Sony Penang Audio Plant : Slated To Close By March 2022
Just over a year ago, Sony announced the closure of their PG Tec manufacturing facility, which spanned a land area of 172,000 m², with a total built-up area of 95,000 m².
Based in the Prai Industrial Zone, the Sony PG Tec facility produced audio products like the WH-1000XM3 and WP-SP900 headphones, wireless speakers, home theatre systems and Blu-ray players.
It was also the home of a local Sony R&D team that designed the Sony MHC-V81D sound system, amongst other audio products.
At that time, Sony said that the PG Tec audio plant would stop operations in September 2021, and close by March 2022.
The 3,400 or so employees at the Sony PG Tec facility were offered the option of a severance plan, or relocation to the Sony EMCS factory in Bangi, Selangor. Some 1,800 employees are local, while another 1,600 are foreigners.
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Sony has decided to close their PG Tec factory, which manufactures audio products like WH-1000XM3 headphones!
Find out what’s going on, and what this means for their 3,400 employees and Sony fans!
Sony PG Tec Facility Will Close By September 2021!
Sony has decided to close their PG Tec manufacturing facility, which spans a land area of 172,000 m², with a total built-up area of 95,000 m².
Based in the Prai Industrial Zone, the Sony PG Tec facility produces audio products like the WH-1000XM3 and WP-SP900 headphones, wireless speakers, home theatre systems and Blu-ray players.
It is also the home of a local Sony R&D team that designed the Sony MHC-V81D sound system, amongst other audio products.
Penang Gov Confirms That Sony Will Close PG Tec Facility
Dato’ Haji Abdul Halim, the Penang Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development Exco, confirmed the decision, stating that the Penang state government will hold a press conference to address the matter.
According to him, the decision to close this high-tech manufacturing facility was due to “internal restructuring due to fierce market competition”.
The 3,400 or so employees at the Sony PG Tec facility will be offered a severance plan, or relocation to the Sony EMCS factory in Bangi, Selangor.
Some 1,800 employees are local, while another 1,600 are foreigners.
The Sony EMCS PG Tec facility is still operating at the moment, and will close in stages, fully ceasing operation in September 2021.
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At the recent 2019 Sony BRAVIA OLED + LED TV Showcase, Sony explained and demonstrated four new 2019 Sony TV technologies, as well as a new 2-way stand for the Sony BRAVIA A8G OLED TV.
Let’s take a look at those four new 2019 Sony TV technologies, and find out how they will impact your viewing experience!
The Four 2019 Sony TV Technologies Explained + Demonstrated!
Let’s take a look at the four 2019 Sony TV technologies that are being introduced in their latest range of OLED and LED TVs.
Acoustic Surface Audio+
The Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology will debut in their latest BRAVIA A9G 4K HDR OLED TV. In addition to two actuators vibrating the TV panel to create sound, it uses two subwoofers to add bass, and a spatial effect.
Together, they deliver a multi-dimensional soundscape that envelopes you, the viewer, for a more immersive viewing experience.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ also introduces a TV Center Speaker Mode, which turns the A9G‘s display into a giant centre speaker, to complement your external speaker setup. This will allow for greater clarity of dialogue, vocals and instruments in any movie or performance you watch.
Pixel Contrast Booster
Pixel Contrast Booster is designed to maximise the OLED panel’s contrast throughout the colour spectrum (instead of just grey tones).
It accomplishes this by analysing each frame and applying the suitable signal enhancements, with feedback from the panel.
X-Motion Clarity
X-Motion Clarity keeps objects looking sharp, bright and clear, even in motion. Each ‘backlight blink’ is individually controlled and its duration optimised, while brightness is boosted when needed.
This is made possible by the 2019 Sony TV range’s full array backlight system, with local dimming capability.
X-Wide Angle
X-Wide Angle is designed to make sure the brightness and colour of an image remain the same at any viewing angle, so that everyone has the best view, no matter how they are positioned in relation to the TV.
Sony accomplished this by optimising the optical panel structure and signal processing to control the direction of light emitted by the backlight.
Extra : New BRAVIA A8G 2-Way Stand
The new Sony BRAVIA A8G features a new 2-way stand design, which can be inverted to support the placement of a sound bar! Check it out!
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One of the key features introduced in the new Sony BRAVIA A9G 4K HDR OLED TV is the improved Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which includes the TV Center Speaker Mode.
Find out what Acoustic Surface Audio+ does, and how it offers a more immersive audio soundscape!
Sony Acoustic Surface Audio+ Explained + Demonstrated!
To better illustrate how it will greatly improve the audio output, they demonstrated it to us at this exclusive showcase.
Acoustic Surface Audio+
This proprietary Sony technology converts the entire display into a giant speaker. How? It uses two actuators behind the Sony BRAVIA A9G to vibrate the TV panel, directly creating sound from the screen!
In addition, it uses two subwoofers to add bass, and a spatial effect. Together, they deliver a multi-dimensional soundscape that envelopes you, the viewer, for a more immersive viewing experience.
TV Center Speaker Mode
For those with an external amplifier and speakers, the Acoustic Surface capability of the BRAVIA A9G OLED TV offers a unique feature – the TV Center Speaker Mode.
The TV Center Speaker Mode basically turns the A9G‘s display into a giant centre speaker, to complement your external speaker setup. This will allow for greater clarity of dialogue, vocals and instruments in any movie or performance you watch.
Comparison To Acoustic Multi-Audio
Acoustic Surface Audio+ is different from the new Acoustic Multi-Audio capability of the latest Sony LED TVs.
Acoustic Multi-Audio does not have actuators vibrating the display. Instead, it adds two sound-positioning tweeters to provide additional directional cues to the two existing speakers.
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The Sony Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1 has just arrived! Learn more about this beautiful Sony speaker and what it can do for your home!
The Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker Is Here!
The Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker was designed to look like part the table setting and it blends in alongside thetableware and cutlery. It emanates crystal-clear sound in all directions to enrich the sensory experience of familiar life spaces.
It fills rooms with pristine sound and crystalline illumination and gives the user complete control over every setting. The Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker makes it easy to create vibrant, comfortable spaces for chatting, sharing meals and spending quality time with friends and family.
Sony LSPX-S1 Key Features
Cylindrical design with organic glass top
Anodizing aluminum with a thin, gold film body
Filament LED in midrange tones
Candle-like device light up with through its start-up and shutdown processes
Lightweight
Battery-operated
Portable
Connectivity to smartphones through Bluetooth function
Sony LSPX-S1 Price + Availability
The Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker is now available at Sony Stores KLCC and The Curve and authorized retailers in Malaysia at the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of RM 3,199 / ~US$ 763 / ~£595.
Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
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Sony today announced the new Sony A9F MASTER Series 4K HDR OLED TV. Let’s take a look at their product briefing, and a quick tour of the 65-inch and 55-inch Sony A9F MASTER Series models!
The Sony A9F MASTER Series
The Sony A9F is part of the MASTER Series – a title Sony reserves exclusively for its highest picture quality TV models. Sony claims the MASTER Series provides picture quality approaching that of a professional-grade monitor in a motion picture production studio.
Having developed and followed a very strict set of product evaluation criteria by its most experienced picture quality engineers, Sony is confident that their flagship MASTER Series will deliver the highest quality picture possible in a home setting.
Picture Processor X1 Ultimate
The Sony A9F MASTER Series models come equipped with a newly-developed, next-generation Picture Processor X1 Ultimate. This processor can intelligently detect and analyse each object in the picture through Sony’s new Object-based Super Resolution for exceptional accuracy and detail.
The Object-based HDR remaster has also been updated, and now allows each object to be remastered individually for better depth, accurate texture and all-in-all more realistic picture.
Netflix-Calibrated Mode
In conjunction with Netflix, Sony is now introducing Netflix Calibrated Mode. This unique feature was specially developed to mirror the same picture quality as a studio evaluation master for television in order to preserve the artists’ creative vision and intent.
By accessing one simple menu setting, Netflix Calibrated Mode faithfully reproduces the visuals that help bring a story to life, and entertainment enthusiasts can now enjoy this experience when watching their favorite TV series, films, documentaries and more on Netflix.
CalMAN-Ready
The Sony A9F MASTER Series is ready for CalMAN, the industry-leading display calibration software from Portrait Displays. CalMAN is widely used by professionals as a tool to ensure quality control of the strict requirements demanded by content creators in broadcast, production, and post-production.
This features the CalMAN calibration software to be installed on a PC, a pattern generator, a colorimeter or spectrophotometer, and the CalMAN for BRAVIA app installed. But using it eliminates the struggle of maintaining the picture quality throughout the life of the TV.
Pixel Contrast Booster
The Sony A9F MASTER Series TV comes with the Pixel Contrast Booster, which is Sony’s original panel controller for OLED. It maximises the dynamic range by widening the area of color reproduction at high brightness. Pictures are enhanced with extra detail and texture.
Acoustic Surface Audio+
The Sony A9F TV boasts the new Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology.
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Acoustic Surface was first introduced last year with the Sony A1 series followed by the Sony A8F this year. The improved Acoustic Surface Audio+ gets an additional actuator in the center of the screen and an extra subwoofer channel, which delivers a 3.2 channel sound system.
The additional center actuator acts just like center speakers hidden behind an AT (acoustically transparent) screen which are found in movie theaters. With the three actuators and two subwoofers facing sideways, the Sony A9F creates a rich sound field that greatly enhances the viewing experience.
The Sony A9F asp has a TV Center Speaker Mode that allows the Acoustic Surface Audio+ to be used as the center speaker of a home theater system.
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Sony just launched a new Cyber-shot RX100 compact camera model – the Sony RX100 VI (DSC-RX100M6). The new RX100 Mark 6, as it is known, packs an impressive ZEISS 24-200mm lens within its compact body! Let’s check it out, and see what else the Mark 6 brings to the table…
Introducing The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI
The Sony RX100 VI (Price Check) is the first RX100 model to introduce a high magnification zoom lens. Packing the ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200 mm F2.8 – F4.5 lens, it delivers a wide zoom range for both photos and videos in a compact camera body.
The ZEISS lens is paired with a 20.1 MP Sony Exmor RS CMOS sensor for incredibly high resolution photos. The sensor features a stacked DRAM chip, and together with an upgraded Sony BIONZ X image processor, allows for 24 fps high-speed photography as well as 4K video recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning.
The RX100 VI (Price Check) also features a Fast Hybrid AF system, with 315-point phase-detection auto-focus points on the sensor. This allows it to acquire focus in as little as 0.03 seconds, which is a world record for a 1.0 inch sensor.
High Magnification 24-200 mm Zoom Lens
A first for the Sony RX100, the new ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mmi F2.8 – F4.5 lens combines the zoom range of both 24-70mm and 70-200mm focal lengths into a compact design. This is achieved through a unique design featuring two ED (extra-low dispersion) aspherical glass elements and eight aspherical lens elements, as well as four AA (advanced aspherical) lenses.
Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilisation
The relatively large aperture throughout the zoom range helps create better bokeh effect, while reducing motion blur. To help you take better handheld shots even in low-light conditions, the RX100 VI (Price Check) has built-in Optical SteadyShot that offers image stabilisation that is equivalent to 4-stop faster shutter speed.
Fast Hybrid AF System
The Sony RX100 VI (Price Check) features a Fast Hybrid AF system that allows the camera to lock focus in as little as 0.03 seconds. It combines 315-point focal-plane phase-detection AF points (that cover approximately 65% of the sensor), and contrast-detection AF.
The RX100 VI also includes Sony’s High-density Tracking AF technology, which concentrates AF points around a subject to improve tracking and focus accuracy. The popular Eye AF technology is also available with approximately 2X the tracking performance of the RX100 Mark 5 model.
Furthermore, the RX100 VI now comes with LCD touch focusing and touchpad focus point control for users that would like to drag their fingers to ideal focus points of their choice.
High-Speed Photography
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The RX100 VI (Price Check) offers continuous high-speed shooting at up to 24 fpswith full AF/AE tracking, with an impressive buffer limit of up to 233 images. The display lag of the EVF has been substantially reduced compared to prior models. Also, for convenience during image playback, continuously shot images can be displayed in groups instead of individual shots.
The RX100 VI also has a high speed Anti-Distortion Shutter (maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32000 second) that reduces the “rolling shutter” effect commonly experienced with fast moving subjects. It can shoot completely silently in all modes, including continuous high speed shooting, when electronic shutter is engaged. A mechanical shutter mode is also available as well if required by the user.
4K HDR Video Capability
The Sony RX100 VI (Price Check) boasts a full pixel readout without pixel binning to ensure that even the finest details in your 4K video are captured with minimal moire and “jaggies”.
And for the first time in an RX100 camera, the RX100 VI features 4K HDR capability with its new HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) picture profile that offers an instant HDR workflow solution.
Other professional videography features include S-Log3 / S-Gamut3, proxy recording and more. It is also able to record super slow motion videos at either 240 fps, 480 fps or 960 fps!
Sony RX100 VI Price + Availability
The Sony RX100 VI (Price Check) will be available in Malaysia, starting 20 July 2018. It is priced at RM 4,899 / $1,198. Here are some purchase links :
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To pair with their new 1000X series noise cancelling headphones, Sony introduced the new Sony ZX300 Walkman Hi-Res Audio player. What’s new about it? Let’s find out!
Introducing The Sony ZX300 Walkman
The new Sony ZX300 Walkman offers Hi-Res Audio with S-Master HX digital amplifier, newly soldered with high quality sound lead-free solder balls. Thanks to the capability of both 11.2 MHz DSD native playback and 384 kHz / 32-bit PCM playback, you can enjoy your music as the artist intended. The Sony ZX300 also offers balanced standard connection with fully-discrete left and right channels for less noise and clearer sound.
Premium Listening Experience
The Sony ZX300 incorporates an aluminium chassis for less resistance, as well as FTCAP (Conductive Polymer Aluminium Solid Capacitors) and the new film capacitor for more transparent vocals and solid bass notes. OFC cables have been used for wiring the internal amplifier to the headphone jack which results in powerful sound quality by low resistance value and signal transmission without loss.
For powerful bass and less noise, the double layer capacitor is the main battery power source in this Walkman. Two crystal oscillators are also utilised to deliver you high quality audio with improved SN ratio and large volume of music data.
Separating audio and power/digital block on the circuit board, the SN ratio has been improved by minimising noise. The high quality audio resistor has been used as the LC filter for the headphone output to reduce magnetic distortion which results in expansive, high transparent sound quality.
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You can also enjoy listening to music from your PC with the USB-DAC function which allows you to stream sound directly from your existing devices through this Walkman for a better sound experience. The ZX300 also supports MQA files as well for another way to enjoy Hi-Res Audio.
Premium Construction & Features
Its aluminium chassis has a matte finish, with a matte glass screen that feels premium. It has up to 30 hours of battery life and 64 GB memory built in, plus support for an microSD card.
You can connect your wireless headphones via Bluetooth or NFC. It not only supports LDAC, the Sony ZX300 will also be compatible with Qualcomm aptX HD audio.
The Sony ZX300 Walkman Price & Availability
The Sony ZX300 Walkman is available right now at a recommended retail price of RM 2,599 / ~US$ 619.
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Sony just launched three new Sony 1000X series wireless headphones with industry-leading noise cancellation technology! They are the improved WH-1000XM2 headphones, the around-the-neck WI-1000X, and the WF-1000X ear buds. Check them out below!
Introducing The 2017 Sony 1000X Series Headphones!
The 2017 Sony 1000X series delivers industry-leading noise cancellation in three headphone styles – the WH-1000XM2 (Price Check) headband headphone, the around-the-neck WI-1000X (Price Check) earphones, and the WF-1000X (Price Check) ear buds.
They also introduce the world’s first companion app, with Adaptive Sound Control that detects your activity and automatically switches to your preferred noise cancellation profile. This is made possible by the Sony SENSE ENGINE integrated into the 2017 Sony 1000X series headphones.
In addition, the WH-1000XM2 and WI-1000X (Price Check) come with the world’s first Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature. It uses sensors and the Sony SENSE ENGINE to monitor the atmospheric pressure to optimise their noise cancelling performance.
The Sony WF-1000X Wireless Ear Buds
The star of the show is the truly wireless style WF-1000X (Price Check) , completely free of wires and fitting snugly in your ear while incorporating industry-leading noise cancelling technology.
With a 6mm driver, the sound from the WF-1000X (Price Check) earphones is dynamic despite their miniscule size. As soon as you take them out of the case these headphones automatically power on and connect to the last device they were paired with – pop them in your ears and you are ready to go.
Charge the WF-1000X (Price Check) in the sleekly designed charging case for up to 9 hours of usage.
The Sony WI-1000X Around-The-Neck Earphones
The around-the-neck style WI-1000X (Price Check) is designed for the commuter who wants to add some sophistication and efficiency to their daily commute and business trips with up to 10 hours of battery life (with wireless noise cancelling turned on).
With the world’s first Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature, this pair is perfect for enjoying in-flight entertainment systems via a wired audio connection. the WI-1000X (Price Check) also has a zip-style cable management and vibration alerts for incoming calls.
The hybrid driver unit with BA and 9mm dynamic driver brings the best sound quality to your ears with a multitude of other sound features such as High Resolution Audio, LDAC, DSEE HX and S-Master HX.
The WH-1000XM2 Wireless Headphones
The WH-1000XM2 (Price Check) are the improved headband-style premium noise-cancelling headphones, offering multiple new features and exceptional battery life, for a deeper, longer listening experience and more options to tailor the sound to your environment.
It boasts the unique Ambient Sound mode, Personal Noise Cancellation Optimiser and Quick Attention mode in this around-ear style. If you are a frequent flyer, then you will notice improved noise cancellation performance with the new Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature that analyses your surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Enhanced to last 40 hours with an audio cable, or 30 hours wirelessly, the Quick Charge function gains 70 mins of battery life with just 10 minutes of charging, so you can use your 1000XM2 (Price Check) wherever you are, whether that be flying across the sky or on your commute to work.
The Sony Headphones Connect App
For the 1000X family, the companion Sony Headphones Connect app is packed full of features for adaptable listening, utilising your mobile device’s accelerometer sensor to detect your activity and adjust music and sound settings to best suit your environment.
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The 2017 Sony 1000X Series Price & Availability
The 2017 Sony 1000X series headphones will have the following recommended retail prices :
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Last week, we shared with you the full details of the new Sony a9 (α9) full-frame mirrorless camera (also known as the Sony Alpha 9). This is the speed-focused Sony alpha camera, with a maximum shooting speed of 20 fps! Today, we will share with you more photo samples, as well as our hands-on preview of the Sony a9 (α9) (Lowest price) with three E-mount lenses!
The Sony a9 (α9) Hands-On Preview
Let’s start off with our hands-on preview of the Sony a9 (α9) full-frame mirrorless camera (Lowest price), paired with the FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS lens. This is not the new FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, which was introduced together with the Sony a9.
Then let’s take a look at three Sony a9 (α9) cameras, each with a different lens. In addition to the FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS, we have the FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS lens and the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens.
Sony released the following accessories to compliment the new Sony a9 (Lowest price):
NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery: High-capacity battery with approximately 2.2x the capacity of the NP-FW50 W-series battery. Supports InfoLITHIUM technology, which makes it possible to view the remaining battery power as both a percentage display and five step icon on the camera’s LCD screen.
VG-C3EM Vertical Grip: Provides same operation, handling and design as α9, doubles battery life and allows USB battery-charging via the camera body.[adrotate group=”2″]
NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit: External multi-battery adaptor kit capable of functioning as an external power supply for four Z series batteries and as a quick charger. Kit comes with two packs of NP-FZ100 rechargeable batteries.
GP-X1EM Grip Extension: Grip extender with same look, feel and design as α9. Enables more solid hold on camera.
FDA-EP18 Eyepiece Cup: Eye piece cup with locking mechanism
BC-QZ1 Battery Charger: Quick-charging battery charger. Charges one new Z series battery in approximately 2.5 hours.
PCK-LG1Screen Protect Glass Sheet: Hard, shatterproof glass screen protector with anti-stain coating to prevent fingerprints. Compatible with touch operation and tilting LCD screen
Price & Availability
The Sony a9 interchangeable lens camera is now available in Malaysia.
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Sony just launched the Sony Alpha 9 (α9) full-frame mirrorless camera with a continuous shooting speed of up to 20 fps. That is an astounding 484 million pixels being recorded and stored per second! That is a level of photographic performance that is currently unmatched by any other camera in the market.
In this article, we will share with you the full details of the Sony Alpha 9 (α9) camera (Price Check), including the official presentations and press release. We will also share with you a showcase of the Sony α9‘s photographic capabilities in the hands of a world-class photojournalist and photographer, Benjamin Lowy.
The Sony Alpha 9 (α9) FF Mirrorless Camera Revealed!
Takashi Yasuda, the General Manager & Head of the Sony Digital Imaging Marketing Division, started with an overview of the market performance of Sony interchangeable lens cameras, and the key features that helped them gain an advantage over their rivals.
Then Chiou Bing Han, Senior Manager & Head of Digital Imaging Marketing, Sony Malaysia, detailed the key features of the new Sony Alpha 9 (α9) full-frame mirrorless camera (Price Check).
He also shared details of the three new Sony lenses – the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS (Lowest price), the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (Lowest price) and the Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G, including examples of photos taken with the new lenses.
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Benjamin Lowy on the new Sony Alpha 9 (α9)
Benjamin Lowy is a renown photojournalist who has covered numerous conflicts, from the Iraq war to the wars in Afghanistan and Libya. He has since gone into sports photography, covering the Sochi Winter Olympics, and wildlife photography. He has even gone on the recent American Presidential campaign trail!
Sony flew him all the way from New York to showcase his work, as well as show off the photos he took with the new Sony Alpha 9 (α9) full-frame mirrorless camera. He emphasised how useful it was that Sony α9 (Price Check) was not only smaller in size, it also operated silently – particularly useful when photographing wildlife.
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Some Sony Alpha 9 (α9) Sample Photos
Sony gave us the opportunity to take some sample photos on the Sony Alpha 9 (α9) (Price Check) and the FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS lens. Note that these were not taken with the newly-launched FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (Price Check).
Sony also released a variety of new accessories to compliment the new α9, including:
NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery: High-capacity battery with approximately 2.2x the capacity of the NP-FW50 W-series battery. Supports InfoLITHIUM technology, which makes it possible to view the remaining battery power as both a percentage display and five step icon on the camera’s LCD screen.
VG-C3EM Vertical Grip: Provides same operation, handling and design as α9, doubles battery life and allows USB battery-charging via the camera body.[adrotate group=”2″]
NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit: External multi-battery adaptor kit capable of functioning as an external power supply for four Z series batteries and as a quick charger. Kit comes with two packs of NP-FZ100 rechargeable batteries.
GP-X1EM Grip Extension: Grip extender with same look, feel and design as α9. Enables more solid hold on camera.
FDA-EP18 Eyepiece Cup: Eye piece cup with locking mechanism
BC-QZ1 Battery Charger: Quick-charging battery charger. Charges one new Z series battery in approximately 2.5 hours.
PCK-LG1Screen Protect Glass Sheet: Hard, shatterproof glass screen protector with anti-stain coating to prevent fingerprints. Compatible with touch operation and tilting LCD screen
Price & Availability
The Sony α9 interchangeable lens camera is now available in Malaysia.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Sony Alpha 9 (α9) Press Release (Part 1/2)
15 June 2017 – Sony today introduced its new revolutionary digital camera, the α9 (model ILCE-9). The most technologically advanced, innovative digital camera that Sony has ever created, the new α9 (Price Check) offers a level of imaging performance that is simply unmatched by any camera ever created – mirrorless, SLR or otherwise.
Exmor RS CMOS sensor
The new camera offers many impressive capabilities that are simply not possible with a modern digital SLR camera including high-speed, blackout-free continuous shooting at up to 20 fps, 60 AF/AE tracking calculations per second [1], a maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 second and much more.
These are made possible thanks to its 35mm full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor – the world’s first of its kind – which enables data speed processing at up to 20x faster than previous Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras [2]. This unique sensor is paired with a brand new, upgraded BIONZ X processing engine and front-end LSI that maximises overall performance.
This industry-leading speed and innovative silent shooting is combined with a focusing system that features an incredible 693 phase detection AF points. Covering approximately 93% of the frame, the focusing system ensures that even the fastest moving subjects are reliably captured and tracked across the frame.
Dual SD media card slots
The new α9 (Price Check) also features a vibration free, fully electronic, completely silent anti-distortion shutter with absolutely no mechanical mirror or shutter noise, making it an extremely powerful photographic tool for any shooting situation that demands quiet operation.
To ensure maximum usability and reliability, the camera features a new Z battery with approximately 2.2x the capacity of W batteries, as well as dual SD media card slots, including one that supports UHS-II cards. An Ethernet port (wired LAN terminal) is available as well, and there is a wide variety of new settings, controls and customisability options that are essential for working professionals.
A New Standard of Speed and Focusing Accuracy
Critical to the record-breaking speed of the new α9 is the combination of the new stacked 24.2 MP Exmor RS image sensor, new BIONZ X processor and front end LSI.
The immense processing power from these new components allows for faster AF/AE calculation while also reducing EVF display latency. The processor and front end LSI are also responsible for the larger continuous shooting buffer, enabling photographers to shoot at a blazing 20 fps with continuous AF/AE tracking for up to 362 JPEG or 241 RAWimages.
The camera’s innovative AF system tracks complex, erratic motion with higher accuracy than ever before, with the ability to calculate AF/AE at up to 60 times per second, regardless of shutter release and frame capture. Furthermore, when the shutter is released while shooting stills, the electronic viewfinder functions with absolutely no blackout [3], giving the user a seamless live view of their subject at all times.
This feature truly combines all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder with the immediacy and “in the moment” advantages that not even the finest optical viewfinders can match, and is available in all still image modes [4] including high speed 20 fps continuous shooting.
With 693 focal plane phase detection AF points covering approximately 93% of the frame, the camera ensures improved precision and unfailing focus in scenes where focus might otherwise be difficult to achieve. The Fast Hybrid AF system – pairing the speed and excellent tracking performance of phase detection AF with the precision of contrast AF – achieves approximately 25% faster performance when compared with α7R II, ensuring all fast-moving subjects are captured.
Professional Capabilities in a Compact Body
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The α9 (Price Check) features an all-new, high-resolution, high-luminance Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder with approximately 3,686k dots for extremely accurate, true-to-life detail reproduction. The new Tru-Finder, which is the highest resolution viewfinder Sony has ever incorporated in an α camera, features an optical design that includes a double-sided aspherical element, helping it to achieve 0.78x magnification and a level of corner to corner sharpness that is simply outstanding.
The EVF also utilises a ZEISS T* Coating to greatly reduce reflections, and has a fluorine coating on the outer lens that repels dirt.
This all adds up to a luminance that is 2x higher than the XGA OLED Tru-Finder from the α7R II, creating a viewfinder image with a brightness level that is nearly identical to the actual scene being framed, ensuring the most natural shooting experience. The frame rate of the Tru-Finder is even customisable, with options to set it for 60 fps or 120 fps to best match the action.
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The Sony Alpha 9 (α9) Press Release (Part 2/2)
5-axis image stabilisation system
The α9 (Price Check) is equipped with an innovative 5-axis image stabilisation system that provides a shutter speed advantage of 5.0 steps, ensuring the full power of the new sensor can be realised, even in challenging lighting. With a simple half press of the shutter button, the effect of the image stabilisation can be monitored in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, allowing framing and focus to be accurately checked and continually monitored.
The α9 (Price Check) also offers an Ethernet port (wired LAN terminal), allowing convenient transfer of still image files to a specified FTP server at high speeds, making it an ideal choice for studio photography, high-profile news and sporting events and more. In addition, there is a sync terminal, enabling external flash units and cables to be connected directly for convenient flash sync.
New Features for Fast Operation
Sony’s new α9 (Price Check) has several new and updated focus functions that support faster, easier focusing in a variety of situations. The camera features a multi-selector joystick on the back of the camera, allowing shooters to easily shift focus within the frame by pressing the multi-selector in any direction up, down, left or right when shooting in Zone, Flexible Spot or Expanded Flexible Spot focus area modes. The new model also offers touch focusing on the rear LCD screen for easy selection of, and shifting focus towards a desired focus point or subject.
New for Sony E-mount cameras, the α9 (Price Check) includes the addition of separate drive mode and focus mode dials, plus a new “AF ON” button that can be pressed to activate autofocus directly when shooting still images or movies.
α9 with SEL100400GM
Additional new capabilities include the “AF Area Registration”, which allows frequently used focus areas to be memorised and recalled via custom button assignments. There is also the ability to assign specific settings (exposure, shutter speed, drive mode, etc) to a custom button to be instantly recalled when needed.
The camera can memorise and automatically recall the last focus point used in a vertical or horizontal orientation, instantly switching back to it when that specific orientation is used again. For enhanced customisation, a “My Menu” feature is available, allowing up to 30 menu items to be registered in a custom menu for instant recall when needed.
Double Battery Life, Double Memory
The innovative α9 (Price Check) camera features an all-new Sony battery (model NP-FZ100) with 2.2x the capacity of previous Sony full-frame models, allowing for much longer shooting performance.
Based on extensive customer feedback, the new camera offers two separate media card slots, including one for UHS-II media. The same data can simultaneously be recorded to both cards, or the user can choose to separate RAW / JPEG or still images / movies. Movies can also simultaneously be recorded to two cards for backup and more efficient data management.
High Sensitivity and Wide Dynamic Range
The unique design of the α9 (Price Check) image sensor represents the pinnacle of Sony device technology. The 24.2 MP full-frame stacked CMOS sensor is back-illuminated, allowing it to capture maximum light and produce outstanding, true-to-life image quality. The sensor also enables the diverse ISO range of 100 – 51200, expandable to 50 – 204800 [5] , ensuring optimum image quality with minimum noise at all settings.
The enhanced BIONZ X processor plays a large part in image quality as well, as it helps to minimise noise in the higher sensitivity range while also reducing the need to limit ISO sensitivity in situations where the highest quality image is required.
The new α9 (Price Check) also supports uncompressed 14-bit RAW, ensuring users can get the most out of the wide dynamic range of the sensor.
4K Video Capture
The new α9 (Price Check) is a very capable video camera as it offers 4K (3840x2160p) video recording across the full width of the full-frame image sensor [6]. When shooting in this format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 6K of information, oversampling it to produce high quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth. Recording is also available in the popular Super 35mm size.
Additionally, the camera can record Full HD at 120 fps at up to 100 Mbps, which allows footage to be reviewed and eventually edited into 4x or 5x slow motion video files in Full HD resolution with AF tracking.
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[1] At shutter speeds higher than 1/125 sec, smooth and blackout-free live view images are shown in EVF
[2] Compared to the front-illuminated CMOS image sensor in the α7 II.
[3] Display updating will be slower at slow shutter speeds.
[4] When the auto or electronic shutter mode is selected the viewfinder frame rate is fixed at 60 fps during continuous shooting.
[5] Still images, mechanical shutter: ISO 100 – 51200 expandable to ISO 50 – 204800. Still images, electronic shutter: ISO 100 – 25600 expandable to ISO 50 – 25600. Movie recording: ISO 100 – 51200 expandable to ISO 100 – 102400.
[6] Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card required for XAVC S format movie recording. UHS Speed Class U3 required for 100Mbps or higher recording
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At the Sony Sound Stage 2016 event held on October 6, Sony showed off their latest h.ear series, Extra Bass series and Active series audio players and headphones. Let’s take a look!
The Sony Sound Stage 2016 Showcase
The Sony Sound Stage 2016 kicked off with a showcase of Sony’s h.ear series, Extra Bass series and Active series audio players and headphones.
Then they gave us a quick tour of some of their new headphones. Check it out!
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The Sony Walkman NW-A30 Series
The audio player that was seen powering the headphones in the showcase was the Sony Walkman NW-A35, from the new Sony Walkman NW-A30 series.
The Sony Walkman NW-A30 audio players support DSD formats, and boast five Panasonic POSCAP capacitors which helps its S-Master HX digital amplifier to cut distortion and noise across a wide range of frequencies. They also have two clock oscillators that switch to provide optimal modulation for the sampling frequencies of different content.
The Sony Walkman NW-A30 series audio players are compact and weigh only 98 g. Even so, they have enough battery life to support up to 45 hours of MP3 playback, or 30 hours of Hi-Res Audio playback. They are also easy to connect wirelessly, thanks to their Bluetooth and NFC capabilities.
With an improved 3.1″ touch screen, the Sony Walkman NW-A30 series is available with 16 GB (NW-A35) or 32 GB (NW-A36HN) of internal storage, that is expandable via a microSD card. In addition, the Sony NW-A36HN is paired with a pair of Hi-Res Audio digital noise-cancelling in-ear headphones.
The new Walkman NW-A30 series will be available from November 2016 onwards at all Sony Stores and authorised Sony Centres in five colours – Viridian Blue, Cinnabar Red, Charcoal Black, Lime Yellow and Bordeaux Pink. The A35 is priced at RM 899 / ~US$225, while the A36HN is priced at RM 1,099 / ~US$ 275.
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28 March 2016 – Relive your every-day adventures and capture stunning point-of-view footage with Sony’s latest HDR-AS50 Action Cam. Whether you’re travelling, enjoying water sports, cycling or just strolling around, the HDR-AS50 allows you to capture those experiences and relive them in mesmerising HD movies.
The HDR-AS50 has an 11.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with a ZEISS Tessar lens, capturing your content in crystal clear high definition resolution. It uses advanced SteadyShot which is three times more powerful than its predecessor and also used in the range topping FDR-X1000V, which delivers judder-free footage when shooting everything from motocross to aerial landscapes. The stabilisation system is especially effective against low amplitude vibration, which can occur when used with radio-controlled helicopters or drones. Capturing clear and steady footage of action sports is no longer problematic as shakes and blur during skydiving, running or cycling are effectively compensated for.
With the HDR-AS50, field angle adjustment is now possible through “angle setting” and “zoom setting.” Users benefit from two-step angle switching between wide and narrow, allowing perfect frame adjustment of any scene with less image distortion for great quality, no matter what angle. The HDR-AS50 also features a newly enhanced 3x smooth zoom, allowing you get even closer to the action.
The body of the HDR-AS50 has been redesigned with emphasis on increased usability. The Action Cam provides a new and improved user interface, enabling intuitive operation through icon and button operability, for quick setting changes when time is of the essence. Users can control their Action Cam using smartphones and tablets and turn it on/off when using with the PlayMemories Mobile app .
The camera boasts a rear USB port allowing users to connect a cable even whilst an accessory is attached, enabling the Action Cam to be supplied with power via a mobile battery, even while shooting. A tripod socket has been introduced eliminating the need for a tripod adaptor.
The new camera has implemented some changes based on customer feedback from athletes and other previous users, and now comes with several new and improved user features. Adjustable and enhanced beep sounds as well as three tally lights on the top, front and back have been added to allow greater notice of camera conditions like REC status even when wearing a helmet and when mounted on handlebars or monopods.
The HDR-AS50 comes with a variety of incredible movie functions for more exhilarating footage. Time-lapse Capture allows interval shooting of 8MP still images which means that even though the Action Cam only records in HD, when editing using the Action Cam Movie Creator software , these images can easily be turned into a stunning 4K Time-lapse movie. Time-lapse movies can also be created in Full HD using the Action Cam App .
The HDR-AS50 can capture high-bitrate recordings at 50Mbps using the XAVC S format, allowing you to shoot even the most complex of situations like splashing water or large crowds with impressive detail. Fleeting moments that ought to be emphasised can now also be captured in cinematic slow-motion, allowing you to add a creative touch to those epic moments.
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Sony’s own in-built movie creator, Highlight Movie Maker , now incorporates face detection and automatically assembles a highlight package which can be viewed and shared immediately. Your action-packed footage is rounded off with pure and vibrant sound recorded with a high-quality stereo mic allowing you to accurately capture the essence of waves crashing or children laughing.
The HDR-AS50 comes with a large range of accessories to further enable you to preserve life’s moments. Divers and swimmers can now benefit from a supplied Underwater Housing for the HDR-AS50, which allows footage to be captured down to 60m under water. The housing is perfectly designed to protect your Action Cam from damage and is therefore not only extremely tough but also dust-, shock and waterproof. The designated flat lens allows you to capture incredibly clear underwater footage. An optional Cap Clip (AKA-CAP1) is a perfect accessory for any casual use such as travelling or fishing.
Sony HDR-AS50 Availability
Sony’s new HDR-AS50 Action Cam will be available in selected Asia Pacific countries from February 2016.
Sony HDR-AS50 Specifications
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24 March 2016 – The Sony MDR-XB650BT is a Bluetooth compatible, compact addition to the existing EXTRA BASS series of Sony headphones. With a 30mm driver exclusive to this range, together with an incorporated bass booster structure and dedicated EXTRA BASS diaphragm, the headphones achieve highly realistic notes that precisely carves out the rhythm and groove feeling of rich bass.
Keeping you wire-free, One-touch Bluetooth connection and music playback is offered via NFC. Compatible with AAC and aptX Bluetooth codecs, it enables a premium audio quality sound even when listening wirelessly.
The headphones have been designed specifically to enhance the playback for deep bass. Fitting with an increased contact surface area, it achieves a stable fit that can withstand the punchy and deep bass notes. The ear pads have a soft texture and fit close to the skin, achieving excellent wearing comfort and well-balanced sound. The swivel structure design enables the housing section to be folded flat, making them easy to store and convenient to carry around wherever you go.
With 30 hours of continuous music playback rechargeable anywhere via USB, your party won’t stop even at the break of dawn.
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Sony EXTRA BASS MDR-XB650BT Specifications & Availability
The new Sony EXTRA BASS MDR-XB650BT headphones is now available in Malaysia at all Sony Stores, and selected Sony Centres.
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Kuala Lumpur, 25 February 2016 – Sony has announced the PXW-Z150, the latest addition to its XDCAM range of lightweight, easy-to-use professional camcorders, with new functionality to enable wireless operation and 4K high quality shooting. The flexible, effortless set-up capabilities of the portable PXW-Z150 enable content creators of all experience levels to deliver impressive imagery for content and events shooting scenarios, no matter how tight their brief.
Sony’s PXW-Z150 features a 1.0 type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, providing users with spectacular 4K recording and impressive 5x slow motion in Full HD – essential functionality for content creators looking to deliver corporate or personal productions of the highest quality.
Going beyond what has been traditionally possible with a camcorder, Sony’s PXW-Z150 catches every moment in up to 120 frames per second (fps) High Frame Rate continuous recording in full HD quality. Apart from the standard optical 12x zoom, the camera utilizes Clear Image Zoom technology to operate at 24x zoom and 18x zoom in HD and 4K modes respectively.
[adrotate banner=”4″]Further, the single 20 megapixel 1.0 type large sensor size offers clear pictures even in low light. This gives filmmakers superb clarity and sharpness, opening up the opportunities for flexible shooting in a variety of environments. In response to rising expectations in the fast-paced corporate industry, users can now enjoy live streaming capabilities and FTP wireless connection with built-in Wi-Fi.
Ensuring creative expression is not only subjected to an extensive set-up, the PXW-Z150 is ergonomically designed to facilitate shooting with ease. The compact, lightweight body includes integration with advanced features, removing the need for multiple external accessories. The built-in 4-step ND filter offers the flexibility of exposure and depth-of-field control while the Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe avoids cabling with easy integration between the camcorder and Sony’s peripherals including the UWP-D series wireless microphones.
The PXW-Z150 can be easily controlled by a smartphone or tablet using a Wi-Fi remote, and has a battery life which delivers a remarkable 400minutes continuous recording time – allowing you to capture what is needed readily. In addition, high visibility is delivered with the wide view-angle and high contrast 0.39-type 1440K OLED viewfinder alongside the 3.5-type 1550K LCD panel.
The PXW-Z150 lends itself to a variety of environments and editing requirements, supporting the conventional broadcasting format MPEG2HD (50Mbps/35Mbps) on top of Sony’s advanced XAVC format (Long GOP) format. The camcorder also provides a wide variety of built-in connectivity options including professional standard 3G-SDI, XLR inputs, HDMI, USB, REMOTE and Composite (phono), eliminating the need for adapters.
To extend recording times and workflow flexibility, the PW-Z150 is equipped with two memory card slots and is compatible with SDXC and SDHC cards. The dual media slots enable various recording options such as backup, simultaneous and relay recording.
Sony PXW-Z150 Features
4K high quality shooting with a 1.0-type Exmor RS image sensor and premium G lensThe PXW-Z150 supports 4K XAVC Long maximum 100Mbps high quality shooting. The 1.0-type Exmor RS image sensor provides high sensitivity and high performance in low light environments. The high-speed read-out ensures high-speed motion shooting with minimum distortion. Videographers can deliver high resolution and contrast from the centre to the edge of the lens, with the high performance 4K-compatible 29-348mm wide-angle lens with 12x optical zoom.
Use on a wide range of applications with 120fps slow motion, rich recording format and network functionsThe camcorder supports full HD 120fps continuous high-speed shooting, which enables 5x slow motion expression. High quality FHD XAVC Long 4:2:2 10bit 50Mbps and the broadcasting format MPEG2HD (50Mbps/35Mbps) are supported. Users can take advantage of the advanced network functions – such as the camcorder’s built-in Wi-Fi for live streaming capabilities (QoS will be supported by a firmware update) and FTP wireless connections – to integrate wireless workflows, enabling users to keep pace with ever changing client deadlines.
High operability and rich interface, within a compact and lightweight body
The PXW-Z150 provides extended functionality with 3 independent lens rings, in addition to high visibility with wide view-angle and high contrast 0.39-type 1440K OLED viewfinder and 3.5-type 1550K LCD panel. Sony’s MI Shoe wireless microphone receivers are supported, increasing the mobility and limiting the need for external cables and multiple accessories.
The camcorder’s rich interface includes: 3G-SDI, HDMI, XLR, Cold Shoe and REMOTE. In addition to this, dual media slots facilitate various recording options such as backup, simultaneous and relay recording.
Sony PXW-Z150 Availability
The PXW-Z150 will be available in Malaysia from May 2016. Alternatively, join Sony at booth 40/41 at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2016, Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 29 February to 3 March 2016, for first-hand experience with this latest addition to Sony’s XDCAM range of professional camcorders.
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