Sony packs more power in Cyber-shot, announces RX100 V and Alpha 6500

Sony today introduced two new flagship cameras: the Cyber-shot RX100 V and Alpha 6500. The latest of Sony’s compact shooters, the RX100 V boasts a number of “world’s fastest” claims, including autofocus speed and continuous shooting speed. A first for Sony’s RX100 series, the new model features a Fast Hybrid AF system that combines focal-plane phase detection and contrast detection to lock focus in as little as 0.5 seconds. Processing speed has also been enhanced: A new front-end LSI works with camera’s BIONZ X image processing engine and autofocus system to shoot continuously at speeds of up to 24 frames per second at full 20.1-megapixel resolution for up to 150 shots. The pocket-friendly RX100 V includes a high-speed Anti-Distortion Shutter (max speed of 1/32,000 second). According to Sony, this function minimises the “rolling shutter” effect often experienced when capturing fast-moving subjects. “Featuring a level of power and performance that has never before been achieved in a compact, the new RX100 V redefines what it means to be a ‘pocket camera,’” Neal Manowitz, vice president of digital imaging at Sony, said in a statement. The next-gen device isn’t just for still life, though. It comes with various professional-caliber video features, including 4K shooting, 120p HD Full HD mode, super-slow motion capture, Picture Profile, and more. Users can also manually select a frame from a recorded movie to save as a separate image (8 megapixels in 4K and 2 megapixels in HD). Wi-Fi- and NFC-compatible, the new Cyber-shot RX100 V will ship this month for about $1,000; an underwater housing accessory is coming next month for $350. Check back on PCMag tomorrow for our hands-on preview of the RX100 V. In the meantime, see our review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV . If you’re looking for something a bit less automatic, Sony’s latest addition to its mirrorless cameras, the Alpha 6500 (above), sports the same super-fast autofocus system as its point-and-shoot companion. An upgraded touch screen, meanwhile, lets users tap to focus—similar to a smartphone. The new model is the first APS-C sensor camera from Sony to add 5-axis optical image in-body stabilization, with up to five stops of shutter-speed compensation. It can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second for up to 307 frames. “We’re offering photographers and videographers more control than ever before and a seemingly endless amount of creative possibilities,” Manowitz said. Priced at $1,400, the interchangeable-lens camera will hit North American shelves in November, accompanied by a leather body case; an eyepiece cup is also expected at a later date. Associated Press