Sony unveils its first video-capable dSLR
The A560 replaces the A500 and the A550, a welcome consolidation in Sony's dSLR product line. The new model adds video-capture capability, a first for a Sony dSLR. It's joined by three new prime lenses.
I feel a bit sorry for the Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. It's not its fault Sony chose to announce an innovative new camera technology at the same time it unveiled this update to the midrange dSLR line. Because if the A560 had gotten an announcement all its own, there would probably be a bit more excitement around it--Sony's first dSLR with video capture capability. True, Sony is last to the game, in that respect, but it certainly doesn't look any worse than the competition despite its tardiness.
In a welcome move, Sony has consolidated its sub-$1,000 dSLR line, folding the
| Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 | Sony Alpha SLT-A33 | Sony Alpha SLT-A55 | |||
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 14.2-megapixel CCD | 14.2-megapixel CCD | 14.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 14.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 16.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS |
| 23.6 mm x 15.7mm | 23.6 x 15.7mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) |
| Continuous shooting | 2.5 fps n/a | 2.5fps n/a | 3 fps (7fps without AF) 7 raw/27 JPEG | 6 fps (7fps with aperture locked wide open) 20 raw/35 JPEG | 6 fps (10fps with aperture locked wide open) 20 raw/35 JPEG |
| Viewfinder magnification/ effective magnification | Optical 95% coverage 0.83x/0.55x | Optical 95% coverage 0.74x/0.49x | Optical 95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.2 megapixels 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.2 megapixels 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x |
| Autofocus | 9-pt AF center cross-type | 9-pt AF center cross-type | 15-pt AF 3 cross-type | 15-pt AF 3 cross-type | 15-pt AF 3 cross-type |
| Shutter speed | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/100 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/100 x-sync |
| Metering | 40 segment | 40 segment | 1200 zone | 1200 zone | 1200 zone |
| Live View | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video | No | No | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps |
| LCD size | 2.7 inches fixed 230,400 dots | 2.7 inches tiltable 230,400 dots | 3 inches tiltable 921,600 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots |
| Wireless flash | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 500 shots | 510 shots | 1050 shots | 330 shots | 330 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.3 | 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.4 | 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 17.9 (est) | 19.4 (est) | 21.1 (est) | 17.4 (est) | 17.4 (est) |
| Mfr. Price | n/a | n/a | $649.99 (body only) | $649.99 (body only) | $749.99 (body only) |
| $499.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $549.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $749.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $749.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $849.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Ship date | July 2010 | July 2010 | October 2010 | August 2010 | September 2010 |
And here's how it stacks up to some of the competition:
| Canon EOS T1i | Nikon D5000 | Pentax K-x | Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 15.1-megapixel CMOS | 12.3-megapixel CMOS | 12.4-megapixel CMOS | 14.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS |
| 22.3 mm x 14.9mm | 23.6 x 15.8mm | 23.6 mm x 14.8mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | |
| Color depth | 14 bit | 12 bit | 12 bit | n/a |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 3200/12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 3200/6400 (expanded) | ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 6400/12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.6x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Continuous shooting | 3.4 fps 9 raw/170 JPEG | 4 fps 7 raw/25 JPEG (medium/fine) | 4.7 fps 5 raw/17 JPEG | 3 fps (7fps without AF) 7 raw/27 JPEG |
| Viewfinder magnification/effective magnification | 95% coverage 0.87x/0.54x | 95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x | 96% coverage 0.85x/0.57x | 95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
| Autofocus | 9-pt AF center cross-type | 11-pt AF center cross-type | 11-pt AF 9 cross-type | 15-pt AF 3 cross-type |
| Shutter speed | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync | 1/6000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync |
| Metering | 35 zone | 420-pixel 3D color matrix | 16 segment | 1200 zone |
| Image Stabilization | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift | Sensor shift |
| Live View | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video | 1080/20p; 720/30p H.264 Quicktime MOV | 720/24p Motion JPEG AVI | 720/24p Motion JPEG AVI | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps |
| LCD size | 3 inches fixed 920,000 dots | 2.7 inches articulated 230,000 dots | 2.7 inches fixed 230,000 dots | 3 inches tiltable 921,600 dots |
| Wireless flash | No | No | Yes | No |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 400 shots | 510 shots | 1,100 shots (lithium batteries) | 1050 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 | 5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 | 4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7 | 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 18.6 | 21.6 | 20.4 | 21.1 (est) |
| Mfr. Price | $649 (body only, est) | $629.95 (body only) | $599 (body only, est) | $649.99 (body only) |
| $799 (with 18-55mm lens) | $700 (with 18-55mm lens, est) | $649.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $749.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
| Ship date | April 2009 | April 2009 | October 2009 | October 2010 |
To me, the A560 looks like the first dSLR Sony's had in a long time that should be able to hold its own in the market without simply undercutting everyone on price. And it's got all the whizzy multishot features that Sony puts in its dSLRs, like Auto HDR and Handheld Twilight mode (in the A560 the latter is dubbed "Multi Frame NR").
Sony also took the occasion to announce three prime lenses. There's the pro-level $1250 Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2 ZA SSM, and enthusiast-priced ($200) DT 35mm F1.8 SAM and ($250) 85mm F2.8 SAM.