Sony reveals the Alpha A99, its first full-frame flagship since 2008’s A900 (hands-on)

Posted on 12/09/2012 by Zach Honig

It's not every day that a digital SLR manufacturer releases a new full-frame camera -- in fact, it's not even every year. Sony's last top-end model, the A900, was first released four years ago, so you better believe its successor offers an overflowing boatload of enhancements. The Alpha A99 is a flagship if ever there was one, crushing every other Sony still camera in terms of capability, both when it comes to stills, and in the HD video realm as well. With this $2,800 behemoth, the company is targeting both professional photographers and leading filmmakers, with plenty of features that will appeal to both. The centerpiece is an all-new 24.3-megapixel Exmor sensor (nope, it's not the rumored 36MP chip you might be expecting), which features an increased photodiode area for boosted low light quality (up to ISO 102,400). The camera also features what Sony's calling the "world's first dual-AF system," which includes two different phase-detect AF systems, including the same 19-point system on the A77, plus an additional 102 points on the imager itself.

Video shooters will find 1080/60p and 24p options with AVCHD 2.0, including uncompressed output through HDMI (with simultaneous output to a monitor) and phase-detect focus support in video mode. There's also a 6 frames-per-second burst mode, 14-bit RAW output for stills, the same 921k-dot Xtra Fine twilt-and-swivel LCD included with the A77 with WhiteMagic and TruBlack, and the same OLED viewfinder found on the A77, NEX-6 and NEX-7, that offers slightly boosted functionality thanks to the full-frame sensor, letting photographers snag a realtime depth-of-field preview without dimming the finder. It also offers a 34-degree viewing angle and color tone adjustment control. Because the A99 offers a translucent mirror, Sony was able to eliminate the pentaprism to keep the size and weight at bay, making the DSLR lighter than the Nikon D800 and Canon 5D Mark III. Jump past the break for our hands-on.

Gallery: Sony Alpha A99 hands-on

Continue reading Sony reveals the Alpha A99, its first full-frame flagship since 2008's A900 (hands-on)

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Sony reveals the Alpha A99, its first full-frame flagship since 2008's A900 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony A99 rumored specs leak: 24.3 megapixels, 921k-dot LCD and 14 bit RAW output

Posted on 28/08/2012 by James Trew

Sony's not unleashed a full frame camera for some time, so when a purported spec-sheet for the upcoming Alpha A99 breaks cover, we're elbowing our way to the front to see it. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, it'll be a 24.3-megapixel CMOS Exmor sensor with an ISO range of 100-25,600, 14 bit RAW output and a 1/8000 maximum shutter speed. Other nuggets of interest include a 102 point AF system, full 1080p HD video recording (at 60fps) and a 921k dot LCD (like that seen on the A77 pictured). When might we see this come to market? According to the rumor-mill, sometime in October, with an official unveiling in early September. Along with everything else, it seems. Head on down to the source for the full spread.

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Sony A99 rumored specs leak: 24.3 megapixels, 921k-dot LCD and 14 bit RAW output originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 05:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus confirms new high-end Four Thirds DSLR ‘currently under study’ following vague Facebook post

Posted on 20/08/2012 by Zach Honig

Visitors to Olympus' UK Facebook page were met with some "BREAKING NEWS!!" on Friday. According to the post, the camera maker is developing a new DSLR that would theoretically offer focusing performance on par with the OM-D, while providing native compatibility with the company's high-end Zuiko Digital ED lenses, such as the 90-250mm f/2.8. We reached out to Olympus reps in the US, who added the following:

"A new camera body is currently under study to complement our line of Zuiko Digital Specific Four Thirds lenses. However, Olympus has NOT issued a press release on this new camera body."

With Photokina just a month away, it's unclear whether or not this new mystery DSLR will make its debut there, but it's certainly a possibility. As for looks -- that's anyone's guess, though the company's social media arm opted to include a picture of the E-5, which serves as Olympus' current full-size flagship. You'll find the full Facebook post at the source link below.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus confirms new high-end Four Thirds DSLR 'currently under study' following vague Facebook post originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insert Coin: Radian lets you use your camera, iPhone and Android device for time lapse projects (video)

Posted on 22/07/2012 by Jason Hidalgo

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

We've seen our fair share of time lapse tools at Insert Coin, ranging from last year's Triggertrap to the more recent Timelapse+ and Genie rig. Now we're throwing in another Kickstarter project into the mix, a motion time-lapse gadget called the Radian. Shaped like an oversized hockey puck, the Radian works with any camera that has a trigger-release input and can be used with or without a tripod. The device can be programmed through either an Android or iPhone app and lets you disconnect your smartphone once you've got your settings dialed in. Otherwise, you can use the Radian to take time-lapse photography with your iPhone or Android smartphone as well. A pledge of $150 gets you the standard Radian, while ponying up extra moolah nabs you a charcoal-colored variant as well as other goodies. If successful, delivery is slated for January. For more details, check out the video and source link after the break.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Radian lets you use your camera, iPhone and Android device for time lapse projects (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

Insert Coin: Radian lets you use your camera, iPhone and Android device for time lapse projects (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back to School 2012: Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Posted on 09/07/2012 by susan

The Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera is available at Amazon for $2,999.00. Summer is in full swing and the new school year that starts next month for most of us is probably the...

Back to School 2012: Canon EOS 5D Mark III 22.3 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Posted on 06/07/2012 by susan

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera is available at Amazon for $3,484.00. Summer is in full swing and everyone is having a great time. The last thing on your mind is going back to school....

Sony NEX-F3 review

Posted on 31/05/2012 by Zach Honig

Just shy of a year ago, we reviewed the Sony NEX-C3, a mirrorless camera that quickly became our benchmark when it came to entry-level interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs). We praised its excellent image quality, generally consistent performance, overall solid design and, best of all, its $600 price tag -- including an 18-55mm kit lens. Since then, the landscape has shifted drastically for this particular type of compact shooter, with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 raising the bar for focusing performance, Nikon's cute J1 winning the hearts of many (likely due to a heavy marketing budget and adorable design) and the Fujifilm X-Pro1 pushing the envelope when it comes to price and body size. For its part, Sony also attracted plenty of attention with its flagship NEX-7, which appears to have been the inspiration for the company's brand new NEX-F3.

Sony NEX-F3 hands-on and sample shots

Sony NEX-C3 review

Sony NEX-7 review

Based on its price tag and release schedule, you might have assumed that the NEX-F3 is here to dethrone Sony's NEX-C3. That may or may not be the case (we're hoping for the latter) -- the F3 is much more a scaled-down version of the NEX-7 than an update to the C3. Sure, designs can change drastically from one year to the next, but we were quite fond of last year's model, and many of you were, too. From a specification perspective, the F3 has a new APS-C sensor (though resolution remains unchanged), with a higher top ISO setting of 16,000, a 3-inch LCD that can flip 180-degrees to face completely forward, a new NEX-7-esque pop-up flash and a bulkier design. But does bigger mean better in this case? Click past the break for our take.

Gallery: Sony NEX-F3 review

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Sony NEX-F3 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portable, Flexible and Versatile SLR

Posted on 30/04/2012 by Radhika Seth

If you seek these three qualities in an SLR, then Arti Patel has a solution for you. Her concept, All.Round SLR Camera works with a basic camera structure where photographs are captured using Universal Lens or Lens mount in front, and transferred through flexible circuits and wirings inside the mesh to an OLED screen at the back. The mesh gives you the advantage of 360-degree flexibility and helps capture pictures from any angle.

As Arti explains, “The meshed body is expandable and collapsible and is controlled by body holders making this SLR a lightweight & portable camera to carry around for daily use. OLED screen at the back lets the users do unlimited framing, as it stretches out in multiple directions (i.e. for landscape pictures, it becomes wider while taking pictures helping photographers to shot in scenes) This SLR Camera solves the current gap in Camera design, and fulfills the very basic needs and answers to daily frustrations of photographers.”

Designer: Arti Patel

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(Portable, Flexible and Versatile SLR was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Nikon D3200 unveiled

Posted on 19/04/2012 by i4u

Nikon announced the release of the Nikon D3200, a Nikon DX-format digital SLR camera. The D3200 is equipped with a new CMOS image sensor with an effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels, the same...

Padcaster / Lenscaster lets you mount SLR lenses on iPad, we go hands-on at NAB (video)

Posted on 18/04/2012 by Zach Honig

Think people look ridiculous shooting stills or video with an iPad? Try throwing an SLR lens into the equation as well. Manhattan Edit Workshop founder Josh Apter developed the Padcaster as an inexpensive solution for mounting an Apple iPad on a tripod. And why would you want to do such a thing? With 1080p video capture, built-in LTE and a on-board editing suite, such a device makes for an excellent on-the-go all-in-one, letting you shoot, cut and transmit video with a single package. One major aspect of visual storytelling that the tablet doesn't excel at, however, is emphasizing details with blurred backgrounds, along with magnifying your subject with optical zoom. Enter the Lenscaster. This universal lens mount lets you use a standard 35mm adapter to attach any SLR optic to the iPad camera, enabling a small variety of hardware-driven optical effects, including shallow depth of field, manual focus and a zoom option that doesn't result in detail loss.

Apter took the Padcaster and Lenscaster along on a demo shoot in New York City's Union Square, interviewing passersby with a Cinevate 35mm lens adapter, 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss lens and a Sennheiser MKH-60 shotgun mic, all mounted to a Padcaster-equipped new iPad. The mounting duo may note be visually appealing from a physical perspective, but the resulting footage does look convincing -- you can see it in full after the break. The Padcaster's aluminum frame even doubles as a DSLR cage, letting you assemble a pro rig complete with camera, lens, mic and lights after removing the urethane iPad insert. The designer is also working on an iPad insert, though the tablet-sized contraption may prove to be overkill when paired with a pocketable smartphone. The Padcaster will be available soon for "about $200," while the Lenscaster attachment should ship for an additional 60 bucks. You'll also need to factor in a magnification optic to compensate for the distance between the iPad and the lens, along with a 35mm adapter, both of which are not included. The device is also unable to take full advantage of the iPad's resolution, creating black borders around the image, which you'll notice in the sample video, positioned just below our hands-on video right after the break.

Gallery: Padcaster and Lenscaster for iPad hands-on