Camera Labs

sdowden look away now!

SonyAlphaRumors rate this one highly, backed up with a known Sony patent and probably other info.

Phase AF video recording will push these right up in usability for normal people, while remaining largely DSLR like other than no having an optical viewfinder.

Other claims:
Alpha mount
Two models A55 (1080), A33 (720).
Small body like current crop DSLR models
"Cheap"

My thoughts:
* are they going to bring out many more silent focus lenses? I'm not sure people will want to carry round external mics or separate recording devices if this is targeted at non-pro levels.
* No OVF implies EVF
* is the AF system going to be optimised for video? The typical small scattering of points isn't going to be enough, will they bump up the AF point number significantly for better coverage?
* this appears to be yet another new line in addition to existing DSLRs and NEX. Do they have the will and resources to push DSLRs forward on the higher end?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I think (read hope) they use a secondary sensor for the video (as they have with LV on the a550).

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Check the link, the main sensor will be used for recording, with a fixed semi-silvered mirror allowing the full time AF. Do not look at this as replacing the conventional SLR which I think will stick around for a lot longer yet, but opening a new area for SLR form factor video.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Could be interesting for video. I'm not too sure about the pellicle mirror though. Will it decrease the amount of light that gets to the sensor? If so, to what extend?
Using a mirror like this would help for video, but if it does decrease the amount of light that gets to the sensor, the mirror should be able to flip up when taking photos, even if it's a setting that can be turned an and off.

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

The speculation is there will be a fraction of a stop of light loss, so in the grand scheme of things that isn't significant unless you're already bumping the ISO right up.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I read you lose about 1/3 stop of light. Not too bad I guess, but it will make a difference in the low light I like to shoot in. Still, I'd be quite happy to have a pellicle mirror in a second body...

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

are we going to get a full frame that will shoot 10fps for us sport shooters?

Stuff the video, if I wanted to shoot video I'll buy a video camera, I want a pro level dSLR from sony.

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http:/dowdenphotography.com/
Camera: who cares its the photographer
Lens: Lots

You can flip up the mirror to avoid light loss but the phase detection would not work but there should be some other kind of AF system to work with. I would not worry about the light loss, the only thing which is bothering me is the brightness of the viewfinder. although it would have an electronic viewfinder.

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Sony Alpha A300
Sony DT 16-105mm
Tamron 70-300mm Di Ld Macro 1:2
Tamron AF SP 90mm Macro 1:1
Sony 50mm f/1.4
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC
Kenko Pro 300 1.4X TC
Sony HVL-F58AM Flashgun
Flickr Photostream

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photograph ... /?news=123

Might be he better way to go.
Leave the dSLR's to do what they're great at, taking photos, if people want SLR type dof and interchangeable lenses they can buy this camera.

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http:/dowdenphotography.com/
Camera: who cares its the photographer
Lens: Lots

A camcorder format is useful if you want to carry it and use it like one, but many people would probably still like a DSLR first and the potential to have similar video.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

SonyAlphaRumors have posted more claimed specs with a high rating.

1) A55 (translucent) 16MP 10FPS EVF-1.44M 1.1X magnification 95% AVCHD full hd
2) A33 (translucent) 14MP 7FPS EVF-1.44M 1.1X magnification 95% AVCHD full hd
3) A560 14MP 7FPS MF recording AVCHD full hd
4) A580 16MP 7FPS MF recording AVCHD full hd

Given the A550 has reportedly been marked as discontinued, the updated models are not much of a surprise.

The two new models are the interesting one. Already some traditional photographers are foaming at the mouth over the EVF, but they're missing the point those models are something new and more video centric, although by no means excluding the photo capability. It just will be a little different. While I could speculate more, I think I'd wait and see what they really do.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

As I've already said elsewhere, I'm curious to see how good the EVF/OVF is going to be. It's hard to beat a decent OVF with a pentaprism...and I'm not even mentioning (ok, I am now...) the 'life expectancy' to put it that way, of the rumoured OLED EVF.

I read the other day (on Wiki) that there seems to be a problem with blue colours and their lifespan. If the blue thingies on it need to be replaced, it needs a completely new EVF, I'd say.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED#Disadvantages

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

I don't know how accurate or up to date that info is, as OLED is a relatively new technology, improvements are still going to be relatively large in the short term. Still, even at the claimed "8 hours a day for 5 years" life, that's going to be more than enough for non-pro use.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi everyone, official sticky threads now started, so these ones now locked - cheers!

Gordon