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MagyarSony launches barebones full-frame Alpha camera for industrial drones
Sony has just launched its lightest, most compact full-frame E-mount camera yet, but it’s not available (or of much use) to the average consumer. The ILX-LR1 is designed to be carried by high-end drones for industrial applications like inspection, aerial surveying and mapping, and to that end, has been stripped of absolutely everything non-essential, including viewfinder, screen, hand-grip and battery.
This barebones design brings the weight down to a paltry 238 g or 0.53 pounds. Power is supplied externally from the drone’s power source, and all controls, including settings, live-view monitoring and shutter release can be executed remotely via the Sony Camera Remote SDK. The ILX-LR1 accepts standard E-mount lenses and houses the same 61 MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ XR processor as found in the Sony Alpha α7R-V and α7CR, but forgoes the in-body stabilization feature. It is capable of capturing 3 frames/second and 4K video footage.
Sony claims that the high-resolution sensor will allow a drone to map larger areas in fewer frames than a lower-resolution one would, thus reducing flight times for such operations. For critical inspection duties such as for tower-based equipment, it can more easily reveal cracks and other damage. Another application is photogrammetry in movie production and commercial applications, where an array of identical cameras is used to create a panoramic 3D model of a scene or landscape (think Matrix-style shots).
While not of much interest to photographers or even average drone-enthusiasts, the ILX-LR1 surely represents a leap in capability for those seeking high-resolution imaging in demanding niche applications. The ILX-LR1, along with the Camera Remote SDK will cost US$2,950 and will be available exclusively through professional B2B suppliers.
You can buy the DJI Mini 3 foldable camera drone with 4K HDR Video on Amazon
