27th August, 2009

 

Capture The Moment In Perfect Detail With New Sony Alpha Cameras

DSLRs Deliver Low-Light Performance, Exceptional Shooting Speed and In-Camera High Dynamic Range

 

Sony today introduced two α DSLR cameras with a new generation of Exmor™ CMOS sensors and BIONZ™ image processors, which make it easy for active shooters to get the best shot and capture clearer images—without missing their favorite moments.

The DSLR-A550 (14.2 megapixels) and DSLR-A500 (12.3 megapixels) cameras provide excellent picture quality, particularly in low-light scenarios. A new generation of Sony® Exmor CMOS image sensors employ new low-noise processing for high-quality pictures. The BIONZ image processor has color-noise reduction that helps achieve low noise up to ISO 12800, without sacrificing fine detail.

“We are bringing performance of a higher class of cameras within the reach of a broader group of consumers,” said Mark Weir, senior technology manager of the product management unit in the Digital Imaging Division at Sony Electronics. “Not only do these cameras provide great value, but they also bring faster shooting speeds and new technologies like in-camera High Dynamic Range and new Live View features to mainstream photo enthusiasts.”

 

Fast Shooting Speeds

With its unique sensor-processor combination, the α550 camera is the first DSLR in its class with seven frames per second shooting speed for under $1,000. Using the optical viewfinder on both models, you can shoot up to five frames per second and up to four frames per second with Quick Auto Focus Live View. This helps you capture the decisive moment when shooting fast moving subjects like in sports.

 

In-Camera High Dynamic Range

These are Sony’s first DSLR cameras that offer an in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature for capturing highlights and shadows, which processes the image within two seconds. Unlike HDR features in other DSLR cameras, Sony’s unique positional interpolation technology can overcome slight changes in camera position and align individual shots so that a tripod is not required.

The feature handles severe backlighting and other high-contrast scenes like looking out a window into bright daylight. The in-camera auto HDR technology combines the highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image.

 

Improved Live View

Because composing shots on the LCD monitor is becoming increasingly important to DSLR users, Sony has equipped these cameras with two Live View functions and a 3-inch (measured diagonally) LCD screen that tilts 90 degrees up or down. The α500 has a 230,000 pixel Clear Photo LCD Plus™ screen, and the α550 has a 921,000 pixel Xtra Fine LCD™ display. 

 

Sony’s Quick AF Live View uses two sensors to maintain the same focusing speed as with the optical viewfinder. While the speed of Quick AF Live View is ideal for every day shooting, Manual Focus Check Live View enables critical framing and magnification for setting precise manual focus in macro and tripod shooting. Temporary 7x and 14x zoom views enable you to focus on extremely fine detail while the 1x view shows 100 percent framing in the LCD.

 

The Quick Auto Focus Live View has been developed with Face Detection technology to help you get the best shot by recognizing and adjusting for faces. It is the world’s first Face Detection system to work with fast, high-precision “phase detection” Auto Focus. By tracking up to eight faces, this system can prioritize auto focus points on a face, and optimize exposure and white balance for beautiful portraits.

These are Sony’s first DSLR cameras that include Smile ShutterTM technology in Live View, which takes the shot when your subject smiles. It works with Quick Auto Focus Live View to capture spontaneous moments.

 

Image stabilization helps take blur-free shots by compensating for camera shake. Typical DSLR systems build image stabilization into selected lenses only. SteadyShot INSIDE™ image stabilization is built into the camera body itself. Blur will also be reduced with every A-mount lens, including macro and wide aperture standard zoom lenses, with an effect equivalent to shutter speeds faster by 2.5 to 4 stops

To make the benefits of macro photography easier and more accessible, Sony is making available at retail the DT 30mm F/2.8 (model SAL30M28) macro lens.  It captures intricate close-ups, which is difficult to achieve with standard lenses and is only compatible with APS-C format DSLRs.

 

Memory Cards

For higher capacity storage with greater connectivity and faster transfer speeds, the new DSLRs are compatible with Sony’s newest 32GB Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ HX media. The HX series card is designed to deliver optimal read and write speeds for a growing number of products that require high-bandwidth memory in order to capture and store large data files.

 

Using the HX series media, Sony α DSLR users can confidently enjoy advanced features such as continuous-shooting photography and realize higher transfer rates of large capacity files to their compatible PC (via supplied USB adapter).  For example with the α550 model, approximately 1500 14-megapixel photos shot in the JPEG+RAW mode can be transferred to a compatible PC in approximately 26 minutes (HX series media sold separately).

 

The new cameras include dedicated slots for high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™, HX series and SD/SDHC media (all sold separately).

 

Pricing and Availability

Pre-orders will begin on August 28, 2009 at www.sonystyle.com/retail and at selected retailers nationwide. The cameras, lens and a range of accessories will be available in October at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

The α550 (model DSLR-A550) and α500 (model DSLR-A500), which come with the camera body only, will cost about $950 and $750 respectively. The α550L and α500L, which come with the camera body and 18-55 kit lens, will cost about $1050 and $850, respectively.

The SAL30M28 macro lens will be available in October for about $200.

 

 

Sony DSLR-A500

Body material

Plastic exterior

Sensor

• 23.5 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 12.9 million total pixels
• 12.3 million effective pixels

Image sizes *

3:2
• 4272 x 2848 (L)
• 3104 x 2072 (M)
• 2128 x 1416 (S)
16:9
• 4272 x 2400 (L)
• 3104 x 1744 (M)
• 2188 x 1192 (S)

File qualities / formats

• RAW (.ARW)
• RAW + JPEG Fine
• RAW + JPEG Standard
• JPEG Fine
• JPEG Standard

Dust reduction

• Charge protection coating on low-pass filter
• Sensor-shift dust reduction mechanism

Lenses

• Sony Alpha lenses
(also compatible with Minolta and Konica -Minolta AF lenses)

FOV crop

1.5x

SteadyShot INSIDE

• CCD-Shift 'SteadyShot Inside' system
• Claimed equivalent to 2.5 – 3.5 steps in shutter speed

Auto Focus

• TTL CCD line sensors (9-points,with center cross sensor)
• EV 0 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range
• Predictive focus, Focus Lock

AF area selection

• Wide AF area
• Spot AF area (center)
• Focus area selection (any of 9)

Focus modes

• Single-shot AF
• Continuous AF
• Automatic AF
• Manual focus

AF assist
illuminator

• Yes (using built in flash)
• Range approx 1m - 5m

Eye-start AF

Yes, selectable from menu

Shooting modes

• Programmed AE (Auto, Flash off, P)
• Aperture priority AE
• Shutter priority AE
• Manual
• Scene Selection

Scene modes

• Portrait
• Landscape
• Macro
• Sports
• Sunset
• Night view/portrait

Sensitivity

• Auto (ISO 200-1600)
• Manual ISO 200- ISO 12800 in 1 EV steps

Metering modes

• Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern)
• Center-weighted
• Spot

Metering range

• TTL metering
• 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC
• EV 2 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted) *
• EV 4 to 20 (Spot metering) *
(at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)

AE Lock

• AEL button (customizable, hold or single-press)
• Half-press shutter release

AE Bracketing

• Single or continuous bracketing
• 3 frames
• 0.3 or 0.7 EV steps

Exposure compen.

• -2.0 to +2.0 EV
• 0.3 EV steps

Shutter

Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter

Shutter Speed

• 30 to 1/4000 sec
• Bulb

Flash X-sync

• 1/160 sec

Aperture values

Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps

DOF preview

No

White balance

• Auto
• Daylight
• Shade
• Cloudy
• Incandescent
• Fluorescent
• Flash
• Color temperature/filter (2500 - 9900 K)
• Manual (Custom)

White balance fine tuning

• Auto (none)
• Preset WB: -3 to +3
• Fluorescent WB: -1 to +2
• Color temperature WB: G9 to M9 (Magenta to Green)

White balance bracketing

• 3 exposures
• Hi / Lo level selectable

Dynamic range optimizer

• Off
• D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Lv 1-5)
• Auto HDR (Auto, Ajustable up to 3 EV betwwen 1.0-3.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps)

Color space

• sRGB
• Adobe RGB

Color modes

• Standard
• Vivid
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Sunset
• B&W

Image parameters

• Contrast (-3 to +3)
• Sharpness (-3 to +3))
• Saturation (-3 to +3)

Noise reduction

• Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second
• High ISO NR at ISO 1600 or higher
• User controllable: On / Off

Viewfinder *

• Eye-level fixed optical glass pentamirror
• Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen
• Magnification approx. 0.80x *
• 95% frame coverage
• Dioptric adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0)
• Eye-relief 19 mm from eyepiece, 15 mm from frame*
• Eyepiece cup removable
• Viewfinder info bar

Live view (Quick AF Live View) *

• Dedicated live view sensor (pentamirror tilt system)
• 1200 zone evaluative metering
• Sensitivity 1-17 EV*
• 90% frame coverage
• Exposure and white balance simulation
• Face Detection and Smile Shutter*
• Smart Teleconverter (x1.4 / x2.0 slectable)*
• Display: Histogram, eal-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation)

Live view (MF Check Live View) *

• Live View with CMOS sensor Exmor
• Metering varies according to shooting mode
• 100% frame coverage
• Display: Real-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation)
• Zoom (x7.0/x14.0), Grid line display

LCD monitor *

• 3.0 TFT Clear Photo LCD Plus
• 230,400 dots
• Auto Brightness Control (auto setting in 2 steps)
• Manual settting in 5 steps

Flash *

• Built-in pop-up flash (manual release)
• Metering: ADI, Pre-flash TTL, Manual flash control
• Guide number 12 (ISO 100/m)
• Angle of coverage 18 mm (35 mm equiv.)*
• Flash sync 1/160 sec

Flash modes

• Off
• Auto
• Fill Flash
• Rear Sync
• Slow sync
• Wireless/High Speed Sync.

Flash Bracketing

3 exposures in 0.3 and 0.7 EV steps

Flash compensation

-2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps

External flash (optional)

• Sony HVL-F58AM
• Sony HVL-F56AM
• Sony HVL-F42AM
• Sony HVL-F36AM

Drive modes

• Single-frame
• Continuous
• Speed-Priority*
• Self-timer (10 or 2 sec)

Continuous
shooting

• Approx 5 fps max (4 fps in Live view)
• RAW: Up to 6 frames
• RAW+JPEG: Up to 3 frames
• JPEG (Fine): 12 frames
• JPEG (Standard): 58 frames

Self-timer

• 10 sec
• 2 sec

Orientation sensor

Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display

Connectivity

• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, Multi-LUN or PTP)
• DC-IN
• Remote terminal

Remote control

• Wired: with optional RM-S1AM or RM-L1AM

Video out

• AV (Selectable NTSC or PAL)
• HDMI
• 'PhotoTV' HD settings applied with BRAVIA.

Storage

• SD/ SDHC
• Memory Stick Pro Duo / Pro HG Duo
• Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32

Power

• NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh)
• Battery charger included
• Optional AC adapter
• Batter life Approx 1000 shots with viewfinder, 520 in Live view mode (CIPA standard)

Vertical grip

• Yes (model tbc)

Dimensions

137 x 104 x 84mm (5.5 x 4.2 x 3.9 in)

Weight (body)

597g (1.5lb)

 

 

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