According to top sources the upcoming next Sony full frame cameras “main feature” will be the low price. What does it mean? There will be no new big special feature compared to the actual [shoplink 8461]A77 camera[/shoplink] (a part of course the bigger full frame sensor and improved EVF). Sony learned from the A77 customer reaction and improved many details. To me that sounds good! I don’t need new marketing bla bla features. The A99 should “just work”. The A99 will very likely feature a new 24 Megapixel full frame sensor. My suggestions? Improve the JPG engine, release the camera with a mature firmware (no more blackouts).
The Nikon D800 is priced at $2999 at Amazon and the new Canon 5DmarkIII at $3499 at Amazon. I think the Sony A99 should be priced at $2499 to compete against them! What do you think?
298 Responses
please put a flash on it 🙂
sounds legit. otherwise bundle in the f20!
crap!!!
waited all this time to find out it is not a “professional” camera! it will only be a prosumer camera. what happened to sony flagship??? if sony want to cheapify their cameras, at least give 2 pricing options. now what reason will pro users have from using nikon d4 d800?? for a measely $500 more, but gain much more customers. this announcement means sony is backing out of the PRO market!!!
backing OUT ? Have they (really) ever be IN ?
Sony need to sell units, and they are not selling by offering something that only the very few sony professionals and the rich entusiasts can afford.
You might not get the street creds you want when your camera isn’t as large as a sherman tank or can take a nuclear explosion, but just as the a77 can take professional use I’m sure the a99 will too.
At work (advertising agency) we use a canon 300d for the in house shoots. that is an old entry level camera (an old rebel model). Still chums out images good enough, and no customer have ever complained about the quality of the images nor the camera used. But our designated photographer doesn’t seem to need this “i got a freakishly expensive camera -street cred”. It’s just a tool like anything else.
The most sold camera to professionals of fashion, lifestyle and advertising is the Canon 5d2, which killed the 1Ds3, because was basically doing the same thing for less than half the money.
The 5d2 is a prosumer camera with a lousy autofocus and made thousands of high end pros and clients happy.
A prosumer grade FF Sony will do.
The d800 is also a prosumer grade body.
So right there mate, the 5D II is a lot less “PRO” than the Alpha 900/850 especially with all of it’s faults….It’s about how good is good enough for your clients/your toolbox. I shoot with A850 and D700 and believe you me my cameras are more than pro enough to stand up to shooting 3 times a week in whatever weather and generate incredible images. If they have put a new 24MP sensor in there that is based on the 36MP tech but with even better lowlight performance that will kick 5D III arse I will be buying one of these even if it doesn’t have a built in grip, weigh 2 1/2 tonnes and make me look like a newspaper photographer!!
Does calling it ‘pro’ make it used by more professionals? Does calling it consumer make it used by fewer professionals? In any case who gives a toss about the pro’s, there’s a lot more amateurs out there with money to burn.
According to Andrea, Sony are bring out 2, possibly 3 FF cameras in the next 12 months. The 24mp A99, a 36mp FF and another unknown camera. I’d expect the 39 mp to be a much higher spec of camera aimed at the professional.
A camera is just a tool, nothing more, nothing less. All you need is a subject, a light source and an image capturing device of any sort. “Pro”, “prosumer”, “entry level” and any other names people use to categorize a camera, are just marketing blah blah blah… In fact, a quality lens is more important than the camera itself.
I would tend to agree with you Gabriel. It is all about the glass for the most part. The body helps but the glass plays a huge role in the image you get.
I agree 100%…
I love how most of the people who complain about the camera not being “pro” enough, aren’t even using Zeiss prime lenses to back it up. What good is a high res processor if you can’t even utilize it’s full potential with quality glass?
Less money on body means more money on glass. So, don’t cheap out people… and stop complaining about low pricing.
No Heaven forbid popup flash! I can’t remember when I flipped up the a700 flash last time. Could be two y. ago. Can’t recall one single moment I wished the a900 to have a popup flash.
Well, you might not use the wireless flash system (with Sonys own flashes) – but others do.
The Minolta 9 had a popup flash, for example.
A pop up flash is needed to trigger multiple speedlights wirelessly. Otherwise you lose one of your flashes because you have to mount on the hot shoe to trigger the other flashes.
It is not as expensive to buy wireless triggers.
There are certainly times where I could have used a popup flash. My shoemount flashes are too big and cumbersome to take with me unless I know I’m going to need them. To paraphrase the old saying, the best flash is the one you have with you.
I agree that a popup flash can save you if you don’t have the large flash with you. I think it’s silly for people to religiously state that it’s better to not have a popup flash. It hardly takes up any room. It’s better to have one. That’s a fact.
it weakens the body and traditionally, took up room used by the pentaprism. It also takes away from weatherproofing. Since traditionally these higher-end bodies are marketed to users who would rather use bounce-flash/external flash then EVER use the shitty on-board direct flash, it makes sense to omit it.
If the A99 has one, I will never use it, but if they can get it in there then sure! why not.
Have you ever used Minolta’s Dynax 9? A well-designed built-in flash does not weaken the body one bit. You can literally throw stones at the prism and it won’t harm the flash or the camera. (Several of my Dynax 9 bodies have gone through such accidental abuse in the field more than once without any damages.)
And there was plenty of room to design it in even though the camera has a 100% full-frame viewfinder in the same quality class as the DSLR-A900. Analyzing the mechanical construction of both cameras (based on the service manuals) and considering the different mirror lift mechanisms, had Sony added a flash to the DSLR-A900, the prism housing would have become more squarish (as on the Dynax 9) and about 1.5 – 2 mm higher and 1 – 1.5 mm larger to the front – that’s all. It wouldn’t have been a problem at all.
Actually, the fact that the DSLR-A900 did not come with a built-in flash was one of the reasons why it failed in the market.
Why would someone with a full-frame camera need an in-built slow, weak, optical near flash!? This does not make any sense.
Well the D700 has it…
Simple: because you can use it if you want (always with you).
To be used as a master flash for the wireless cobra ?
to be used as a trigger.
As people have already stated… it’s a trigger. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend another $300-$600 buying one of the expensive Sony flashes to trigger your other expensive Sony flashes.
if you use it as trigger, you might as well spend on a cheap one.
its called a pocket wizard.
It’s because you’re not thinking with your senses
Put under 2k
Please don’t.
My take: 2500 dollars is still too expensive for Sony. They cannot compete with the big two in some important areas (e.g. lens system “completeness”, or pro services to pro customers) and they need to “divert” customers already invested in Nikon and Canon gear to a relatively new mount…
So how much do you think that the a99 should be priced? 1000 dollars? I don’t think Sony is aiming to make those who are heavily invested in Canikon to jump ship anyway…unless they really intend too…then again..cost won’t be their limiting factor..
Well I agree 2500 is too much if for 500 euro more you can have the 36 MP Nikon. I know you hate them but just specs for money…
And yes I know the 4fps pf the 800 is slow etc etc.
I guess around 2000 would be interesting but then that is too close to the 77 so they probably will not do that.
You are out of your mind. I personally think $2500 is perfect, anything less is just foolish to demand. Why is nobody bashing the 5dMkIII? At $3500 that is way overpriced…
I think the price should be based on the cost to produce plus a normal markup margin. Sony would make a greater profit if they break away from the price-fixing trend based pricing schemes. More quantity would result in greater profits. I think a healthy price is $1300. The A77 should sink to $1000. The A65 to $800. A57 to $600.
Get some sales rolling, instead of just picking and pecking.
Staring at each other from across the room without people crossing the floor. It’s just annoying.
And how many lenses do you need?
I always hear about missing lenses. But what lenses people REALLY want or need is missing in the lineup!?
modern 50/1,4, 24-105, moderne WA like 20mm and 35/1,4. 300/4 ?
50mm f/1.4 (or f/1.2), 100mm (or longer) Macro lens that’s not discontinued, quality UWA zoom, and perhaps also an UWA prime below 20mm.
These would be my priorities although there’s loads of other lenses that could use updates/upgrades (mostly by adding SSM and water-sealing to fit the A77)
20/24/28mm f1.4.
really? You can’t just step back or forward with a 24? lol.
Tilt-shift, +1 on 50mm f/1.2, updated SSM on 85mm f/1.4 or new 85mm f/1.2, SSM on 135mm f/1.8…
Yeah, I keep hearing that too but it makes no sense from what people are requesting.
It’s just obscure stuff, and most of it already exists out there.
Zeiss already made a 16mm-35mm and a 24mm-70mm. Both f2.8 and SSM. 85mm f1.4 and a 135mm f1.8. All amazing (Some of the best lenses ever made).
So, unless people are expecting Zeiss to make primes in each focal length like shoe sizes, just save your money and buy one of those. The argument about lack of lenses is getting old.
The only thing being requested that I can see as reasonable since it hasn’t already been made is a Zeiss 50mm f1.4. But seriously they’re not going to remake a high quality lens just to put in SSM or give you f1.2
Neither 24-70 nor 16-35 are UWA lenses for the APS-C.
85 and 135 even though are stunning lenses – miss the SSM and water sealing (where first one is a must for video, and second one is a great thing to have while matching lens with A77).
And we don’t expect Zeiss. Sure, would be good to have more Zeiss lenses, but I’d be equally happy for any other quality lens Sony releases (as long as it’s not SSM crap).
The ultimate indoor lens, semi outdoor lens. 16-80+ @ 2.8 with good bokeh and sharp without stopping down. At $250 max.
It’s just plastic and glass for crying out loud. One could make a computer algorithm that would calculate the lens and be done with it.
All this nonsense and holiness about lenses is just a bunch of religious belief based crap.
so why don’t you make it then? You’re right, Zeiss don’t know what the fuck they’re doing and are charging too much for their glass….
If it’s a Fullframe A77 that means we will be suck with ISO 16.000 at most?
But there’s one thing that bugs me the most:
Why did Sony drop the EXCELENT Quick-Navi interface? Andrea, could try to check that with your sources?
I mean, I haven’t tried ANY other camera that had the ease-of-use like the quick-navi thing.
WHY did Sony drop THAT?
Thanks!
It’s full frame, so: No, it won’t sux at ISO 16000. Full frame means it will have noticeably bigger pixels allowing it to gather more light, and by that: generate less noise. 🙂
No idea about Quick-Navi though.
I didn’t say it’d suck at ISO 16.000. Unless Sony does something REALLY wrong, the ISO will be better all the way through since it’s a FF camera.
My question was wheter the ISO would top at 16000 or if it’s going to be higher (perhaps up to 102.400 as rumors say?).
(the A900 only went up to ISO6400 just like the A700..)
oh, ok, sorry, I misunderstood 🙂
Yea, knowing Sony tendency to beat the competition by numbers: It’s almost certain that camera will go above 16k ISO. 🙂 especially when they got lower-res sensor than D800.
Ok, you’re ‘sorried’ 🙂
But NOW I see that horrendous typo I made! LOL!
Indeed I’d written “suck” instead of STUCK!
Oh, gosh!!! What a shame for myself 😛
Hahaha I couldn’t care less about iso 16k. As long as it produces decent iso 3200 I’ll be a happy camper.
Quick navi is a great thing and I’d miss it, too.
ISO 16,000 max is only a marketing weakness, shooting over that rating with most cameras rarely happens outside of certain very limited situations (mostly indoor sports).
Quick-Navi doesn’t play well with full-time Live View, which is why it was dropped in favour of a newer UI that is fully usable without losing the LV feed. A pity they didn’t keep it as an option when you’re using the settings display on the rear.
Double thumbs up on Quick Navi. Miss it tremendously.
John
I think it will have the best ISO of its class, Sony have been improving ISO in all their new sensors, Canon 5DMKIII does a terrific job on ISO and so does the D800 if you consider the amount of pixels there, but with 24MP, I think it will be better than the 5DMKIII.
From what I read, the 5D produces nice images up to 6400~12800, so I think that the A99 will be at least as good.
And the comparison between A700 and A900 does not make sense today, sensor’s technology has evolved, even more if you consider that even though both went to ISO 6400, there was a clear difference in IQ.
It was dropped to accomodate for live view, the evolved quick navi into the current “quick navi” with all the important features on the sides so you can still see things in the EVF or back screen and these settings displayed simultaneously.
Why not much cheaper.
If they use the A77 body and features,they only have to extra price the sensor.
Will it be $300 extra?
Why not price the A99 at $1600
“Hahaha I couldn’t care less about iso 16k”
Good for you 🙂
more like $2200 🙂
Sounds well 🙂
I really hope though they are bringing something that’s gonna beat D800 with high-ISO image quality (24MPx vs 36MPx gives a nice chances for that), otherwise I don’t see Sony selling it well.
Price? Sub 2000$ would be tempting for many people. 2500$ might not be it with EVF for photographers, BUT it’s still a very decent range considering the fact that you get PDAF in video with 102 AF sensors and… the quality EVF which isn’t a sticker onto LCD screen making you look like an idiot. Sounds like an awesome deal for videophotographers.
Sony tried similar thing with A850 – failed on the ISO image quality (LR3 changed it by quite a lot, but the first impression people got was a killer for it). Hope it won’t happen again and we’ll have a complete product that can outmatch C5Diii. 🙂
BTW: Any idea when we’ll see flagship FF? Or if the A99 will have any lenses released alongside?
For your own sake, stop hoping, because it can’t be noticeably better than the D800 at high ISO, unless the mirror could flip up (which doesn’t match the description Andrea just gave) AND they found groundbreaking sensor advances AGAIN. Which considering the brick wall we’ve seen the past 3 years or so, is very unlikely too. So near zero chance, I’d say. 😉
Well, I’m not hoping it for myself – I’m not going to buy FullFrame body any time soon, for me the APS-C is more than enough. I’m hoping more for a sake of Sony selling loads of these and actually getting it’s arse into developing A-mount lenses.
And if I’m not mistaken: 24 MPx sensor should have pixels in size of 1.5 times the 36MPx sensor, and by this gathering 1/2 EV more light (more or less). If you remove 1/3 EV because of SLT than you still have a better starting point than a Nikon – so I guess my hope isn’t completely foolish, is it? *holds thumbs*
If there’s one thing people should have acknowledged by now, it’s that the amount of pixels means little when it comes to light gathering capabilities and thus noise for a given output size. See D4 vs D800, more than twice the amount of pixels, difference in noise practically within measuring error. Surface and technology, those are the main two drivers.
Well, different techs, different results. Either way – from Math point of view there’s some chance Sony can beat D800. Still though – there’s no really a point in discussing not released camera with sensor we haven’t seen anywhere yet, is there? 😉
From a physics (and math) point of view, there is near zero chance, as said before…. 😉
I’d be perfectly happy if it’s just half a stop worse than the best though (D4, D800, D3s).
Spoon is right, you can get a beeter idea of it comparing Nex-5n and Nex-7 prints for example. Noise is nearly identical and you have the benefit in resolution that makes it easier to control noise reduction in Lightroom or your favourite RAW-converter.
Same will aply to the 24MP and 36MP Sony-sensors in the same way (50% resolution difference exactly as 16 to 24MP).
This means that the a99 will have half a stop (30%) more noise than the d800.
Of course the A99 will be better in HighISO than the D800 just because of less pixel! Why you oversee that is not visible to me…
But the D800 doesn’t have a glass in front of the sensor…
1/3 ev is really negligible. Of course for pixel peeping hobbyist, any nano micron difference is a big deal
@Lofote and Sky_ : theoritically, SLT=1/3 EV loss, in real life, between 1/3 and 1/2 EV loss…
@lofote : Sony vs Nikon : some time same Mpix density and though, better iso performance on the nikon…
The theoretical loss is 1/2 EV (0.48) not 1/3 EV. It loses about 1/3 the light but not 1/3 EV.
See my reply to skywalker.
Ignorance comes ignorant expectation. The gentleman above me is a living proof 😉
strange that now no one is complaining about 36mp noise performance . If Sony were the first to do a 36mp, i wonder how much more criticism we will hear
Meh. I want 36 meg with no (or minimum) AA, and 4k. I have the cash – let’s see the goods!
Admin, any news on NEX-99? (ff nex)
Yes, it doesn’t exist. 😛
Sony will never sell this camera for a thousand bucks as it´s more or less the price on the A77. The Mark III it´s around 2k so my guess is that it will cost around us$1700.
the fuck? the mark iii is 3500, not 2k
2k would be great i think.
$2500 sounds like a real good price since I paid $1999 plus taxes for my a77. That price is still $500 less than the Nikon D800 and $1000 less than the Canon 5D3. Sony needs to win the trust and the business of those people who flock to the other 2 companies. See how the market behaves and then decide if you want to bring out the monster 36mp we have heard so much about. I live to see the day Sony takes the top spot from CaNikon.
$1999 is the price of the A77 with kit lens, body only it is $1400.
The FF A850 was priced $1999 at release, it seems no one remembers this. The DSLT A99 will not be more than this, and may well be less, imho.
I remember the price I just quoted my most recent purchase. If this camera is everything the a900 was plus the innovations of the a77 than it should be a winner.
Maybe there will be an A850 version of the A99. Maybe. It should be just around 2k.
Sony should do with APS-C and FF bodies what Sigma did with lenses a few years ago: Almost same quality as NiCan for half the price! This means A99 for $€1500 at most and I am sure they can submerge out of the dark ocean where they are today.
Not many private people are able to spend $€ 5000-10000 for equipment, and if so, they choose NiCan, all others would promptly choose Sony if they could have something equivalent for $€ 1000-3000.
And by the way: even this smaller amount is still a lot of money today !
PS: but Sony should not make the mistake to charge on lenses what they think to have missed on body prices. The recent Sigma HSM OS lenses are almost as expensive as the CaNikon ones, this is definitely the wrong way to go !
cheap or not cheap, i just need a clean iso6400 FF. the rest same with old A850 feature, price it at current A850+usd500… i’ll buy it.
since the metering now runs on 1200zone with all SLT, so metering not my concern, AF from the old A850 is reliable enough, hope they could put at least 6 more point as sensitive as the middle, total up to (min: 7 points), even they dont, the old one is good enough… nothing is important if you know how to use EVF to your advantage…
if possible, please add in a selectable raw resolution size…i dont intend to shoot 24mp raw all the time.
i’m contented.
I don’t care about it “being as cheap as possible”. I want quality, not an a77 with a full-frame sensor.
A77 is actually vary nice to hold.
If they price it at €1500/- it will be about €1900 when one actually buys it.
Unlikely given the price of the A77.
Would they slash the prices of the lenses, now they have increased it? 🙂
a77 sale on eBay 1200-1300$ this days – A850 was 1999$ – so i can say safely that the A99 will be probably aiming @ the 1700-1900$ price rang to be considers attractive enough for non-Sony users to look into it. EVF probably will be the same as A77 – and main features as well – so other then body work and few not-new/ground breaking things that are missing from the A77 – all can be packed in a small FF price. will it be better from D800/5DIII – no!!! but, as a Sony user (with no intention to use the EVF SLT)i hope Sony will release FF soon – for only 1 reason which is: if you have more models – more lenses will come and more users will be, and for that even non EVF people like me can at least enjoy a bit more time with old Sony OVF and maybe some better new competitive glass which make it the first and foremost reason when using any camera system. BTW – if there are some prototype on the run – any more specs for the FF body that you heard about, admin? 😉
What are people on?
You want a Full Frame camera for $1600?!?
People need to bring their expectations into reality, the sensor will be the big cost apaprently the cost of the sensor does not increase proportionally, it increases more.
So? I bought my A850 for $1385 or so on Ebay from a major camera retailer. It was open box though. The A850 new was I think $1800.
I think a competent (non-crippled) Sony 24mpx FF for $1500 would definitely attract a lot of users. The 36mpx high end one could be offered for $2000. It would definitely help sell Sony FF lenses.
Why not a FF for $1600, or less even? It’s just an A57 with a little bit larger photo chip in it. Does it cost a heck of a whole lot more to produce? NOOO !
Yes, it does.
Says who, you? Oh vision-less one?
~Mike
I totally agree, I am also waiting for a camera that “just work” fine and delivers great quality pictures. The main improvements that I want to see in the next FF Sony camera is:
-Better high ISOs
-“Even” better EVF
-Better reactivity, no lags
-Nothing else, I’m already happy with the actual features, no more pixels PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, my hardrive is gonna explode. I shoot 1600 pictures in every wedding, no need for more pixels 🙂
i hope it comes out with a 70-200 2.8 CZ
Why? Isn’t the sony G good enough? What is desperatly missing is a good walkaround Zoom like a 24-105mm f4 G or CZ. This is a real showstopper for me going on fullframe.
There is a very strong noise that Nikon D400 will be FF with the D4 sensor.
If this is the case, I’d think it’s going to be under-2K camera. So, this kind of FF-A77 wouldn’t fly if price will be over 2K.
Would I be able to use the a77 lenses on the a99?
Not the 16-50. You’d be able to use it, but with heavy vignetting or a dark circle around the edges.
You can use all those film lenses, the Minolta AF lenses, most of them anyway, on it. Like the Secret Handshake 28-135 one, and the 50mm 1.7 one, and the Big Beer Can 75-300 one.
okay.. no more 109 AF and 100k+ ISO then..
SAD….
If priced at $2500+ this camera will be D.O.A. unless its feature set is class leading. It needs to crush the 4-year-old 5d2 and be very competitive with the d800 and 5d3 IQ, video and features. Bring out a 24 & 36mp camera, add IBIS and price them at $2000 for the 24mp and $2800 for the 36mp and not only will you have APS-c users upgrading to a first FF, but you’ll get others to switch and take Sony seriously as a professional camera. There’s a growing perception that Sony will not be in the DSLR market long-term, it could crush those perceptions and the competition at the same time.
Even in your optimistic scenario – it wouldn’t crash anyone nor anything. In best case: It’d create real market for Sony Full Frames – which would be a great thing, but I don’t count on any crashing.
The A900 already crushed the 5d2 in all regards except Video. Adding the A77’s video capabilities completes that.
At $2500 the A99 will do just fine. That’s $1000 less than the unexceptional 5D3 and $500 less than the class-leading D800. With more speed than the D800 and more everything than the warmed-over 5D3 at a lower price than either the A99 will do fine.
I’d still prefer $2000, but that’s just to benefit my pocket book.
Are you mentally retarded?
The a900 crushed the 5d mark ii??
You mean the 5d mark ii that sold 10000 to 1 compared to the a900, and has been used in almost every wedding, editorial, and video shoot by pros?
Keep dreaming.
Please tell us now how your ISO 3200 pics of your cats are better than the editorial work done on a canon.
Dunbass
Established market presence ≠ superior image quality
Are you mentally retarded?
The a900 crushed the 5d mark ii??
You mean the 5d mark ii that sold 10000 to 1 compared to the a900, and has been used in almost every wedding, editorial, and video shoot by pros?
Keep dreaming.
Please tell us now how your ISO 3200 pics of your cats are better than the editorial work done on a canon.
Dumb@ss
lol@speling eror
I think it is you who is retarded. I came from the Mark II to jump to an A850. The difference in DR and color is ridiculous (in favor of the sony of course) the AF system of the 5dMkII was horrid. Much of the 5dMkII’s success is credited to the unexpected popularity of its hd video capabilities.
Sure, the 5dmkII had great noise performance- at the expense of a fucked red-channel and lifeless color.
Canon fanboy, lol, they often lash out revealing their jealousy. Canon is good. Sony is also good. But the fact is that Sony is being more innovative and are breaking grounds that Canon is not.
~Mike
If it is essentially an A77 body with a FF sensor I think a good price would be $1999 since the A77 is $1400. This would give it the magic “under $2000” price and really gain some attention IMO.
I would tend to agree. It’s not enough to undercut the Nikon and Canon offerings by just a few hundred dollars, it needs to hit the sub-$2000 point. Plus, if it really is just an a77 feature-wise, with the larger sensor and EVF being the only advances, I wouldn’t be prepared to pay too much of a premium for the step up to FF over the a77
A 20% lower price to the next closest FF competitor is not enough? Mmmm I don’t know I think it sounds like a good price but if they are going to be releasing the 36MP as well perhaps they should go slightly cheaper on this camera to say 25% discount ($2400) on the 24MP and 10% lower ($2700) on the 36MP?
On a side note, I think another good strategy would be for Sony to target colleges, photography schools and ways to get youngsters shooting Sony even if it’s entry level as many of these people will eventually be buying the FF systems and once you have them into the Sony system chances are they will keep a range of them.
I don’t think price wars are the answer to everything and we have become very price driven which is a bad thing as ultimately it will reduce our choice and eventually increase prices again once companies start falling over due to non sustainably low margins/profits. Most camera companies are not doing well in terms of profits asking them to drop prices by more than 25% on the high range (generally lower volume) cameras that also generally have higher R&D costs does not seem like a great idea to me in the current times, if profits were high all businesses were booming, well then that might be a different story, as it stands they are already cheaper so let’s not be greedy get them profits and help them move our camera system even further ahead and get us great new features/functions/technologies/products(eg, lenses, body’s)..etc..etc
That’s just my 2 cents on the matter I would personally pay $2500 for a FF camera, have they ever been that low before? Not that I can recall? Sony already has been the one to break price barriers and dramatically reduced prices on FF since they have come into play let’s not be too greedy now, slightly below competition is fine but drastically below is not a good thing as it starts price wars which has to eventually end in tears for at least one if not more of the systems in the market.
Definitely price shouldn’t be Sony’s only strategy, but I think FF is something a lot more photographers would get into if they could justify the price. And maybe there is a psychological barrier as well as the price one, where people think they need to stick with cropped unless they turn pro. So if FF was suddenly a lot more affordable (=accessible) to the masses, it could develop some nice momentum for the brand.
The reason I wouldn’t pay $2500 is that I already have the a900. It’s a fantastic piece of equipment and the a99 would have to either blow it out of the water with performance or offer a really great deal for me to justify it for myself.
That sounds good to me and is what I am looking for as a fullframe addition (to get full frame image quality) to my A77 (although I would prefer OVF on the cost of lower shooting speed). Main downsides of A77 to be corrected on A99:
– Dark shadow problem of the EVF
– Viewfinder sometimes generally to dark at bright conditions
– Bad tracking at high fps due to the delayed image in the viewfinder
– Not enough intermediate steps (e.g. 5fps) in continous shooting mode
– No direct access to Auto HDR and multiframe NR when shooting in RAW mode. this should be possible even if only JPGs are recorded. Of course, it would be better, if a raw like processed image would be recorded in these modes too.
– No contrast AF mode option like on A580
– No tethered shooting like on A700, A850 and A900
– No auto ISO in M mode
– Dedicated D-Range button is missing
– No quick change to photo mode in video mode
– No mirror construction that allows shooting with uplifted mirror (I know that this is mechanically diffiults because currently the uplifted mirror protrudes of the body)
– No second counter in bulb mode
– No second counter in timer mode
Please Sony, do not forget: There are many of our most experienced photograpers waiting for a high resulution fullframe body with optical viewfinder! I see more and more of them leaving the system! An additional OVF alternative is still needed, even if the sales price would be high!
+1
Don’t forget single memory slot
Dual is essential
A77 body plus a FF sensor… sony thats all i need… 🙂 thanks ~
I’m with you Yong, I just got a A77 my self and love the size of the body, I would not like it any bigger my self and with the kit lens and flash a little lighter would be good but allot of it is battery/lens weight to be honest. $2399 for 24MP and $2699 for 36MP sounds like a VERY good price point to me and I would consider buying a FF my self even though I just got the A77 I would love to have both 🙂
$2000 and 20 fps burst. Also, open source third-party firmware’s will be nice.
Open-source capable? Wow what a concept! Instead of waiting for Sony to release tethering support, someone in the community could write their own. Instead of post-processing RAW in Lightroom, you could process it in body. Of course, that assumes photographers and computer programmers can play nice. Sony would also have to develop an API and build support around it. Not a chance… Dreamable, though.
Sony, Sony – will you ever get things right? Did they realize that as the underdog it can only wil by pricing their cameras lower in order to gain market share?
Now, I do welcom the news that the camera will attempt to be competitive on price. The question is what price will it be? The 5D mk II can be had for as low as 1700 EUR and will go lower most likely with the 5D mk III coming to stock over europe. If Sony will only bring a FF version of the A77, then I guess it should be on par or lower than the 5D pricewise. Unless they bring out some new feature which would justify a price hike.
Anyway, lets wait and see. I will either just buy an A57 as a walkaround camera and will move my pro gear to Canon or might stay with A99 if priced reasonably. Interesting times…
+1
Hay Whistler, Sounds like you don’t enjoy the Sony System if you are willing to switch all your FF gear (body, lenses..etc) My suggestion is if Canon is what makes you happy and does what you need you should move right away and not invest any further into Sony…
If all you are after is the lowest cost for your gear I think Sony does offer some VERY good deals as well but if what you are after is a bigger price war between the vendors all you will end up with is less and less systems, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax..etc any of them could fall over as none are having great times profit wise… If you want good service, products, technology, innovation profits need to be there, if people keep trying to screw every one for prices in 10-20 years time how’s the industry going to look then? Maybe 1 or 2 manufacturers and guess what happens then prices start to go up… Stop winging over 5-10% if you like the system stick with it if you don’t like it move on it’s that simple.
Well, first of all I have been using Minolta gear since some 1995 and moved on to Sony afterwards. So I do show quite some signs of brand loyality. But my patience is not gonna last forever. And seeing what Sony is doing the last two years is not really nice.
For me there are certain disadvantages in the SLT design (e.g. EVF lag) which make my work very difficult.
You mention that there are some very good deals… Yeah, like a 500mm lens which is so outpriced that I can get a D800E, equivalent Nikon lens and still save some 3000 EUR? The lens lineup does have huge holes in there, the 70-200G needs a refresh finally, same like several other lenses. A huge bunch of old Minolta lenses would be also welcome with the refresh (e.g. 300mm f4, 200mm macro, 70-210mm F4, 400mm F4,5 etc). So there are several things to complain about the current Sony lineup, especially lenses which simply are not there (applies for both A and E mount).
I am obviously not looking at the lowest cost, but cost is one part of the equation. A system change will be at large cost for sure, so you really want to be sure its really necessary. The recent rumor was like – A99 will be a killer camera, worth the wait. If it now becomes a A77FF it is perhaps really time to swap, or – if cost allow – go dual system. To what extent is questionable however.
I’m investen in Nikon D700. The D800 is just out of my budget. However I hoped for a lower priced 24MP FX release. If Nikon will not bring a lower end 24MP+ Camera, the A99 or a corresponding “NEX-9” is all that remains on my very short list. It will be a hit in “stills” as the “BlackMagic Cinema Camera” is for low budget movie shooters.
Please more input on this topic.
Greetings
Michael
Tomorrow you will read about Nikon D3200 with 24MP 🙂
I use the A77 on assignments and looking forward to the a77FF 🙂
Haha how about under $1499? :p
hahaha, Ben go back to bed and stop dreaming… hahaha perhaps if volume picks up with the FF market prices might drop further but I can’t see them being close to profitable at $1499 for a FF camera.
“Sony learned from the A77 customer reaction and improved many details.”
This customer hope they have improved these three details:
* Improved JPEG engine
* Increased buffer depth
* Skip stupid regionalized 60/50/30/25/24 fps differences for video.
+1
Hi Dennis, good to read a sensible reply/sugestion.. I agree with your points and I’m sure Sony will address them… to be honest though I have not found the JPEG engine to be as bad as it’s been reported though but I agree it can do with some extra work
+1
I would be happy with being able to turn noise reduction off. I hope to god they fix that for a77. I don’t want to have to shoot raw 100% of the time.
I also think that regionalizing video frame rates is absolutely retarded, giving it’s just software. All they should have done is simply add all the options to the menu. 10 minutes worth of work for the developer. In fact, I bet it costed Sony MORE to make them separate.
But, perhaps it’s to prevent Europeans from buying from America. It’s to help control the market, and to control the markups they can regionalize.
~Mike
Darn! I want the 36 mp! – EVF with primes makes it perfect landscape camera.
with shenider Tilt shifts….
Woopwoop thats Sounds nice to me. Can’t wait until they release some confirmed Information about The Specs.
They went expensive on the lens (500mm) and cheap on the body? I’ll believe it when I see the official announcement. If it is true, then hopefully the noise levels can compete with the big guys and they increased buffer size. I really hoped for a 1/500 flash sync speed though.
A77 $1400
A99? $2500?
So $1100 for FF sensor?
If the new A99 is just a n A77 FF clone i say $2000
Well, A77 sensor is not free.
Remove the price of the A77 sensor and add the price of the FF sensor.
1800$ is a good price. This means 400$ sensors price difference.
That $1100 will most likely include a better EVF. But what if you also get a complete magnesium shell and more thorough weathersealing for $2500?
I really wish Sony would put something out for the professional photographer. Make a camera that uses standard mounts so that as a professional I have options with off camera flash that arent way over priced. If nothing is done about the iso then they havent done anything to improve the camera. I love my a900 but i cant shoot anything remotely low light and that sucks. Sony has a ton of everyday walk around cameras so do something really nice and smoking to compete with the D4 and then your talking. Make it to where we can use all our old a mount lens and make it exciting. I dont feel as a professional that I am going to upgrade unless there is something really worth upgrading. The iso has got to become competitive if they are going to win any of the pro market.
I am a pro, I shoot sony, and I love them but give me something worthwhile as a pro that fits the pro market. If the a99 is a repackaged a77 I will not buy it, and I have been holding out because I thought something special was coming. This to me isnt special at all.
Show us your work!
+1
+1
removed
I think what you guys need to think about is not the current photographer moving from Nikon or Canon, but more about new up and coming photographers that will adopt the Sony system as their first choice…
If you are already a Canonikon user, the probability will be that you wont be moving over to any other brand, especially if you have glass invested or are brand loyal.
If Sony market this right, and I think they will, the goal should be to target the new generation!
what do you guys think?
yes and no. While you use the entry point cameras its very easy to swap brands. You usually have a body plus one or two lenses, which you can easily sell without any major loss. And those which use entry level DSLRs will be always inspired by the work of the pros. And if you ask pros what they use, it will usually be Nikon or Canon. Thats why there is a huge probability that when you advance to the enthusiast-prosumer level, they will swap to the brand the pros are using.
I do agree with your “inspired” by pros line, but if you do start with an entry level camera and you are happy with its results but just need a step up, why would you change your system?
not saying that some wouldn’t. Just thinking practically. Plus, using my A900 for my clients and at events and so on has really made a large number of people take notice of Sony a lot more in my circles. It just takes a few for the pyramid effect to happen. The older photographers will retire at some point and there is enough of a market to make Sony a serious contender.
Completely agree, and that is what I’ve thought Sony’s strategy was, which I feel explains the many lower-end bodies we’ve seen the past couple of years.
FF with a price of CaNikon top-APS-C may be a very wise decision. I found A77 very comfortable to use(my main camera is A850), and FF sensor in a A77 body may be very good variant. And pros will have to wait a little for a second FF camera We’ve been told.
it sounds legit. Sony don’t have OVF and its EVF, even if extremely good, cannot have the dynamic range of an OVF. Last but not least Sony don’t have a collection of pro lenses as Canon and Nikon can offer, at the moment. So they MUST price their FF cameras lower!
Hi Luke I think that’s what they are already saying they will do no? It’s already 20% under the competition by the sounds of it and lest be honest the lens argument is not really as valid any longer, sure there is some speciality lenses missing but for the vast majority of FF users needs, Sony’s lens range really is not that bad as people make it out to be.
Every event I’ve been to and had a chance to talk to professional photographers (sure it has not been many but a hand full of them any way)… all of them are shooting with rather standard lenses, I have not come across any one using something I have not heard of or available for the Alpha mount to be honest perhaps it’s more studio stuff? I’m not sure but I personally feel allot of it is just noise and it would be nice to have the option (but I really would not need or buy it any way, or I say I would buy it but really I would not as lens xyz that I have does exactly what I want it to already)
I for one cannot understand why do you need the dynamic range of an OVF? For one your sensor’s dynamic range can never match your eyes. With the EVF, you will know exactly whether are your skies fully blown or well exposed.
This is the best, most logical comment I have seen here in a while and I commend zstan for saying something I’ve been trying to say for a while, but doing it elegantly. The sensor is not your eyes = fact. Framed correctly, the EVF is a better representation of the final picture than any OVF can provide. Period. Does the OVF have some advantages? Yes. Sure, you have to turn the camera on to frame the shot. Sure, there isn’t a blur when you move the camera side-to-side quickly. Good luck with framing a BULB shot in total darkness with an OVF. Good luck with focus peaking on an OVF.
I love my A77, and a FF camera that matches it’s feel, shape and size would be perfect. I wonder if the $2500 price is good enough to capture new markets though. I suspect that if it included the excellent 16-50 f2.8 kit lens they introduced with the A77 that it would be, or may even if they were to introduce a new kit lens… say a 24-105 f2.8.
A boy can dream, can’t he?
As a Canon user, if it’s an a77 with a 24MP sensor, good high ISO and less than $2000/1500€ I would really consider trying it out with some Zeiss glass and would stop drooling over the 5D III.
I think that price tag is the maximum that would lure other brands’users into considering the switch.
I would like to see Sony take the A77 bump the sensor to full frame, bump the buffer to 20+ shots at 12 fps and price it as low as possible. They also need a weather resistant kit zoom say a 24mm to 85mm f/2.8 and price the kit at US$3000.
Seriously, who needs a FF A77? I don’t neccesarily want a cheap but a good camera! A PROFESSIONAL camera! I hope they are going to unveal the prototype soon, so i can finally decide if I leave the Sony system behind and change to Nikon…
can’t agree more! Spec please! If it’s just a FF version of A77…. (Well, A900 was also a FF version of A700 in certain extent)
Admin: How confident are you that it will be called the a99? It strikes me the low price target and lower res sensor would suggest this might be the a88. They’ll need to save a higher number for the next FF (with the D800 sensor) after all.
Whatever it’s called, I’ll get one. 24mp is quite low by current standards and should make it a good high-ISO performer. I expect it will be at least as good as the 5DIII, and probably a shade better, given recent aps-c sensors from both companies.
I’m not put off at all by the “FF a77” line. The a77 has just about everything that a700 users really wanted (save perhaps for an OVF). Weather sealing, class leading video, class leading frame rates. Superb IQ at low ISO’s and great AF. It IS a pro camera in terms of its features and it has great ergonomics. A FF sensor in that body would suit me just fine.
well, no more 102 cross AF point…
But i will be glad if this message means it weight similar as a77
A97 ?
If its simply the a77 with a new sensor it should go for more like $2100 IMO. If its all hooked up with bad ass af cross points and more then price at $2500. 36mp version $3000.
My .02cents. Jay
If this SR4 comes truth, it is really a disapointing news!
Assume it be a 24m pixel FF sensor & others features be the same as a77, it implies that
1) no f/2.8 AF sensor at all (A77 doesn’t have any f/2.8 AF sensor!)
2) AF-C & tracking AF ability is still not far behind other competitors (5D3, D800)
3) better high ISO performance than A77 but mostly likely can’t compete with 5D3 or D800 at low light environment, even at “not really so high” ISO such as ISO 6400
4) STILL locking on ISO for movie (currently in A77, maximum of ISO for movie mode is ISO 1600! You can hardly maintain the shutter speed faster than 1/60s to ensure smooth 60p movie at dim environment)
5) WITHOUT a function similar to Nikon’s “Auto ISO Setting” which lets users control aperture size + shutter speed and then camera to control the ISO.
BTW, will the buffer be FULL in one second, just like the case in A77? 🙁
REALLY disappointed!!
The A77 buffer fills up after 13 shots and with a good Extreme Pro card it takes about 4-5 seconds to clear. Think about this for a second. 13 shots of RAW is around 1/3 of a GB! What are you trying to shoot where you need 1 GB of shots every 3 seconds? Fill up a 32 GB card in a minute and a half? At that point, why not just shoot video?
Sounds like you need to learn to pick your shot if you need more shots than that too! I can not understand people! It is a camera! Not a machine gun!!
Assuming the A99 is basically an A77 with a larger sensor and the same number of pixels then the production cost difference will essentially just be down to the difference in sensor costs, maybe an upgraded IS assembly and, a larger SLT mirror if required (although, hopefully, they’ll add a larger buffer too). The data rates will be fundamentally the same as those of the A77, so the electronic changes will be minimal. There seems no reason why such a camera wouldn’t match the A77 frame rates.
Of course this would mean some other compromises. For instance, the AF points will be clustered towards the centre area (but that’s common on FF). It also means that there will be no CF capability, but those are probably not fatal flaws for a “cheap” FF camera.
Of course this represents what the costs to Sony would be – pricing is a different thing altogether and will depend on an assessment of what the market will bear. However, assuming Sony aren’t actually losing money on each A77, it would appear they have considerable pricing flexibility if they want to be somewhere between the price of the FF competition.
Of course Sony might decide on a more up-market FF platform, but I don’t think this will be the A99.
I’ve shot A77 since November for sports and leisure. Never have I hit the buffer till this very day. Never have I needed to turn the dial to 12fps (apart from showing off when around canikon owners).
More AF cross points sounds great but some commentators are saying that’s not happening? Where did I miss this?
If they can get better AF at 12FPS or better…could be sweet.
If Sony want to take market shares from CaNikon in this segment it has to be something very special. The last time there was a shift was when the Nikon D3 arrived. Many left Canon at that time.
Bringing a low cost camera could make many change from smaller sensor an thus increase the segment.
But – the IQ must be on the same level as D800/5DMkIII anyway: It is the new standard.
For professionals: The 5DmkIII AF seems excellent. Speed excellent on the D4 and similar Canon. Where is the room for improvement?
So for professionals it cannot be the hardware, it must be the service! Pro could lease the equipment in a flexible way and be able to tailor the gear to each assignment. Not having to purchase everything, be able to have the equipment you need and just that. Think of going abroad for an assignment – not having to bring all your gear. When you land, you go to the Sony agent that has “your” equipment ready for you. All you need to carry are memory cards.
so what separates the high end canon/nikon cropped sensor cameras with the lower end FF cameras other than sensor size?
I wonder if they will retain the a77’s “?” button functionality… Or will they bump the price a few quid to cover the extra lines of code needed to make it customisable…,
+1
they learnt from their mistakes (the A77), and those who own the A77 are fucked..thank u Sony!!!
So if I understand i can sold my A77 ang get the A99..btw iso 100 000 something sounds RIDICULOUS..
A77 until 25600 but only usable until 800…come on Sony limit the Iso of the A99 to 3200 and don’t try to fool Sony users!!!
They should focus on the mirrorrless FF and develop SLT adapter for other mounts. Then it would be the most versatile platform out there that they don’t need to directly compete with Canikon. Most Canikon and and all Leica shooters would buy one just as a back up camera.
Joe
Exactly! As a Canon FF user, a mirrorless full frame is the only feature that will move me from my current equipment. It is too late in the game for Sony to attempt to win marketshare from the big two—all they will mostly get is business from the existing base.
Make it mirrorless, make it modular!
I’d like to see Sony show a bit more ambition than simply designing it to a price point, but if they’re going to offer multiple full frame bodies then making one of them a more affordable model isn’t a bad idea. As long as they also offer a more impressive sister model.
+1
$1999.
FF for under $2000 (2KFF). That is the psychological point for having a FF camera at an affordable price. Sony should know better the camera body is to entice people to own Sony system, the real profit is to sell glass. This is similar to selling playstation hardware cheap, but the profits are then made up in the games.
After the initial D800/5D3 swarm, you’ll see the “legacy” D700 or 5D2 fly off shelves when they hit $2000 new on a regular basis. A brand new $2000 A99 would do well, I agree. I’d buy two at that price point.
Yeah, really not getting Sony’s mentality here. Discontinue their “Flagship” A900, only to replace it a year later with an A77 with a FF sensor thrown in??
The admin is being told that Sony is improving a bunch of little things based on customer feedback. Well if the EVF isn’t vastly improved, none of this really matters towards Sony making inroads into the Pro market. The idea of shooting Professional level sports and wildlife with an EVF sucks. Sorry, just not good enough. The EVF, though impressive as to what it can do, is patheticly inadequate compared to the human eye and an optical viewfinder. Simple as that.
And as for the multitudes here who continue to feel and say that Sony isn’t going for the Pro market, I can assure you, they are not spending obscene amounts of money on R&D for $7000 300mm lenses, and $13000 500mm lenses, aimed at ‘ Joe Consumer’ . Joe Consumer doesn’t spend that kind of cash on hobby lenses. Sure every once in a while. But that’s not the primary market.
Sony needs to tell the bean-counters to shut the hell up, and let the photographers design their upper level cameras.
Oh tell us more so we can trash it before seeing it. If we try hard enough, perhaps the a99 will be the first camera in history to enter the market place with some deep psychological self esteem issues.
I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
I think that 2500$ may not be enough unless the camera shows something more than the others.
If the A77 can do 12fps, so will the A99, right? And probably with better buffer. If it can make better videos with uncompressed output, this may help a lot. Low light capabilities at least as good as the 5D. And even with a camera like this, putting together good specs from 5D and D800 I think that you still need something more to put some pressure on Nikon and Canon.
Place it at 1500, and you rule the world! (And I’ll by two, by the way)
Here’s to hoping that they will include tethered capturing for the A99 and watershed this to the A77
Hi,
Will there still be that 102 AF system? or just 19 AF point like A77???
Hi,
I guess it will be an A77 upgrade regarding the Sensor and SSS-mechanics.
All the rest will be the same, like the A57 which is almost equal to A65 with a smaller sensor.
Sony turned building cameras based on building blocks. Which is a smart idea anyway. Safes a lot of production money. They can reuse several models and modules from the production line, like they do in the car production.
I guess that even a second FF mdoel with the 32MPix sensor could be built into the A77 housing. Same motherboard, same internal interfaces, different software. That’s it.
Very smart way and very cost efficient.
Goddamn a bunch of goons here don’t know how convenient a crap on-camera flash is for triggering.
Meanwhile, low price you say?
Sure it’s handy, and I have no problems with a built in trigger as long as it doesn’t prevent using the F20am as an additional trigger. The a700 couldn’t do that, and there are times in vertical mode where on camera trigger can’t see the opposite side of camera.
I’ve modded a cable to allow the F20am to be mounted on a bracket above camera even in vertical mode. Not only does that provide better connectivity for flashes on both sides of camera, but believe it or not, it extended my range 3x. No lie… mount that F20am above camera/vertical on bracket and get at least 40′ range outdoors bright sunlight.
$2500 sounds good but I think Sony should really go for the sales and make it something like $2100 US dollars. Now that would get some people’s attention especially if it has the same great AF system as the a77. I know that the IQ will be much better and high iso will be a lot better. I love my a900 but sometimes the af system can be frustrating!
Give us A77 full frame and cheap. Then another FF for pro come later :D. and we want ZA 50 1.4 as well. We only need 24mpx.
Really??
So there is going to be a single memory slot on a A99?? SD or memory stick?
That feature will kill the A99 no matter what price.
No mic out to check audio levels of video?
Definitely needs to come with two or even three slots. Please keep compact flash!!!!!
Memory is a dime a dozen. Who cares?
~Mike
Not sure about SD but Memory stick would.
I don’t understand the Gripe.. If you look at the A900 as compared to the A700 it was virtually the same camera with a lot less preprogramed scene modes a FF sensor and some weatherproofing… This is not to take away from the A900 at all as it is a formidable PRO CAPABLE camera (TOOL) It actually goes to the High Standards Sony put into the A700 and A77 that makes it really unnecessary to ADD features… 24Mp Res is plenty of res for just about anything I do Professionally… I have been known to use my A55 on occasion and I do get paid for my work…
Let me remind you it’s not the CAMERA that makes you a professional it’s HOW YOU ARE ABLE TO USE IT… I have the A900, A77 combo regularly on assignments and my clients LOVE my work. I love my Cameras so if Sony Makes an A99 that is similar to the A77… only does it better… Then count me in!!!
WELL LETS TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS!
Reading many posts here, it is clear that people are now concerned about the specifications (more than before) due to the rumor of a reduced price.
Whilst we all welcome cheap FF cameras and kudos to Sony for attempting to make the FF market available to budget conscious people, there are many people here who is willing to dish out $$$ for a high end professional camera.
We just have to wait and see what specifications are released. Till then it is a moot point to whinge or threaten to jump ship. If you want Sony to listen to you, go pro and make a difference.
IMHO features of a professional camera can be summarized as:
IQ
– DR range
– ISO
– Color Depth
– Megapixels
Metering System
– Accurate
– Responsive
AF System
– Fast
– Accurate
– Intelligent
Handling
– Ergonomics
– Customization
– Buttons / Levers / Dials / Joystick / Touch screen
– Good Buffer Depth
– Fast Shooting
Battery Life
– Long Lasting
Lenses
– Not discussed here
Video
– 4k
– 8k
– Super slow motion
Extra Features
– Weather proofing (a given)
– Fully Electronic Shutter?
– Dual Card Slot? (raid) new memory card?
– Wifi? (tethering, flash, video, sound)
– Focus peaking (a given, hate the name)
– Removal of the panoramic function from the dial (yes that would be a feature)
– etc
– etc
So in the end, it would be nice if Sony can focus on the key points to compete against the big boys without increasing the price beyond the enthusiast level. While balancing the feature set to make this a unique camera worthy of every dollar spent on it.
Sony finally gets the picture, the camera shouldn’t drive their profit margins, it’s the lenses that make the $$$.
Professional Cameras will usually result in the purchase of multiple lenses.
LOL at the video feature. We want a pro still camera, not a pro camcorder. Do you even know how much it would cost to get a 4K camcorder, let alone an 8K one? FYI, RED just announced their new 6K Dragon sensor.
Personally, I’d be perfectly content with 1080p, as long as it has clean HDMI output for video-recording. It would also be nice to have short bursts of up to 120fps video, for good slow motion. (and disable AGC and better audio monitoring)
Hate to break it to ya, but the new 36MP sensors has enough photosites to create 4k video without up-sampling.
Not too long ago 1080p on 60FPS on a digital camera was a joke too.
So laugh it up all you want.
Processing, data throughput for more than a few seconds and storage, those are the problems. And the last one is the reason why even the FS700 has to wait for a better storage system to be announced, before they’ll make it 4k capable.
Well, you have to differentiate between the pro spec camcorder and camera. Still camera always has more resolution than camcorder (and bigger film/sensor size as well). The problem with handling the throughput of such a high resolution at a certain frame rate is another matter. You’re naive to think that because the current camera can support that high of a resolution, they would be able to fit 4k/8k capability into it. They might have 4K spec next gen, but this gen is definitely out of question.
Well, we can only wish.
I can only hope that we will be offered a variety of options that will enable the camera to be versatile enough to meet the creativity of the critics here.
The list I produced is just a wish list. If Sony ever produced a camera with everything on it, I would be expecting the camera to cost $$$. Sony has the capabilities of building a camera to that specification, there is NO alien technology stated within that list.
It is just what they will choose to focus on that will determine the final cost of the camera.
The introduction of EVF and SLT went against the standard expectations of most people. I await in anticipation as to what new bold initiative Sony will take with their flagship lineup.
And again a lot of people whining, crying and belly-aching at the back… Just about an unborn baby.
Once again it looks too good to be true. 24mpix would be perfect for most uses. A77 body size close to perfect too. Improved EVF? How? And the price.. well.. I can’t believe anything of all of this, until I see it. 🙂
This is going to fail against D800/5d III. It won’t be any competitive in high ISO, because it’s very unlikely Sony designed a brand new 24mp sensor just for themselves. Most likely Sony redesigned the old 24mp sensor from the A900, but that’s not gonna work. Also, we can expect a small buffer, only 1 card slot and crippled video features. Last, but not least, don’t forget that Sony doesn’t have a lens lineup and professional support like CaNikon. All in all, a99 will be a good prosumer camera, but nothing to write home about…
At least Sony is not stupid like someone, the high iso is much better than the nex5n with a lower pixel density.
Look Sony may not have many of the pro lenses you seek, but for most people all the bread and butter lenses are available – like the pro standard zoom (CZ 24-70mm f2.8), UWA – (CZ 16-35mm f2.8), fast telephoto (70-200mm f2.8 SSM), Wide fast prime (CZ 24mm f2), (Sony 35mm f1.4 G), Fast short tele primes (CZ 85mm f1.4, CZ 135mm f1.8), budget wildlife lens (70-400mm G) etc etc.
My point is the Sony system has a lot going for it for those who don’t require specialized lenses like TS lenses and or exotic primes like 400mm f2.8, 800mm f5.6 etc.
The biggest advantage is image stabilization in all your lenses which is only going to get better with each body upgrade (which generally happens much faster than lens upgrades).
Lol…as far as I know, Sony designed & built sensors for all DX & FX Nikon cameras and some P&S Canon Cameras, and Leica FF cameras, even the iPhone 4S camera module has Sony’s Sensor & Lens…which universe did you come from? Lol…
Would be nice to have SD + XQD cards in two slots.
I think 1999 usd is a good price point. They can make up for it with volume sales.
so no more 102 af system?
“102 point AF system” for the A99 sounds a lot like the “ISO in the hundreds of thousands” for the A77…
I would like it to be small – so they would be offering something that the other manufactorers dont.
In size with the smallest sony aps-c slr/slt-camera.
Big clunky brick-cameras is already oversaturating the market. We DONT need anymore of those.
So what Im saying is: I PRAY TO GOD THAT IT’S NOT AN FF A77! That would be MUCH to big.
Youre stupid. End of argument.
I agree, he looks actually demented.
Very true
wow i agree. idiot alert
I would love to see the body being available for MSRP of around $2200 (or less of course).
Since I need a camera to do a lot of video, I have some video-specific wishes…
1. Ability to disable AGC + better audio monitoring.
2. Clean HDMI output so an external video-recorder can be used.
3. It would be nice to get even higher framerate for 1080p than 60fps. How about short bursts of 120fps?
Does anyone know if there will be full manual control of video settings?
You have that already in the A77
There is a lot of room in pricing between the crops and FF by Canon and Nikon, so it’s probably a smart strategy to hit a price that is in between for a FF SLT model. Could be a big thing if done right, which means decently priced glass.
us$1999 _WITH_ the 50/1.4 (us$1799 body-only).
Offer it with the 2470ZA instead for us$3299.
Watch it outsell the a900 + a850 together.
$1699-$1899 USD!
There is still a big used market for the Nikon D700 and Canon 5DMKII. Keeping the A99 price low just might cause people to pass on buying a used competitor’s camera.
Keep the price low but do not sacrifice quality, Sony!
If priced low enough Sony could bring a lot of people to the Alpha Mount.
Please bring back the 1.2/58MM Rokkor, Sony! Please let us know more about the new 50’s!
$$$↓↓↓↓↓↓ GOOD!!!
Will be nice if they could add this to a FF A77 to compete and win.
-Better high iso handling (5DMKIII/D800 have this)
-Audio monitoring (5DMKIII/D800 have this)
-Manual audio adjustment even recording (5DMKIII/D800 have this)
-Better AVCHD implementation as FS100
-Need a sharper, no moire, no aliasing video image.
-Tethering (5DMKIII/D800 have this)
-Clean HDMI output at least 8bit 4:2:2 (D800 have this)
-No video crop image when disable in body stabilization.
Price:
Body only: $1999
Body with 16-50mm f2.8: $2599
Body with 24-70mm f2.8CZ: $3499
I know this is most video related request than for Photos, but Canon and Nikon improve a lot on this areas too, because better video option in DSLR has help to increase the camera sales.
16-50mm f2.8 is cropped lens
True! sorry about that!
As Edgars pointed out the 16-50 lens with the a99 would make no sense. Ii is for APS-c cameras and not full frame like the a99 would be. Now it could be paired with the a28-75 f2.8 lens for around that much maybe though.
Honestly, some of you guys are dreamers. Thinking you’re going to get an FF camera with video capabilities, etc. for $1600 is absolutely NUTS. Honestly, even having it for $2,000, while great for my pocket, is very unrealistic. The kit for a77 is like $1,700 so I don’t understand how having a FF body for $1,600 or $1,700 is justified-not to mention the upgraded technology.
In my opinion, I think the price will be around $2,500, which is a good price and one that I will pay for a great quality camera. It’s lower than both Canon AND Nikon and will have features comparable to both competitors. The problem is the geeks here and out in the “photography world”, no matter how low Sony puts their price or what features they add, there will always be crybabies asking for more features (i.e. 4k – seriously, if you’re not making movies for THEATER then you do not need 4k).
Just pay the money for quality, which is what Sony will release. If you’re that bent on price then go with the a77. If you’re one of the people constantly posting here about the excitement for this new a99, but won’t pay $2,500 for this camera, you’re a clown. Paying $2,000 for a BRAND NEW FF camera, people are absolutely nuts and aren’t willing to pay for any type of quality these days…
actually the whole a77 kit with the 16-50 lens is at $2000 and the body is at $1400. It is not all that far of a stretch I believe. The Sony a850 was $2000 when it was sold and it had the traditional mirror box and optical viewfinder that cost more to produce. We are not nuts.
About the price, you´re right, is true, a FF camera must be around $3000 price, but Sony must to compete aggressively against Canon and Nikon to gain a little share in the market. Maybe is a dream but is plausible, or not?
Look at NAB´s recently announced Blackmagic Cinema Camera, who can imagine a camera with those specs at $3000 with a July launch? not many people one year ago at least.
I´m mainly interested in the video options from this cameras, i know, i know, there are Photo cameras not video cameras, but this DSLR generation is aiming strongly to the video area, i´m from Venezuela, working in postproduction video since tweenty year ago, and in this country Video DSLR has became the primary tool for video work for TV advertising and music video clips, not many people can go for $5000 for a camera, maybe $5000 for the whole package 🙂
Pd.
Of course i could pay the money for quality, hope Sony release it, i´n not a clow 😉
Why must a FF camera be around $3000? I do not think it must be around $3000.
plastic fantastic!! made in ethiopia.
DeMark.., you think 4K is Buck Rodgers futuristic? You haven’t been following technology very closely. The upcoming Nikon D400 has been reported to have 4K, and it’s a prosumer APS-C camera. It should be here in a few months. So funny, I remember when people said there would never be video in DSLR’s, then never 720, then never 1080. Now nay-sayers are squawking 4K is not needed and will not come for 5 years.
4K sets are due in FY 2012 4th quarter. Guaranteed a boatload of people will initially say they don’t need 4K (which they don’t), but that will not stop 4K from eventually replacing 1080. These sets will upscale 1080 content to 4K, to satiate the early adopters who lack 4K “Content.”
Pssst, the electronics titans are already finalizing the demarcation of the 8K standard. Crazy, but true.
I didn’t say it wasn’t gonna come. I know it will, because people are always sold on stuff they don’t need – just look at the Detroit Car Show. People are always sucked into buying things they don’t need. My point is that people are clamoring over 4k and about 96% of the people doing the begging for it don’t have a REAL need for it. They just want to win the pissing contest that is the camera market
It could be introduced at 2500 USD but it should go to 1600 – 1700 reange in 9 to 12 months. D800 and 5d mk3 will drop in price. It is fair to look at D700 and 5d mk2 for comparison of long term prices.
Below 2000 USD / Euro is where Sony must aim.
i’m skeptical about the megapixel count. sony just isn’t the kind of company that holds back. i expect the a99 will have the same 36mp sensor as the d800, despite the rumors that claim 24mp.
A new 50mm F1.4 with silent focus motor would be nice.
And it should be possible to select some apertures when autofocus
in video mode. E.g between F1.4 and F5.6
Sigma 50 1.4 is just that. An exellent piece of glass IMHO.
Maybe this will be a competitor for the D4/5DMKIII? The D800 and D800e are in another league in terms of resolution, but are out of their depth as high speed event cams compared to the other two. The A99 better have wicked fast autofocus and low noise to compete, but this seems doable given some reviewer’s comments that the D800 has a rather low noise sensor. What may keep the cost down is the slt. I suspect the slt in the A99 will be better in terms of DR and perhaps even sensitivity (the mirror would take less light out of the stream for focussing).
Good points. Current SLR’s only use a portion of the mirror area to bounce to the AF sensors, so why does the whole mirror have to be translucent? Why couldn’t only selective areas be mirrored? If nothing else, if the AF sensors are in the APS frame, you wouldn’t need any reflectivity in the SLT mirror outside the APS frame area. This would increase sensitivity in those areas, which could help noise. Of course, the inconsistent exposure would have to be dealt with in postprocessing within the camera engine.
Are they going to address the ghosting issue?
Yes. That’s why Sony raised lens prices to pay for the crack team of Ghost Busters.
They investigate problems that don’t exist. They dispel ghosts that people like you invent out of nothing.
The ONLY place I have heard ghosting may be an issue is for astro-photography. For all other purposes, it is extremely unlikely you will have any problem with the current cameras.
For all the people that don’t believe pro’s are using Sony material, watch this short video:
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-use-a-light-meter-in-photography/
PS: it’s sponsored by Sekonic (light meters), so no reason to believe that it is also sponsored by Sony.
As far as its video features, I’m sure Sony Alpha department managers are battling with Sony Pro Broadcast this very moment on what the A99 will be allowed to do.
Sony’s mighty and powerful Pro Broadcast group will certainly squash the A99’s firmware to block many of the video features people want.
It sucks for the consumer but Sony is tremendously sensitive to market cannibalism within itself.
I share your concerns cliff.
BTW, some people have been wanting to see what the self-described “pros” images are like. I’m a mere hobbyist (but like to do well in my various pursuits), so will share an image or two for the curious. Here’s a recent shot using my 850 and 70-200 2.8G. http://robboa1.deviantart.com/#/d4s1nqg Please be kind!
to me a price between 2000 and 2500 USD would be great.
but most importantly I want:
better AF
better high ISO
I hope is not less than 2999$, otherwise it will not be good enough!
I can care less if because of price some morons will not switch from canikon or some of you losers cannot afford it!
The a900 did not have great AF and high iso, because it had to cost only 3 grands, just to make some morons happy and then they did not buy it anyway.
F them!
Why does the camera need to be catered to your needs (which appears to be in the minority)?
Sony should sell the 24 mpix A99 (body only) for around 2K or slightly above.
Then they can have a 36mpix A?? with better quality/features what-not, and sell at the 3K-4K that you seem to want to spend. (Heck, they could even make one that records 4K video and sell it for say 8K)
I’m sick and tired of this “I want more for less” losers crowd.
Work harder, waste less time on blogs and forums and you will be able to afford plenty!
That day you will appreciate quality of life!
Piss off loser.
Leica is waiting for you. You’ll definitely get your “less for more” from them..
Sorry but why all this “morons” and “losers” etc. stuff?
What did they ever do to you to deserve that?
They are around…. Like Almond above.
Almond will not buy one.
Watch and learn….
Look at you posting on here about how rich you are. I want to be you.
Yes, less than $2K. No frills, small, lightweight. That’s what the peeps want!
The A99 will fail if it does not have a mirror flip-up option.
Why? Because otherwise, comparisons at ISO 100 will actually show that the A900 has better IQ than the A99. Sure, dynamic range of the A99 will be better, but the A900 will win the resolution comparison, simply because the SLT mirror slightly reduces it.
Almost no review test picture needs lots of dynamic range. Resolution, on the other hand, is an important criteria in each review.
Mike, you do not have a clue!
I agree with you Mike! (about the others… learn to respect others opinions also… I have no insulted anyone who doesn’t agree with me… and I have MANY YEARS WORKING ON PHOTOGRAPHY)
Flip-up option for single shot photography is essential to make it a real success…
I’m not sure who’s gonna be better in the end (A99 or A900) but one thing’s for sure… There is a significant quality gain when there’s no translucent mirror in the way… Just compare A77 with NEX7… A55 with Nikon D7000.
But still the major problem is…
It will take probably more than 1 year until we have a final camera on the market fully available!
This means…
– If something happens (damage, assault) to my current equipment, I won’t be able to replace it… as A900/A850 are discontinued!
– Less people and less professionals entering on the world of Sony equipment (specially on pro areas). And that means that each time for the future sony will have less reasons to invest on professional SLR’s/SLT’s… this is a instability living on the alpha system!!!
And in the end, everyone will suffer the consequences!
u fake! dont u know a900 cant even do ISO100?? Expanded ISO is crap!
100 iso on a900 it is actually very good. Most of dr and detail.
100 iso on a900 are actually 120, but still it remain the best for image quality on the a900.
If Andrea is saying the A99 will be coming at the lowest pricepoint possible, mirror flip-up may not be on the A99. The A77 casing will likely be re-purposed to cut down cost.
Can see the headlines now. Newsmagazines will trumpet the hype going beyond DSLR-Land saying “Lowest Cost DSLR Full-Frame Ever!” It will push people who never bought FF before to take the plunge. It will be good.
Obviously you have no clue and never use A850 A900. Firstly they don’t have native ISO100.
A99 is going to be better than A900 simply because of newer sensor technology. We have seen that before in other models like Nex3, 5, 5N, 7. More pixels doesn’t always mean worse IQ. If A99 comes out with newer sensor tech with same pixel count as A900, even with SLT acting like ND filter there, one can expect better IQ.
I’m sure A99 can do native ISO100 that’s better than A900’s ISO200 and A99 will even goes down to ISO50 in extended mode. High ISO noise will not be worse or even better than A57.
A99 will not have flip-up mode period and it will not fail if priced right.
I have yet to see visual proof of this resolution loss though. Compare for example the A55 and A580, or an A77 with and without mirror. No real difference in detail.
People mistakingly attribute all IQ differences between NEX cameras and SLT’s to the mirror, ignoring the fact that all NEX cameras carry a lighter AA filter (sharper, more moire).
Does anyone know why Sony would sell a 36mp sensor to Nikon and not offer it to it’s Sony client base?
I will still buy it if and only if it can be tethered and used with Capture one pro 6. Without that feature I can’t use it even if I want too, unless I only use it for field work and not in the Studio. Before you comment my Studio camera is a Leaf AF7 at 33mp. I do use it in the field but a smaller camera and lens system would be a whole lot easier to carry. So I am not so much submitting this to Sony camera users, I am hoping Sony factory people frequent this site and read what is posted. Plus, I am sure they do. So this post is really aimed directly a Sony, if they give a crap.
Don’t see why they can’t offer two levels of Full frame DSLR’s.Give us people that can barely afford to spend 2K on a camera-option the 24mpix one, and high end guys can get 36 mpix for 3K-4K.
Dear Sony,
Please give us Focus Peaking on the A99 like the NEX-7 with the option to turn it off.
You will get my money!
Jeez, if that’s true the A99 will be dead before they ship it. Sony really needs a better AF system in 2012.
If the price is one of it’s main attractions, I would expect it to be below $2k.
I am afraid cheaper sensor fabrication cost would advantage Nikon more than to Sony. Nikon fanboy won’t buy A99, they will wait for a Nikon version of that sensor.
Fanboys don’t switch systems by definition. 🙂
Hahaha… how can I missed that? lol
I think it’s a smart move and obviously as a consumer I would welcome it. But it’s been so long since Sony was aggressive with their pricing that I don’t believe it.
Guys, I can recall the same speculations on the very low price tag (about 1000 bucks) before the launch of A77. And so what? Everything was just a marketing trick to make people waiting for the camera and not to leave the Sony camp.
Many people now are waiting a new FF from Sony. I do know at least several wedding and fashion photographers, who are speaking on leaving Sony camp because they can see nice new FF cameras from Canikon and they are not satisfied with EVF of A77 compared to OVF of A850/A900.
Speaking on a possibly cheap A99 – what about focusing system?
I wonder if someone would told you that Sony plans to release full frame for 500$ – would you believe that too?
C’mon, if you feel cheated because you believed 1000$ price tag someone posted on the internet than it’s only your fault.
It was posted here and not once 🙂
What doesn’t release you from logical thinking 😉
Everything on SAR is true of course. We should start banging the table and demanding our ISOs into the hundreds of thousands and 102 cross sensors.
oke, here we go again;
– improved ISO (2-stops please over the A900)
– improved wireless flash functions
– flash indicator in EVF
– improved EVF over the A77 (A900 standard)
– brighter EVF than A77 (full sunlight a bit of an issue)
– set minimum shutterspeed in auto-iso
– SSS hardware button!!
– improved built over A77
– Zeiss 50mmF1.4ssm (please….)
A77 cons for me
– 3 or 8 FPS either TOO slow either TOO fast – A580 Hi mode was perfect – slow push one shot – long push series shooting. 8FPS – 1 push – 2 or 3 shoots. Its too much for 25 Mb RAW foto.
– For normal shooting speed I purchased very expensive UHS cards – SDHC class 10 in this camera works like class 2 or slower in A580. 3 – 4 shots and even preview shows after 4 – 5 seconds.
– Body and buttons is awful constantly wheels or buttons or joystick pressed accidently
– Camera UI isn’t good – too much time to change ISO for example. Memory modes that must be selected via wheel and after that from FN menu. It can be made Just from menu.
– And I really want independent camera settings for every PASM mode.
– FL58 flash I can use only in m mode – TTL is buggy – and uses only one power of impulse – Full – when 1/8 is more than enough.
– P mode useless – 1/60 minimum!!! on any ISO!!! with artificial light (Expo or club) with 2470Z and FL58 attached looks like Sony didnt bother any reporter when made 77.
And not last but very annoying – AWB came to 77 from A100 – too warm. A500/580 was much more precise and realistic.
P.S. My camera history – Olympus C1 :), Coolpix 995, Minolta A1, Sony A100, 300, 500, 580 – and now 77
Well said man! Would be nice to post this review on other sites too, companies read their customers reviews.
while i am not in the market for a FF i think this shoudl be a A88 and save the A99 for a 40mp 4k video MLU DSLT
Agree. Sony could make an A88 and surprise the market with around 2K full frame price, and have the A99 be a more conventionally priced high performance “machine”
Well said dude!
Go for it, Sony, lower those prices, enjoy another year in the red. Become a even weaker company!
sony: we will not be premium. we will now be budget camera company
Further evidence, if it were required, of this guy’s state of mind. I’ve no doubt that at some point in his life he had something useful to say. But comments like that show him up for what he is – a bitter and twisted old gent with a massive chip on his shoulder and an even greater grudge against Sony. With that obvious bias, any contribution that he attempts to make in any discussion – here or elsewhere – on Sony gear is utterly valueless.
Although I like this rumor, I find it hard to believe. Because if Sony release the lower model first and most of the people jump onto it, no one will buy the higher end model unless there is a significant difference. Same for canon, they release the 5D III @ $3500, and there is a rumor of a cheaper FF. And I remember the same strategy with Apple. They first release the iPod, then iPod mini, then iPod nano. I am sure Apple has it all planned out. So, I think Sony will release the higher end FF first.
I don’t want cheaper I want better. They need to ensure their next FF is better than anything they have done before. 24mp does not alone constitute cheap. All newly released FF’s from other companies are less than 24mp except the d800.
nikon has d800 and d4 and they need something cheaper. so sony’s d800 will be priced like nikon’s and the 24mp FF will be priced maybe between 2000$-2500$.
Better high ISO, focus peaking, and sub $2000 would work fine for me! Tethered shooting would be even better. . .
looks like i’ll be starting a whole new lens collection.
and now the A99 price is bigger than the D800 hahh – sony make.believe