 and RX100m5 preorder links:
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

All other new Sony stuff on preorder:
Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.
Loxia 85mm f/2.4 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Tamron 150-600mm G2 A-mount lens at Bhphoto.Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 autofocus FE lens at Amazon and BHphoto.
Lensbaby Trio 28mm E-mount lens at BHphoto, Adorama and WexUK.

New A6500 and RX100m5 hands-on by Cinema5D

Cinema5D posted that A6500 and RX100m5 hands-on video. About the A6500 heating they write:

The overheating problem that was a major issue with the a6300 is hopefully a thing of the past. In the camera menu you can now change the “Auto power off temp” setting from Standard to High. As a result, the camera will get warmer to the touch, but the recording time before switching off will be longer. How much longer depends on many factors, but future user experience will determine how good it is.

And here are more A6500 and RX100m5 tests:
Sony’s tiny RX100 V shoots 5.5K video using the high speed photo burst mode – with some catches (Newsshooter).
Sony Alpha A6500 Hands-On Review (ePhotozine).
The decisive moment & the sony rx100 v (Diyphotography).
Sony A6500 vs. A6300 vs. A6000- Which Sony Crop Sensor Body is BEST for You? (Jason Lanier)
Sony RX100V – Démonstration de la vidéo HFR à 1000 fps (LesNumeriques).

New Sony A6500 and RX100m5 preorder links:
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

Newsshooter test: The new Sony A6500 has no more overheating issues!

Newsshooter tested if the new A6500 does overheat. In their A6500 vs A6300 head to head video you can see the A6500 running for 29min without any issues while the A6300s topped 18min earlier.

Sony appear to have fixed the single biggest complaint users have about its predecessor, the a6300. The new a6500 solves this with a new ‘Auto PWR OFF Temp’ setting. When set at ‘High’ it allows the camera to continue recording all the way up to its 29 min 50 second limit. According to Sony reps you can then start to record again immediately for another half hour in normal conditions. If you then start recording again a third time Sony make no promises about how long it will record for.

Sounds great!

New Sony A6500 and RX100m5 preorder links:
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

And here is a video showing the A6500 menu:


Thanks Joe for sending this!

New set of RX100m5 tests

rx100mv

Today many reviewers posted their RX100mV tests:
Sony RX100 V review-in-progress (CameraLabs).
Sony RX100 V First Shots (Imaging Resource).
Sony’s RX100 V camera makes a strong first impression (Engadget).
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V Sample Images (Photographyblog).
Sony RX100 V review: slow motion video (CameraLabs on Youtube).
Getting Gritty & Authentic With The RX100 IV (Alphauniverse)
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 Mark V Sample Photos And Video (ePhotozine).
Hands-on Sony RX100 V review (CameraJabber).

New Sony A6500 and RX100m5 preorder links:
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

All other new Sony stuff on preorder:
Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.
Loxia 85mm f/2.4 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Tamron 150-600mm G2 A-mount lens at Bhphoto.Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 autofocus FE lens at Amazon and BHphoto.
Lensbaby Trio 28mm E-mount lens at BHphoto, Adorama and WexUK.

First A6500 review by Patrick Murphy-Racey

bildschirmfoto-2016-10-13-um-09-18-15

Sony Artisan Patrick Murphy-Racey posted the first full Sony A6500 review:

As a user of every Pro camera Canon has made since the original EOS1 back in 1992, and more recently as a Nikon shooter with the D4S, I have become accustomed to how these top of the line pro cameras feel and act in my hands shooting news, sports, and photojournalism assignments.They have always been the best, offering super-fast AF, quick motor drives, and low light auto focus that I have grown to count on.
The A6500 feels much like those high end cameras of today that cost $6,000 each.

Patrick was the first and only(!) photographer who had the pleasure to test the new camera. And it’s also worth to be mentioned his future Sony product wishlist:

1. A full-frame A7 series camera with the chops of the A6500. Speed, high frame rate, 4D focus.
2. A vertical grip for the A6500 and future FF camera with more than one back button for AF.
3. An AF management custom function similar to Canon’s “Case” system.
4. In order, FE300mm f/4G SSM, FE135mm f/1.8GM SSM, FE300mm f/2.8G SSM, FE400mm f/2.8G SSM, FE200-500mm f/5.6G SSM, FE600mm f/4G SSM, FE200mm f/2G SSM, FE200-400mm f/4G SSM, FE500mm f/4G SSM
5. A “real” 4-AA TTL flash made by Sony with built-in radio trigger system.
6. 1/250th sync for flash AC powered units
7. XQD cards Please (this will only allow a faster through-put).
8. An even shorter shutter lag time, 240 fps 4K EVF. 20 fps motor drive.
9. A larger body with a new battery and bigger buttons.
10. The ability to store all custom functions on SD cards and e-mail them to share with others.

New Sony A6500 and RX100m5 preorder links:
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. In EU at Calumet.de. WexUK. PCHstore.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

All other new Sony stuff on preorder:
Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.
Loxia 85mm f/2.4 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Tamron 150-600mm G2 A-mount lens at Bhphoto.Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 autofocus FE lens at Amazon and BHphoto.
Lensbaby Trio 28mm E-mount lens at BHphoto, Adorama and WexUK.