As I told you this week Sony is on the verge of big decisions. And they are testing many FF prototypes some of them are quite different from what we have seen on the market the last years. All I can anticipate with a certain reliability is that Sony will definitely introduce plenty of new APS-C SLT and NEX cameras the first half of 2013. And I am almost certain no new Full Frame SLT or NEX camera will be announced during that time. The High END FF prototype and the other FF prototypes I heard of are still being evaluated and tested and Sony still has to take the final decision about their possible release time and final specs.
In short, Sony has to decide if they want to take a more revolutionary path or a more evolutionary approach. My suggestion to Sony, do that what will really set a difference from Canon and Nikon. No more half heart games.
P.S.: I am 100% sure there will be no more optical viewfinder FF cameras. So don’t keep asking me that anymore 🙂 P.S: One A900 demo (new condition) A900 for sale on eBay (via Slidoo).
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82 Responses
So what about these new aps-c nex ? What are their diffencees from those we have now ?
Here here! (SR5) Sony will replace NEX-F3 and SLT-a37 in 2013.
Hahaha sorry admin, but everyone knows there will be plenty of APS replacements next year between March and June. It’s the tendency in the last couple of years.
Of course. But did you know there will be NO FF cameras? That is the news 🙂
Andrea, I know this is not a video site but do you know anything coming for the FS series video cams, the FS100 is due for replacement
That news is disappointing. Why not just drop that 36mp sensor in a no frills body? They sure pump out crop frames quick.
That can be guessed as well. Sony are going to take a hit with their Cybershot Rx1. Time magazine (or something like that) will hail the Rx1 as the camera of the century. Very predictable. LOL.
Good times for Leica! 🙂
Good times for Leica!!!!!?????
Yes. 🙂 That is only company that seems to have slashed the prices of their current camera (in a new form) and I can’t wait for the new Leica M with live view and a very affordable Olympus EVF that can work with it. This is huge achievement for Leica, especially over the sensor giant Sony who are still struggling to get the corners right even in an APS-C sensor.
BTW, I did not mean to slight the Admin’s brilliant work over the years. It is just some of us who have been following the trends seem to “understand” what is going happen in the near future.
🙁
any chance of a full frame nex above 24mp?
No, actually, you don’t.
Sorry, bub, but DP Review, DxO Mark, and the like are infinitely more trustable sources and they don’t share in your cynicism regarding Sony. Not. At. All.
Hysterical to me the way people poo-poo Sony when they have only been in this game for 6~ years and lept to a third of market share in half that time (+/-). The fact that CaNikon sycophants keep trolling here and elsewhere wasting time talking smack is telling enough. If Sony was a non-issue no one would bother. Unless of course their lives truly were that pathetic.
Ian, that was for Vivek. Apologies for any confusion.
So Andrea, the news is that there’s really no difference from previous years? That’s rather disappointing. Sony will be missing an opportunity because Canikon have brought out their FF models over the last year, that will be the backbone for their systems, and won’t be upgrading in the medium term – so now is the time for Sony to differentiate themselves from the rest. If they wait, they’ll be bringing out new product at the same time the competition is bringing out upgraded new product – which will be more competitive. Of course, there’s the rumor that Canon will release a 48 megapixel camera within the next year – so in fact Sony will fall behind more, for the forseeable future. Some announcement you’ve made!
Don’t you think it’s a bid absurd to expect Sony to be on the same level as CaNikon given that Sony has been in this game for less than a decade? You don’t realize it but you’re flattering them, not insulting them.
People aren’t talking about Fuji, or Olympus, or Pentax, or Sigma, or any of the other major brands. Most of the talk revolves around Canon and Nikon… then Sony. Only a fool wouldn’t see that as impressive. Canon and Nikon SHOULD be dominating – if they weren’t that would be utterly shameful given their veteran status.
Yeah, Sony’s pockets are deep. But that’s not what’s important here. What IS important is that they are clearly committed: they’re in at Olympus; they teamed with Zeiss; they’re working with Hasselblad; they make many of Nikon’s sensors (as well as sensors for other recognized manufacturers). Sony is very clearly interested in more than simply pandering to a commercial consumer base. Anyone who can’t see that is a rookie intellect (and I’m being kind by by throwing a word like “intellect” in there at all).
Cynicism has been so played out and has become so predictable (hobgoblins and their little minds – seriously, leave it to the brilliant comics who actually know how to wield it) that I can’t can’t help but offer flatulent dismissives every time I see it peak its feeble head out from it’s crusty shell.
One thing is for damn sure: none of the trolls that waste their time on boards like these could ever cut it as a CEO for a company that wanted to actually get anywhere.
Perhaps you should all go eat a Twinkie with the peeps that tanked Hostess. Don’t forget to take a picture.
SONY have a fullframe dslr (A99), a fullframe camcorder (vg900) and a fullframe P&S (RX1). I feel a little disappointed there’s no compact mirrorless in the works. When is the new Leica M set to ship?
I’m agree. When will we see a real Leica M’s killer with a professional focus for a “reasonable” price ?? The RX1 is not far from reach !!! But there are two things crucial to transform the test and attract many serious users : the effectiveness of focus (manual, auto and scale’s depth of field control), and interchangeable lenses (or more fixed lenses like 50/1.4…) . It doesn’t matter if the body is a little bigger…
Come on Sony !!!
that is pretty disappointing to be honest, was hoping sony would step up the full frame game, guess not
Look at it another way. They’ll put more effort on a small-size FF.
I think the key factor is the manufacturing cost of the sensors.
My impression is that the yield on FF sensors is still low, so that the marketing guys at Sony think the end product would be too expensive for the market.
Well, the RX1 is very expensive, and the sales of that model will be a good test.
Well, you can’t stop progress…
The tech to concentrate photosite on to the sensor is one way Sony’s answer to SLT’s lower light grabbing. Who know what tech they will come up to even make the sensor to be more efficient in light gathering….
Maybe they can improve the sensitivity in the focus sensor so they can cut the light loss in SLT from 1/3 to 1/6.
Judging by some people, the sky will still fall even if it’s 1/10.
To my understanding, we can expect a new model that can challenge Canon 7D Mark II, which will be introduced in H1 2013. This may mean the replacement of A65 and A77. Actually, A79 with a built-in grip, reduced noise issues, higher frames per second, increased number of focus points (like A99’s maybe), weather sealing, wi-fi, gps would make sense. I hope Sony don’t try to increase megapixels… there’s no need for that in an APS-C model.
Built-in grip? No chance.
so in what way the 7dII will be superior to the A77??
Anything after A77?
It’s been a while since Sony made something that excited me.
Not that the A99 isn’t a perfectly fine camera and their recent lenses haven’t been perfectly fine too, but by the same token a Corolla is a perfectly fine car…
What I would really like to see is a NEX with a multilayer sensor, to get something like the image quality of Sigma’s DP1M and DP2M cameras.
Those cameras give much sharper images than the 5N at low film speeds, but are clunky to use, eat batteries, don’t have HHT or HDR, and can’t take legacy lenses.
A NEX with Foveon-style sensor, even if only for use in good light, would be ideal for many serious users.
It is more than time we got away from Bayer mosaics and AA filters.
Sigma hold all the patents and have made the stategic investment in the Foveon technology. Why not just buy a Sigma?
The Sigmas have the sensor but nothing else. The NEX accepts thousands of lenses, bellows, etc. It has HDR and HHT, peaking, tilting LCD, and in some models a good EVF.
Really, all you can do with a DP2M is landscape on a tripod. Which it does superbly well.
The Sony multilayer sensor patents show a different technology from the Foveon. In any case if Sony did need to use some feature patented by Sigma/Foveon, they have plenty of patents to trade.
Good points. I guess I sort of see it as company’s having limited technical and marketing resources, and they have to play to their strengths. On the other-hand I agree about the limitations of the current Sigma offerings. Another alternative might be if Sigma built their cams decided to base their camera E-mount, it would at least open up the lens options a lot.
Sigma have acquired all the patents, and made the strategic decision to invest in Foveon technology. Why not buy one of the Sigmas?
The obvious would be an update of the A3x,A5x,A6x,A7x with:
– Iso HotShoe
– Hybrid AF for the highest models (A7x ans A6x?)
This reminds me of the delay for the A700 replacement when Sony changed directions and killed of OVF in favor od EVF/SLT with the A55.
Whatever direction Sony goes now I hope they consider legacy glass compatibility.
Look how popular instagram, Lomography, retro styling, vintage film cameras have become. There’s an entire industry waiting to explode around SLR and RF legacy glass that can be tapped by a clever manufacturer.
I’m not talking about social networks I’m referring to useability of current legacy glass with future A-mount cameras.
We don’t need another kluge.
Right. And the examples I gave show why there are incentives for SONY to provide that legacy support.
What’s holding up the Sony mirrorless FF universal lens camera?
That’s where the opportunity is, even if it’s not where the big market is. If Sony is chasing the bigger APS-C market I think they are making a mistake. Meanwhile Canon and Nikon will retool to produce mirrorless FF cameras and Sony will have to suffice by making sensors.
Same old question. I think Sony should accelerate the production of lenses for alpha mount to support the existence of A99 STL. I am not sure how many users can still get used to the 5 years old design and Zeiss Lens as their only option. Unlike Canon and Nikon, they keep renew their lens for every 2-3 years. Both camera body and lenses technology are growing and getting maturer altogether. If Sony can’t renew their lenses production ASAP, I think users should getting impatient and lost their loyalty gradually. Otherwise, Sony may need to ask for help from Sigma and Tamron to replenish the insufficient option of lenses.
However in my opinion, I prefer Sony to dominating NEX in both APS-C and FF system. They can make a modulate system if the users need Alpha Lenses and the STL adapter should help already for the same performance of Fast focusing. The problem might just be the power consumption of the additional module to drive the motor. If the system is more flexible, cost efficient and easy to differentiate the beginner and professional market.
Under the bad financial situation of Sony that if they have to make an option between increasing production between Alpha or E-mount lenses, I believe E-mount is still more preferable as NEX is a growing market(also the NEX-CAM) while Alpha mount is being marginalized. Just leaving Alpha mount in the professional area might be the right way.
The Sooner the Better –
Sony SLT sales are Dismal
Sony is NOT moving SLT Boxes
Gotta Move SLT boxes to pay bills
SLT have Sales popularity ranking poor on Amazon charts.
Thats Terrible
SINCE SONY can sell value to move Boxes = Low margin
It does get the Super High Priced margin of the proprietary accessories. Sony losses all that sweet REAL revenue from the high margins.
Sony is NOT competitive – Not Selling SEX Basics
NIKON D3200 entry level – 24MP –
Face It For Newbies that alone + Nikon name is SEXY
That Sells
SONY Marketing is failing.
You don’t know the sales figures for SLT, for all you know Sony management could have exceeded their sales figures.
Sony stated that the A55 sales surprised even them, so stop talking rubbish about pointless Amazon rankings ffs. They are IRRELEVANT and in no way indicate the success or failure of SLT within Sony.
I agree it is impossible for people like us to really know how successful Sony is or is not with its SLT line, but try this IRRELEVANT and unscientific metric using B&H Photo.
Do a sort from the B&H photo website of Canon, Nikon & Sony DSLR’s by best sellers or most reviewed and notice that the year old a77 is 45th on the best sellers list and if you sort by the most reviews the a77 is 23rd with 88 reviews, beaten by the new Nikon D600 with 93 reviews and the Nikon D800 with 300 reviews, the Canon 5DIII with over 500 and the Canon 7D with almost 2000 reviews posted on the website.
No, none of this matters and maybe Sony does most of its volume on the Sony website, I don’t know but as far as I can tell the SLT is not doing as well as I think it should after several years and the awards the technoligy has recieved.
next year new nex (again) ^^ nothing to complain about the nex line, it’s just that it’s “toooo” crowded f3-5r-6-7
with the new rx100/rx1 what else is new … new lens would be good, wish primes 24 and 30 with 1.4f ^^
next year new nex (again) ^^ nothing to complain about the nex line, it’s just that it’s “toooo” crowded f3-5r-6-7
with the new rx100/rx1 what else is new … new lens would be good, wish primes 24 and 30 with 1.4f ^^
please try to find some more details about the soon to be announced new nex cameras. I am deciding to buy NEX-6 but …
Well, well, hard luck. I have 3 great cameras from Sony – A700, A900 and NEX-3 that is useful for minor work or common video. I’m used to good pentaprism. I don’t need SLT at all with their energy consuming and annoying LCD finders and I won’t buy it. I will have to sell Sony stuff and buy one of this awful Canon or Nikon cameras when my great Alphas finish their lives.
The A77 EVF is far superior to the A700 pentaprism. I use both.
I would not call it superior. I agree it gives larger view and live preview, but if we talk about following focus of moving objects, resolution or dynamic range, any EVF is far inferior than any pentaprism and it drains batteries. Great that SLTs became more responsive, but I’m used to A700/A900 ergonomics and I like it better.
Goodbye a77 new firmware…
Sadly I have to say it makes sense for Sony to concentrate their efforts on APS-C and Nex cameras this is were they will get their best return and increase their market share.
I was wanting to see them produce a competitively priced FF camera along with high MP camera. The D800e is becoming more more attractive for me.
exactly its very sad :/ but if that´s what sony want then a lot of sony users will switch to nikon very soon
The number of Sony full frame users is tiny compared to Sony APS-C users and microscopic compared to CaNikon full frame users.
Sony will not lose any sleep with “a lot” of full frame users swap brands. The “a lot” you mention is really sod-all.
Sony is going to run out of letters to put after the 5 or before the 3.
Yes, they only have 24 letters left for each one. That’s 24 years until we see the NEX-5NB.
Yeah you guys from America… There is something called Unicode, comprises a lot more than 24 letters. I’m not an expert but there are at the very least 65k letters (ok, not all of them are traditional letters) from all over the world. Sony can go on forever with the NEX-5! 😉
Never, ever accuse me of being American again.
Ok, nobody will mistake you for being American. Just irrelevant. 😉
The last hope of the NEX FF is that RX1 seems to be a signal of testing the respond of the market how many users can accept the price of a FF camera with Prime lens. If RX1 is running smooth, then cut the cost for lens might be the right price tag of the NEX FF camera body. If She dares, she could win.
I have 2 of my 3 A900’s for sale. All of them one owner in great condition with low actuations. If anyone is interested, otherwise they go on the ebay.
Hopefully they focus on widening their len offerings or refreshing them.
The only interesting APS-C camera for me would be a RX 10 ideally with a Zeiss Zoom Lens priced under 1k Euro!
I am pretty sure there won’t be any FF NEX.
I agree, FF NEX is not a good idea at all.
I wish Sony would stop the onslaught of bodies and focus on lenses and firmware updates. The Nex and Alpha cameras were obviously going to get a refresh with the new hotshoe as the company aligns the rest of the camera lineup with the new features.
Now if Sony could do something about the terribly soft video coming from the A99 and fill out the lens roadmap instead of more stinkin Nex bodies…
Admin, any word on an APS-C DCS-RX10 in that early 2013 mix?
The innovation could come from in-sensor-autofocus which is what Sony has been working on for a little while now. In conjunction with a good EVF that would totally eliminate the need for a (translucent) mirror, even for fast action. Now that sensors can hold more pixels than needed, some of those pixels can be assigned other tasks. Goodbye SLT.
Is still a good time to buy the A77? Or should I wait?
This is pretty crappy news to me. I have been shooting FF and Zeiss lenses, but have been considering switching for over a year. But I have constantly waited. Nikon and Canon release several FF cameras with new lenses. Sony has really neglected the A-mount, and especially FF. They churn out one nex body after anothe despite infrequent firmware updates (see Fuji, Canon with 7d) and limited and lagging lens selection (see Nikon 24-85, 70-200 f4). Sony releases one SLF FF, with no new lenses. Good thing Sigma is helping out the a mount with a decent and not grossly overpriced 35mm lens–finally. I understand what Sony is doing, they want revenue and all by going for the lower and larger market, but man, they really neglected the FF a-mount guys. Oh well, I guess I’ll just look to Fuji and Nikon.
I am waiting for:
– FF 50mp
– E mount w/free A mount adapter
– 101 point on-sensor PDAF (no mirror)
– full spectrum w/removable and/or adjustable IR filter
– square sensor (32x32mm)
– removable/adjustable AA filter
– none of the jpg only creative modes (I can do sepia PP, thank you)
– tethering via iPad or Android
Think of the buzz that would create! I’m buzzed just thinking about it 🙂
I’ve been in the same boat as you. It’s just seeming less and less likely that sony is really giving an effort to compete on a pro shooter level. I keep thinking they will release another a900 type camera. Not in specs but in terms of Value. When it came out it was truly ground breaking in regards to quality for price. The a99 is no doubt a great camera but not amazing compared to same or lesser priced competition. They sell the d800 sensor to nikon, yet neglect to give that sensor to it’s own customers?
It’s like honda developing an amazing new car engine better than ever ,,, but manufacturing it for toyota , and never dropping it into a honda body? Again where is the Logic?
Yeah, you’re buzzed alright. 😉
I need a newer version of the A77 with the regular hot shoe and bigger buffer.
I think Sony contributes more excitement and innovation with their RX line. I have not heard a single complaint on RX100 (maybe one or two soured Canon die-hards, heh). It remains a sought after camera in Asia at least. Price is not dropping like rock anytime soon. The RX1 may be overpriced but there is nothing like it and that single camera creates so much buzz for the company. I am more excited with what Sony can come up with the RX line. RX10, a compact with a 24-70 f2.0 constant aperture zoom lens? RX100W, a compact with an ultra-wide zoom lens (17-45mm)? A RX1000, a 24-400, f2.8-4 megazoom? Or a quick update on RX1s with 35mm f0.95 lens? NEX? What else they can do? NEX-6 hits another plateau for a long time until they cram 41 megapixels inside that APS-C sensor (ala Nokia 808)
I think you hit the point. Especially at this age where we’re more insensitive to the megapixel race, the computers hitting a power wall, the mobile devices are still testing new waters, what we need is innovation. They don’t have to sell well, but they have to rile up the market and push the forefront.
And if innovation is what Sony was aiming for, they’ve succeeded.
And then when competitors drive their price down, consumer wins.
Will the FF NEX be compatible with current E-mount lens like Zeis 24mm or Sony 18-200? If yes, will there be more vignetting?
Sony needs to fill the hi end gap quick, Nikon D800 are now generic for pros, most match the camera with CZ lenses and rave about the quality – and Nikon is well into its next model. A 50mpxl pro camera would have a 4 year life span as did the A900, who needs more resolution than that? its simply a matter of designing a knockout camera body and software to use it, the A99 looks to be nearly there so get on with it Sony. If your shooting @ 50 mpxls that gives approx 350 meg size 16bit RAWS, plenty to play with.
What a Shame… The APS-C cameras that most of us own now are great… Its the FF models that need serious Help/Updating…
Again. Sony focusing on Best Buy shoppers and now Taylor Swift fans who use their iphone and (lame) instagram for their ‘Photo’ needs…
Unbelievable Sony, Shame Shame…
AND… Nikon just dropped the price on the D800…. I think this was a very bad time to release the fact that you are focusing on Best Buy Shoppers and Taylor Swift fans…. Sony lost so many FF’ers to Nikon and then they release info like this ???? Makes for a good selection of Alpha mount FF lenses on ebay lately though….
AND (again)…. The Nex 5 R has no image quality imrovement over the 5n… So all the 5n owner have no need to upgrade… You put so much effort into Nex sony… Why would you come out with a camera with no image quality improvement ? I know you did it in the alpha mounts, but now the Nex mounts too ?? Sony.. PLEASE stop paying Taylor Swift to ruin you reputation with pro photographers and come out with a “Pro” camera……
I think Sony are in quite a good position now. Photography is going to really change over the next 5 years. The low and mid range DSLR market will completely die off I think to be replaced by camera systems like the NEX. Even pro-sumer cameras like the A77 may become increasingly redundant. What will happen to the pro market is perhaps more interesting. The manufacturer that holds onto the DSLR format of old for the longest will be perhaps be the biggest looser. I’d like to see Sony bring out a truly revolutionary high end pro camera. That’s what would drag people away from Canikon and make people take Sony seriously.I really thought the A99 would be that revolutionary camera but its not even a halfway step.
I can’t really believe the amount of people on here and on other camera forums that so desperately want to cling onto the DSLR format, including things like OVF’s. As EVF quality gets better and better the possibility for new camera design becomes really interesting. I’d like to see Sony really push the boat out. The NEX system is a step in that direction. I’m really looking forward to the NEX 7 successor. The high end NEX range is where its going to be for me, as a pro photographer, next year. The RX1 is incredibly interesting too and its here I think Sony can come into the market via the back door as it were. Take everyone by surprise. They do need to get their prices sorted out though. Ever since they took over Minolta their accessories have been ludicrously expensive.
I think you don’t understand that OVF will be always better than EVF because it don’t need energy to work. So from efficiency point of view for any use DSLR is far better than SLT simply because you can work much longer without battery replacement. I don’t know any pro photographer who trades liveview for efficiency.
If Sony would simply remake A700/A900 with new sensors, basic LV and raw/jpg quality on par with D600/D300s, They would possibly sell much more such cameras than SLT 77/99, at least outside Japan.
RX10 apsc sensor 😀
Are there any news on a new Aplha A6x DSLT?
Say link A67 or the A68?
I do want some updates, like Wi-Fi!