PMA 2008

c PMA 2008

PMA 2008

SONY

Sony A Pro

new CMOS Sony 24.81 Mp
Sony has great ambitions about digital reflex cameras after the repurchase of the photo department of Konica-Minolta. Sony makes the event at this PMA.
Sony completes its offer on this market with Sony Alpha 200 and 700. At the PMA 2008, Sony presented its digital reflex camera pro (perhaps called Alpha 900?). It is near to the mockup presented one year ago and will integrate the new sensor Sony CMOS of 24.81 Million pixels. It will also have the mode anti-moved intern, obtained by displacement of the sensor, which is unique for a non APS-C sensor of this size. The new Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA with ultrasonic motor (Sony SSM) will be a perfect lens.for it.
With this camera, Sony will join Canon and Nikon and comes directly in competition from Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III.
This sensor should be also found on cameras of other marks (why not a Nikon D3x). The race to Megapixels is thus not finished even if more and more photographers prefer the quality of images, high and low lights rather than a definition obtained by software optimizations.

At this PMA, Sony presents also two new models Sony Alpha 300 and Alpha 350 with 10,2 and 14,2 Million pixels. These two models are based on Sony Alpha 200 but have a pentaprism viewfinder where a mobile part makes it possible to send image towards a sensor included in the viewfinder. This system keeps the primary mirror down and allows a LiveView mode without using the primary sensor. This system is faster and makes it possible to preserve the functions autofocus. A back screen that is tilting completes this original function.
With a range of soon five cases (A200, A300, A350, A700 and A pro), Sony will have a coherent and complete offer.

Sony A 350

Sony A 350 with tilting screen

To see LiveView system, go on picture.

Nikon

Nikon D60
Presented at the PMA 2008 in February, the Nikon D60 keeps the same body and the same CCD of the Nikon D40x that it replaces.
This new camera is the next best-seller of Nikon and has the objective to keep the 2007 first place of Nikon on the sales of DSLR in Japan. Like the D40x, it has a CCD APS-C of 10,2 Megapixels, the autofocus function is insured only with Nikon AFS lenses and the same size and weight (471 grams). It uses also a SD card but adds a dust-protecting system, a LiveView mode and the possibility to create some pictures animation.
The kit with a new lens 18~55mm AFS-G VR with vibration reduction is sold 679 € (March 2008).

Nikon upgrades its coolpix offer twice per year, for the PMA and in August. This edition 2008 of the PMA introduces eight new coolpix, with SD card, internal memory and EXPEED processor :

Nikon Coolpix S210

coolpix S210

Nikon Coolpix S520

coolpix S520

Nikon Coolpix S550

coolpix S550

Nikon Coolpix S600

coolpix S600

The Coolpix S210 replaces S200, it has the same styling case, a zoom with electronic stabilization an electronic VR (image stabilization using digital signal processing). the same zoom 3x of 6.3~18.9mm/3.1-5.9 (equivalent to a 38-114mm in format 35mm), only improvements: a sensor of 8 million pixels and a 2.5-inch screen. it is available in blue, plum, black graphite or bronze.

The Coolpix S520 replaces S510 with the same retractable zoom with stabilization optical VR (and not digital signal processing as S210 or S550) 3x of 5.7~17.1mm/2.8-4.7 (equivalent to a 35-105mm in format 35mm), a sensor of 8 million pixels and a 2.5-inch screen. It is available only in black.

The Coolpix S550 has a sensor 1/2.5" of 10 million pixels and a zoom with electronic stabilization (image stabilized using digital signal processing) 5x 6.3~31.4 mm f/2.9-5 (equivalent 38~190 mm in format 24x36); this zoom equipped already Coolpix L1. Its camera is very fine and has a 2.5-inch screen. There is available in black graphite, blue and plum.

The Coolpix S600 completes S700 with a new retractable 4x zoom with optical stabilization of 5~20mm/2.7-5.8 (equivalent to a 28-112mm in format 35mm), a sensor of 10 million pixels and a large 2.7-inch screen. There is available only in black.

Nikon Coolpix P60

coolpix P60

Nikon Coolpix L16

coolpix L16

Nikon Coolpix L18

coolpix L18

The Coolpix P60 replaces P50, with an 8 million pixel sensor and a zoom with optical stabilization 5x 6.4~32 mm f/2.9-5 (equivalent 36~180 mm in format 24x36), It receives piles standards AA and has a 2.5-inch screen. There is available in black.

The Coolpix L16 and L18 replace the coolpix L14 and L15. They have a sensor of, respectively, 7.1 and 8 million pixels, the same zoom 3x that L15 of 6.2~18.5mm/2.8-5.2(equivalent with a 37.5-112.5mm in format 35mm), a mode of automatic anti-vibration exposure, a large 3-inch screen and accept ordinary batteries. Coolpix L18 is available in blue and red.

lens Nikkor PCE 24mm/3.5

micro-Nikkor AFS G 60mm 2.8

zoom lens Nikkor AFS VR 16~85mm/3.5~5.6

Nikon also presents some new lenses. The standard is now composed of lenses in mount G without ring of diaphragm and with Silent wave motor, AFS; only these lenses have autofocus compatible with Nikon D40 and D60.
The micro-Nikkor AFS G 60mm 2.8 replaces the version AFD; it is a lens "full frame" with two aspheric lenses to correct the chromatic aberrations.
The zoom Nikkor AFS VR 16~85mm/3.5~5.6 is dedicated to format DX and is equivalent to a 24~127,5 mm in format 135. It is stabilized VR lens.
At least Nikkor PCE 24mm/3,5 is a not autofocus lens, it allows the control of the prospect by a tilt/ shift mechanism that allow to manipulate image perspective, distortion and focus. It will be supplemented by two other PCE lenses a Nikkor PCE 45mm/2.8 and Nikkor PCE 85mm/2.8..

Canon, Pentax and the others

Canon Rebel XSi

Pentax K20D

Pentax K20OD

Pentax K200D

There is no star or new camera at this PMA but the opportunity for each company to update its compact and DSLR offer. This update is often made by an upgrade of the sensor and a larger back screen. This situation shows the maturity of the cameras.

Canon updates its best seller thru Canon Rebel XSi/EOS 450D, camera body like 400D that it replaces but with a 12.2 megapixels CMOS.
An 14 megapixels sensor for the Pentax K20D that keeps the same characteristics of the K10D that it replaces too. The Pentax K200D replaces the K100D, the sensor increase from 6 to 10.2 megapixels.

pierre j.

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Created January 24^th, 2008; updated February 4^th, 2008
© Pierre J.