Press Release : Sony Brings 4K HDR Capability to Its VPL-VW320ES Home Projector

 
The new upgrade offers users the opportunity to experience true cinema quality images, in the comfort of their living room.

ASIA PACIFIC, 28 April 2016 – Following the arrival of the first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray film releases by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Sony is delighted to announce that it is bringing 4K HDR capability to its VPL-VW320ES home cinema projector. Continuing the momentum built from the projector´s initial release at IFA 2015, Sony is offering customers a new firmware update to ensure they’re getting the best possible image quality from their projectors. 

This upgrade highlights Sony’s commitment to developing HDR support and ultimate image quality across its home cinema portfolio. It gives the VPL-VW320ES a second life, making it the third Sony home cinema projector in the existing range, after the VPL-VW5000ES and VPL-VW520ES, to support the 4K HDR format.

Cinema enthusiasts will now get the opportunity to experience total immersion through the imagery displayed from their VPL-VW320ES projector, by enjoying HDR content with a high contrast ratio. HDR imagery is the closest representation of the reality our eyes see every day, with greater detail, high contrasts, increased colour depth, brighter highlights and deeper blacks. Watching content in 4K HDR gives customers the opportunity to view this content in a way they’ve never seen before, with 4K offering four times the detail of standard HD. HDR can produce images of such high quality and solidity, that users feel as if they are seeing the scene with their naked eye. With HDR, seeing, truly is, believing.

“We always want to provide our customers with the best possible image quality from our market leading digital cinema solutions, which is why we’re thrilled to announce this latest firmware update. With 4K fast becoming the new standard in broadcast and film, our customers increasingly expect to see this detailed crystal clear imagery reflected in their living rooms. In line with our other 4K HDR solutions offering, such as our BRAVIA™ screens and by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment´s upcoming 4K ULTRA HD Blu-ray film releases, we’re pleased to extend this future proofed technology to the VPL- VW320ES,” said Lawrence Tang, Senior Manager, Visual Presentation Solutions Division, Professional Solutions Company (PSAP), Sony Electronics Asia Pacific.

Sony has also developed a new unified control protocol for its projector range, enabling intuitive and easy integration when various models are used within the same installation.

The firmware update is available by the end of May 2016 for existing and new customers here.

Enhance your exercise experience through a reliable music player

Did you know that music has a way of affecting the way we exercise? Take for instance, fatigue. When we feel tired from exercising and want to stop, our body sends signals to the brain to take a break. If you’re listening to music at the same time, it will actually compete for our brain’s attention and override the signals of fatigue, enabling us to work out that much longer and harder. 

If you are a fitness enthusiast whose best companion while exercising is your favourite workout music, you will know how dreadful it is to arrive at the gym to find that you have forgotten to bring along your music player. This is when you realise how important your trusty music player is, especially when you engage in activities alone, such as running, cycling or even swimming.  

With a wide selection of audio players currently available in the market, how do you decide on which is the most suitable for you? Here are some useful features found in most devices today, and you can use this list to identify your ideal exercise companion! 

No tangle no hassle

It gets frustrating when cables get in the way of your workout routine. How many times have you had to stop what you were doing to untangle the cables from your arms or even legs? The most ideal solution to this is a wire-free, compact and lightweight device. There are currently a number of these players in the market now with a wrap-around headband style designed to fit tight and stay in place so can have the freedom to move as much as you want. Some audio players even enable users to make hands-free phone calls with its built-in microphone, without compromising your performance!

Comfort while exercising

Being comfortable while being plugged in is very important as it allows you to focus on your workout and nothing else. Other than checking out music players that come in sleek and compact housing, you should also pay attention to how the player fits around your head as well as the type of earbuds it has. Look for devices with earbuds that fit snugly and stay in place, even when the going gets tough. It is also a bonus when the device comes with interchangeable earbuds to cater to different ear sizes. 

Customization playlist to suit your mood

Make full use of your device’s storage capacity by customising it with music that you love. Download different playlists that you can choose for different types of workout sessions. For instance, choose different BPM tracks – high tempo for pounding the treadmill or mid-tempo for a stroll along the beach. 

Track your progress

Good portable music players come with a range of features that you can utilise to the fullest. Choose a device that would allow you to download useful applications that sync seamlessly with your smartphone. For instance, running apps can help you keep track of and manage your workout progress. You can even choose specific ones that fit the goal you are trying to achieve. 

Durable for different occasions

It would not feel like the end of the year if you don’t take a holiday or two, but that is how your usual workout routine gets disrupted. Want to exercise while you’re on a trip to the beach or exploring the wintery north? A durable music player is essential to withstand the elements of nature — choose one that is waterproof, dustproof, and tolerable to saltwater and extended temperature.

Be conscious of your surroundings

Communication is key. That is why it’s important to be conscious of the voices and noises around you so that you can respond when needed. Ambient Sound mode is a new feature found on the new WS410 Walkman® by Sony, which uses an in-built microphone to pick up surrounding ambient sound, allowing you to interact with people without having to lower the volume of your music player or even remove it altogether. It makes communicating so much easier! 

We should make use of new technologies found in today’s audio devices to ensure that we not only have enjoyable workout sessions, but also productive ones. It is time to plug in, crank up the tempo and get your sweat on! Do not load yourself with gadgetry, but instead, choose wisely and concentrate on that one product that will motivate you, and keep you on track to achieve your fitness goals.

Sony Donates 9,000 Books to South African Children

Into its 8th year, the South Africa Mobile Library Project in Singapore continues to see strong engagement from the local community

  

(SINGAPORE, 28 January 2016) – The 2015 South Africa Mobile Library Book Donation Project organised by the Sony Group of Companies in Singapore has successfully donated 9,000 books to South African children. With generous contributions from schools, members of the public as well as Sony employees in Singapore, the three-month project concluded in December 2015. The books are now on their way to South Africa, with support from K-Line.

Here in Singapore, Sony has been engaging the local community in this meaningful project by inviting them to donate books. 2015 is the 8^th year in which the project has been running and it saw the participation of the following 7 schools:

•      Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)

•      Bishan Park Secondary School

•      Chua Chu Kang Primary School

•      Commonwealth Secondary School

•      Global Indian International School (East Coast )

•      River Valley Primary School

•      Nanyang Primary School

Besides collecting books, the participating schools were also involved in sorting, tagging and packing the books. This provided students the opportunity for project management and teamwork. Some schools extended the book collection to homes in their neighborhood, while others encouraged their students to go the extra mile to write short book reviews and inspirational messages, which were inserted into the books for the South African children. This helps to create communication between students in both countries and lends a personal touch to the whole project.

 Clockwise, from top left: Students from River Valley Primary School, Chua Chu Kang Primary School, Commonwealth Secondary School, Nanyang Primary School, Bishan Park Secondary School, Global Indian International School (East Coast), and Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) contributing to the South Africa Mobile Library Project.

Besides the schools and students, members of the public were also invited to donate books at the Sony Store @ 313 Somerset. Books were once again contributed by the National Library Board as part of their continuous support towards the cause of the project.

Since the project’s inception in 2008, more than 170,000 books have been collected through joint initiatives by 13 Sony Group companies in 10 countries across the globe. The mobile library services have also been expanded to cover all nine provinces in South Africa, with 50 mobile libraries in operation, reaching out to over 900 schools. For more information on Sony’s support for this project, please visit: www.sony.net/library

About the South Africa Mobile Library Project

Tad Hasunuma, former Managing Director of Sony South Africa, established SAPESI (South Africa Primary Education Support Initiative), a NGO based in South Africa, to conduct the mobile library project in partnership with the South Africa Department of Basic Education, with the aim of improving the literacy levels of the children in South Africa. The project acquires used mobile libraries from Japan to South Africa, where provincial departments of education operate them to provide the loan of books to children and teachers at local schools that do not possess these materials. The mobile libraries visit the schools and the librarians onboard advise teachers at the schools how to select the appropriate books and use them in their lessons. As a result, not only do the children gain an opportunity to interact with a diverse range of books, but teachers are also able to learn how to utilize the materials, and maximize their potential. For information on SAPESI, please visit: www.sapesi.org.za/

Sony Unveils its Latest Products at CES 2016

New Products Enrich Users’ Lives in Every Setting, from the Living Room to the Great Outdoors

           

(SINGAPORE, 6 January 2015) – Sony Corporation will unveil its new lineup of products slated for release in 2016, at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held from Wednesday, January 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

At the Sony press conference held on Tuesday, January 5 (local time), Sony Corporation President and CEO Kazuo Hirai stated, “From the choices we’re making to be differentiated and unique, to the curiosity that drives our passion to face challenges, to our commitment as enablers of creativity, it is clear that the philosophical and strategic pillars are in place to continue to build a stronger, better, more profitable Sony. Providing kando continues to be the core focus and goal of our business.”

Sony Electronics (SEL) President and COO Michael Fasulo then took the stage to introduce some of Sony’s upcoming products to be released within the year, across a wide range of categories. Sony’s 4K BRAVIA™ TVs heavily emphasise picture quality and look, and they bring next-generation level visual experiences right into your living room. Sony’s ever expanding range of audio products offers you different ways to enjoy music to fit your unique tastes, from High-Resolution Audio (“Hi-Res”) to extra bass. Its line of digital imaging products enables you to capture easy-to-miss moments in the great outdoors and preserve memories of life’s most important events in stunning true-to-life detail. And finally, products in the Life Space UX series blend right into physical living spaces and redefine how entertainment is experienced. Sony will be bringing forth new products in each of these categories throughout the course of the year.

A video of the press conference will be streamed at www.Sony.com/CES.

 Main Products and Prototypes Showcased

4K BRAVIA™

Sony will pursue ever more realistic and immersive visuals, by merging its superb 4K picture clarity technologies together with HDR (High Dynamic Range), which has recently garnered significant attention as a new technology. HDR dramatically expands the range of visual expression possible, by realising higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colors. Starting this year, Sony will brand its BRAVIA™ TVs that are capable of taking full advantage of 4K　HDR content with a new “4K HDR” logo, in order to clearly convey to consumers that – with these TVs – they are assured of next-generation, emotionally compelling visual experiences.

The new X93D series of BRAVIA™ 4K LCD TVs is equipped with Sony’s brand new Slim Backlight Drive™ technology that takes picture quality to new heights by delivering the best quality from　4K　HDR content. With a unique backlight system structure, the X93D series realizes grid array backlighting, which was previously only achievable with full-array direct LED backlights. Slim Backlight Drive™, combined with Sony’s X-tended Dynamic Range™ PRO contrast-enhancing technology and wide color gamut TRILUMINOS™display technology, delivers brighter highlights, deeper blacks and more brilliant colors. This trifecta of technologies unlocks the full potential of 4K　HDR content, all the while realising an even slimmer TV designs. When hung against a wall, X93D series BRAVIAs virtually disappear into it, leaving behind nothing but the picture itself. This series also delivers a new intuitive viewing experience, with Sony’s seamless user interface and voice search functionality putting a whole world of content a mere click or query away.

At its booth, Sony will also be showing off one of its next-generation technologies, Backlight Master Drive. This technology boosts brightness and contrast even further in order to truly tap the full combined potential of 4K HDR. The Backlight Master Drive demonstration will feature a 85-inch prototype that achieves precision backlight boosting with ultra-high density direct LED backlights. Paired with X-tended Dynamic Range PRO, Backlight Master Drive attains an unprecedented dynamic range, dramatically improving visual depth and realism. It recreates incredibly deep blacks and dazzling lights with an ultra-peak brightness of 4,000 nits, generating images so convincing that they appear to be real, right before your very eyes.

Additionally, at its press conference, Sony unveiled ULTRA, a new app from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to be launched this year in the US. With ULTRA, you can purchase and stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows – the best new and classic titles from the 4K digital library of Sony Pictures – directly on your Sony BRAVIA TV.

Audio

Three new products will be added to the h.ear™ series, which not only delivers incredible clarity High-Resolution Audio (“Hi-Res”), but also makes a memorable fashion statement with eye-catching color schemes. “h.ear go™” is a portable wireless speaker that is easy to take from place to place. Meanwhile, “h.ear on™ Wireless NC” and “h.ear in™ Wireless” are wireless headphones that complement the wired headsets previously released. With these additions to the series, h.ear™ is now more portable than ever – from in the home to on-the-go – yet with the same Hi-Res quality and standout colors that free you to choose your own style.

In addition to its Hi-Res offerings, Sony is also adding to its popular lineup of EXTRA BASS (XB) products that deliver powerful, resonating sound, with the MDR-XB650BT headphones, SRS-XB3 and SRS-XB2 wireless speakers, and GTK-XB7 high power audio system. These new EXTRA BASS offerings will practically transport you to a club or music festival, allowing you to enjoy soul-shaking bass anywhere.

Some of Sony’s new audio products will also feature new Wireless Surround functionality, allowing you to easily achieve an immersive home theater set-up by wirelessly linking[1] Sony sound bars and wireless speakers[2].

Both the h.ear™ and EXTRA BASS series were designed to recreate the sense of “being there in the moment” as faithfully as possible, from the subtleties of the artist’s breathing to the powerful sound of a live stage performance. Sony will continue to expand these lineups further, in order to meet the needs of music lovers around the world, who have increasingly diverse listening styles and musical tastes.

Digital Imaging

The new FDR-AXP55 4K Handycam® camcorder is equipped with a new 20x optical zoom ZEISS® lens as well as a high-sensitivity image sensor with pixel size approximately 1.6 times greater than in the current 4K Handycam® model[3]. The FDR-AX53 also features Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ technology, which suppresses blur during all shooting modes – from wide shots to close-ups – and enables crisp, high resolution image capture in 4K even when shooting from a distance. It is also fit with a new Fast Intelligent AF and a new microphone structure that records high stereo sound and faithfully captures the original audio. In every sense, from image clarity to audio quality, the FDR-AXP55 is a sizable leap forward.

The new HDR-PJ675 HD Handycam® is equipped with Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ technology with an Intelligent Active mode that allows 5-axis image stabilisation to engage even while you are running. The HDR-PJ675 comes equipped with Fast Intelligent AF and boasts a 5.1 channel surround microphone which makes it easier than ever to capture high quality footage, with crisp picture and sound, anytime and anywhere.

Sony’s line of Action Cams equipped with SteadyShot™ will be refreshed with the HDR-AS50R, which will come packaged with the Live-View Remote. This Remote, which now boasts new intuitive controls, gives you full control over the Action Cam from a distance, including its power functions. New features in this model include 4K time-lapse effects[4] and underwater shooting capabilities up to 60 meters below the surface, when used in conjunction with the underwater housing included in the package. All told, this new Action Cam makes it easier to shoot high quality video for sports and recreational activities, and produces more memorable footage than ever before.

Life Space UX　

Sony’s Life Space UX line of products that break the mold aims to fundamentally change the way you interact with physical spaces and experience entertainment. Already available in Japan is the LED Bulb Speaker, which seamlessly blends right into any living space. Just by screwing it into a light bulb socket, you can enjoy music wirelessly anywhere in your home. The LED Bulb Speaker will be released in the US in the first half of fiscal 2016. Sony will also be launching the 10cm cubic Portable Ultra Short Throw Projector, equipped with internal speakers and battery. The projector is capable of throwing a 22-inch to 80-inch image onto walls, tables, or any other adjacent surface, in spite of its compact size. Finally, Sony will release the Glass Sound Speaker, which fills every corner of the room with crystal clear sound through the tube-shaped organic glass that envelops the LED source. It also showers the room with a warm glow that harmonises beautifully with any interior. Both the Portable Ultra Short Throw Projector and the Glass Sound Speaker will launch in Japan in the spring and in the US in the first half of this fiscal year.

The Sony booth will also showcase our wider offerings across a range of categories. Among these are products that leverage sensing technologies in sports entertainment (Smart B-Trainer™ and Smart Tennis Sensor) and beauty (BeautyExplorer™ skin-analysing system), as well as products from Sony’s start-up projects nurtured through its internal new business incubation initiative, the “Seed Acceleration Program”.

---

[1] Wireless Surround compatible models: HT-NT5, HT-CT790, and HT-XT2 home theater systems; h.ear go™, SRS-ZR7, and SRS- ZR5 wireless speakers.

[2] The software update is planned for summer, 2016.

[3] FDR-AX33.

[4] Created by splicing together consecutive still images taken by the camera at fixed intervals, using editing software such as Action Cam Movie Creator ver. 5.1 or later (available in January 2016).

Top tips for setting up your home for sound!

The above photo is only for illustration. 

Have you always wondered what you can do to bring the best out of the audio equipment that you already have, to experience the most wonderful entertainment at home? Whether it’s your TV, subwoofer or sound bar. Below are some tips.

Where to sit

This is an important factor to maximise audio in your living room. First, you shouldn’t sit too far or too close to the TV screen. The ideal set up for your TV versus couch should be calculated as – Diagonal length of HDTV x 2 = Distance from TV (in feet) – to get the best of surround sound. Second, your main seating location couch should be placed at least one foot away from the rear wall so that bass don’t sound too distorted. Third, the sound bar should be placed directly below the TV, while speakers should be turned 22-30 degrees towards the left and right from where you sit. Lastly, make sure nothing comes between the device and your ears as it’ll block the audio goodness.

Evaluate your room

If echo is strong in your room, try adding sound absorption materials or hard staggered objects such as curtains, books, photo frames and rugs around the area to disperse sound into all directions. Everything in the room impacts how sound travels, so there should be a balance to combat unwanted sound reflection or absorption.

Sound bars beat TV speakers

Full surround sound system is pricey and takes up large space. If you have a cozy little living room, a sound bar is the way to go. It not only enhances audio from the movies and videos you’re watching, it also lets you play music and tunes when you’re entertaining guests.

Subwoofer

Subwoofers give that extra oomph to sound effects and audio tunes. Place a subwoofer at different locations around the room to find out where the bass is most deep and sounds the best.

Hopefully these tips will be helpful for you to re-evaluate how you set up your living room! 

You may also want to watch the video below for a better explanations on the tips. 

Sony Expands Range of Compact Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras with The Launch of the Ultra-Sensitive α7S II

Out of darkness cometh light

α7S II

·         Ultra-high sensitivity up to 409600[1] with low noise across the whole range

·         Wide dynamic range across entire ISO range delivering smooth tonal gradation from dark to bright conditions

·         In-camera 5-axis optical image stabilisation for expanded shooting possibilities

·         Internal 4K movie recording featuring full pixel readout without pixel binning in full-frame format

·         Wide range of professional movie functionality including S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3, new Gamma Assist Display, enhanced Zebra Function, Full HD 120fps recording and 4x/5x slow motion recording and full pixel readout without pixel binning in full-frame format

·         High-speed AF with enhanced accuracy in wide ranging scenes and advanced shooting functions

·         Features selectable Compressed and Uncompressed 14-Bit RAW still image capture

(SINGAPORE, 16 October 2015) – Sony today announced the latest addition to its award-winning series of compact, full-frame α7 cameras with the introduction of the α7S II. Offering ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range across the entire ISO range and 5-axis image stabilisation for greater shooting control, the α7S II delivers stunning image quality for photographers who shoot in the most challenging light conditions. Be it the brightest of mornings or darkest of nights, the α7S II enables new levels of photographic expression at whatever shutter speed you wish to deploy. The α7S II also incorporates a host of pro-style movie functions including the ability to shoot 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in full-frame format, making it an extremely appealing proposition for photographers and videographers alike.

α7S II with SEL35F14Z

The α7S II delivers an awe-inspiring sensitivity range of ISO 50-409600¹, thanks to the combination of its 35mm full-frame 12.2 megapixel[2] image sensor and BIONZ X™ image processing engine. The sensor optimises the dynamic range across the entire ISO range and broadens the range of tonal gradation in bright environments and minimises noise in dark scenes meaning that it delivers impressive results even in the most extreme conditions. The upgraded image processing algorithm of BIONZ X™ maximises the sensor’s capabilities and improves depiction throughout the full sensitivity range with particular emphasis on the mid-to-high range. This means that the resulting stills and movies demonstrate extra-fine detail with minimal noise.

Video Master

The α7S II can record 4K[3] movies internally in the XAVC S format[4] meaning that content is wonderfully detailed. Because information from all pixels is utilised without line skipping or pixel binning, the camera can maximise the expanded power of the full-frame image sensor and produce 4K movies with higher image clarity and negligible moiré. Full pixel readout without pixel binning is also employed when shooting Full HD[5] movies, which means that it collects information from approximately five times as many pixels that are required to generate Full HD[6] and condenses the information to produce extremely high quality movies.

A first for the α7 series, the α7S II can record 120fps at 100Mbps[7] with full pixel readout without pixel binning in full frame format which can be edited into wonderful 4x/5x slow motion footage[8] in Full HD. The α7S II also has the ability to shoot 4x/5x slow motion footage internally which can be immediately reviewed on the camera screen. 

Video functionality has been further enhanced with new profiles: S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3. These new profiles deliver wide dynamic range and colour correction is easier to perform. The α7S ll even offers impressive 14-stop latitude in the S-Log3 gamma setting. The camera also supports S-Gamut/S-Log2 which is very popular among cinematographers and videographers. Gamma Display Assist is a new function that allows users to monitor images or check focus when recording S-Log movies and the Zebra function has been improved for even greater control. 

5-Axis Image Stabilisation

5-Axis Image Stabilisation

The new α7S II is equipped with the innovative 5-axis image stabilisation system that is proving extremely popular in the α7 II and α7R II cameras. The system corrects camera shake along five axes during shooting, including angular shake (pitch and yaw) which has the greatest impact on image quality and tends to occur with a telephoto lens, shift shake (X and Y axes) which becomes noticeable as magnification increases, and rotational shake (roll) that often affects night shooting or video recording.

Autofocus Accuracy

The autofocus system on the α7S II has been upgraded and now offers 169 AF points for fast, precise focusing with greater accuracy.[9] The power of the image sensor means that the absence of noise in images generated, enables the Fast Intelligent AF to detect contrast more easily and react speedily even in low-light situations (as low as EV-4), when it’s even tough to check with the naked eye. When shooting video, the AF performance is twice as fast as the predecessor model.[10]  

Electronic Viewfinder

Electronic Viewfinder

The XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ in the α7S II has been upgraded and offers the world’s highest viewfinder magnification[11] of 0.78x (roughly 38.5 degrees in diagonal field of view) and shows clear images across the entire display area. The use of ZEISS T* Coating ensures sharp reduction of reflections on the viewfinder and unlike an optical viewfinder, the OLED Tru-Finder™ can be used to instantly show how exposure compensation, white balance and other selected settings are affecting the displayed image.

Uncompressed RAW Format

The new α7S II will come with user selectable Compressed and Uncompressed 14-Bit RAW image capture, giving photo and video enthusiasts the choice of RAW processing types that will further elevate the performance of the camera. This new feature will also be added via firmware update to additional α cameras, starting from the recently introduced α7R II full-frame mirrorless model.

User Upgrades

A number of enhancements have been made to the look and feel of the α7S II to make it more user friendly, reliable and intuitive. Its magnesium-alloy body is both light and highly robust and the grip and shutter buttons have been re-designed so that the camera feels more natural in the hand. For situations when you just want to blend into the background, silent shooting mode can be activated for 5fps continuous shooting[12] and reliability has been enhanced with reduced-vibration shutter movement[13]. The lens mount has been further reinforced to ensure greater resilience, particularly when attaching third party lenses and users can now charge the camera via a USB power supply whilst the camera is in operation, thus extending battery life. For greater comfort and safety, Sony is also launching the LCS-EBF; a new premium leather body case for the α7S II which is also compatible with the α7R II and α7 II.

The α7S II is also Wi-Fi® and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application available for Android™ and iOS™ platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps, which add a range of fun creative capabilities to the camera.  Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca.

Fronting the 4K Revolution

Leading the 4K revolution, the new α7S II joins Sony’s existing range of 4K-capable cameras that caters to every needs of its customers when it comes to shooting in 4K. The 4K Handycam® FDR-AXP35 is ideal for capturing beautiful memories of your family in professional-quality, while the Action Cam FDR-X1000VR lets you record videos in 4K from your point-of-view perspective with a variety of mounting options and waterproof housings. The same advanced 4K recording technology can even be found in some of Sony’s most advanced, versatile Cyber-shot™ cameras – the compact RX100 IV and high-zoom RX10 II, suitable for both artistic shots and nature photography respectively. The α7R II, another recent addition to the award-winning series of compact, full-frame α7 cameras, is also optimised for recording in 4K in either Super 35mm crop mode or full-frame mode – bringing videos to greater heights.

Price and Availability

The new α7S II full-frame interchangeable lens digital camera will be available in Singapore at all Sony Stores, Sony Centres, and selected Sony authorised dealers from 17 October 2015 onwards, at a recommended retail price of S$4,299 (body only).

As part of the launch promotion from 17 to 25 October 2015, all purchases of the α7S II will be entitled a free 4K compatible SF-64UZ SD card, worth S$196. At the same time, Sony has an exclusive purchase-with-purchase promotion for selected FE lenses and accessories.

Specification Sheet

Lens mount		E-mount
Image sensor		35mm full frame (35.6×23.8mm) Exmor™ CMOS sensor
Number of pixels (effective)		Approx. 12.2 megapixels
Recording     format	Still	JPEG (DCF Ver.2.0, Exif Ver.2.3,MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)
	Movies	XAVC S 4K/XAVC S HD /AVCHD format Ver.2.0 compliant/MP4
Movie functions	Picture Profile	Picture Profile (OFF/1-9, Black Level, Gamma (Movie, Still, Cine1-4, ITU709, ITU700 (800%), S-Log2, S-Log3), Black Gamma, Knee, Color Mode (Movie, Still, Cinema, Pro, ITU709 Matrix, White & Black, S-Gamut, S-Gamut3.Cine, S-Gamut3), Saturation, Color Phase, Color Depth, Detail, Copy Reset)
	Other	High Frame Rate Shooting, Gamma Display Assist, Zebra, Time Code/User Bit, Rec Control, Auto Slow Shutter, Dual Video Rec, Marker Setting, NTSC/PAL Selector
Clean HDMI output		3840×2160 (30p(25p)/24p) / 1920×1080 ( 60p (50p) / 60i (50i) / 24p)
		YCbCr 4：2：2 8bit/RGB 8bit
Media		Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick Micro (M2), SD memory card, SDHC memory card (UHS-I compliant), SDXC memory card (UHS-I compliant), microSD memory card, microSDHC memory card, microSDXC memory card
Focus system	Type	Fast Intelligent AF (Contrast-detection AF)
	Focus point	169 points
	Sensitivity range	EV -4～20 (at ISO 100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached)
Exposure control	Metering type	1200 zone-equivalent metering
	Sensitivity Range	Still images：ISO100-102400 (ISO50 / 64 / 80 / 128000 / 160000 / 204800 / 256000 / 320000 / 409600 expandable), AUTO (ISO100-409600: selectable lower limit and upper limit), Multi Frame NR (expandable up to ISO 409600), Movies: ISO100-102400 equivalent (ISO128000 / 160000 / 204800 / 256000 / 320000 / 409600 expandable), AUTO (ISO100-409600 equivalent: selectable lower limit and upper limit)
Shutter	Shutter speed	Still images: 1/8000 to 30 sec, Bulb, Movies：1/8000 to 1/4 sec
	Silent shooting	Yes (On / Off)
	Electronic front curtain shutter	Yes (On / Off)
SteadyShot™ INSIDE (image stabilisation)	Type	Image Sensor-Shift mechanism with 5-axis compensation (Compensation depends on lens specifications
	Compensation effect	4.5 steps (Based on CIPA standard. Pitch/Yaw shake only. With Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens mounted. Long exposure NR off.)
Drive	Continuous shooting speed[14]	Continuous shooting：Max. approx. 2.5fps, Speed priority Continuous shooting：Max. approx. 5fps
	No. of recordable frames (approx.) during continuous shooting13	Speed Priority Continuous shooting RAW (Uncompressed): 24 frames Continuous mode: RAW (Uncompressed) 29 frames Speed Priority Continuous shooting RAW (Uncompressed) & JPG: 24 frames Continuous mode: RAW (Uncompressed) & JPG: 28 frames
Viewfinder	Type	Electronic viewfinder (XGA OLED Tru-Finder™)
	Total number of dots	2,359,296 dots
	Field coverage	100%
	Magnification	Approx. 0.78x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1 diopter)
LCD screen	Type	7.5cm (3.0 type) TFT drive
	Total number of dots	1,228,800 dots
	Adjustable angle	Up approx. 107 degrees, down approx. 41 degrees
Audio	Microphone	Built-in stereo microphone
	Speaker	Built-in, monaural
Interface		Multi interface shoe, HDMI micro connector (Type-D), Microphone terminal (3.5mm Stereo minijack), Headphone terminal (3.5mm Stereo minijack), Multi/Micro USB Terminal
Wireless LAN (built-in)		Wi-Fi compatible, IEEE802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz band)14
NFC		NFC Forum Type 3 Tag compatible
PlayMemories Camera Apps		Yes
Battery		Rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50
Weight		Approx. 627g (with battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo) Approx. 584g (body only)
Dimensions (W x H x D, CIPA compliant)		Approx. 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm
Operating temperature		0-40°C

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[1] Standard ISO 100-102400, Expandable to ISO 50-409600.

[2] Approximate effective megapixels.

[3] QFHD: 3840 x 2160. Internal recording and HDMI output, both at 4K resolution, are available in full-frame.

[4] SDXC memory card higher than Class 10 is required for movie recording in XAVC S format.

[5] In 24p/30p.

[6] 1920 x 1080.

[7] UHS Class 3 memory card is required for recording at 100Mbps.

[8] 30p (25p) or 24p.

[9] Compared to α7S.

[10] Compared to the α7S, when shooting Full HD movies.

[11] Amongst digital cameras. The viewfinder magnification is approx. 0.78x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1). As of date of press release, based on Sony research.

[12] Speed Priority Continuous mode. Focus and exposure settings fixed at first shot.

[13] 500,000-cycle durability. According to Sony internal testing, with the electronic front curtain shutter activated.

[14] Configuration method/Access method: WPS or manually/infrastructure mode. When connecting to smartphones, the camera can always work as a base without a wireless access point. (Security: WEP/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK)