Photokina 2012: Sony Stand Report
On the Sony stand all the talk is about full frame. The RX100 is still generating a pretty healthy buzz, but it's sitting next to the RX1 in the Cyber-shot section, so is understandably a little outshone.
The RX1 is attracting quite a crowd but the only samples are behind glass. Occasionally one of the presenters will take to the stage to explain the camera, but there's no opportunity to handle it, let alone take any test shots. There are sample videos playing to whet appetites and exploded models of the camera on view, which help to make clear how complex an engineering challenge the RX1 was.
That isn't the case with the SLT-A99 - examples of which are numerous. A row of the cameras is lined-up, showing their live view images on flat screen displays, with acrobats and a trapeze artist providing opportunities for exploring the camera's autofocus and movie capabilities. Further 'round the stand are more examples, looking comfortable buried in the middle of video shooting rigs.
Finally there are opportunities to explore the NEX-VG900 full frame video camera. All the cameras are fitted with A-mount adapters, given there are no full-frame E-mount lenses. The use of E-mount gives plenty of room to use adapters for other mount lenses, though.
While we were there, a delegation from Carl Zeiss arrived to see whether its E-mount Cine lenses would work without vignetting on the VG900. Since its designs are essentially full frame lenses with a long throat to extend the lens away from the mount, it seemed likely that they'd work, so long as the throat wasn't too narrow (which it might have been, given the expectation that it would only be used with APS-C/Super 35mm sensors). Sure enough, the CP2 50mm T2.1 Macro could be racked through its focus range without any shading appearing in the preview image.
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As usual, the Sony stand is divided into Alpha and Cyber-shot... |
..what's less normal is that Cyber-shot is getting just as much attention. |
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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 is centre of attention... |
...but can only been seen behind glass. |
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An exploded version of the camera shows just how hard it is to get so much camera into such a small body... |
...and, unsurprizingly, most of the real cleverness is in the lens. |
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The rear element is huge, complex and extremely close to the sensor. |
And it has to be to get light to the corners of the frankly huge full-frame sensor. |
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The A99 is much more accessible on the stand. |
And there are plenty of chances to play with it. |
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It may not be as small as the RX1 but there's still a lot going into the A99. |
Various video rigs show off its potential uses. |
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There's also the NEX-VG900 full-frame camcorder. |
Which can be used with Carl Zeiss CP.2 Cine primes, such as this one. |
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The NEX-6 leads the APS-C charge. |
Featuring flip-out screen and plenty of external controls. |
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The NEX-5R is also on show, featuring the 16-50mm retractable zoom. |
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Video lights and microphones are some of the accessories that will be compatble with Sony's new Multi Accessory Shoe hotshoe. |
Tucked-away (and also trapped behind glass) is a mock-up of the Sony/Zeiss 50mm F1.4. |
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Occasional photographer talks are the closest you can get to the RX1. |
And it's enough to draw a reasonable crowd. |
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Big screens show-off the VG900 and A99's video and AF capabilities. |
While there are chances to test the low-light performance of Cyber-shot models. |
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Sep 22, 2012
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Sep 21, 2012
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Sep 21, 2012
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Sep 21, 2012
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