Sony announced Tuesday a new addition to its suite of cameras: the DSC-HX99 RNV. Unlike some of its predecessors, the DSC-HX99 RNV—also known as the Retina Projection Camera kit—doesn’t boast a huge range of features or a fancy autofocus system; instead, it assists visually impaired photographers by projecting images directly onto the retina.
At the DSC-HX99 RNV’s core is the Cybershot DSC-HX99, which Sony released in 2019 as the world’s smallest compact camera. It features optical and electronic stabilization, a 30x high-power zoom lens, and 4K video recording. But combined with Japanese quantum dot laser company QD Laser’s Retissa Neoviewer, it expands photographers’ access to their craft.
QD Laser has been working on a project called “With My Eyes” since December 2020. The project seeks to “transform the ‘difficult to see’ into ‘clearer sight’” for people around the world who might experience some form of visual impairment. In March 2022, Sony began supporting “With My Eyes” financially and by supplying equipment, which ultimately led to the creation of what was then called the Retissa Super Capture. As the companies worked together to iterate on the viewfinder, they eventually changed the name to the Retissa Neoviewer.
The Retissa Neoviewer uses a low-power RGB semiconductor laser to project the DSC-HX99’s image onto the user’s retina. With a 60-degree horizontal field of view, 60Hz refresh rate, and what’s effectively a 720p resolution, this image negates the eye’s need to focus, which is often difficult (or simply annoying) for photographers with farsightedness, shortsightedness, or astigmatism.
The Cybershot DSC-HX99 normally costs about $470. Sony is planning to sell the DSC-HX99 RNV for $600 this summer, saying it’s covering a majority of the Retissa Neoviewer’s cost. Although $600 might seem like a high price for a device focused on accessibility, it’s quite low compared with a good number of Sony’s other camera options, like the RX100 VII (which costs twice as much) or the fan-favorite Alpha 7R V (which is a ghastly $3,900). Hopefully, it will also establish a foothold for accessibility-focused equipment within the photography market.
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