By Mason Resnick
June 10, 2015
Sony today debuted two new sensors on three flagship digital cameras. The new Sony a7RII boasts the world’s first 35mm full-frame back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor and a whopping 42.2MP resolution, while the ultracompact Sony RX100IV and long-zoom RX10II feature the world’s first 1.0 type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor and boast 40x super slow motion video at high resolution and claim super-fast performance.
First, let’s look at Sony’s new flagship camera, the a7RII
Until now, back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors could only be found on compact digital cameras, and were smaller. Their advantage? Better image quality and improved resolution in lower light. The Sony a7RII is the first 35mm-format camera to boast a BSI sensor architecture—and is the first Sony camera to offer 42.4MP resolution. Sony claims a 40% faster AF acquisition time, thanks to 399 focal plane phase detection AF points, and boasts an expandable top ISO of 102,400.
Sony a7R II Key Features
•World’s first full-frame back-illuminated Exmore R 42.4MP CMOS Sensor
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization, optimized for full resolution
• 4K video; full pixel readout, no pixel binning
•Fast hybrid AF; 399 phase-detection points
•2.4 million dot electronic viewfinder
• 3-inch 1, 229k dot LCD monitor
• Wi-Fi and NFC; downloadable camera apps available
•Fast focal-plane phase detection with A-mount lenses
• Shutter vibration suppression
• First curtain shutter
•Silent shutter
• No optical low-pass filter
• ISO range TK-102,4000; up to 25,600 in 4K video
•Dust, moisture-resistant magnesium alloy body; metal lens mount
•64 customizable functions
• 1200-zone evaluative metering
• Focus magnifier and peaking
• Auto HDR
Sensor advances
Sony claims the a7R II’s sensor will dramatically improve light collection thanks to the sensor’s new structure and material, with what they say is remarkable low noise performance that allows for incredibly detailed stills and 4K video with very little noise and a wide dynamic range that they say is superior to previous models. Low-light performance is further improved by the 5-axis in-body image stabilization system, which is fine-tuned for the larger, high-res sensor and compensates for vertical, horizontal, pitch, yaw, and roll.
The 42.4 MP sensor combines gapless on-chip lens design and AR (anti-reflective) coating on the surface of the sensor’s glass seal to dramatically improve light collection efficiency, resulting in high sensitivity with low-noise performance and wide dynamic range. This allows the camera to shoot at an impressive ISO range of 100 to 25600 that is expandable to ISO 50 to 102400. Sony claims image data will clear the buffer 3.5x faster than the original a7R.
Video Star
The camera is the world’s first to offer 4K movie recording in full-frame format, and its architecture offers direct pixel readout and no line skipping. The bottom line? Cleaner, more dramatic 4K video, with higher resolution and less moire and jaggies than typical 4K movies.
The camera utilizes the advanced XAVC S7 codec during video shooting, which records at a high bit rate of 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during full HD shooting. The camera offers a variety of functions to support a professional video workflow including Picture Profile, S-Log2 Gamma and S-Gamut, 120fps high frame rate movie shooting in HD (720p), time code, and clean HDMI output.
Focus Phenom
With 399 focal plane phase detection points covering 45% of the image area, the a7R II is said to raise the bar for speed and accuracy for autofocus performance in a full-frame digital camera. The camera can capture up to 5fps in burst mode, a remarkable achievement given its high resolution. Additionally, the focal plane phase-detection AF system on the α7R II works well with Sony A-mount lenses via the LA-EA3 or LA-EA1 mount adapter. This is the first time that the AF system of a mirrorless camera can achieve high performance with lenses originally designed for DSLRs, according to Sony.
Clear View
The a7R II’s 2.4 million dot electronic viewfinder offers the world’s highest EVF magnification, at 0.78x, and a special coating has been applied to reduce reflections. For videographers, Sony has also announced a new LCD monitor, model CLM-FHD5, which offers 1920x1080p resolution, and features enlarging and peaking functionality, false color and video level marker.
The camera joins Sony’s growing full-frame ecosystem, which includes 12 native “FE” full-frame lenses and 63 a-mount lenses. Sony promises eight new FE lenses by early 2016.
The Sony a7R II ISOA7R2 will be available from Adorama starting in August for approimately $3,199.
But wait…there’s more! Prosumers and enthusiasts, here comes something completely different.
Sony’s RX100 line keeps getting better an better, with remarkable image quality produced by its roughly half-frame sensor in a pocketable form factor. The RX100 IV, however, is along with its superzoom sibling the RX10, the first camera to feature a Stacked 1.0 type CMOS sensor. This is a new kind of architecture that is said to offer major image processing speed improvements as well as remarkable new video features.
Sony RX100 IV Key Features
• World’s first Stacked back-illuminated CMOS 20.1MP censor
•4K movie recording with direct pixel reaout, no pixel binning
• Super slow-motion movie high frame rate up to 960fps
•Maximum shutter speed 1/32000 sec up to 16fps with electronic shutter
•Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens
•Fast intelligent AF
• Closest focus: approx. 3 inches
• Retratable 2,359k dot resolution EVF
• 1,229k dot resolution, 3-inch multi-angle LCD
•Wi-Fi and NFC, compatible with iOS or Android devices
•PlayMemories Camera Apps
•Capture 16.8MP stills while shooting movies
•Lens ring with assignable functions
Super sensor
The new Exmor RS sensor is said to enhance image storage speed through its unique stacked structure with more circuit sections. Sony claims over five times faster readout speed than the previous RX100 II, so image files transfer to the memory card at unprecedented speeds. It can capture fast-moving subjects at up to 16fps for an extended period, and offers a top shutter speed of 1/32000 second when set on its electrical, rather than mechanical, shutter. The new sensor also allows for processing-heavy features such as 16fps at full resolution, 4K movies and super-slow motion movie clips at up to 960fps.
Upgraded autofocus
The Sony RX100 IV features an upgraded Fast Intelligent AF system that Sony says will result in high-speed, high-precision focus in as little as 0.09 seconds. The camera deploys a proprietary algorithm that recognizes and locks in on a moving subject by simply half-pressing the shutter release. Sony claims this process is more efficient on this camera.
Super Slo-Mo Video
A first for Sony consumer cameras, the new RX100 IV and RX10 II both have the ability to record super slow-motion video at up to 40x slower than the standard rate, allowing users to capture and replay fleeting moments of action with incredible detail, resolution and clarity.
Prior to shooting, users will have the ability to choose among 960fps, 480fps and 240 fps frame rates and among 60p, 30p and 24p playback formats4,5 to optimize the recording to fit the speed of the moving subject, with the option to use the movie record button as a ‘start trigger’ to begin recording once button is pressed or ‘end trigger’ to record footage up until the button is pressed. The ‘end trigger’ mode lets shooting begin 2 to 4 seconds before the movie button is pressed, enabling shooters to capture the decisive moment with much more consistency and accuracy. For reference, two seconds of movie footage shot at 960 fps and 24p would take about 80 seconds to play back.
The camera records 4K movies with minimal moire and jaggies. Sony says these high-quality results are achieved through use of the XAVC S codec, which records video at a high data rate of 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during full HD shooting.
High-Speed Shutter
The RX100 IV’s stacked sensor and attached DRAM chip translates into blazingly fast performance, according to Sony.
The camera is also very customizable, according to Sony, and is dust and moisture resistant. The Sony RX100 IV ISORX100M4 will be available from Adorama starting in July for $949.
and finally…
The Sony RX10 IV shares the same new sensor and many of the same video and image capture features as the RX100 IV, but retains the same body design and most of the features of its predecessor, the RX10. This includes its Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens, and the 2.35 million dot resolution eye-level viewfinder.
Sony RX10 II Key Features
• World’s first Stacked back-illuminated CMOS 20.1MP censor
•4K movie recording with direct pixel reaout, no pixel binning
• Super slow-motion movie high frame rate up to 960fps
•Maximum shutter speed 1/32000 sec up to 16fps with electronic shutter
• 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 constant aperture lens
•Fast intelligent AF
•Dust/moisture resistant magnesium alloy body
• Closest focus: 1.5 inches
• Wi-Fi and NFC
•Records 16.8MP stills while shooting video
The 24-200mm (equivalent lens uses 7 aspherical lenses to reduce aberrations, and coating to reduce flare and ghosting. Direct Drive SSM offers accurate focus stop positions and shifts seamlessly into macro shooting in wide angle and tele settings.
The Sony RX10 II will be available from Adorama in July for $1,299.
