Press Release:

Sony Electronics Introduces the Versatile α6000 Interchangeable Lens Camera with World’s Fastest Autofocus System1

New Mirrorless Camera Features Impressive AF, 24 MP APS-C Sensor, BIONZ® X Processor, OLED Tru-Finder™ and more

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2014 – Sony Electronics’ new α6000 camera pushes the limits of mirrorless camera innovation, boasting the world’s fastest AF performance1 at just 0.06 seconds.

The speedy new camera (model ILCE-6000) is also equipped with a high-resolution 24.3 MP image sensor and powerful BIONZ X processor. This powerful combination of features ensures that still images, full HD videos and all fleeting moments are captured in sharp focus and incredible detail.

“With the world’s fastest autofocus system1, the ability to capture a blazing 11 frames per second and a 24.3 MP sensor, the new α6000 rivals even the best DSLRs in the market today in terms of performance, and does this in half of the size and weight at an extremely attractive price point,” said Neal Manowitz, director of the alpha interchangeable lens camera division at Sony. “It’s an ideal choice for photo enthusiasts eager to ‘go light’ and take their photography to the next level.”
Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics, added “The new α6000 camera is simply the latest in a recent line of awe-inspiring product introductions from our digital imaging group – one of the key pillars of our core electronics business. As a leader in the imaging industry, we’re continuing to push the limits of innovation, offering products and experiences that only Sony can deliver.”

New ultra-fast AF system
Even quicker than most professional DSLRs, the phenomenal autofocus speed of the α6000 camera is powered by Sony’s advanced Hybrid AF system. The new model features a focal plane phase-detection AF sensor with an extremely wide autofocus coverage area – 179 focal points– that is teamed with high-precision contrast-detection AF. This potent combination allows the camera to accurately track and respond to a subject moving through nearly the entire frame, and to shoot at an eye-popping speed of up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus. It’s an unprecedented combination of speed and frame coverage in today’s market.

Design and Controls
The new camera’s clear, bright OLED Tru-Finder lets you see a live preview of all setting adjustments before the shot is taken, so what you see is exactly what you get. Conveniently placed mode and control dials on top of the camera give easy access to commonly used settings. Additionally, a ‘Function’ button and two additional customizable buttons give quick access to any one of 47 assignable functions. There’s also a built-in flash for extra flexibility in any shooting situation.

Wi-Fi® and PlayMemories™
The α6000 camera has built-in Wi-Fi, giving consumers one-touch connection with Xperia® or NFC-compatible Android™ smartphones or tablets for instant image transfer and sharing2. A single touch also activates Smart Remote Control, linking the camera with a smartphone or tablet for a live image preview, to fire the shutter from a distance and to review shots instantly.

For devices without NFC one-touch capabilities, users can wirelessly transfer images and videos and activate Smart Remote Control through Sony’s free PlayMemories Mobile™ application, available for the iOS and Android platforms.
The camera is also compatible with downloadable Sony PlayMemories Camera Apps, adding a range of exciting and creative capabilities. Currently there are a total of 10 different applications available with several others to be released this spring.

Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca .

Pricing and Availability
The Sony α6000 compact interchangeable lens camera will be available in April 2014 in black and silver in a kit with a compact, versatile 16-50mm motorized zoom lens (model SELP1650) for about $800. It will also be offered separately as a body for about $650.

Sony has also announced the price of its previously announced full frame E-mount 70-200mm F4 G OSS telephoto zoom lens (model SEL70200G). This lens will be available in March for about $1500.

The new camera and all compatible lenses and accessories will be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Sony α Lenses Assortment
The α6000 camera is compatible with Sony’s ever-growing assortment of E-mount interchangeable lenses, and uses the same Sony E-mount as the α3000, α5000 and acclaimed α7 and α7R models, as well as all the previous α ‘NEX’ cameras. All Sony ‘FE’ and ‘E’ lenses are compatible with all E-mount cameras.

Outlined below, the E-mount family now includes 20 different models with several premium models from Carl Zeiss® and G Series Lenses:

E 16mm F2.8
E 20mm F2.8
E 35mm F1.8 OSS
E 50mm F1.8 OSS
E 30mm F3.5 Macro
E 24mm F1.8 ZEISS
E 10-18mm F4 OSS
E PZ 16-50mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
E 18-55mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
E 18-200mm F3.5 – F6.3 OSS
E 18-200mm F3.5 – F6.3 OSS LE
E PZ 18-200mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
E 55-210mm F4.5 – F6.3 OSS
E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
E 16-70mm F4 ZEISS OSS
FE 28-70mm F3.5 – 5.6 OSS
FE 35mm F2.8 ZEISS
FE 55mm F1.8 ZEISS
FE 24-70mm F4 ZEISS OSS
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
1. Amongst interchangeable-lens digital cameras equipped with an APS-C image sensor as of February 12, 2014. Determined with internal measurement method with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens mounted, Pre-AF off and viewfinder in use.

Sony a6000 specifications

Price
MSRP $799
Body type
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Body material Magnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution 6000 x 4000
Other resolutions 6000 x 3376, 4240 x 2832, 4240 x 2400, 3008 x 2000, 3008 x 1688
Image ratio w:h 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 24 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 25 megapixels
Sensor size APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor Bionz X
Color space sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array Primary Color Filter
Image
ISO Auto, 100-25600 (51200 with Multi-Frame NR)
White balance presets 10
Custom white balance Yes
Image stabilization No
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Extra fine, fine, normal
File format
JPEG (DCF v2.0, EXIF v2.3)
RAW (Sony ARW 2.3)
Image parameters
Contrast
Saturation
Sharpness
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Contrast Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi-area
Center
Selective single-point
Tracking
Single
Continuous
Face Detection
Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Digital zoom Yes (2X)
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 179
Lens mount Sony E Mount
Focal length multiplier 1.5×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Tilting
Screen size 3″
Screen dots 921,600
Touch screen No
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7×
Viewfinder resolution 1,440,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Exposure modes
iAuto
Superior Auto
Programmed AE
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
Manual
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash Yes (via Multi Interface Shoe)
Flash modes Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction, hi-speed sync, wireless control
Flash X sync speed 1/160 sec
Continuous drive 11 fps
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Metering modes
Multi
Center-weighted
Spot
Exposure compensation ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing Yes
Videography features
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Format MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port No
Headphone port No
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n with NFC
Remote control Yes (wired or PC)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and USB charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 360
Weight (inc. batteries) 344 g (0.76 lb / 12.13 oz)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 45 mm (4.72 x 2.64 x 1.77″)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
GPS None

Sony A79 Announcement in March Before the NAB 2014 Show

According to latest rumors Sony A79 announcement expected in March just before the NAB 2014 show.

Previously we also posted that the Sony A77 replacement camera is to be announced in Spring 2014. Latest rumors says that the announcement of the A79 is very close, it could even be announced short time after the Sony A6000 mirrorless camera.

Sony A79 (the A77 successor) will be the only APS-C A-mount DSLR camera from Sony in 2014. It will be in stock and available by June, 2014 in several camera stores. The new A79 A-mount camera will be the official replacement for the Sony A77.

The upcoming Sony A79 camera body only will be priced at €1,200, this is around $1,600 in US. There will be no Sony A65 successor coming. Sony is also rumored to announce a 4K full frame video camera at NAB 2014 in April.

via SAR

Sony Announces a Smartphone That Shoots 20.7MP Photos and 4K Video

Sony seems to be joining in on the Smartphone camera revolution as they introduced the new Xperia Z2 today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. With a whopping 20.7MP for photo and 4k resolution for video, the little thing seems to pack a punch. Even though there is usually quite the uproar of smartphone hate, this new device is kind of interesting.

On top of having the 20.7MP and 4k video, the phone is also waterproof. That would definitely make it quite handy for bringing on your trip to the Bahamas for the Fstoppers Workshop. “We have redefined the smartphone once again with our Camera. Xperia Z2 offers an innovative experience that captures memories in stunning detail through 4K video shooting,” is what Sony’s Managing Director of Sony Mobile Communications Oceania, John Featherstone, was quoted saying. I really do not try to push phones on to people over their cameras but all around these features seem pretty nice and I would not mind having the Xperia for this alone. It seems like the next set of features we will be seeing in the new phone releases will have a focus on 4k video, even though it does not seem very necessary, I suppose it is nice to have.

According to news.com.au the Xperia Z2 will have a slew of new features that include a “Timeshift mode” which will allow people to record a video in 120 fps and then make certain portions slow motion kind of like what the iPhone 5S does. The phone will have a 5.2-inch Full HD display which Sony claims the color to be “as close to reality as possible.”

Check out this video Sony put out on Youtube highlighting the features of the Xperia Z2

I still don’t have any plans of getting rid of my DSLR for a high MP smartphone that packs in 4k video as well. But, I wouldn’t mind having one on me just to carry around for when my DSLR is not with me.

New Gear: Sony A7S Camera Adds 4K video, ISO 409,600
Serious video chops and lots of light sensitivity packed into Sony's A7 body

• BY STAN HORACZEK ON APRIL 6, 2014

ENLARGE


The NAB trade show is under way, which means a whole pile of new video-centric camera products are about to hit the wires. Sony has fired the first shot with their new A7S camera with seriously bolstered video capabilities. It's basically the same body as the A7 and A7R, but with a lot more processing power.

The big news on the video front is the 4K capture, but the A7s does it a little different than some of the other guys. Each pixel on the 12.2-megapixel, full-frame sensor takes a reading and the BIONZ X processor crunches it into QFHD 3840 x 2160 pixel footage, sending it to an external recorder. There's no "pixel binning," where pixels are grouped together during video capture. It can also do 4K output via HDMI, plus 1080 up to 60p.

The 50 Mbps nitrate in XAVC S format gives it the kind of video quality required for full-on broadcast footage.

The other big news is the bumped-up sensitivity. The total expanded ISO range of the A7S goes from 50-409,600. That's on par with the pro-level Nikon D4s, which we first saw back at CES.

There's no pricing yet, but it will likely draw a premium over the other A7 cameras because of all the extra cinema features. If you want the rest of the nitty gritty details.
Joining the acclaimed α7 and α7R family of the world’s smallest full-frame interchangeable lens cameras¹, Sony’s new α7S model puts extraordinary sensitivity, low noise and spectacular 4K video quality into the hands of professional photographers and videographers.
The innovative α7S camera features a newly developed, 12.2 effective megapixel 35mm Exmor® CMOS sensor paired with a powerful BIONZ X image processor, allowing it to shoot at a sensitivity range of ISO 50 – 409600² with unprecedented dynamic range and low noise.
The new model is also the world’s first camera to utilize the entire width of a full-frame image sensor in 4K video acquisition, and does this without cropping or line skipping as it can read and process data from every one of the sensor’s pixels. This allows 4K video shooters to utilize all of the artistic and creative benefits provided by the unique sensor.
“The α7S gives Sony the most complete, versatile lineup of full-frame cameras in market today,” said Neal Manowitz, director of the interchangeable lens camera business at Sony Electronics. “Between the α99, VG900, RX1, α7, α7R and now α7S models, we have completely revolutionized what it means to be a ‘full-frame’ camera, bringing a new level of quality and portability to enthusiast photographers and videographers.”

Wide ISO Sensitivity (ISO 50 - 409,600²) and Impressive Dynamic Range

Sony, the world’s largest manufacturer of image sensors, has developed a unique 12.2 MP sensor with extraordinary sensitivity that allows the α7S camera to collect dramatically more light than traditional cameras and to produce beautifully detailed, low-noise images in even the darkest environments.
The camera also features a newly developed on-sensor technology that allows it to optimize the dynamic range throughout the entirety of the ISO50 – 409,600 sensitivity range. This on-sensor technology also broadens the range of tonal gradation in bright environments and minimizes noise in dark scenes, allowing the camera to deliver impressive results in these extreme conditions where other cameras (and image sensors) typically struggle.

World’s First Full-Frame Camera with Full Pixel Read-out³ (without pixel binning) during Movie Shooting

With the new α7S camera, the high-speed read out of the 35mm full-frame image sensor combined with the high-speed processing of the BIONZ X processor enables significant improvements in video quality.
These powerful components allow the camera to process data from all of the sensor’s pixels and output stunning HD and 4K (QFHD 3840 x 2160 pixels) video³ while utilizing the full-width of the sensor. In addition to the benefits for low-light shooting, the read out of all pixels frees the video from aliasing, moiré and false color artifacts (as opposed to pixel binning) to achieve the highest quality video.

Additional Pro-Quality Video Functions

In video mode, the α7S can output 4K video⁴ at QFHD (3840x2160) to an optional external 3^rd party 4K recorder, and can record full HD (1920x1080) at frame rates of 60p, 60i, 30p and 24p directly to a compatible memory card. Video modes can be changed from full-frame to APS-C (super 35mm equivalent) if desired, and in this crop mode, the camera can support high frame rate 120fps shooting at standard HD resolution (1280 x 720p), creating a 5x slow-motion effect.
The α7S camera is also equipped with S-Log2 gamma. Common to Sony’s range of professional video cameras, S-Log2 expands the dynamic range by up to 1300% to minimize clipped highlights and loss of detail in shadows. Additionally, for the first time ever in a Sony α camera, the α7S adopts the workflow-friendly XAVC S recording format in addition to AVCHD and MP4 codecs. XAVC S format allows for full HD recording at a data rate of 50 mbps with lower compression for improved video quality.
Other specialist video functions on the new camera include a picture profile that can adjust settings like gamma, black, level and color adjustment, and can be saved for use in a multi-camera shoot. It also has Full HD and 4K base band HDMI^® output, time code/user bit for easier editing, synchronous recording feature with compatible devices, various marker and zebra displays on both the LCD screen and viewfinder and can dual record XAVC S as well as MP4 (1280x720 @30p).
The camera also has a Multi-terminal interface shoe that is compatible with Sony’s XLR Adaptor Microphone Kits (XLR-K1M plus a new model under development), allowing the use of professional microphone systems.

Low-light Shooting Advantages

The high ISO sensitivity range of the α7S camera is extremely effective for still image shooting, especially in low-light conditions, where the camera can shoot at high shutter speeds while keeping noise as low as possible. This is particularly useful for shooting indoor, dimly lit sporting events or other situations where most cameras typically struggle.
The camera is also equipped with the same high-precision Fast Intelligent AF system as the α7R camera, with drastically improved low-light AF sensitivity that can go as low as -4EV.
Expanding α Mount System and New Power Zoom Lens for Movie Shooting
Directly compatible with the growing family of E-mount lenses, the α7S camera can also be used with A-mount and others lens systems with optional adapters. Sony’s complete α lens system now includes 54 total lenses for both A and E mounts, including several premium offerings from Carl Zeiss® and G Series Lenses.
As a whole, Sony’s E-mount lens system is particularly well-suited for video shooting, with a variety of models containing “movie-friendly” features like smooth focusing, powered zoom control, and silent iris/aperture control. Building on this, Sony has announced development of a brand new, full-frame power zoom 28-135mm F4 lens E-mount lens that is an ideal match for the powerful movie capabilities of the α7S model.