Adorama is currently accepting pre-orders for the Sony NEX-F3 in Black and Silver. Orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis and credit cards will not be charged until orders ship.
The Sony NEX-F3, announced today, is the next generation in Sony’s lineup of mirrorless interchangeable-lens compact cameras and is designed for ease of use, self-portraits, HD video, and high-quality images. Built around Sony’s highly-regarded 16MP APS-C sensor, the camera offers intelligent autoexpsoure, excellent image quality in low light, and the ability to capture full HD video at 1080/60i/24p. Said to be pocket sized, the camera’s 3-inch, 921k dot LCD monitor tilts 180 degrees so you can easily compose self-portraits. Sony claims 470-shot battery life, a significant improvement, as well as a class-leading 5.5 fps burst rate. For snapshooters looking for the flexibility of an interchangeable-lens camera combined with the simplicity of a compact digital camera, the Sony NEX-F3 may be a worthy candidate.
Sony NEX-F3 Key Features:
- 16MP APS CMOS sensor
- 6-image layering
- Auto HDR
- 3D Sweep Panorama
- Intelligent AF
- iAuto Mode
- On-screen help guide
- Dyamic Range Optimizer for improved shadow detail
Sony also introduced a new long-range zoom lens, the Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE, with an 11x range; it is said to be 12 percent lighter than its predecessor, which does not have the “LE” designation. The Sony NEX-F3 will be available in June in silver, black, and white for $600 with the 18-55mm kit lens; the same camera is expected to sell for $850 in a kit with the 18-200mm Lens.
For details, read the Sony press release:
Sony’s New α NEX-F3 Camera Packs DSLR-Size Sensor and Advanced Feature Set into Small, Stylish Body
Lightweight Model Features 16.1 Megapixel APS-C Sensor, 180° Tiltable LCD, Built-in Flash, Auto Portrait Framing and more
SAN DIEGO, May 16, 2012 – Sony’s α NEX-F3 digital camera delivers professional quality photos with a compact, pocket-sized body, allowing consumers to explore the creative world of high-quality, interchangeable lens photography in a refreshingly fun and entertaining way.
The new NEX-F3 camera features the same space-saving mirrorless design as other models in Sony’s E-mount family as well as an advanced, 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor, identical in size to sensors found in traditional DSLR cameras. The large sensor takes in more light during image capture, resulting in flawless, low-noise photographs and crisply detailed Full HD videos (60i/24p). Photographers can also easily create images with beautiful defocus effects, where the subject is focused sharply against a smoothly blurred background.
“Sony continues to redefine digital photography with our E-mount series, packing a large APS-C size sensor into a small, lightweight camera body to produce professional-quality images with ease,” said Mike Kahn, director of the Alpha business at Sony. “Featuring a diverse set of imaging technologies and offered at a great price, the new NEX-F3 model reinforces our commitment to this rapidly growing compact system camera market.”
The NEX-F3 camera adds a whole new perspective to self-portraits with a 180° Tiltable LCD screen, a first for Sony’s E-mount camera line. By simply holding the camera at arm’s length and flipping the LCD screen vertically, users can adjust the on-screen preview image and properly frame photos.
Additionally, the new model features a useful built-in flash to broaden shooting options indoors or in low light situations. Already introduced on Sony’s acclaimed NEX-7 camera, this pop-up flash handily brightens portraits and other shots without the need to carry an additional flash accessory.
The new NEX-F3 camera also includes the new Auto Portrait Framing feature for creating top-quality portraits quickly and easily. This innovative feature identifies a subject’s position in a composed image, and follows the “rule of thirds” to trim the scene appropriately around the subject’s face, creating a beautifully composed portrait. The cropped portrait is then boosted to full resolution using Sony’s unique By Pixel Super Resolution technology, which uses pattern matching to maintain superb image detail, tones and textures in the photo. Both the original and cropped image files are saved for review.
By Pixel Super Resolution Technology is also used for the “Clear Image Zoom” feature, which digitally doubles the effective magnification of any lens attached to the camera. Ideal for travel and everyday shooting, it’s a great way to boost maximum focal length without carrying extra hardware.
Other convenient essentials added to the new NEX-F3 camera include the Superior Auto mode, which intelligently recognizes a wide range of scenes and subjects and adjusts settings automatically. Battery stamina has been boosted to an industry-leading 470 shots (approx.) on a single charge – an approximate 18% improvement over its predecessor, the NEX-C3 model.
The camera is compatible with the FDA-EV1S viewfinder accessory (sold separately), which offers a high-contrast, high-resolution OLED viewfinder display and a wide viewing angle. The NEX-F3 model also features a high-quality, premium-feel grip for more comfortable handling and can be charged via either USB or a standard AC outlet.
New Lightweight 18-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony α NEX
An ideal travel partner for the NEX-F3 camera, the new SEL18200LE E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE telezoom lens offers a powerful 11x zoom range and superb resolution in an easy-to-carry package. Smaller and 12% lighter than the SEL18200 lens, the new E-mount model features Optical SteadyShot to compensate for the effects of hand-shake. It also features Direct Manual Focus to give users precise control over focus settings, resulting in crisp, beautiful images.
Pricing and Availability
The new NEX-F3 compact digital camera will be available this June in silver, black and white with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens (model SEL1855) for about $600. The new SEL18200LE telezoom lens will be available this July in black for about $850.
