Sony today announced two new flagship cameras, the the RX100 V (model DSC-RX100M5) compact and the the α6500 (model ILCE-6500), equipped with an APS-C sensor.

Sony RX100 V

The new RX100 V camera is equipped with a Fast Hybrid AF system with an AF acquisition at 0.05 seconds and 315 AF points on its sensor, which cover approximately 65% of the frame. The camera can also shoot continuously at speeds of up to 24 fps at full 20.1 MP (approx. effective) resolution with AF/AE tracking for up to 150 continuous shots.

The RX100 V is equipped with a newly developed 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with a DRAM chip, a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T 24-70 mm F1.8 – 2.8 large aperture lens and an enhanced image processing system with a new front-end LSI chip. The camera also features 4K video recording with full pixel readout, super slow motion recording at up to 1000 fps with extended recording time and more.

The camera maintains the ability to use its phase detection AF during video shooting. 960 fps slow motion is available with twice the recording duration of the RX100 IV – up to 8 seconds of 40x slow motion. S-Log2/S-Gamut and Picture Profiles are also available to videographers, as is 1080/120p.

An anti-distortion shutter is available up to 1/32000 sec, and silent shutter is available even for 24 fps burst shooting.

The camera's 3" 1229k-dot LCD tilts a full 180 degrees upward and 45 degrees downward. It retains a pop-up viewfinder, with a 2.4M-dot OLED panel. Wi-Fi is available with the added benefit of being able to read QR codes to help make a wireless connection when NFC isn't an option.

There will also be a new underwater housing (model MPK-URX100A) that will be available as a separate accessory for the RX100 V and all other RX100 series cameras. Designed exclusively to fit the RX100 cameras, the housing features a depth level of 40m/130ft.

The new Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V (model DSC-RX100M5) compact camera will be available in November priced at approximately $1000. The MPK-URX100A underwater housing will be available for approximately €400.

New α6500 Camera

Sony's new flagship APS-C sensor camera, the α6500 (model ILCE-6500), shares the same 4D FOCUS system as the α6300 camera, which can lock focus on a subject in as little as 0.05 seconds. Also shared with the α6300, the new α6500 features 425 phase detection AF points that are densely positioned over nearly the entire image area. The new model can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking and up to 8 frames per second in a live-view shooting mode that makes it easy to track fast moving subjects, as it combines all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder with the immediacy of an optical viewfinder.

The camera can shoot at these high speeds for up to 307 frames thanks to its expanded buffer, which, along with the fast response speeds described above, are all achieved with the support of a new front-end LSI chip that has been added to the camera. This new front-end LSI also serves to enhance both still and video image quality.

Additionally, the new α6500 features Sony’s in-camera 5-axis optical image stabilisation, making it the first Sony APS-C sensor camera to offer all of the benefits of advanced in-body stabilisation, which include a shutter speed advantage of approximately 5 steps. It also offers touchscreen AF capabilities for focus point selection and adjustment.

The α6500 comes equipped with touch screen functionality, allowing users to lock focus on a subject simply by touching it on the screen.

Additionally, in a first for Sony cameras, the α6500 features touchpad functionality. When utilising the viewfinder for framing and shooting, the LCD screen can be used as a touch pad. Simply drag a finger across the screen to shift the focus point from one area to another.

The new α6500 features an APS-C sized 24.2 MP Exmor CMOS sensor that works together with a BIONZ X image processor and the front-end LSI to maximise processing power and achieve an impressive sensitivity range of ISO 100-51200.

The new α6500 becomes the latest Sony interchangeable lens camera to offer internal 4K movie recording, as it can shoot 4K (3840x2160p) video in the popular Super 35mm format on the full width of the image sensor. When shooting in this format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 6K of information – approximately 2.4x (20 MP equivalent) as many pixels as 4K UHD and then oversamples the information to produce high quality 4K footage.

The new model features the same high contrast, high-resolution 2.4 million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder as the α6300.

New hardware features on the α6500 include a magnesium alloy body and a high-durability shutter with a tested life span of approximately 200,000 release cycles. It also has several design features that are borrowed from the α7 II series of full-frame cameras, which include a robust lens mount, a recessed grip to improve handling, a larger release button and ten total custom buttons.

The camera is also Wi-Fi, QR and NFC compatible.

Battery life is rated at 350 shots per charge when using the rear screen and 310 shots per charge when using the EVF.

The a6500 will be available for $1400 in the end of November.