Cameras and Camcorders

CES 2012: Sony Bloggie Live and Bloggie Sport Overview (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 12, 2012 | 18 comments

During CES, Sony announced two new versions of the Bloggie MP4 cameras. The Bloggie Live and Bloggie Sport are the newest additions to the Bloggie line, bringing in a similar, yet fresh, take on the popular MP4 cameras with all new functions. Starting with the Bloggie Sport, Sony designed this camera with sport enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers in mind. Capable of being dropped, submerged in up to 6 ft of water, and dustproof, this 4GB unit is really the perfect camera for those who want to capture their most extreme moments in 1080p without having to worry about coming home with a dead camera. The Bloggie Live, on the other hand, targets the geeks in us who want to keep up with our Facebook and YouTube channels. With built-in Wi-Fi, the Bloggie Live is capable of posting videos directly to the mentioned services from any location. The Bloggie Live is also true to its name in utilizing Qik service by allowing you to stream your videos live to the web for your audience to see in real time. Again, all that is required is an active Wi-Fi and in minutes, you’ll be on the web. Below is our video overview of the Bloggie Live and Bloggie Sport from the Sony CES booth.

Sony Announces XQD Memory Cards

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 9, 2012 | 18 comments

Sony, who’s long had the title of propitiatory king, has announced a new open-standard format called the XQD memory card, which has been in the works for a long time. The catchy-named cards were originally thought to offer 5Gb/s write speeds but with them hitting the shelf this February, Sony has pegged them at 1Gb/s (125 MB/s). Sure it might be lower then the original write speed goals but they’re still worlds ahead of current card speeds. In fact, Sony claims that the card will write up to 100 frames in RAW format in continuous shooting mode on a Nikon D4. In addition to a 16GB and 32GB card, Sony is also releasing a USB 2.0/3.0 card reader and ExpressCard Adapter. Pricing is as follows:

QD-H16 card, 16 GB, $129.99
QD-H32 card, 32 GB, $229.99
Card Reader, MRW-E80, $44.99
ExpressCard Adapter, QDA-EX1, $44.99

With a new generation of cameras coming from the woodworks like the NEX series and rise of power for DSLR, a new open standard with speeds as mentioned is a welcomed move on the part of Sony. Here is to hoping that others will jump on board as well. After the jump, full press release and your chance to weigh in.

Sony Cybershot W610 and W630 Leaked Prior to CES

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 3, 2012 | 11 comments

For most companies, leaks tend to come from employees and insiders who are invested in the company, for better or worse. In Sony’s case, the company tends to be the one who accidentally leaks their own product, due to the numerous websites that they operate in different countries. Just yesterday we had discussed the possibility of a refresh to the entire Cybershot line of cameras and today, we have two new models to report to you.

The Cybershot W series which is Sony’s entry compact camera line will be gaining two new models, the Cybershot W610 and W630. Both cameras will come with a 2.7-inch LCD screen while the W610 will house a 14.1 megapixel sensor and the W630 a 16.2 megapixel sensor. The W610 will also receive a 4X optical zoom where the W630 will get a 5X optical zoom with 720p recording. Expect more leaks in the week as we get closer and closer to CES 2012.

More pictures and your chance to weigh in, after the jump.

Sony to Refresh Entire Cybershot Line at CES?

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 2, 2012 | 43 comments

Much like CES 2011 when Sony announced dozens of new Cybershot cameras, their compact line of cameras, the electronic and growing camera giant is again expected to renew the now year old camera lineup. Sony traditionally breaks down their Cybershot into three series, the W, T, and H models.

The W models tend to appeal to the casual and budget aware consumers with prices starting at $99 with 12.1 megapixel while the T series picks things up at $299 with 16.2 megapixels and considerably thinner design, perfect for slipping into your pocket without noticing its weight. For just $10 more, Sony also makes the TX10 which is certified waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and freeze-proof.

The H series tops the series off with the thicket of the three lines at $279 and 16.2 megapixels again. However, the H series comes equipped with Sony G lens with 16x optical zoom, “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, Hi-speed Linear Focus, Backlight Correction, 3D stills and 3D Sweep Panorama. For those looking to get DSLR like pictures, the H series picture quality is top notch without the headaches of a large camera body and lens.

New NEX Firmware Enables Translucent Mirror Adapter Compatibility

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 15, 2011 | 2 comments

Christmas is coming a bit early for owners of the NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-C3 cameras and NEX-VG10 and NEX-FS100U camcorders. Sony has just announced a new NEX firmware update ( 2.0v for Lens/Adapter) for the mentioned cameras and camcorders which adds compatibility with the recently launched LA-EA2 translucent mirror Lens Mount Adapter. This new adapter allows you to use lenses which were originally created for Sony’s mirror-less Alpha lineup, giving your NEX camera access to a wider range of lenses.

Another benefit that owners can expect to see from the LA-EA2 lens mount adaptor is the new built in AF system which is standard on Sony’s Alpha lineup. With the adaptor attached to NEX cameras, the camera will prioritize the adaptors AF system, over the internally built in one, resulting in even a faster AF. As Sony put it;

With the LA-EA2, a microcomputer driven Phase Detect AF system is built directly into the adapter, which allows the camera to focus just as fast as a DSLR – and with all A-mount AF lenses!

After the jump, your comments and a link to the NEX firmware updates which can be downloaded on your Mac or PC.

NEX-7 Orders Start to Ship in the USA

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 13, 2011 | 20 comments

The delays behind Sony’s NEX-7 model have been well documented but we finally have some good news for those who pre-ordered the mind blowing camera in the US. Sony has begun fulfilling orders and shipping out the NEX-7 with many, expecting to land on doorsteps today. This will be the perfect way to capture your holiday moments, seeing how the NEX-7 sports a 24-megapixel sensor or your loved one will need a minute to capture their breath when they unwrap one on December 25th.

Sony Asia Releases Firmware 1.04 for Alpha A65 and A77

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 29, 2011 | 7 comments

Sony Asia has just released firmware 1.04 for the Alpha A65 and A77. Though both units have been hard to find on store shelves, due to the massive floorings in Thailand, it still hasn’t stopped Sony from improving the cameras’ functions. The list of improvements includes:

Added support for auto-correction lens: Vario-Sonnar T * DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA (SAL1680Z) and DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 (SAL16105)
Improved usability
Improved Quality
Improvement Response

No word yet on when Sony Europe and Sony USA will release firmware 1.04, though the Asian firmware will work for both cameras, no matter your territory.

Sony Confirms Production Has Started Again on Alpha A77 and NEX-7

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 22, 2011 | 0 comments

Just last week, we reported that Sony had decided to move its production line for the Alpha A77 and NEX-7 to Chonburi, Thailand. This new location housed an exisiting Sony plant that was modified in order to accomedate the new camera line, after their existing factory was flooded, due to the massive flooding in Thailand. Now, Sony has confirmed that instead of waiting potentially months before their current factory is operation again, that they have indeed moved camera operations to the Chonburi factory. Sony isn’t get making promises on the factories capacity and production time frame, though they believe the next two weeks will be crucial in determining that information. Hopefully this means that Sony will be able to have some quantity of units shipped prior to the holiday rush, though they will be cutting it dangerously close. However, even if they are able to get some shipments in at the last minute, they can still count on the post Holiday shopping where many tend to use up their gift cards and exchange gifts they’ve received, thus giving Sony one more chance to catch consumers.

“We would like to update you that Sony has restarted production of NEX7 in our Chonburi Thailand factory which was not impacted by the flooding.

Since we are just beginning to ramp up production in these new lines, we have just begun restart of production at this early stage; however this is positive news that Sony is getting back on track and recovering from flood impact. Although there are no details to share on production schedule today, we expect within the next 2 weeks to have a clearer idea for you.

Again, thank you very much for your continued patience.

Sincerely,
Sony Customer Care“

Sony Will Boost Image Sensor Production by 50%

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 18, 2011 | 10 comments

Sony has announced plans to boost their image sensor production by 50% within the next two to three years. Sony is currently in a transition that will further boost their current production to 50,000 chips by March 2012. The image sensors in focus are used in a variety of digital cameras and smartphones. Sony hopes that by 2014 or 2015, the company will be able to produce 75,000 image sensor chips a month.

Sony is also hoping that they will be able to attain greater productions at their existing Nagasaki Technology Centre plant in southern Japan where the current CCD and CMOS sensors are being produced. If they can achieve this, the company will be able to increase their profit margins while not absorbing the higher costs of additional plants and workers. It’s unclear if this boost in production is related to Apple new blockbuster iPhone 4S, which Sony provides the 8-megapixel imaging sensor for. Samsung, one of Sony’s biggest rival currently provides image sensors and flash memory for a number of their competitors, including Apple while making huge profits. The profits are then used to further their design, advertising and R&D. I’ve long advocated for such a move from Sony and hope that this is a sign for more component production from the electronic giant to come.

Apple Adds RAW Support for Sony NEX-5N, A65 and A77

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 17, 2011 | 1 comment

Apple has just released a new optional software update for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and 10.7 Lion which brings RAW support for a host of new cameras for Aperture 3 and iPhoto 11. The list of cameras include:

Canon PowerShot S100
Nikon 1 J1
Nikon 1 V1
Nikon COOLPIX P7100
Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Olympus PEN E-PL3
Olympus PEN E-PM1
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ150
Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Sony Alpha SLT-A65
Sony Alpha SLT-A77

Obviously, most prevalent to this site is the edition of RAW support for the Sony NEX-5N, Alpha A65, and Alpha A77. The update weights in at under 8MB is recommended for all Mac users who happen to own one of the mentioned cameras.

Sony Releases Bloggie Software Update 1.3, Now Compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 17, 2011 | 4 comments

When Apple made the transition from Snow Leopard to Lion (10.7), those who were loyal Bloggie users on the Mac platform found themselves unable to use the Bloggie software that was provided by Sony. We’ve previously covered the software in depth which allows you to quickly share your photos and videos to sites like Facebook and YouTube. While Sony began working on a fix, we were able to get a work around method, though it seemed to be hit or miss for some users. Now, Sony has released the Bloggie software update 1.3 which among the usual bug fixes and enhancements, includes support for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.

After the jump, a link to the nearly 50MB download.

Sony Moves Camera Factory, Starts Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7 Production

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 16, 2011 | 4 comments

It’s no secret that Sony’s camera ambitions have been hurting the past few months. After the company was to set to launch their highly anticipated Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7, Thailand was hit with massive floods, the same location where Sony was manufacturing their next generation cameras. This caused Sony to delay all three camera models till March, though the company was able to get some shipments out the door, prior to the flooding. Now, there is some good news for both Sony shareholders and camera enthusiasts. Sony has been able to begin production of the Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7 by using an existing factory in Chonburi, Thailand. The factory which previously produced other Sony cameras has been transformed to accommodate the new flagship cameras from Sony. No date has been given for production output but you can bet that Sony is working on it around the clock.

Sony Will Ship NEX-7 Pre-Orders on November 11th

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 8, 2011 | 23 comments

Just yesterday, we ran a story about the inevitable delay that was coming to the NEX-7’s launch due to the massive floods in Thailand. We reported that the NEX-7 launch would instead be pushed back to March while Sony moved operations to another factory for the time being. However, there seems to be some good news for those who pre-ordered the NEX-7. Sony was able to produce an unknown quantity of NEX-7 cameras and ship them to their storage centers prior to the floods in Thailand, and for those who pre-ordered a unit, Sony will be fulfilling their order on November 11th.

After the jump, Sony’s response.

Meet Sony’s 0.7-inch OLED Microdisplay With 720p Resolution

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 8, 2011 | 8 comments

When Sony released their unconventional Personal 3D Viewer (HMZ-T1), we knew that Sony had some ground breaking technology on their hand, though we didn’t quite understand the market segment that the product was aimed at. However, from the futuristic design, down to the component, we knew that Sony had really brought something different to the table and invested a lot of their next generation technology. The star of the personal 3D viewer is the image quality, both 2D and 3D which are powered by a dual 720p OLED screen.

What makes this even more impressive is that in just a 0.7-inch OLED microdisplay (ECX332A), Sony was able to squeeze a resolution of 720p. With a resolution of 1280 x 720, we can’t help but wonder which device Sony will incorporate this impressive screen in next. Some specifics include:

97% NSTC color gamut, 0.01ms response time and 200 cd/m2 brightness

With the entire Alpha and NEX line going or have already gone to EVF (electronic view finder) versus an OVF (optical view finder), there seems to be plenty of capable devices from Sony which could really benefit from this new OLED screen like the NEX-7.

Sony NEX-7 Delayed Till March

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 7, 2011 | 19 comments

We’ve already reported on the delayed shipments of the Sony NEX-7, A65 and A77, due to the massive flooding in Thailand that has forced Sony to shut down its Alpha factories. Flood waters are expected to hang around for another month before any receding takes place, meaning that the factories cannot be inspected, let alone become operational for a few more months. In the midst of all these setbacks was some good news for those who pre-ordered the Alpha A77. Prior the flooding, Sony was able to export an unknown quantity of units and will begin fulfilling pre-ordered units.

Sony is also said to be moving the NEX-7 line to another existing factory though details on that are currently light. What he have learned though is that Sony is expecting to begin fulfilling orders for the NEX-7, once March 2012 rolls around. This, however, marks another great setback for Sony, after seeing their PS Vita miss the critical holiday shopping season, due to the earthquakes that struck Japan last spring. Now, the NEX-7 will also be missing the holiday shopping season and all the potential sales that come with it.

“Warehouse express UK say they will not be filling the pre-order list and have been told by Sony they will not be getting NEX-7 until begining March 2012. I spoke to Sony UK today and politley pushed for any information they could tell me. What I got was that there are no NEX-7′s in the UK. Sony hoping to make a statement ‘at some point soon’ and customers on their pre-order list are to be contacted and offered a refund.
It appears that companies differ some take the money upfront some do not until item ships. Does not really clear up the information some people in the USA are being given that early pre-orders are still likely to be shipped soon??”