Models Provide DSLR Performance, Full HD Video, Sweep Panorama, APS-C sensor and Low-Light Capability in an Unprecedented Compact Design

SAN DIEGO, May 10, 2010 Sony today introduced two innovative (alpha) compact interchangeable lens digital cameras (models NEX-5 and NEX-3) that provide the quality of a digital SLR in a compact body that is easy to slip into a small purse or jacket pocket for ultimate portability.

Consumers want better picture quality in a smaller form factor. Sony has made that a reality with these cameras. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras truly embody Sony’s make.believe spirit, said Kristen Elder, director of Sony’s alpha digital imaging business. These new cameras are the game-changers everyone has been waiting for and will revolutionize the consumer experience by offering outstanding picture quality with a totally pocketable size.

With breakthrough video performance, these models are the world s first interchangeable lens cameras with an APS-C sensor to continuously adjust focus and exposure while recording video. The NEX-5 camera offers Full HD movie capture (1080i AVCHD and 720p MP4) with Full HD 60i recording.

These cameras are perfect for point-and-shoot users looking to advance from snapshots to creative photography as well as existing DSLR users searching for a no-compromise compact alternative.

Innovative Design

Unlike conventional DSLR models, the mirrorless construction of the new models reduces the thickness of both camera bodies to just about an inch at their slimmest point (excluding grip and mount portions). The NEX-5, constructed from magnesium alloy, and the NEX-3, with a polycarbonate casing, offer a newly developed 14.2 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. About 60 percent larger than the sensor in micro four-thirds cameras, this sensor is key to the exceptional image quality, extremely low image noise and creative defocus background effects that are familiar to DSLR users.

HD Movie Recording and Fast, Silent Autofocus

The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are the first cameras to offer the extra convenience of high definition video recording. In addition to 720p HD recording, the NEX-5 also captures Full HD (1920 x 1080i) video in high-quality AVCHD files that can be easily enjoyed on a compatible HD television via the cameras built-in HDMI terminal (cable not included). The NEX-3 shoots 720p HD video as compact MP4 files. Both Sony cameras include built-in stereo microphones for high-quality audio recording.

Still and video image quality is further refined by Sony’s powerful BIONZ processor that ensures quick DSLR-style shooting response with fast, precise autofocus and minimal shutter lag. Both cameras can also capture fast-moving action with a high-speed burst of full-resolution images at up to 7fps (AF/AE fixed from first frame).

Sweep Panorama

The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are the first cameras featuring Sweep Panorama. Capturing large group shots is as easy as press-and-sweep. Sweep Panorama mode lets consumers capture breathtaking shots up to 226-degree horizontal or 151-degree vertical shots.

Both models will be ready for 3D Sweep Panorama this July (with firmware update). With 3D Sweep Panorama mode, these cameras can shoot 3D panoramic still images with a single lens. The high-speed burst of frames is stitched together using innovative processing techniques to automatically create detail-packed 3D panoramas. These files can be enjoyed in stunning 3D on compatible 3D televisions (other accessories may be required).

These cameras provide the advantages of multi-frame capture featured in Cyber-shot cameras, including Hand-Held Twilight and Anti-motion Blur modes, which offer extraordinary low-light performance.

Simple To Use

Overcoming the complexity and intimidation that often come along with DSLR use, the NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras have a new easy-to-use interface. It makes their performance advantages and features including the techniques of creative photography simple to master for consumers stepping up from compact digital still cameras and simultaneously offers easy access to the important camera controls that DSLR users demand.

Images and camera settings are displayed on the 3-inch (diagonal)wide-typeXtra FineLCD display withTruBlack technology and 921kdot high resolution LCD that tilts up or down for comfortable viewing in any shooting position. The screen features an auto-brightness control function for excellent visibility, even outdoors. TruBlack screen technology enables an even more vivid, high-contrast view of images and camera settings.

E-Mount Lenses

Three new E-mount lenses are being introduced, including a 16mmF2.8 wide angle prime lens (model number SEL16F28), an 18mm-55mmF3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens(model number SEL1855)and an 18mm-200mmF3.5-6.3 (model number SEL18200) high magnification zoom lens.

The E-mount lenses provide the cameras with extreme compactness as well as the performance required for quiet continuous auto focus and auto exposure during HD video capture. These all new lenses are of premium construction, with brushed aluminium barrels and steel mounts. An optional LA-EA1 Mount Adaptor extends compatibility to the family of 30 lenses, plus a huge range of other legacy A-mount lenses (Manual Focus only).

Ideal for everyday shooting, the low-profile E 16mmF2.8 lens minimizes bulk, allowing the camera to easily be carried in a coat, pants pocket, or purse. This lens creative possibilities can be expanded even further by the VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Converter which provides a 12mm view, and VCL-ECF1 Fisheye Converter that delivers impressive curvi-linear distortion.

Featuring in-lens Optical SteadyShot image stabilization for clearer handheld images, the E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS zoom is a perfect travel partner. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are available in kit form with either the 16mm prime or the 18mm-55mm lens. The E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS zoom lens offers a powerful 11x magnification range plus Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with Active mode that is used in the most advanced Handycam camcorders.

Accessories

Both cameras are supplied with a super-compact clip-on flash that attaches via the smart accessory terminal when needed. Other optional accessories include the FDA-SV1 Optical Viewfinder plus stylish cases and shoulder straps.

As an option, the accessory shoe on both cameras accepts a compact ECM-SST1 Stereo Microphone that captures even more high-quality sound for HD video recordings than the cameras built-in stereo recording.

The new cameras accept both Memory Stick PRO Duo (including Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo)and SD (including both SDHC and SDXC formats) media (all sold separately). Sony’s new Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX offers 30MB per second transfer rates that save you time when downloading images.

Pricing and Availability

The NEX-5A and NEX-3A cameras, which are supplied with SEL16F28 lens, will cost about $650 and $550 respectively. NEX-5K and NEX-3K cameras, supplied with SEL1855 lens will cost about $700 and $600 respectively. The NEX-3 will be available in silver, black and red, and the NEX-5 in silver and black.

The SEL16F28 and SEL1855 lenses will be available for about $250 and $300. (The SEL18200 zoom lens will be available this fall for about $800.)

The cameras, lenses and a range of accessories will be available in July at Sony Style retail stores (www.Sonystyle.com/retail) and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Wordpress

Well hello there. It has been awhile since I have posted, but with good reason. I have been working on a photo gallery plugin for WordPress. I didn’t mean to make a plugin, I just meant to update the code on my current photo gallery and the rest of my site, but as the code got more and more complex, I figured other people might have some use for it. Currently it is functional, but it needs an administrative panel to control some settings and I want to streamline the code a bit more to minimize server load.

I will keep you updated on the progress.

Translation Please
If you look at the Tamron website, it gives you a handy legend to decipher the names of their lenses. A quick look at their legend reveals what Tamron AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Asperical means. AF stands for what you would probably guess, Auto Focus. The XR and LD refer to the glass used in the lens, and indicates that extra refractive index glass and low dispersion glass were used on some of the lens elements. Di-II is Tamron’s nomenclature for lenses made specifically for digital cameras with smaller sensors, no larger than 24mm x 16mm. Finally, the IF indicates an internal focusing design was used, this is so that when the lens focuses, it does not rotate any filters or hoods that are attached to it.

Other Specifications
The Tamron A16S zoom lens accepts filters sized 67mm. When fully retracted the lens is 3.2 inches long, and extends to 4.45 inches; It weighs 15.2oz. Minimum Focusing distance is 10.6 inches.

Tamron A16S Fully Extended

Tamron A16S Fully Retracted

Other Features
The internal focusing is a nice touch, even if expected these days. Additionally, the Tamron A16S sports a zoom lock switch, locking the barrel in the fully retracted position.

Tamron AF17-50mm f/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical Lens Zoom Lock

Included Lens Accessories

Tamron A16S Lens Caps

Tamron A16S Petal Hood

Tamron A16S With Hood Attached

Front Glass

Tamron A16S Angled View Front Glass

AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical Front Glass

Focus Ring

Tarmon AF17-50mm f/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical Lens Focus Ring

Lens Mount
Lens Mount for the Sony Alpha and Konica Minolta AF cameras.

Tamron A16S Lens Mount

Tamron A16S Lens Mount

Tamron 17-50m f/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical Zoom Lens

One Lens, One Body
For as long as I have had a DSLR (a little over three years now) I have always kept to a single lens. There are a few reasons for that, most obviously is convenience. Lugging around the extra weight of an additional lens or lenses and having to switch lenses in sometimes awkward places, situations, and/or positions does not particularly appeal to me. Also, with digital cameras dust on the sensor can be a real aggravation, especially if you are shooting with your aperture closed down, and changing lenses frequently just promotes the problem. That’s why the single lens that I do carry is an all purpose lens with a very generous focal range, 18-250mm to be exact.

Shooting In Low Light
There are other reasons why I would prefer to stick with a single lens, but going into them all seems pointless. More important is why I decided to go ahead and get another one anyway. Well, I think I have done pretty well with one lens, it is a Sony 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, model SAL18250. Nothing spectacular about it, except its noteworthy focal range – otherwise its maximum aperture range is typical. The Sony SAL18250 has been a steadfast companion to my Alpha 350 and I have always been satisfied with it in well lit situations, but low light has always been a challenge for me with that lens; indoor shots and even outdoor street shots are difficult or impossible to capture. So that’s what I was looking for, a fast lens for low light – enter the Tamron A16S.

Wider Aperture
The Tamron A16S, otherwise known as the Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical lens, has a nice wide maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the focal range. That means that you can shoot wide open at f/2.8 from 17mm all the way through 50mm, and with a wide aperture like that you can shoot at faster shutter speeds, or at a lower ISO, or both. Often, when using my Sony lens indoors, I would need to up the ISO to 800 or shoot as slow as 1/30 or 1/20 second, which usually results in grainy, blurry photos.

Nice Bokeh
Along with a wide aperture comes nice bokeh. Bokeh is the blur/soft focus effect that you typically see in portrait photography. Its that effect, which you may see in photos of wedding invites and such, where one line of text on the invite is in focus and the rest of the lines are out of focus. With really severe bokeh you can get a person’s eye in sharp focus, yet have other features of their face blurred out. You can still get the bokeh with smaller apertures than f/2.8, but personally I think f/2.8 is where it starts to get real good.

Macro Bonus
When I set out shopping for a new lens, I was only looking for a wider maximum aperture – a faster lens – and the Tamron is that plus more. More what? Well it is also a macro lens to boot. The Tamron has a minimum focusing distance of 10.5 inches throughout the focal range, allowing you to get a fair amount of detail, especially when zoomed in to 50mm. By comparison, my Sony 18-250mm lens has a minimum focusing distance of a foot and a half (18″), so to be able to get my lens less than a foot (12″) away from the subject is really exciting to me.

Two Lenses
I have always been pleased with my Sony SAL18250 lens, particularly with its versatility and how much it has allowed me to capture, all with just a single lens. I still think the SAL18250 is a fantastic lens and I still think it will be mounted on my camera a lot of the time, but now it may be sharing equal time with the Tamron A16S. The Tamron A16S will let me keep shooting in certain situations where the SAL18250 could not, and hopefully I will be able to capture a greater variety of images than I could before. It was a big decision for me to add another lens to my photo bag, but I think the Tamron A16S is worth any and all of the hassle and inconvenience that comes along with toting more hardware. I already have taken a few shots with the Tamron and am happy with the results; I can’t wait to see what else it can do. I will post some of the photos soon.

Tamron 17-50m f/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical Zoom Lens

Whoopee, I just got a new lens for my Sony A350 DSLR!

Currently I am using solely the Sony SAL18250 Zoom lens. A great all around lens, covering from wide angle to telephoto, with a maximum f-stop range from f/3.6 to f/6.3. I have been extremely pleased with the versatility of my single lens and quite content with not having to change it ever. But after all this time, I have decided that I needed another lens for low light situations – which means a faster lens.

Initially, I purchased the Sony SAL30M28, 30mm f/2.8 Macro lens. It was 199.99 USD at the Sony site and the same at Amazon.com, from where I purchased it. But even before it arrived I changed my mind and decided on the Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens. The main thing that the Sony SAL30M28 had going for it, in my mind, was its cost – but ultimately the greater focal range of the the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8 lens seemed worth the extra cost. I will let you know what I think once I get the lens and take it out for a spin.