And this is the first image of the Alpha 3000. As I told you before it has a new 20 Megapixel sensor and a 230k LCD. Price for the body will be around 300 Pounds (converted this could be more or less $300 or 350 Euro).
UPDATE: My source made a mistake when writing the camera specs. The 230K resolution refers to the LCD screen and not to the EVF. The VEF should have a 1,44 Million dot EVF. This looks like a very nice camera after all!
via Digicameinfo.
249 Responses
wow
I know that’s what I thought too. Going to sell my a57 when something better than the it comes from this e-mount dslr shaped range. Will be easier to change legacy glass from my nex 6 and mix and match. And strictly just buy emount lens as opposed to two systems. A mount and e mount.
For all the Sony fanatics out there, any reason as to why they have opted for e mount? When they had something like a37 which was similar but a mount a few years ago?
They had good NEX sales, so they probably decided to bridge this to the A-mount cameras or simply change the perception for the E-mount.
I am pleasantly surprised, actually.
Shame about the back LCD. It will look like those dreadful Leica M9’s
At least it won’t cost as much as a 15th hand M9, though.
Well, this looks like a taster of things to come.
Sounds good, no?
The reason that E-mount is great because it’s an open mount and the short-flange creates many possibilities. If I put a Metabones speedbooster on there I can start using my Canon fullframe L glass with full AF.
You see? Someone’s onto something here.
True, SLR body helps the use of a multitude of SLR lenses with E mount.
A shot across the CaNikon bow.
PDAF support?
5-point IBIS?
On another point, if the sensor in this camera has integrated PDAF and supports PDAF, Sony will likely release an E-mount to A-mount adapter without the parasitic SLT mechanism.
One reason why I am following this matter closely is that a Sony mirrorless E-mount camera can accept many types of lens mount – such as those from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Leica, etc. which is not the case if Sony used an A-mount where it is difficult to adapt lenses from other systems..
In many ways, this new Sony camera will come to the market with a plethora of lens choices for beginners (kit lens) as well as for the grizzled pros. I look forward to Sony’s future release of this camera line.
For 300 pounds I am willing to bet money there won’t be either 5 axix stabilization (or any body based stabilization) or any PDAF support.
Do remember that even the A99 has PDAF on sensor but still has an SLT mirror so AFAIK there isn’t a solution to get rid of the mirror as of yet.
But from the rumours Sony is working or close to developing a solution. But I seriously doubt this 300 pound camera is that solution more so since it has an OSS kit lens.
The Nikon 1 Series cameras are the first cameras that combined EVF mirrorless camera with lightning-quick PDAF. This is possible because the Nikon 1 Series cameras uses an imaging sensor with integrated PDAF sensors. Had Aptina produced the same sensor in APS-C size, Nikon likely will have released an EVF mirrorless camera. But Aptina has not made such a sensor.
Aptina entered into a cross-licensing agreement with Sony which allows Sony access to the above-mentioned Aptina design. Enough time has passed since this agreement and Sony has every incentive to produce this sensor in APS-C and full-frame size.
I am not certain whether the sensor in this new Sony camera already has integrated PDAF sensors but it is but a matter of time before Sony makes this type of sensor. If Sony finally succeeds in making this sensor, high-speed PDAF will be possible by EVF-mirrorless cameras in both E-mount and A-mount.
You are forgetting one rather significant difference between the Nikon 1 cameras and a APS-C camera – the latter has a three times larger sensor.
If Nikon (together with Aptina) had been able to replicate the same on-sensor PDAF performance in a APS-C sized sensor, there would already be a Nikon D1000 with such a sensor, EVF, and no mirror.
The key here is readout speed. The sensors in Nikon 1 camera can be read at least at 400 Hz (400 times per second), while with APS-C sized sensor we still get overheating issues when reading them at 60 Hz (for 60 fps video).
We will probably get there, but right now it seem the largest sensors with high enough readout speeds (high enough to give decent on-sensor AF performance) is 4/3 – look at the Sony-made sensor in OM-D who has a pretty decent on-sensor AF.
Keep in mind the separate AF sensors in more traditional mirror-reflex or SLT systems are pretty small and can have very high readout speeds – a necessity to get decent AF tracking.
Good points in all of your comments.
I am sure Sony has solved the PDAF-issue and we will see their new tech soon in the Olympus E-M1, which claims full support of FT-lenses via adapter. If that holds true, this sensor must have excellent PDAF.
OK. I take back what I said before about Sony messing up. This thing is cute.
Still wish they started with a higher end, but sounds like I’m in the minority.
I’d agree with you about the high-end.
Well there’s current and future A-Mount for High-End. Or of course the upcoming Fullframe NEX, maybe with addon grip.
i think lower end is alright, as the price goes up the sales numbers goes down. i think they want this to compete directly with the lowest level DSLRs as a cheap and smaller equivlent
I like the looks of it, but I am waiting to hear more about the AF. (Is this as good as the a58 for example? If so, cool, because I love the a58.) I like some of the e-mount lenses (like the 50mm), I just never quite got the hang of the AF.
Such a piece of art
the price and specs looks like a great beginner camera
BTW , since this the low end on the ILC , any idea if we will see ILC-5000 or ILC-7000 soon or it might take years for full ILC line
Most likely, methink! 😀
If we ever see Sony’s exploration on newer out of the box device (while market testing it) , it’s most likely we see more model options in the future.
Sony has declare war against c4n0n’s said smallest dslr…
I hope so
and I got a strange guess , the Nex-FF might be the ILC-9000
i’ll be really sad if FF NEX is DSLR shaped 🙁 i’d much prefer the squarish looks of a rangefinder design
This is not a DSLR.
yes, its a mirrorless
it has declared war against DSLR.
Glad I didn’t get the Canon SL1. I hope this one will be small too.
This is indeed as small as the SL1, but the SL1 had fast PDAF auto-focus and a great kit lens, plus the Canon color rendition.
And e-mount kit also one of the best kit lenses ever made and Canon color rendering sucks. The only + is DSLR PDAF.
As opposed to the lousy colour rendering you get from say… a Zeiss E-Mount lens?
It’s all about the software and sensor filters.
Color rendition is quite different between the various cameras so buy what you like if you don’t want to process the pictures. Can’t go wrong with any of the cameras out there. At this point, it’s not the equipment that will be holding people back.
sony should make it with OSPDAF
Sure.
I see A mount dying 🙁
BTW: Love you Andrea, thank you for posting SR5 on weekened <3.
You are the true gossip girl
You might want to check before you get too carried away – I’m pretty sure Andrea is a guy 🙂
save yourself from falling, andrea’s a dude! lol
I know man, ive been visiting this site for some couple of years already,
But heck, do I love Andrea, such a nice admin, really devoted to the site
Well, Spoiler alert, gossip girl turned out to be a dude, too. :p
A mount is not dead. Sony is simply adapting to the market needs and in some ways trying to lead it by killing lower end A mount lines and planning for brand new A models that will (hopefully) blow your mind. My only gripe is that Sony is not making any A-mount video cameras. If the new A-mount line takes off there will definitely be room for A-mount camera with XLRs for event videographers who can share lenses with their fellow stills photographers. Sure, there’s a converter, but I’d rather have a nice native mount which doesn’t make my camera nose heavy.
Hi! can we get the size and weight if this camera. Thanks!
Basically it just an A58 with E mount?
That would be an updated, better looking and more affordable A58 with an E-mount.
Love it.
The A58 would be far better at AF tracking than this camera. Basically for still shots this camera should be slightly better as there is no mirror.
However the A58 can use tons of lenses and has body stabilization while the ILC3000 lacks body stabilization as far as we know.
This.
The performance of the new OSPDAF is yet to be seen. But the Canon 70D shows great potential especially in video mode.
+1
Nope, it’s HX300 with E-mount. And the image might be fake, because there’s no lens release button.
Should be the same as in other E-mount cameras…so it should be right there in the lower left side of the lens barrel and I think, I see something there.
Or it could be right behind the lens hood.
More like an A37 without mirror. (Resolution of EVF and screen)
The A mount is most definitely dead. They are now calling these E-mount cameras Alpha. At least we can still use our giant lenses with adapters. The writing is on the wall. If they can make a nex full frame they can also make one of these mirrorless alphas full frame. The next full frame alpha will simply have the same sensor as the ff nex. Innovation is amazing but its a sad day for the alpha mount. It had an amazing run and its clear that we will sill be able to use all of our old lenses. Theres no point for a giant mirror box when you have no mirrors.
Im a loyal Sony fan and will continue you to be. Embrace the future 🙂
The A mount is going to be mirrorless to, so saying that it’s “definietly dead” is a nonsense.
Yah! I like the concept of previously rumored Universal/Hybrid Mount Sony Cameras ie, both A and E lenses can be used without an adapter like still rumored future camera from Olympus which can also take four-third lenses without an adapter.
Which is false as the latest E-M1 rumors show. You still need the MMF-Adapter and I see nothing wrong in using an Adapter.
with our without mirror, the mirrorbox will still be there.
In my opinion they a mount lenses will be dead unless they incorporate image stabilization in the body of these new cameras.
they have Always been called alpha…
I know for a fact that you are right. After 2014, there will be NO MORE A-Mount lenses or cameras. There will be 3-4 more A-Mount mirrorless cameras (beginner to advanced) and 2-3 more A-Mount lenses (400mm, 70-200 II, 35 1.2) and that will signify the end of the line for Sony A-Mount. 2015 and on will be strictly E-Mount for ALL interchangeable lens cameras (ILC). This ILC-3000 is the first of the breed.
Sony understands the challenges and frustrations involved with switching a lens mount system, and they are developing a proceedure to put in place to help mitigate the impact this will have on A-mount users.
Get ready, its gonna get all crazy in here! Remember, FlatusMaker was the first to report it! 😉
I think you’re full of hot air, FlatusMaker. 😉
Doesn’t look bad at all. Looks like it even has a mode dial. All my silver lenses will look a little odd though.
Hopefully people will look at your photographs, not at your lenses.
So this is a NEX in a dslr body? Interesting. It’ll have all the benefits of mirrorless such a WYSIWYG EVF shooting. Also I know some people find the NEX body way too small or ugly, this dslr body may appeal to them. And new 20mp sensor 🙂
As I thought/hoped, this body looks a lot like Sony ‘s HX-series bridge cameras with the mode dial on the same side as the shutter button and hand grip. If the price and specs hold up even half-way decently, I may be glad I have resisted the urge jump at the recent sales on the NEX-3N. Hmmm, I wonder what the back looks like. And I wonder how long we in North America will have to wait for it to be available.
RIP A-MOUNT
“So good-bye
Please don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you, you need
And I………
Will always love you
I…
Will always love you
You, ooh”
Sony im with you no matter what.
This + the massive 18-105 would look so kewl!!!
The one conciliation about the death of the A-Mount is that all of those lenses will still have full functions on future NEX cameras through the use of an adapter.
Usually the death of a mount means a whole set of lenses get left behind but that won’t be the case here.
Its death won’t happen overnight either, it’ll be a slow fade into the sunset.
I disagree, I think we wont see another A mount camera ever again. Whats the point.
I’ll believe the a-mount’s dead when I see Sony release fast e-mount zooms and f1.4 primes… Given what’s on the radar, I don’t see that happening any time soon.
I don’t really see this as the death of the A-mount but just a NEX with a proper body. Personally, I can’t hold a NEX body for too long without getting finger cramps. Seems like an appropriate bridge cam.
I agree I have big hands too. Sadly this isnt made for big handed people. Its a beginner camera thats attempting to bring people over to the E-mount system. I dont see why they wouldn’t make an IL-9000 instead of some new alpha-9x. It’s really quit awesome if you think about it. Its basically the same approach Sony’s friend Olympus used with ditching 4/3 for the m4/3 mount.
So if this, the A3000, is an entry-level model, then it would make sense to speculate that a higher-spec, less plasticky mid-range A5000 and an ultimate-spec, magnesium-alloy A7000 is on the way too. Who knows. BTW even the original NEX-5 featured Alpha branding (http://store.sony.com/p/NEX-5K/S/en/p/NEX5K/S) so I wouldn’t read too much into the naming here. What I do predict, starting with NEX-5T and ILC-3000/A3000, is a standardisation across all Sony ranges to one menu interface. Which can’t be a bad thing.
it looks like the DSC-Hx300
That’s what I thought as well. Definitely looks like an HX-series bridge camera. And I wouldn’t be surprised if its priced similarly with a kit lens.
Everything about this camera is cool… Except the EVF. So long as the LCD isn’t completely horrible (which sounds like it will be) this is actually quite a cool little camera.
If only they made a small-ish A77 style model with great EVF, mag-alloy build, A77 screen articulation and top screen I would grab one in a second (and I’m an Alpha shooter). E-Mount is a blessing for this camera, opens up lens options a lot more – All those moaning about A-Mount, big deal. E-Mount is A-Mount with an adapter, what do you really care?
This is what mirrorless should have been from the start – Slightly smaller but cheaper SLRs. Then the ‘tiny’ models are the semi-premium for people who want as small as possible. Then have top spec ‘power’ models for power users.
I am worried that this will lack IBIS as a cost saving measure though? If it does, not too bothered. If higher end models lack IBIS then it’s all over (but they won’t).
Hmmm also no control dial on the front. Does this mean the rear controls are pulled straight from NEX? If so, this is just a super low-spec NEX in a plastic body with grip 🙁
This was a very smart move on Sony’s part to get more people into their camp in general. Cosmetics alone mean nothing to the lifespan of the a-mount. That’s silly.
If it has IBIS and at this price, this will be a ripper little cheap camera with the 3 Sigma DNs for a super cheap 3 prime kit.
It is very unlikely to have IBIS at that price. This is an entry model.
Wait for the 5000 and 7000 if you want IBIS and this type of body.
How come I can’t see the picture? 😐
NOW i had my answer to…
Why sony stop making small bodies that started the slt revolution (a33 a55)?
i miss the tiny body of my old a33, but maybe this will be even smaller (i thought sony will go for 1 digit names, instead they go the other way with 4 digits, 3 dslr digits and 2 slt digits are gone)
looking back at slt
the first ones were the a33 and a55
years after the a65 and a77 came out
a99 take even longer
looks like sony is starting from the low end again
first a3000, then a5000 and a7000, finally a9000.
if sony will stop making slt like when they stop dslr with slt, thats the big question, my money is on future mirrorless only (if they at least equal nikon 1 AF, its good to me)
Does a3000 going to have mic in ?
what if the theoratically NEX-7 size put side to side with it…
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2dm8k7n.jpg[/IMG]
nice! it looks very small!
Imagine this camera with a 16-50 PZ and compare it to a canon 600d with kit lens.
(according ILC-3000 does’nt have a mirrox box space).
I wonder how the future SLR buyers will react.
it will probably look very similar to this http://camerasize.com/compact/#318.104,99.23,ha,t
They will react by buying the 600D, just like the reviews tell them to.
So nice, I will wait for A7100 or ILC7100. : )
the a300 body form factor is back though this might be smaller, the a300/a350 body is one of the most ergonomic bodies i have handled.
Nah, the A700 was easily more ergonomic for me.
i like my A330 but sure dont want anything smaller
i can see sony starting to separate their product line to
E:superb image quality
A: Speed
No.
The perfect shape camera for me. E mount in a small DSLR shape, love it.
Now when will the real cameras come? Something with a decent usable EVF? 230K EVF is a waste in this camera.
IMHO sony is shooting itself in the foot with this camera.
In a few months from now the beginners this camera is intended for that actually bought this camera, will be going for DSLRs because of how bad EVFs are.
No, I think they will go for a better EVF …
It seems they already have a better EVF, and the 230K was a typo.
Perhaps if all Sony bodys were e-mount, then you could use your a-mount lenses with an adaptor, but also use nikon and cannon lenses with different adaptors, thus having a truly universal system.
Would help some people converting and get Sony into the pro market, dominated by the big two.
Would help current alpha users by allowing them access to lenses they currently can only dream of.
many of my dream lenses are in LM mount, the C/N mounts need too much space + lenses are big and therefore makes the whole camera/lens combo huge
though i’d must admit i have a canon 135 f2 and 50 f1.2 and waiting for the FF NEX to fully utilize the larger projection area
I am genuinely surprised by this. It actually looks… nice.
Although I do wish Andrea would note that it is the A3000 in North America and Europe, not the ILC-3000 as it breaks away from . Also, the EVF is listed as “1.44 megapixels” similar to the a3x series, not 230k resolution, but hey, what can ya do? :\
And, how do you know I am wrong?
It’s going to be A3000 everywhere because the ILC-3000 moniker breaks away from Sony’s longstanding use of universal model codes only differentiated by the one or two letters tacked onto the end to denote kit lenses or bundles. Unless the ILC-3000 is a completely different product than the A3000, it’s going to have the same A3000 name everywhere.
Or we’re both wrong and it’s the ILC-A3000. In which case, we’re all doomed xD
What an innovation!
And just five years after Panasonic released it’s Lumix G1 😉
230k EVF? ILC-3000 is not for the manual lens user.
LCD sorry. My source made a stupid error. Writing EVF instead of LCD 🙁
Woohoo! Now just add IBIS and fasthma OSPDAF too and we have a usable a-mount replacement.
Thanks for clarifying (and all of your great work in general), makes sense now!
Why would this have IBIS when the lens has OSS?
Why would Panasonic have IBIS when their lenses have IS?
Because they are sharing a mount with Olympus.
Not all lenses have OSS, but now there is a body available that can fit IBIS. First and foremost really great for those using adapters to old MF lenses!
May of those will consider to move to this body.
No In-Body Image Stabilisation?
Lol, thanks for nothing Sony.
I just bought a 14mm Samyang Lense and i have a 50mm Zeiss, both are unusable without Image Stabilisation, even if you are holding _very_ non-shaky you still need 1/50s where i normally go to 1/8s
Now i have to push up ISO by at least 2-3 Stops always, bye bye image quality.
Why not use an a57 or something for those lenses?
where’s the button to eject the lens?
this just looks like a HX300 with photoshopped name and lens
This is great news for e-mount users. But remember, it’s not anything groundbreaking. Samsung has had a ‘dslr styled’ APS-C mirrorless body for ages.
Who cares?
Your mum.
LOL mum jokes FTW!
Hopefully, Sony will sell more DSLR body style mirrorless cameras than Samsung. Not that Samsung is bad, it’s just that sales are even smaller than the Nikon J series (which isn’t even APS-C).
Like it! Looks like a great beginner camera
DLSR form factor with limited lens selection and slow AF ?… Hmmmm (not to mention the 230K LCD is hardly usable at all). Still worst of both worlds in my book
Not that limited if you put the A-mount adapter.
The adapter costs $270 which is almost the price of the camera. Not chump change.
Agreed, but then the camera is so cheap, that it’d still be an interesting proposition.
Agreed. An EVF at this price range is always a good thing.
I agree, the 230K LCD is a bottleneck. Double that – as in almost any p&s – and this camera would be interesting for me. I had the A37 with the 230K and it sucked.
For this camera more then enouph existing e-mount lenses.
No I need at least 76 lenses on my bag to take a good picture ^^
Would someone please explain to me how this camera spells doom for Alpha mount users ?
Sony hasn’t made any announcement that they are discontinuing the Alpha mount so why all this speculation ?
It doesn’t. Some people tend to go overly dramatic and unrealistic.
Every mount will die, given enough time.
I think we see that the SLT will leave the low end market in favor for e-mount based cameras.
If what you say is true then why did Sony bother launching an A mount based A58 just a few months ago ?
Because the A mount is not going to disappear for a long time yet.
Logically, it will go in the end, but not until Sony have perfected PDAF on the sensor. I think this will take a few years.
I Think the 58 makes sense with respect of anything lower spec’ed will be e-mount.
The 58 leaves some room for a true entry level.
Oh…how much time…the same question. No this is not the end of A-mount, regional Sony managers already a number of times told that and that new A-mount lenses and cameras will come, but ones more and ones more the same crying : A-mount died and A-mount died.
this could be the first camera in a new system, you could use a mount lenses with an adapter, like the new oly e1. there could be higher end ilc’s: 5000, 7000, even an ff 9000 with steadyshot, high resolution vf, fast af. that would be great, i wouldnt miss native a mount cameras.
Any rumors about A-mount lenses on E cameras?
I still think that a-mount lenses not usable on E-mount. For 130$ official adapter you get nothing except EXIF and build quality, AF is shit. If you want a fully compatibility you need 270$ (400$ year ago) huge adapter.
Now looks on EOS M. For 150$ you can get standard size adapter with not bad AF. So Canon’s DSLR lenses works fine with contrast AF detection system. Year ago Sony got PDAF on sensor, users got nothing.
p.s. I does not have any A-lenses, but hate Sony for this.
Great to see something can compete with Panasonic Lumix G series.Especially G6 & GH3.At the same time Sony,compete with their own NEX-series too.
This camera is aimed at NEX owners (who already have e-mount lenses, but who are tempted by a “full-size” SLR-shape body, and maybe hate the NEX menu system.
I can’t see any a-mount owners being interested.
So instead of going to the software developers to remake the menu structure, they engineered an entire new body from the group up? That’s lazy Sony!
Yeah, they looked at the stellar mirrorless camera market sales figures and decided to make an entry-level camera that primarily aimed at the people who already own a mirrorless camera, which by itself is already aimed at P&S upgraders – because naturally those people who wanted something better but compact have now come to their senses and want something bigger instead. Makes.so.much.sense.
Well, for Sony those mirrorless sales may very well been considered stellar. Why do you think they want to make an FF Nex?
This camera is aimed at NEX owners, who already have e-mount lenses, but who are tempted by a “full-size” SLR-shape body, and maybe hate the NEX menu system.
I can’t see any a-mount owners being interested.
The Sony a38 E-mount.
Possible future nomenclature a3x = a3xxx, a5x = a5xxx, a6x = a6xxx, a7x = a7000
Except the high-end/heavy/expensive DT and full frame lenses would do well to be kept on the same mounted bodies.
The small and light a3x/a3xxxx balances well with light E-mount lens.
Interesting times ahead 🙂
Mirror will be gone in the future for A-mount. I predict in 2015 but if they can make it happen in next year it is even better.
I don’t believe too many people would complain if there was no mirror but the future camera had a native A mount.
If it was an E mount with an adapter then I can forsee a lot of people jumping ship as an adapter is basically another point of failure and since its a stress bearing adapter (especially with large lenses) its not a nice option.
Precisely. Let’s not forget that what A-mount actually is – lenses.
The picture looks as a Sony HX300 re-badged. Strange.
I hope they will introduce a version where the LCD screen will flip, not only tilt.
Hmmm the question is do I buy the £200+ EVF for my venerable 5n or just buy a totally new camera with a built in EVF for £300!?
The EVF isn’t as good as the 2.4m dot device but even so it makes you wonder how they justify the price of the fda-ev1s!
They don’t have to justify the price.
I’d say go for the EVF. Still cheaper, better and you keep the nice LCD on the 5N.
You might be disappointed if the EVF in the a3000 is the same as in the a37. The difference between the 1.44m and the 2.4m Sony EVF is quite significant. The 2.4m is not only sharper but it also smears a lot less.
I’d recommend the optional EVF too, even though I wouldn’t buy it myself. It’s simply way too expensive for a piece of plastic, silicon and ages-old tech (which is also quite fiddly and comes off easily from what I’ve heard). Esp. now that the next gen EVFs are probably around the corner.
Another option would be selling the 5n for a 6. Not a lot more expensive than 5n+EVF. The only downside is that you’ll lose the touchscreen (dealbreaker for me as it’s really nice for MFing).
Go for the EVF – it’s very secure – fastened with a turnscrew, and it tilts, which I find very handy when I want to hold the camera low, but it’s too bright to use the tiltscreen.
This thing reminds me of Samsung NX5/Panasonic G10 with low res screen.
Looks great! Congrats SONY!
Cool beans.
I’ve noticed a recent increase of the price of the A mount lenses..about $200 for some lenses..Is it that Sony wants to boost the e-mount sales and kill the a-mount? The CZ 16-80 costs nearly $1000..it’s certainly a very decent lens but i am not sure it’s worth $1000..I really don’t understand Sony’s strategy..anyone could explain?
Not a strategy, just inflation. And A-mount will most likely remain strong for years to come, probably aimed at the higher-end more and more.
It may be Exchange rates.
Maybe Sony wants to do campains and offer rebates, and start that with an increase in price.
Thank God ! At the end, a more usable EVF for this little kid. A mirrorless A37 in E-Mount, or an HX300 with “over-sized” sensor, better EVF in exchange of the Zeiss lens and LCD Screen
This .. and the 18-105 F4 G lens, that’s perfection for you right there.
!!!! Where is pre-order button ????
Nice, although 230K LCD is still a bit ridiculous, I’m surprised they still have economies of scale for an LCD that shitty.
$300 for this with 1.44 EVF seems a Kill. Many will happpily have a second APSC with viewfinder. That means they have to upgrade all their Nex lines to make them more value for money than this.
I feel they should kill the Nex 3. Only Nex 5, 6 & 7 should be there with their price reduced by $300..each one of them.
This will create a mass market and with the multi lens support advantage with E mount…there might be stampede. Just wondering what would be their other specs ?
Just wondering how will they make any money…
Don’t worry, they do.
Think instead of how much they make on a77 and a99 …
Only wish E mount has more Telephoto prime or zoom lens options…300, 400, 500.
Dont tell me it is not feasible on small body. After all big lenses can have its own tripod collar and it will support the camera (same way all other telephoto supports APSC and fullframs with camera hanging behind the lens).
I think ILC-3000 should be shortened to E-3000. I will wait for the E-9000 full frame version with 2160p H.265 video 😉
The A mount will never be gone. The divided line between the A mount and the E mount people has been drawn, or you can have both without the awkward LA EA2. That’s all.
Wow! it looks great!
230k dot LCD won’t sell cameras to your target market. This kind of “upgrader” market will take one look at these *images* on the rear LCD and then those on 460k dots bridge cameras and conclude the images are better on the bridge and therefore they should buy the bridge (which also handily comes with 24-60x zoom). Having a decent LCD sells cameras to your mass market. Thank god 230k didn’t refer to the EVF though, that would have been dead on arrival.
Well, you have it figured out!
Looks like a promising test balloon if selling the future FullFrame-NEX also inside such an α 9000 body will make sense. Curious about a side view, since they photographed the SEL-1855 with the hood probably to make that combo look longer without a mirror box.
yes i think there may be many who change camps if a FF a9000 was released 😀
I bet there will be A5000 in few months and A 7000 in a years time…same as Nex 3, 5, 7.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this! I have no doubt they will release at least one model higher than this, but I would love a model to match the NEX7’s specs as I love the rangefinder styling of the current models, but always wished the grip was slightly larger. I hate the bulk of DSLRs, but I am absolutely in love with Sony’s A77 grip, and even the smaller A65. I am excited to see this model in person and test out that grip!
Is this going to be SL1 sized?
reaaally hope I see this camera with built-in Image stabilization. There should be plenty of space for a mechanism to allow this. Then, I can’t help but wait for a 5000-series or even 7000series…It’s going to be craaaazy to adapt all my fast, manual lenses on it. Geeez, my Canon 55mm f1.2 FL, a 5000series with IBIS, EVF and a good grip should make it a Low-light Champ.
i’m thinking the same except for IBIS in a FF NEX body with my 55mm f1.2 S.S.C FD 😀
I never would have guessed that a “DSLR-styled” E mount camera would come out to resemble Sony’s own bridge camera. It makes obvious sense too since bridge cameras are styled to look like miniature DSLRs. If this is indeed priced around the $300 mark, this could be a new little “innovation” in redefining what a bridge camera really is. At this price point, Sony could offer people two flavors of a similar body style, one, a large-sensored standard zoom range camera with interchangeable lenses, or two, a fixed super high powered zoom lens with a small sensor.
I have to say that I am very intrigued now by this new category for Sony. I hope they are intending to offer versions to parallel the existing NEX lineup. Having the NEX 7 level spec in this form factor would almost guarantee my purchase as I find the NEX grip a tad shy of perfection. I hope this thing isn’t too large or there remains enough product distinction between this and A mount cameras, otherwise Sony may have a problem with product differentiation. But who knows, maybe this camera will replace the low end market of A mount cameras, and Sony will solely focus that lineup for the enthusiast/pro crowd, that may work…
This design is very uninspired.
looks just like their bridge cameras…
http://www.cheaphk.com/images/13651827132524.jpg
Also, what is up with that tiny little popup flash? It seems ridiculous to even include it.
It’s identical to the HX300’s flash. On the HX300 that flash actually is useful as a fill flash.
Interesting. Do you know what the guide number on the HX 300 flash is?
The HX300 can sync that tiny flash with any shutter speed in its range, up to 1/4000s. The APS-C sensor in this A3000 likely has a mechanical shutter with a sync speed of 1/160th, where a little GN6 flash isn’t likely to be as useful.
Normal people will not buy a camera without a flash. It doesn’t have to be useful, it just has to be there.
i hated my in camera flash in the RX1, i’d rather see it removed and filled with a in-built OVF box, that flash is useless.
of course, some people would want it, some people don’t
I would never buy a flash, haven’t touched the one that came with my 5N only once, so thanks!
Why not? It can be used to trigger an off camera flash…
I mean it seems a bit small is all. If the guide number is big enough I’ll rescind my comment on the flash… 🙂
I imagine it has pre-flash, so it would trigger only flashes that recognize Sony pre-flash.
Lets say Sony could get the OSPDAF right, could it be technically possible to make a cheaper and smaller A-mount adapter without the mirror with full AF support?
PS. Entry-level system cameras should be sold bundled with a fast prime instead of a zoom to better show the camera’s potential to beginners.
Beginners want zoom, at least those coming from compact cameras.
True indeed. But I if they bought a cheap zoom afterwards, maybe they would realize that the issue (most cases) is the lens, not the camera. Or something. I don’t know.
Beginners are not pixel peepers, until they start hitting critical light situations and until they feel like its time to start improvising. I have 3 friends, two with D3000 Nikons, both feel that its time to upgrade, only because new cameras offer more “features”. When asked what kind of features, they have no clue. Some people stay as beginners forever. Both of them still have that crappy 18-55 kit lens on it, and neither has ever removed it at least once, nor even had a thought of looking for another lens.
The third one has D3200 Nikon, that came with 18-55 and a 55-300 lens kit. Again, same story, never removed that 18-55.
Point being, put a prime on it and they all will run like hell, since neither understand what primes are for. The whole market is like that. Beginners are not looking for primes, they are looking for versatility. If someone is looking at a prime lens, then they understand the benefits and losses, at which point they’re no longer a beginner, but at least an amateur enthusiast.
+1
Whow, that’s definetly the sadest photography story I’ve ever read – didn’t expect to find such poetry between online comments 🙂
+2
Stan, you’re probably right.
It can’t be smaller because it needs to “push” the A-mount lens a certain distance from the sensor. I think the first LA-EA1 is the smallest it can go. I’ve used both the LA-EA1 and LA-EA2 and I think they both would look good on this type of camera body. They added some disproportionate bulk to my tiny NEX-5 body, even with a small prime lens.
by smaller i think he means a LA-EA1 adapter sized which supports full AF without the extra bulge like there is on the LA-EA2, i’d love to see this also so that sony can fully concentrate on making more lenses for the E mount rather than keeping A mount alive
Pb is right. I don’t expect to the adapter to be smaller than the LA-EA1. An adapter with similar size with LA-EA1 and a price tag around $200. Add image stabilization to NEX bodies and there you have it!
OSPDAF will improve by time and those who need the absolute best performance could go with the LA-EA2.
I said it before a million times over the last 6 months, A-Mount is dead, dead, dead! Now do you make-believe?
Dan
I was also correct on the Nex 7 update not releasing in the summer and the constant f4 OSS G lens. Where do you think I get this stuff?
A-mount is not dead. As have been said many times, the A-mount line is going fully mirrorless in 2014. This is a parallell line of DSLR-styled camera with E-mount.
A-mount is not dead. Death of an A-mount would spell doom to an entire photo division at Sony, since everyone would run like hell from them. So while I understand that you want A-mount funding to be thrown towards NEX styled cameras, until E-mount receives some quality native mount lenses like a good 18-55 or 16-50, NEX and E-mount would still be a joke in the eyes of many photographers.
Of course we don’t. A-mount is not about an attachment or a body. It is about lenses. As long as those lenses are supported and work the way they are supposed to, on whatever body Sony comes up with, the A-mount is not dead.
Unfortunately a few NEX-hating A-Mount users did start this sort of battle fearing a loss of attention by fighting their own Canikon battle, which Sony’s mirrorless section already won. But nevertheless E-Mount includes the option to give up on A-Mount cameras and leave these lenses to LA-EAx solutions, nobody really expects Sony to do this as long they’re selling both, since they’re experienced in selling the same technik inside several different bodies anyway. So nothing is gonna die at all.
Dan! give us a timeframe! when will the last dedicated a mount camera arrive? we all know a mount will die sooner or later, the question is when?
I really don’t think A-mount is dead. Certain lenses will be too big for a nex/e-mount body.If sony starts releasing cameras with a hybrid mount then I may side with you since there would not be a need for Alpha cameras but they would probably still make A-mount lenses so now that I think about it A-mount would still live either way.
Dan seems to be harping on the A mount death without a shred of evidence to back up his claim. Best to ignore him.
NEX has a total of 0 FF compatible lenses available. I have no doubt E mount is the future but right now its a very incomplete system.
So, this is A58 with E-mount.
No, this is A3x with E-Mount
Yep, except for the pasted in lens cut this is EXACTLY the same as my HX300. Note also the model number is pasted onto an area that greatly slopes on the HX300, not a flat surface for a label. Nice to hear all the support for the HX300 design. As a bridge camera I like the HX300.
If this is truly the correct photo then it’s a cybershot camera with a lens mount for ILC added. Though one should notice that the HX300 has a much better LCD screen.
Of course an e mount would not have the very wide ranging zoom of the HX300. The HX300 is my “supertele” that I can’t get for my a mount a700s. It’s foolish for folks to think that the e mount is anything like a complete photography system. Such limited focal range in e mount, no quality flash, patchwork for viewfinders. Having to go to adapters to use the camera is not attractive when folks move above beginner levels. It just screams failure to support into the future.
Now folks can work on figuring out what lens and mount section was photoshopped into a HX300 photo.
Or … they are using a very similar body to the HX300 to save costs. Which would also make sense. Either could be right though.
They don’t so it to save costs. It is so that cameras of the same brand share an identity and UI so that people learn a system and don’t want to change – works for Canon all the time: How many times have you heard ‘I want to buy a Canon because I know their menus / controls / how to use them’ etc?
Zaph, that was my impression too, identical body to the HX300 to save costs. But when comparing it to a front-facing product still of the HX300, there are obvious differences in the shapes. Enough to where I don’t think there is any cost saving in the body design, all the surfaces are slightly or noticeably different: http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DSC-HX300_Front_jpg.jpg
Oh come on Walt they aren’t exactly the same.
Also while the HX300 has a better screen, it has a worse EVF – A bit like how the camera was earlier rumoured.
It isn’t a complete system, far far from it. That said, this can still work with every A-Mount lens ever made. People complain about using an ‘adapter’, seriously why? If an adapter was attached to this 99% of the time, would you even notice this wasn’t an A-Mount camera? E-Mount does offer a lot of benefits, with so far as I can tell, no drawbacks… So why the constant complaining?
Right… you forgot the nex-6 and nex-7. They don’t need auxiliary viewfinders…
He forgot many things.
And what would be a “complete photography system” exactly? Is the M-mount a “complete photography system”?
You can use Sony flashes on the NEX-6 and NEX-7, you know, and they also both have rather great integrated EVFs. You also can use quite a few good lenses without any adapter.
See, your HX300 can be described as a glorified point and shoot with a tiny sensor and a crappy zoom. Isn’t that tiny sensor too “beginner” for you?
Using an adapter amd mounting a Canikon tele when there’s no native alternative is more professional than missing the shoot!
Does this have the new jpeg color rendering?
Is this supposed to have a color profile like the Honami?
Comparing A- and E-mounts the latter has one huge advantage – shorter back focal length, so lens with same F-stop comes out MUCH smaller with E-mount than with A-mount (or than any lens for any SLR camera). That’s guite the competitive edge to say the least. That’s why long-term chances of the E-mount seem brighter than that of the A-mount.
Not at all disagreeing with you but NEX has too few lenses for it to be considered a viable system and they have a grand total of zero lenses that are FF compatible.
Alpha mount has an almost complete range of lenses available with full proper AF and stabilization. It also have a FF camera which NEX lacks.
Kai (DigitalRev) is going to have a field day with this! 🙂
No wonder no one buys Sony. Already had A33, A55, A35, A37, A38 or some such and silly Sony decide not to make any of them anymore and calls A58 entry level camera.
Sony say if you want small, get NEX. Now the silly buggers go and make the NEX BIG. Consumers will be even more confused and go elsewhere.
So now buy BIG NEX that have few native lenses, but cannot buy quality small A mount as all discontinued (why not made a souped up A55, keeping same form factor?). These Sony jokers wonder why they can’t sell more stuff?
This is not a NEX. This is a bridge camera in the Alpha range, which is probably a new line of cameras. DSLRs/DSLTs, NEXs and ILCs. I don’t know about you, but I can still buy all A-mount cameras in my local store, nothing is discontinued yet.
it’s not big at all, it’s very compact
Another jealous A-mount user?
Why would A mount users have to be jealous ? 😛
How many FF lenses does the E mount have ?
I LOVE IT!!! My wife just had Twins and my a350 is pretty beat up now. Its time to put to pasture…
Do yourself a favour, grab a proper camera like the A57, A65 or A77.
Or they could buy this and get better IQ.
I don’t get it. Why didn’t they just put this sensor & EVF into the nex-6 body? It would’ve made a much smaller and lighter camera…
A NEX-6 doesn’t look like a CaNikon dSLR. Noobs want a “professional” looking camera.
We are seeing the end of A-mount at the A3x end. The middle ground A5x series will be next for the chop in a year or so. I reckon A-mount is being aimed at higher-end.
+1, but i would still love to see a a9000 someday soon which has FF IBIS and fast OSPDAF.
i wouldn’t buy it, but it’d be interesting lol
How thick would this be???
A-mount is irrelevant at this point. It only exists as a hold over until E-mount Alpha lenses fill in the lens line up. That is it. So how long? That depends on how long it takes for Sony to fill in enough lens groupings to fill compelled to end the A-mount and require adapters. The A-mount is dead, dead, dead. We all know it. Be sure, when all E-mount lenses are the same as A-mount, Sony would kill the line or sell it. It is starting to happen and know with the Dslr styled E-mount bodies launching (ahead of schedule) the release of duplicate lines will come very fast!
Dan
that’s actually good news, if true, since the line of lenses for the e-mount will continue to grow steadily. those of us owning a-mount lenses could always use those with adapters on upcoming bodies. btw I too believe a-mount is dying, but I think it will be a slow death. ten years maybe?
Well sony haven’t released a single f1.4 lenses for E-mount yet, so I would suggest there’s still life there. Not to mention using A-mount lenses are desirable sicne they work on E-mount too.
E-Mount is nowhere near complete. I think in maybe 20 years E mount will have sufficient lenses available but as of now it doesn’t have even 1 FF compatible lens.
Full frame E mount lenses :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Mount+Type_Sony+E-Mount&ci=1884&N=4028759430+4190025432
Yup all the Canon/Nikon guys must be running to use these huge lenses on their tiny NEX bodies. 🙂
Nothing wrong with A-mount or the lenses. I never thought that either. I’m just stating a fact of life, not an opinion on the quality, value, or preference of lens or mount. I actually have a favorite A-mount lens that is a 6 year old 28-70 2.8 Tamron that simply kicks ass. But irrespective of all the love for the mount, E-mount and the corresponding lenses will take over. Now much more quickly with the new mirrorless Dslr variants coming out. We will now see the larger E-mount lenses which will also have the stepping motors too. Whether you like the cg age or not, it has come and it will end any future for A-mount or its lenses. A-mount is dead, dead, dead. It’s now just a matter of time. And before you ask again how long, I don’t know, but all you have to do is guess what lenses are sufficient in your mind to kill off the old mount, and that will be way more than enough. Ok.
evolution is good and as long as we’re getting adapters to keep using A-mount lenses I’m happy.
I’m not seeing what’s going to keep Sony ahead of the competition here. Seems to me a bunch of new mounts have appeared the last few years and the one benefit they all have in common is the ability to use lenses for other brands using lens-less adapters. And let’s face it, the 2-series, 3-series and 5-series have never been very exciting.
I think a 7-series version of this, and even a 9-series, could be interesting for upgrading Canon and Nikon users because of the adapters allowing the use of already bought lenses. Just like the NEX line is interesting for the same crowd as a secondary body for travel and casual walk-around photography.
These adapters either have no AF or sub par AF. Those used to the excellent AF systems of Canon and Nikon semi pro DSLR cameras like the D7000, 7D etc will never be very happy with these adapter solutions and frankly neither will I.
I have quite a few A mount lenses that I would like to continue to use and I have not seen any feelers from Sony of the demise of the A mount. The revamp of an expensive lens like the 70-400mm and the rumored 400mm f4 prime only solidifies my believe the A mount will remain for some time at least.
Why would they put the mode dial on the right side?
I think that’s some questionable ergonomics.