Attached Link: Sony's new flagship SLR

Sony announced its forthcoming "flagship" Alpha-branded SLR today.

Its chief defining feature so far is its use of a 24.8-megapixel sensor that's unusually large--the size of a full frame of 35mm film. That move makes Sony only the third digital SLR (single-lens reflex) maker, along with Canon and more recently Nikon, to aim for that part of the market. Sony's flagship is geared toward advanced amateurs, but Sony hopes professional photographers will like it, too. The camera is scheduled to go on sale later this year.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET News.com

Interesting news David, thanks for sharing! I know I just had a birthday, but if anyone wants to get me a Valentine's Day gift, nothing says "I love you" to a Photographer like 24.8 MP! :m_drool:

24.8 megapixel  is nothing. Have you seen the Hasselblad H3D-31 it's got 31 megapixels!  Or the

Hasselblad H3D-39 Digital SLR Camera 39 megapixels!   At a lovely price!  $31,995.00

I don't think my computer could handle THAT many. ;']

Actually, Sony announced it's 24.8MP CMOS sensor two days ago.....so...it was expected that it would be making it's way into the DLSR market.
Also expect variants of this sensor to show up in other makers cameras.....
Also note that mass production of this sensor will not come until Q3/Q4 2008.

One interesting note....the new Sony 5.94 micron cell size, 24.8 MP sensor is only 12 bit....while most recent CMOS sensors are 14bit.

Actually, I think Sony's big announcement was two days ago when they introduced the VERY VERY aggressively priced Alpha 300 (10.2 MP)  and Alpha 350( 14.2 MP) at $800 and $900 USD respectively.

Attached Link: 12 vs 14

I think they had a reason for that as well, some performance gain going with the 12 bit. Interesting article, and then one on the next page as well. At quick perusal, 14 bit seems only vital in extreme shadow and highlight. But like RAW vs JPG, if you want the very best (needed or not) go 14bit.

Quite right Kort....  Where a 14 bit sensor will show an improvement  is in the highlights: at the same maximum amplification, where a 12-bit sensor would max out at 4096 electrons-worth of photons, a 14-bit sensor will count four times as many, this being in real world terms a two stop improvement, before hitting the end stop, disregarding any accompanying improvement in the quantum conversion of photons to electrons..  

"disregarding any accompanying improvement in the quantum conversion of photons to electrons.." Dr. Who, you are making my head spin! ;'] Of course, you have files 4x the size too, right?

Lol sorry but yeah the more data you have to push around the slower things get .. What you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts...

Yes, Kort...I suspect the primary reason for only going 12 bit is the fact they just can't move 14 bit data fast enough off that 24.8MP sensor....at least not yet....

I haven't yet had the time to test for myself to see if there is a noticeable difference between 12 and 14 bit....If there is, I think it would be slight.  The article seems to confirm that.

As for huge file sizes....yes, but get used to it....it will only get worse....

I am curious to see where the price lands on the new flagship... Will it be in the range of the Canon 40D?