San Diego, CA—Sony introduced the α (alpha) SLR- α560 DSLR camera, which leverages the company’s Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. Along with the α33 and α55 cameras, also announced, the α560 is one of the only DSLRs with multi-frame noise reduction, sweep panorama mode, 3D sweep panorama and Full HD 1,920x1,080 60i video capture.
Additionally, Sony added to its line of more than 30 A-mount lenses with three models—the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm f/2 ZA SSM, DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM and the 85mm f/2.8 SAM
“These new lenses and camera show our commitment to the DSLR market and that we will never stop innovating,” said Kristen Elder, director, Digital Imaging, Sony Electronics. “These products complement our overall Sony Alpha lineup, which we are significantly expanding today. The camera offers a choice to those consumers who want to gain the benefits of professional-level shooting speed as well as be able to capture video with in a traditional style DSLR.”
The 14.2 megapixel α560 offers the same features as its predecessor, the α550, which introduced “quick AF live view,” 7-frames-per-second (fps) continuous shooting and auto HDR to the step-up DSLR class. Its next-gen Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor employs low-noise processing while its Bionz image processor has color-noise reduction that helps achieve low noise up to ISO 12800. Multi-frame noise reduction stacks a high-speed burst of six frames and creates a single low-noise exposure that boosts effective sensitivity to ISO 25600.
With quick AF live view, which utilizes two sensors, the α560 is said to focus as quickly in live view mode as when shooting through the eye-level viewfinder. And Sony equipped this camera with a 3.0-inch LCD screen that tilts 90 degrees and two live view functions; in addition to quick AF live view, for every day shooting, Sony provides focus check live view to enable framing and magnification for setting focus in macro and tripod shooting. Temporary 7x and 14x zoom views enable users to focus on fine detail while the 1x view shows 100 percent framing in the LCD.
The α560 also captures Full HD video in AVCHD files that can be viewed on an HDTV via the camera’s built-in HDMI terminal (cable not included). It also includes built-in stereo microphones for audio recording. And it offers creative control even when shooting movies, with users able to apply white balance and creative style settings, as well as adjust aperture settings and exposure compensation while recording movies.
Other features include: multi-shot technology that uses the camera’s high-speed sensor and processor to capture and assemble many frames to create low-noise, extended dynamic range, wide panoramas and 3D images; sweep panorama to capture shots up to 180 degrees horizontally or 126 degrees vertically; 3D sweep panorama mode to shoot 3D panoramic images with a single lens; support for Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD (including SDXC) media; and enhanced in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) that can capture highlights, midtones and shadows while handling severe backlighting and other high-contrast scenes. The α560 has a maximum auto HDR range of 6EV.
Multi Frame NR is a new function where, when the shutter is released, the camera automatically takes six frames at the currently selected shutter speed, aperture and ISO, and combines them into a single JPEG with a reduction in noise at the selected aperture and shutter speed that is equivalent to approximately two ISO steps.
The α560 camera body and 18-55mm lens kit will cost about $750 and will be available in October. With the body only, it will cost about $650. sony.com