Forum AlphaDxD

7) The A300 may look like a DSLR, but is actually an EVF camera. The rumour about the second sensor replacing the focus screen is a garbled understanding of a second image display LCD (organic) screen replacing the focusing screen, permanently, so the view through the finder is electronic not optical. The camera has no reflex mirror, but retains a shutter over the CMOS sensor, which protects it and also comes into action for the exposure. A completely silent mode is provided where the shutter opens in advance, and the actual image capture is electronically shuttered, with the shutter manually close afterwards. Operation is very fast and quiet, and high speed sequences are possible using a mode where the shutter remains open and the CMOS sensor captures over 20 frames per second in a short burst. The eyepiece sensors work as on the Konica Minolta Dimage A2, switching the rear view screen off when the camera is raised to the eye, and activating the EVF screen. The focusing enlargement view works on both the rear screen and the finder view, which is why the small buttom is placed on the back under your thumb, to be easy to use when looking through the finder and wanting a magnified focus view.

Option 7 seems to me most like a Sony electronically engineered solution to creating a more reliable type of camera - the hoped-for DSC R-1 with Alpha mount lenses. Also, such a camera would need a completely different TTL flash protocol. Sony has just introduced a new flash, the HVL-42AM:



It would not be necessary for any additional controls to be visible on the flash, just for the communication with the camera to identify correctly the Live View A300 (the flash shoe is actually a serial interface, not a ‘make and break’ contact like the regular ISO shoe). Before a Live View camera could be launched, improved flash compatibility would be essential. While the older Minolta flash units worked in a fashion on the Konica Minolta Dimage 7/A series of EVF-zoom cameras, the limitations involved would put off DSLR buyers. The existing 56 and 36 models are identical to the old KM models in communication. The new 42 model is almost certainly forward compatible with unnannounced models of DSLR.

We shall see. I have no inside knowledge on this, and I am not revealing details. This is speculation based on some rumours and some common sense.

(the flash shoe is actually a serial interface, not a ‘make and break’ contact like the regular ISO shoe).

Flash mode:
• Auto
• Fill-flash
• Rear flash sync
• Slow sync
• High speed sync
• Wireless off-camera flash (with HVL-F56AM or HVL-F36AM)

Also available as an option is the new Sony HVL-F42AM flash unit. It offers advanced features such as automatic white balance adjustment with color temperature information, adjustable bounce angles, ADI metering and wireless remote operation to suit the needs of most photographers.