Anyone who has snapped a picture with a DSLR camera knows how it can transform a flat image into a picture that tells a story. My first (and to this day, only) digital SLR was the Canon EOS XT Rebel. Since then, I’ve said goodbye to shooting stills with my point-and-shoot: they just don’t look as interesting anymore.
Several enthusiasts and indie filmmakers have been adopting a new technique, using video-capable DSLR cameras for higher-quality videos than those taken with camcorders. The picture taken with video DSLR provides the film-like narrow depth of field that keeps focus on the subject of the video and blurs the background, and shooting with DSLR is a portable and less expensive solution for budding videographers.
Last week, Sony announced the arrival of the new α SLT-A55V and SLT-A33 cameras, and along with them a newly developed Translucent Mirror Technology they promise will mark a paradigm shift in SLR construction. Kristen Elder, director of the digital imaging business group, said in Sony’s press interview, “Our Translucent Mirror Technology is one of the most significant SLR structural changes in more than a decade.”
In current systems, auto-focus can only occur in the time interval between image captures, so taking shots in rapid succession (like kids at play, or at sporting events) while keeping sharp focus is difficult. In the α SLT-A55V and SLT-A33, a translucent mirror allows incoming light to hit both the autofocus sensor and the image sensor simultaneously. The absence of a moving mirror mechanism not only saves space and creates a compact body for the camera, but also cuts down on time so much that the α55’s 10 fps of high-speed shooting is “the fastest in the world for continuous autofocus in an interchangeable-lens digital camera with APS-C sensor.”
Sony says the α55 and α33 will be available in September and will run you about $750 and $650 for the body only, respectively. You’ll have to shell out and extra hundred bucks to get a 18-55mm zoom lens.
(via Sony)
I sure wish my Canon EOS 40D have video mode to shoot. It would be frickin awesomeee.
But, I’m happy with my DSLR to take lot of good photo.
I’m sceptical — this can only reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor, leading to more noise and worse performance in low light. Semi-silvered mirrors are far from a new technology but are rarely used in photography for this reason…
I think the contrast-based autofocus system Panasonic uses on their micro-four-thirds cameras is a better solution (and it works really well in my experience). This uses the image sensor for autofocus, rather than a separate autofocus sensor.
This looks like a very good camera, definitely in line with what I’m looking for. My main interest is in low light shooting. I shoot a lot of our company events and I like taking photos without a flash to get some good candid shots. This looks to have very good low light shooting, among all the other cool things. I’ve had several other Sony’s and been very happy with them. If I do buy this, which I most likely will, this will be my first dSLR. Thanks for more info on it! Can’t wait!!
I went to school for industrial design. After designing for 5 years I became a professional photographer. I’m curious to see what image quality will be the like.
It’s a terrific idea! I’m supposing the term “translucent mirror” would be what we used to call a one way mirror like you might see on the TV show The Closer when a suspect is being questioned. One side a mirror, the other side transparent. I believe that might simply be how most mirrors begin before a backing is added. So long as the side between the film and the see-through mirror contain no light source, the mirror should act like glass. Very good idea they had. Is it going to be more than comparable DSLRs without a fixed mirror. Seems less expensive to manufacture.