Cameras and Camcorders

Sony Bloggie 3D Now Available, We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | May 4, 2011 | 1 comment

For those of you who are ready to jump on the 3D bandwagon early, you will be pleased to know that Sony’s Bloggie 3D camera is now available and ready for your film making career. Capable of recording in 2D and 3D, this 1080p, 5 megapixel camera is capable of recording 4 hours of 2D footage on 8GB of memory and 80min of 3D footage. Of course, the real story here is the ability to record in 3D for just $249. 3D fans will be pleased to know that you can playback your 3D recorded content via the Bloggie’s 2.4-inch LCD without the need of any 3D glasses and if you are looking for a little larger screen, you can output the 3D footage to any 3D television via the onboard HDMI though glasses will be needed at that point. The Bloggie 3D specs include:

NEX-C3 Instruction Manual Appears Briefly on Sony’s Czech Site

by Sohrab Osati | May 3, 2011 | 12 comments

Did you know that is a new NEX-3 replacement around the corner called the NEX-C3? Originally planned to launch late last month, the now delayed camera, due to the recent events in Japan, (though I guess something that has yet to be officially announced I guess cannot be delayed) is becoming more and more official as Sony’s own Czech website accidentally posted the manual online before quickly pulling. Still, there was enough time for a screen shot of the camera’s new button layout which isn’t a huge departure from the NEX-3 and NEX-5. Even though we don’t know all the details about the NEX-C3, we do know a few little tidbits about it like the 16.2 megapixel image sensor that it will come with. Expect plenty more news on the C3 as Sony begins a rollout of it which seems to be sooner then later if this accidentally published manual is any indication.

Hit the jump for a picture of the leaked manual.

Sony NEX-C3 and Alpha A35 Images Leaked?

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 22, 2011 | 7 comments

For sometime now, we’ve been reporting on the discontinuation of the Sony NEX-3 and when the likely hood of the successor, the NEX-C3 would come. Although we still don’t have a exact release date or specs, we have a pretty good idea on the latter, we now have some pictures to show off. Andrea at SonyAlphaRumors has gotten her hands on what appears to be the NEX-C3, as well as the A33 successor, the A35.

More specs and pictures after the jump. Also let us know if these new specs and looks are enough to entice you for a purchase or if the NEX-5 still holds a place in your heart.

Sony Delays 3D Handycam (HDR-TD10)

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 21, 2011 | 23 comments

Another technology victim of the tragic events that unfolded over a month ago in Japan and that continue to ail the country. Sony Ericsson recently announced that their Xperia Neo would be delayed till Q3 of this year and that the roll out of the Xperia Play and Arc would be slower then the company wanted, due to supply constraints from Japan. Now, the camcorder division of Sony will be taking a hit as well and will have to delay their up coming 3D Handycam, which was originally planned to be released this month.

The HDR-TD10 with its almost owl like design features two lenses and two CMOS sensors which enable the device to produce the 3D images in 1920×1080 Full HD 60p/24p recording with 10x optical zoom, even when filmed in 3D. This $1,500 beast which is set to to be the first consumer 3D camcorder also features a glasses free 3D playback on the camcorders 3.5-inch LCD screen. It should be pointed out like other 3D equipment offered by Sony, you can also film in 2D as well. This 3D Handycam is now looking at a May 13th release window for Japan and shortly after for the United States.

[Via TMCnet]

Sony Holds Second Highest Camera Market Share, Closing In On Canon for the Number One Sport (updated)

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 20, 2011 | 37 comments

With the turn of the century that came to be, there was a shift in the professional and consumer electronic world and a digital one at that. No, I’m not talking about the internet, instead, the focus this time is on the transition from film to digital. In the world of film camera, names like Nikon, Canon and Kodak ran supreme. Many of these giants have been in the camera business for over 50 years and had an established name and user group. All that however changed as companies began to shift over to this new digital revolution. Now whether it that they simply did not want to believe this shift would take place or if they had no idea how to deal with it is not the focus of this article. The fact is, with the digital revolution at hand, the camera market group was in limbo which gave way for companies like Sony who had no presence in the professional and consumer segment to enter and make a name for themselves.

Less then 10 years later, the balance has shifted completely in the DSLR and Point and Shoot market. When we consider the entire camera landscape, long time champion Canon has held a 19% market share for 2009 and 2010, while Sony has gone from 16.9% to 17.9% in the same period. Sony, now with its second place position is well ahead of Nikon which holds the 3rd place spot with 11.1% in 2009 and 12.6% in 2010. With camera sales up 10% in 2010 for a total of 141 million units sold, Sony still has a lot of room for growth, especially in the emerging markets like China and India where there might not be a lot of legacy ownership from other camera brands. With a largely untapped market and introduction of 3D digital cameras that start at just over $200, its easy to see how Sony should and will top Canon in the near future.

Sony Introduces External Flash for Alpha and DSLR Cameras with Quick Shift Bounce, the HVL-F43AM

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 14, 2011 | 8 comments

Announced for Europe and we’re guessed head to other territories in months to follow, Sony is releasing a new external flash, the HVL-F43AM. Designed to be dust and moisture resistant, this new rugged flash also has a few neat tricks up its sleeve like working Sony’s Wireless Ratio Control and will come with the Quick Shift Bounce system. This new feature allows “lash head position to be adjusted instantly when switching between horizontal and vertical compositions. This maintains consistent shadow positions regardless of camera orientation, allowing easy creation of natural-looking ‘bounce’ effects.” This Alpha and other branded DSLR based flash is priced at $350 and will be available in Summer.

Hit the jump for additional photos and a press release from Sony.

We Put the Sony Bloggie Touch to the Test, All Day At Disneyland

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 11, 2011 | 1 comment

Though product reviews can be informative and a good place to start when you are looking to purchase your next (insert product), I believe that they can only take you so far. As Apple has pointed out time and time again and has focused their iPad 2 marketing based on this concept, product specs can only take you so far. A higher processor speed or megapixel count does not always indicate a better product experience or offering. This was the route that I took with our original Sony Bloggie Touch video review. Though I offered product specs and comparison, my main goal was to take the product out and shoot with it during the day and let you, the readers decide if you liked what you saw. Still, this was a controlled experience and when I saw that I would be heading to Disneyland for the day with our site editor Allegra, I quickly came up with a new scenario to test the Bloggie Touch with. In this video, I wanted to see how the Bloggie Touch would hold up as my only device to document my day at Disneyland by capturing the days videos and photos. Video, after the jump.

Sony Bloggie Duo HD Camera Now Shipping, Costs $169

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 6, 2011 | 61 comments

Sony’s new generation of MP4 camera were shown off during CES 2011 and now the series are starting to trickle out and into the public. Previously, Sony only had the Bloggie Touch which we have covered here. Now, the company is looking to ship three different series and expand their reach in the growing MP4 crowd. The Bloggie Duo HD is Sony’s starting entry model, giving users:

1080p recording
5 Megapixel still camera
2 hours of recording time on a 4GB hard drive
Image Stabilization
Face detection
2.7-inch LCD screen
2-inch front facing screen (design for when you want to take pictures or record a video of yourself)

The Bloggie Duo HD is now shipping for $169 and comes in violet, white, green, and pink. The series then follows with the Bloggie Touch that we mentioned previously, though I believe that it’s also due for a change though I could be wrong about that. Finally, the series ends with the 3D Bloggie which will be shipping in the next month.

[Via Sony]

Sony Ends Alpha A33 Production

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 4, 2011 | 25 comments

After being on sale for only 7 months, Sony has decided to end production of their entry level, translucent mirror based DSLR. As we reported back in October, Sony was experiencing some troubles with the A33, specifically an over heating issue which was caused if the camera’s Image Stabilization was turned on and the user recorded video a continue video for over 11 minutes. During that time, it was believed that the translucent mirror’s in the camera were the culprit though a confirmation of cause was never given. Furthermore, Sony has other translucent based camera’s in the market currently which none poses these problems so we are not entirely sure what the true culprit was. Regardless of that, Sony of Japan has indicated that production for the A33 is over. Fear not though, fans of the A30 series as we’ve heard rumors that a replacement will be coming shortly, though the reported dated is indeed off.

[Via Sony]

NEX-7 Rumors Rise Again, Set to Look Like Old Konica Minolta A2?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 28, 2011 | 9 comments

The NEX-7 has been an interesting camera in Sony’s lineup. That is, it’s a camera that does not exist, yet there have been plenty of rumors regarding it and a strong demand for it. Sony currently has the NEX-3 (which is being refreshed shortly) and NEX-5 which is a beefed up NEX-3 with a better body and better sensor with gives the camera 1080 recording over the NEX-3’s 720p. It seems that consumers still want more, a beefier NEX which would be more for the professional. Whether I want this camera aside, this tends to baffle me a tad as the entire point of the NEX lineup has been to offer pro features, yet target the audience who is intimidated by DSLR. If people want something more professional then the NEX-5, why won’t they just consider the Alpha lineup? Despite that, rumors now have it that the engineers at Sony are basing the NEX-7 on an old Konica Minolta. Those not familiar with the electronics world will note that Sony bought Konica Minolta over 5 years ago.

When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body.

Although I firmly believe that there is a NEX-7 somewhere in the labs at Sony, I don’t believe we are close to a public release as Sony is famously horrible at containing leaks and we have yet to see anything, other then rumors on this device. As always, take these rumors with a hint of salt and I personally don’t believe that the form factor will change much from the current NEX lineup. Hit the jump for one more shot of the Konica Minolta A2.

[Via Electronista]

Sony Announces Another Pro-Consumer Camera, the HXR-NX70J

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2011 | 4 comments

Hot on the heels of the NEX-FS100, Sony has announced another pro-consumer camcorder, the HXR-NX70J. Currently set to arrive in Japan in Q2 of 2011, the HXR-NX70 builds on Sony’s planned expansion into the pro-consumer market. Some features of this compact professional camera include:

6.65Mpix Exmor R CMOS Sensor
Fixed G Series Lens with a 10x optical Zoom
AVCHD 1080/60p at 28Mbps
SD videos in MPEG-2 PS
96GB of internal memory
Memory Stick and SDXC Cards

Priced at 330,750 Yen ($4,000), this camera offers many pro features though it’s not as versatile as the NEX-FS100 which of course is almost $2,000 more. There is currently no US date announced but can’t imagine that will hold true for long.

Sony Announces NEX-FS100 with Super 35mm Sensor

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 2 comments

Before the analogue to digital transition took place, there were generally two classes of camera and camcorders. The consumer product segment which generally carried a top price of $1,500 and the professional grade which started in the low $20k range and really skyrocketed from there. For those who wanted more out of their shooting experience, whether it be for fun or had their own small business or movie idea, the avenue more often then not either lead them towards rentals which is still expensive or a second mortgage. That was 10 years ago, but today, with the advent of digital camera’s and camcorders, consumers have access to a wide range of both camera and camcorders which enable to shoot without compromise and only have their own skills and creativity be their limitation.

Sony has long catered to the general consumer and though they are a top brand in that field, their equipments are really defined in Hollywoods backlots and sound stages where their professional grade equipments capture the footage that comes to the silver screen. Being a manufacture that caters to both crowds, Sony also been actively expanding its proconsumer lineup which starts off at $2,000 with the NEX-VG10 which offers Interchangeable Lenses. Now, Sony is adding another contendtor to the family, the NEX-FS100 which starts of $5,850. So what does this extra bump in price get you?

Super 35mm sensor that shoots 1080p 60fps content at up to 28Mbps to SD, Memory Stick (or an optional 128GB SSD)
Output uncompressed 4:2:2 footage over HDMI
Swiveling 3.5-inch LCD display
1920x1080P Slow and Quick Motion (Over & Under Cranking)
Detachable grip, handle, and viewfinder tube

Hit the jump to see a gallery and video overview of the NEX-FS100

[Via SonyStyle]

3G Cell Connectivity Coming to Sony Cybershot Camera’s?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 16, 2011 | 10 comments

The point and shoot cameras have been at an odd crossroads in the last few years. As the smartphone continues to grow in sales volume and photo features like publishing to Facebook and sending emails, the point-and-shoot cameras have been slow to offer anything new. In fact, the only major feature I can think of was the addition of GPS and out of all of Sony’s current cameras, only one offers this. For me, geo-tagging photos is a big feature, something that every iPhone has done since their launch almost 4 years ago. This has also been one of my personal reasons for skipping out the current NEX-5, in hopes of future GPS integration. Now comes news, from an anonymous friend from Engadget, that Sony is working on a Cybershot camera with a”built-in 3G modem” which would enable the device to publish photos to cloud services on the go. Those who are familiar with the Cybershot family will remember that Sony has once tried a similar approach, releasing the Cybershot DSC-G3 over a year ago with Wifi 802.11 b/g connectivity. The problem with that camera though was the fact that the UI made it hard to connect to Wi-Fi connections and there was no compression done on the camera, meaning that depending on the connection, you could enjoy a nice cup of tea while each 10.1 megapixel photo published. So with this news, I welcome some more advancements to the point-and-shoot cameras out there, but please offer more GPS functionality, Sony.

[Via Engadget]

Sony Discontinues A33? A35 Just Around the Corner for an April 4th Release?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 15, 2011 | 11 comments

Our friends over at SonyAlphaRumors always have the juicy rumors when it comes to Sony and their Alpha lineup, and today is no different. They report that Sony is discontinuing the Alpha A33 in addition to the A290, A390, and NEX-3. The latter three do not come as a surprise as they are aged units and we have had plenty of heads-up time, especially when it comes to the NEX-3. The fact that the A33 might be going away in favor of an April 4th release of a successor, the A35, does however come as a surprise, seeing how that camera is not that old. However, with the NAB show in Las Vegas right around the corner and plenty of refreshes coming from Sony, the timing does make sense if the company wants to grab some additional attention.

[Via SonyAlphaRumors]

NEX-C3 to be Release on May 26th? (updated)

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 2, 2011 | 18 comments

Though we don’t have much to report on, the folks over at SonyAlphaRumors are reporting that the NEX-C3 might be released on May 26th though they don’t have much more then a tip. As we previously reported, the NEX-3 is currently discontinued as Sony starts production on the NEX-C3 which can take a few months to reach appropriate levels for a product launch. A late May time frame also gives Sony’s retail partners ample time to clear their inventory levels before the next NEX release.

Updated:

The guys at SonyAlphaRumors gave us a little clarification. The NEX-C3 is still expected to ship in April for what I presume is the US with a worldwide launch date of May 26th.

[Via SonyAlphaRumors]