Sony to announce a curved sensor full frame camera?
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The previously announced Sony launch will kick off tomorrow at 10AM EST, but it now seems that there could be an additional exciting camera added to previously rumored line-up. Past leaks have indicated that we could be seeing the Sony A9 III and the Sony A7 IV appear on 26 January. However, a new rumor suggests that Sony will also be announcing a full frame camera with a curved sensor.
There’s not a lot of concrete information about this potential new camera, as it appears that Sony is keeping its cards clutched close to its chest. Sony Alpha Rumors reported that its source said that all he had was “unofficial chatter”, so it’s definitely not a certainty that we’ll be seeing this curved sensor camera.
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So what would be the potential benefits of a camera with a curved sensor? Essentially, a curved image sensor mimics the design of the retina in the human eye, having a natural curve rather than the traditional flat design.
Sony first revealed this technology in 2014, stating that a curved sensor design results in a simpler lens system that’s 1.4x more sensitive at the center and 2x more sensitive at the edges.
According to a report by IEEE on that original presentation by Kazuichiro Itonaga, a device manager with Sony’s R&D Platform, Itonaga said, “A curved CMOS sensor has a few advantages over a planar sensor. Because of the geometry, it can be paired with a flatter lens and a larger aperture, which lets in more light.”
If a curved sensor can result in smaller, more compact lenses and wider apertures, then this technology could be a true game-changer for the camera industry. We’ll have to wait and see whether Sony has managed to finally bring a curved sensor camera to market – and such a vague rumor doesn’t exactly inspire oodles of confidence that it will turn out to be true. However, only time will tell…
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Sony Teases New Camera for January 26th Arrival: ‘The One Never Seen’
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Sony has teased the launch of a new camera set to be announced on January 26 at 7 AM Pacific Time. No details other than the timing of the announcement have been revealed, but rumors claim it to be a new a9 series camera.
While the age of the a7 III would indicate that Sony would be better served updating that camera, it has continued to sell well despite being three years old. Additionally, the a7C – which is just a repackaged, smaller version of the a7 III – was recently released, which has led rumor sites such as Mirrorless Rumors and Sony Alpha Rumors to hedge their bets on a new a9 camera.
One rumor is claiming the camera will exist in that Sony sports-line but push the resolution to around 50 megapixels and also offer 8K video, but in an “infant” state that will limit the quality and only allow for internal recording, likely to prevent the overheating issues that plagued the Canon EOS R5.
While many rumors about upcoming Sony products have been right, there are also many which missed that mark. If Sony were to produce a camera in the a9 line, that would bring significant speed expectations with it. Photographers who are attracted to the a9 generally aren’t asking for more megapixels, and the amount of data that would need to be processed after firing the a9 at high speeds with that kind of resolution would be monumental. Wildlife photographers might appreciate the extra resolution though, so it isn’t like such a camera would not have its fans.
Sony was expected to launch a professional camera in early 2021, so the arrival of this teaser is not unexpected. You can follow Sony on YouTube and set a reminder for the event, which will start two minutes after the countdown concludes on January 26th.
(via Sony Alpha Rumors)
Leaked Sony ‘Xperia Compact’ Images Confirm Android-Based iPhone 12 Mini Rival on the Way
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Coming in at 5.4-inches, Apple’s iPhone 12 mini is one of the smallest premium smartphones on the market, and has received a broadly positive reception amongst its owners, despite reports of lackluster sales compared to Apple’s larger iPhone 12 models.
The reason for the smaller margin of iPhone 12 mini sales compared to the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro , and iPhone 12 Pro Max is likely a sign of a change in the way people use their smartphones, combined with rapidly evolving market forces, particularly in China, where Apple has recently made further inroads and where larger devices have historically been more popular.
The size of the iPhone 12 mini harks back to the early days of smartphones – the original iPhone had a 3.5-inch display, for example, while devices above 4 to 5 inches were considered “phablet” territory just a few years ago. However, times have changed, and with phones now increasingly used for video consumption and gaming, larger devices have become the norm.
The original iPhone, circa 2007
Yet whether because of its pocket convenience, conduciveness to little (and perhaps younger) hands, or its ability to be used singlehandedly, the continued lure of the smaller form factor device remains, and it’s not a desire limited to Apple users, either. Since the launch of the iPhone 12 mini, many people have been left wondering if another smartphone company might step up to the plate and offer an equivalent rival Android offering.
Enter, Sony.
Serial leaker Stever Hemmerstoffer (@Onleaks) on Sunday revealed newly leaked images of the company’s upcoming Compact Xperia, a 5.5-inch device that’s smaller than its 2017 predecessor, the popular but relatively short-lived 5.7-inch Xperia XZ1.
Measuring 140 x 68.9 x 8.9mm, it’s slightly larger than the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini (131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm), but whenever it launches, it will be the standout contender for the smallest Android phone on the market, given current similar rivals.
Consider that the Pixel 5, which some see as Google’s equivalent to the iPhone 12 mini, comes in at a not-insignificant 6-inches (measuring 144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm), while the Galaxy S20 – the smallest in Samsung’s latest lineup – is nearly an inch larger than Apple’s device.
Returning to Sony’s yet-to-be-released 5.5-inch Xperia Compact successor, the phone has a flat display that’s surrounded by thick bezels and a chin, while an 8-megapixel selfie camera lies within its water-drop shaped notch. On the rear is a dual-lens setup in a vertical array featuring a 13-megapixel main camera.
A fingerprint sensor is embedded in the power button – similar to Touch ID on the latest iPad Air – and a 3.5mm mini jack sits in the top of the phone for those who prefer wired headphones.
Other than that, not much else is known about the new Xperia Compact, suffice to say that it appears to be a direct response to Apple’s decision to resurrect the small form factor phone. In which case, its relative success or failure in the Android market will be interesting to compare to the iPhone 12 mini’s apparently mixed fortunes against Apple’s other flagship 2021 offerings thus far.