Sony unveiled on June 8 two new cameras for shutterbugs out there: the NEX-C3 and the Alpha A35. Both cameras and their respective accessories will be available in Asia Pacific from July this year. June and July 2011 could shape up as two interesting months for the camera world, as both Panasonic and Olympus are also rumoured to announce new cameras.
Alrighty then, let’s see what these two new Japanese entrants have to offer!
NEX-C3 (pictured above)
Not everyone was optimistic when Sony discontinued production of the NEX-3, one of company’s iconic compact system cameras. But it seems Sony has no intention to kill off the line, but instead went back to the drawing board. The result: the NEX-C3.
The NEX-C3 features a number of improvements over its predecessor, including a 6 percent smaller footprint (handprint?) which weighs in at 225g, and 20 percent higher battery efficiency. Touting a DSLR-quality APS-C image sensor, 16-megapixels, a 3-inch tilt display, burst shooting at 5.5fps, and 720p video recording, it sure seems like a decent camera for the aspiring young photographer.
Photography terms can be intimidating to the new learner, and Sony has gone out of its way to simplify certain terms in the NEX-C3 settings. Technical terms like “aperture”, “exposure value” and “white balance” are replaced with the friendlier “background defocus”, “brightness” and “colour”.
This would undoubtedly turn some seasoned photographers off, but this camera is marketed towards point-and-shoot users looking to upgrade to something more professional.
The NEX-C3’s software has some nice features baked in, including a new “Picture Effect” setting which lets you apply various effects such as Retro Photo, Toy Camera, or Posterisation to your photos. There’s also a ‘Soft Skin’ effect that removes wrinkles and blemishes from portrait subjects.
Local pricing is not available, but the folks over at Digital Trends report that the NEX-C3 will retail for US$649 with an 18-55mm kit and US$599 with a 16mm kit.
Alpha A35
Sony also added a new DSLR to its Alpha line-up, you know, the one with the squiggly logo in front that reminds you faintly of your O Levels physics classes? The Alpha A35 has a more traditional build, and it boasts 16.2 effective megapixels and the newly-developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor.
The A35 sports Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology which delivers high-speed, full-time continuous AF with stills and AVCHD movies that are detailed and low-noise. It also has an ultra-high maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800, just in case you want to shoot leopards at night or something.
Making its debut on the A35, Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting magnifies a central portion of the image area to give an effective approximately 1.4x magnification while you shoot at up to 7 fps. There’s also a rapid 5.5 fps drive mode that offers full-resolution continuous shooting with tracking AF.
Battery life is also improved; the A35 is said to be capable of getting roughly 440 shots between battery charges. It is compatible with the full range of 32 A-mount interchangeable lenses from Sony, including six Carl Zeiss lenses.
Again, the price is not available here, but Digital Trends reports that it will land in August for US$699 with an 18-mm kit, US$599 for the body.
