Sony quickly ended speculation about whether the new 24mp sensor would show up in the yet to be officially named “flagship” dSLR. Soon after Sony announced the full frame sensor, several high-profile Sony doubters expressed their opinion that Sony would never use the sensor in their own cameras, because after all “Sony would never dare to challenge Nikon and Canon in the pro arena.”
Here is what technology site Gizmodo had to say when Sony took the wraps off the new sensor: “Sony isn’t about to pop it in one of its Alpha models, at least not as far as we can tell.” That idea was echoed by several other commentators.
That sound you hear is those same forecasters gnashing their teeth after Sony proclaimed that, yes indeed, the upcoming flagship will be equipped with the big full frame sensor. So much for the theory that Sony is afraid of competing in the professional category.
There is, however a minor mystery. The new full frame sensor is rated at 24.8 megapixels. The flagship, on the other hand, will boast 24.6mp. That unexplained 0.2mp difference has led to some interesting speculation.
Sony Alpha flagship will boast full frame sensor, 24+ megapixels
Some have suggested it is a completely different sensor. Sony however has indicated that the flagship will use the recently announced full frame sensor.
If you’ve been reading Alphatracks for any length of time, you know we have discussed at length the ramifications of installing a full frame sensor with in-body stabilzation.
Could that 0.2mp difference represent the crop factor needed to use the sensor with Super Steady Shot? If so, it isn’t much of a crop. If my math is correct, the sensor would be roughly 99.193548387096774193548387096774 percent of a full frame. That would be something like a 1.008 crop factor. In other words, no crop at all.
Of course Sony hasn’t said the missing 0.2 megapixel is related to the Super Steady Shot. Perhaps there is some other reason Sony trimmed that portion of a mp from the sensor. Since the flagship will use a CMOS sensor, it should be possible to “shut off” any unneeded pixels.
Sony has said the flagship will ship this year. Many observers are suggesting a Photokina timeframe. (September) Sony hasn’t confirmed that — in fact Sony hasn’t said that the dSLR will be known as the A900, although many people have already started calling it that. Sony has firmly said the dSLR will ship in 2008.
To me, it really doesn’t matter where that 0.2mp went. The flagship will be full frame and pack more that 24mp.
All of a sudden those Sony haters have started to get rather quiet.
Technorati Tags:
Alpha flagship full frame, Alphatracks, Photography, Sony Alpha, Tom Bonner
3 Comments
Hi Tom,
I thought I’d add my two cents worth today, since things are way way too quiet since SONY announced the pending arrival of the Alpha Flagship Model with its 24.6 mps on a FF sensor of their design and manufacture.
I was at a photo meeting recently, and one fellow who had recently purchased a Nikon D300 was going on with glowing praise for this camera, and how he could shoot RAW and JPEG all at the same time, as if Nikon had invented this. So I pulled out my Maxxum 7D and showed him the menu where I could shoot RAW and JPEG also at the same time. Then proceeded to show him how the Menu rotated to the orientation of the camera body. Everyone there had no idea that Minolta made such a camera. Then when I showed them 2 absolutely gorgeous 12 x 18 inch prints from this camera, their jaws just dropped! I had just bought this camera as USED from Adorama Camera in New York, and it is just a joy to use. I figure that for $499.00, even if I get only 2 years out of it, I shall be totally happy. Why is it that Nikon and Canon users seem to think or believe that they are the only ones on the planet who have access to a REAL camera. It seems to me that MINOLTA were the leaders and top innovators of photography equipment and cameras for decades, and when Canon or Nikon apply the same technology to their latest model, the make like they thought of it first. It seems to me that they have been the real Johnny Come Lately’s as far as camera technology is concerned. And one further thing if I may. There has also been much criticism of the looks of the proposed new Alpha Flagship model. It seems to be very UGLY to most Nikon and Canon folks. Personally I think it is a very no nonsense good looking piece of gear. The most recent Canon and Nikon models look to me like lumps of salt lick that the cows or deer have been sucking on, or a losenge of some sort that has been fashioned in a wind tunnel or something. Bring on the UGLY SONY ALPHA! The Minolta Techs are still out there, and if Nikon or Canon had been really smart, one of these companies should have snapped them up in a hurry. Now they have SONY to deal with. Looks good on them!
Haha ^^ nice, is there a section to follow the RSS feed
interesting stuff!