The Sony RX1, top, uses the full frame sensor, left, while the RX100, bottom, has the one-inch sensor, centre. Compare to the standard size sensor, right, found in most consumer point-and-shoot cameras (including Sony’s standard models)
Check out my Tech Talk segment today on GlobalTV Sunday Morning News on these “new” category digital cameras from Sony: http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/tech+talk/video.html?v=2333678371&p=1&s=dd#newscasts
Sony’s two newest digital cameras are in a class of their
own.
Why? Because they don’t fit in any of the traditional
categories of today’s quality digital cameras.
Take, for example, the 20.2 megapixel Cyber-shot RX100, $649,
which by the way is today’s Global Great Gadget Giveaway to one of our lucky
viewers. It has a 20.2MP Exmor 1″ CMOS sensor, closer to the quality of
mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras offered by half a dozen camera makers,
including Sony’s NEX models. But the Carl
Zeiss Vario-Sonar Tessar T starting at f1.8, 3.5X zoom lens is fixed. The advantage is a
sub-compact solidly tough pocket camera that runs circles around anything even
close to its category.
Everything in the RX100 oozes quality. Due to its relatively
large sensor it has minimal noise when set to ISO 6000, allowing great photos
in dark places without flash. It has incredibly accurate follow focus, Sony’s
perfected Smile shutter and the best quality panorama auto-stitching mode,
unlike most cameras that knock the quality and image size down in this important
travel mode.
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And the 1080 60p video? The best in its class. Why? Because
when I panned scenes fast or slow, there was no hesitation, just smooth looking
video, which also lets you shoot stills while recording.
It has a bunch of other features you can check online, but
the bottom line is that this camera delivers quality pictures and video beyond point-and=shoot
cameras and way beyond what smart phones can. You do get what you pay for in
the RX100 in a small tiny package that you need to see for yourself at a Sony
store.
An even odder category is the Sony RX1, $2,999.99…are you kidding
me? No folks, the RX1 has a 24.3 megapixel 35mm full frame sensor, like the
high end DSLRs used in professional photography and photojournalism that sell
for the same price and more. What is different with the RX1, is it has a fixed
35mm focal length bright f/2.0 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lens. OK, no zoom or crazy
angles. Just pure acceptable moderate wide angle photography in a much smaller
and lighter package than similar quality DSLRs.
But, the secret sauce to the best quality pictures you ever will
take comes with the RX1: As noiseless pictures as you can ever take at ISO
6,000 and a top-tier lens that is as sharp at f/2.0 right to the edges as at
f/8. Now that means something to folks who want to capture all the details and
light dynamics of anything they shoot.
It has all the extra fun features found in consumer cameras
and missing in more serious models. The 24 fps video is at par with FF DSLRs
and the panorama is also superb. Both cameras also shoot in professional RAW format
too.
V-DAY MOBILES APPS
Check out my Tech Talk segment today on GlobalTV Monday Morning News on some personal pairing Valentine’s Day free apps for Android and iPhone: http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/tech+untangled/video.html?v=2334121493&p=1&s=dd#newscasts
Here are a few Valentine’s Day Mobile Apps to share with your
main squeeze
– Avocado is a free mobile app for iPhones or Androids that
essentially creates a social network for two. You can send romantic pictures to
each other, cute messages of your own or the included ones in the app or share
a calendar for your get togethers and share tasks. It can even send hugs and
kisses…by vibrating your phone when you place it against your chest.
– Couple is an app to help twosomes stay in touch. Built by
TenthBit, the free app for iOS and Android lets you send photos, messages and
videos to each other. Like Avocado it get’s personal, like Thumbkiss where you
and your partner co-ordinate your thumbprints on your own screens….rewarded by
simultaneously red and buzzing screens.
In sketch pad can create doodles together on your own
screens in real time. You can share to-do lists and share maps of their locations.
You can also send short sweet messages that you are thinking of each other too.
-Motorola RAZR smart phones have a unique application called
Smart Actions that let you create automatic power saving modes or don disturb
rules when you are at a certain place to text message replies. In this case a
missed call from your main squeeze automatically sends them a personalized text
message.
Motorola Canada’s Facebook site has a contest to win a Happy
Valentine’s Day Tweet from Justine Bieber for its RAZR HD customers by sending
a short video on why they are his biggest fan.
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