Sony’s camera division is on a roll. They just recently introduced the α(alpha)6700, α7CII and α7CR models for the budding hybrid content creators who are looking for premium and reliable hardware that is also accessible and offers flexibility and shooting capabilities like no other. The α6700, while being an APS-C mirrorless camera, is still a rather capable camera that offers 4K 60p video recording capabilities alongside the S-Log encoding Sony is known for. If you have a little more money to spare and wants the best shooting experience at a more compact body, the α7CII and α7CR are perfect mirrorless full-frame cameras that can get the job done as well as their full-sized counterparts.
These are Alpha cameras though. They are made for the pro-sumers and enthusiasts more than anything else. What if you are serious about your contents? What if you are a professional videographer that often takes out time for documentary type shoots? You need to go for the Sony FX30 or FX3, no wait; maybe the FX6 will do, what about the Venice 2? Too much? Maybe something in the middle, something like the brand-new BURANO.
Welcome to the Sony CineAlta line-up, specifically to the VENICE 2, Sony’s flagship video camera that is made to shoot at 8.6K resolution, higher than what Netflix requires for their 4K certified movies. Well, to be fair Sony launched their VENICE 2 camera a while ago, and this is not the camera you are here to see. It is important to know the VENICE 2 camera though, because Sony’s latest film camera is sporting Sony’s best and most powerful full-frame film sensor ever made.
8.6K Sensor with VENICE Colour Science
Source: Sony
The BURANO sports an 8.6 full-frame sensor that is likened to the VENICE 2, except for a few missing features. You cannot record videos at the full 8.6K resolution, for example, but that is minor when you consider that the BURANO still records videos at 8K resolution at 30p. You can shoot at 60p, but you must dial it down to 6K. At 4K, the BURANO can record at a maximum of 120p for those impressive slow-mos. They are still more than what Netflix requires for their exclusive movies.
Perfect for Running About
Source: Sony
So why would you opt for a dieled down edition of the brilliant VENICE 2 film camera then? For one, it comes down to the weight and size of the BURANO. The Sony BURANO is 32mm shorter and 1.4kg lighter than the VENICE 2, meaning that it is more portable, comfortable, and easier to work around when you are constantly moving or when you need to shoulder mount your camera. Its lightweight magnesium body construction also means that you can shoulder and operate the camera for longer periods of time.
The cuts in effective resolution, weight, and size does not make the BURANO a slouch. It still packs some of the best Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) mechanisms you can find on a film camera, which makes it all the more suitable for a run-and-gun type of shoot. With an included PL mount bracket for the Sony BURANO, you have the world’s first PL-mount digital cinema camera. Of course, it is still an E-mount camera so you can pair it to Sony’s wide lens selection or third-party lenses of your choice.
Does Everything The VENICE 2 Does
Source: Sony
You still get variable ND filters built right into the camera body just so that you can trim your set-up down to a reasonable size and weight. With built-in ND filters too, you are able to quickly set-up for your shot to save on time.
Since this is a cinema camera with 8K recording capabilities, recording media is rather crucial here. The Sony BURANO supports up to two CF Express Type-B cards and VPG400 mediums for high bitrate writes especially with8K videos. You can even shoot at compressed RAW if you want even more control over colours and look. If course, you still can shoot at Sony’s S-Log3 or even S-Log.cine for the best-in-class log encoding and easy colour grading in post-editing processes. Since it offers the same colour science as the VENICE 2 camera, you can even use this BURANO as a secondary camera or back-up camera for your main driver, the VENICE 2 (if you are lucky enough to own a VENICE 2 anyway). But that is not all your camera can record in. To quicken your editing process and skip through the entire colour grading process, you can stick to the Warm, Cool, Vintage, Teal and Orange cinematic colour presets.
Price and Availability
Sony did not announce the Sony BURANO’s official pricing. It is a cinema camera though, so it is not technically a product that is sold publicly. They also have not mentioned any availability dates for the camera. If you are interested in procuring one, you might want to contact Sony. They are offering attendants to IBC 2023, Amsterdam a first look and feel of the BURANO though from the 15th to 18th of September 2023. If you wish to find out more about Sony’s latest BURANO cinema camera, you can head out to Sony’s website.
Sony’s α7C (Alpha 7C) launched in 2020 was something we liked. The idea of having a full frame camera in a body no larger than a standard APS-C DSLR was appealing. It makes plenty of sense especially for the travelling photographer to still have the power of a full frame sensor for all your creator needs while travelling.
As of 2022 though, the brilliant α7C went out of production. While we expected Sony to come up with a replacement or follow-up to the compact full frame shooter, it looked bleak since Sony kept that information rather privy. To be fair, the world is still recovering from the constraint that is the product of the world’s chip shortage.
Finally in 2023, the α7C has a replacement device. It is not just one camera that Sony announced though. They launched two cameras – the α7C II, and the α7CR.
Sony α7C II (Alpha 7C Mark II)
Source: Sony
Sony’s direct replacement for the α7C is the new α7C II. Where the original α7C shares similarities with the α7 III, the α7C II shares similarities with the full frame mirrorless camera that replaced the α7 III, the α7 IV. That is a good thing.
For starters it packs the same 33-Megapixel Exmor T CMOS sensor as the α7 IV (Alpha 7 Mark IV). That means you also get the same Advanced BIONZ XR image processor that the powerful α7 IV packs alongside a clever AI processor that offers more accurate subject recognition than before. This results in the same advanced Eye-AF system that the α7 IV benefit from as well offering one of the best, if not the best, autofocus systems found in a mirrorless camera this size.
Like the α7 IV, the new α7C II is also capable of recording videos at 4K at up to 60p. If you wish to record videos at 120p, you do have to push it down to 1080p Full HD resolution. You also want to take note that 4K 60p recording can only be done in super 35 crop mode, which means you are not technically fully utilizing the entirety of the full frame sensor when you record at those speeds. Still, being able to shoot in 10-bit 4:2:2 is a huge bonus for video recorders and color grading purposes. You have the option to shoot in S-Log3 or S-Cinetone with custom LUTs for even better-looking videos.
Sony α7CR (Alpha 7CR)
Source: Sony
Then there is the other camera that came as quite a surprise, the α7CR. To be fair, this is very much like the full-sized counterpart to the α7 series. As per the ‘R’ moniker suggests, the α7CR is made for photography prowess in a small form-factor body. It shares similarities with the Sony α7R V.
It packs the same high-resolution 61-Megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor like the bigger α7R V. It also packs the BIONZ XR image processor for the most advanced image processing capabilities available to full frame cameras of this stature. This full frame sensor is also capable of recording videos at 10-bit 4.2.2 colour space and in 4K resolution at a maximum of 60p.
The Mini α7 Line-Up
The new cameras are pretty much a miniaturized version of the α7 IV and α7R V counterparts. They pack everything the larger, full-sized cameras they are based on and offer almost all the sorts of photography and video recording power their full-sized counterparts offer. There is a small compromise though. Since the body is a little smaller, the battery they come with is also smaller than their full-sized counterparts. The cameras also do not support CF Express cards and therefore does not have the recording speeds that the full frame cameras are capable of.
Availability
Sony Malaysia has not announced the official pricing for both the products just yet. They have confirmed that the new α7C II and α7CR will be available in Malaysia by the end of November 2023. In markets where the α7C II and α7CR are already available, prices are at US$ 2,199.99 (MYR 10,210*) and US$ 2,999.95 (MYR 13,922*) respectively.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.64 as of 30/08/2023 on xe.com
Sony’s α6000 series is one of those line-ups of cameras that we can easily recommend to anyone who is looking to get into photography. Despite its price, we think that Sony’s mirrorless APS-C interchangeable lens camera line-up offers some of the best value for a camera. The older α6600 for example, offers 4K video recording with S-Log3, pretty much on par with the more premium α7 line-up of cameras when it comes to video work. While APS-C sensors are smaller than full-frame sensors, the α6600 is still a formidable photography tool that offers photo quality that is comparable to full-frame photos.
The α6600 is an aging platform though. It launched back in September 2019, which was nearly 4 years ago. Considering that the gap between the α7 III and α7 IV is also a little over 3 years old, the α6600 is due for an upgrade. Introducing the Sony α6700.
New Sensor
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
You still get an APS-C sensor on the Sony α6700, like its predecessor, which is also rather expected, since this is the compact camera line-up from Sony. It is an upgraded sensor though. It is now a 26-Megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor alongside Sony’s most powerful BIONZ XR image processor that also powers Sony’s latest full-frame cameras.
New Processor
Source: Sony
The BIONZ XR processor allows the Sony α6700 to record 4K videos like the older α6600. But instead of the regular 60fps, you can record at 120fps this time. You can also record videos at S-Cinetone picture profile, which is the preferred profile for Sony’s filmmakers on their professional Cinema Line cameras. On top of that, you have the flexibility of shooting videos and photos from a standard ISO 100 all the way to ISO 32000 for both high-sensitivity and low-light shooting.
The new processor also contains a clever artificial intelligence (AI) engine first seen on Sony’s advanced α7R V platform. The AI engine allows the α6700 to cleverly recognize subjects accurately (Real-Time Recognition AF) and quickly focuses on the subject even if they are not human. Of course, that contributes to the speedy Eye-AF system that Sony pioneered.
Still Compact
Source: Sony
You get a familiar platform on the Sony α6700. You get the same compact design body with lightweight materials. It is a little over 100g lighter than the older α6600 too. While 100g may not sound a lot, it does make a difference when you need to work with it an entire day for both video and photography workflow. Thanks to the new swiveling vari-angle LCD monitor as well, the new α6700 offers even more flexibility in the types of shots you can get and monitor.
Price and Availability
The Sony α6700 will be available in Malaysia from September 2023 onward. No colour options here, just the regular black colour that we are used to with Sony’s cameras, or any other cameras for that matter. There are no mentions yet on its official pricing in Malaysia just yet. It is priced at US$ 1,398, which is about MYR 6,416*. In that case, we are expecting the new camera will be priced at about MYR 6,400 when it arrives in Malaysia. For more information on Sony’s latest α6700, you can head over to their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.59 as of 13/07/2023 on xe.com
What can you buy with MYR 4,000? You can get yourself a very nice steak dinner for at least four people in a very expensive restaurant. You can buy an entry-level gaming laptop with older generation hardware. You can even buy a decent laptop that you can use for work and play for that money. Even if you buy a 4K TV, you might still have some spare cash to afford yourself a decent soundbar. Or you can buy a Sony ZV-1 II, Sony’s latest compact camera, and have MYR 1 to spare for your parking.
So Familiar
If you have had your hands on a Sony ZV-1, the original one, you would be surprised (or maybe not) at how similar this ‘second-generation- ZV-1 is to the first one. It is sort of the same body that both use with no changes in the layout or material. That also means that if you come from the ZV-1, you will be quickly familiar with the ZV-1 II.
We like plenty of things on the ZV-1. We like the swiveling hinged monitor that we can just swing out to quickly turn the camera on. We like that folding in the display also turns the camera off. We like that it is compact yet shoots decent 4K footage, and we like that it features a standard zoom 24-70mm lens. Most of these features stayed on for the ZV-1 Mk. II.
The ZV-1 II still has a brilliant swiveling display that will be the only source of monitoring you get on the camera itself. There is no viewfinder to look at here, which is pretty much expected in this form factor. Then there is the 4K 24p capabilities that continued from the older ZV-1. The lens offers the same zoom mechanism and look, except that it is an 18-50mm lens now instead of a 24-70mm with a maximum aperture of F4.0.
They have added a few things too. They added ‘background blurring’ effect toggle for your portraits. They also added more creative looks for the ZV-1 II. The highlight addition though, at least we think, is the Cinematic Vlog mode that completely changes how you shoot your videos.
The sensor you get on the ZV-1 II is pretty much the same one you can find from the first-generation ZV-1. You get a 1-inch 21-Megapxiel Exmor RS sensor that is also capable of taking videos at 4K 24p resolutions. You can technically also record Full HD videos at up to 60p with the camera. That also means there is no slow-motion video recording for the ZV-1 II. To be fair, that is not what the ZV-1 is for anyway.
If you come from the older ZV-1, there should be no surprises about the photo and video quality here. The 21-Megapixel photos are clear and well detailed, even at the edges. While the sensor is not very big, you technically can get great looking portraits with some deep ‘bokeh’ effect by turning on the camera’s ‘background blur’ mode. Even if you do not use the ‘background blur’ mode though, portrait still looks mighty good with limited depth. Still, for landscape photos, the image is mostly clear and sharp when you go closer to the edges of the image. If you are shooting at 18mm, you can expect some distortion at the edges of your image since you are technically getting an ultra-wide angle.
The ZV-1 II can also shoot photos at up to 24fps, meaning you can technically use this to shoot action photos. You can take it down to your local track on a track day and take great looking photos with this camera thanks to the fast and rather accurate autofocus. We did not get to do that though unfortunately. You technically can take photos when your friends are playing football or any other sports technically thanks to the clever eye-AF. Again, we did not get to do that in our test period.
For 4K video recording, the camera uses the entire 1-inch sensor to shoot, which also means that you are not getting any odd crops on your frame when you switch between photo and video mode. In video mode though, the camera defaults to 16:9 aspect ratio, which means that you lose a little bit of image from the top and bottom of the photo frame. The Cinematic Vlog mode cuts the image even more to make the traditional film 2.35:1 aspect ratio for that cinematic look. We also noticed that the image stabilization is a little more aggressive in cinematic vlog mode allowing for a much more stable looking contents without going through vigorous stabilization algorithms from your editors.
You can technically shoot in Sony’s colour gamut Log with the ZV-1 II. You can go up to S-Log3 in both 4K and Full HD modes. There is no S-Cinetone log here though, which is a shame since we thought it would be nice to pair with the cinematic vlog function. Of course, since the ZV-1 II is made for quick and fuss free vlog production and social media contents, it would not make sense for its intended user to use any of the colour gamut logs. Still, having the option to use the logs in all kinds of shoot mode would be nice for more advanced users.
You can even use the ZV-1 as your webcam if your PC does not already have one. Unfortunately, the camera only allows for up to 720p when you stream the camera directly to the PC via USB Type-C. Still, the 720p image still looks better than most 720p and even Full HD 1080p webcam you can find in the market today. If you are looking for a plug-and-play webcam that looks good, this one could be for you.
Oddly Poor Battery Life
There is a compromise with all the weight saving and focus on making the ZV-1 II the most compact camera of its type yet capable of even more than its predecessor. The compromise comes in the form of a small battery capacity. To be fair, the small battery also contributes to the lightweight construction of the camera.
It is a rather small 1,240mAh NP-BX1 removeable battery that the ZV-1 II packs: the same one as the first-generation ZV-1. It is rated for up to 290 stills and up to 75 minutes of continuous video recording. We took it out to do both stills and videos in the same venue for our test. In our test, we barely got the camera through an hour and a half (1 hour 30 minutes) before the ZV-1 II started warning us of low battery. Since it is replaceable, you technically can buy more to prolong your photo shoot or video shoot with the ZV-1 II. Each battery pack will set you back MYR 202 though. Thankfully you can charge the battery and camera via the camera’s USB Type-C port, meaning you can just plug it to your powerbank, and you are ready to shoot even more photos and videos.
Should You Then? Maybe Not.
We like the ZV-1 II. It is a tiny camera that is rather well packaged and well-rounded enough for a quick photo walk around town. Even if you are not on a dedicated photo walk, it is a compact enough camera for you to carry around and pull out when you see a photo opportunity. It is made for the spontaneous content creator that does not need or want to carry a bunch of gear or a large DSLR around for convenience and subtlety. It also works as a decent webcam to replace your rather poor one on the laptop for an all-around better video conferencing or streaming experience.
We are finding it difficult to recommend this camera to anyone who wants a compact camera that does everything though. For starters, it will set you back MYR 3,999. For that kind of money, you can get your hands on an older ZV-1 and still have extra to buy a proper Sony mic that can be mounted on the camera. Secondly, the ZV-1 will still be on sale, and there is nothing wrong with that camera in the first place. Thirdly, if simplicity is what you are after, what is wrong with the ZV-1F? The ZV-1F has a fixed lens and does everything the ZV-1 does too. If you already have the ZV-1 or the ZV-1F, apart from a few added features and the different lens length, you are not getting much of an upgrade on the ZV-1 II too.
Content is king in a world dominated by digital displays today. Gone are the days where you must wait for the newspaper to be printed the next day to know what happened in the world yesterday. Gone are the days where you must buy an array of magazines to know what is trending in the week and expectations moving forward.
Today, contents are created on the go and edited in almost real time. Contents gets published and distributed almost immediately after whatever that is happening happened. Modern cameras are not just created for photography too, they are made for videos and to go LIVE quickly and easily. At the same time, social media is making contents even more readily available and optimised for smartphones, the little computers that is constantly with us.
But content creators are also debating about something else today. A lot of content creators are saying that your smartphone is the best tool you have for creating contents. You can use to vlog, create voice memos to be used later, record videos, take photos, and even stream events LIVE. While that is true in most cases, there has never been a smartphone that really highlights its power in creating contents. Until Sony releases their Xperia 1 IV that is.
If you want to pronounce the name correctly, the full name of the new flagship from Sony is named the Xperia 1 mark four. Sony’s naming scheme has always been a little mouthful, but their products have always been some of our favourites for good reason. One of the reasons we love the Xperia 1 flagship series is that it is the only smartphone in the current market to feature a nice 4K display.
The 4K HDR 120Hz – Still Brilliant
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Yes, we are going to talk about the very familiar display to Sony users. It is a 4K display, not really a true 4K since you are missing some resolutions at the sides of the slim display. It is still a 6.5-inch OLED panel that refreshes at 120Hz that you have seen from the previous Xperia 1 III. You still get HDR BT.2020 standard colours too from the fourth generation Xperia 1 flagship. It is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, which is also the same case in the older flagship.
No upgrades in the display section of the Xperia 1 IV then. To be fair to Sony though, they are the only major smartphone maker to include 4K resolution in their flagships. At 120Hz, it really does not get much better than this in the smartphone industry currently.
Thanks to the advancements that is made with the Sony Xperia Pro though, the 4K display has a new function added to it. You can now use the Xperia 1 flagship as a 4K monitor display for your Alpha cameras. You can use the USB type-C port of the camera and the smartphone to get it to work as your monitor. Not only that, your smartphone can stream the contents captured on your Alpha camera directly to YouTube if you need it to.
Powerful Insides
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Of course, it is 2022, and the Xperia 1 must be updated to match the modern age of smartphones. It packs a healthy 12GB of RAM to start with. You can opt for 512GB in storage for the Xperia 1 IV too, if you want. The highlight here is the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system on a chip (SoC) that makes the flagship the most powerful Sony has ever made so far. To be fair though, Sony is a little late in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 game.
Sony also managed to shoehorn a larger battery module in the same form factor they retained from the Xperia 1 III. It is now a 5,000 mAh battery that charges at up to 30W with fast wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities. The larger battery also means that the smartphone should be able to last a little longer than before when you are out and about.
Even More Powerful Cameras
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
On paper, it does not look like Sony has changed much on their camera array. You still get three 12-Megapixel cameras out the back. The main camera is attached to 24mm lens at f/1.7, similar to the third generation Sony Xperia 1. You also get a nice 16mm ultra-wide shooter like before. The only change they made, in terms of hardware anyway, is the first truly optical zooming lens at 85-125mm lens on the telephoto camera. This allows the device to zoom smoothly, when you want it to, pretty impressive stuff while keeping all 12-Megapixels while you zoom in.
But that is not all they did to improve their camera. It now supports Sony Alpha’s very famous EYE Auto Focus mechanism that allows the Photography Pro app to work just like your Alpha cameras. Thanks to their know how in stabilising mirrorless cameras too, the Optical SteadyShot allows you to take clear photos whenever, wherever, however. You can even take photos with EYE AF at up to 20fps real time burst mode and in HDR with all three lenses.
Source: Sony
Their video and cinema capabilities have been sort of put on steroids too. The fourth generation Sony Xperia 1 still shoots at up to 4K 120fps. Videography Pro now allows you to shoot videos with EYE AF though, which also means that you might not need to fight with focus hunting in the future. You can just leave your app to Auto Focus mode and it will just do its thing in keeping your subject in focus no matter what. It cleverly switches from face detection to eye detection too, when the option is available. At the same time Videography Pro also allows you to capture your videos with all your lenses at the same time. That allows you a wider dynamic range to work with. Not only that, but you can also seamlessly zoom in between scenes like what you see in the movie 300. They worked with three cameras for that iconic battle shot featuring Gerard Butler cutting up Persians. You now only need one smartphone to recreate that iconic shot.
It is a smartphone; you are going to be constantly connected. That also means you get to livestream your contents or even vlog freely if you want. You can even use your main cameras to vlog with Sony’s optional attachments. In that case, you get to enjoy Sony’s clever EYE AF and object tracking features with your vlogs. The Optical SteadyShot will also be mighty helpful in keeping your vlogs look really good and focused.
Of course, fi you want more cinematic creativity, Cinematography Pro “powered by CineAlta” is available for you to shoot in Logs. When they say that the best camera is the one that is with you, this one takes it to a completely different level in this case. All three cameras at the back can shoot videos at 4K 120fps too, which will be greatly appreciated by content creators anywhere.
Even Better Sounds
Source: Sony
The Xperia 1 IV now gets 360 Reality Audio support on its speakers. Its speakers are also tuned to allow for more immersive sound with improved bass response. The combination of that is that you get a better audio experience with your Xperia smartphone on apps like Tidal for example, without even using headphones. If you want to use headphones anyway, the Xperia still retains the 3.5mm combo jack that other flagships have conveniently omitted for reasons.
To ensure that you are getting the best audio experience from the Xperia 1 IV, DSEE Ultimate algorithm improves sound quality of all your streaming platforms. You get audio quality that is close or at least comparable to CD quality sounds. If you prefer to listen to your music wirelessly, Bluetooth LE Audio will be available later to reduce latency.
But improvements to the audio aspect of the Xperia 1 IV is not just on its speakers. They have made their microphones and audio recording feature even better than before. The Xperia 1 IV is not just your audio note recorder now. You can turn it into a one-stop-shop for remote music recording with Music Pro. With the power of machine learning and AI, the app allows you to record audio out in the open and still get crisp, studio tuned quality audio. You can even record your voice and guitar simultaneously and the app cleverly separates the two audio channels to allow for a much more robust mix on-the-go.
Price and Availability
The Sony Xperia 1 IV will be available in only two colours. No white options here though, you choose between black, or Purple. It’s priced from US$ 1,599 globally, which converts to about MYR * today. We expect the price of the new flagship to hover somewhere around the MYR 6,999 mark or more when it gets to local shores. Sony Malaysia confirms that the device will be available in Malaysia by July 2022. More information on the Sony Xperia 1 IV can be found on their website.
Before we go on; yes, Sony already had a 24-70mm lens with a G Master branding on it. Yes, it was also rather expensive. Yes, it shoots rather pretty photos. Also yes, it shoots nicer than the standard Sony 24-70 F4 G lens. So why do we need another 24-70 F2.8?
Because it is a better one than before.
More Compact, More Portable
Source: Sony
They call the new one the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II, or code named SEL2470GM2. It is much lighter than before with about 20% of weight shaved off from the previous lens. It now sits pretty in your bag, or hand, at less than 700 grams.
If you put it beside the first iteration of Sony’s highly acclaimed 24-70mm G Master, you can see how much effort Sony puts into the Mk. II in terms of weight saving too. It is a much smaller lens overall. It is shorter by 16mm and much slimmer than before too, about 18% slimmer than before. With all the weight shavings, Sony can claim that this is the lightest and most compact lens of its kind, at least for the time being.
More Speed, More Performance
Source: Sony
Smaller size does not mean that Sony has compromised on its performance though. They have managed to first improve its autofocusing (AF) ability. It is still the same Extreme Dynamic (XD) Linear motors working on the AF mechanism, but iis now much faster than before. It can support up to 30fps in continuous still shooting and up to 4K 120fps in video recording mode. That might not sound like a lot, but it is mighty impressive to work with in this sort of lens. Sony also claims that the AF tracker is about twice as precise than before.
For the videographers, Sony is making the 24-70mm G Master an even better lens to work with. Thanks to a newly developed aperture unit (now with 11 aperture blades instead of 9), AF operations is quieter than before. The improved motors have also reduced focus breathing, focus shift, and axial shift when zooming to ensure that you get a nice, smooth, immersive video footages when it matters. Of course, you still can work with manual zoom if you want.
Better Elements, Better Images
Source: Sony
They managed to fit better glasses in this compact form too. Sony first treated the lens with a Nano AR Coating II. This is to reduce reflections on the glass that in turn reduces lens flares. The new glasses within the lens also allows the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 G Master II to produce photos with beautiful depth effect in all sorts of zoom range. At the same time. The new lens also allows a shorter focusing distance at 0.21 and 0.30 meters at its minimum (@24mm and 70mm respectively) with up to .32x magnification.
All this is achieved through the five aspherical elements found in the lens. There are two high-precision extreme aspherical glass elements paired with two extra-low dispersion glass elements and one floating focus mechanism. The combination of elements also allows the lens to capture photos with high-resolution even at the edges of the photos.
More Precise, More Control
Source: SonySource: SonySource: SonySource: SonySource: SonySource: Sony
To top it all off, Sony has made improvements on the lens body itself to give users more control over the lens. There is a zoom smoothness switch on the zoom ring to adjust its smoothness now. There are two customisable focus hold buttons in the lens as well. At the same time, some work has been done on the focus ring to make it just a touch more responsive for better manual focus controls. They have also managed to shift the weight balance further back, toward the camera flange end to allow for better ergonomic and camera control in free-handed shooting conditions.
Price and Availability
The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 G Master II lens will be available in Malaysia from 5th of June 2022 onward. There are no mentions on prices just yet. We are guessing that the price should not be too far off the current FE 24-70mm F2.8 G Master though. There could also be a price drop for the original standard zoom lens, so you might want to look out for a bargain for something that is still quite stellar. More information on the FE 24-70mm F2.8 G Master II can be found on their website.
Sony’s Xperia 1 is a milestone for the Japanese electronics giant. It is not the most powerful smartphone in the market when it was launched, though it was one of the more powerful flagships. It also marks Sony’s departure from their old Xperia ways and their embracing of the new era of ultra-high-end smartphones.
The first Xperia 1 is also the first Sony Xperia device that was made in collaboration with Sony’s Alpha imaging division. That also means that the camera is now a lot more optimized than before. It now means that Sony has a reliable hardware paired to reliably impressive imaging hardware.
The Sony Xperia 1 marks a new era of Sony smartphones, an era where Sony stopped thinking about sales numbers and focus on a niche. That was three years ago though. In that case, you might be due for an upgrade. What about the new Sony Xperia 1 III (mk. lll)?
In its third iteration, is the Xperia 1 III worth the upgrade from the first generation Xperia 1? Is it worth the MYR 5,799 asking price? Can it still hold its own when Sony is launching another major flagship soon?
Design
The Sony Xperia 1 III follows a design language that should be familiar to its fans. Not much has changed in terms of design language of the Sony Xperia smartphones. They have followed the same design language for years. You might not be able to tell apart one Sony Xperia 1 III to the first generation Xperia 1.
That said though, we are fans of the timeless design language. The device is full of flat surfaces with sharper angles compared to plenty of the regular flagships we are used to in 2021. It looks fresh, modern, and iconic in its skin. The only changes Sony has made between the differing versions of Sony’s Xperia devices are on certain materials used on the device itself.
On the Sony Xperia 1 III, Sony opted for what feels like aluminium for its backplate. While it feels like it is a single unit with the frames, it is not. We suspect that it is so that the Sony Xperia 1 III will be easier to disassemble and repaired. It also still features wireless charging, despite the aluminium. We like that Sony brought back the fingerprint sensor integrated power button.
The first thing that greets you when you take it out from the box is an elongated candy bar that boasts a 6.5-inch display that stretches to 21:9 in aspect ratio. The display may sound like it is a little smaller than most modern flagships. But because it is at 21:9 aspect ratio, the candy bar is longer than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It is much narrower though.
Still, the Xperia 1 III still features the signature camera button which doubles as a dual action shutter button that makes it work exactly like a compact camera. Additionally, there is also a Google Assistant button on the device this time. The Sony Xperia 1 III also features a 3.5mm combo jack, something of a feature today. As with any of the Xperia devices as well, you do not need a SIM tray removal tool for the Xperia 1 III.
There is a slight camera bump at the back of the device, which is quite expected on a modern smartphone. The bump is smaller than most modern flagship devices, though.
Sony did not bother with the whole edge-to-edge moniker with their expansive display. There is a small forehead and a tight chin on the device for earpiece and a front firing speaker, which is very traditional.
Hardware
The Sony Xperia 1 III is not Sony’s most premium device you can find in Sony’s smartphone line-up. Except for its cameras, the Sony Xperia 1 III is still one of the most powerful devices in the Xperia line-up.
OLED 6.5-inch 3,840 x 1,644 pixels ~643ppi 120Hz (up to)
Operating System
Android 11
Battery
Non-Removable Li-Po 4,500mAh Fast Charging 30W
Connectivity
Dual SIM Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS A2DP Bluetooth 5.2 LE OTG Support USB Type-C 3.1
Camera (s)
REAR: 12-Megapixel 24mm (f/1.7) 12-Megapixel 70mm (f/2.3, telephoto) 12-Megapixel 16mm (f/2.2, ultrawide) 0.3-Megapixel TOF depth sensor 4K video recording (120fps) LED flash FRONT: 8-Megapixel (f/2.0, 24mm) 1080p Full HD video recording (30fps)
Sensors
Accelerometer Proximity Fingerprint Sensor Ambient Light Gyroscope Face Unlock Compass
User Interface – Android 11 with Sony’s Xperia Touch
You can expect nearly stock Android 11 experience on the Sony Xperia 1 III as well. When we say ‘Xperia Touch’, we mean some of Sony’s own apps on the device itself.
On the end of apps, there are a few of Sony’s own app installed in the device. They are not so much bloatware though. You do have to note that there are two different camera apps on the device though. There is the regular Sony camera app that you can easily launch with a long press of the shutter button. There is also a separate video camera app (Cinema Pro) on the device. We will talk about these two apps later.
Most of the User Interface has been kept untouched from Google’s intended look. Even the notification screens are pretty much stock. That also means that you get a device that remains smooth and snappy for longer. At the same time, because the interface does not put extra unnecessary stress on memory and processors, you get apps working properly and smoothly.
Performance
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a powerhouse containing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 paired with 12GB of RAM. That also means that you can expect a lot of good things from the device.
Call Quality and Connectivity
Of course, making phone calls on a smartphone is the most regular thing you would do with it. It is, after all, the most basic function of a phone.
In that sense, making a phone call on the Xperia 1 III is pretty much like any other smartphone you can find today. You just need to pull up the Phone app and dial in your numbers, or type your friend’s name, or scroll through the contact list to make a call.
Connectivity for phone calls are quite excellent when you have enough signal strength to make the call. It also supports VoLTE, which is nothing to shout about for smartphones these days. But that also means you get crystal clear calls from the Sony Xperia 1 III. If you have a friend with networks that leverage VoLTE technology, you are going to have a good long chat with your friend on the phone without realizing that your friend is not even physically with you.
You hardly drop calls too unless you lose network signal on your device. You hardly lose network connectivity on the Sony Xperia 1 III. Of course, if you are going through an area known for weak signals, you are going to get some dropped calls.
Gaming
The display really shines when you game though. The 4K display is amazing to look at in games like Pokémon Unite. The problem is the real estate you get on the display.
The unique aspect ratio of the Sony Xperia 1 III’s display means that there is not a lot of space between the top and bottom of the display when you play games like PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends Bang Bang. That means that your space for your navigation is limited. When you place your fingers on the display, you pretty much cover most of it.
That does not mean that you cannot enjoy the games though. They all look good on the 4K with plenty of details and with highly vivid colours. You do want to watch out for heat, though.
Multitasking and Productivity
With 12GB of RAM, there is no excuse to not perform. While the display is not optimized for multi-window experiences, you can load up tabs on your browser. That is what we did.
On the Sony Xperia 1 III, we have anywhere between 10-20 tabs open on Google Chrome. We often actively switch between 5 tabs most of the time. In that use case, the Sony Xperia 1 III copes very nicely.
We have also tried loading and actively switching between 4 different apps at the same time to stretch the device’s legs. One of the apps includes Google Chrome and multiple tabs on it. Even that did not trouble the Sony Xperia 1 III at all.
Battery Life
One of the biggest benefits to stock interfaces is battery life. Custom interfaces tend to be less efficient than stock ones. Interestingly, you rarely have a battery management system on stock interfaces like the Sony Xperia 1 III.
You do want to keep in mind that there are apps that will drain the device’s battery, like the two camera apps. That said, even with extensive use of the camera apps, you can get a good working day of battery life. On typical days, you are working with a good day of battery life plus a few more hours in the next day, on a single charge.
Charging the device is fast enough. Like most flagships, you get to charge the device from empty to full in less than two hours. Unlike some flagships in the market as well, the Sony Xperia 1 III still ships with a wall charger.
Display
One of the big highlights of any Xperia 1 device is its one-of-a-kind display. The 6.5-inch 21:9 aspect ratio display packs 4K resolution. It is also a more powerful display compared to some 4K TVs you can find today.
This AMOLED display is the most advanced display you can find on a smartphone. You get 120Hz refresh rate on this 4K display. The Sony Xperia 1 series is also the only series of smartphones in the world that gets 4K resolution displays as standard. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a QHD+ display.
As if the 4K resolution is not impressive enough, the 6.5-inch panel also boasts HDR colours with 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. You even get 240Hz touch sampling rate for an almost instant response on your display. To reduce flicker in upscaling contents, the display boasts 240Hz in motion blur reduction.
Thing is, it is not a true 4K UHD display that you work with. Instead of 2,160 pixels in depth, it only features 1,644 pixels. You still get 3,840 on the side.
Still, that does not mean that the display is not impressive. It is a fantastic display to consume contents with. If you are planning to use it as an external monitor for your cameras, it works great too with Sony cameras.
Cameras
The other highlight of the new Sony Xperia 1 III is its camera. You get a humble 12-Megapixel sensor for its main shooter. Both its flanking cameras are also 12-Megapixel units. There is an 8-Megapixel shooter out the front, which is rather understated for a flagship.
Despite the ‘low’ Megapixel count, it is a fantastic camera. You get some Alpha touches, of course. It is also the most reliable camera app and unit you get from a Sony device so far.
The photos you get from the device are amazing to look at in terms of detail and colour. Of course, you may not get ultra-crisp details if you put it beside a Samsung Galaxy S21’s photo at 108-Megapixel, for example. But you do get fine enough details for stunning social media posts.
The selfie camera may not be the best you can find on a smartphone. We think that the selfie camera is more for video calls or facial recognition. Still, if you are in the mood for a selfie, it works.
The Camera App vs Cinema Pro
There are two separate camera apps on the Sony Xperia 1 III as mentioned. Both works differently too, for different functions. The camera app is more of a general app that you can use for both regular photos and videos. The other app is more specific for videos though.
There is one Sony’s specific Alpha camera mode. You get more granular controls over your photos in that mode. If you are a Sony user, the interface is also very reminiscent and very familiar to Sony’s cameras. You also get to set your camera in modes that is closer to a regular camera over a smartphone.
You can put your camera in Auto, which is what we do most of the time, ‘M’ for Manual or ‘Pro’ mode, ‘A’ for Aperture priority, and ‘P’ for Programmable Auto. You get different outcomes and controls in different modesband your Sony Xperia 1 III turns into a point and shoot.
The Cinema Pro app is something you are really going to enjoy if you are planning to use your smartphone as the main content capturing device. It does all the usual thing for a smartphone video mode. You can set the resolution and how many frames it takes. But the Cinema Pro app does way more than that.
It allows you to have even more control over your videos over the regular camera app. You can play around with focus pulling on the Cinema Pro app, both manually and guided auto. You can even control things like ISO and Aperture if you are really getting as much manual control over your video as possible. You can even change the colour profile if you really need to.
Gallery
The Sony Xperia 1 III – The Best of Sony
The new Sony Xperia 1 III is even more expensive than the Sony Xperia 1 II that it replaced. For that money though you are the most powerful Sony Xperia 1 device to date.
The new Sony Xperia 1 III is also more expensive than most flagship smartphones you can find in the market today. The thing is, the Sony Xperia 1 III is marketed toward a very specific target market. They are selling the device to the content creator market, a market that knows what they want in a smartphone.
Of course, you can argue that these guys should maybe go for the Xperia Pro-I instead. The price difference between the two devices makes the Xperia 1 III the more sensible smartphone choice though. Other than the larger and more powerful camera, the Xperia 1 III and Xperia Pro-I shares the same hardware too.
MYR 5,799 is still a lot of money for a smartphone. A Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at this point will set you back MYR 5,299 at retail price (12GB + 256GB). In that sense, there is not that much in terms of reasons to get the Sony Xperia 1 III. But there is a very good reason why you want one. This is a device created specifically with one target audience in mind. Its sole purpose is to do a job for a specific target group; very well at that.
If you are already working with Sony’s vast array of tools, the Sony Xperia 1 III is really an extension. It even shines as a standalone, if you like it to be. The camera is still a Sony Alpha developed tool made for the Xperia, which also means that you are getting a Sony camera that is better than ever. You can even get eye autofocus function working with it. For those alone, you should get the Sony Xperia 1 III.
The Sony ALPHA 7, or rather the α7 marks Sony’s first foray into the high-end camera market with a full-frame DSLR that is a lot smaller and lighter than regular DSLR devices. While it is smaller and lighter than the regular full-frame body, it comes with its own sets of limitations, one of them is battery life. Ergonomics for the first α7 was not the best either with Sony placing more focus on making the camera as compact as possible. Because there is less space on the body for buttons, there is only so much Sony can do to give users a sense of finer control with physical knob and buttons.
The ALPHA 7 platform is a popular choice among content creators though. The third iteration was everything you could ever need from a mirrorless camera. It had sophisticated Autofocus system that was a lot more reliable than before, it had features that reduces the rolling shutter effect that plagued previous Sony α7 cameras, it was also bigger than the first iteration with better ergonomics and much longer battery life.
Sony just announced a replacement model though, its fourth iteration of the ‘Basic’ full-frame mirrorless camera. If you know Sony’s existing line-up of ALPHA 7 cameras though, you will not call them ‘basic’. The new one is even better.
The New ‘Basic’
Source: Sony
The ALPHA 7 IV, as they know it, is Sony’s interpretation to what the new ‘basic’ standard is for an entry-level full-frame camera. Apparently ‘basic’ means 33-Megapixel on the Exmor R CMOS full-frame sensor. That 33-Megapixel sensor packs sensitivity of up to ISO 204800 at its highest and ISO 50 at its lowest for 15-stops in dynamic range. That should mean that the Sony ALPHA 7 IV is an admirable performer in low-light conditions.
BIONZ XR Advantage
The impressive new sensor is assisted by a Sony’s latest BIONZ XR imaging chip, the same one you find on Sony’s range topping ALPHA 1 mirrorless camera. It allows the Sony ALPHA 7 IV to shoot at up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking. Thanks to BIONZ XR as well the camera has up to 759 phase-detection Autofocus (AF) points that covers up to 94% of the image area and tracks subjects in Real-Time Tracking as accurately as you can get cameras to track subjects. Of course, there is Real-time Eye AF function as well that now tracks birds and animal eyes in both photo and movie modes.
The Hybrid Cinematic and Still Shooter
Source: Sony
They call this a hybrid camera, a still and movie camera packed in one compact body. The ALPHA 7 IV now has S-Cinetone colour profile, something that was only reserved for Sony’s very famous Cinema cameras. That means you now get 10-bit 4:2:2 colour sampling for even better colours than before. It records at up to 4K 60 fps in Super 35mm mode, and up to 4K 30fps with 7K oversampling in full-frame mode. For the first time ever as well, the Sony ALPHA 7 IV features a new Focus Map that helps you with finding the right focus point while shooting videos. It also now features a Breathing Compensation feature to eliminate focus breathing and maintain a smooth, consistent focus change. You can turn off that feature too in case you want some focus breathing for creative contexts.
You still get Sony’s very famous 5-axis stabiliser built into the body of the compact mirrorless. The stabiliser allows for the camera to have up to 5.5 steps in shutter speed advantage. At the same time, the viewfinder is an even higher resolution one as well with 3.68 million dots compared to the ALPHA 7 III. For videos, content creators will appreciate the 3.0-inch vari-angle display.
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
On its body as well, the Sony ALPHA 7 IV features a clever dual layer mode dial to allow you to quickly switch from pure photo mode to movie recording mode, and S& Q mode. The top layer is now reserved to Auto/P/A/S/M and Memory Recall mode. It records to either a CFexpress Type A card, or a regular SDXC card too for ultimate convenience in recording medium.
Better Workflow
Source: Sony
The new camera is also much easier to work with than before. It now has 5GHz Wi-Fi for super-fast data transfers between the camera and your smartphone via Imaging Edge Mobile. You can even use Bluetooth for remote access this time. You can now use the Sony ALPHA 7 IV seamlessly with your PC as well as a Live Stream camera or use the PC as a remote. All these is done without using an additional software now and simply by connecting the ALPHA 7 IV via USB Type-C cable. In that case you can even make video calls with up to 4K 15p resolution, or even use the ALPHA 7 IV as an audio interface.
Pricing and Availability
Sony’s ALPHA 7 IV will be available in December 2021 onward. It will retail for about EUR€ 2,800 for its body only. If you opt for an ALPHA 7 IV with a kit lens, it will set you back EUR€ 3,000. It is not a bad kit lens though; it is a 28-70mm (SEL2870) lens. We can only speculate its pricing too at this point. More information on the Sony ALPHA 7 IV (α7 IV) can be found on Sony’s website.
The content creator market is huge in 2021. Of course, the rise in various social media mediums like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and even Twitch has created this huge demand for contents over the internet. To be fair, Twitch may not be a social media platform per se, but it does create a huge demand in more live streamed contents; pretty much what Facebook is doing with regular and even Facebook Gaming platform. In all these, the most popular contents are also the visual contents like videos and photo updates. Written contents have been taking a backseat for a while and we all know that.
On that note, we want to thank everyone who is still coming to the site to read our news updates, reviews, and editorial articles. We appreciate you and you are the reason we do what we do. Do let us know what you think we can do more of, or better in the comment section below or our social media platforms though.
With modern social media as well, content creation has been at its simplest form today. All you need is a smartphone that can support all the apps to start creating contents. Of course, using your smartphone to create contents can be pretty limiting. We always say that if you want to make the best video or photography content, invest in a camera; there are plenty of choices out there too. Today, your decision-making process is going to be a little harder, or easier, depending on how you look at it.
Source: Sony
The Sony Alpha (α) ZV-E10, as they call it, is meant to sit above the ZV-1 compact camera. Rightfully so, with an APS-C cropped sensor instead of the small 1-inch sensor of the compact ZV-1. It is also an interchangeable lens camera with Sony’s proprietary E-Mount. This opens up a whole plethora of creative possibilities with Sony’s extensive E-Mount lenses as well.
It features a 24.2-Megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor backed by Sony’s brilliant BIONZ X image processor. Of course, with a bigger sensor than the ZV-1, you should be getting a better image quality and better low-light performance from the ZV-E10. At the same time, there are a few features that makes this camera perfect for both experienced and new content creators.
For one, the Sony α ZV-E10 packs a clever Background Defocus feature that was first seen and highly acclaimed in the ZV-1. While the feature is more catered for vloggers, it is a clever system to sort of mimic the depth-of-field effect you get with more expensive lenses and larger camera sensors without spending the extra money. At the same time, it is less focus sensitive in this implementation, which allows subjects extra movement tolerances. “Product Showcase Setting” mode is also something that content creators can appreciate to quickly shift focus from the subject’s face to a highlighted object.
Source: Sony
At 343g (body only), the Sony α ZV-E10 is lighter than even the Sony α6400, and way lighter than the high-end Sony α7 series of cameras. That also means an added portability and versatility in your shoots. You do not need a large space to lug the ZV-E10 around and setting it up can be as easy as pulling it out of the bag and just point at your subject.
The α ZV-E10 is made with videos in mind though. It shoots at up to 4K 30fps and Full HD 120fps (slow-motion) to make this one of the most versatile compact shooters available in the current market. Of course, Sony’s clever electronic image stabilisation makes an appearance here. You do have to turn on Active Mode for stabilisation to kick in though. Still, you can get a crisp, stable 4K vlogs from the camera.
The new Sony compact camera is also sort of made to be a one-stop-shop for content creation. That is why the α ZV-E10 comes with Sony’s industry leading Fast Hybrid autofocus, and real-time Eye autofocus and tracking for all sorts of contents. You can use the camera to take great looking and detailed photos and track a moving subject for fast moving videos. You may not even need a separate mic with the α ZV-E10 too with its built-in Direction 3-capsule Mic and a wind screen included out-of-the-box. If you have a mic, you can easily use the ZV-E10’s mic jack on its side.
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
The Sony α ZV-E10 will be available in Malaysia from September 2021 onward. You can select between black or white colour options with the new camera. At launch the Sony α ZV-E10 will be available for MYR 2,599 (body only) and MYR 3,099 for a kit lens (E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS) bundle. More information on Sony’s camera systems and the α ZV-E10 can be found on their website.
Smartphone cameras have been on a roll in the past two years. OnePlus launches their OnePlus 9 flagship series in partnership with Hasselblad, OPPO’s Find X3 Pro comes with a microscopic lens, Samsung pushing technology with 108-Megapixel sensors, Sony even pushing the limits of their 12-Megapixel sensors with their Alpha camera knowhow. These are nothing new, to be fair. Co-branding smartphone cameras with big camera brand names started with Nokia and Zeiss. The phenomenon hit the main stage with HUAWEI and Leica’s big partnership since the HUAWEI P9.
With the advancement in camera technology on smartphones though, has these brands made proper cameras obsolete? While nothing bigger sensor still has its own advantages in terms of low-light performance and detail, smartphone cameras have progressed so much with the software that they are paired with that even low-light photography is a breeze with a smartphone. The advancement of smartphone technology also made it easier for you to get the shots you want in less time and less work than a DSLR or mirrorless.
What does this mean for dedicated cameras though? Does this mean we can replace these kinds of stuff with the small slate in our pockets? Or, should you still spend your hard-earned money on a proper camera that could set you back anywhere between half the price of a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to multiple flagship smartphones? We discuss this in this episode of Tech & Tonic.
