Industry News: Canadian Press Chose Sony As Exclusive Provider for Imaging Products

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Aiaiai those Canadians. Preferring Sony over Canon. How dare you, eh? ;-)

Press release:

The Canadian Press Makes Sony Electronics its Exclusive Provider for Imaging Products

Sony Electronics – 01/31/2022

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics, a global imaging leader, and The Canadian Press, Canada’s trusted national news agency, announced today that Sony would be the exclusive imaging products provider for the media company.

With more than 180 journalists, The Canadian Press produces real-time, bilingual multimedia news published by major digital, broadcast and print media. The switch to Sony will mean the photojournalists and videographers at The Canadian Press will use a variety of Sony cameras and lenses including the Sony Alpha 1 and Alpha 9 II products to quickly capture hundreds of powerful editorial photos and videos every day, ranging from large-scale global sporting events to local Canadian news, politics and lifestyle content.

“We are honored to announce this collaboration with The Canadian Press, a leader in delivering news and best-in-class multimedia content across Canada,” said Mark Saddleton, Sony Canada Country Head and Director of Sales. “The journalists at The Canadian Press have a front row seat for Canada’s biggest events across politics, sports and entertainment and we are delighted to support their visual storytelling.”

“Sony’s innovative technology takes the high quality of our visual journalism to a whole new level,” said Malcolm Kirk, President of The Canadian Press. “More than 600 media clients rely on our online CP Images archive as the go-to destination for contemporary and historic multimedia imagery of Canada’s people, places and events. That’s why we were looking for more than just a camera provider. We needed a true partner committed to helping us deliver first-rate visual journalism.”

“Sony’s commitment goes beyond providing lightweight equipment for handling fast action, hostile situations, and extreme weather conditions, without sacrificing image quality,” said Megan Leach, who manages visual journalists at The Canadian Press and heads up the planning and packaging department. “Our journalists truly appreciate how the silent camera performance allows them to stay behind the scenes, but more importantly, that Sony is responsive to our feedback.”

“From the outset, they’ve taken a relationship-driven approach to the upgrade, which will bring a unified look to our coverage since all our staff photographers and reporters will be shooting with the same brand of cameras for photos and videos for the first time “They understood the ongoing training and support was as critical as the technology. We’re thrilled to have their support as we expand our visual coverage and meet the future needs of our industry.”

The roll out of Sony imaging kits to Canadian Press journalists is already in progress, with distribution planned throughout early 2022. 

About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.

About The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press has been Canada’s trusted news leader for more than 100 years and is the exclusive Canadian distributor of international news from The Associated Press. More than 180 journalists produce, package and deliver real-time, bilingual news articles, photos, graphics, video and audio clips for use in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV newscasts, websites, company blogs, social channels, digital signage screens and more. Clients depend on their reliable, accurate and fast coverage, written and edited according to the standards set for the industry by The Canadian Press Stylebook. Through its commercial division, The Canadian Press also helps media, PR and marketing professionals by providing photography, videography and other custom content services; media monitoring, press release distribution and CP style training.

http://www.thecanadianpress.com

A Parody Comparison: Sony a1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Canon EOS R3

Eos R3
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Here is a neat parody about the competition in the mirrorless market. It’s survival of the fittest: Sony a1, Nikon Z9 and Canon EOS R3.

The folks at DPReview TV made the little parody video below. Imagine…

A plane crash leaves the mirrorless flagships overexposed to the dynamic range of elements. Will Canon, Nikon & Sony come to their sensors and group together to weather the aberrations ahead, or will they cannibalize one another?

Which one will survive through hunger (battery), nighttime and the ever persistent menace of smartphones? See for yourself.

Industry News: Sony Develops World’s First Stacked CMOS Sensor With 2-Layer Transistor Pixel

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Sony announced the development of a new image sensor with 2-Layer transistor pixels.

Sony press release:

Sony Develops World’s First*1 Stacked CMOS Image Sensor Technology
with 2-Layer Transistor Pixel

Widens Dynamic Range and Reduces Noise by Approximately Doubling*2 Saturation Signal Level*3

*1: As of announcement on December 16, 2021.

*2: Based on comparison, on a one square μm equivalent basis, between existing image sensor and the new technology applied to Sony’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor; as of announcement on December 16, 2021.

*3: A single pixel’s maximum electron storage capacity.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (“Sony”) has succeeded in developing the world’s first*1 stacked CMOS image sensor technology with 2-Layer Transistor Pixel. Whereas conventional CMOS image sensors’ photodiodes and pixel transistors occupy the same substrate, Sony’s new technology separates photodiodes and pixel transistors on different substrate layers. This new architecture approximately doubles*2 saturation signal level*3 relative to conventional image sensors, widens dynamic range and reduces noise, thereby substantially improving imaging properties. The new technology’s pixel structure will enable pixels to maintain or improve their existing properties at not only current but also smaller pixel sizes.

Sony announced this breakthrough at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting that started on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

Stacked CMOS image sensor architectures

A stacked CMOS image sensor adopts a stacked structure consisting of a pixel chip made up of back-illuminated pixels stacked atop a logic chip where signal processing circuits are formed. Within the pixel chip, photodiodes for converting light to electrical signals, and pixel transistors for controlling the signals are situated alongside each other on the same layer. Increasing saturation signal level within form-factor constraints plays an important role in realizing high image quality with wide dynamic range.

Sony’s new architecture is an advancement in stacked CMOS image sensor technology. Using its proprietary stacking technology, Sony packaged the photodiodes and pixel transistors on separate substrates stacked one atop the other.
In conventional stacked CMOS image sensors, by contrast, the photodiodes and pixel transistors sit alongside each other on the same substrate. The new stacking technology enables adoption of architectures that allow the photodiode and pixel transistor layers to each be optimized, thereby approximately doubling saturation signal level relative to conventional image sensors and, in turn, widening dynamic range.

Additionally, because pixel transistors other than transfer gates (TRG), including reset transistors (RST), select transistors (SEL) and amp transistors (AMP), occupy a photodiode-free layer, the amp transistors can be increased in size. By increasing amp transistor size, Sony succeeded in substantially reducing the noise to which nighttime and other dark-location images are prone.
The widened dynamic range and noise reduction available from this new technology will prevent underexposure and overexposure in settings with a combination of bright and dim illumination (e.g., backlit settings) and enable high-quality, low-noise images even in low-light (e.g., indoor, nighttime) settings.
Sony will contribute to the realization of increasingly high-quality imaging such as smartphone photographs with its 2-Layer Transistor Pixel technology.

[via Sony Alpha Rumors]

Enthusiast Mirrorless Comparison: Sony a7 IV vs Canon EOS R6

Canon Eos R6
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Two so called entry level full frame mirrorless cameras get compared. The Sony a7 IV vs the Canon EOS R6.

Sony a7 IV at a glance:

  • 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS Sensor
  • Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-51200
  • 4K 60p Video in 10-Bit, S-Cinetone
  • 3.68m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate
  • 3″ 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • 759-Pt. Fast Hybrid AF, Real-time Eye AF
  • Focus Breathing Compensation
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
  • Creative Looks and Soft Skin Effect
  • 4K 15p UVC/UAC Streaming via USB Type-C

Canon EOS R6 at a glance:

  • 20MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC X Image Processor
  • 4K60p and FHD 120p 10-Bit Internal Video
  • Sensor-Shift 5-Axis Image Stabilization
  • 12 fps Mech. Shutter, 20 fps E. Shutter
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 1053 Points
  • 0.5″ 3.69m-Dot OLED EVF
  • 3″ 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Subject Tracking with Deep Learning
  • Dual SD UHS-II Memory Card Slots

DPReview compares the EOS R6 and the Sony a7 IV. From their conclusion:

The Sony a7 IV is the company’s first enthusiast model to be launched since Canon, Nikon and Panasonic joined the full-frame mirrorless melee. Looking through, detail by detail, it appears to do enough to pull Sony back ahead of what has been our favorite camera in the the sub-$2500 part of the market. There are no knockout punches landed against a camera as good as the R6, but the a7 IV keeps landing the blows: higher resolution and better dynamic range, slightly longer battery life, fewer restrictions and more support tools in video, a more useable fastest shooting rate.

The judge’s decision has to go the way of the Sony, then, with the scoring reflecting the much wider availability of lenses for the E-mount.

However, the viewers at home, particularly ones with an existing collection of EF-mount lenses may well dispute this decision. The a7 IV walks away with the title belt, but the R6 is likely to be recognized as a worthy fighter by many in the audience.

Sony a7 IV
The Sony a7 IV

Best & Worst Photo/Video Gear Of 2021, According To DPReview’s Chris And Jordan

Gear Of 2021
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A non objective evaluation of the best and the worst video and photo gear of 2021. Don expect a sober analysis, though.

Chris and Jordan of DPReview TV discuss what they think was the best and t he worst video and photo gear released in 2021. Some drinking is involved, some fun too. So, don take everything death-seriously.

It’s that time of the year when Chris and Jordan look back on the year’s best and worst releases of photo and video gear. As has become traditional, they’ve devised a drinking game to help ensure that their recollection ends up as hazy as the output of the worst lens…

Have fun!

Canon EOS R3 vs Sony Alpha a1 Autofocus Comparison

EOS R3 Vs Sony A1
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Here is another Canon EOS R3 review. This one is comparing the R3’s autofocus with the AF of the Sony Alpha a1.

Coming from Jared Polin, the 28 minutes review below compares the autofocus performance of the Canon EOS R3 and Sony Alpha a1.

You can download the Canon EOS R3 user manual from Canon. Or you might read it online. A technical brochure about the EOS R3 is available. You can watch the EOS R3 live-stream again here. All EOS R3 coverage is listed here. We put together some interesting videos about the EOS R3, listed here. Be sure to check Gordon Laing’s in-depth review of the EOS R3, part 1 and part 2. Oh, and don’t forget to listen how the R3’s 30fps sound. Canon EOS R3 product description after the break.

Order in the USA ($5,999):
B&H Photo | Adorama

All Canon EOS R3 world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

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