Sony’s ILX-LR1 Is a Super-Compact 61-Megapixel Box Camera for Drones
Sony has announced the Sony ILX-LR1, a new ultra-lightweight, interchangeable lens professional camera designed for industrial applications.
The ILX-LR1 sports a 61-megapixel full-frame image sensor, which Sony says is ideal for inspection, investigation, surveying, and mapping by drone. However, the ILX-LR1 will not work with Sony’s own drone, the Airpeak S1.
“As the industrial market for drones expands, we recognized the need for a compact, lightweight, and full-frame option that prioritizes image quality and offers remote capabilities. This is a gamechanger for many in the industry,” says Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics. “With the launch of the ILX-LR1, we’ve taken Sony’s trusted legacy and expertise in imaging and paired it with the benefits of our E-mount interchangeable lens system and Camera Remote SDK to create a versatile new ecosystem optimized for photography, which supports a diverse range of industrial applications.”
The ILX-LR1 features Sony’s E-mount, allowing the compact camera to work alongside a wide range of E-mount lenses, allowing users to pick the appropriate lens for their project.
Weighing just 0.53 pounds (240 grams), the ILX-LR1 is significantly lighter than Sony’s other 61-megapixel full-frame cameras, including the a7R V, which weighs 1.6 pounds (723g) and the new Sony a7CR that comes in at a relatively light 1.14 pounds (515g).
As for its size, the ILX-LR1 is approximately 3.94 inches wide, 2.91 inches tall, and 1.67 inches deep (about 100 x 74 x 42 millimeters). The a7R V is 5.16 x 3.82 x 3.23 inches (131 x 97 x 82mm), and the a7CR is 4.88 x 2.8 x 2.48 inches (124 x 71 x 63mm).
There is a caveat to the ILX-LR1’s impressively compact and featherweight form — these specifications do not include a monitor, viewfinder, or battery. The ILX-LR1 has been stripped down to only its critical components for industrial uses. With screw mounts arrayed across the body, users can attach the required accessories for power (10-18V connection) and frames.
The camera is not wholly spartan in design, though. It includes ports like USB-C and microHDMI and a memory card slot. The camera also features some physical buttons and controls.
The ILX-LR1 hopes to shine within an industrial workflow when operated alongside Sony’s updated Sony Camera Remote SDK. This software’s API is integrated directly into the new camera and allows operators to remotely access and control the camera’s menus, settings, and functions.
Operators can perform on-the-fly settings changes, capture images, record video, and utilize live view monitoring remotely while the ILX-LR1 is in the air. Sony says the camera’s Power and Control Terminal allows for “low-latency data communication for remote applications that require an instant response, such as capturing an image at a particular moment.”
The updated Sony Camera Remote SDK adds some exciting features, including improved manual focus performance and control that enables users to retrieve the current manual focus position and perform focus adjustments to a specific position.
The Sony ILX-LR1 will be available through Sony and numerous authorized retailers beginning this month for $2,950.
Image credits: Sony
