Wednesday, September 12, 2012

STAND BACK! I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THIS IS GOING TO GET

  Sony is on a roll.  They keep putting bigger sensors in smaller devices.  They have just announced three new cameras using "full-size" (35 mm) sensors.  While one of the cameras is a "classic" dSLR, many of which have had full-size sensors, the other two cameras are astonishingly small for using such a large sensor.

  To get an idea of comparative sensor sizes the graphic below compares the size of sensors in three different still cameras.  (Courtesy cameraimagesensor.com)


  The sensor on the left is the one in the very popular Sony DSC-HX10.  The one in the middle is the one in the recently released Sony DSC-RX100 which I have and love.  It's 20 MP sensor was considered huge for a pocketable point and shoot camera.  Finally, the sensor size on the right is the size used in the three new cameras, two of which I consider amazing for being able to use such a large sensor.

  First of all, the new video camera, the NEX-VG900, is hardly larger than many of Sony's "handy cams".  Just look at the image below.  The overall size of of the system is dominated by the interchangeable lens.

  Note how small the camera body is compared to the hand holding in the image on the right. I'm just amazed that Sony was able to pack such a large sensor in such a small package.  Having such a large sensor provides a large film camera-like depth of field.  It uses the same E-mount lenses used on many other Sony cameras.  I haven't seen any pricing data on this camcorder yet.  Not sure when it will be available.

  The new Sony dSLR is the Alpha SLT-99, priced at about $2800 for the camera body only.  Here's a picture of the new dSLR.

  It looks pretty conventional to me but for dSLR users I'm sure it will have some great new features.  The fact that Sony was able to use the large sensor in a dSLR is not shocking since many such cameras use large sensors.  Therefore, I'm not going to waste space here discussing it.

  The third camera is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1.  The overall  size of the RX1 body appears to be hardly larger than the RX100 but it has significant changes from the RX100:
  • A full-frame (35 mm) 24 MP CMOS sensor
  • A fixed focal length 35 mm-f/2 non-interchangeable lens
  • An accessory shoe for attaching optional optical or electronic viewfinders
  • 24P (in addition to other frame rates) video
  • A much higher price - about $2800
  Here's a comparison of the size of the RX1 with the RX100 (courtesy camera size.com).  When you compare the size of the sensors of these two cameras from the image above it's hard to believe Sony could use it in a camera body as small as the RX1.


  Here's a top view of the two cameras.  The non-zooming, non-removeable 35mm/f2.0 lens is almost bigger than the camera body itself.


  Just to show how much small this camera is than other full-frame sensor cameras here are some comparisons with the Leica M9 and Canon 5D Mark III (without a lens).

  At a $2800 price the RX1 is obviously not a camera that all of us will run out and purchase but for the pro "street photographer" this camera may be the "killer app".  It's really top notch full frame camera that a pro can have with them in virtually all situations.

  Apparently Sony felt that adding an interchangeable lens mount would have made the camera to large.  Using the multiple exposure overlay technique of the Sony HX10 and RX100, Sony is claiming an upper end ISO rating of 102,400!

  Expected availability for the RX1 is November.

SUMMARY

  Sony seems to be on vendetta to show just how small they can make cameras with huge sensors if the VG900 and RX1 are any indication.  I'll have more to say about the cameras as more information comes out.

  You can pre-order most of these cameras at Adorama, Amazon, or B&H.

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