The following video presents A bride in focus – Wedding photographer Cristiano Ostinelli:
“Find out more about Cristiano Ostinelli and and Sony α9…
Award-winning wedding photographer Cristiano Ostinelli takes us backstage at a wedding shoot on Italy’s Lake Como. Working under pressure, he shows how the speed and resolution of his α7R III gives him the flexibility to capture incredible detail and dynamic range, without missing a shot.“
This is an update to the previous blog, Sony: New Imaging Edge™ Mobile Applications Enhance Mobile Connectivity and Expand the Creative Capabilities of Sony Cameras; Several Updates to the ‘Remote,’ ‘Viewer’ and ‘Edit’ Desktop Applications.
The following cameras will get new firmware updates:
Sony α9
- Sony α9: Firmware update’s benefits include Real-time Tracking mode for object tracking and advanced Real-time Eye AF via Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition, compatibility with Sony’s new ImagingEdge Mobileiii application, and Eye AF for animal eyesi.
- Sony α7R III
- Sony α7 III
Firmware update’s benefits for both α7R III and α7 III full-frame cameras include enhanced Real-time Eye AF, and interval recording functionality that will allow for simple creation of time-lapse moviesvii.
Sony α7R III and α7 III
The following video presents Sony | α | Real-time Tracking:
“Real-time Tracking is a new object tracking function that keeps the most challenging moving subject in focus. The ability to select any subject to be tracked while the shutter button is half-pressed provides new framing flexibility and allows the user to concentrate more fully on the image. If the subject is a person, AI is used to detect and keep track of the subject’s eye and face in real time for extremely high tracking precision.“
PRESS RELEASE
Sony Announces α9 Camera Upgrade Through Major Firmware Updates
Sony Electronics – 01/15/2019
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics Inc. today announced a major upgrade to its α9 mirrorless camera that will be available via a firmware update.
Sony’s revolutionary α9 camera will receive several major enhancements to its award-winning autofocus (AF) performance and image quality, as well as receive a variety of new features that are designed to improve the overall workflow for professional photographers. In addition, new firmware updates for α7R III and α7 III will be available that update these cameras with the latest enhancements including Real-time Eye AF performance and add interval recording capabilities.
“These new firmware upgrades demonstrate the strong commitment that Sony has to our customers,” said Neal Manowitz, vice president of Imaging Solutions at Sony Electronics. “Their voice is critical to everything we do, and being able to provide our customers with new capabilities is a source of great pride for Sony.”
Firmware Ver. 5.0 and Ver. 6.0 for α9
The upcoming firmware version 5.0 for α9 adds Sony’s newly developed Real-time Tracking mode for object tracking. This mode utilizes Sony’s latest algorithm—including Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition—and processes color, subject distance (depth), pattern (brightness) as well as spatial (distance) information to ensure that all subjects can be captured with extreme accuracy and precision. When photographing or videographing humans or animals, face and eye position information is recognized by AI and the subject’s eyei is monitored in real time with extremely high tracking precision. In addition, “Tracking On” helps initiate real-time tracking at any time by simply pressing a custom-assigned buttonii and “Touch Tracking,” which quickly activates through the touch screenii.
With this new firmware version 5.0, Sony’s acclaimed α9 camera will receive advanced “Real-time Eye AF,” the latest version of Sony’s acclaimed Eye AF technology. This exciting new capability employs AI-based object recognition to detect and process eye location data in real time, resulting in improved accuracy, speed and tracking performance of Eye AF. In all autofocus modes, the camera can automatically detect the eyes of the subject and activate Eye AF with a half press of the shutter button, and the camera will seamlessly track the eyes at all times when in AF-C mode. The new firmware will also enable photographers to select the preferred eye (left or right) of their subject as the focus point.
Other focusing capabilities that will be available with the new firmware include Touch Pad, Touch Tracking, an extended phase-detection AF aperture range that has been increased from F11 to F16, and Fast Hybrid AF for movie shooting that provides smooth, automated focusing for movies.
Image quality will also be enhanced with the new α9 firmware version 5.0, specifically in the areas of color reproduction. The camera will more accurately account for subtle changes in light for smoother, more natural tonal gradations in elements like the sky. There is a new auto white balance algorithm that gets added as well, which produces more consistently balanced images while burst shooting. Other new functions for efficient controls and data management include My Dial and Dual Slot media menu improvement, rating and protect functions.
In addition to the several new capabilities, the firmware also adds compatibility with Sony’s new Imaging Edge Mobileiii application – the successor to the PlayMemories Mobile™ application. The new Imaging Edge Mobile application features a ‘Transfer & Tagging add-on’iv function to assist professional workflow. This allows photographers to transfer images from their camera to their smartphone during capture using the FTP transfer functionalityv while continuing to shoot images, and adds support for including IPTC metadatavi on transferred images.
Version 6.0 firmware for the α9 camera will add Eye AF for animal eyesi, an exciting new feature for wildlife photographers that will enable interval shooting functionality for creating time-lapse moviesvii.
The new system firmware update version 5.0 is scheduled for launch in March 2019, and version 6.0 is scheduled for Summer 2019.
Firmware Ver. 3.0 for α7R III and α7 III
Sony’s popular α7R III and α7 III full-frame cameras will both receive enhanced Real-time Eye AF performance with the upcoming firmware version 3.0. This will be available in AF-C mode with a simple half-press of the shutter button. Real-Time Eye AF for animalsi will also be available.
The cameras will also receive interval recording functionality that will allow for simple creation of time-lapse moviesvii. The new feature can be set for anywhere between 1 and 60 seconds, with a total number of shots from 1 to 9999. AE tracking sensitivity can also be adjusted to “High”, “Mid” or “Low” during interval recording, allowing for reduced changes in exposure over the shooting interval.
The new system firmware update version 3.0 is scheduled in April 2019.
A variety of exclusive stories and exciting new content related to all of Sony’s exciting announcements can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site built to educate and inspire all fans and customers of the Sony α brand. The new content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery and the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube.
About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K Ultra HD TVs. Visit www.sony.com/news for more information.
i Accurate focus may not be achieved with certain subjects in certain situations
ii Function must be set via the menu beforehand
iii A successor application of PlayMemories Mobile. Existing PlayMemories Mobile users can use this by updating PlayMemories Mobile
iv Add-on mobile application for ‘Imaging Edge Mobile’. Available countries: US/Canada/UK/France/Germany/Hong Kong/China/Australia/Japan. User registration is required to use this application.
Compatible with ILCE-9 with firmware update Ver.5.0 or later, ILCE-7RM3, ILCE-7M3
v Compatible with ILCE-9 with firmware update Ver.5.0 or later
vi IPTC metadata for digital image metadata is a standard created by the IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council)
vii The latest version of “Imaging Edge” ‘Viewer’ and PlayMemories Home desktop applications is required
SOURCE Sony Electronics
The following video presents Sony | α | α7 III – Full frame 4K HDR (HLG) sample movie:
“α7 III is capable of recording high-resolution and wide dynamic range full-frame 4K HDR (HLG*) movies.
Full pixel readout with no pixel binning makes it possible to condense approximately 2.4 times** the amount of data required for 4K (the equivalent of the amount of data required for 6K) into 3840 x 2160 4K output. This oversampling process and full pixel readout without binning results in the highest possible 4K movie image quality.
Moreover, the combination of full-frame format plus HDR (HLG*) gamma achieves a surprisingly wide dynamic range. Full-frame movies recorded using the HLG profile will appear true-to-life with no blocked shadows or blown highlights when played back on an HDR (HLG*) compatible TV, without the need for color grading.
The BT.2020 color space is supported, providing a wider color gamut.
* Connect to an HDR (HLG) compatible Sony TV via a USB cable when displaying HDR (HLG) movies.
** 24p recording. Approx. 1.6 times for 30p recording.“
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