Sony debuts 12 MP digital SLR camera

San Diego (CA) - Sony has lifted the curtain on its DSLR-A700 camera, the latest addition to the company’s Alpha line with a 12 MP sensor.

A little over a year after Sony’s first DSLR camera, the A700 has such Sony-specific features as Super SteadyShot stabalization, a proprietary auto-focus system featuring 11 wide-area sensors, and Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimizer, which automatically corrects shadow distortion in images.

The camera has space for 28 customizable settings to be stored and easily recalled. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000th of a second, according to Sony, and it can shoot up to five frames per second.

The 12.2 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor performs analog to digital signal conversion and incorporates dual noise reduction.

The viewfinder allows 0.9x magnification, and contains a matte focusing screen for precision image captures.

Additionally, the unit has an HDMI output to display images directly onto an HDTV. This works hand in hand with Sony’s new Bravia TV line, which incorporate a specific image viewing feature.

The camera supports Memory Stick Duo and Compact Flash. Alongside the new model Sony is also announcing two new lenses, the DT 16-105mm f3.5 - 5.6 and the DT 18-250mm f3.5 - 6.3.

The camera will be available in October with the 16-105mm and 18-250 to follow in November and spring 2008, respectively. The A700 will carry a retail price of around $1,400. Sony will also include bundles with the new lenses as they become available.