Sony announced four new cameras this morning: two “all-in-one” compacts with interchangeable lenses, and two DSLRs that aren’t really DSLRs (but more on that in a bit).
The new compact bodies are the latest additions to the popular NEX line, which combine the picture quality and control you get with interchangeable lenses with portability more akin to a point and shoot. In contrast to traditional DSLRs it doesn’t have a bulky reflex mirror inside. When you slap a pancake lens on them they’re ultra-lightweight and make great vacation cameras.
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The NEX-7 features a mirror-less Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with a 24.3 effective megapixel resolution. It weighs in at a feathery 10.3 ounces without a lens, and has a max ISO of 16,000 for low light shooting. It’s also the first camera in Sony’s NEX line to come bundled with a viewfinder (previous versions required you to purchase a mountable one separately). It’s a step up for photo hobbyists who actually want to compose their photos instead of framing images through the LCD screen (which is more prone to glare, especially when shooting outside). The NEX-7 will be available come November with a 18-55mm kit lens for $1350, or you can get the body-only for $1200. Get the full specs here.
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The NEX-5N, on the other hand, is this year’s upgrade to the ultra-popular (and affordably priced) NEX-5. While its Exmor HD sensor clocks in at 16.1 megapixels (with a max ISO of 25,600 for low light), it shoots full HD movies at 60p, which Sony is claiming to be up to par with Blu-ray quality. You’ll be able to shoot up to 60fps for some nice slow-mo shots with a new object-tracking focus that allows you to keep subjects in focus while shooting video. What’s really cool, though, is a new LCD touch panel that lets you focus on objects by touching them them on the screen (similar to the way you focus in camera apps for the iPhone or Android). Will it actually be a faster way to focus? It remains to be seen. You’ll be able to snag one with a kit for $700 or body-only for $600 in September. More here.
The two new “DSLRs,” on the other hand, rely on Sony’s new Translucent Mirror System. Tim Moynihan of PC World points out that because the mirror “doesn’t move while you’re shooting, the camera doesn’t meet the ‘reflex’ requirement of the ‘digital single lens reflex’ (DSLR) name.” This allows for some neat features like continuous autofocus which’ll make videographers’ lives easier. The α77 shoots low light with an ISO up to 16,000, while details for the α65 were mum. Both cameras will have moveable LED screens that you can pivot and contort to make creative filming a little easier. They’ll be available come October. The α77 will cost $2,000 with a new f2.8 lens, or body-only for $1,400. The α65 will run you about $1,000 with a standard kit lens or $900 for body-only. Read more about them here.
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Chris Gayomali is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @chrigz, on Facebook, or on Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.