At its NAB press conference, Sony unveiled its new Alpha 7 camera, which boasts ultra-high sensitivity up to ISO 409,600, high colour fidelity, 4K HDMI video output, and 120fps/720p recording.
Joining the α7 and α7R, dubbed the world’s smallest (*1) full-frame interchangeable lens cameras – the α7S from Sony offers ultra-high sensitivity, low noise and 4K (QFHD: 3840×2160) image quality.
Key to the sensitivity of the α7S is a specially developed new full-frame 35mm Exmor CMOS image sensor.
With a 12.2 effective megapixel count the size of each individual photoreceptive site is significantly boosted to increase their light-gathering power. Coupled with the camera’s powerful BIONZ X processing engine, this reduces image noise while increasing effective sensitivity range of the α7S to ISO 50 – ISO 409600 in expanded mode (ISO 200 – 409600 for movies).
The α7S is able to capture images in low light conditions where a lengthy exposure would normally be needed. Thanks to the camera’s huge sensitivity, it’s possible to shoot crisp, low-noise stills and video using faster shutter speeds. Its immense dynamic range is also suitable for high-contrast scenes, effortlessly handling extreme highlights and rich, deep blacks in the same frame.
Because of the image sensor’s extraordinary sensitivity, the amount of light it can collect is dramatically increased compared with conventional cameras. The newly developed image sensor provides photographers/videographers with high dynamic range in all conditions from extremely low light to bright sunlight.
Using data read-out from every single pixel of the 35mm full-frame sensor (24p and 25p), 4K (*2) images created by the α7S are detailed, with rich colours and life-like textures in every frame. Refined by the BIONZ X processor, the high-speed data stream allows the α7S to output video at 4K resolution from the HDMI connector with 4:2:2 colour sampling, for recording onto an external storage device or viewing on a compatible monitor (*3).
The new α7S full-frame interchangeable lens digital camera from Sony will be available in Europe in summer 2014.
*1 Among interchangeable-lens cameras equipped with a 35mm full-frame (equivalent) image sensor – as of 6 April 2014.
*2 (QFHD 3840 x 2160 pixels)
*3 Not supplied with α7S
