Sony redefines the DSLR category – a world first in Translucent Mirror Technology (via Pocket Lint)

Keep visiting that post! We will update you with all news previews image samples and more!

1) PRE-ORDERS (coming soon! Click on those links to see when it is available)
Amazon US (still not available….coming soon!)
BHphoto (still not available…coming soon!)
Amazon Germany (still not available…coming soon!)
Amazon UK (still not available…coming soon!)

2) HOT LINKS
Luminous Landscape preview!
First Full A55 review on Imaging-Resource
Sony A55 gets the GOLD AWARD from Dpreview!
3D animation of the cameras on Sony Japan
First Sony translucent cameras promo video (click here)!
First A55 and A33 Flickr group.
Hear the shutter noise (on SonyAlphaRumors)
External microphones for the new Alphas! The ECM-ALST1 and ECM-CG50 (SonyAlphaRumors)

3) PREVIEWS
Photoclubalpha
PhotographyblogSony A580 Hands-On Photos
Photographyblog Sony A55 Hands-On Photos
Engadget
Luminous Landscape preview!
Dpreview Just posted! Sony SLT A55 in-depth review
Digital Camera review Sony alpha a55 First Look

4) TESTS
Letsgodigital Sony A580 preview
Dpreview Sony SLT Alpha A55 Noise and Noise Reduction (JPEG*). “Even at ISO 3200 the A55 is capable of producing very good image quality” and “the A55 offers the best performance in our measured noise tests”
Dpreview RAW files for download!
Dpreview “The Sony Alpha SLT A55 has an extremely capable metering system, which helps enormously to avoid clipped highlights”

5) INTERESTING NOTES
– The 24mm and 85mm lenses will start shipping late September at $1,250 and $250 respectively. The 35mm will be available from mid-October at a price of $200.
– The designation ‘SLT’ stands for single lens translucent
– The A580 will be available from October 2010 and the A560 will arrive early 2011.
– According to Sony the translucent mirror reflects 30% of the light to a large 15-point phase detection AF sensor. You have a 1/3EV reduction in light transmission for the sensor.
– Dpreview: “The EVF in the A55 and A33 is excellent.”
– Imaging Resource: “The Sony Alpha A55V, the version sold in the United States, has one standout feature not present in the A55 and A33: a built-in GPS receiver. This allows both still images and movies to be automatically tagged with information about the location at which they were recorded.”
– Imaging Resource: “Video capture is an area where the Sony A55’s translucent mirror technology makes a huge difference relative to pretty any other SLR currently on the market”
– Luminous Landscape: “And finally, there is eye detect, so that viewing switches between the LCD and the EVF automatically as you raise it to eye level. ” and “There is a Achilles Heel though, which needs to be understood. PDAF (phase detection autofocus) is done with the lens at its widest aperture. This means that if you want to shoot video with PDAF you lens will always be used at its maximum aperture.”

6) IMAGE SAMPLES
Letsgodigital
Imaging Resource

7) VIDEOS
Luminous Landscape Focus Tracking Video!
Digital camera review (click on the link and scroll down): http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=4473
Dpreview Video samples

Sony A55 stabilized by a Steadicam Merlin from NSF-56k on Vimeo.

8 ) PRESS RELEASE (latest added links on top):
Quesbesde (here and here)
ePhotozine
Pocket Lint Sony A33 and A55: The see-through cameras
Sony Japan
Focus Numerique
Noisycamera
ThePhoBlographer Sony Announces New A55, A33, A560 DSLRs, New Lenses
Photographyblog Sony A55 and A33
CNET Asia Sony launches dSLRs with translucent mirrors
Amateur Photographer New Sony Alpha 55 and Alpha 33 EVF DSLRs to feature fixed Translucent Mirror
Digital Camera Review
Dpreview A55 and A33
Dpreview A560 and A580
Dpreview Sony US announces 24mm F2, 35mm F1.8 and 85mm F2.8 lenses

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Test de l’AF du Sony Alpha 55 from Alpha numérique on Vimeo.

I am not going to post all videos because the post would become to big. I will give you the list with all links:
Sony A33 translucent mirror: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwWp54mv9pI
Sony α55/α33 fake Interlace shooting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUuOJIoPY7I
Canon EOS 550D vs Sony Alpha 55 mirror comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd130L1aZhQ
Sony Alpha A33 Video Autofocus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9nLcv6hLsQ

On Sony Japan you can also see the specs and pictures of the new external microphone for the new Alpha cameras (click here for the google english translation)

■ Microphone ECM-ALST1
Release Date: October, expected to release retail price: 15,750 yen (tax included)
Stereo microphone that can record sound realistic.
Spindle orientation angle formula – 90/120 switching time can be selected to suit the purpose of picking up the sound range.

■Microphone ECM-CG50
Release Date: September 17, suggested retail price: 24,150 yen (tax included)
You can record audio of the subject firm targeted, highly directional microphone.

Sony A55 stabilized by a Steadicam Merlin from NSF-56k on Vimeo. (found via noisycamera)

Sony redefines the DSLR category – a world first in Translucent Mirror Technology (via Pocket Lint)

SLRmagic just launched a new 35mm f/1.7 lens with E-mount. This lens works without adapter and has been designed for NEX cameras. SLRmagic sent a presentation text to mirrorlessrumors:

“There are not much lenses in the NEX E-mount so far. We have a 35mm f1.7 lens that sell pretty well in m4/3 mount. We occasionally receive emails requesting for e-mount version of the lens. It is now available for pre-order and ships by Sept 10th. We will have 100pcs initially and offer free shipping as well. Cost just under $100. Hope there will be others interested in this lens. Our lens is optimized for NEX so there is no vignette in the photos and does not need cropping. [shoplink 3514]Click here to check the lens auction on eBay[/shoplink]”

Some image samples (click on those thumbnails to enlarge the image):

[shoplink 3514]More images on eBay[/shoplink]!

Unlike the first dpreview statement it seems that Nikon didn’t use the NEX sensor for the new new D3100!

Read what Nikon-guru Thom Hogan wrote yesterday:

“One curious aspect of the D3100 is the sensor. “Nikon developed” appears in the marketing materials, and the sensor is indeed not the same one as in the Sony [shoplink 3003]NEX5[/shoplink] (as originally speculated) in several key ways, one of which is physical size, the other pixel count. The Nikon 14mp sensor has slightly more pixel count in a slightly smaller area than the Sony. Indeed, the area is no longer what I’d call DX. The D5000, D90, and D300 have a sensor area of 23.6 x 15.8 (28.4 diagonal), while the D3100 has a sensor area of 23.1 x 15.4 (27.8 diagonal). This represents a loss of about 2% in image circle coverage needed. We’re now at 1.55x crop as opposed to the old 1.52x. It’s an unusual change, but the bottom line is that the Nikon and Sony 14mp sensors are indeed different in important ways. But I’ll repeat: the proof is in the pudding. We need to test the new sensor on live subjects before making any useful pronouncements about it.

Update: I’ve now heard even more details about the D3100 sensor and from a few sources closer to Nikon Japan. It does indeed appear that Nikon has moved to producing their own sensors. They may be licensing or cooperating on some of the underlying technologies, but it appears that Nikon has decided that Nikon DSLRs will in the future have Nikon-controlled and Nikon-exclusive sensors. That they haven’t chosen to make a bigger deal of this is strange. And some parts of Nikon appear not to have gotten the memo on this, as I’ve seen quotes from Nikon personnel in some subsidiaries that say “Sony sensor.”

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