Sony is keeping its eyes on the big picture with its newest creation: the HX80 (Cyber-Shot DSC-HX80), which the Japan-based company claims is the smallest camera on the market that features a 30x optical zoom lens.
If the announcement sounds like déjà vu to you, then it should. Just last year, Sony introduced the HX90V, which at the time was the smallest camera available with a 30x optical zoom lens. This means that Sony's latest announcement heralds the introduction of a camera that outdoes what its own camera did just one year before - effectively beating its own record.
As for the camera's specs, it shares much in common with the HX90V and appears to be ripped straight from its predecessor. Both possess the same 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, long 30x optical zoom Zeiss lens, retractable OLED electronic viewfinder, 180-degree 3-inch LCD, pop-up flash, Wi-Fi/NFC, and 1080p video recording. They even share similar camera designs. In fact, the only area where these two differ is the lack of GPS on the new model.
The HX80 will be available starting next month for $350, less than the HX90V's launch price of $430. The introduction of the HX80 may serve to shake-up Sony's current line of products. If not marketed as the "GPS option," the HX90V may be phased out by the HX80's almost-identical options and lower price, similarly Sony's WX500 (Cyber‑Shot DSC‑WX500), which lacks the OLED electronic viewfinder, GPS and front grip, may be phased out due to similar price but inferior specs.
In related news, Sony announced at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference in Las Vegas the development of a new wireless lighting control system. This new system is designed for professional photographers who utilize Sony's Alpha-series cameras and will allow for wireless control of external flash units.
Boasting a 98-foot range through the use of a wireless radio commander (FA-WRC1M) and wireless radio receiver (FA-WRR1), photographers are able to use the system to control up to 15 flash units in up to five groups both manually and automatically.
The Wireless Lighting Control system is slated to hit stores this summer, with pricing and additional specifications in the pipeline.
