Sony α33 SLT-A33V 14.2MP Translucent Mirror Technology Digital Camera

The first Sony digital cameras to feature Translucent Mirror Technology showcased in a creative optical scheme that opens the doors to dramatic new photographing possibilities. Contrasted with traditional DSLR cameras, The Translucent Mirror Technology employs an unchanging, translucent mirror ‘splitting’ the optical path between the main sensor and a independent phase-detection AF sensor.

High-res live image preview featuring quick, precise phase detection af is thus constantly available, either by the adjustable-angle 3" LCD monitor or the exactitude Tru-Finder electronic finder. This also guarantees that even moving subjects remain in constant crisp focus, whether you’re capturing Full HD movies or still images.

Translucent Mirror Technology prevail over other conventional DSLR limitations, with its abridged mechanical layout reducing camera size and convolution. This makes the a33 a persuasive choice for cavalier photographers looking to acquire spontaneous family photos and travel scenes while carrying less.

Full-resolution shooting as fast as 10 frames per second with accurate AF tracking Landmark Translucent Mirror Technology offers high-speed photography with the a33 at up to 7fps using the Continuous Priority AE function. This epitomizes the world’s quickest burst continuous autofocus shooting operation of any camera with interchangeable lenses featuring an APS-C image sensor.

The recently engineered 15-point phase-detection AF scheme assures quick, precise autofocus tracking, keeping even with moving objects in crisp focus while continuous shooting. This enables the a33 to acquire fast action or the fleeting expressions of portrait subjects.

World’s first Fast AF Full HD video capture
The large Exmor CMOS APS HD image Sensor allows users to acquire stunning, cinematic HD movie footage with stunning background defocus (bokeh) results.

The a33 also marks the debut of Rapid Autofocus Full HD movie capture. Translucent Mirror Engineering provides AVCHD 1080i video capture with silky, accurate phase detection autofocus tracking of subjects in motion. Real-time movie image preview has become achievable by using the viewfinder, in dissimilarity with DSLR cameras which have a raised mirror that keeps light from entering the optical viewfinder in the course of video capture.

Composition and Image Viewing Without Effort
The a33 sets up exciting new framing and viewing of the highest-quality movies and still image possibilities. Already cherished by step-up by both DSLR users and other enthusiasts, The Sony Quick Autofocus Live View system has become more effectual than ever before. High-res live picture preview is integrated with non-compromised phase detection autofocus operation even with subjects moving quickly.

The brilliant 3.0" 16:9 Xtra Fine monitor freely tilts and swivels to a 270 degree maximum allowing comfy framing and shooting at any angle, providing superb contrast and detail.

Also, there’s a precise electronic viewfinder containing 1.15 million dots of resolution that provides a clear, brilliant image featuring 100% frame coverage. There's instant preview of exposure adjustments, field depth and color, either using the LCD or the viewfinder. Composition without effort is further assisted by switchable finder and LCD monitor grid lines, Additionally there's a new digital level gauge.

Enriched creative possibilities
The a33 is congruent with the complete range of more than 30 interchangeable A-mount camera lenses and uses the internal SteadyShot. This on-board image stabilizer scheme that provides up to an additional 4 stops of exposure of anti-blur correction when photographing handheld.

Also it features 3D Sweep Panorama, providing users the ability to capture detail-filled extra-wide panoramas containing a big field of view. These 3D panoramas may be viewed on any compatible HD 3D TV.

The latest-generation Exmor CMOS APS HD sensor supports a range of sophisticated digital photo processing and compositing functions, providing expanded artistic possibilities for beginners and experienced photographers alike.

Automatic HDR is now further refined compared to the earlier-generation a versions. Images from a triple burst of unique frames using bracketed exposure rates are combined automatically, creating one single image containing extended shadow and highlight detail. Multi-frame Noise Reduction ‘compiles’ a high-speed burst containing six frames, creates a single low-noise exposure which raises effective sensitivity as much as ISO 25600.

The a33 accepts both the Memory Stick PRO Duo, (includes Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo,) plus both SDHC and SDXC format media cards (none are included with the camera). Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX has a 30 mega-byte per second rate of transfer, providing the best performance for continuous shooting modes or when moving data to some other media.

There are far too many sub-menus, because there's lots of options and modes. Sony should have added some more external buttons like Nikon and the majority of older Sonys' have, plus scene settings, such as portrait, landscape, macro, etc. should be on the dial., With this camera you must fiddle around with the sub-menu. Also I would like to see separate scroll buttons for aperture and shutter speeds, nonetheless, only one exists.

Also, there's a digital view finder, since it's unlike a standard mirror SLR. thus live view uses up the battery quicker than the typical prism view finder.

The AF is quite noisy general and especially when capturing movies. Sony needs to include 1980x1080p at least 24fps as the majority of other DSLRs have. Aug 17, 2011

A handful of rangefinder cameras support interchangeable lenses. Three digital rangefinders exist, they are the Epson R-D1 (APS-C-sized sensor), the Leica M8 (APS-H-sized sensor), both smaller than 35 mm film rangefinder cameras, and the Leica M9, which is a full-frame camera.

14.2MP High Resolution
Translucent Mirror f/Fast Focus
921K Dot 3" Tiltable LCD screen
Full HD 1080/60i Video
3D Sweep Panorama Mode Quick AF for Full HD Movie Capture
7 Frames Per Second Continuous Shooting Up to ISO 12800 Sensitivity
Beautiful Low-Light Photos Possible

For the first time, a high-resolution live image preview with rapid, accurate phase detection autofocus is available at all times--via the LCD or the electronic viewfinder. This means that even moving objects stay in sharp focus at all times, whether you're shooting full HD video or stills.

That's not all the A33 has to offer, though. It's got 14.2MP of high resolution captured on an APS-C size HD CMOS image sensor, an incredibly sharp, bright 3" tiltable LCD screen with 921,000 dots, built-in flash, full HD 1080/60i video, a fabulous 3D panorama mode that combines 3 pictures into a 3D image, and up to 7 frames per second continuous shooting.

With the image stabilization, Hand-held Night Shot mode, Multi-frame NR mode (which takes 6 photos in rapid succession and uses the best data from each to create 1 stunning picture), and sensitivity up to ISO 25600, you won't ever have to miss a picture due to darkness again.

Face Detection recognizes faces and optimizes exposure and focus for them, Smile Shutter takes the picture only when it detects the subject smiling. There's also an automatic HDR mode which take 3 photos of a high-contrast situation, and melds the highlight, shadow and mid-tone data together to create 1 optimal photo. Of course the A33 also has creative modes such as Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W (Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness adjustable in +/-3 steps), Macro, Sports Action, Night Portrait, and many more.

• Sony Alpha DSLR-SLT-A33 Digital Camera
• Rechargable Battery (NP-FW50)
• Battery Charger (BC-VW1)
• Shoulder Strap
• Body Cap
• USB Cable
• CD-ROM
• 1-Year Parts and Labor Warranty

Imaging Resource has just published their review of the Sony SLT-A33, a Digital Interchangeable Lens (DIL) camera with a 14.2MP APS HD CMOS sensor, main sensor Live View with Phase detection, electronic viewfinder (1.15M-dot), articulated 3.0-in. tilt/swivel LCD (921k-dot), Continuous Shooting at 10fps, Continuous Shooting 7 fps, 15-point auto focus, 3D Sweep Panorama, and Quick AF Full HD Movie. The fixed translucent (semi-transparent) mirror allows full-time Live View and full-time Phase-detection AF even when recording HD movies. Read the full Sony SLT-A33 review at: Imaging Resource.

Light, compact α55 and α33: up to 10fps shooting with high-speed AF tracking and Full HD movie

α55 (SLT-A55V) (16.2 megapixels) and α33 (SLT-A33) (14.2 megapixels)
Ultra-quick shooting up to 10fps with fast, precision phase detection AF
First ever Quick AF HD Movie with smooth, continuous autofocus during video shooting
Enhanced Quick AF Live View and 7.5 cm (3") free-angle LCD, plus Tru-Finder (Electronic Viewfinder) with 100% coverage
Advanced imaging functions including 3D Sweep Panorama, Auto HDR and multi-frame noise reduction
The α (pronounced Alpha) family of interchangeable lens cameras from Sony grows with the compact, ultra-responsive new α55 and α33.