Sony Developing Camcorders with Interchangeable Lenses

The news was somewhat overshadowed by the launch of the NEX-3 and NEX-5, but the two new still cameras with interchangeable lenses will be joined by a camcorder to be released this autumn.  Like Panasonic, Sony seems keen to make the most out of its new system of lenses.

It was never likely that Panasonic was going to stay the only player in this game for long, which is probably what motivated Sony's announcement, which caught many people by surprise.  The former has already shown working versions of its Panasonic AF100 camcorder, but Sony has announced its plans very early on.  Its new camcorder doesn't even have a name and the official press release is very brief.

The new camcorder—whatever it's called—will use the new E lens mount found on the NEX-3 and NEX-5.  From the visuals and the video that's been released, the 18-200 mm lens planned for this summer seems to feature.

Sony has also used the same sensor as the NEX still cameras.  It allows recording in 1080 HD, but there's no news on whether the scan will be progressive or interlaced.  It's the latter on the NEX-5, but we'd like to think that a device dedicated to shooting video would have a progressive scan.  There's also now news about whether or not a photo mode will allow you to enjoy the 14 Megapixels on the sensor.  


Apparently, the mock-ups shown here aren't yet definitive.  We'd like to see some kind of focus ring to adjust the lens: an APS-C sensor is bigger than traditional 35 mm film—it measures 13 x 23 mm instead of 11 x 21 mm—and adjusting the depth of field to produce a more 'cinematic' effect will be one of the main benefits.  Manual focus control is currently available on some high-end camcorders like the XR500, and it would be a shame if this disappeared because focussing switched over to the lens rather than the camcorder body.

Like Panasonic, which presented the AF100 with an Olympus 4/3 zoom lens, Sony is also keen to stress the compatibility of the new camcorder with existing lenses from its Alpha SLRs.  But with a Zeiss zoom lens mounted on adaptor, the whole thing looks rather unsteady.  Rather than following Panasonic's lead and stepping back twenty years to produce something that looks like a real video camera, Sony has maintained a lightweight body that is almost overwhelmed by the unwieldy lens.  The same is true of the NEX-5, in fact ...

Despite the lack of detail in Sony's announcement, it's a sign of competition hotting up: after compact camera bodies with detachable lenses, will semi-pro video cameras—likely to find favour with film schools, independent producers and enthusiastic (but wealthy) amateurs—be the next big battle for manufacturers?

> Product Survey: Camcorders

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products