The sneak peak appears to do what it is designed to do. FREEZE prospective videocam shoppers from making a decision until the new model comes out.
Frankly, if you are interested in this vaporware camera you would do well to take a look at the Sony NEX-5
even as a videocam. (EDIT: I see that is what Stuart decided to do, above!) It has has a LOT going for it, starting with the APS-C sized Exmor sensor. This is a great sensor, particularly for low light. Being a much larger sensor (14 MP) than the one in most consumer videocams, you get higher resolution, but lose the high zoom. Since the WIDE ANGLE is more important for most people's video, that may not be a deal-killer and actually be a benefit for some. (YMMV). Silent autofocus and the ability to add external mic are also something you don't find in most consumer videocams (except Canons, which have a much tinier sensor). The 16mm Sony lens for the NEX cameras is the 35mm equiv. of a 24mm field of view (very wide by consumer videocam standards). It is very reasonably priced and takes very good still photos also.
The only downside I see is that
exposure is automatic-only for video. So how much the exposure calculator gets fooled in storm video situations remains to be seen! (Report back to us, Stuart!)
If you think you will be interested in the vaporware Sony camera that takes interchangable lenses, the lenses you get for the NEX-3 or NEX-5 will fit it. Other lenses (non-NEX lenses) have the standard (longer than NEX) 35mm flange to sensor distance so will
not help you out on the WIDE end (though they will boost your telephoto end) and will need a spacer/adapter to fit the vaporware camera.
- 1080i (1,920 x 1,080), 60i (interlaced) fields/second HD recording (presumably 50i in European versions) in AVCHD format
- 1,920 x 1,080 (subsampled at 1,440 x 1,080), 30 fps HD recording in MPEG-4 format
- 640 x 480 30 fps standard-definition recording in MPEG-4 format
- Autofocus functions during movie recording, with any NEX-series lenses (currently the 18-55mm and 16mm kit lenses, with an 18-200mm model coming soon)
- Essentially silent autofocus and aperture operation on NEX-series lenses
- Auto-only exposure (that is, no aperture-priority, shutter-priority, or manual exposure control)
- EV adjustment is available in all movie recording modes
- Stereo audio recording via built-in microphones or via an external mic attached to the top-mounted accessory connector (Sony accessory mic available; it's not clear whether there will be adapters to connect standard 3.5mm phone plugs or not.)
- Much better than average video recording under low-light conditions
- Compatible a wide range of Sony Alpha-mount lenses, via an accessory adapter (Alpha-mount lenses permit only manual focus on the NEX-5, and aperture control may not work properly during video recording .)
- Some scene modes carry over into video recording, adjusting parameters for color and tone to match specific subject types
