Digital Technology News, Camera, Camcorder and Cool Gadget Reviews

Sony’s latest external Blu-ray drive supports dual-layer burning, so you can write a massive 50GB of data to a single disc. The BDX-S500U will play Blu-ray movies on a laptop or PC and supports 3D content on a compatible display.

Disc writing speeds were very close to Sony’s estimates, managing 4x when writing 25GB of files to a Blu-ray disc. A 50GB, dual-layer disc took around 45 minutes to burn, which is average for a 4x writer. DVD write speeds were also reasonable, taking 12 minutes for single-layer and 25 minutes for dual-layer discs. Read the rest of this entry »

SONY is set to launch a 5-in screen intended to work with the company’s NEX and Alpha cameras.

The accessory is designed to allow users to monitor, capture and playback in a larger format via HDMI connection.

The CLM-V55 LCD screen is set to go on sale in March  and is expected to cost $399.

Designed with the NEX-VG10 video camera in mind, the shaded screen is also able to take over the job of any camera that features an HDMI output connection whether made by Sony or not.

Powered by a standard Sony Alpha battery, the screen comes with an adapter to allow it to be fitted to the Alpha hotshoe as well as one for a standard tripod socket. Read the rest of this entry »

Sony’s H55 is one of the most recent additions to the mid-zoom compact genre. Its lens spans a focal range from a wideangle 25mm to an impressive 250mm at the long end, while a 14.1 MP CCD sensor and a 3-inch LCD screen also feature.

There is plenty of functionality tucked away in the menu options too, including Sweep Panorama, Smile Capture and a 720p HD movie recording mode.

The H55 bears more than a slight resemblance to Panasonic’s rival TZ range, but its grip is less defined and there are fewer direct controls. The small menu pad on the rear can be awkward to operate comfortably due to its size. Read the rest of this entry »

Sony takes the top honors in a segment that did not offer too many products this year. The XR550E is good for all-round use.

It supports Full HD movie recording and has a massive 240 GB built-in hard drive for storing the footage. The 3.5-inch touchscreen is bright and crisp.

The Sony machine also supports 5.1 channel audio recording and has a shoe to attach an external light source as well. Despite packing in so much, it is incredibly light.

Specs: 1080p resolution; MPEG 4 video recording; 10X optical zoom; 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD; 12 MP image capture; USB, mini HDMI port and weights 500 gm.

The best live-view experience in DSLRs just got better with the addition of 100% accuracy view from the imaging sensor plus the no-delay version using a separate sensor.

Speedy 7-fps burst capture and in-the-camera HDR, too, but still a bit expensive considering there’s no video.

The Alpha 550 also features 3-in LCD screen, 14.2 megapixel CMOS, 12-bit RAW capture.

At a time when many new interchangeable-lens cameras have been forgoing refl ex mirrors altogether,  Sony’s new Alpha 55 (and Alpha 33) take a radically different approach.

Instead of ditching the mirror mirror— and with it, speedy, reliable autofocus—Sony gave these two DSLRs a semi-transparent mirror that doesn’t fl ip up and down. The result: Cameras that can autofocus continuously while recording high-defi nition video, and fi re off stills at high burst rates—and that keep the existing Alpha lensmount for compatibility with the entire Sony lens catalog. They’re also smaller and lighter than Sony DSLRs in the same class. Read the rest of this entry »

When Sony released its innovative NEX-3 and NEX-5 compact system cameras, the company came under a lot of criticism for some the decisions made regarding the user interface.

Because of camera size, there were a limited number of controls and many of them didn’t have dedicated functions, making the camera clumsy in certain scenarios. Read the rest of this entry »

Sony has launched a completely new camera system to rival the Micro System Cameras from Samsung, Olympus and Panasonic. The NEX system starts out with two cameras, the NEX-3 and NEX-5, a choice of three lenses, an Alpha lens mountadaptor and a host of peripheral accessories. Like its rivals, the NEX models are based around the principle of fitting a DSLR sensor into a much smaller, body achieved by dispensing with the bulky mirror assembly found in DSLRs.

The cameras are targeted mainly at those upgrading from compacts, so external buttons are kept to a minimum, and a slick, novice-friendly interface includes the instruction manual, a pop-up Help Guide and a set of illustrated Shooting Tips. Both the NEX-5 and NEX-3 feature a 14.2MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and Bionz processor, and a new E-mount for a range of interchangeable lenses. Read the rest of this entry »

Sony announced about the  development of a new AVCHD camcorder that will feature an interchangeable lens system. This new line of camcorders will be compatible with the E Mount lens system that was developed for Sony’s new NEX line of DSLR cameras. The new camcorder will also be compatible with A Mount DSLR lenses with the purchase of a mount adapter.

Unfortunately we do not know much about the device. The only internal specs we can detail for sure is that the new Sony camcorder will be equipped with the same CMOS sensor as Sony’s new digital cameras: the NEX-5 and NEX-3.

Sony unveiled its slick LX900 line of 3D TVs at CES last month and the electronics giant has now announced that the sets are on display in Sony Style stores.

The BRAVIA XBR-LX900 series features integrated 3D functionality, Edge LED backlight, and Sony’s new Monolithic Design and Motionflow™ PRO 240Hz motion compensation technology, which helps produces smooth images in fast moving content such as sport and action movies.

The HDTV also includes integrated 3D functionality, BRAVIA Internet Widgets and integrated Wi-Fi which allows the owner to  access entertainment websites like Amazon Video On Demand and YouTube.