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The first Sony smartphone with high photo quality will be announced on September 4th. You can see the invitation card on top and the specs and images on the table below. We posted these specs a couple of weeks ago. The interesting thing is that one of our sources that shared us info about that Honami phone also said the NEX-FF would arrive soon 🙂
I will have some more bits on the Honami soon. And VR-Zone reports there will be a Honami mini too.
via ePrice (Click here).
61 Responses
First smartphone? What about Nokia 1020
First Sony.
Well that’s not what you wrote above – it is not “The first smartphone with high photo quality” so maybe writing that is a bad idea.
is this the first time Sony used the G lens brand in a phone? before it was all zeiss
I don’t remember Sony every having the Zeiss lens label for their phones. I believe “Zeiss for phones” is a Nokia exclusive.
Back in the Sony Ericsson days, Zeiss was used.
“The first smartphone with high photo quality”. Well to be honest, this probably won’t produce as good pictures as Lumia 1020. Reason is simple: smaller sensor size. Honami have 0.43inch sensor vs. 0.66 inch in Nokia Lumia. Both are BSI-sensors.
However… if Nokia’s jpeg imaging process is crap, then they may be about the same…
Let’s think about the fact that Sony, having the best sensors around, still has crap jpegs compared to anyone else.
I would have to disagree with that statement. Have you ever seen the JPGs off an a99? whether or not Sony decides to includes their high end Noise reduction and JPG compression on a smart phone is another matter.
I had a similar Experia a while back, it died one month after the guarantee had expired.
I wish Sony will stop the megapixel war and focus on good products instead
Sony think the average client is idiot
Will not buy this phone
Good for you
well, average client *is* an idiot and it’s the megapixel what he’s after. conscious photograpers use cameras 🙂
From what I’vev seen on xda-developers, Honami looks like a new camera app with some really cool features. Is it beyond doubt that it also holds a new high quality jpeg engine?
http://androidtopnews.com/sony-honami-camera-app-ported-to-xperia-z-and-other-sony-devices-unofficially/
I wish I could edit …
Too bad I can’t stand the messy and ugly UI of Android, but the Sony i1 looks really good. Tried both the SGS3 and SGN2 for a couple of months each, but never came to terms with them. Now I have a Nokia Lumia 920 with WP8, and it suits me so much better. Fortunately, Nokia is also putting a lot of effort in their phone cameras. Though I am not sure I will buy the new Lumia 1020, I am convinced it has a brilliant camera. I guess we will se a battle between Nokia and Sony in the best cameraphone battle shortly.
You can practically make the Android UI anyway you like, even to look exactly like WP8 if desired. That’s one the biggest strengths of the OS.
Well I really like WP and the way it looks and works. So buying an Android only to make it act like a WP seems just dumb. And, when buying a Nokia, a really good phone camera is included in the package. If Sony ever decides to join the WP gang (they did have WinMo once) I will be more than happy to buy one, if the camera beats the one on the Lumia that is.
Admin
Are we likely to see any sony products in the foreseeable future with multi layer, stacked, or organic sensors.
not until 2015.
Though the new jpeg engine firmware update would come this summer… Any idea ?
Is the sensor size 2/3 inch or 1/2.3 inch? Earlier news, mentioned for example on this site, said the sensor size was 2/3 inch.
I would have liked that old rumor about interchangeable lenses to be true.
While this is clearly a higher quality cameraphone it is not versatile enough to tempt me to buy one.
I have something surprising soon 😉
Compared to any phone, APS or even 1″ sensor cameras is so exciting in terms of IQ.
Any hints?
I’m sorry I have to say this. From your history of posts, I believe you are not very tempted by anything except your very own specific high megapixel SLRs (Non SLT, I know)
Having read recent research about negative reviews made by people who have yet to own the real product, I have come to think many SAR readers tend to mostly highlight the negative aspect of any product (rumored or announced here) based on their personal preferences in disregard to the larger spectrum of positive evolution in products themselves.
This phone and your comment are a good example. The positive aspect of the news here is that the phone rumored weeks ago will likely bring a new jpeg algorithm to most Sony cameras. This is positive because it furthers the essence of shooting for many Sony users (those who use jpegs mainly or exclusively)
Whether this phone tempts you or not, is not part of the argument. It is about the consequence explained by Andrea weeks ago.
You sre correct that I am only interested in purchasing a high mp camera that is versatile enough to meet my needs
This post however is not a negative review of this camera.
I simply stated the fact that it does not meet my specific needs.
For many people this is a great camera to have.
For me this wouid be usefull only when i dont have a bigger camera with me.
Since i primarily photograph animals my needs are almost exclusively for long and macro lenses.
If this camera would take those lenses i would have been interested.
This sounds like a very good cameraphone but it does not meet my specific needs.
Apologies, not ‘many’ SAR readers. ‘Some’ SAR readers. I wish too I could edit.
hey, it’s *Sony Alpha* rumours, not everything-Sony rumours. Sony Alpha is SLR lens system, so it’s quite logical the people here don’t get excited about “anything except […] specific high megapixel SLRs”. that’s what this page is all about. people subscribe this page because they want to know what the future of Alpha camera system will look like. we don’t earn our livin by making photos with cameraphones, we do it with *high megapixel SLRs*.
The development of this phone is related to a potential firmware updated jpeg engine to affect Sony Alpha cameras. You can’t grasp that.
It’s actually the other way around, the mobile division is pulling tech from the imaging divison.
That’s a big change from the previous rumor less than 3 weeks ago which said:
“But I have a good news too:
One of my sources sent me the specs of the camera (Thanks a lot!). He says the i1 phone (Honami) will have a selectable ISO range from 50-12,800 and it uses Super Steady Shot image stabilisation (2-3 stops). It also has an f/2.0 28mm equivalent lens. The sensor is a 20MP 2/3″ BSI Exmor R one using the same process as as the RX100mkII for superior low light performance.”
A 1/2.3″ sensor is about 2 times smaller than the earlier suggested 2/3″. Which would translate to about a full stop difference, almost like the difference between FF and APS-C in terms of light gathering surface.
To put things into perspective, most top phones already have 1/2.3″ Sony sensors, the Nokia 1020 has a sensor 2 times larger than that and the 808 sensor is 3 times larger…
I have no doubt that the RS technology will compensate for the electronics blocking light but I doubt it will be much more efficient than the Sony 13MP sensor as seen in for example the S4.
Not holding my breath on this one regarding output quality, but the software that comes with it could be interesting I guess.
In that same discussion post, Admin admitted the omission of the “1/” in front o the “2.3” It wasn’t wrong information purposely published. It was just a mistake.
No, in one of the first rumors that the admin posted, he suggested that it could be a typo. Several following rumors said 2/3″. June 27th he suggsted it was indeed a 1/2.3″ sensor but june 30th he again posted a rumor from a trusted source stating 2/3″ and nowhere in that thread does he suggest it could be a typo anymore.
ISO 12,800 from a 1/2.3″ sensor, even using exposure stacking with a 2 stop improvement, that’s going to be.. uh… optimistic. 🙂
sorry. it was because I copied and pasted the original specs. My fault!
No problem, confusement cleared!
First of all, almost all smartphones available for purchase right now use 1/3″ and smaller sensors. That includes the iPhone 5, Galaxy SIV and the HTC One. The Nokia Lumia 1020 uses a 2/3″ sensor and the Nokia PureView 808 uses a 1/1.2″ sensor. While what you stated regarding sensor size and light gathering is correct, it is notable to know that 1/2.3″ is what most budget and regular point and shoot cameras use, and not a typical size for smartphone cameras at all.
I guess you’re right about the sensor sizes, out of the Xperia Z, HTC One, S4 phones, iPhone 5s etc, only the S4 Zoom has a 1/2.3″ sensor.
It’s nice but a real selling point will be a phone that records at a fixed rate, unlike the Lumia 920 and all the other players in the field.
Cellphones could really replace GoPro video cameras with the added benefit of cellular connectivity so you could remotely view your helicopter shots. Just a matter of technology getting there.
1/2.3? Not interested. Bye-bye, Sony.
How many times have you said “Bye-Bye” now?
To say, I think Sony made a great mistake. I expected to see big sensor. I don’t give a sh1t about what photo app it will have: I’m using instagram anyway. When I need a standalone camera, I use my NEX.
Funny how you complain about sensor size, while you actually use Instagram, with low-fi filters and upload 500px sized square images 😛 Ironic? I’d say so 😛
so this is the smartphone with strong photographic capabilities?
well Sony, had you read the news lately? have you seen the Lumia 1020??
1/1.5″ toshiba sensor (same sise of fuji X20)
41 Mpx for oversampling (great for low light)
Zeiss 27mm f2.2 with 6 element
optical stabilization
Mechanical shutter
Xenon Flash (and led for video)
long exposures up to 4s!
Nokia Pro Cam (best App for taking photos and UI i have ever seen in a smartphone)
Detachable cover with shutter button, tripod mount and battery
Well, 1/2.3″ means the same sensor size as point and shoot cameras. And the best Sony point and shoots with 1/2.3″ sensor are not impressive at all. Nokia Lumia 1020 will crush this, I’m sorry to say. Hopefully I’m wrong.
Andrea, any info about A77 firmware update?
yes, any new on firmwareupdate for the current Alpha models?
It appears that those of us that invested in a A77 are forgotten as firmware is concerned.
Steve A.
1/2.3″ 20 mpix? The same sensor from HX50V etc, probably. Yeah, after Nokia 1020 is it not impressive at all.
A recent sony patent describes a 35mm 4elementequivelent assymeyric lens paired with a large curved sensor. Not sure if c or ff.
For a fixed focal length cameraphone this would be super high quality and very compact.
With the curved sensor this simple lens would be apochromatic even withoutis exotic glass.
It would not surprise me to see this desighn in a future cellphone especially if this one is a success.
Wasn’t that 2/3 or 1/1.7 size sensor?
1/2.3 is not impressive at all..
All this “Yada-Yada” about Nokia Lumia 1020 is a better cam.
And “Nokia will chrush it.”
Plz, look at the price tag of the Nokia!
The first statement above may well be true, but the 2nd … ?
Most people will buy the Sony because its a phone. And on top of that it has a sensor that competes very well towards big parts of the compact cameras out there.
All depending on the price point of course.
The introductory price of an unlocked iPhone 5 32GB was $750, the introductory price of an unlocked Nokia Lumia 1020 32GB will be $650 (unconfirmed but from several sources), so what are you trying to say?
And the camera of iphone is rubbish, the ios is rubbish, the build and quality ia rubbish, and americans are rubbish, but they keep on selling their products at ridiculous prices, thus, americans will be forever buried in shit because they overpriced shit a billion times
Sony, what a massive let down! I expected a 2/3″ sensor in Honami and would have probably bought it just for that, since it’s running Android. I would certainly buy a 5″ 1080p Android smartphone with a 1″ sensor from RX100 (original, non-BSI), or should I say, I would buy an RX100-whatever camera with all the usual camera controls and built-in smartphone functionality, 5″ screen, running Android. Not impressed with 1/2.3″ at all, sorry.
Samsung S4 Zoom 1/2.3″ is also not impressive sensor- and design-wise. Lumia 1020 has the best camera sensor with ugly design from Nokia and running crappy WP/ecosystem. Another year of waiting for RX100-sensor Android smartphone is wasted! Samsung is the only hope, but Sony should have done it properly first 🙁
Now I really want to like Sony phones as I have had a few in the past, most notably the T68i which in its day was light years in front of its competitors.
However for me Sony is just falling short of the mark with each of its flagship phones, I bought the Z and promptly sold it due to its ergonomics (edge was to sharp to hold) rubbish screen (faded ridiculous amounts at an angle) and mediocre battery life.
Now I’m still in the market for a phone and was looking forward to this phone but Sony has once again fallen just shy of the line, it clearly has amazing specs but just look at the thickness of that bezel it’s plain ugly, it makes the phone look 3 years old before it is even released.. Please Sony try harder your almost there!!!
1/2.3″ and 20 MP, LOL
oversampling, my friend…
i was surprised when nokia put an 2/3 in such small space.
i was on the idea a 2/3 sensor will put a big bump in a smartphone camera.
sure the camera bumps are ugly and most people will pass by no matter how good the IQ it is.
by the way nokia pixel size is the same as any other smartphone camera, i think, so whats the real advantage?
like i said before, smartphones can put 1/2.3 sensors and look slim, but thats the end of the line, anything larger will make a big bump, like in the nokia, and if history shows us anything its that design kill features anytime, ask apple, that had lead the pack with inferior phones since 2007.
sure, a few will trade that bump for better IQ, but the most people will buy the slim smartphone next ot it.
i expect sony see the light now, and moves all cybershots from 1/2.3 to 2/3 or they will indeed kill themselves with this smartphones wave… and if cybershots died, how many time will sony keep fighting canikon with alpha, since a lot of the money that put in figth come from cybershots.
camera field will look nothing like today in 5 years, revolution must came, change or die, evolution or extintion, etc if this its your move, god had mercy of your soul.