Sony FX3 delivers a cinematic look and professional operability and reliability all in one device that answers the needs of young creators today

Sony officially announced today the FX3 (model ILME-FX3) camera that combines the best of Sony’s industry-leading digital cinema technology with advanced imaging features from Alpha mirrorless cameras to create the ultimate cinematic look. 

 

As the latest addition to Sony’s Cinema Line, the FX3 delivers a cinematic look and professional operability and reliability all in one device that answers the needs of young creators who are looking for new ways to express their creative vision. The new model provides outstanding image quality and usability for small scale and one-person shooting. The FX3 boasts first-class focus performance, optical image stabilization, handheld shooting design and advanced heat dissipation for extended recording times. All this in a compact, lightweight body that provides the performance and mobility to meet the growing demands of today’s content creators.

“The FX3 was designed to turn creative vision into reality,” said Ryo Ochi, General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific. “It allows creators to bring their visual expression into the world of cinema through immersive content. We will continue to support the world’s creators through Sony’s Cinema Line Series.”

 

Cinematic Look

The FX3 flaunts Sony’s industry-leading image sensor technology to achieve high processing speeds and outstanding image quality. The full-frame, back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor full-frame 10.2-megapixel(approx. effective) count for movie recording (and 12.1 effective megapixels for stills) and the BIONZ XR image processing engine team up to ensure high sensitivity with low noise. The standard ISO range is 80 to 102,400 (expandable to 409,600 when shooting a movie), and dynamic range is an impressively wide 15+ stops².

In response to a growing need for a more expressive depth, the FX3, along with FX9 and FX6 Cinema Line cameras, allows users to create a cinematic look without post-production using S-Cinetone. Based on the color science inspired by Sony’s flagship VENICE camera, S-Cinetone delivers natural mid-tones, plus soft colors and smooth highlights that are essential to cinematic look. 

 

Create movies with in-camera 4K recording at up to 120 frames per second³. Extraordinarily smooth slow-motion imagery[i] (up to 5x) at QFHD (3840 x 2160) resolution with autofocus provides new expressive capability.

 

Designed for Comfortable Solo-Shooting

The most compact and lightweight Cinema Line camera is ideal for handheld shooting, gimbal and drone-mounted work. It weighs just 715 grams, including the battery and memory cards, and the body is 77.8 mm high, 129.7 mm wide and 84.5 mm deep – without protrusions. The camera grip has been carefully designed to provide optimum flexibility, stability and comfort for long shoots.

Designed for mobility and efficiency, the FX3’s body features five thread holes (1/4-20 UNC) to easily attach compatible accessories while remaining light enough for handheld shooting and making it easy to carry and set up. The supplied XLR handle unit securely attaches to the body via the Multi Interface Shoe without any special tools and provides three additional thread holes for accessories: two on the top and one on the end. External monitors, recorders, wireless microphone receivers, the accessory shoe kit (cold shoe plate), or other add-ons can be securely attached. 

 

To enable high quality audio, the XLR handle unit includes two XLR/TRS audio inputs to the FX3. With an optional XLR microphone, digital audio data can be directly transferred to the camera for outstanding audio quality.  Camera settings provide audio recording formats, including 4-channel 24-bit recording. Because the XLR adaptor is integrated into the handle and does not require any additional cables or batteries, it offers stress-free set up.

The FX3 offers Fast Hybrid autofocus (AF) by using the 627 points[ii] focal plane phase-detection system during movie recording. The camera is further enhanced with Touch Tracking (Real-time Tracking) where simply touching the desired subject on the monitor screen initiates auto focus and tracking on that subject. Precise and smooth focus is maintained with Real-time Eye AF – technology that pinpoints eye even when subjects are looking down or up at steep angles. Additionally, other AF features have been included and refined in response to feedback from professional users, including AF Transition Speed, AF Subject Shift Sensitivity, intuitive control and AF support when focusing manually. These AF features have been implemented in the FX3 to ensure stable, flexible and precise focusing in any situation and are easy to operate for solo shoots. 

 

The FX3 features 5-axis optical in-body image stabilization - highly effective for handheld shooting. A high precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors have made it possible to provide an Active Mode⁴ that is dedicated to movie shooting in each format, including 4K. In-body image stabilization means that effective stabilization can be achieved with a wide range of lenses, including E-mount lenses that do not include stabilization of their own. In addition, the FX3 records image stabilization metadata that can be done more practical adjustment during post-production using Catalyst Browse/Prepare[iii]. 

 

Expandability and Operability for Content Creators

Operability 

No compromises have been made when designing the FX3 in terms of professional control and operability. The buttons frequently used in movie shooting such as ISO, iris, and white balance adjustment are located on the grip and on the top of the body. The design allows solo creators to control the buttons with one hand. In addition, 140 functions assignable to 15 custom keys allow for ultimate efficiency. 

 

The zoom lever located on the top of the grip not only controls compatible powered zoom lenses, but also allows Clear Image Zoom to be also used with unpowered zoom and prime lenses with less image degradation – reducing the number of lenses required for many projects. This lever also enables smooth zooming that is difficult for manual zoom-ring control. 

 

Recording lamps (tally) are provided on the upper front and rear of the camera, so that operator can easily distinguish when the camera is rolling. A side-opening vari-angle touch-panel LCD monitor allows for easy operation and is suitable for gimbal-mounted shots, complicated angles, handheld operation and more. Flexible Exposure Mode allows the FX3 to have a similar Auto/Manual switch operation as other FX series cameras for aperture (iris), shutter speed, and ISO, which can be set independently. A short press of the assigned custom buttons enables switching between locking the dial / Manual, and a long press on the custom buttons allows on-off switching of Auto setting.

 

Reliability 

Creators need more than just refined features and performance; they also need reliability and durability. The FX3 combines a fan for active cooling with effective heat dissipation resulting in uninterrupted 4K 60p recording without thermal shutdown⁵. The newly developed fan provides high-efficiency cooling.

The new camera also features a dust and moisture resistant design[iv] and durable magnesium alloy chassis. Moreover, USB PD (Power Delivery) supports fast charging[v] for uninterrupted recording.

 

Expandability

The FX3 is compatible with several recording functions including S-Log3 gamma with S-Gamut3.Cine color space to preserve rich color and gradation, that can record in a high dynamic range and wide color gamut. It also supports internal recording in XAVC S™ and XAVC S-I formats in 4K (QFHD) and FHD, and XAVC HS™ (MPEG-H HEVC/H.265, 4K only) format. 4K 60p video in 10-bit 4:2:2 or 16-bit RAW format can be output to an external device[vi] via the FX3 HDMI Type-A jack. 

 

The FX3 also offers fast, future-oriented media slots that contributes to unprecedented shooting freedom with two CFexpress Type A cards. The same data can be simultaneously recorded to both cards for backup, and a “relay” mode will automatically switch to the second media card when the first media card becomes full during recording.

 

The new camera has been developed with advanced connectivity features to better assist professional creators with high-speed wireless LAN functionality (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band[vii]) and wired LAN connection via a compatible USB-to-Ethernet adaptor. This FX3 also supports remote shooting from PC by Imaging Edge Desktop™ application “Remote” via Wi-Fi, or Superspeed USB 5Gbps connection over USB Type-C® terminal.

 

About Cinema Line

Cinema Line is a series of cameras that have a filmic look - cultivated from Sony’s long experience in digital cinema production – plus, enhanced operability and reliability that respond to the wide variety of creators’ high demands.

 

Cinema Line includes the digital cinema camera VENICE, highly acclaimed in the feature and episodic production industry, the professional camera FX9, which is popular for documentary and drama production and the FX6, for grab and shoot action and content creation. With the addition of the new FX3, the most compact camera in the series, Sony offers a true line up of versatile creative tools for all types of visual storytellers.

 

Pricing and Availability

The FX3 will be available in the Philippines soon.

 

Exclusive stories about Cinema Line, FX3 and Sony's other imaging products can be found at https://www.sony.com.ph/electronics/cinema-line and https://www.sony.com.ph/alphauniverse/home - resources designed to educate and inspire all fans of Sony’s technology for content creation and photography.

 

Watch the live announcement at: https://www.sony.com.ph/alphauniverse/news/sony-cinema-line-watch-our-live-announcement

 

A product video on the new FX3 can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/2YXh88hwqnM.  

 

For detailed product information, please visit: https://www.sony.com.ph/electronics/interchangeable-lens-cameras/ilme-fx3.

 

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[i] Post-production editing and S&Q mode recording required

[ii] Maximum AF points and area coverage. This varies according to the recording modes

[iii] Supported in Catalyst Browse/Prepare Version 2020.1 or later. Image stabilization metadata that can be used by Catalyst is generated when using a Sony E-mount lens with the camera’s optical image stabilization set to [OFF] or [Active].

[iv] Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof. The XLR handle does not feature a dust and moisture resistant design

[v] USB charging and power delivery are only supported via the USB Type-C® terminal. A battery must be installed in the camera when supplying USB power. The internal battery may drain even if USB power is supplied, depending on the adapter used and camera operating conditions.

[vi] Compatible recorders to be announced.

[vii] 5 GHz communication may be restricted in some countries and regions

Greenwich Unveils "Barkada Campus"

Greenwich, the number one pizza and pasta brand in the Philippines, recently inaugurated its state-of-the-art training facility located in the heart of Kapitolyo in Pasig.

Inspired by the youthful dynamism of the brand’s market and its team members, the Barkada Campus is a testament of Greenwich’s commitment in accelerating the capability of its employees to cater to its customers through its over 300 stores nationwide.

According to Mike V. Castro, General Manager, “The facility, appropriately named Greenwich Barkada Campus, is designed to foster continuous employee learning, engagement, collaboration, and ideation – ultimately helping us deliver our promise to provide the best-tasting pizzas and pasta over a truly enjoyable barkada experience.”

The 1120-sqm Barkada Campus, composed of multiple classrooms, a computer laboratory, meeting rooms, a store kitchen and a dining set-up, will house learning programs for Operations team and Head Office staff as well as leadership development courses to its Managers.

JG Summit to Upgrade Employee Experience Through Microsoft Office 365 and the Cloud Platform

(L to R): Jackie Buenviaje, Account Executive, Microsoft Philippines, Carlos Santos, Group Chief Information Officer, JGSHI, Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and Chief Operating Officer of JGSHI, Andrea Della Mattea, President, Microsoft Asia Pacific, Alberto Granados, Vice President, Microsoft Asia Pacific, Ricky Kapur, General Manager, Enterprise Operations Unit, Microsoft Asia Pacific, Tanya Aguila – Loo, Specialist Technology Unit Lead, Microsoft Philippines



With a vision to become the leading digital conglomerate in the Philippines, JG Summit Holdings Inc. aims to achieve this goal through a digital transformation journey that will embed digitalization in its core business strategies to meet the evolving needs and lifestyle not just of its customers, but also of its employees.

“Our vision is to be the leading digital conglomerate in the Philippines. To achieve that goal, multiple groups within the JG Summit Business Units, Subsidiaries, and Affiliates have been working behind the scenes to bring about this transformation,” said JG Summit President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei.

Among the initiatives will be to upgrade the employee experience across the entire conglomerate through the use of Microsoft Office 365 and the cloud platform. JG Summit is transitioning from on-premise systems to Microsoft’s cloud services.

Office 365 is a set of Microsoft applications that allows users belonging to the same network to store files and share information.  Compared to earlier versions of Microsoft applications, Office 365 uses the cloud platform, which offers agility, greater efficiency and security benefits.

JG Summit’s move to the cloud platform will further enable its employees to transform their environment into a digital workplace. With this project, the conglomerate envisions a New Culture of Work where employees will be introduced to the Modern Digital Workplace which will empower people across the organization to achieve more by enabling better communication, collaboration, and sharing of information from computers to mobile phones in a single cohesive platform.

The first step is to migrate everyone away from current e-mail platform and put everyone up unto the cloud platform accessible from anywhere in the world and enable collaboration on any device.

Ricky Kapur, General Manager, Enterprise Operating Unit, Microsoft Asia Pacific, reiterated how JG Summit’s initiatives closely aligns with Microsoft’s mission. “At Microsoft, we empower every person and every organization to do more. The fourth industrial revolution is here, and organizations must digitally transform not just to optimize operations, but to enable their people. We’re very excited to work with JG Summit and be part of their digital transformation journey.”

JG Summit is one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates, engaged primarily in businesses that serve a growing middle class with rising disposable incomes in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.  These businesses include branded snack foods and beverages, commodities, agro-industrial businesses, air transportation, banking, real estate, and petrochemicals.

Acer Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel Core processors, and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday

Acer has announced its new Swift 5 notebook designed for users who want superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style. With a 15-inch display, the elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go. The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel® Core™ processors and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.

“There’s been great feedback on Acer’s amazingly light 14-inch Swift 5, and we are now pushing the limits with the 15.6-inch model,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “We’ve kept the weight under the 1 kg mark by using ultra-narrow bezels and a marginally larger chassis.”

The Swift 5’s Full HD IPS1 touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm (0.23 inches), giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio to maximize the viewing experience. The Swift 5 features Acer Color Intelligence™ technology, which dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time, optimizing screen color and brightness without clipping or over saturation, while Acer BluelightShield technology allows adjusting of the screen’s blue-light emission over extended periods of use.

The Swift 5 is constructed with advanced materials including ultra-light magnesium-lithium alloys for the top and bottom cover, and magnesium-aluminum alloys for extra sturdiness on the palm rest area. Thanks to the LED backlit keyboard, users can work effectively on the go all day and even at night.

Powered by the latest Intel processors, the Acer Swift 5 offers an exceptionally fast and responsive experience with battery life that lasts through the workday. The Swift 5 features Intel Wireless-AC 9560 which offers 2x2 802.11ac wireless Gigabit performance that enhances streaming, sharing, conferencing, and gaming experiences.

Up to 1 TB of SSD storage and up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory keeps the system fast and responsive, while connectivity is provided through one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port (10 Gbit/s data transfer, supporting power delivery and display output), two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging functionality), an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The Swift 5 supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader, allowing users to log in to their accounts faster and more securely.

Pricing and Availability
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.

The new Acer Swift 5 was unveiled today at the next@acer press event held in New York, where the company announced a range of new devices and solutions for gamers, creators, families, students and professionals. For more information, visit www.acer.com/nextatacer.

Century Tuna Superbods Nation 2016 Finals Night fires up the summer

The hottest, the grandest, and most sizzling event this summer season — a celebration like no other as Century Tuna Superbods marks 10 glorious years of sexy — hits the stage in the Century Tuna Superbods Nation 2016 Finals Night. Truly, it doesn’t get bolder than this as some of our country’s most popular celebrities and a bevy of fit and fab men and women — the 26 Superbods 2016 finalists — converge at the exclusive Palace Pool Club for the much-awaited announcement of the ultimate Superbods of 2016!

“That the Century Tuna Superbods search has reached its 10th year is but a reflection of our unwavering commitment towards promoting a lifestyle of health and fitness,” says Greg Banzon, General Manager, Century Pacific Foods, Inc. ”We are extremely proud of this milestone which we’re celebrating in major way. I can’t wait to see the Superbods finalists who I'm sure will put their best foot forward on this night as well as witness the grand reunion of Century Tuna celebrity endorsers.”

And what a reunion it will be! Joining Ultimate Superbods Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsey are some of the hottest celebrities who are also past and present Century Tuna endorsers, namely, Xian Lim, Jessy Mendiola, Elmo Magalona, Paolo Avelino, Gerald Anderson, Isabelle Daza, KC Concepcion, Aljur Abrenica, Phil Younghusband, and Solenn Heussaff who will walk the runway in what is sure to be an evening to remember!

And of course, taking center stage with these glamorous celebrities are the 2016 Superbods finalists — Olivia Medina, Carmela Fernandez, Ambra Gutierrez, Nancy Leonard, Chet Abella, Maria Martinez, Cassie Umali, Mirtle Gimenez, Kaara Tan, Carla Meneses, Anja Peter, Natalia Lalonde and Tanya Hyde, Jerome Tan, Ryan Sy, Kel Padilla, Erie Obsena, Jake Khan, Pio Luz, Tom Esconde, Cedric Roxas, Shawn Stansbury, Ali Khatibi, Clint Bondad, Andrew Aurellano and Ameen Sardouk — who have been working hard, raising their game as they prepare to prove themselves worthy of the Superbods 2016 title.

True to this year’s Superbods Nation theme, Century Tuna has made the competition bigger in scope as it inspired the entire nation to join the fitness revolution by downloading the Century Tuna Superbods app. This mobile app allowed consumers nationwide to vote online for their favorite candidates receive useful fitness tips while staying abreast of the latest Century Tuna Superbods Nation 2016 happenings and even win a ticket to the much-awaited finals night.

This year’s star-studded finals event is the perfect culminating activity to the journey that began with a series of nationwide go-sees early this year, followed by the announcement of the 26 finalists, and the fun Pre-Finals weekend. Truly a fitting celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the biggest, sexiest and most-awaited health and fitness event in the country that began in the summer of 2006.

Dubbed as the Century Tuna Beachfest, the first Superbods competition was a two-day event held in the country’s most fabulous island of Boracay and brought together hot bodies, exciting  prizes, fun  games, and a glamorous beach party where  Jon Avila and Michelle Padua emerged as the country’s very first Superbods.


This was followed by the Century Tuna Superbods Beachfest 2007 where Ram Sagad and Patty Ortega reigned supreme; the Century Tuna Superbods Bods and Brain Challenge in 2009 with Van Victor Leano and Theresa Fenger emerging triumphant; the Century Tuna Superbods Run in 2010 where thousands gathered at the Bonifacio Global City for an adrenaline-pumping event;  A Salute to Sexy in 2012 where John Spainhour and Monika Sta. Maria marched in to victory, and the Century Tuna Superbods Super Challenge in 2014 with Mauro Lumba and Sarah Polverini as winners.

As this year’s finalists hold their breath for the announcement of Superbods 2016 title holders, Century Tuna further upped the ante with bigger prizes:  P100, 000 each for 2nd runners-up, P250,000 each for the 1st runners-up and P500,000 each for the grand prize winners.

Of course, a most impressive panel of judges has been put together to choose this year’s winners: Century Pacific Foods, Inc. General Manager Greg Banzon;  Miss Universe 1969, actress and Century Tuna endorser Gloria Diaz; fashion editor and stylist Liz Uy;  basketball superstar Jeron Teng; Mediaquest and TV 5 President & CEO Noel Lorrenzana; Intelligent Skincare Inc, a unit of the Belo Medical Group Managing Director Cristalle Belo-Henares; and PC&V Communications President and Chief Creative Officer Ariel Comia.

The country’s most glamorous stars; the hottest Superbods title holders and the healthiest, fittest and most glamorous men and women in the country vying for the  Superbods Nation 2016 title. Without question, the Century Tuna Superbods Nation 2016 Finals Night is this year’s most fantabulous summer event!

Alcatel Flash 2 focuses on mobigraphy

Alcatel Flash launches the New Alcatel Flash 2 last Sept 22 at Raven, BGC ,  with their brand new color "Flash Green" that focus on mobile photography or mobigraphy.  The new brand color signifies innovation, youth and energy, thus the Alcatel Flash 2 builds upon Alcatel Flash’s commitment in providing mobile users a unique mobile photography experience.

“Mobigraphy is not just an action, but is now a lifestyle. We understand this from the very beginning when we created the Flash series,” Albert Wong, General Manager, Alcatel Flash.

 “What we have done for Alcatel Flash 2 is to continue to improve on what we already have and make it better yet at the same time continue to provide accessibility and convenience to the users to shoot their best moments.”

“The success of the Flash Plus has inspired the team to devise another smartphone with superb features and specifications,” Lei Zhang, Philippine Country Manager, Alcatel Flash.

Selling exclusively on September 30 at exactly 12 Noon, through the Philippines’ One-Stop Shopping and Selling Destination –Lazada; the Alcatel Flash 2 signifies the strong partnership between Alcatel Flash and Lazada towards having the superior product quality of the Alcatel Flash smartphones be accessible to a wider consumer base through Lazada’s strong logistical capability and robust cash-on-delivery network. With the partnership between Alcatel Flash and Lazada, Filpinos can own the newest smartphone sensation – the Alcatel Flash 2, through the effortless and enjoyable online shopping experience that Lazada Philippines offers to its shoppers.

The Alcatel Flash2 is ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in any hand. The non-slip and mark-free curved back keeps the device spotless and dirt-free at all times. Meanwhile, the balanced body gives easy access to all the functions by using just one hand.


The Alcatel Flash 2 is available in Volcanic Grey and Mica White. Only the former will be released initially. Philippines will be the first country to launch the device (22 September 2015) and the first to sell (30 September 2015). The Suggested Retail Price is at Php 6,190.00.
Alcatel Flash 2 will be sold exclusively in Lazada via www.lazada.com.ph/alcatel-flash-2/.