Cameras and Camcorders

Sony Ups Itself, Creates World First 17.7 Megapixel CMOS Sensor for Cellphones

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 28, 2011 | 10 comments

16.1 Megapixel Sensor

Last year, Sony was able to create the worlds first 16.1 Mexapixel camera sensor and set a target date of April 2011 for shipment. Since that time, Sony has already starting manufacturing these sensors with at least one cellphone utilizing this sensor, well ahead of the mass production month. Not to be outdone, Sony has again created a world first, a 17.7 Megapixel SMOS sensor for cellphones. In this round, Sony not only upped the resolution, but added a 34.8Gbps bandwidth which is roughly 5 times faster then any previous offerings. This allows the sensor which can be utilized in both cellphones and digital cameras to record at 120fps. There is no product announcement to follow this new sensor and we don’t expect to see it being used anytime soon. However with greater speeds and offerings, this will help push down costs of current sensor like Sony’s own 16.1 Mexapixel sensor, which means the consumer will see them sooner in products.

[Via Engadget]

Sony to Use Translucent Mirror Technology in all Future Alphas

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 24, 2011 | 18 comments

Sony Electronics has finally gone on record about the future of the Alpha family lineup and fans of translucent mirror technology will be happy. From here on, all future Alpha cameras (APS-C and Fulflrame) will use translucent mirror technology which allows for an optimized shutter speed (10 frames per second) and video recording with autofocus. This means that the Sony flagship A700, A800 and A900 series will be losing out their current OVF for the new EVF technology which gives you 100% frame coverage, offers better low light conditions, and on-screen information.

“In our range Alpha the future is to replace the mechanical electronics.”

What do you think? Are you a fan of Sony’s translucent mirror technology? Let us know in the comments.

[Via Quesabesde]

NEX-3 Officially Discontinued in Japan, NEX-C3 Release Imminent?

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2011 | 24 comments

The pieces continue to fall in place with Sony discontinuing the popular NEX-3 in Japan. As we reported last week, Sony is looking at an April time frame to release the next generation NEX, currently dubbed as the NEX-C3. With the current model being officially discontinued in Sony’s home turf, we can only imagine that the same well happen over the next several weeks in other countries. We’ve already seen retailers offer discounts on the current NEX and would advise you to either pick one up because of a great deal, assuming you are okay with the current features, or hang tight for another month as Sony clears out its current inventory channels and prepares for the new model.

[Via DC.Watch]

Sony Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20) Review, and Bloggie Touch vs. Flip UltraHD (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 18, 2011 | 41 comments

Over the last several weeks, we’ve had the chance to test out the Sony Bloggie Touch. From our initial unboxing video to see what lay inside of this slick new packaging; to our Sony Bloggie Touch Mac OSX Software review and installation guide video. Everything we had seen from the hardware and software we liked, but anything by itself can shine. So we set out to find out, if the Bloggie Touch would shine, next to the popular Flip UltraHD.

Flip camera’s were really the first into the MP4 camera market and created a phenomenon. Being easy to use and easy on the wallet, these little guys were also known to grab some great footage. I know this because I’ve had one for over a year. The simplicity of this device has made creating videos and uploading them to sites like YouTube and Facebook a breeze. With a hot new market segment, Sony was quick to follow in with the original Bloggie, offering a dizzying array of functionality, specs, while being marred with poor video quality. Sony soon missed what made the Flip so popular, simplicity. Still, this did not detour the electronic giants, sending its engineers back into the lab with a simple motto, simplicity in the outside, state of the art in the inside.

The fact is, when a company like Apple makes a product, they pack cutting edge technology under the hood, but they do it ever so elegantly where anybody can pickup their device and use it. The end user doesn’t care and shouldn’t care about the level of technology under their product. Instead, they should be able to use the product with ease and while getting the best quality out available.

New NEX Out in April, the NEX-C3

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 17, 2011 | 9 comments

We now have confirmation that Sony will be updating their NEX series in the near future, starting with the NEX-3 in April and finishing off with the NEX-5 a few months later. Currently, all we have is that the new NEX dubbed the NEX-C3 will be getting a new housing to match the current NEX-5 for improved grip and quality. The other upgrade that we know about is an imaging sensor improvement, offering the same sensor that is used in the current NEX-5 which allowed for better video quality. No words yet on what changes will be in order for the NEX-5 but I for one hope for a GPS chip. I seriously love geo tagging my photos and viewing them in iPhoto and only my Cybershot HX5 currently offers that. For those are fine with the current offerings of the NEX-3, Amazon seems to be doing some price drops to clear inventory for the up coming unit.

[Via SonyAlphaRumors]

Sony Patents New Camera Grip Concept

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 16, 2011 | 33 comments

Pocket camera’s are great little devices to take around. They can snap up fantastic pictures and videos and slide right back into our pocket. However, unless you can duel grip the camera, the shaky hand syndrome quickly comes into the picture and soon after, blurry photos are born. Sony’s new patent aims to change this by using the lens sliding cover as a means of a grip. Once slide away from the lens and the front cover extends outwards and gives the camera user a proper grip in the palm of their hands and therefor reducing the amount of shake that is transferred to the camera. As always, don’t expect a product to actually be made from a patent but I for one like the idea.

[Via USPTO]

Sony Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20) Software Comes to Mac OS X, We Provide Install Video and Review (updated)

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 4, 2011 | 1 comment

Those who are regular to the site will know that I’m an avid Mac user and own just about everything Mac when it comes to my computing and portable device usage. Still, sometimes being a Mac user can be tough when companies don’t support the Mac platform. This used to be more true than it is now, but still, you run into the situation. The good part about being a Mac user is that more often than not, you don’t need company’s bloated and crappy software as your Mac will make the particular device work anyways.

Up until now, Sony has been among the last holdouts of companies who didn’t offer Mac support. Sure when it comes to digital cameras and camcorders, you don’t need any 3rd party software as Apple’s own iLife suite with iPhoto and iMovie or higher series like Aperture and Final Cut will get the job done. Still, it’s always nice to have that native support and sometimes, just sometimes, the companies come up with some great functionalities. That sometime is now and the company providing it is Sony, who has finally decided to release a native Mac OS X software for the Bloggie Touch (the MHS-TS10, MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS20K) and promises that their upcoming Bloggie Entry, Bloggie Duo and Bloggie 3D (aka MHS-FS1, MHS-FS2 and MHS-FS3) will have native OS X support out of the box. To further add to it, Sony has wisely made the software both OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) compatible (though not 64bit). Though Apple’s own iLife series isn’t 64bit so you can’t blame Sony on that one. Hit the jump for some more information about the Mac Bloggie software, as well as how to install the latest Bloggie firmware, from your Mac via a video we created just for Mac users, though we hope PC users will find it useful as well.

Sony Makes $887 Million Net Profit in Q3, Sees Rise in Sales in Most Divisions

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 3, 2011 | 0 comments

Sony has just announced their Q3 Holiday results with ¥137.5 billion (approximately US $1.68b) operating income and a total of $887 million in net profit. Compared to 2009, this is actually down by nearly 6% though this is mostly due to a 5% stronger yen and not an actual reflection of the companies performance. Sony’s Consumer, Professional and Devices division dropped 47 percent to ¥26.8b ($327.3m) as margins have shrunk, thanks to the global recession, factored with already fierce competition between rivals like Samsung and LG. On the other hand, Sony’s Networked Products and Services (which includes the PlayStation brand) saw a dramatic 134% jump to ¥45.7b ($559.78), helping offset the decline of the consumer products.

The good news for Sony is that in midsts of all the woes mentioned above, the electronic giant was able to raise unit sales in almost all divisions compared to 2009. Bravia sales were up 2.5 million, totaling 7.9 million. Video cameras was able to sell only .1 million more, an expected decline with most portable devices now having some form of video capturing method built in while Compact Digital Cameras saw a 1 million unit sales increase. The now profitable PlayStation division saw the PS3 lose .2 million units compared to the 2009 Q3 but is ahead of 2009 sales. The PlayStation 3 saw a total of 13 million unit sales in 2009 while the company now sits at a healthy 15 million units sold and still has another quarter to go. The same cannot be said for the PlayStation Portable which saw sales slip .6 million units, down to 3.6 million units. Now in its 11th year, the PlayStation 2 still managed to sell 2.1 million units, on par with the year prior.

Software sales on the other hand were a completely different story with sales raising both on the PS3 and the PSP. PlayStation 3 software sales were up an amazing 10 million units, with 57.6 million pieces of software sold. The PSP, though down in hardware sales also saw an increase in software consumption with a 1.5 million unit increase to sit at 16.5 million units of software sold. The PS2 on the other hand took a big hit, seeing a 5.9 million unit drop, down to 5.3 million.

[Via Sony]

Sony Introduced the CLM-V55, a 5-inch LCD for your DSLR and Camcorder

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 2, 2011 | 15 comments

Those of us who have been shooting with DSRLs like the Sony Alpha and smaller siblings like the NEX know that while they might be great for taking pictures, filming on them is not only a joy, but you also get some damn impressive quality. Still, the problem with these types of cameras, including those from the likes of Nikon, Canon and others, is that the LCD display tends to be too small to appropriately view the scene or play back what you just recorded.

Finally, there is a solution for those who take their video seriously: the CLM-V55, a 5-inch LCD video monitor that’s compatible with interchangeable lens cameras from Sony and other manufacturers that use ISO or auto-lock accessory shoes. The 5-inch LCD comes with an 800 x 480 resolution, allows for tilt, and swivels to various angles to accommodate different shooting styles and angles. Another great feature for the photographer in you is the ability to zoom in on scenes for a “pixel-perfect view” of the HD image in order to adjust parameters like colors and brightness. Though a price has not been announced yet, a date is, so mark March 2011 on your calendar and expect a price as we near it.

Hit the jump for an official press release and some additional shots.

Sony Cybershot HX9V Leaked, Offers 16X Optical Zoom!

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 28, 2011 | 1 comment

So here is a late friday leak for you. If you’ve been considering getting a compact camera but have always been turned off by their low optical zoom factor which usually sits around 5x with some higher end models giving you 10x, Sony’s upcoming Cybershot DSC-HX9V will have the cure for your blues. This tiny pocket sized camera is capable of offering 16 megapixel with 16X optical zoom which is quite different then digital zoom which takes away from your picture quality. This high level zoom, mixed with a Sony G Lens and Exmor R CMOS means that your pocket camera can not only deliver beautiful photos, but handle them in low light situations as well, making it great for vacations when you don’t care to take a DSRL with you. The camera is rumored to record in 1080p at 10fps but we have yet to verify that. Now hit the jump for additional details!

Sony Teams Up with Goldmember, Offers NEX-5 in Gold

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 28, 2011 | 3 comments

There is just nothing to stop Sony and their latest groove (see what I did there, another Austin Powers reference) when it comes to the NEX series. Hot on the heels of updating the series with a new firmware, giving them 3D capabilities and Autofocus for A Mount lenses, Sony has just announced that the NEX-5 will also come in Gold. Sony is no stranger to offering products in different colors as the NEX-3 got a taste of pink in months prior and the company has shown off the NEX lineup is a series of different colors, though they have yet to be released. Sadly, this new offering is only for Japan though depending on demand, that could change.

Hit the jump for a better picture of this unit.

Sony Aims to Make 3D Personal in 2011

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 24, 2011 | 2 comments

It was just a little over a year ago when a little movie, one which audiences and critics alike were unsure if it was going to flop or not due to its reported $300-$500 million budget, came into theaters in 3D. Now, with nearly $3 billion in the bank from just the tickets, Avatar is the highest-grossing movie of all time and will probably be for a decade to come. But Avatar’s effect was not just limited to the film industry where we can just write it off as a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, Avatar has affected the way we watch movies, the kind of televisions we buy, and the technology that will be in your next camera, camcorder and handheld portable. Just a little over a year after the film’s release, manufacturers like LG, Toshiba, Samsung, and Sony are out in full arsenal with their 3D televisions, so you can watch a movie like Avatar or Despicable Me in 3D at home. In 2011, 16 out of Sony’s 27 Bravia televisions will feature built-in 3D with no 3D transmitter bar needed. In two months’ time, Nintendo is releasing the 3DS, their next handheld portable gaming machine that will display games in 3D. Just in case you get pulled into a 3D event, you can now look good and not need to borrow a pair of glasses as Oakley and other high end companies will be releasing their own stylish 3D glasses. Sure 2010 might have had some sour points with films like Clash of the Titan (though I enjoyed the movie myself) and The Last Airbender with their horrible last minute rush job of up converting a movie that was not made in 3D to be in 3D. Still look how far we have come already. Tron was a smash hit with it’s 3D and Alice in Wonderland, another post converted movie hit the $1 billion mark as well and animated films like Pixars Toy Story 3 and How to Train a Dragon which were all also released in 3D. Now we are seeing more and more movies being filmed in 3D from the beginning like the up coming Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the Sony Pictures Spider-man reboot and we are seeing some of Hollywoods top directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg plan their upcoming projects with 3D in mind.

Of course as I pointed out, 3D is not going to be limited to just the movie experience. Nintendo will indeed be pushing out their Nintendo 3DS in two months and that will introduce 3D to a large audience, who will grow up with 3D as just the standard just like how kids in the last 7-10 years might view HD as nothing new. Remember how much flack HD got when it was first introduced and many wrote it and Blu-ray off as just a gimmick and a fad. Fast forward a few years and both are the industry and consumer accepted standard. Lets also not forget Sony when it comes to gaming and 3D, Sony is making sure that their AAA games like Gran Turismo 5, LittleBigPlanet 2, Killzone 3 and Uncharted 3, along with their new gaming attachment, the PlayStation Move are offered to consumers in 3D. If you haven’t had a chance to view these games in 3D, I highly recommend you visit your nearest Sony Style store as they will blow you away with how crisp, deep and beautiful they are. Still, when all is said and done, gaming is just another avenue of 3D that is being catered to the audiences by those who have the power to create them; big companies and it was apparent during CES that Sony understood, that in order for 3D to succeed, they needed to bring the technology down to the consumer level and give the public the capability to create 3D for themselves for cheap. After watching and playing with their 2011 arsenal of products, I now believe.

You see, for any real product to catch on, it cannot be something that is just controlled by the elite. Sure all products come to market higher priced than what consumers might want, but like all technologies, it will eventually get cheaper as consumers adapt and newer and better versions of them are released. Years ago, you couldn’t get a 3D TV for under $5,000, and now you cannot find a TV that is not HD. Even the $500 television you find at Wal-mart is in fact HD (now this isn’t insinuating that all HD is the same, but rather the fact that anybody can have access to it). But that’s really only one avenue to view HD in; how about recording? Every single camera on the market now has some form of HD recording in it. From the thinnest smart phone on the market, the iPhone 4, which can record 720p video, to pocket camcorders, like the Flip HD, which can be bought for $150 with 8GB of memory, consumers can record HD in all sorts of ways without really thinking about them. If you own a Mac, you can open iMovie and start editing your HD video in minutes and soon after that be posting it to sites like YouTube and Facebook. Through the consumer, HD has become the norm and the standard, due to its ease of handling and low entry price point. I’m here to tell you that 3D will be the same and Sony is leading the way.

Sony Bloggie Goes 3D for Cheap, 1080p Video Capture

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 14, 2011 | 10 comments

I have to say that one of my favorite Sony products from CES 2011 was not only one that I didn’t see coming, but also one of the cheapest offerings in their lineup. I had written previously that the Bloggie Touch would more than likely get an update, and I was right on that matter. In fact, there will be two different Bloggie models coming out in the next two months. What I didn’t expect was for one to offer 3D recording and to be priced so low.

First I will get what I consider the more boring of the series out of the way. The next generation of the Bloggie is being dubbed the Bloggie Duo (MHS-FS2) which sports two different LCD lenses. The first is a 2.7-inch on the back for video and picture playback and 2.0-inch on the front under the lens, perfect for when you want to utilize the 5.1 megapixel built in camera to take some self portrait shots. The Duo will now come with a LED light and be available in violet, green, pink, and white for $170 for the 4GB model in March. Next up is actually the new entry model Bloggie (MHS-FS1) which is thinner then the previous Bloggie and the new Bloggie Duo. Coming in at $150 for the 4GB, this white and black only model comes with just the single back 2.7-inch LCD. It should be noted that both models come with Sony’s Sensitive Exmor™ CMOS sensor and Auto Focus/Auto Macro lenses. Now hit the jump to read all about one of my favorite CES products, the Bloggie 3D.

New Cybershots and Bloggie from Sony During CES?

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 3, 2011 | 2 comments

As we get closer to CES 2011, the rumor mills tend to work in overdrive, sometimes delivering very credible insider information and other times, nothing more then a fanboys dream. The good news is with CES less then a week away, we won’t have to wait long to find out how much weight these rumors have. So without further wait, I give you Sony CES rumors.

First off, Sony is expected to renew its Cybershot fleet with all new models and 3D is rumored to play a part in the higher end versions. However, Sony is not expected to make any changes to the current NEX and Alpha lineup, though there might be some software update announcement. Outside of that, the current and well received Bloggies are to get a update and expect to see plenty of new 2D and 3D camcorders from Sony. The one hot rumor is that there might be some kind of showing, all be it prototype of the NEX-7 and Alpha77 but I personally won’t put too much though into that.

Sony Targets RED Camera with PMW-F3 Camera

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 21, 2010 | 11 comments

The RED camera has been a phenomenon in the indie film making sector. Giving those who have knowledge of film making, but not a crazy budget to achieve almost any shot they want, without the need to mortgage their house and their liver. Mix that with the ever growing power of home computers and editing software like Final Cut Pro and you can see why Indy films have been on a ever growing trajectory. Now, Sony wan’t some of this action as well, already known for their studio grade camera’s.

The PMW-F3 (yes, Sony as their catchy names, I mean who wouldn’t forget that over just saying RED…) is Sony’s answer, a $16,000 camera, with Sony’s latest Exmor Super 35 CMOS sensor and interchangeable lens mounts, allowing the users to “facilitating shallow depth of field with a fairly impressive dynamic range”. The camera itself shoots with a MPEG-2 Long GOP 4:2:08bit, 35 Mbps codec), and uses Sony’s SxS ExpressCard-based recording media format (ISO 800, F11; and S/N ratio of 63dB in 1920×1080/59.94i mode). Another advantage that the PMW-F3 offers is the wide expandability of the device with its many ports on the back and PL mount. As Sony put it, “The PMW-F3’s PL mount adapter can accommodate both PL and zoom lenses, and will offer compatibility with a variety of cine lenses such as Cooke, Arri, Fujinon and Zeiss”. Though it remains higher in the price point category then other indy camera’s, the unit does offer more expandability then most units on the market with superior specs. Look for the camera to roll off of Sonys production lines for a February 2011 release.

As always, hit the jump for the official press release.