Sony Announces SLT-A77 and SLT-A65 Digital Cameras [Archive]

Lee Yuan Sheng

08-24-2011, 05:52 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=4363' target='_blank'>http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4363</a> </div><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1314200820.usr15670.jpg" />Big news today, as Sony announces a whole slew of cameras. Let us start with the more traditional (but not quite) DSLRs, the translucent mirrored SLT-A77 and SLT-A65. The SLT-A77 features a 24 megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS sensor with sensor shift stabilisation, a new XGA resolution EVF with 100% coverage and 1.09x magnification (which is 0.72x if you want to compare with other 35mm cameras), 1/250 flash sync speed, 19 point AF system with 11 cross sensors, a weather-sealed magnesium body, standard ISO range of 100-16,000, continuous shooting at 12 (!) FPS (making it faster than the D3 or EOS 1D IV), a 3" VGA sensor on a new rotating platform (which flips down, not my favourite implementation), built-in GPS, and a bunch of shooting modes. Oh, on the video side, it does 1080p videos at 60 FPS, allows for manual controls, and has an external microphone jack. The camera comes with a Memory Stick (bleagh) and a SDXC slot. Ships in October for US$1,400 for the body alone, or US$2,000 with the new 16-50mm lens (detailed below).The SLT-A65 is similar (yes 24 megapixel sensor), and drops a few features, notable, the AF module is a 15 point system with 3 (talk about a drastic drop) cross sensors, continuous shooting is down to 10 FPS (still faster than many cameras), drops flash sync speed to 1/160, loses the top LCD panel, and overall is less robust in build than the SLT-A77, with a full plastic body and lower rated shutter count. Ships in October for US$900 for the body alone, or US$1,000 with the 18-55 lens.Photo of the SLT-A65 after the break, and there are more links at the source. Also, <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sonyslta77/" target="_blank">DPreview.com has a preview of the SLT-A77.</a><MORE /><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1314200830.usr15670.jpg" />

ptyork

08-25-2011, 03:39 AM

Sony's come up with the first real innovation in the DSLR form factor since, well, it became "D"SLR. 'Course I'm assuming it's still an "R" since it has the phase-detect AF and the mirror (albeit translucent). Anyway, I think it's a very cool idea. I guess I would have liked to see them take a little bit bigger leap in terms of the aesthetic since they did away with the penta-prism/mirror, but all-in-all, Sony's really hitting giving us some fun stuff to talk about.

Do you know if the "mirror" flaps to allow in the maximum possible light, or is it 100% fixed in place? If so, how much light is lost, I wonder?