Egami spotted a new Sony patent describing a sort of Full Frame [shoplink 22467 ebay]NEX-5 alike camera body[/shoplink]. This would become an insane small body! Yes, it’s possible to make such a camera but does it make sense if the FF lenses are so big? I doubt it Sony will launch a camera like that.
But on the other site one very trusted source already told me that there will be a couple of new FF E-mount bodies in 2014. So let’s see! I would prefer to get a NEX-7 alike FF camera first….
This is the NEX-5 vs A7r size comparison via Camerasize:
151 Responses
A5, anybody?
AWESOME!!!!
I don’t care what it’s called, I want it!
I remember how excited I was about the NEX-7 I was patiently waiting to come out back in early 2012. I felt it would be a considerable upgrade from my NEX-5n.
But when I left the house, I would still always prefer to take the 5n with me. Millimeters matter when something is with you all the time, and my NEX is an extension of my body, always with me, allowing me to create a high quality prolific photo journal of my life that I’ve been able to share with many, gifting many people an abundance of great photos of themselves in the process. Because…. the camera is small.
Pairing this with rangefinder lenses, like the compact Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 will keep this large aperture full frame package plenty coat pocketable.
The only feature that would make this PERFECT would be IBIS as well. One of the other reasons I always preferred the 5n to the 7 was the slightly better low light performance. 16MP was plenty, and I do print my work and have it up on walls. I hope they continue that focus on noise performance over megapixels. Including IBIS would be the dream that only dreams could dream of.
If Sony releases this I will completely forgive them for marring the A7’s coat pocketability by not making the viewfinder detachable.
I shouldn’t have read this before bed, now I can’t sleep.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting……………
I agree – perfect with M lenses!!
I assume it will have no EVF, or?
The drawing says: “no”.
Now that’s something that actually does make sense.
Hope Sony will actually release it on a market instead of just keeping in patent portfolio!
totally agree. nex-5 FF with sensor screen would be MUCH better offering than nex-6 like A7/A7r. As most of the time I shoot via screen on both nex-5n and A57.
Size is not matter, but sensor screen it is.
With a fully articulating screen please! After getting used to the screen on my a77 then a99, i find the nex 5n screen quite limiting.
I’m not convinced I would always find it convenient to use remote live view (eg on a smartphone) as I’m not an octopus.
Sorry, what’s that all about this swivel screens?? I don’t want, no no 🙂 Something else to take care of not to damage. I want a rugged pro model, I don’t want to shoot around corners…. I hope Sony will go pro and bring a A7 or Nex FF 7 in pro edition, pleeeease!
Both: A77 and A99 ARE a rugged pro cameras. And I never was worried about LCD – actually: I was worried less about LCD with these two than any other DSLR I had before – because when I know I’m going in extreme I can simply flip the screen back ensuring that it never get scratched!
I can see why Sony does not use the A77, A99 screen on all their cameras, too big for some too expensive for others, but it is the best LCD screen currently in existence for a camera by a big margin. I normally have it turned in to protect the screen but when you need a screen you can place it anywhere you need. My biggest grip about my Canon 5D at work is the screen, and how many times I wish it had the Sony screen. Picture quality is great, but the fixed LCD is not.
Agree Sky Walker and Ben, maybe I am mistaken but the A7 does not have this flip over screen to be protected. I have to admit that I am not used to swivel, tilt screens and should try it once, but I still have my concerns……. But finally, why a screen at all if there is an EVF. EVF only would fully do and save some space, battery and weight.
It’s great for weird angles, where you don’t want to break your neck or shove your face in the mud. It’s also very practical for tripod and video work. I consider it an essential feature. And the swivel ones on the A77/99 are outstanding. That RX10 should have had the same.
Vlad, also for me a good swiveling screen is essential, along with live view.
I like Canon’s implementation, but I found the A99’s not to inspire confidence for some reason.
A camera like this could be very useful for many kinds of scientific and technical work, and here tethering would certainly be useful.
But I can also see such a camera being practical in the studio, so long as it can easily sync to studio flash. If you have tethering in the studio, you don’t really need an EVF.
Lens size relates mainly to maximum aperture: an f/3.5 45mm prime would be a good compact walkabout lens.
Well, actually the admin is right about that. Lens size is a function of aperture AND image circle, and the image circle on a Full Frame lens must be larger to cover the larger sensor. Significantly increases the lens size for comparable aperture and performance.
That said, as you’ve pointed out, there are plenty of compact full frame options. The Sony Zeiss FE 35mm 2.8 seems great. But I want something faster and still small, and right now that means manual rangefinder lenses. The Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 seems to be the best speed for this size and price. Though wide open it’s soft and flares intensely, I love the shots I’m getting with it on my APS-C NEX. I can’t wait to unleash it on a compact Full Frame Sony A5!
Yeah makes sense until you want to put a fast zoom on it. Then it doesn’t. So this camera will be limited to F/2.8 primes at best, or slow, limited zooms, any other type of lens would make it look ridiculous. Add to that today’s high resolution sensors that require the best shooting technique, and you are screwed with this type of body for most handheld situation using fast lenses.
I have just now had a little play with the A7 and A7R. They feel really nice in your hands. Focus speed is good, better than a NEX. I didn’t find the shutter noise too loud. Not much noisier than my NEX 7. To get to my point of why I am commenting on this post is this camera would be missing the best Sony EVF I have looked through so far.
I like it! If the ‘old’ accessory EVF still fits, it will be a great camera. It’s the lens that matters, a digital back must be as small as possible! And yes, the Nex-5n fits nicely in my huge hands 🙂
I think a full frame nex-6/7 would be better. If they did do this I would get one. I already use manual ff lenses anyway.
they probably just want to make a patent just in case. Like many companies do.
I disagree that the lenses are too large for a super compact FE body. Even when using rather large lenses on small NEX cameras, it never felt awkward. You merely adjust to the weight being more in the front which is better for stabilizing shots anyway. The key was learning how to handle the camera. The way it’s held is very unique. You hold the lens with the left hand, fingers on the right hand around the grip with the thumb controlling the shutter release, flip up the screen a bit and hold it a little over waist level. It feels and works great that way. Even better, you can carry it around by the lens. Stick wrist strap on the left side of the camera and around your support hand and just never let go of it. The combo is so casually light that it’s like carrying around a can of soda, until you pick it up and flip it on and start shooting.
It would be great to see a body like this especially if it could cut down the price a few hundred dollars further by ditching the EVF (as lovely as it is).
totally agree. Using the 18200LE on my old NEX 5 never felt awkward at all. Most FF lenses can’t be as large and heavy as that
“never felt awkward at all” ? Wow… I bow before your tolerance to awkwardness.
I use a 1.2kg telephoto zoom on my NEX 7 and I love the combo
Bow before me LOL
That’s actually a more reasonable option than having some heavy DSLR at the back. Large lenses will be stabilized at the lens side anyways and having a light camera will put a lot less strain on both mounts.
I agree there is some middle ground where medium sized lenses match better with DSLRs but for small and large lenses, mirrorless makes more sense.
I second that. I’ve even used my Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 on the Nex6 and it didn’t feel awkward at all.
Of course I wouldn’t use it as a “walk around, pocketable kit” but…. if I have to use it, I see no problem.
“You hold the lens with the left hand, fingers on the right hand around the grip with the thumb controlling the shutter release, flip up the screen a bit and hold it a little over waist level.”
> +1. It’s a very stable position. And manly too.
I do this also. I have tennis elbow right now, and this is just an easier way to hold a camera, in terms of the small muscles of the hand and overall stress on the elbow.
SONY is a tricky one. But I LOVE this company for their innovative spirit and GOOD quality. I will alway buy product of SONY in order they have money to experiment further on 🙂
Seeing this, I have to wonder how many years we are from a 999$ full-frame camera? It can’t be that many. And it might be Sony that does it first.
Would it be out of the question if this camera were $1000? Seems fair to me but maybe I’m lowballing it far too much. I currently use the 5n and as many have said above, I never felt handling this camera with larger lenses to feel awkward at all, you just adjust the way you hold your camera. I always naturally hold the lens with my left hand anyways, so if Sony made this camera for next year I would seriously consider it. I have the evf for it too so that’s no issue of mine. The 5t also technically has two dials as well for easier manual mode or could function as the exposure comp dial when in A/S modes, but strangely Sony doesn’t utilize the back wheel as they should to make it a true two-dial system.
We ARE getting there, and this baby above, without the cost of the expensive A7 EVF, and reusing old 5N bodies, could very well be it….
the NEX5 Body with 35/2.8 seems to be a great camera for street and snap.
“Yes, it’s possible to make such a camera but does it make sense if the FF lenses are so big?”
Not all FF lenses are big or too big for a NEX sized body.
“I doubt it Sony will launch a camera like that.”
What? No! Please let them release a camera like this. I would really like an smaller version of the A7/A7r without the EVF.
now this is the FF-nex camera i have been waiting for! instant buy. wont buy the too large A7 with the awkward EVF…
This, plus the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 M-mount. WIN WIN to me!
I think a NEX5-sized FF-body would be great! There’s a big plus to having different bodies for different situations but only one workflow.
Think about it: You can get the A7 for serious work with big glass etc. and in addition an almost pocketable body that uses the same sensor and software (meaning same PP) AND same lenses. You will probably not use it with the 70-200mm but it’s great with primes like the 35mm F2.8. When doing serious work you can still have it as a back-up body or for events as a ‘second lens’ holder.
Besides, the more the marry 😉
As my major personal preferences include tele and macro photography, not so much extremely shallow DOF and utmost image quality, my main camera will probably always be one with a smaller sensor, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be that small and light. But I could very well imagine buying a small, cheap FF body as a second more light-weight option and for having fun with legacy lenses, just like what I’m doing with a NEX-C3 for some time now.
Then again I’d probably even prefer kind of an A3000 with FF sensor to a NEX3/5 style camera.
You do understand that if you apply software cropping to FF sensor you get narrower angle of view and bigger DOF compared to original image. Smaller than FF-sensors have absolutely no additional benefits (like bigger DOF) when you have high pixel density FF-sensor. Bigger sensor will be always better in the end, as long as the camera size can be kept small enough. Also if market would demand smaller and smaller lenses, you could still apply those to E-mount. Mount-size determines only the MAXIMUM-size of the sensor/lenses you can put inside, not the minimum size.
Cropping image in software post-processing does not affect depth of field. Going further way from subject does.
That statement…no differenc to dof if cropped would be true ONLY if the full frame has 2.25x the pixels as a c.
A full frame would need 56 mp to be equivelent to 24mp ff.
If this were to happen then there would be no downside.
Any less than that and you do lose dof when going to ff…particulary for macro and long telephoto.
Current desighns for ff e mount are not advantageous for macro and tele work.
Offset sensor while optimized for wide angle would be terrible for macro and tele…where the lens to sensor distance is greater.
Currently this type of photography is better suited to a mount cameras.
+1 animalsbybarry.
So Hubertus, what smaller-sensored bodies do you use?
It’s not ONLY true with 56 Mpix sensor. Also used f-number counts. Smaller the pixels, faster the diffraction starts to effect. It makes ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE to overall sharpness if you shoot with same APS-C-lens with A7R and use crop-mode or with NEX-7 and use f10 or above with both of the cameras. Yes – the A7R will give you 15Mpix final image and NEX-7 24Mpix image, but the magic lies in diffraction and image quality is the same.
You throw out words with no idea what they mean…
Diffraction is an EDGE EFFECT only apparent at extremely small apertures like f32 or f48 where the edges form a substantiol prtion of the light.
You are sinple repeating nonsence you have heard from other sar posters that also dont know what the word even means.
Buying a 36mp camera and only getting 16mp of crop image ( your math was also incorrect ) is unacceptable.
The other parts of your comment make so little sense that I cannot even understand what you are trying to say to respond to it.
There are downsides associated with a larger sencer tha for the type of photography discussed wipe out thier advantages.
Again you hear peaple saying bigger is better and that is not always true.
For less dof sensitive subjects such as wa normal and scenics larger format is crearly advantageous. For the type of pictures we are talking about those advantages are offset by serious disadvantages.
Those disatvantages will disapear when the ff reaches 2.25x the pixels as th c.
This is misinformation and ignores the many benefits of a larger sensor.
First with 2.5 times the surface area relative to aps lens design is for sharper images is easier – rule of thumb – a good lens on a larger sensor is better than a great lens on a smaller sensor. The extreme here can be seen in large format photography which even with a crappy lens a contact print of a 16×20 neg will look splendid.
While diffraction is a constant – it is more readily apparent about a stop earlier on aps -onset is around f8 as opposed to f11.
Depth of field is also a constant. Once again – with a larger sensor the circle of confusion will be less apparent at a given magnification due to the fact that for a given image size there is less magnification with a larger sensor.
A larger sensor also has much more tonal range a gradation between light and shadow etc.. and greater color depth and better low light performance.
Apart from price there is no advantage to a smaller sensor. Following your logic the finest image possible would be obtained with a camera phone.
Not all applications require a lens to be put on a body: for stuff like micro-photography or astrophotography, where you are effectively adding a camera to a microscope or astronomical telescope, a very small body is advantageous and lack of a viewfinder doesn’t cause a problem.
I shoot with NEX-3 and FF lenses all the time now, no problem. What I miss is the FF sensor and an external VF, sometimes. This camera makes perfect sense to me.
Related: Only men with small penises say that the size doesn’t matter.
…And the women who are sattisfied by them…
It actually works the opposite way.
http://j.mp/1bFmUAH
I claim for cheap A-mount FF first ! Please 🙂 A99 is way too expensive !
It will come, relax 🙂 Most likely way before that patented camera here will.
YES PLEASE !!!! I WANT IT SO BADLY,. Im enjoying using my 5n, i would be nice to have an option to upgrade EVF in future, cos next year we’ll see 5M pix EFV.
just release more prime and ultra wide manual focus zeiss, and dont forget full weather sealing cos this little beast will travel anywhere with me.
thanks SONY
*sigh*
Sony are brilliant with technology, and these tiny FF cameras are amazing technical feats. BUT… lenses. Lenses. Lenses. LENSES. If Sony can actually develop a solid SYSTEM then these cameras could lead the industry. But I don’t trust Sony to do that, sadly.
That’s the strength of M43 right now — small sensors and decent IQ (I’m really not a fan of M43 IQ) but a great system of lenses, bodies and accessories.
Sony isn’t interested in building a system for NEXes.
Why do you think they released specs for other companies to freely build lenses on E-mount? And they never fully opened like m4/3 did? Why do you think they released new hotshoe with next to no flashes on it?
Sony just wants to do what it’s good in:
Electronics.
All of the other stuff on E-mount are just afterthoughts made to shut the mouth of whiners / reduce the amount of bad reviews.
True. It would be great if they could agree to split the market: Sony makes camera, Canikon make lenses. Let them do what they do best.
If that’s the case then they definitely should pay Sigma etc. to make more lenses for the E-mount.
I would buy this. The less weight the better when I hike.
It is true that modern man has become a race of weaklings. For 15 years I photographed with a Minolta RD175 DSLR, the size of a medium format camera. And I was doing that outdoors in the wilds, including through swamps, up mountains and all the rest. I now use a700s in the same conditions, and I’m a old geezer.
Maybe it would be better if folks did more exercise before they can’t even carry their own weight.
What a bunch of whimps.
+1000
I get sick of all the whining. Get some exercise people!
For years I carried a Mamiya 645 full system on trains, planes, buses etc. Carrying my Nex-7 and 4 or 5 full frame legacy lenses, assorted gadgets and bits is incredibly light by comparison. I guess us old school guys are just put together tougher than the spoon fed, panty waisted pussies that complain about everything.
You’re totally right! Why is Sony making cameras smaller when they should be DOUBLING the size every year? Yes, larger cameras are much less convenient and versatile, reducing the amount of places you’ll bring it with you to; but shooting with a difficult heavier less useful camera for no good reason is manlier. And that is what a photographic tool should be all about.
this with a SMALL 35/2.8 that would be it for me.
It makes perfectly sense! Just think about all those folks using legacy lenses on Nex 5n.
Go for it.
Yeah! That’ll be mine! Without that α7 and α7R viewfinder bulk. Can’t wait for that…
Now Sony just released the A7 line and confused the A-mount customers and starts to churn out ANOTHER line of cameras. Will the A7 line be obsolete in a year or so???? Beware Sony, you are not trusty……
aahm? what? this ist the same mount, just a different camera like the nex7 and the nex5 are different cameras with the same mount. or were you just kidding?
Not just kidding but no so serious…. Would you buy an A7 today if the A7 form factor would change within a year or so? I would like to see improvement, not jumping from one corner to the other. Look what we have, will have or had so far: Amount DSLR, Amount SLT, Amount mirrorless to come, Emount ApsC, Emount FF A7, Emount FF DSLR like mirrorless to come and maybe Emount Nex-style FF. I doubt this will lead to one refined product.
Fuck one refined product. Innovative options to meet different preferences with the same mount is a great thing!
Not when it comes at the expense of the old product, lets face it the A mount can not exist forever next to the E mount with Sony already loosing money on the camera division and overall. The E mount FF is great, I think it is revolutionary but have you noticed the complete lack of apsc e mount upgrades?
That being said I think the above product would be great, I would stick a small fast 35mm prime on it and call it a day.
Fuck…..????? I meant not a single refined product but a bunch of lesser products. It is impossible to improve in all departments to be the best. But I see your point and accept your opinion, without f***ing.
Mathow, then I hope Sony will please let the A-mount die, and focus their resources fully on the more versatile superior E-mount that will enjoy a better future anyhow. A-mount lenses can survive forever via an adapter, it’s not so bad. 1 mount, many body types for different preferences/prices, and encouraged 3rd party lens and accessory (and apps) development; I think that would be a winning formula for Sony going forward.
That doesn’t make any sense. You are speaking about form factor, but DSLR and DSLT are the same form factor; same goes for E-mount APS-C and FF, with the exception of the A3000. A-mount hasn’t changed and E-mount added one more with the A3000. That’s it.
Fools are pretty easy to confuse, hey Dave?
Sony has two FF-lines with two different mounts. One of them could be obsolete. At least no other brand has two different FFmount-lines.
That could be interpreted as an advantage for Sony.
Heading for a design only truly suitable for tiny wide angle lenses is hardly going to compete with companies that support photography systems that cover the full range of photography with a wide range of lenses.
Photography is not just a 35mm lens on a FF. It’s virtually a useless size for most photography.
“Design only truly suitable for tiny wide angle lenses?” What does that make DSLRs? Only truly suitable until 200mm?
I totally agree with Dave on this one.
Sony needs to focus. Less is more. No matter what they do, they not going to be able to please everyone. I know you’re sick and tired of hearing Apple comparisons, but it seems to be working for them. Do people really think that FF E-mount lens development is not going to affect APS-C E-mount lens development and vice versa?
I wonder how could A7 be obsolete in one year? but for A-mount maybe. E-mount is just better.
Thats it. If I was an A mount owner, I would feel quite screwed. I would not come back to Sony again. At least for me, buying a good camera is quite an investment. But Sony behaves as if cameras were a disposable product. And besides, I think the A7 line is great and I hope this line is sustainable since this is the most progressive camera. So, if I could, I would recommend Sony to concentrate on the A7 line and build up customer confidence. But with a FF-nex line, I get the impression, Sony is moving its resources toward something else.
I’d really love to see a FF camera with 4 or 5″ screen and no EVF, don’t really use it anymore anyway 😛
+1000 :3
+1
But a 5″ may not leave enough space for buttons.
BTW I kinda liked the NEX menu, I don’t know what the problem is, I am skeptical about the new one though.
Strap a Note 3, One max, or a Z Ultra on your camera… No matter how big they are, they would not be as good as your computer screen. It will just eat more battery life.
5 min Photoshop job…
whats the mp on this one?i dont mind big one as long as it has options for resolution.
I’ve had the chance to experience the shutter noise of the a7r yesterday. Up until that moment I was convinced I want/need a7r.. After hearing what the lack of 1st curtain shutter on this 36mgpx FF sensor sounds like(and how much time it takes as well) I’m not sure I’ll be ordering neither of the 2 FF models.
Still haven’t given up completely the a7 but.. since I’m mostly using my e-mount camera with an m-mount lens on it and shoot in M mode.. I simply can’t get over the fact that I have this exposure compensation dial explicitly present at all times which by the way as all other dials on the camera can’t be reconfigured to do something else.
“So let’s see! I would prefer to get a NEX-7 alike FF camera first….” REALLY??? What I’d like to see first would the APS-C Nex-7 Mk-II – yes F_I_R_S_T 🙂 !! With finally very much improved OSPDAF, good enough to capture a really fast action & tracking (a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art DSLR-class AF performance),
this would be one Himalaya pinnacle of achievement,
of course we’re not talking here about fast action
unfolding entirely on a plane parallel to the sensor,
but abt. a real action = advancing on or receding from
the lens at pretty close quarters,
best,
qm
i am tired of all this news about e mount!! sonY!! give us some a mounts!!! give us a successor to the a99 , with 4k video!! now that is what i want so i can sell my a99 and get that
I’m throwing money at the screen but nothing’s happening!
Make it happen, Sony. (And I’ll happily resell my future A7.)
Very good idea. I am interested in, but some small lenses are needed, not bigger then kit lens for nex-5.
Here’s a better size comparison
http://camerasize.com/compare/#34,468
Proper strap lugs, finally!
…actually the picture shows the old ones from the initial NEX-5 and also the NEX-5N.
Well, I guess the truth is just that Sony’s sensor division got enough current gen CMOS sensors so that the actual cost per sensor is more or less limited by manufacturing costs only. They just want to get the max. out of their CMOS R&D costs before they step into the next sensor gen. Since the market for APS cameras is already saturated, they probably have figured that the only feature that would really sell new cameras is a bigger sensor. And if R&D is limited to refitting a FF sensor into an existing APS body and decreasing the fps and crippling video so it doesn’t overheat, then it’s quite an obvious step.
It’s a strategy that none of the other companies could pull off because it’s Sony’s monopoly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if after all those ‘affordable FF’ stuff, there suddenly pops up an APS sensor that is better than any of the current FF sensors.
*got enough out of
Sony has never been able to “pop” out an APS-C sensor better than the current gen FF (need at least two gen gap to get there)… They might have a higher MP APS-C with similar SNR than the current lower MP APS-C (or same MP with better SNR).
This is interesting 🙂
Agreed!
Most probably the patent behind the A7/A7r.
My opinion is that it was easier/ideal to put a picture of an existing E-mount camera (hence Nex5) instead of an upcoming product…
Exactly my thought.
Everything can be done, even use an Otus on this tiny Nex shaped FF, but personally I would do it only in a studio, treating the camera body as a back body to control the lens on a tripod.
For street shooting I’d still go for an RX1.
For my personal taste, I hope for an RX2 with fixed 50mm f2.0.
Good point actually but I doubt it–the patent was filed 2013.3.8, if the numbers below the figure are not fake. BTW anybody managed to find the patent #1482630 anywhere?
So finally you admit the lenses are large…
Hope Sony will release it on market aside a nex 7 FF camera. This will make more sens thant the QX Lens-cameras.
Can’t wait to see this mounted on a Otus lens,! LOL!
Sony sensors are so great they deserved to be sold as such! LOL!
Much appreciated. The 7 twins are a bit on the fat side…
The next NEX with an orange mount. Hope APSC NEX will become even cheaper.
With big heavy lenses (especially legacy tele), you basically support the lens rather than the camera. No problem hanging a small camera off them. There is however one small category of lenses were the body is too small while the lens is also heavy but too small to support comfortably in the left hand, and therefore a lot of torque on the adapter and/or unsteady grip if you try to maintain the right hand for supporting the entire camera – I find f1.2 or faster legacy primes generally have this problem on NEX-5s – I can’t imagine what the Mitakon 35/0.95 is like but I’m guessing it’s very tricky to handle. The 18-200s and legacy 70-200s on the other hand aren’t.
I am a happy 5n user, I wanna upgrade to a camera with a view finder. Options are (Nex 7 + zeiss 24mm or a77 + sal1650 f1.8 both kits now for ~1000 euro) or Nex 6 body or wait for new (apsc) ones next year?
You can just buy a viewfinder like Sony FDA-EVM1K it works great with my NEX-5T.
Isteed of new FF cameras I’m expecting a good range of FE lenses and a continius development of the software that drives the camera and lenses.
Nex is alive, hurray!
The FF lenses are so big. See the 35 f2.8, it will be ridiculous on nex5 body…
The nex5 body is not like GM1. it does have a grip, and work well with medium sized lenses.
Just a bit smaller than SEL35F18 so pretty much perfect for a small camera in my opinion, very similar to the RX1 but with a grip.
The question is whether this is just a patent or we are really going to see this camera.
It would make more sense to equip it with the newer hot-shoe interface like on the RX1 or NEX6 to keep better upgrade-ability.
All I know is it is probably wise to wait and collect more good lenses – because the mediocre ones will be considerably worse on FF.
nex5t has great body, but it need some improvement.
– Same width 3:2 aspect ratio screen (so a bit more than 3″), with white magic technology, and auto brightness back
– multi interface shoe
– independent dials
– improved front and rear grip
– the bottom left angle must be tapered on the camera front to improve lens accessibility for the left hand
with A7 sensor and bionz x proc, this camera will be perfect 🙂
Not so keen on the multi-interface shoe… some of us have spent quite a lot of money on NEX accessories which use the smart connector!
It would be rather low of Sony to leave us with worthless accessories!
Sony already zapped those using the excellent Minolta hot shoe with Sony flashes. 5 flashes here they abandoned. Top end flashes. So why not zap the NEX folks too with new connectors? If it was so good for A mount folks it’s bound to be good for E mount to have to buy new equipment.
Yes, I’m afraid you might well be right on that one…
Why so small? What´s so great about that? Difficult to hold and operate – what´s great about that?
Seriously, I have already seen user reports about the A7R saying it has great potential, but in normal use IQ is extremely sensitive about camera shake. The smaller and lighter, the more difficult to hold steady! I have a D800 weight 1 kg: Easier to hold steady than a 400g camera, but still you really need to be in control and use sufficient speed – or tripod. The medicine is image stabilization. I have come to use my Tamron 90/2.8 macro VC more and the excellent Nikon 85/1.8 less because the Tamron vibration control is great.
A camera like A7/R must have some kind of IS in body or lens. Olympus understood small cameras really needs IS and created their famous 5-axis IBIS – nice work Oly!
(Well, IS is important for any camera…)
You forget, making the nex 5 this small will make it easier for Hasselblad to wrap it up in wood and charge an extra couple of grand for it. Which is why I don’t understand all the griping about the size being too small… If you don’t like the Sony size, Hasselblad will create a larger version for those with some sort of phallic fetish that believe a camera has to be bigger to be better.
LOL!
It means more FE lenses sold.
This camera would make a lot of sense!
A light, compact full-frame ‘digital back’ which could be used with legacy lenses would be very welcome. If they allow APS-C crop ratios like 1:1, 16:9, vertical 4:3 which use the entire APS-C image circle then it would give genuine benefits to people using existing small APS-C E-mount lenses on it!
I like my NEX-5 and would like a full frame version even more
I would definitely buy this camera if it included a ‘smart connector’ which allowed me to use my NEX accessories like EVF, external microphone etc on it
The only reason crop mode is useful to have more reach and faster burst rate (which is not the kind of thing you would use a NEX for anyway)
There is a 3:2 crop mode if you like but for the rest you just need to somehow frame it with the black area and crop it in post.
Most APS-C mount lens have shading at the rear so you cannot use any other orientation anyway.
Fair comment on the rear shading preventing a vertical 4:3 crop… I hadn’t considered that. Hum, what a shame
There’s still no reason why they couldn’t give a 1:1 or a 16:9 crop within the APS-C circle however. PP cropping is no fun, and also confusing for the photographer as they will not know by looking in the VF where the circle of confusion ends whilst taking the photo
I’d buy this camera in a heartbeat! I’d love an A5R
How small is to small?
How loud is too loud? LOL!
I love it! I am going to miss my 5N when my a7r arrives and would definitely purchased this new camera!
My dream camera: 5N with a 36MPX sensor, no AA filter, touch screen, quiet shutter and an integrated viewfinder/universal flash mount that’s capable of high speed sync.
“insane small body” – you got that right. It’s insane. With lenses covering the full frame sensor being as big as they are, what exactly is the point? In fact, I’m not sure about the ergonomics of the current A7/A7r either.
SONY launched the A7/r with slow lenses, presumably to keep size down and avoid the ridiculous look of a large barrel in front of a thin body. And even the 28-70 F/3.5-5.6 is kinda big. 425 grams, only 40 grams lighter than the Nikkor 24-85 F/3.5-4.5, and the latter is much wider (4mm is a lot on the wide end), longer and a stop brighter or the long end!
Interchangeable lens cameras are systems – and when a 70-200mm F/2.8 lens is close to 1.5 kilos, what does it matter if the camera is a hundred grams lighter? A slightly larger body can give you a more substantial grip, provide for better (more well spaced) button/dial layout and better ergonomics. You could also fit a larger battery in a somewhat larger body.
I would understand such a small body with a fixed lens (like the RX1) but once you think in terms of carrying multiple lenses, especially telephoto, this obsession with camera body size becomes ridiculous. Even with relatively slow constant aperture zooms the small body advantage starts to evaporate.
This is not a tool for photogs, rather a gadget for geeks. It’s a new market, which is totally not for me.
This camera is for small (even tiny) rangefinder-style manual lenses, not for big zooms at the moment those are the territory of DSLRs which can also do it cheaper on APS-C sensor.
Sure it is cramped but you have your aperture and focus ring plus two rotating dials for shutter and iso, what else do you really need to take great “RF-style” photos?
I still don’t know if they are going to release it (huge sensor and small body might create heat issues for instance especially for video) but it is a very logical step and a great option for Those who are into this style of photography.
What’s the point? Seriously?
Well, it’s the ability to take the small camera with a small lens and put it in your jacket pocket when needed. This way you can always have a good camera with you, not just when you decide to go out and take photos. You can also have a lens in the other pocket, so you don’t need to drag a camera bag with you but no matter what you do, the A99 is not going to fit your pocket.
Not everybody can/want to invest to several camera bodies for different occasions.
What’s the point of a car because you can always buy a truck?
What’s the point of the NEX5N in the first place?
Is it the only camera that photographers use who make great pictures with it? I don’t think so there are uses where it is not the most suitable.
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3059762
You can even use a Zeiss 100mm f2 Makro Planar on it it seems if you like 🙂
This (if they are going to make it) is just like the 5N With the benefit (or maybe handicap for some…) of Having a FF sensor in it and there is nothing wrong with that.
I guess the Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 m43 lens will be really good (and not that big or heavy) but if FF (with the APS-C option for added reach) keeps spreading out this way I don’t think it is going to be future proof.
The truck analogy is a good one.
Thought 1: I think I’ll be a Sony user soon (especially after seeing those fantastic A7r samples).
Thought 2: u4/3 was the biggest competitor to Sony (In terms of IQ, APS-C is not all that different from u4/3). In FF mirrorless, they’re peerless right now. Hope they’ll execute well and be the dominant player like u4/3 is in small-sensor space.
Big better faster? NO….smaller, lighter slower.
It’s really too bad this site is not interested in finding out about the rest of photography with Sony, just a design based only on tiny cameras really only matched to wide angle photography. I’m sure there is more going on at Sony than E mount. Unless they are really suicidal.
A mount photographer who is more interested in short or long tele, macro, wildlife photography and so on.
Time to stock up on more A700’s for some of us!
When will Sony start making real cameras again?
E-mount ≠ small form factor.
The size of the rear screens they can’t get much smaller. I’m i the only one who doesn’t care about a big rear screen when you have a EVF? If it meant the a7/a7r could be smaller i would happily sacrifice the rear screen for a 2 inch or even less.
Has nobody else noticed that this is the NEX-5N body, not the more recent NEX-5R or NEX-5T body?
The stupid strap lugs of the later models are not there, the top dial is missing and the on/off switch is the same as on the older NEX-5N and not around the shutter like on the newer models
Sadly I call either ‘fake’ or ‘failed design study’ as these drawings obviously come from a time long before the A7 and A7r designs were being finalised
It’s just the concept, not the finalized design. 95% of patents do not 100% reflect the final design. This is normal
A concept based on a body which is now two generations out of date?
Can’t buy that, sorry! This concept has to have been created before the finalisation of the NEX-5R design which means sometime prior to early/mid 2012
japan patent search page
http://www4.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/Isyou/dgde_top.ipdl?N0000=3100
Kind code:S
Number:1482630
Awesome! If the patent is real, Sony clearly thinks to go full monty FF and mirrorless along the entire line.
I hope that A5 offers 18Mp and far better ISO(and lower degradation as well), and offers more than 10fps shot speeds(I hope that >15fps).
AND capacitive touch panel!!!!!
ha! it will offer no more than 5fps in speed priority. Imagine the size of the shutter module on such a small body…no way it can hold even 8fps. And talk about the shutter module being undampened with no room for it. You’re asking too much.
The only way I would buy such a camera is to pair it with Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 lens for M-mount. Not a single E-mount lens for Fullframe cameras is worth the small body.