Archive for the 'Sony Alpha 900' category

Sony can’t be stopped when they want to show off their upcoming flagship camera, the Sony Alpha 900 as everybody is naming it. But there’s still no official announcement. However, Chinese web site 163.com gives a lot of images of the camera (apparently still not working model).

Sony Alpha 900 along with the newest Sony flash

Will there be something before Photokina?

With all this talk about existing Full-Frame photo cameras (Canon EOS 5D, Nikon D3) and about possibly upcoming new ones (Sony Alpha 900, Canon EOS 5D Mk II or some other similar name, etc.) many photographers happy with their existing digital equipment are wondering: “What’s all the fuss about?”

And it’s a good question to ask, but the answer goes with some of the comments about sensor resolution. About the same people who noticed that resolution is not all that counts (despite what is said or implied by some of the major brands on this market) also understand that going Full Frame is a possibly very important decision for the attentive digital photographer.

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OK! If it was not enough to expect a couple of major announcements from Canon and Sony for the tough market of high-end digital cameras, there is another competitor appearing in the image.

According to Amateur Photographer, Samsung is preparing a Full Frame D-SLR camera to compete with Canon EOS 5D (or future 5D Mk II), with Nikon D3, with future Sony Alpha 900. We know that Samsung has a very good technology (shared with Pentax) and that the high-end market is calling for Full Frame sensors.

Nothing is certain, and we will probably have to wait until 2009, but things are moving fast in Korea too.

Some soul searching and information collecting leads me to say that -contrary to what I could have suggested here before- there is no Sony Alpha 500 in preparation. It seems that this was rather a name imagined for the now-existing Sony Alpha 350.

As surprising as it may be, I needed to inform you about one little bit of rumour that is currently appearing on the Internet: The next ‘flagship‘ digital SLR camera (hig-end camera based on a Full Frame 15- or 20-MP sensor) from Sony could well not be called Alpha 900 as expected by nearly everybody but rather Alpha 500. I don’t really believe it, but you never know…

The other possibility is that the Sony Alpha 500 is another new mid-to-high end camera product that nobody’s seen yet (a successor to the Alpha 700, already?) but it would be the source of some confusing thoughts. To be checked in the future.

Master Chong, in Malaysia, recently published photos of the future Sony Alpha 900, high-end D-SLR not yet officially announced by Sony, but that should be the pro pilar of the Japanese brand with a Full-Frame (24×36mm) sensor of 20 to 24 millions of pixels.

  

There are only images to judge, but it leaves some possibilities for (preliminary) analysis.

The back face of the camera shows an interface impressively similar to the usual one found previously on the Konica-Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 7D and the Sony Alpha 700. Position and meaning of the buttons seems to be nearly identical. I would just point at the will to mark the presence of the HDMI interface by engraving on the connector caps (on the left-hand side as on the A-700). But this is no news.

Notice the complementary/optional grip that really includes a full set of commands to ease moving to vertical position of the camera. Those adepts of optional battery grips will definitely appreciate.

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Out of Canon, nobody seems to really have a clue about what will be the successor to the Canon EOS 5D. Most people assume that it will be named either Canon EOS 5D Mk II (the most probable possibility according to several sources), Canon EOS 6D or even Canon EOS 7D. However, this does not stop experts and not-so-experts to make various assumptions about what specification it will have.

Taking into account the existence of the Nikon D3 and its impressive set of features, Canon sure has to prepare a top-of-the-line DSLR with a superb Full-Frame sensor, with outstanding image quality. Of course, this is a normal (but difficult) target for the leader and the company that drove us into the Full-Frame world. There, we found: large pixel counts, exceptionally low noise levels, very high sensitivity and a normal 1-to-1 conversion factor for lenses. This last item may not always be a positive (for example, long tele-lens lovers appreciate that a smaller APS-C sensor transforms your common 300mm lens into a loveable 450mm optical gun), but the rest is a boon for photo quality. And there, as the Canon EOS 5D then the Nikon D3 proved, there is a giant step to be taken from more common DSLR.

So, it should be no surprise that photo-related forums are dripping with more or less reliable comments about what the Canon EOS 5D Mk II will be. Possibly, we will see specifications around the following:

• 15 to 16 MP sensor (good but not oustanding, in order to hit hard on image quality; Enough to top the 12MP of Nikon D3) with 14-bit A/D conversion (the de facto standard of Canon image quality)
• ISO 12800 (boost up to ISO 25600) that should give Nikon a run for their money
• All-new 29-point TTL CMOS AF sensor (needed to compete with the impressive 51-point AF sensor of Nikon)
• 6 fps continuous shooting (for more than 50 frames)
• Lens fine adjustment setups for 14 lenses

The rest should be more predictable and does not request a crystal ball (sensor dust cleaning, improved 1MP 3″ LCD screen, LiveView inspired by cheaper DSLR models, weather sealing that was lacking from the EOS 5D). But there are two important elements left out of this picture:

• The price target would be around $3500 (to be compared to the $5500 of the Nikon D3), definitely strong positive argument for Canon even if this is still targetting pros and rich amateurs;
• The announcement would be made in April 2008 (may be, not as a Fool’s Day joke) for availability before mid-June.

These last key arguments could prove critical to offer a very good position to Canon. They had the first Full-Frame DLSR camera (the EOS 5D). Now, Nikon is trying to grab the market with the Nikon D3 since last November. Canon has to hit hard in order to keep the upper hand and they cannot wait for some pro photographers to switch (even if this category of customers cannot jump out of the train each and every year like some enthusiast consumers). Moreover, we know that Sony will be soon arriving with a new Full-Frame DSLR based on a 24MP sensor presented a few months ago (rumoured to be named Sony Alpha 900).

It’s time for Canon to shoot a star. The Canon EOS 5D history needs a sequel to become a real Full-Frame saga. The Canon EOS 5D Mk II could be this long-awaited beacon for the highest end of the Canon DSLR line.

Sources: slo-foto forums, DPreview forums.

In today’s press conference in Las Vegas, Sony confirmed nearly everything we were saying here yesterday: The Flagship model will be coming in 2008. It will have a Full Frame sensor of 24.6MP (I was off by 0.2MP only). It will be stabilized by Super Steady Shot (the in-body Sony image stabilization). But once again, we did not get the official name. I’ll keep thinking that it will be Sony Alpha 900.

Ok! Sony did not disclose this in so many words yet, but it’s become quite clear. Let’s review the facts and the rumours:

• Fact: Last year, Sony showed a mockup of a future Digital SLR camera tagged as “flagship”. Rumour: The enormous size of the pentaprism of the viewfinder shown lets people wonder whether Sony will make it a camera with a big Full Frame (after Canon and then Nikon).
• Rumour: The high-end “flagship” camera should be named Sony Alpha 900 to keep the naming conventions of the pro-line of late Minolta brand.
• Fact: Sony announces today that they have developped a Full-Frame sensor of 24.81MP resolution with a set of very good features for superlative image quality. The chip will be shipping in industrial quantities before the end of 2008.

The logical conclusion: Sony will use this new sensor in its flagship camera. It will be named Alpha 900. It will have 24,9 mega-pixel resolution, continuous shooting at 6 or 6.3 frames per second, 12 bit pixel management, optional capture of a window leading to lower resolution upon request (maybe with even faster continuous shooting). The Sony Alpha 900 will be available in 2008 (using the full production of the sensor).

The only thing that seems less certain seems to be the name, because this one relies only on hearsay.

Sources for the sensor specification: PhotographyBlog, DPreview.

PhotographyBlog is wondering whether Sony’s promise to add some more new product in PMA next week will bring us a new D-SLR (either the entry-level Alpha 300 or the flasgship high-end Alpha 900).

We’ll see.

A photo has popped up on the Internet forums allegedly showing the Alpha 900 in Berlin IFA. If it’s a fake, it’s a rather good one.

From the look of it, I would draw a few conclusions and comments (only valid if the image is a real scoop).

• Sony has cleaned up the original design a little from what was shown last March. Specially the pentaprism, while still large, looks less rough and unfinished.
• No weather-sealing visible between the body and the lens, but there could be some level of weather protection for the body buttons and such.
• Upper LCD screen, probably in addition to the one on the back of the body. This was a feature disappearing from most cameras (think high-end customers, pro photographers in sight).
• Most of the interface elements have already shown on the Sony Alpha 700 (incl. the battery grip)

Anyway, it’s probably a fake model (look at the chamber closed by a black plastic, and the alignment of the top LCD with the rest of the body looks a bit low). But it could well be a reasonably good demonstration of the current state of the external design in the Sony labs.

We all want to see the newest pro camera from Sony (allegedly Sony Alpha 900, previously presented by Sony as the flagship model). But the problem is that we only have rumours to look at. But here is a short summary of a few of the things I could collect here and there.

• Sensor is nearly certain to be full-frame, but size could something in between 14MP and 21.42MP (possibly 16-18MP)
• Sony anti-shake
• 3″ LCD (it’s now standard)
• Full weather-sealing (isn’t it just whishful thinking/dreaming?)

It’s even visible as product page on the kamera-express.nl web site. But it looks a bit too early to believe them (they don’t even try to give a sensor resolution or a price). Probably, just a way to collect Google attention.