San Diego, CA—Lightweight and designed for ease of use, Sony’s SLT-A58 camera offers a variety of imaging capabilities to appeal to consumers looking to explore DSLR-style interchangeable-lens photography.
The α58 camera employs Sony’s Translucent Mirror technology, developed to deliver a combination of fast shooting, continuous phase-detection autofocus and live image preview during still and Full HD video (60i/24p) capture. This technology also allows the camera to shoot sharply focused images at eight frames per second (in tele-zoom high speed shooting mode).
The camera’s brand-new, 20.1-effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor teams with an improved Bionz image-processing engine, which individually adjusts levels of noise reduction and sharpness in different imaging areas. The pair also gives the camera an extra-wide sensitivity range of ISO 100–16,000 and helps ensure detailed, low-noise photos and Full HD video in all types of lighting conditions.
“With the new α58 model, we are bringing unparalleled levels of performance, speed and design to the world of affordable-class DSLR cameras,” said Mike Kahn, director of the Alpha business at Sony. “Featuring our innovative Translucent Mirror technology, a brand-new, high-resolution image sensor and a variety of new, convenient technologies all packaged at a great price, it is perfect for consumers looking to upgrade from the world of point-and-shoot cameras or replace an older DLSR.”
To improve the framing, focusing and image playback experience, the α58 provides a bright OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder that enables shooters to instantly see the result of adjusting exposure compensation, aperture, ISO, white balance, picture effects and other parameters while they are composing.
Other features include: a 15-point AF system with a new lock-on autofocus technology for speedier, more accurate subject tracking; 15 artistic in-camera picture effects, including toy camera, mono and partial color, accessed from the mode dial; and Auto Object Framing technology (an evolution of the auto portrait framing feature Sony introduced last year in its interchangeable-lens cameras) that enables the a58 to judge what’s in the scene, even moving objects or macro subjects, and track, frame and crop the shot to create professionally framed compositions. Cropped photos are boosted back to full resolution using Sony’s By Pixel Super Resolution technology, and both the original and recomposed image files are saved.
This is also Sony’s first A-mount interchangeable-lens camera that supports its TriLuminos Color, which allows consumers to experience an expanded palette of colors when content from the camera is played back on compatible Bravia TVs.
Sony’s SLT-α58 digital camera will be available as a kit with a new 18–55mm zoom lens (model SEL18552) this April for $600. sony.com
