SONY CLAIMS MOST ADVANCED APS-C MIRRORLESS EVER

The electronics leviathan’s summer is getting hotter with the revelation of a new mirrorless camera in the Alpha 6700 – or α 6700 – plus compatible compact shotgun microphone in the ECM-M1. Both products are available as you read this. Coming September meanwhile is Sony’s 50th full frame E-mount lens, the FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II (below)

Described as compact and lightweight for its telephoto zoom class at 149mm in length and 794g respectively, the new optic is also claimed to be the world’s first zoom to offer half macro capability throughout the zoom range, with a maximum magnification of 0.5x. If buying an optional teleconverter, super telephoto shooting up to 400mm and life size 1:1 magnification macro shooting across the entire zoom range is possible. The manufacturer suggests that the ‘XD’ (extreme dynamic) linear motor has increased auto focus speed by up to 20% this time around, while the tracking of moving objects is twice as efficient in terms of accuracy. Also improved is focus tracking performance when zooming, with highspeed bursts of up to 30fps possible when paired with Sony’s α1 flagship. A ‘Mode3’ SteadyShot setting has been added to aid stability when shooting subjects in motion. A detachable tripod mount is included in the box for further stability, while the lens has a dust and moisture resistant design and fluorine coated front element to easily remove fingerprints and grime.

The α 6700 camera body (above) meanwhile incorporates the latest cutting edge stills and video capabilities from its full frame Alpha and Cinema Line cameras, enabling Sony to lay claim to its most advanced APS-C sensor mirrorless camera to date. Boasting a 26 million pixel effective resolution and a Bionz XR processor it supports 4K resolution video up to 120fps, a wide exposure latitude equivalent to 14+ stops, and features the S-Cinetone picture profile found in its maker’s professional cinema cameras, said to provide ‘refined’ movie imagery that doesn’t require colour grading, as well as ‘stunning’ skin tones. Weighing around 493g, the camera is being described as portable, featuring a touch screen vari-angle LCD and customisable front dial. A five-axis IBIS system providing the equivalent of five stops also features, as does support for Sony’s Creators’ App, allowing for upload of stills and video to Cloud services.

Finally for now, the compact, lightweight ECM-M1 (below) is pitched as the world’s first shotgun microphone with eight dial selectable recording modes. An ultra-directional mode captures sound from the front, while effectively suppressing other sounds, said to make it ideal for recording interviews and selfie videos. Various filters to minimise background noise, vibration and low frequency noise also feature. When connected to the Multi Interface Shoe of a compatible camera featuring a built-in digital audio interface, the audio signal is directly transferred to the camera in digital form so no degradation occurs. The Sony α 6700 has an SRP in the region of £1450 body only, the ECM-M1 shotgun microphone retails for £349, while we’re told the FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II will be circa £1750 when it arrives this September.

Sony.net