Sony debuts smartphone with high-end imaging/video chops: Xperia 1 II

GaryPageau ,
Xperia 1 II with Sony Alpha 9ii, from which it cribbed some AF technology.

Sony announced its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 II with advanced imaging capabilities. Designed with Sony’s Alpha AF technology, the newly developed triple camera array with focal lengths of 16mm, 24mm and 70mm with ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for Xperia 1 II, as well as ZEISS T* coating, which contributes to exquisite rendering and contrast by reducing reflections. Utilizing technology developed for Alpha interchangeable lens cameras, Xperia 1 II offers continuous autofocus and auto-exposure that performs AF/AE3 calculations at 60 times per second4.

This enables the world’s first1 AF / AE continuous tracking for high-speed shooting at a maximum of 20 fpsm which is especially useful for shooting moving subjects such as children or animals and fast-moving sports. Focus and follow the subject with high precision and capture decisive moments that you do not want to miss. Furthermore, “Real-time Eye AF” which locks focus on the subject’s eye for stunning portrait shots, is now available for both humans and animals.

Xperia 1 II fast focus also works in low-light conditions, delivering quality images in challenging circumstances thanks to four technologies working together:

  • dual-photo diode sensor
  • an autofocus system that covers approximately 70 percent of the sensor
  • the 3D iToF sensor
  • a new large 1/1.7” Exmor RS™ for mobile sensor, which is 1.5x more sensitive than the previous model, resulting in faster and more accurate AF in low light shooting.

The new Photography Pro function with technology from Alpha brings a user interface that is familiar to Alpha cameras, with manual controls to set ISO, shutter speed, burst mode, autofocus area, exposure control and more.

Cinematography Pro, powered by CineAlta, newly supports 2K 120fps 10-bit HDR cinematic high frame rate shooting and 21:9 4K HDR recording at 24/25/30/60fps to create cinematographic shooting experiences. Touch AF, Metered Manual controls for setting exposure, level meter and improved white balance settings offer more manual control, while the unique Intelligent wind filter technology from Sony reduces noise and wind interference for clear audio recording.

While using the camera as a monitor for interchangeable-lens DSLR cameras or professional camcorders, it is possible to transmit broadcast video data during shooting to a server or cloud via 5G connection.

Sony also today announced plans to develop a 5G mmWave compatible Xperia PRO device designed for professional solutions, such as broadcast video production. The device will include camera and display capabilities from Xperia 1 II, ensuring high-quality video viewing and photography.

Additionally, Xperia PRO will include Sony’s 4-way antenna technology and low-permittivity materials, increasing the sensitivity of 360-degree omnidirectional communication in the 5G mmWave band, where it is difficult to maintain stable communication, and realizes data transmission and reception at ultra-high speed. In addition, Xperia PRO has a unique monitor function displaying the connection direction of 5G mmWave and data transmission/reception speed on the screen. Xperia PRO supports professional broadcast video transmission workflows by visualizing and confirming communication status.

Xperia PRO will also support an HDMI connection, which allows the device to be connected to virtually any camera with an HDMI output.