Sony: Message List

Tech For Pets: Putting your Pets First.

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:44:56 GMT

We are pleased to announce an entirely new product range designed to bring people closer to their canine chums and feline friends.

The Sony ‘Pet Performance’ range is designed for active people and active pets and features three new products

K9 TV

‘The K9-55 television is fully waterproof (so completely safe) and includes new and exclusive features such as Woof-Control (a paw friendly remote) NFC collar tags, and a doggie Skype button, so that your pooch doesn’t miss you while you’re at work’

I can also confirm that this TV will be fully Dog Specific Frequency (DSF) enabled.

Cat Cans

As with the TV, I am still waiting on the full specifications, however it has been confirmed that the headphones will be scratch, dust and litter tray proof and will come in a range of styles and colours to match your Tabby, Siamese Devon Rex etc.

‘The new Sony ‘Cat Cans’ can help cats become accustomed to hearing human voices and other types of sounds so that they feel more comfortable around people. What’s more, because every cat is different and has its own personality, Sony is making available a whole range of feline focused playlists which cat owners can download from Music Unlimited depending on their own cat’s tastes. The playlists will include tracks such as:

‘What’s new pussycat?’ by Tom Jones
‘Look what the cat dragged in’ by Poison
‘Black cat’ by Janet Jackson
‘Mean-eyed cat’ by Johnny Cash
‘Get back honky cat’ by Elton John’

In-cage Speakers

As the names suggests, these will feature ‘In-Cage Surround Sound’ and will be robust enough to live with your hamster (gnaw proof). Based on what I have seen so far, I would suspect these are also wireless, to avoid the need to run cables through the cage.

‘Now, Sony has launched the 'In-Cage Speakers' which will help motivate hamsters to make better use of the space in their cage and specifically, their exercise wheel. The energetic music pumped (gently) into their cage will motivate hamsters to go harder for longer while on the wheel’

For this me this is a really exciting and interesting development, especially as we have not really made such specific products like these since 'My First Sony'

April Fools!

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Tech For Pets: Denken Sie an Ihre vierbeinigen Freunde

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:52:55 GMT

Es freut uns, eine komplett neue Produktreihe anzukündigen, welche euch näher zu euren tierischen Freunden bringen soll.

Die Sony „Pet Performance“-Reihe wurde für aktive Personen und Haustiere entwickelt und umfasst drei neue Produkte.

K9 TV

Der K9-55 Fernseher ist komplett wasserfest (daher absolut sicher) und beinhaltet neue und exklusive Features wie Woof-Control (pfotenfreundliche Steuerung), NFC Halsband und eine Hunde Skype-Taste, damit euer Hund euch nicht vermisst,während ihr im Büro seid.

Der Fernseher unterstützt auch hundespezifische Frequenzen (Dog Specific Frequency, DSF).

Cat Cans

Die Details zu diesem Produkt sind noch nicht geklärt, ich kann jedoch bestätigen, dass es sich um Kopfhörer handelt, welche kratz-, staub- und katzenklofest sind und wird in verschiedenen Designs erhältlich sein. Weitere Details:

„Die neuen Sony Cans helfen Katzen sich besser an menschliche Stimmen und andere Arten von Geräuschen zu gewöhnen, damit sie sich in der Nähe von Menschen wohler fühlen. Da jede Katze anders ist und ihre eigene Persönlichkeit hat, bietet Sony eine Reihe von katzenfreundlichen Playlists zusammen, welche Besitzer im Sony Entertainment Network downloaden können. Die Playlists werden unter anderem folgende Songs beinhalten:

‘What’s new pussycat?’ by Tom Jones
‘Look what the cat dragged in’ by Poison
‘Black cat’ by Janet Jackson
‘Mean-eyed cat’ by Johnny Cash
‘Get back honky cat’ by Elton John’

Käfig-Boxen

Wie der Name schon sagt, werden diese Boxen “In-Cage Surround Sound” bieten und robust genug sein, um mit eurem Hamster zu leben (nage-/kaufest). Es hat den Eindruck, als ob sie auch wireless sind, um unnötige Kabel zu vermeiden.

'Sony hat nun die „Käfig-Boxen“ veröffentlicht, welche helfen sollen, Hamster zu motivieren ihrem Käfig und ihr Laufrad besser zu nutzen. Die energetische Musik, die behutsam und sanft in den Käfig gespielt wird, soll die Hamster motivieren, länger auf dem Laufrad durchzuhalten'

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Tech For Pets: Vos petits compagnons méritent ce qu’il y a de mieux

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:49:09 GMT

Nous sommes heureux d'annoncer une gamme de produits entièrement nouvelle conçue pour rapprocher les personnes de leurs chiens et de leurs chats.

La gamme Performance Pet de Sony conçue pour les personnes et les animaux actifs est composée de trois nouveaux produits.

K9 TV

La télévision K9-55 est entièrement waterproof (donc complètement hors de danger) et inclut de nouvelles fonctions exclusives telles que le « woof control (une télécommande adaptée aux chiens), des tags NFC pour collier, ainsi qu’un bouton Skype pour chien. Ainsi, vous ne lui manquerez pas lorsque vous serez au travail'.

Nous pouvons aussi confirmer que cette TV sera entièrement compatible avec les Fréquences Canines Spécifiques (FCS).

Cat Cans

De même que pour la TV, je ne connais pas encore les spécifications complètes, cependant, il a été confirmé que le casque audio sera résistant aux griffures, à la poussière ainsi qu’au bac à litière. Ce produit sera disponible dans différentes gammes de styles et de couleurs afin de correspondre à votre matou tigré, siamois, etc.

Les nouveaux Cat Cans' de Sony aideront les chats à s’accoutumer à la voix humaine et à d’autres types de son de manières à ce qu’ils puissent se sentir à l’aise au en présence des gens. De plus, sachant que chaque chat est différent et a sa propre personnalité, Sony met à disposition toute une gamme de playlists spécialement centrée sur les chats que les possesseurs pourront télécharger sur Music nlimited selon leurs propres goûts. Les playlists inclueront des morceaux tels que :

‘What’s new pussycat?’ de Tom Jones
‘Look what the cat dragged in’ de Poison
‘Black cat’ de Janet Jackson
‘Mean-eyed cat’ de Johnny Cash
‘Get back honky cat’ de Elton John’

Enceintes In-Cage

Comme son nom l'indique, celles-ci disposent de la fonctionnalité « In-Cage Surround Sound » et seront suffisamment robustes pour cohabiter avec votre hamster. Sur la base de ce que j'ai pu apercevoir jusqu'à présent, je soupçonne que celles-ci soient également sans fil, afin d'éviter de faire passer les câbles de raccordement à travers la cage.

'Maintenant, Sony a lancé les « Enceintes In-Cage qui encourageront les hamsters mieux exploiter l'espace offert par leur cage et en particulier, leur roue. La musique énergique diffusée graduellement dans la cage motivera le rongeur à aller plus vite et plus longtemps'.

De mon point de vue, il s’agit d’un développement vraiment attrayant, et captivant, d’autant plus que nous n’avions pas réellement conçu de produit spécifique de ce genre depuis la gamme 'My First Sony'.

Cordialement

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Ce message a été modifié par: StartTheCar

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Tech For Pets: Creati per i tuoi amici animali

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:56:52 GMT

Siamo lieti di annunciare un’intera nuova gamma di prodotti progettata per avvicinare le persone ai loro compagni canini ed amici felini.

La gamma Sony “Pet Performance”, progettata per persone attive ed animali domestici altrettanto attivi, è caratterizzata da tre nuovi prodotti:

TV K9

“Il televisore K9-55 è completamente impermeabile (così da risultare sicuro) ed include nuove funzionalità e funzioni esclusive come il Woof-Control (un telecomando da zampa), il collare Smart Tag NFC ed un ulsante Doggie Skype, in modo tale che il vostro cagnolino non vi mancherà mentre siete al lavoro.”

Posso confermare che il TV, inoltre, sarà disponibile con audio DSF (Dog Specific Frequency) emettendo frequenze compatibili ai nostri amici.

CAT CANS

Come per il TV, sto ancora aspettando le specifiche tecniche complete, ma è stato confermato che le cuffie saranno a prova di graffio, polvere e rifiuti; saranno disponibili in una vasta gamma di stili e colori per abbinarsi al vostro Gatto Europeo, Siamese, Devon Rex, etc…

“Il nuovo ‘Cat Cans’ di Sony può aiutare i gatti, abituati a sentire voci umane ed altri tipi di suono, in modo che si sentano più a loro agio con persone intorno. Inoltre, poiché ogni gatto è diverso ed ha la propria
personalità, Sony mette a disposizione tutta una serie di playlist mirate ai felini, che i proprietari di gatti possono scaricare da Music Unlimited a seconda dei gusti del proprio gatto. Le playlist comprendono brani come:

“What’s New Pussycat?” di Tom Jones
“Look What The Cat Dragged In” di Poison
“Black Cat” di Janet Jackson
“Mean-Eyed Cat” di Johnny Cash
“Get Back Honky Cat” di Elton John”

In-Cage Speakers

Come suggerisce il nome, questi altoparlanti da gabbia saranno caratterizzati da ‘In-Cage Sorround Sound’ e saranno robusti abbastanza per vivere con il vostro criceto (Gnaw Proof). In base a quanto visto finora, mi immagino che saranno anche senza fili per evitare la necessità di stendere i cavi.

“Sony ha lanciato ‘In-Cage Speakers’ che contribuiranno a stimolare i criceti a fare un miglior uso dello spazio nella loro gabbia e, in particolare, il loro esercizio della ruota. La musica energetica pompata (gentilmente) nella gabbia motiverà i criceti ad andare più intensamente e più a lungo mentre saranno sulla ruota.”

Per me questo è uno sviluppo emozionante ed interessante, soprattutto perché non abbiamo fatto prodotti specifici come questi da quando abbiamo introdotto la gamma di prodotti ‘My First Sony’ per i bambini.

Cordiali Saluti

-Ipse-

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Tech For Pets: Zet je beestjes op nummer 1

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:00:22 GMT

Sony's Tech for Pets zorgt ervoor dat jouw beste maatjes thuis ook pret hebben als jij uit bent.

Het is ons een genoegen om jullie kennis te laten maken met het nieuwste vriendje van je hond: de K9-55 TV!

Nu hoef je bij het weggaan niet speciaal de TV aan te laten voor je hond.

We ntroduceren het allernieuwste op draagbaar audio gebied: De MDR-Cat!

Luistert jouw at ook zo graag naar klassiekers als 'Mean-eyed cat' door Johnny Cash?

Hamster Fitness: Help je hamster fit te blijven met de laatse 'in-kooi surround sound
speakers'!

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Forum Username Error

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:04:26 GMT

Hi all.

You may have noticed that some of your usernames have switched to display a long number. As you have probably guessed, this is not intentional. The ladies and gents in the tech team have now found the cause of issue and are working hard to apply a fix.

WIth all things being equal, affected usernames should revert back early next week. In the meantime, if I recieve an update I will let you know.

Sorry about this.

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Cash-back on our best Cyber-shot, NEX , DSLR’s

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:11:59 GMT

Keep the moment forever with up to £50 cash-back on our best Cyber-shot digital cameras, NEX interchangeable lens cameras, DSLR’s or Handycam camcorders. Buy in-store or online but don’t miss out.

Full details of the offer and which models are included can be found here

http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/1237485521135

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Re: Best Action Cam Video on Youtube

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:15:47 GMT

I for one would love to see something as good if not better than that. Stunning video!

Lee

Sony UK Open Evening Invitation: Closed

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:45:42 GMT

Hi everyone.

I have been asked to pass on an invitation to 20 of our forum members to an exclusive viewing and hands-on with the latest (yet to be released) range of Sony products.

If previous events are anything to go by, this promises to be great evening out with plenty of free stuff and prizes to be won.

As the event is coming up pretty soon, it is probably best we make the application as straight forward as possible. The first 20 people to reply to this post get a ticket to the event. I will follow-up with a PM and e-mail to confirm your place.

With places at a premium, please be sure you can attend as it would be a shame for someone else to miss out.

A copy of the invitation, along with the time & place can be found below.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Lee

Here at Sony, innovation and fresh thinking are close to our hearts. They’re the things that we’ve done best for more than 50 years. Now with our award-winning TV, home cinema systems and camera ranges, we’re continuing to capture people’s imagination and make their lives easier, more fun and entertaining.

This is why we want you to experience our new products for 2013 in person and invite you to venture inside Sony

on Wednesday, 30 January 2013

from 16:30 – 19:00

Location:

Sony United Kingdom Limited
The Heights, Brooklands
Weybridge, Surrey
KT13 0XW

You can expect to hear about our product strategy for the coming year in dedicated sessions and how we will support you in getting the message to your customers, followed by some hands-on product sessions and time for a catch-up with the Sony team

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Re: Sony UK Open Evening Invitation

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:35:11 GMT

Hi Faithx

Just to confirm, you are on the list, as are the other folk who sent me a private message.

See you there.

Lee

Re: DSC-RX100 Developer's Interview: Part 1

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:29:08 GMT

Good question.

The Q&A team spend a lot of time on these forums and so I suspect they would have seen your question. Just in case however, I will drop them an e-mail. No guarantees, but as we have seen with other products such as the alpha and NEX, the design team do look to the people using the products for feedback with a view to trying to apply it to possible firmware improvements and future product design.

Thanks for your feedback.

Lee

#SonyCES: New WX80 & TF1 Cameras

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:35:40 GMT

Hello.

More videos coming through from CES. This one has us taking a first look & demo at two of the new Cybershot cameras.

What do you think?

Lee

#SonyCES: The 2013 Sony CES Press Announcement

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:53:16 GMT

Morning all

So who stayed up for the press announcement? I wasn't going to, but then I got a heads-up about the new 4k OLED screen and I had to take a look. Bit sleepy this morning, but still very excited.

Anyway, for those who missed it, a replay of the announcement plus a Q&A with Kazuo Hirai (Sony President & CEO) can be found here.

http://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/community/en/community/ces2013/news

I have also included some extra videos below, that take a first look at some new products as well as some early prototypes of future Sony products. There will be more pictures and videos to follow.

Let me know what you think and what you would like to see from the rest of the show

Enjoy

Lee

4K Camcorder and new 3D Binocular Prototypes

The Cyber-shot® WX80 and TF1 Digital Cameras

The New Sony Walkman® Sports MP3 Player

Sony BRAVIA® X900A Series 4K Ultra HD TVs

Hands On with the Xperia™ Z and Xperia™ ZL Smartphones

#SonyCES: FIRST LOOK: Sony 4K BRAVIA® X900A

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:22:55 GMT

Hi everyone

The first videos from CES are starting to come through. As with every year, expect more throughout the show.

In addition to the YouTube channel we also have a flickr feed, with new pictures being uploaded all the time

Enjoy

Lee

DSC-RX100 Developer's Interview: Part 1

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:10:53 GMT

Hi.

I really wanted to share this extensive interview of the development team behind the new DSC-HX100 compact camera. It is not often we get such an insight into a products evolution or get to hear from the whole team involved with its design. It’s pretty big, so I have split it into several parts.

Enjoy

Lee

Despite its ultra-compact body, DSC-RX100 boasts a new 1.0 type Exmor™ CMOS sensor with approximately 20.2 effective megapixels, and is equipped with a bright Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* F1.8 zoom lens. Incredible. To find out more about this extraordinary camera, we interviewed the development team responsible for bringing it to life.

First off, I was amazed by the camera’s size. I couldn’t believe that a large 1.0 type CMOS sensor and bright F1.8 lens could fit into such a compact camera.

Kaimi (Product Design)

Yes, it is truly small and is undoubtedly Sony’s best compact camera to date. Of course, the camera takes great images but other aspects, including operability, the exquisite finish and other details, make it particularly attractive to high-end users. That was precisely our intent.

At the same time, we wanted to tempt users contemplating an upgrade of their current compact cameras. The team slogan was “two big eyes with no compromise.” In other words, we set our sights on developing an ultra-compact camera with a large 1.0 type CMOS sensor and bright F1.8 lens that would ultimately take fantastic photos.

Kureishi (Product Planning)

Being a compact camera, we wanted to make it small enough to fit easily into a pocket or purse, since being small is what distinguishes a compact camera from a DSLR. But we also wanted it to be capable of highly detailed images. These were our main challenges. Obviously we needed a large sensor; something larger than what is typically found in compact cameras. And to squeeze as much detail as possible out of the sensor, we needed a high-quality lens.

Amemiya (Project Leader)

Market positioning of DSC-RX100 required not only compactness and high-quality images
but also easy operability, a superb finish and a number of other refinements. So from the start we declared every engineer an artisan with each paying maximum attention to the smallest details; even thinking in microns when it came to product size. We really pushed the envelope in terms of creating small, intricate objects for which Japanese are renowned.

What’s so special about compactness?

Kureishi (Product Planning)

If you are mainly concerned about taking great photos, image quality is of primary importance and a DSLR the obvious choice. But if you prefer a shooting style less encumbered by gear and still want to take great shots, DSC-RX100 is for you.

The increasing popularity of smartphones and compact interchangeable-lens cameras demonstrates that many non-photographers are interested in taking better photos. So even though we wanted DSC-RX100 to satisfy high-end users, we also wanted a compact camera that would attract less camera-savvy people and ecourage them to discover the joy of photography.

Kaimi Product Design)

I wanted this compact camera to be easy to carry around so people could shoot every day. Hence, we had to keep size to a minimum. Just like a smartphone, it is easy to tote; ready in an instant to grab shots on the fly but with the performance and specs to produce gallery-quality photos. It also has enough features to satisfy the creative urges of high-end users.

Just looking at the specs excites me. I’m curious to know the capabilities of a 1.0 type Exmor CMOS sensor combined with an F1.8 lens.

Kureishi (Product Planning)

At the beginning of the project we made a mock-up of the product brochure to clearly define what features and value we wanted to provide. The mock-up showcased three features: background blur, high resolution and low noise. Of course we knew we could never obtain the quality of a full-size sensor DSLR with a prime lens.

However, the sensor we eventually developed delivers sensitivity and resolution more than equal to that of compact interchangeable-lens cameras and compact cameras equipped with similarly sized sensors. In addition, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, which was developed specifically for DSC-RX100, also enhances image quality thanks to its outstanding optical performance and ability to produce lovely background blur.

Amemiya (Project Leader)

Right.Since the lens allows you to easily blur backgrounds, it lends photos a nice sense of depth. The first photo I took with the prototype was of a coffee cup on my desk. It was still early in the development stage, but I remember how impressed I was by the artful depiction of an everyday object. This compact camera’s increased ISO sensitivity, noise reduction technology and reproduction technology make for dramatically better photos compared to earlier Cyber-shots.

Kaimi (Product Design)

With the first prototype I took some shots using midrange ISO sensitivity between 800 and 1600. Even then I could clearly see that DSC-RX100 surpassed conventional compact cameras in terms of image quality. Because this was an early prototype, I wondered what the finished product would be like. I field-tested it for days.

Ueda (Image Quality Design)

What we have is first-rate background blur that far exceeds the kind produced by conventional compact cameras. I shot video in low-light environments and was very impressed with the soft, beautiful blur and very low noise levels. This is due to the large sensor, which handles high-sensitivity shooting extremely well, and the bright F1.8 lens that makes it possible to keep ISO sensitivity down.

Undoubtedly, the sensor and the lens are responsible for the amazing image quality. How did you decide on a 1.0 type CMOS sensor?

Ueda (Image Quality Design)

We wanted to exploit the ability of the bright F1.8 lens to create background blur. We felt that the 1/2.3 type sensor found in many conventional compact cameras — and even the 1/1.7 type sensor in premium compact cameras — wouldn’t suffice. But if the sensor was too big, we would have to increase the size of the lens, which in turn would make the DSC-RX100 larger. Thus, we settled on a 1.0 type sensor; large enough for producing great background blur yet small enough to keep the camera compact.

Kato (Lens Design)

If the image sensor is large, obviously the lens will have to be large, too. Also, the brighter the lens, the larger it becomes. I don’t want to brag but it was quite a feat to keep the bright F1.8 lens this small (laughs). We developed it specifically for this compact camera. It’s a short, large-diameter AA (Advanced Aspherical) lens, small and with increased performance.

The lens has seven elements in six groups and features optical image stabilisation. If we had employed a conventional optical system, the lens would have been considerably larger. To further reduce size, the stabilisation mechanism drives only the essential lens group. This, however, caused the optical axis to deviate. Solving the problem required exacting precision in the lens design.

Part two

Cybershot Development Team Interview: Part 2

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:23:10 GMT

Hi everyone.

Below is part 2 of the extraordinary interview with the development team behind the DSC-RX100 digital camera. (Part One of the interview can be found here)

It really is a fantastically detailed insight into what goes into creating a new camera.

Do let us know what you think, both of the interview and the camera.

Best regards

Lee

Why did you want a 20.2-megapixel sensor? I heard that this incredibly high pixel count would negatively impact noise levels, thereby decreasing image quality at high ISO settings.

Ueda (Image Quality Design)

It’s true that increasing pixel count increases noise. But since we manufacture our own sensors, we can easily tweak sensor specs to suit specific needs. This allowed us to craft a totally new sensor that delivers superbly detailed images with low noise. For high-sensitivity shooting we managed to reduce noise levels below those of existing Cyber-shots by combining technologies from Cyber-shot and α Series. As a result, we can shoot at up to ISO 6400 for normal photos and up to ISO 25600 when using Multi Frame NR

Furthermore, we really beefed up BIONZ™ for markedly faster image processing than other Cyber-shots. For example, DSC-RX100 can shoot 20.2-megapixel images at 10 fps. And the faster processor also means faster AF — a mere 0.13 second at its fastest*. AF is also more accurate than on conventional models.

* Approximate. Based on Sony testing. Results may vary depending on shooting conditions such as brightness.

Kaimi (Product Design)

Some compact cameras keep noise down with lower pixel counts. But there are users who really want super-fine images, which require a high pixel count. But if the higher pixel count leads to unacceptable noise levels that the noise reduction system can’t reduce without affecting image quality, it is essentially self-defeating. Our new sensor achieves both super-fine images and low noise so even distant landscapes shot at telephoto focal lengths show great detail. People are going to love this compact camera for travel photography.

What kinds of photos is the camera especially well suited for?

Ueda (Image Quality design)

Thanks to a close-focus distance of only 5 cm when shooting at the minimum focal length, I would say close-ups due to the fact that you can get really nice background blur when shooting wide open. It’s also great for distant subjects. The lens is a big factor in the camera’s exceptional image quality.

Rediscovering lens quality largely forgotten in the digital age.

What did you focus on when developing the lens?

Kato (Lens Design)

We wanted people to start appreciating the different looks that different lenses give you; something that we feel has been forgotten in the digital age. I’ve been involved in development of α Series lenses, which enjoy a sterling reputation thanks to an optical design that takes into account the importance of background blur. This new lens lets users create beautiful background blur when shooting wide open and record excellent detail when stopped down

Did you do anything special to realise beautiful blur?

Kato (Lens design)

Yes. Most attention is given to the maximum aperture of F1.8, but the lens also features circular aperture blades that produce nice background blur even when the lens is stopped down. Generally, a lens aperture is perfectly round when wide open but changes to a polygon as it is stopped down.

This results in polygonal blur from point light sources when shooting at anything but the maximum aperture. But the blades in our new lens form a nearly circular aperture even at F2.8 — a two-stop decrease from the maximum aperture. This makes for natural background blur that is very appealing. We also employed a seven-blade aperture due mainly to our expertise in developing lenses with an odd-number of aperture blades.

The 3.6x magnification produces a focal length of 28-100 mm in 35 mm equivalency. Seeing as how many compact cameras have a minimum focal length of 24 mm, why did you choose 28 mm?

Kato (Lens Design)

DSC-RX100 is meant to be carried around on a daily basis so it’s likely to be used for grab shots. Because of this we felt a minimum focal length of 28 mm would be more suitable than 24 mm. Also, 28 mm produces lovely background blur when shooting nearby subjects with the aperture wide open.

We chose 100 mm as the maximum focal length since we wanted to give users a little more reach than 85 mm, which is generally considered to be the ideal focal length for portraits. In fact, there were three 100 mm α Series lenses for the same reason: AF Macro 100 mm F2.0, AF Macro 100 mm F2.8 and AF Soft Focus 100 mm F2.8. So I personally insisted on 100 mm (laughs).

How about the telephoto side? Can we expect the same great image quality?

Kato (Lens Design)

Absolutely. Thanks to the large image sensor, lens performance on the telephoto side has been considerably improved. I was pleasantly surprised with edge resolution when shooting distant subjects. Even intricate road signs in every corner of the images looked sharp. Users are really going to appreciate the background blur when shooting wide-angle and the superb edge-to-edge sharpness for telephoto shots.

From what I hear, it seems like you took a DSLR equipped with a high-performance lens and made it as small as you possibly could.

Kureishi (Product Planning)

That pretty much sums it up. But if we were to develop an interchangeable zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F1.8, it would be quite large. So we used the design benefits of compact cameras with their built-in lenses to get the most out of this lens, positioning the image sensor at just the right angle relative to the lens for optimal performance. The results speak for themselves: superb quality images despite the camera’s compact size.

Control ring and graphic interface enable intuitive operation.

The most eye-catching feature is the control ring surrounding the lens. Does

this make operation noticeably different from previous Cyber-shots?

Higashide (User Interface Design)

Depending on shooting mode, the control ring can be used to change zoom ratio, aperture, shutter speed and other settings. It can also be customised to adjust nine other settings, including white balance and ISO. This type of control has been used in other premium compact cameras but we added some features to give it a distinctly Sony feel that adds to shooting enjoyment.

People mostly use the control ring to change exposure, zoom and other items with settings appearing on the LCD. But with DSC-RX100, as the ring is turned, an icon showing its movement also appears, providing a nice connect between camera and user. Icons are also arranged in a pleasing arc. Furthermore, users can program the Fn (function) button on the back with up to seven functions, eliminating the need to dig through menus to access a frequently used function.

The menu design is similar to that of α Series cameras for fast operation that even high-end users will appreciate. But rather than simply copying the design, we changed the looks to add to a sense of precision; something that is so important in a premium compact camera. It’s incredibly easy to view in a wide range of shooting environments and, again, fully meets the expectations of high-end users.

Amemiya (Project Leader)

There’s one more thing about the control ring: We intentionally left out the click feel. Many other compact cameras have a click feel when controls are operated. But our control ring has a nice smooth feel with just the right amount of tension. And when zooming or focusing, it’s easier to make fine adjustments if there are no clicks. In addition, since clicks can be recorded when recording video, excluding them was a good decision.

On the other hand, it’s nice to hear a click sound when setting exposure or aperture, so we designed the control ring to make a click sound when adjusting certain settings. These are not mechanical clicks, just programmed sounds that mimic them. They really do aid in adjusting settings and are another example of Sony’s added-value approach to compact camera design.

Higashide (User Interface Design)

Sony has many sound specialists and the pleasing operation sounds of the control ring and other items reflect this. The shutter sound, in particular, was created especially to match the look and feel of this compact camera. The sound you hear when photographing a subject affects you unconsciously, influencing your mood. Because of this we fine-tuned it to best suit DSC-RX100. Users are really going to like the sound and feel of this shutter.

Kaimi (Product Design)

I think the design and user interface are very important for luxury-class products or products used for a serious hobby. Thus, we wanted to give users a certain degree of freedom in customising operation: Users can assign favourite functions to the Fn (function) button. And for faster operation, the control ring works with the control wheel to provide an easy means of making adjustments while shooting. In addition, less camera-savvy users can employ Photo Creativity as a hassle-free way to adjust settings and take fantastic photos. Our attention to the interface makes this compact camera great for anyone.

A great deal of thinking went into the straightforward, two-dimensional design and matte black finish.

What influenced your choice for the body design?

Miyashita (Body Design)

Simply put, not getting in the way of the fantastic functionality and amazing lens, which are key features. The design of DSC-RX100 is the essence of simplicity. And to reflect dependable operation — a key development goal — we decided to give it a minimalistic two-dimensional look. We definitely did not want curved surfaces that would impart a flowing three-dimensionality.

For example, we only put one groove at the front, a point that was decided on after carefully examining the balance between horizontal and vertical surfaces in conjunction with the lens. The top has a sharp, edgy look that we achieved by cutting the aluminium aperture control components in straight lines. Above all, we wanted the camera to look simple. And despite daily battles with the mechanical designers over this, we finally got the look we wanted (laughs).

Why did you choose black? Didn’t you consider other colours?

Miyashita (Body Design)

Black was the obvious choice. From a practical standpoint, cameras should be black since brightly coloured or shiny ones may be reflected on the subject; specifically, matte black to remain as inconspicuous as possible. So black it was (laughs). The body is made of un-coated, machined alumite, which has no gloss and lends a certain amount of grace perfectly suited for a premium compact camera. Body markings were imprinted using laser printing, although users may not realise this until one day in the distant future they wonder why the markings haven’t worn off. And I really hope they hold onto this compact camera for a long time.

Superfluous space is non-existent with engineers and designers skirmishing daily over the design.

Mr. Miyashita, who was in charge of body design, mentioned that he quarrelled with the mechanical designers everyday.

Miyatani (Mechanical Design)

After glancing at the design my honest opinion was that it would be impossible to achieve (laughs). Mr. Miyashita just mentioned a metal body was chosen to impart a luxury feel. I understand his logic. Creating a straightforward design is possible since it is only a matter of cutting. But it’s difficult to mass-produce a product designed this way. So we had to think of ways to realise the design while employing existing manufacturing technologies.

Packing an ultra-compact camera with so many features proved a daunting challenge.

I heard it was also a tough challenge to make the camera this small.

Miyatani (Mechanical Design)

It is mostly comprised of the lens. After accounting for the battery there was hardly any room for anything else. So we concentrated on making the control ring, its surroundings and flash smaller. On other Cyber-shots with a control ring, the lens protrudes so there is more space for everything else. But space in DSC-RX100 is so limited that it was quite a challenge to pack all the functions in there.

Kureishi (Product Planning)

To be honest, development was fairly straightforward from start to finish. We normally create one mock-up in the early development stages and another one toward the end to confirm how the finished product will look. But we didn’t need a second mock-up this time. Sure, there were some twists and turns along the way with a lot of people claiming it was impossible to put everything into this small a space. But we worked out the problems and were able to go to market without revising the initial mock-up. This almost never happens.

Miyashita (Body Design)

Yes. It certainly was extraordinary.

The developers leave users with a few final words.

Is there anything you want to say to prospective DSC-RX100 owners?

Ueda (Image Quality Design)

I have a lot of female friends who have DSLRs, many of whom say they own one because a compact camera cannot adequately capture photos of their children growing up. I want people who think similarly to know that DSC-RX100 is on par with DSLRs. All it takes is a single shot to realize this.

Kureishi (Product Planning)

What I like most is that it can capture children running around for sharp photos without blur thanks to the fast AF and lens. Whether you couldn’t care less about the inner workings of a camera or just want something good, really consider DSC-RX100. My dream is for it to become an integral part of people’s lifestyles, and that owners will develop a keener interest in photography and spend more time taking photos. Hopefully, they’ll begin to realise that this compact camera is really important in preserving life’s precious moments.

Amemiya (Project Leader)

If I liken DSC-RX100 to a culinary dish then each part, material and device are its ingredients. We engineers are the chefs who created this divine dish using only the best ingredients, be it the lens, image sensor or whatever. I want users to savour it; indulge themselves in all its flavours, from the obvious ones that immediately stand out to subtle ones that take time to appreciate. We were able to create a delicate balance in all aspects. I invite users to make the most of it and enjoy its hidden flavours.

Missing text & Errors when posting

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:18:40 GMT

Hi everyone.

Over the last week or so, you may have noticed an issue with sections of text in your posts going missing after being published and/or an error which prevented you from posting altogether.

On investigating both issues, we discovered that they were side effects of the last Forum update on the 13^th December 2012.

The dissapearing text was down to the use of a colon, which was effectively acting as an instruction to hide or remove the text that followed. Bit bizarre for my mind, but a reality nonetheless.

The second issue, which prevented posting, was triggered by the use of certain ‘smileys’ in conjunction with some web browsers (Internet Explorer for example) while having no effect with others, such as Firefox.

Thankfully, both issues have now been fixed.

Sorry for any inconvenience and many thanks for your patience

Best regards

Lee

Sony Bravia TV: Buying Guide App

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:38:24 GMT

Hi all.

I hadn't seen this concept in action before and it's fair to say it has really caught my imagination. As far as I can tell, it works by magic.

Very basically, the app allows you to project (on the screen of your smart phone or tablet) a Sony Bravia as if it was in the room with you; either on a wall or a flat surface. Its a simple yet neat idea to help folk visualise what a new TV might look like in their homes.

You can also scroll through the various models and sizes and even take a photo to upload and share.

Speaking of which, feel free to upload your results here here or in the Community Photo Gallery

The App and full details are available here and the Bravia target can be downloaded from the link below.

http://www.sony.co.uk/tv-buying-guide

Best regards

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

What TV – Sony Buying Guide App

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:28:13 GMT

I hadn't seen this concept in action before and it has really caught my imagination.

You can also scroll through the various models and sizes and even take a photo to upload and share.

Speaking of which, feel free to upload them here or in the Community Photo Gallery

The App and full details are available here and the Bravia target can be downloaded from the link below.

http://www.sony.co.uk/tv-buying-guide

Best regards

Lee

Re: VHS to DVD deck shows interface over video!?

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:56:15 GMT

I dont have an instruction manual for this unit to hand, but it looks like you have turned on the display info on the RDR-VX420. To be honest I didnt think this would then transfer over but thats what it looks like.

On the remote there is probably a 'display' button which will hopefully hide the information and stop it from being transferred to your PC.

Hope this helps

Lee

Re: Unwanted SPAM Emails from SONY

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:45:25 GMT

Hi March4

As you can imagine, we have to be careful what we send and to who. As such, Personal Information Management (PIM) is something we take very seriously. In theory, somewhere along the line, you would have ticked a box during some registration process that has subsequently triggered this recent spate of e-mails.

Fear not however, this is somethig we can correct. If you can send me a PM with the e-mail address you would like removed. I can request that one of our PIM team carries out a full sweep through all our systems and remove your e-mail from wherever it is found. (it will only ever be on internal Sony systems)

At the very most this process can take about 28 days (although its usually much quicker) during which time you may get the odd e-mail through. However, it is very robust (as it should be) once complete.

Hope this helps

Lee

European Forum Manager

Re: Minidisc MDS JE-510

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:20:52 GMT

Hi teeyell, welcome aboard.

Wow, that’s a blast from the past. I believe it was released a little while before I joined, something like 97/98?

I vaguely remember a similar issue with this unit, but that was more a crackling on one or both channels rather than a complete drop out and was not connected to the unit switching off.

While it will likely need some service attention it needn’t be extensive. After this time, it could just be something as simple as a lose connection/dry joint etc.

Best regards

Lee

Re: Changing TV?

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:58:25 GMT

Its a tricky one because the NX700 was/is a very good panel and still very capable of producing an excellent HD picture. Despite, or possibly because, I am surrounded by these products I am not in favour of replacing a product for the sake of it.

That said, in the 2 years since purchasing your NX700, a few features have seen significant improvements, most notably 3D. The HX853 has done very well for us this year and is one of my favourite recent products.

Thats my impartial (as much as I can be) opinion, but dont just take my word for it, read the reviews, check out the rewards and see what the other community members have to say.

Best regards
Lee

Re: Connecting Mac G4 Cube to Bravia via VGA

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:48:45 GMT

My best guess would be that the output resolution of your Mac is different to one of the the preset resolutions of your Bravia, as such it is unable to pick it up or display it.

If this is the right tree to be barking up, you would have to set your Mac to output something like 1920×1080 or 1280x720. I guess you may need to hook it up to a monitor in order to change these settings.

Very much off the cuff but hopefully sets you in the right direction.

Best regards

Lee

Re: KDL-32P3000 On Screen Display - How to turn off?

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:43:17 GMT

I was just going to say...

Thanks for updating your post, much appreciated.

Lee

The world's first real-time photo gallery, powered by the NEX-5R camera from Sony

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:37:45 GMT

Hello there.

I wanted to share some of the results from our NEX-5R Live Gallery event, starting with the excellent write-up and images of Watashiwateshdes, one of the forum members who was there on the night.

His post can be found here https://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/message/1025158#1025158 Well worth a look!

We also have a video of the event (below) which shows the three photographers at work and the 'Live Gallery' where we displayed their pictures.

Enjoy.

Lee

Real Time Gallery - The Results and Photos

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:13:19 GMT

Hey dude.

Thanks for posting your thoughts and pics of the night We were chuffed that you could make it and I am glad you enjoyed it. As always, your photographs are excellent!

We now have a video of the event, showing the guys in Paris, London & Berlin at work.

Best regards

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

CLOSED: SONY PRESENTS: THE REAL TIME GALLERY

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:44:16 GMT

Hi everyone.

I have been asked to invite members of our Forum Community to a very cool digital imaging event this Thursday evening in central London.

As it is rather short notice, we don’t have time to run an in-depth competition and so it will be on a first come, first serve basis. To this end, the first 6 people who post a reply to this thread get an invite to the event.

The competition ends as soon as we receive 6 replies. If you are in the top 6, I will send you an e-mail to collect your name and provide you with further details.

Please note, it will be up to you to fund and find your way there and home again, but there will be entertainment, food & drink and a chance to meet, talk tech and chat with other forum members, experts and Sony Staff.

I look forward to seeing you there

Lee

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Re: COMPETITION! SONY PRESENTS: THE REAL TIME GALLERY

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:29:21 GMT

Thanks binbash. I agree the location and especially the short notice is not going to work for everyone. Hopefully, in the future we can make these sort events available more often, all over the UK.

I will put your name on the door. Hope you can make it.

Lee

New Look Sony Centre Opens in Wimbledon

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:26:39 GMT

The Wimbledon Sony Centre is located at Centre Court Shopping Centre, Unit 103, Wimbledon, SW19 8YD, so if you get a chance, drop in to view it or have a tour of the store with my colleague Mark Whiteman here

Message was edited by: StartTheCar