Sony

Sony Overtakes Canon and Nikon to Lead the Full-Frame Camera Market in Japan →

December 3, 2019 · 12:22

Brittany Hillen, on DPReview:

Sony has overtaken Canon and Nikon to claim the top slot for full-frame camera market share in Japan, according to BCN Ranking. Sony showed growth in the overall full-frame, APS-C and fixed-lens digital camera categories from November 2018 to October 2019, as well.

Ultimately, Sony saw its total full-frame camera market share in Japan increase from 31.6% to 38%, while Canon was bumped down to second place at 36% market share compared to last year’s 37.8%. Nikon came in at 24% of the full-frame market, a decrease from last year’s 29.1%.

Quite frankly, I’m not surprised. Both Nikon and Canon have been resting on their laurels for a decade or so now, not innovating at all. Fuji and Sony are the only two “mainstream” brands that are actually trying something different and unique.

Size Comparison: Sony a9 vs a7R II, Canon 5D Mark IV, and 1DX Mark II →

April 24, 2017 · 15:21

DL Cade on PetaPixel:

One of the biggest selling points of Sony’s mirrorless full-frame cameras is how much smaller and lighter they are than comparable DSLRs, but does the new Sony a9 live up to that promise? Let’s see.

I currently use its older brother and the small size of the Alpha series was one of its biggest selling points. Great cameras, especially when you’re looking to travel light.

You’ll find more great comparison shots on PetaPixel.

Why Sony’s Full Frame Pro Mirrorless Was a Fatal Mistake →

April 8, 2016 · 13:02

Sator writing for PetaPixel:

There is a big craze for Sony full frame (FF) mirrorless cameras at the moment, and seeing people rush onto that bandwagon is like watching lemmings following each other over the cliff.

While I don’t agree with many of his posits and the tone of his article, his body and lens sizes arguments are precisely why I’m not planning to invest in the Sony mirrorless family at this time.

Sony’s More Powerful 4K PS4 to Be Announced Before PlayStation VR Launch →

March 28, 2016 · 21:48

Michael McWhertor:

Sony’s more powerful version of the PlayStation 4 — also known as the “PlayStation 4.5” and “PlayStation 4K” — is expected to be announced prior to the launch of PlayStation VR this October, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.

The upgraded PS4 will reportedly be able to play 4K resolution content, according to the report, and deliver “a richer gaming environment, including a high-end virtual-reality experience.”

Sony Is Working on a PS4 With 4K Output →

March 19, 2016 · 07:20

Patrick Klepek:

Sony is currently planning a new version of the PS4 with increased graphical power and games running at 4K resolution, developer sources tell Kotaku.

We don’t know whether current PS4 owners will be able to upgrade or if they’ll have to buy an entirely new device to benefit from this power boost, but from what we hear, Sony has started briefing developers.

Based on conversations with developers who have spoken with Sony, this ‘PS4.5’ will include an upgraded GPU both to support high-end 4K resolution for games and add more processing power that can enhance the games supported by PlayStation VR, the headset Sony will launch this fall. It’s unclear if ‘PS4.5’ is an official name or just a nickname that developers have been using. One developer jokingly called it the ‘PS4K’ while telling me about the device.

Will games that are enhanced for the PS4K scale down their graphics gracefully for the PS4 or will there be a break in compatibility? What about PS VR? And since this would require the GPU to push four times the pixels, would it still have similar performance to a 1080p PS4?

I still have a 1080p plasma, but is the first reason I would consider using to upgrade to a 4K TV.

PlayStation VR Launching October for $399 →

March 16, 2016 · 12:00

Andrew House:

With the annual Game Developers Conference in full swing, I’m pleased to give you an exciting update on PlayStation VR. Today, we are announcing that the PlayStation VR headset will launch in October of this year for a suggested retail price of USD $399 / CAD $549.

This is probably the first time VR has actually caught my interest. I might actually get this.

Next PS4 Update Includes Game Streaming to PCs and Macs →

March 2, 2016 · 20:59

Tom Warren:

Sony’s next major update to the PlayStation 4 will include the ability to stream games to a PC or Mac. Firmware version 3.50 is currently in beta testing, and includes the Remote Play feature. Beta testers aren’t able to test it just yet, but Sony is promising it “soon.” The update also includes the ability to set yourself offline and notifications to track when friends come online.

Pleasantly surprised the Mac is supported.