Yesterday’s press event at Sony’s European headquarters was very informative. We were given the possibility to record with the new RX100V but not with the a6500 as this camera was not yet ready for primetime, although we did get a A6500 Hands-On too. Sony RX100V, Sony a6500 Here are, in short, the new features that these cameras have to offer: On both cameras:  The Sony RX100V and Sony a6500 both share the same BIONZ X image processor and front-end LSI chip as the new Sony a99II, which allows for high volumes of data to be processed. The buffer has been increased, which allows for capture of more photos per second and longer slow-motion videos. Sony RX100V – Better rolling shutter effect control Sony RX100V:  Video image quality has been slightly improved. Rolling shutter effect has been greatly improved because of better processing. Autofocus is now faster and more accurate than before. Photo mode allows up to six seconds of 24fps in RAW, theoretically allowing to create short 5.5K video clips. New underwater housing (Marine pack MPK-URX100A, up to 40m/130ft). RX100V Marine Pack Sony a6500: The autofocus function has been improved over the a6300 and you can now lock your subject in the frame and the camera will follow it nicely, which is great for single gimbal operators. Additionally, the touch screen will allow a “tap to focus” function at 3 different speeds, giving you a nice and easy way to change focus points while shooting.  Alternatively, you can use the camera’s EVF and use your thumb to glide on the screen and change to your desired focus point as you would have done with a touch pad. The overheating problem that was a major issue with the a6300 is hopefully a thing of the past. In the camera menu you can now change the “Auto power off temp” setting from Standard to High. As a result, the camera will get warmer to the touch, but the recording time before switching off will be longer. How much longer depends on many factors, but future user experience will determine how good it is. Sony a6500. Overheating a thing of the past? The 5-axis stabilization for camera shake compensation looks to be working nicely, but as we were not permitted to record, it is yet to be seen how effective it is. The menu structure has been improved and you can find all the video related functions – plus some photo functions that sneaked in – under one main button. Low light performance over the a6300 has been improved. Sony a6500 – Lock autofocus function Conclusion: It seems like Sony has done well in improving both cameras when it comes to video quality and functionality, although it is still a pity that none of these models have a headphone jack for direct audio monitoring. In regards to how well the rolling shutter effect is controlled on the a6500, I would prefer to wait for the final version before making a verdict. Stay tuned for our full camera reviews coming soon. Disclaimer: cinema5D was a guest of Sony’s at this European press event, and covered flight and travel costs. 

The new Sony Alpha A6500 with superior image quality, touchscreen, 4K over sampling with no pixel binning and 425 AF points was just announced alongside the updated Sony Cyber-Shot DMC- RX100 V. With a growing number of professional photographers and videographers using Sony’s mirrorless line, plenty of updated features have been included in these new flagship models. The Alpha A6500 The Sony Alpha A6500 sports a 24.2 MP sensor with redesigned front end processing, allowing for over sampling with no pixel binning from it’s 6K sensor (20MP equivalent) to achieve a sharp 4K image. It can record UHD (3840×2160) in 24/25/30p at 100mbps, as well as HD slow motion in 120fps at 100mbps also. Still images can be pulled from video clips too like we’ve seen in the GH4, in 8MP from a 4K video clip and 2MP from a HD video clip. It has a whopping 425 AF points, as well as 0.05s autofocus speed that can be controlled using the touchscreen at bursts of up to 11fps for 20 seconds. This is ideal for video, where users can ‘lock focus’ on a subject and track it through the frame. Auto focusing technology has got much better recently, so it will be interesting to see tests tracking and following subjects while recording. A new buffer has been added for long bursts of continuous shooting, as well as play back of photos and video clips. A new feature for the A6500 is the Slow & Quick mode that can capture frame rates from 1fps to 120fps in 8 steps, offering 60x quick motion and 5x slow motion. Slow and Quick is also included in the FS5, so it’s great to see Sony adapting the tech for cameras that videographers are using. The recorded clips can also be played back in camera, without the need for post processing. Sony has also included 5-axis in-camera stabilization like the one found in the a7S II and a7R II, optimized for the APS-C sensor and compatible with both E-mount and A-mount adapted lenses. The stabilization claims to compensate the equivalent of 5.0 stops of a faster shutter speed. The A6500 would be an ideal camera for gimbal use, or as a B-camera for those shooting with an a7S II, a7R II or FS5. Detailed specs of the Sony Alpha A6500 – 24.2MP APS-C sensor (1.5x crop factor). E-mount 5-axis in-camera stabilization (compatible with E-mount and A-mount lenses). 4K up to 30p at 100Mbps HD up to 120fps at 100Mbps 425-point auto focusing Slow & Quick frame rate control. 4K and HD photo pull from video clips. Touchscreen controls 0.05 second auto focus speed High density focus tracking New buffer for faster continuous photo bursts and quicker image playback. ISO range from 100-25600 (up to 51200 expanded). No headphone out. Menu redesign with grouped features. Check out our real world review and first impressions of the A6300 here, but how will the A6500 fare in low light? Our lab tests will show that in the coming future, but for now, check out our previous article on how the A6300 copes in low light scenarios. Also, if you’re undecided about getting an a7S II over the new A6500, check out this article on how the a7S II compares to the A6300. The Sony Alpha A6500 can be pre-ordered now from B&H for $1399.00, and will be available in the USA and Canada from November, and in Europe from December. The Cyber-Shot DMC-RX100 V The RX100 V is a 21MP, 1 inch sensor compact camera, with a 2.9x optical zoom and aperture of f/1.8 – 2.8. It has a built-in 3-stop ND filter which is fantastic for keeping the shallow depth of field in high brightness, and can record in 4K UHD up to 30p at 100Mbps. It has a full sensor readout with no pixel binning when recording 4K, for sharp images and minimized moire. It will be interesting to see if this produces an ‘overly sharp’ image though. Slow motion frame rates of up to 960fps can also be recorded, as well as up to 120fps in HD. Like with the A6500, you can pull stills from video clips at 8MP from 4K video and 2MP from HD video. The RX100 V also has similar fast auto focusing capabilities as the A6500, with a 0.05 second AF speed and 315 AF points. The auto focusing can track a subject, another handy feature for filming. Detailed specs of the Sony DMC-RX100 V: 21MP 1 inch sensor Fixed 2.9x optical zoom lens Variable aperture from f/1.8 – 2.8 No pixel binning when recording 4K 4K video recording in 24/25/30p at 100mbps. HD video recording up to 120fps XAVC and AVCHD video formats with varying frame rates. No headphone out. We took at look at how the RX100 IV fares for filming, here are the first impressions and review article. The Sony Cyber-Shot DMC-RX100 V can be pre-ordered now from B&H for $998.00, and will be shipping this month. A new underwater housing model, the MPK-URX100A, will also be available in November for around $350 in the USA and in Canada, $450 CA.