Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System film negative in its C ("Classic") format, of 25.1×16.7 mm, an aspect ratio of 3:2 and Ø 31.15 mm field diameter. It is therefore also equivalent in size to the Super 35 motion picture film format, which has the dimensions of 24.89 mm × 18.66 mm and Ø 31.11 mm field diameter.
A full-frame DSLR is a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) with a 35 mm image sensor format. Historically, 35 mm was one of the standard film formats, alongside larger ones, such as medium format and large format. The full-frame DSLR is in contrast to full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, and DSLR and mirrorless cameras with smaller sensors, much smaller than a full 35 mm frame. Many digital cameras, both compact and SLR models, use a smaller-than-35 mm frame as it is easier and cheaper to manufacture imaging sensors at a smaller size. Historically, the earliest digital SLR models, such as the Nikon NASA F4 or Kodak DCS 100, also used a smaller sensor.
Sony α is a digital camera system introduced on 5 June 2006. It uses and expands upon Konica Minolta camera technologies, including the Minolta AF SLR lens mount, whose assets were acquired by Sony after the end of Konica Minolta's photography operations in early 2006. Sony also has an 11.08% ownership stake in Japanese lens manufacturer Tamron, which is known to have partnered with Konica Minolta and Sony in the design and manufacture of many zoom lenses.
The Sigma SA-mount is a lens mount by the Sigma Corporation of Japan for use on their autofocus single-lens reflex and mirrorless cameras. It was introduced with the SA-300 in 1992. Originally, the SA-mount was a dual-bayonet mount with inner (SA-IB) and outer (SA-OB) bayonets, the latter being a feature intended to mount heavy telephoto lenses, but never utilized by Sigma and consequently dropped with the release of the SD14 in 2007.
The E-mount is a lens mount designed by Sony for their NEX and ILCE series of camcorders and mirrorless cameras. The E-mount supplements Sony's α mount, allowing the company to develop more compact imaging devices while maintaining compatibility with 35mm sensors. E-mount achieves this by:
In Sony digital cameras, the acronym ILCE stands for "Interchangeable Lens Camera with E-mount". In August 2013, Sony announced the first model of the ILCE mirrorless camera with E-mount, electronic viewfinder, contrast-detection autofocus and Multi Interface Shoe, the ILCE-3000. In October 2013, two full-frame E-mount cameras were announced, the ILCE-7 and ILCE-7R.
The Sony α7, α7R, α7S and α7C are four closely related families of full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. The first two were announced in October 2013, the third in April 2014 and the fourth in September 2020. They are Sony's first full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and share the E-mount with the company's smaller sensor NEX series.
The Sony α6000 is a digital camera announced 12 February 2014. It is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC), which has a smaller body form factor than a traditional DSLR while retaining the sensor size and features of an APS-C-sized model. It is targeted at professionals, experienced users, and enthusiasts. It replaced the NEX-6 and NEX-7. Review websites note that although the α6000 uses a 24 MP sensor like the Sony NEX-7, the Sony α6000 can also be seen as more of a replacement of the Sony NEX-6. In the Firmware version 1.10, an android subsystem was added. The sub system was used to run Sony's apps.
The Sony α5100 is a digital rangefinder-type mirrorless camera announced by Sony on 18 August 2014.
The Sony α5000, is a rangefinder-styled digital mirrorless system camera announced by Sony on 7 January 2014. Since it includes near field communication and Wi-Fi, Sony billed it as "the world's lightest interchangeable lens camera" with Wi-Fi. It has been succeeded by the Sony α5100.
The Sony α NEX-5R is a mid-range rangefinder-styled digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera announced by Sony on 29 August 2012.
The Sony α NEX-5T is a mid-range rangefinder-styled digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera announced by Sony on 27 August 2013.
The Sony α7 II is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Sony on 20 November 2014.
The Sony α6300 is a mirrorless digital camera announced on 3 February 2016. The α6300 features a 24 megapixel Exmor sensor with 425 phase detection autofocus points. The camera is powered by Sony's Bionz X image processor with an ISO range up to 51,200. Additionally, the α6300 can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking.
The Sony α6500 is a compact digital camera announced on 6 October 2016 shortly after photokina 2016.
The Sony α9, Model ILCE-9, is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. It was Sony's flagship camera as of 2017. The camera is not the successor to the α7 line of digital cameras but supplements it. Announced on 19 April 2017, the α9 is characterized by Sony as a true professional mirrorless camera system. The α9 is being compared with the Nikon D5 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II.
The Sony α7R III is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera manufactured by Sony. It was announced on 25 October 2017 as the successor to the Sony α7R II launched two years prior. The camera shares many features with the α7R II, including the same 42.2 MP resolution for still photography. It was superseded by the Sony α7R IV in July 2019.
The Sony α7 III is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera manufactured by Sony. It was announced on 26 February 2018 as the successor to the Sony α7 II and available April 10, 2018. Described by Sony as "the basic model," the camera shares many features with the high-end Sony α7R III and α9 models. It was succeeded by the Sony α7 IV, announced on October 21, 2021.
The Sony α6400 is a digital camera announced January 15, 2019. It is an APS-C mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) designed to be a mid-range mirrorless camera and act as an update of the α6300. Sony is targeting the vlogging community with the α6400's flip-up screen and aggressive pricing. It features the same 24 megapixel sensor seen in the α6500. At the time of release, the two most capable cameras in the α6000 series of cameras were the α6400 and the α6500. The α6500 featured in-body image stabilization, and a larger image buffer, but in most other respects the α6400 is a more advanced camera. This is largely due to its processing power, enabling features like animal eye AF, and autofocus tracking. These features, for example, can not be added to the α6300 via a firmware update, as it is too demanding a feature.
