Sony A99 revealed with new video optimised full frame sensor

[Andrew Reid]

[url="http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sony-a99-lcd.jpg"][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sony-a99-lcd.jpg[/img][/url]

Sony seem to have worked hard in optimising the A99 for video, and not just stills only.

Point by point, EOSHD takes a first glance at the official information...

[Germy1979]

Man... It begins! I hate to say it... But I read all that press release and all my negative ass managed to retain was "9" stops...lol. (had to tell myself, that's just a reference for the iso range...) Canon has made me cynical... Haha!

Really can't wait to see what we've got here! This is new technology now. Interesting to see what a "high dynamic range" sensor will do on the GH3 and how it works as well.

Big year!

....still getting a bmc though, lol.

[moebius22]

A potentially great camera screwed up by the Alpha mount.

[Per Lichtman]

[quote name='EOSHD' ][color=#333333][font=Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, sans-serif][size=3]With a 24MP full frame sensor we can expect similar low light performance in video mode to the 5D Mark III.[/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

That seems like it would remain to be seen. The 5DMkIII uses an SLR design - when it shooting video, the light transmission should be more effective than with a partially reflective mirror. Some of the previous Sony designs took an ISO hit because of this.

It would of course be great if it could match the 5DMkIII, but the assumption is not affirmed by the data so far. If the sensors seem equal, then the mirror-design could be a differentiating factor in terms of ISO performance, so the Sony sensor would seem to have to work harder to match the performance.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. :)

[sfrancis928]

Sony's a99 product page:

"[color=#333333][font=arial][size=3][background=rgb(238, 238, 238)]The a99 gives you the ability to record Full HD 1080 video at a spectrum of professional frame rates, including 60p, 60i and 24p. Plus, you can output uncompressed, clean-screen 60p/60i video files via HDMI to external recording devices[/background][/size][/font][/color][url="http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666485827"][sup]1[/sup][/url][color=#333333][font=arial][size=3][background=rgb(238, 238, 238)]."[/background][/size][/font][/color]

[Chrad]

[quote name='Per Lichtman' timestamp='1347423336' post='17806']
It would of course be great if it could match the 5DMkIII, but the assumption is not affirmed by the data so far. If the sensors seem equal, then the mirror-design could be a differentiating factor in terms of ISO performance, so the Sony sensor would seem to have to work harder to match the performance.
[/quote]
I'd be surprised if the A99 sensor isn't better in low light than the 5D MkIII's.

[tungah]

Forget the A99.
The VG30 is looking goooooooooood! My next cam for sure!
The VG900 is a beast too! But too expensive for me to justify it for my needs...
Sony, I love you!
Suck it, Canon!

[Germy1979]

Yeah i was gonna say. The VG900 with an E mount looks like the one we need to look at.. Avchd 2.0 is still 8bit 4:2:0. I wish they'd just tell us what's coming out of the hdmi jack! Lol.

[Germy1979]

[quote name='Chrad' timestamp='1347424248' post='17808']

I'd be surprised if the A99 sensor isn't better in low light than the 5D MkIII's.
[/quote]

Those Exmor sensors are killer in lowlight. Plus this is a full frame with new stuff under the hood... Flagship to boot.

[QuickHitRecord]

8-bit 4:2:2 can be recorded externally via the HDMI port on the A99; internally I am not sure (but there is an MP4 recording option):

[media]http://vimeo.com/49262093[/media]

The VG-900 and VG-30 are 24mbps AVCHD. If I am not mistaken that's similar the FS100, which puts it to good use. Still, I am not blown away by this.

[QuickHitRecord]

The XLR attachment to go with the A99 is a bit unwieldy. I'm hoping that Panasonic can offer something more streamlined in the GH3 (perhaps built into a new audio-centric grip as rumored).

[Germy1979]

[quote name='QuickHitRecord' timestamp='1347426235' post='17813']

The VG-900 and VG-30 are 24mbps AVCHD. If I am not mistaken that's similar the FS100, which puts it to good use. Still, I am not blown away by this.
[/quote]

they output clean hdmi also apparently... I'd assume with the E mount, these 2 were designed to protect us from "it's a stills camera!" comments..

It's the whole 24megapixel sensor on a video camera that gives me the "3k is dead" vibe from the Scarlet, haha. I never hear about the demand for snapping photos during a take... But i hear about the lowlight struggles people have all the time.

[lightpainter]

Good morning!

it runns..but runns the car on all 4 wheels in one direction?

-so many types
-and a next year to run till..
-everything is absolut right
-but
-4:2.2 10bit
-max bitrate
- and maybe a chip big but only 12 megapixi
-best made elo shutter much better global shutter
-a pakage of gear i get on same day ( and not when the cam is out of because a new new and so on..) ( soory we
have changed xlr to a ap-computed audio-extern-wireless sys on your i-phone just activate your cloud-4.0 then..)

it goes on and i look to my brave 2 gh-2... they work and work and work..sometimes i think they look at me
like samurais, thinkin i will release them and be ronin?
why?
is it right that the BMC now with fourfirth-mount goes exact the technical and realistic way of this camera-yes.
what is with my lenses?
first worked hard to get all of them, also the rare from the 60ties..now..all fit on a BMC...
first the rock rolla with small indie films - let the revollution run through 2013.
2014 i get a FULLSENSOR-PORN... shurely.


am i an first-experiemtal-dest-dummy at all? do you coppy huston?
capcom..no..mainbus b is out of engine...( a nice yoga hotline lady in holodec
appears..and the same otis-ellevator-music and a counter that just in 99999 minutes
the problem is solved)..ah..huston... reentry-engine cont down in 4 secounds.. coppy ( not translated
words in my hometown made whiskey that works not but as an paranormal medicine it helps..maybee)

IS THIS THE UPCOMMING REALISTIC APS-C AAAAND FOUR_FIRTH PARADIESE?

( yes suba-full hd 4k-playstation and all we geht in soon..and funny that my provider is
now more enabled to transform a hd signall not full hd and if i ask him the future off all come
on the other side of hotline missis daisy falls to coma..) ( pleas hold the line)
huston...i loose mainbus-a..do you coppy?? ( panik..no profesional fatalistic - smoke my russioan cigaretts
in the pure oxygene it is marvellouse....)
think about my cuda graphic cards in my computers, that are not build yet....
my ounty will bring me 30 new ssds with 40000 terrabyte on christmass....


So when i go in London in 3 Weeks- is it possible that it rains Andrew`s fs 700 and many of them?
LONDON BAKER STREET 12a and please with parachute and landing gear and i train from now
to catch all F3 RED gh-2 i can get.... i will not be successfulllllll at all of your cams but...
thank you sirs

i like it

question to SONY ( in a warm timbre of MR. Jack NICHOLSON)

is it possible that you think that in first time you transform the codec and technical
soul of the F65 one to one in a new body tahat apperas a bit smaler then F3 has all
and yes i will smash 6990 dollars on the table?
yes no...

huston.... captain apollo... sorry.. think we have made an litte mistake... chrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

this is only funny after looong day and the sony show

IT ROCKS ROGNROLLA!!!!

[bwhitz]

Damn... looking good. It makes the C100 show it's true age with the 4-year old camera technology that it is. I really, really, love the BMCC... but I just don't know if I can pass up Full Frame-60fps. If this resolves a true 1080p image, then I might have to wait on Black Magic for now.

[ssrdd]

[color=#000000]
Everything is imperfect.[/color][color=#000000]
RX1 = too expensive
A99 = Bad, worst and shit 28mbps in video( why not ALL-I compression)???
VG900 = lack of FF NEX lenses + Bad, worst and shit 28mbps in video( why not ALL-I compression)?????[/color][color=#000000]
loser…[/color]
[color=#000000]
Sony,[/color][color=#000000]
Do you really think u can sell AVCHD SHIT ?????[/color][color=#000000]
dont think so.[/color]

[jgharding]

I would love so much to short list this. I have RX100, used the FS700 recently, I'm really into Sony again. But that mount... I can't take the time or thousands of pounds to replace all my glass with equivalent that will fit it... So it's not an option. I hope there is a pro NEX somewhere...

[TC]

It is the camcorder announcements that are interesting. And the conclusion is simple.

Canon is dead. Sony has arrived.

[jgharding]

Competition should drive Canon to stop the silly price vs features imbalance now, I would have thought. Periods of aggressive competition are always great for end users! Though it does seem that Canon are intent on keeping pro video and stills separate for a while...

Sony would steal a lot more users if they made a mirrorless version of this, as people could even use EF specific glass. all those who have used 5D and the like but don't want to but C100/300 or BMD cam would be tempted...

I agree on the AVCHD point. I've said it elsewhere on this forum, it's the major letdown of the Sony footage. For the most part it's OK but sometimes that codec tumbles into a pixellated mess, especially with high-motion shooting. Agreed standard or not, it sucks, especially as ALL-I over 100mbps is well on the way from the Magic Lantern team unified branch (starting with 600D).

[markm]

[quote name='TC' timestamp='1347435778' post='17821']
It is the camcorder announcements that are interesting. And the conclusion is simple.

Canon is dead. Sony has arrived.
[/quote]

Sony has arrived but does it have 10 bit 4.2.2 out. My guess is not. Sony have arrived to late with same old same old and an offering of full size sensor and 60fps to show something new has happened.

My GH2 Will outperform this camera in a face off with Andrews hack. If it has 8 bit 4.2.0 out or 8 bit 4.2.2 My GH2 will be perhaps be beaten if the sony has an outboard recorder IE another £££ expense. BUT so what I want to move on to the latest technology.

Black Magic that has a prores recorder as standard and Kinefinity!.

Maybe Sony should move out of consumer camera production. They seem to want to hold onto the technology for their broadcast division to much. Maybe they should move out of the consumer camera arena altogether.

[TC]

Brand new 24 MP full frame sensor. Want it in a stills optimized body? You can have it. Want it in a video optimized body? You can have it. Clean HDMI out on both.