Photography Magazine

Sony CyberShot W110 digital camera : Sony’s popular Cyber-shot W-Series gains a fresh new look for ’08 with the new Sony CyberShot W110 digital camera that teams fantastic HD image quality with easy-to-use features. Available in a choice of up-to-the-minute colour options, the Sony CyberShot W110 stands out with its clean lines and cool, contemporary looks. Inside the sleek all-aluminium case, the Sony W110 is packed with the latest Sony technology to widen your creative options and guarantee even more fabulous memories. The entry-level Sony CyberShot W110 offers 7.2 effective megapixel resolution plus 4x optical zoom, Smile Shutter and Face Detection.

Sony W110 - Face Detection technology
The Sony developed BIONZ image processor inside the Sony W110 powers improved Face Detection technology, now with even faster tracking plus the ability to recognise faces that are further from the camera. In addition, Face Detection can now distinguish automatically between children and adults, adjusting exposure, skin tone and red-eye reduction for great portraits with any subject.Sony Cyber Shot DSC-W110 - Detecting smiles
Another Sony first, Smile Shutter waits until the subject smiles before firing the shutter to ensure happy faces in every frame. A new Smile Level setting lets you fine-tune the threshold before a picture’s taken, from a gentle smile to a huge grin.
Sony CyberShot W110 - D-Range optimiser
Also powered by the BIONZ processor, the D-Range Optimiser automatically adjusts exposure and contrast for natural-looking results. It’s highly effective with strongly backlit scenes where there’s a risk of losing high- and low-light detail.Sony W110 camera - Optical image stabilisation
Sensitivity on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W110 is boosted to a maximum ISO 3200 for successful low-noise shots without flash indoors or in dim lighting conditions. It’s teamed with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation, delivering a powerful Anti-Blur solution for clearer handheld pictures in low light or at higher zoom settings.Sony Cyber-Shot W110 - HD Output
An HD Output on the CyberShot W110 lets you enjoy your memories in super-size on your BRAVIA TV or any HD Ready display. Connecting to any PhotoTV HD compatible television or display (via optional output adaptor cable) delivers even more incredible Full HD picture quality with extraordinary detail and realism.

Sony CyberShot W110 - Easy to use camera
Despite superb image quality and advanced shooting functions, the Sony CyberShot W110 is brilliantly simple to use. First-time users will appreciate the friendly on-screen function guide and Easy Shooting mode that keeps things simple without compromising picture quality. There’s also an optical viewfinder that offers extra familiarity for compact camera users switching to digital. The new Sony Cyber-shot W110 will be available throughout Europe end April 2008

Sony CyberShot DSC-W110
• 7.2 effective megapixels
• Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom lens
• 2.5-inch LCD
• BIONZ processor powers Smile Shutter and Face Detection
• HD Output
• Two colour options: Silver and Black

Sony A700 DSLR review : Finally Sony are making good their promise to bring a real Alpha system on the market that not only appeals to the amateur but the semi-pro and even the professional photographer alike with the introduction of the Sony Alpha 700. I do not wish to claim the Sony A700 to be the ultimate tool for professionals. These photographers most possibly use a DSLR of the same brand they already own as a second camera. However; a start has been made. And a third body, this time a professional one, is ready to be introduced in 2008, as Sony showed us during the PMA 2007 in Las Vegas.

Sony A700 digital SLR camera
Many people were eagerly awaiting the Sony DSLR-A700. Not only Alpha 100 owners felt ready to step over to a new semi-pro body, also consumers marking time looked forward to Sony’s next move. Personally I consider this new Sony Alpha 700 as Sony’s first real statement with its very own face. The Alpha 100 still showed clear signs of Konica Minolta but the Sony A700 is a D-SLR camera I would certainly expect to see from Sony.

Sony DSLR-A700 - 12.2 Megapixel CMOS image sensor
The Sony Alpha 700 is equipped with a newly developed 12.2 Megapixel CMOS image sensor and works with a focal length multiplier of 1.5x. The housing consists of a combination of aluminum alloy and polycarbonate and is mostly waterproof and dustproof thanks to extra attention that has been paid to the closure of covers etc. The weight of a tad less than 800 grams (778 grams without lens) is pleasant to work with and makes the camera lie stable in my hand. The beautiful large sized LCD screen on the back of the Sony A700 is definitely breathtaking. This 3-inch high resolution LCD screen surely adds a surplus value to this camera.

Sony Alpha A700 - Competitors Nikon and Canon
The Sony Alpha 700 can now prepare itself to conquer part of the heavenly competing segment in which brands like Nikon and Canon are ruling. Some weeks before Sony’s introduction of the Sony A700, Canon as well as Nikon have showed with what they will enter the digital battlefield and their weapons certainly cannot be ignored. Especially Nikon surprised me with a high quality DSLR camera with obvious professional features, but with the price tag of a semi-pro camera. One thing is for sure; the upcoming year will be an extremely interesting period for photography lovers.

Sony Alpha SLR-A700 review
During the presentation of the Sony Alpha A700 in Italy, I was able to work briefly with Sony’s new addition. Upon my return Sony contacted me to announce the availability of a full-production model to be used for our camera reviews. Thanks to Sony for a fast delivery, I was able to dive into the studio to make the necessary product photos and test images and to put the camera into practice thereafter. Read my experiences with the Sony Alpha 700 in the Alpha 700 review.

Original article

at letsgodigital

Sony is launching the DSLR-A200 as an entry-class model of the popular α series of digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses. As the successor model to the α100 that has been well received since its July 2006 launch, the Sony Alpha 200 upgrades basic performance to meet a variety of photographic needs, to note high resolution from effective 10.2 Megapixels, low noise image quality and simple operation that even novice users of DSLR cameras will find easy to understand. In addition to the Super SteadyShot image stabilization built into the camera body compatible with all Sony α lenses, the Sony A200 supports high sensitivity shooting of ISO 3200. With all of this, users will enjoy beautiful blur-free pictures.

Sony A200 DSLR - CCD and BIONZ
The new Sony A200 incorporates a CCD sensor (APS-C type, 23.6 x 15.8 mm) of 10.2 Megapixels effective and an optimized version of the BIONZ image processing engine to draw out the maximum performance of the α lenses. This combination of hardware and software pushes the performance of the α lenses to the limits and delivers greater sharpness, richer tonal expression and color reproduction, and lower noise quality than before. Moreover, exposure accuracy and white balance performance have been improved so as to render beautiful images overflowing with a sense of actually being there.

Sony Alpha 200 digital SLR - ISO and Noise reduction
The Sony α200 offers ISO 3200 sensitivity, the highest level available among entry class cameras. Thanks to it, the faster shutter speeds are available to help reduce blurring and increase shooting opportunities in dark places. When set to ISO 1600 or ISO 3200, High ISO Noise Reduction activates to minimize the graininess of the finished image.

Sony Alpha DSLR camera - Super SteadyShot
The already popular body-integrated Super SteadyShot image stabilization system original to the Alpha series has evolved even more with an improved control algorithm, etc. The stabilizing effect allows shutter speeds slower by 2.5 to 3.5 steps, compatible with all Sony Alpha lenses. Scenes that normally require a tripod or flash can be sharply captured by hand-held shot with far less blurring.

Sony DSLR-A200 - Dust protection system
With interchangeable lenses, dust and dirt can enter the camera body when changing lenses, and stick to the surface of the image sensor. This dust then appears sometimes in the captured image. The α series, therefore, uses an anti-dust coating on the low-pass filter and an anti-dust drive. First, the anti-static coating prevents the dust particles from adhering to the filter surface and also makes it easier to remove them with a blower. And the anti-dust drive moves the sensor using the image stabilization control mechanism to dislodge dust each time the camera is turned off.

Sony Alpha 200 SLR camera - Clear Photo LCD
The new Alpha 200 incorporates the largest size of LCD monitor for entry class cameras*3 at 2.7-inch. It is Clear Photo LCD with low reflection and high contrast, therefore, captured images are easy to view and users will have no problem checking details. The big screen can be used to view RGB histograms that allow users to check not only brightness of captured images but also color balance. Also it enables fast search for images on index displays (selectable formats of 4, 9 and 25 frames).

Sony Alpha 200 camera - Auto focus and Algorithm
With the wide coverage of the center-cross 9-point AF system incorporating Sony’s unique Eye-Start activation, users can assuredly capture the subject and reduce missed shots. Lens drive time has been greatly shortened*4 and response further enhanced by employing the same motor used with the enthusiast-class model α700. Moreover, because of the improved AF control algorithm, low contrast subjects which are sometimes troublesome to DSLR cameras, are easily focused on, and fast moving subjects can be tracked more accurately.

Sony A200 digital SLR camera - Dynamic range and Brightness
Thanks to the D-Range Optimizer image analysis technology, images are automatically adjusted according to shooting conditions to keep highlight and shadow details and deliver suitable tonality and exposure. Users can select from Standard Mode to evenly optimize brightness and contrast of the entire image, or Advanced Mode to separately analyze each area of the image with different levels of brightness, or can turn the function off. The improved scene detection delivers natural images more similar to what the human eye perceives even in backlit scenes which typically end up with underexposed subjects or lack of details in highlight.

Sony digital SLR camera - Creative styles and Battery performance
With Creative Style function, images can be finished to suit the scene or user’s intention. There are 8 styles: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Night view, Sunset, Black & White and Adobe RGB. With each, contrast, saturation and sharpness can be customized. Thanks to the high density InfoLITHIUM battery pack NP-FM500H, users enjoy a long battery life for up to approximately 750 shots on a single full charge. Remaining battery power is indicated in 1% accuracy with 5-level icon display, enabling precise power management.

Sony Alpha A350 digital SLR camera : Sony is bringing live-view shooting to its digital SLR camera line with the 14.2-megapixel Alpha A350 DSLR camera. The new Sony A350 features new technologies that make picture taking faster, easier, and more familiar for first-time DSLR users. The Alpha 350 offers Sony’s new “Quick AF Live View” technology so you can frame photos on the camera’s LCD without sacrificing auto-focusing speed common to other live-view systems. Sony’s innovative Pentamirror Tilt mechanism directs light to a dedicated live view image sensor, enabling fast and responsive TTL phase-detection auto-focusing, even during live view. Eliminating the focus delay of other systems, the new Sony A350 is equally responsive whether using live view or optical viewfinder.

Sony A350 - Clear Photo LCD screen
With its two sensor design, Quick AF Live View can even continuously focus-track the subject and provide live view during burst shooting, helping you capture that special moment. Taking further advantage of Quick AF Live View is the models’ variable angle 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen. This makes it easy to frame scenes from high or low positions difficult to reach when using an eye-level viewfinder. With Live View and an adjustable LCD, the Sony Alpha A350 camera does not need to be in front of the user’s face, allowing parents, for example, to maintain eye-contact when photographing their children.

Sony Alpha A350 - Quick AF Live View
“Mainstream users stepping up to DSLRs are looking for a similar experience to their point and shoot cameras, but without compromise in speed or performance” said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. “Quick AF Live View gives the new Sony A350 model a familiar shooting style without compromising speed – ideal for the growing market of first-time SLR users.”

Sony Alpha 350 - Exceptional image quality
The Sony Alpha 350 produces images with fine detail, rich tonality and vibrant color due to their APS-C CCD image sensors and BIONZ processing engine. To aid shooting in low light, Super SteadyShot image stabilization enables shutter speeds 2.5 to 3.5 steps slower than otherwise possible, with every compatible Minolta Maxxum and Sony α (Alpha) lens (sold separately) attached to the camera.

Sony A350 DSLR camera - High sensitivity
High sensitivity operation at ISO 1600 and 3200 and very low noise are made possible by the user-selectable high-ISO noise reduction features. Sony’s D-Range Optimizer delivers suitable tonality and exposures with rich shadow and highlight detail, even under high contrast situations.

Sony A350 digital SLR - InfoLithium battery
The DSLR-A350 model can shoot up to two-and-a-half continuous frames per second, when using the optical viewfinder. The Sony A350 is powered by the Bionz processing engine and supplied InfoLithium battery for fast start-up times, quick response and long battery life – up to 730 shots per full charge when using the optical viewfinder and up to 410 shots per full charge in live-view mode.

Sony DLSR-A350 - Lighter, slimmer body
The Sony Alpha 350 features a lighter, slimmer body for easy handling; an improved user interface; an automatic pop-up flash; a comfortable camera grip with an easily accessible mode dial; an anti-dust system to keep the CCD image sensor clean for spot-free pictures; and JPEG and RAW file format support. The Sony A350 further features a slot for CompactFlash Type I/II media cards.

Sony Alpha DLSR-A350 - Accessories
An adaptor for Memory Stick Duo media cards is also available for the Sony A350 camera and sold separately. The new DSLR-A350 camera is compatible with a range of accessories, including the ergonomic Sony VG-B30AM vertical grip. Also available as an option is the new Sony HVL-F42AM flash unit. It offers advanced features such as automatic white balance adjustment with color temperature information, adjustable bounce angles, ADI metering and wireless remote operation to suit the needs of most photographers.

Sony Alpha Price & Availability
The DSLR-A350 camera body will be available in March for about $800, and the DSLR-A350 kit with a DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 3.9x zoom lens will be available for about $900 at the same time.

Sony Live View

Sony A350