’Bonsai tree’ taken with the A7RII
The world is immersed in a golden era of technology, with innovation and future view as a guide to offer the best quality in terms of audio and image entertainment. But people are not just asking for an improvement on content delivery, but for a form of living their life in a more comfortable way. As audio technology is walking towards a wireless future, digital imaging technology is aiming to provide the best in the smallest size. And within this context comes a very relevant question: Who said a full-frame camera should be big and heavy?
Until recently, SLRs have typically been too large and heavy for people who always want to have a camera on hand for grab-shots, and a standard compact camera just couldn’t deliver the high image quality that serious shooters demand. The Alpha 7 series has become an excellent example of how the best image quality can fit in the palm of your hand. However, there is another family of Sony cameras that illustrates very well that excellent image quality can be achieved with lightweight and compact models.
High quality, small size
When released, the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX1 meant a revolution as the first fixed-lens digital camera with a full-frame sensor, being regarded by many as a heavyweight in terms of lightweight photography. As the product planner Tatsuo Kureishi remembers: “In response to user demand for increasingly higher quality images, the RX1 development team held discussions during which we tried to think outside the box in order to achieve the highest image quality ever”.
“We eventually realised”, he continues, “that only a camera with a non-interchangeable lens could significantly increase image quality, since it would allow us to optimise performance between the lens and image sensor. Furthermore, we as a company have always been focused on creating increasingly compact products.”
Developers focused on creating the ultimate ‘second camera’ that would primarily attract photo enthusiasts, which they ultimately created.
One step ahead
This was a challenge that only Sony could successfully take on since we manufacture our own image sensors, lenses and key components of image processing engines. But in this technology race, you cannot rest on your laurels. So we took development a step further, and released the RX1R II.
While evolving to achieve the ultimate camera, the concept of the RX1 Series has not changed. However, the image sensor has experienced a huge increase in resolution. From the 24 megapixels of the first model to the 42.4 megapixels’ sensor of the RX1R II, which can also be found in the interchangeable lens Alpha A7R II. This Exmor R CMOS sensor represents the cutting edge of imaging technology and shows again how the size and weight of the camera does not mean you have to compromise on quality, such as high-resolution stills and video with minimised noise.
With the RX1 series, we have created the perfect ‘second camera’, but that does not mean our commitment to professional, high-quality cameras and lenses up to any photographic challenge has changed. Enter the G Master series.
Tomorrow’s lenses today
With exceptionally high resolution as well as spectacular bokeh, the G Master lenses provide a whole new standard raising photography to the next level. Aspherical lenses are much more difficult to manufacture than simple spherical types. XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements achieve extreme surface precision that eliminates optical imperfections for the most beautiful bokeh you have ever seen. At the same time, our industry leading actuator technology means faster, more precise focusing in manual or auto mode. Perfected for our Alpha 7 Series, the G Master lenses are destined to provide a fantastic imaging experience until well in the future.
An all-round solution
From palm-sized excellence to masterfully manufactured professionalism: Sony’s developments in camera technology are set to lead the industry, providing impressive picture quality in a format that fits where it needs to: into your flexible and active lifestyle.
© Alan Schaller (@alan_schaller) taken with the a7R II.
