Sony has announced two additions to its Alpha range of cameras this morning, the A33, and A55. Sony reckons it’s really hit the jackpot this time, and has some pretty big things to say about the HD video on these new Sony Alpha cameras. Read on for a full breakdown, and stay tuned for hands-on first impressions…
The big selling point of the Sony Alpha A33 and A55 cameras is their video capabilities, and something Sony calls ‘translucent mirror technology’. But first: the video. Sony is claiming the Alpha a33 and a55 have the “first ever quick AF HD movie with continuous autofocus during shooting”.
In normal speak, this means that Sony has sped up and improved the speed and accuracy of its AF. How much it’s done this we’ll see later today, when we get hands on with the camera, but specs wise, the Sony Alpha A33 and A55 are packing a 15 point AF system, to track fast moving objects when shooting video, which is 1080i HD video in AVCHD, with a maximum recording time of 29 minutes.
Translucent mirror technology means that the Sony Alpha A33 and A55 have a fixed, translucent mirror that splits the optical pathway and feeds it on the one hand to the main image sensor, and on the other, a separate phase detection autofocus sensor. This means the camera body can be more compact, but it beefs up the live view system.
Paul Genge, technical marketing manager at Sony, had had some pretty big things to say about the new Sony Alpha DSLRs, before we’ve even seen one in the flesh. He said: “It’s quite phenomenal what a big step we’re making… the a33 and a55 will vastly exceed anything on the market, no matter what the price.”
Sony seems to be feeling just a little positive about the Sony Alpha A33 and A55, and we can’t wait to have a go later on today. The Sony Alpha A33 has a 14.2MP sensor, and a top shooting speed of 7fps. The A55 has a 16.2MP sensor, and can push out a max of 10fps. The cameras weigh in at 433g and 441g respectively, without batteries.
What do you want to know about the Sony Alpha A33 and A55? We’ll be getting hands on in just a few hours, so be sure to drop your questions in the comments before lunchtime!
Out September 2010 | TBA | TBA
