This week in the news:
- Sony debuted the new a77 II DSLR, which features an advanced AF system and built-in Wi-Fi.
- Apple updated its MacBook Air notebook computers, making them faster and $100 cheaper.
- Moog celebrated its 50th anniversary by recreating the massive Keith Emerson modular synth.
The New Sony a77II DSLR
The new Sony a77II DSLR is an update to the three-year-old a77. Like the older generation, the new a77II features Sony's A mount, a fixed, translucent mirror, and a 24MP APS-C-sized sensor. However, the sensor on the new model has been redesigned. The big news for the a77II is its advanced, 79-point autofocus system that features wide-coverage phase detection and 15 cross-type points. It also includes the ever-popular built-in Wi-Fi functionality (as well as NFC), and the latest BIONZ X image processor.
The new a77II offers both a 2359k-dot OLED Tru-Finder EVF, which provides 100% of frame coverage, and a 3.0" tiltable LCD panel, which provides a 1229k-dot resolution. The rear panel can be maneuvered to shoot from a variety of angles, and can swing forward to capture high-resolution selfies. The camera features something called "WhiteMagic technology," which claims to improve performance when working in direct sunlight. The a77II is capable of shooting full 1080p HD video at 24p and 60p, it provides a zebra function to help you adjust the exposure, and it outputs a clean signal via its HDMI port for recording to an external device.
You can learn all about the new features of the a77II, and check out a chart that compares the specs of the new a77II against the a77 in this B&H Explora post.
The Updated MacBook Air: Faster and More Affordable
Upgrading a computer's specs from time to time to keep it competitive in the market is a fairly common practice, and that's what Apple did this week with the popular MacBook Air line. The base model of this ultra-thin and lightweight portable computer now boasts a 1.4GHz Core™ i5 processor, which is a slight performance bump up from the last generation's 1.3GHz chip. The entry-level MacBook Air can also be purchased at a price that's $100 lower, making it the most affordable Apple notebook computer to date.
You can learn more details about the new MacBook Air notebook computers in this B&H Explora post.
The Monstrous "New" Keith Emerson Moog Modular System
Moog, the beloved electronic instrument manufacturer based in Asheville, North Carolina, debuted its first voltage-controlled, modular synthesizer 50 years ago. To celebrate this noteworthy anniversary, the synthesizer maker dedicated three years to developing a recreation of the legendary Keith Emerson Moog Modular System, one of the world's most famous analog synthesizers. The engineers at Moog utilized all of the original circuit designs, and built and soldered every module by hand, just as it was done at Moog in the 1960s and '70s.
The full story on the Keith Emerson Moog Modular System is available in this B&H Explora post.
More news:
- Samsung announced the new Galaxy K Zoom smartphone, which features a 20.7MP sensor and a 10x optical zoom. Learn more about it over at PetaPixel.
- A new version of the GoPro Android app was released this week, which automatically connects the Wi-Fi-enabled action camera to a mobile device. Read more about it at Engadget.
- There was a significant price drop on the popular Zoom H4n and H2n portable recorders. More information is available in this B&H Explora post.
... and that's your gear news roundup for the week of April 28th, 2014.
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