jaribas
6th September 2007, 17:45
Información disponible sólo en ingles.
http://www.sensaciones.org/noticias/523.jpg
UPDATED This news update is being typed in for you from Northern Italy where Sony has presented the new Alpha A700 DSLR to the European photo press this morning.
The key points of the new Sony Alpha A700 are:
12.24 megapixel Exmor (CMOS) APS-C sized sensor. This is the same size as the current Sony Alpha A100's conventional CCD sensor, but technologically more advanced. sony continues to hint at a full frame digital SLR in the pipeline, but no details - apart from a new full frame (G-type) lens (details further down).
Sony's latest Bionz system engine custom chip is now able to deal with sensor noise at a more fundamental level, using multiple stage pipelined processing, enabling ISO 3200 to be introduced. We're told that noise performance is significantly better than the A100. We're trying the camera out later today and hope to verify this and other claims.
Five frames a second continuous shooting. This is well up on the A100's 3fps, though not as fast as the new Canon EOS-40D or Nikon's (http://dpnow.com/#) newly-announced D300.
Surprisingly, while most of Sony's competitors have introduced Live View capabilities in the last month, the A700 does not feature this. Instead, Sony is highighting the A700 as the first DSLR to have HDMI compatibility with HD TV displays, so you can connect your A700 up to a HDTV (http://dpnow.com/#) and view your photos.
Construction uses magnesium alloy parts, though it doesn't look as if the chassis is cast in one piece. All external surfaces are metal. The body is 690g on its own. It's not as heavy as it looks in pictures. The body is weather (http://dpnow.com/#)-sealed.
Three inch 920,000 dot LCD display - this looks extremely nice and is a major step up from the 230,000 dot 2.5 inch displays typically found in other cameras.
Completely re-engineered Super Steady Shot moving sensor image stabilisation system. Sony now says that up to four stops added headroom is provided and, of course, it works with all alpha lenses and most older Konica/Minolta AF lenses.
New 11-point AF system, up from 9 points on the A100. A new central extra high sensitivity point has been implemented for extra fast lenses (f/2.8 or faster).
Dual memory slots - Sony Memory Stick Duo os now catered for as well as Compact Flash (http://dpnow.com/#). We found that the system won't automatically recognise when you change from one slot to another; you need to select which slot you are using from the menu system.
VG-C70AM portrait mode (vertical) battery grip - a ruggedised accessory that is sealed and constructed from magnesium alloy. One can't help but wonder if this has been engineered for a yet to be announced pro-spec model. (Update: the A700 body is actually weather sealed too.)
New higher capacity Infolithium rechargeable battery - the NP-FM500H battery is backwards compatible with the A100, but the A100's NP-FM-55H battery can't be used in the A700.
High endurance shutter unit - the A700's shutter is designed for a duty cycle of at least 100,000 actuations. It also has a maximum speed setting of 1/8000th second.
Improved RAW editimg software tools - operates twice as faster as previous software we are told. I found that my Epson P-5000 storage viewer could read and display A700 RAW filesPrice
There is no official word on pricing yet, but my understanding is that the UK price will be just under £1,000 for the body only. That would equate to just under EU€1,500. US prices tend to be better 'value' than a straight exchange rate, so my guestimate is: US$1,700. (Update, more unofficial news - I now hear that the body only will be EU€1400, with the 16-105 kit lens - EU€1500 and with the Carl Zeiss 16-80 - EU€1900. But these are not confirmed prices.
New lenses
There is a new 16-105 (24-158) f/3.5-5.6 DT (for APS size sensor cameras only) kit lens, plus three other new lenses. These include the70-300mm (105-450mm equivalent on the A100/700) f/4.5-5.6 sonic AF motor G-series (full frame), 18-250mm (27-375mm) f/3.5-5.6 DT, and 55-200mm (83-300) f/4-5.6 DT zooms.
http://www.sensaciones.org/noticias/523.jpg
UPDATED This news update is being typed in for you from Northern Italy where Sony has presented the new Alpha A700 DSLR to the European photo press this morning.
The key points of the new Sony Alpha A700 are:
12.24 megapixel Exmor (CMOS) APS-C sized sensor. This is the same size as the current Sony Alpha A100's conventional CCD sensor, but technologically more advanced. sony continues to hint at a full frame digital SLR in the pipeline, but no details - apart from a new full frame (G-type) lens (details further down).
Sony's latest Bionz system engine custom chip is now able to deal with sensor noise at a more fundamental level, using multiple stage pipelined processing, enabling ISO 3200 to be introduced. We're told that noise performance is significantly better than the A100. We're trying the camera out later today and hope to verify this and other claims.
Five frames a second continuous shooting. This is well up on the A100's 3fps, though not as fast as the new Canon EOS-40D or Nikon's (http://dpnow.com/#) newly-announced D300.
Surprisingly, while most of Sony's competitors have introduced Live View capabilities in the last month, the A700 does not feature this. Instead, Sony is highighting the A700 as the first DSLR to have HDMI compatibility with HD TV displays, so you can connect your A700 up to a HDTV (http://dpnow.com/#) and view your photos.
Construction uses magnesium alloy parts, though it doesn't look as if the chassis is cast in one piece. All external surfaces are metal. The body is 690g on its own. It's not as heavy as it looks in pictures. The body is weather (http://dpnow.com/#)-sealed.
Three inch 920,000 dot LCD display - this looks extremely nice and is a major step up from the 230,000 dot 2.5 inch displays typically found in other cameras.
Completely re-engineered Super Steady Shot moving sensor image stabilisation system. Sony now says that up to four stops added headroom is provided and, of course, it works with all alpha lenses and most older Konica/Minolta AF lenses.
New 11-point AF system, up from 9 points on the A100. A new central extra high sensitivity point has been implemented for extra fast lenses (f/2.8 or faster).
Dual memory slots - Sony Memory Stick Duo os now catered for as well as Compact Flash (http://dpnow.com/#). We found that the system won't automatically recognise when you change from one slot to another; you need to select which slot you are using from the menu system.
VG-C70AM portrait mode (vertical) battery grip - a ruggedised accessory that is sealed and constructed from magnesium alloy. One can't help but wonder if this has been engineered for a yet to be announced pro-spec model. (Update: the A700 body is actually weather sealed too.)
New higher capacity Infolithium rechargeable battery - the NP-FM500H battery is backwards compatible with the A100, but the A100's NP-FM-55H battery can't be used in the A700.
High endurance shutter unit - the A700's shutter is designed for a duty cycle of at least 100,000 actuations. It also has a maximum speed setting of 1/8000th second.
Improved RAW editimg software tools - operates twice as faster as previous software we are told. I found that my Epson P-5000 storage viewer could read and display A700 RAW filesPrice
There is no official word on pricing yet, but my understanding is that the UK price will be just under £1,000 for the body only. That would equate to just under EU€1,500. US prices tend to be better 'value' than a straight exchange rate, so my guestimate is: US$1,700. (Update, more unofficial news - I now hear that the body only will be EU€1400, with the 16-105 kit lens - EU€1500 and with the Carl Zeiss 16-80 - EU€1900. But these are not confirmed prices.
New lenses
There is a new 16-105 (24-158) f/3.5-5.6 DT (for APS size sensor cameras only) kit lens, plus three other new lenses. These include the70-300mm (105-450mm equivalent on the A100/700) f/4.5-5.6 sonic AF motor G-series (full frame), 18-250mm (27-375mm) f/3.5-5.6 DT, and 55-200mm (83-300) f/4-5.6 DT zooms.