Sony A6400 announced, alongside souped up A9 firmware
posted Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 10:04 AM EST
Sony has just announced its first APS-C model in many years in the form of the (somewhat oddly named) A6400. We say oddly because both the A6300 and the A6500 were announced in 2016, and it's therefore not overly clear (at least from the name) where this model exactly sits. We've been told by some that it's the logical successor to the A5100, but yet again that doesn't exactly jibe with the odd naming.
At any rate, please see our developing A6400 Preview for more as it unfolds! We're still at the press event in San Diego, shooting and gathering data for you, and will be reporting our initial findings quite soon!
• Sony A6400 Preview •
From the earlier launch event:
Happy Tuesday, Sony fans! Looks like we're in store for a new announcement today from the electronics giant, coming up at 1pm EST / 10am PST, according to their site. We're eagerly awaiting the new goodies! Details are extremely limited as to what's coming. And by "extremely limited," we mean we have absolutely no idea what's on the docket for Sony's announcement.
Tune in tomorrow, January 15th, at 10 a.m. (PT) for an exciting Sony live event. Watch live at https://t.co/S06NVBMLLb. pic.twitter.com/sHzVbUA6md
— Sony Alpha (@SonyAlpha) January 15, 2019
There are a few Sony cameras that are certainly in need of a refresh. For one, both low-light photographers and video shooters alike are eagerly awaiting a successor to the A7S Mark II, which debuted all the way back in 2015! Its other A7-series siblings have long since reached their "Mark III" stage, but this high-sensitivity model has been oddly left behind. What's in-store for this model is anyone's guess, but improved video specs are likely. Will we see a 4K 60p record option? What about image resolution? Both previous-generation A7S cameras used a 12MP full-frame sensor. To keep the high-sensitivity performance, an A7S III will likely keep a lower-resolution sensor compared to the other A7 models. Battery life improvements also seem like a no-brainer given the previous A7-series both utilizing Sony's newer and impressive Z-series NP-FZ100 battery pack.
Another product area that hasn't seen much love is Sony's APS-C cameras. We did see a new APS-C-specific lens debut back in January 2018, with the E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS zoom lens, but other than that, Sony's APS-C camera lineup has been rather stagnant. The A6500 came onto the scene back at the end of 2016, so it certainly feels like we're well overdue for an new Sony APS-C mirrorless camera.
That being said, we're excited for whatever Sony has in-store for us. We have Sony's live-streaming video of the announcement down below, so please follow along. We'll also be updating this story live with the new product(s) details as we get them. Stay tuned!
Live Updates:
10:10 AM: Sony has said there are three major announcements today. Sony also firmly believes in supporting creatives from the creation tools, to the delivery system, to the end user.
10:15 AM: Kenji Tanaka, VP at Sony is speaking about the cameras, mounts and full frame business. They have increased their full frame business considerably since 2012, and now have the number one share in full frame as of 2018. Chart showing huge growth. In 2018, FF mirrorless received unprecedented attention due to competitors entering the market. In spite of that, Sony’s sales grew and expanded in each region. Expansion has been driven by customers, including pros who support their innovations. He calls particular attention to A9, thanks to blackout free silent shooting and revolution AF system.
10:17 AM: A9 will evolve further this Spring through firmware updates, will receive several major enhancements. They call it "Speed x AI," which is AI based object recognition. Introducing two new AF technologies today. First, is real-time eye AF for animals. Lets wildlife photographers focus on composition, while camera tracks the animal. Also will transform pet photography. Second concept is real-time tracking for fast-moving subjects. Showed examples of skateboarder, jet platform rider, with camera continuously tracking the subject.
10:20 AM: Massive firmware update list for the A9, from autofocus, to image quality, to usability. Over 20 new items:
Autofocus:
-Real-time tracking
-Real-time Eye AF by half-pressing the shutter buttons, AF-C mode
-Right/Left eye selection for Real-time AF
-Expanded aperture range for phase-detection AF in stills (F16)
-Advanced AF speed and stability for movies
-Touch tracking
-Touch Pad
-Focus area circulation
-AF area and ISO display limit
Shooting/Image Quality:
-Interval shooting for time-lapse movies
-Enhanced stability of white balance
-Enhanced tonal gradation
Usability:
-My Dial
-AWB lock
-Simplified White Balance setting
-Relay recording on dual media slot
-Rating and Direct Protect functions
-Grouping display for continuously shot images
-1:1 aspect ratio selection
-JPEG image quality setting for RAW and JPEG mode
-Blue color added to peaking
-Monitor Off selectable via DISP button
-Simultaneous proxy movie recording
-New initial magnification for movie focus magnifier
-AV/TV rotate setting
-Detailed face detection settings
-"MENU" added to assignable custom button functions
-Help display for menus
-Improved menu tab operation by Fn button
-Default display of My Menu
-Last cursor position improvement
-Improved Wi-Fi remote control (Imaging Edge Mobile)
-And many more
10:21 AM: The Update 5.0 is "the A9 reborn, and it's free." Real-time tracking adds eye detection and pattern detection, in addition to depth info and color. Example of it tracking two boxers, with the camera staying on just the fighter they’re interested in, even as they move around. For eye AF, you can do left eye only, right eye only, or automatic.
10: 23 AM: Both the A7R III and A7 III will also receive firmware updates, namely autofocus updates. Interval shooting and timelapse shooting will be added as well. The updates will be available in April 2019.
10:25 AM: Sony is emphasizing 5 fundamentals: Lens, image quality, speed, battery life, and compact/lightweight. With this at the core, they will introduce a new APS-C camera.
10:26 AM: Called the Sony A6400, they urge you to "Grab the best of life." IT has the world's fastest 0.02 second AF speed. Newly developed "real-time tracking."
10:27 AM: Sony is making a big deal of “One Mount”, same mount across all cameras, movie cameras, etc. Will continue to enhance both full-frame and APS-C systems.
10:29 AM: Neil Manowitz is on stage. Quick review of Sony’s progress in the US. Total full-frame market grew 31% in the US this year. Excitement dates back to 2013 when Sony launched the first mirrorless camera. Sony is up 97% year over year in the United States, and is the number one full frame camera brand as of 2018.
10:31 AM: Sony not only held #1 position, but increased their share this year. Pointed to lots of pro sports photographers using Sony, and two 10 news and visual media companies are using Sony now. Growth comes from the 5 fundamentals, and the collaboration between Speed and AI. A bit more about the A6400. "Only Sony could do this…" New generation BIONZ X processor from the A9, plus updated tracking algorithms. Has real time tracking, real time eye AF and real time eye AF for animals. Smoother, more accurate AF for movies.
10:33 AM: 24.2 megapixel, high ISO sensitivity from 100 to 32000, and high resolution 4K HDR video. It also includes an intervalometer for time-lapse videos. It can even shoot silently. It also has a 180-degree tiltable touch screen for vlogging. Screen is also touch-sensitive, and allows for touch to track.
10:35 AM: The A6400 will cost $900 US, $1250 CAD and 1050 euros.
10:36 AM: “Imaging Edge” software is the next topic which they launched initially in 2017. Today, two new mobile apps and update to desktop. First mobile is to enhance pro workflow. Tag and transfer by voice input (voice to text?) Transfer photos and videos transparently to smart phone in the background. Also supports time-lapse creation.
10:37 AM: The stream has ended.
