 Sony announced a 12.7-megapixel sensor Monday for SLR cameras, the IMX021 built with a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) manufacturing process.
The company will sell the sensor to others as well as “promoting its use within Sony,” so don’t be surprised to see some 12.7-megapixel SLRs coming soon. Sony has promised an advanced amateur SLR this year and a professional model next year, and there are indications that Sony’s advanced amateur model will arrive soon.
The sensor can produce up to 10.4 frames per second, a high rate indeed, assuming that camera makers can produce shutters, image processors, memory bandwidth and other technology to keep up. Its design permits use of low-frequency processing electronics, which is handy, because high-frequency circuitry can increase image noise. It’s an APS-C-sized sensor, meaning that it’s about the same size as those used in most Nikon and Canon SLRs, and it employs 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion, providing 4,096 shades between dark and light.
A sample costs 40,000 yen, or about $350. Presumably buying them in production quantities will be lower. The sensor’s pixel size is 5.49 microns square, a notch smaller than, for example, 7.2 microns for the Canon 5D or 6.4 microns for the upcoming Canon 1Ds Mark III. Pixel size is a key factor in determining sensitivity, but others include light-gathering microlenses, the amount of space on the sensor that must be sacrificed for electronics, and image processing electronics. The sensor will be built at Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation’s Kumamoto Technology Center, the company said.
 
Sony Executive, Mark Weir, Sr. Technology ad Marketing Manger for Alpha and Cyber-shot digital cameras responded to a recent rumor that surfaced about Sony dumping the Alpha DSLR camera line. His comments below:
“Hi, I’m Mark, and I work in Sony’s Digital Imaging group.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that’s provided their comments on our Alpha Digital SLR, and pass on some thoughts from the Alpha team.
At Sony, we take our customers’ thoughts very seriously, and this is one of the reasons we’ve started this blog. We are listening to the voice of our customers through this blog as well as other user forums on photo enthusiast sites. We are particularly sensitive to the voices of Minolta users as we look forward to their acceptance of Alpha as a strong continuation of Minolta’s prestigious heritage.
Many of you have asked for more information on the new Alpha cameras and lenses revealed last March at the Photo Marketing Association conference. We would surely like to say more, but the competitive nature of the camera business doesn’t allow us to provide further detail just yet. Even so, I want to assure you that the models are on schedule and that we are dedicated to fulfilling your high expectations for the Alpha system.
When introduced, we hope you’ll agree that these new models demonstrate our long-term dedication to enthusiast photographers and the Digital SLR category.
Speaking of dedication, I noticed a recent blog about a rumor of lenses being ‘recalled’ from stores. There’s no truth to this – Sony is committed to the Alpha DSLR system and its expansion – cameras, lenses and accessories and the Minolta heritage which they share.
Thanks for your confidence and patience- it won’t be much longer!”
Website : Sony Executive denies rumor about dumping the Alpha DSLR line
 According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 7/9 to 7/16. Ricoh “Caplio R6″ took the number one spot for a continuous of 4 weeks. This camera features a 7.1x zoom and Ricoh’s CCD-shift vibration correction, adding a larger 2.7-inch LCD and face-detection technology.The Fuji FinePix F31fd camera took the #2 spot from Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3, it is first pocketable digital camera to feature hardware-based Face Detection technology. Face Detection has great impact on people photography, ensuring the camera automatically focuses on and exposes for faces, rather than details that can confuse other cameras. Coping with up to ten faces in a frame, it ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and perfectly exposed no matter what the occasion.
Number three is Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3, the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.
Amazinging, the only DSLR camera that made it to the top 10 is Pentax K10D, at number 7 ranking. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 7/9 - 7/16 in Japan:
- Ricoh R6 DIGITAL
- Fuji FinePix F31fd
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX100
- Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
- Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z1200
- Pentax K10D
- Nikon COOLPIX P5000
- Olympus μ770SW<
- Canon Powershot G7
Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - July 9 to July 16
 In the first half of 2007, Nikon sold more DSLRs than Canon in Japan. Nikon Corp., buoyed by the popularity of its D40 model, clinched a 47.5-percent share of the domestic market from January to June, surpassing Canon’s 36.5 percent, according to Tokyo-based market research firm BCN Inc.
It was the first time that Nikon has held the top spot over a half-year term, although it had done so on a monthly basis before. Nikon and Canon have long been the dominant players in the domestic SLR camera market, but Nikon appeared stuck in second place for digital SLR camera body sales.
Comparing that to the first half of 2006, Canon led at 46.4 percent to Nikon’s 31.9 percent, and at 42.9 percent to Nikon’s 35.5 percent in the second half.
Competition for third place has also been fierce. In the first half of this year, Pentax Corp. came in third at 6.7 percent, followed by Sony Corp. at 4.5 percent and Olympus Corp. at 4.3 percent. In May and June, however, Olympus moved up to third, led by its E-410 model, which it claims is the world’s “smallest, slimmest and lightest” digital SLR camera. The model, released in April, weighs 375 grams.
Website : Nikon tops Canon in DSLR sales in Japan
 According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 6/4 to 6/10. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3 took the number one spot for a continuous of 6 weeks. This camera is the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.
Ricoh “Caplio R6” advanced rapidly from previous rank 6 up to the second ranking. Replacing the previous number 2 rank, Olympus Camedia SP-550UZ. Ricoh Caplio R6 features a 7.1x zoom and Ricoh’s CCD-shift vibration correction, adding a larger 2.7-inch LCD and face-detection technology.
Number 3 continued to be the Canon IXY Digital 900IS, US name of Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH. This camera offers a focal length range of 28 – 105mm (35mm equivalent), and a 3.8x optical zoom lens allows photographers to capture wider panoramas, architectural photos and group shots. The lens incorporates Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer to counteract the effects of camera shake for steadier performance in low light, at full zoom or when shooting from moving vehicles.
Interestingly, the Pentax K10D, the only DSLR camera on the list, went up to number 6 from the 10th ranking. New entry at number 10 is the Sony “Cyber-shot DSC-W200″. It features a CCD of 12.1 Megapixel and a high-definition component output with full 1080 photo-viewing. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 6/4 - 6/10 in Japan:
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
- Ricoh R6 DIGITAL
- Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
- Olympus CAMEDIA SP-550UZ
- Nikon COOLPIX P5000
- Pentax K10D
- Fuji FinePix F31fd
- Olympus μ770SW
- Ricoh R5 DIGITAL
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200
Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - June 4 to June 10
 This unique manual is better than the manual that comes with your camera in several important ways:
- It’s organized according to efficient workflow, so you can get the most out of your Sony A100 quickly and with the least amount of bother. You can find what you’re looking for interactively: by using the interactive Table of Contents, choosing one of the questions in the Quick Answers section, or by following any of the convenient links we’ve placed throughout the document.
- It’s not a book (unless you want it to be). It’s a PDF that you can read on your computer or on a PDA that fits into your camera bag. It is laid out on an 8.5 x 11-inch “page” so if you want to print, you won’t have to waste paper or spend time configuring your printer.
- Because it’s a PDF, you can find subjects you’re looking for by searching electronically. Typing Cmd/Ctrl-F brings up the familiar search dialog. So all you have to do to jump straight to all the references to a particular part or feature is to enter its name. (No reliance on a mindreading indexer.)
- The PDF is photographically illustrated so you can see exactly which combination of buttons, knobs, wheels, and menu choices will help you make the magic you are hoping for.
- In addition to teaching technically correct procedures, this document offers valuable hints for taking photographs in some of the toughest situations.
Website : Sony Alpha DSLR A100: A Better Manual at $9.99
Could this be the ‘High Amateur’ camera that Sony announced back in March at PMA and is it really geared with a highly rumored fullframe CCD sensor with In-Camera Image Stabilization SSS (Super Steady Shot)? If true, finally something to compete with the popular Canon 5D fullframe DSLR.
Website : Sony Announces ‘High Amateur’ DSLR Camera at PMA
 According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 5/21 to 5/27. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3 took the number one spot for a continuous of 4 weeks. This camera is the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.
The Olympus Camedia SP-550UZ camera stays the same at number 2 position as last week. The Camedia SP-550UZ is a digital camera with 18X optical zoom (28-504mm equiv.), a 7 Megapixel CCD sensor, 5.6x digital zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD display, ISO up to 5000 and anti-shake protection.
Number 3 is the Canon IXY Digital 900IS, US name of Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH, stays the same as last week. This camera offers a focal length range of 28 – 105mm (35mm equivalent), and a 3.8x optical zoom lens allows photographers to capture wider panoramas, architectural photos and group shots. The lens incorporates Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer to counteract the effects of camera shake for steadier performance in low light, at full zoom or when shooting from moving vehicles.
The number 4 rank Canon IXY DIGITAL 10 (US name Canon Powershot SD1000) is the first entry to the top 10 ranking. This is a successor model of the Canon IXY DIGITAL 70 (US name Canon Powershot SD600). The Canon IXY Digital 10 has a 7.1 Megapixel CCD image sensor, DIGIC image processor and 3x optical zoom. Other features include a 2.5-inch LCD screen, ISO up to 1600, Face Catch Technology, PictBridge support and a SD card slot supporting also SDHC. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 5/21 - 5/27 in Japan:
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
- Olympus CAMEDIA SP-550UZ
- Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
- Canon IXY DIGITAL 10
- Kodak EasyShare V705
- Nikon COOLPIX P5000
- Olympus μ770SW
- Fuji FinePix Z5fd
- Fuji FinePix F31fd
- Ricoh Caplio R6
Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - May 21 to May 27
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