Sony: Two live view Alpha-series DSLRs
The Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 are very closely related designs, sharing basically the same body which features a tilting 2.7" LCD display to take advantage of the live view mode. As you'd expect, the design also includes a Sony Alpha lens mount, and there's a CompactFlash Type-I or Type-II storage slot which is also compatible with Microdrives. Power comes from a proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium Ion rechargeable battery. Where the cameras differ is in their choice of image sensors (and of course, in their pricetags). The Sony Alpha A350 is the more expensive model and includes an APS-C sized 14.2 megapixel CCD image sensor. The Sony Alpha A300 meanwhile keeps the cost down just slightly with a 10.2 megapixel CCD image sensor which is also an APS-C type. One further difference most likely relates to the difference in imagers - with more data to throw around, the Sony A350 is limited to a burst rate of two frames per second, whereas the lower-res Sony A300 can manage a useful three frames per second.
The most interesting feature of both cameras is Sony's new Live View mode. Implemented in a manner reminiscent of early Olympus EVOLT digital SLRs, Sony has chosen to use a second sensor in the viewfinder's optical path, allowing the cameras' phase detection autofocus systems to function normally during live view mode. A tilting mirror in the viewfinder path directs light to either the optical viewfinder or the secondary live view image sensor. Sony has provided us with diagrams and some neat cutaways demonstrating this:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1201712519.html
Sony announces 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G and Zeiss T* 24-70 f/2.8
Sony has announced two new zoom lenses to accompany its latest DSLR releases. One is a premium-grade long tele-zoom of 'G' designation, the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. The other is the Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA. Both feature Sony's Super Sonic wave motor (SSM) and further boost the range of alpha-mount lenses available for Sony DSLR owners
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08...2470.asp#press