Sony A9 – a nail in the coffin of Nikon and Canon?

The new mirrorless Sony A9 has all it takes to change the photography market and to further derail the two leaders Canon and Nikon:

  • 24 MP sensor with back side illumination
  • 20 fps
  • Buffer of 241 RAW images
  • 693 on-sensor phase detection autofocus points covering nearly the whole viewfinder
  • 1/16000 shutter speed (1/32000 for Manual and Shutter Priority exposure modes)
  • 4K video from 6K dataset
  • In-body image stabilization
  • Weather sealed body
  • Quite large battery capacity
  • Dual SD card slots (but only one of it high speed UHS-II – why?)
  • A suggested price of $4,500 – a whopping $2,000 cheaper than the D5

This new beast attacks Nikon D5 and Canon 1D X Mark II, the top-end cameras of Sonys biggest competitors (and still #1 and #2 on the market, despite Sonys marketeing). If Sony is able to add 400mm, 500mm, 600mm lenses, the A9 has the chance to dethrone its rivals. Let’s hope they are not sleeping…

BTW, we can assume XQD is dead when even its inventor Sony isn’t using it for their high-end camera.

Sony a6300 – the camera that both Nikon and Canon fear

Sony announced the a6300, a mirrorless camera with a newly developed sensor:

  • 24 MP APS-C sensor
  • Uninterrupted live view at up to 8 fps
  • 425 point on-sensor AF system (phase detection)
  • Up to 11 fps
  • ISO up to 51,200
  • 4K video

One of the last reasons to bet on DSLRs seems to disappear. I’m sure both Nikon and Canon have high end mirrorless cameras in their labs – it will be interesting, when they begin to bring them to market. Now they can’t wait for another 5 years.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 – compact camera with full-frame sensor

Sony has announced the RX1, a compact camera featuring a full-frame sensor:

  • Same 24,3 MP full-frame sensor as in SLT-A99
  • Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*  35mm f2 lens
  • ISO 100-25,600
  • Dedicatd aperture ring
  • User customizable buttons

Sounds like a very serious camera for enthusiasts with deep pockets at a list price of $2800.

Sony Alpha SLT-A99 full frame camera

Sony has announced their first full frame camera, the SLT-A99:

  • 24,3 MP sensor
  • On-chip phase-detection autofocus
  • ISO 100-25,600
  • 6 fps
  • Built-in GPS
  • Microphone and headphone sockets
  • Electronic viewfinder (fixed mirror)

Sony announces SLT A33 and A55 with full-time live view

Sony announces SLT A33 and A55 incorporating Sonys new translucent mirror making possible live view with full-time AF for both pictures and video.

SLT stands for Single-Lens-Translucent, a system using a fixed semi-transparent mirror redirecting some light to the autofocus system while the rest is going to the sensor, making possible to use phase-detection autofocus all the time, even during shooting videos. All this at a competitive price of US$ 649 (A33) and US$ 749 (A55) and available from September (A33) and October (A55).

  • 14 MP (A33) or 16 MP (A55) sensor
  • Full HD video (1080p)
  • ISO up to 12,800
  • 3″ LCD
  • Built in GPS (A55 only)