Sony to launch 10-megapixel digital camera

by Martyn Williams, IDG News Service, MacCentral

Sony Corp. will add a new high-end digital still camera to its line-up in November with the launch of the 10-megapixel CyberShot DSC-R1, it said on Thursday.

The camera, like previous top-of-the-range Sony models, is striking for its large Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 5X optical zoom lens. The camera body is attached to the back of the lens and extends to the right, with a grip on the end.

One of the biggest features of the camera lurks inside. The CMOS image sensor is APS-class, meaning it is about the same size as an APS (Advanced Photo System) negative, and similar to those found in professional digital still cameras, according to Sony. This means users can expect high sensitivity to light and low image noise, or graininess, Sony said.

In addition to a viewfinder, the camera has a 2-inch LCD that folds up from the top of the camera and can be swiveled around to face the photographer, or into nearly any other position. The image displays a live preview of the picture about to be taken, so the photographer can better judge things like shot framing and color, according to Sony.

Shot-to-shot time is 1 second and the camera has a 3-shot burst shooting mode. Shutter lag, which is the delay time between pressing the shutter button and the shutter release, is 7.5 milliseconds. The battery lasts for about 500 shots, Sony said. The camera accepts both Memory Stick and Compact Flash memory cards, and can store files in JPEG or RAW image modes.

Sony plans to launch the DSC-R1 in the U.S. in mid-November. It will cost around US$1,000. Launch plans for other markets were not announced.

Updated 3:40PM 09/08/05: Image of camera added.

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