In my previous post I asked my sources to help me to sort out two doubts I have on the NEX-FF and A-mount mirrorless-SLT strategy. Sorry if that creates a bit of confusion but this has been a very crazy year on the Sony development front and things are changing fast.
UPDATE: I got four feedbacks from four different sources. While it’s sure that A-mount mirrorless with non SLT tech is the soon to come future there is still a tiny bit uncertainity if some of the finished SLT prototypes will make it into mass production anyway. At that stage I cannot be 100% certain no SLT camera will be released. But as I told you before, the one thing I am certain of is that non SLT A-mount cameras will come in 2014.
P.S.: I also got some info about the A-mount mirrorless cameras coming in 2014 and I will post them soon on SAR as soon as I have triple checked them with other trusted sources. Overall it looks like many…but really many(!) new NEX and A-mount cameras are ready to hit the market within the next one to six months. I got so many infos and specs that I have to work them out patiently because I am sure some of them are not entirely correct. Because some are still prototypes only, some cameras may not be announced at all and because some rumors may be wrong (spreaded by Sony itself).
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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
75 Responses
Any news about the firmware that had to be released this summer?
+1 thats is what i’m wating for to 🙂
Yep… I am also waiting for a firmware upgrade for A99. There are certain issues where the camera cold start takes almost 2.5 seconds, wireless flash delay etc. Any news about that Andrea?
Thanks admin – any idea when in 2014 we’re likely to see the 1st dslrs? I’m still happy with my a77 and I can’t see any point in upgrading to another dslt…
The Sony IFA press conference has been announced for 4th September.
Hi admin, will this be a FF or APS-C?
3) A trusted source told me that there is a protoype with much improved SLT’s that will be next released will have superior focus systems and superb low light capabilities.
ISO in the hundreds of thousands, just like the A77 was rumoured to have.
Hard to ever live that down
SLT still in roadmap might either be a good news or bad news.
Bad news will be mirrorless A-mount auto focus still cannot compete with mirror auto focus, so they decided to hold the SLT.
Good news is “much improved SLT”, the mirrorless might be same auto focus speed with previous SLT, and the new SLT will be even having superior performance in auto focus than before. OR it could be mirrorless A-mount focus in photography, SLT focus in video function or even flipable mirror (what personally prefer the best)
This is becoming ridiculous. The spree of various confirmed rumors, doubts, questions and immediate replies. I am starting to have the feeling that SAR is currently producing rumors, well – in order to have rumors and increased traffic on site.
Slow it down Andrea, there is no need to publish every single bit you get from unconfirmed or anonymous sources.
+1000000000000000000
He can’t win can he. He gets complaints about not posting rumours as SR1 and 2 and then gets complains about too many unconfirmed rumours.
+1
I was thinking the same thing… this is the first reason he stopped publishing every single rumor, making many angry for the lack of new info, now that there are many things to talk about we’re back to “too many false rumors”.
Guess everyone would live a better life by simply admitting that almost everything posted here are rumors and pre-release information, so event the SR5 are possible subjects of a later denial.
people doens’t get the nature of rumors. Obviously it can be misued to drive traffic. And there are many sites doing that. But while it may bring some short term success in terms of clicks in the long term you are dead. People tends to forget that I posted many correct rumors. And even if it happens that I do mistakes this is because it’s a damn hard job to get correct info. Sony is spreaidng out false rumors and even sources that gave me correct info in the past receive some wrong info. Add to that the fact that Sony dramatically changed the roadmap than obvioulsy 2013 was and is a frustrating year. I am sure it will be become better soon.
Don’t listen to the nutheads Andrea. We understand you do your best and that it is difficult at times. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the good work! Sony spreading false rumours doesn’t make things easier for you, we know.
Yes, I am sure of it. But I hope Sony will know that this actually damages them if they keep trying to do so.
If you think I am doing that fur purpose than you are wrong. But how the heck can I proove it to you? I am really trying to give my best and I need to contact sources to sort out the many rumors I got the last few weeks. I know it may sounds confusing (also because it is not a science). But it will work out. Soon I hope to give you SR5 rumors only. Please just have a bit patience and give me some credit for all the right things I did in the past four years.
I have to say I am upset, because I am tired to get under attack every time I try to understand what’s going to happen. When I don’t post rumors I am an idiot. When I am posting them I am an idiot too. When I post an iamge it’s fake and I am an idiot. When I post specs I am doing it to drive traffic. And everyone here seems to forget that I were the first to discover the new SLT tech, the new NEX line the new A99 camera specs and so on. So please guys, if you belive I am a stupid bad guy fooling you go over on serious websites.
There are loads of readers that appreciate what you do. Just keep on with what you are doing.
+1
more like +10000000000000000000000000000
Keep the rumors coming, Andrea! It’s alright and you are doing a great job!!! A rumor is a rumor because it can turn out different in the end, else it would be a fact, right? People who want facts, go to the Sony side! People who like rumors and speculation are very well served here. Just my 2 Cents.
Really, I know I could do better sometimes. Maybe people should learn more about myself and maybe they would understand much better how difficult it is. I don’t know soemtimes I wish you guys would sit close to me to see how challenging this is. I am sure many here doesn’t have a clue how much time and efforts I put in this. I may do mistakes but I am a honest guy. Not only because I think hoensty is something that should define my person. Also from a pure bsuiness point of view I believe that doing a honest job is a more secure way to lead a successfull website.
You may laugh at it, but everytime I discover that I rumor I posted is wrong I don’t sleep fine at nights. I feel angry to myself althaugh I know this kind of things happen. I can’t wait the day I can share soem images about the new A-mount mirrorless cameras. I cannot wait the day to share the pics of the NEX-FF. This yes will make me feel better.
Myself, and I am sure the majority of you readers, really appreciate your efforts and the amount of activity here from yourself and the readers prove this. It is great how wholehearted you operate this site. Don’t take it personal if a rumor turns out wrong – what you do is a service to FORWARD information that you receive after a certain probability check, but you do not CREATE the information. I prefer to receive the rumors early and dirty over late and confirmed, because that’s the essence of rumors. And your (SR.x) system works well.
your rumor sites are always on my feed, love reading them!
keep it up!
Andrea, without your rumours during the dark days of no replacement A700, I’d have swapped to a Nikon D7000 long before the A77 was released.
I’m glad that I didn’t and it’s why I am here.
Similar story here except I probably would have gone to Canon to share gear with my brother. Ironically, he has now sold his Canon stuff and shoots with an a57.
Credit to you admin! Keep up the good work – I think you strike a good balance.
if they really don’t like, they will not even appear at SAR, but they do! so it just actually a haters but at the same time they mind what u had post out, they even take their time to read. So, DON’T CARE THEM! You really did a very great job and enjoy reading very much!
Don’t worry keep the Rumors comming.
People that don’t understand the nature of a rumor are plain idiots.
I think your categories are just fine (SR1-5) and I’m pretty sure most readers will agree.
Keep up the good work, it’s definitely appreciated by the most of us, the rest are trolls and seem to have too much time on their hands.
I enjoy your site and visit it on a daily basis. If some folks don’t like your site or Sony products in general why are they here in the first place?
Now please post some SR5 Rumors on a 2013 FF-NEX7-Follow-Up for less than $ 500 bucks and make me happy!:-P
I did not mean to offend you – I am coming to the site every single day to check if there is something new. I am eager to see what are the great new products Sony is preparing. BUT – it just is too much right now IMHO. I think any site can have a SR1 or SR2 rumor. However SAR is like the ministry of Sony rumor sites, so I would expect only SR4 or SR5 rumors. And the reason is also that if you build up too high expectations, we will see a lot of upset users if the products dont match to those expectations. Keep calm, relax, post only high quality rumors like you always did. And if there is no new rumor for 2-3 days – well, then dont force a rumor. Currently there are 2-3 new posts per day, which is an overkill.
If you can’t stand the heat leave the kitchen…
Hahaha,…that’s a good one!:-)
rumor |ˈro͞omər|(Brit. rumour )
noun
a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth
If you decide to read too much into rumours that’s your problem.
Stfu. OK?. Read the Rumour definition on the right here:
Pronunciation: \ˈrü-mər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English rumour, from Anglo-French, from Latin rumor clamor, gossip; akin to Old English rēon to lament, Sanskrit rauti he roars
Date: 14th century
1: talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source
2: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
3 archaic : talk or report of a notable person or event —- Content Copyright If you want to use any image from this website you have to ask for permission. You cannot copy more than 20 words from any of our posts. And you have to define the source with “Source: SonyAlphaRumors.com” (working link).
+ 1
Keep up the good work Andrea!
Not trying to be funny Andrea but if rumour 3 turns out to be true and indeed Sony has not yet abandoned SLT. You may have single handedly done a huge amount of damage to Sony the last few months by spooking away a lot of existing A mount users.
unofficially I tell you this: I have proove in my hands (even an audio and some documents) that Sony changed their mind on the roadmap. Prooves that obviously I cannot post here. So you choose if you want to trust me or not. I am sure about the new SLT tech that has been effectively devloped. I am not sure it will made it into production. And I am not doing damage here. It’s mostly Sony alone doing many things wrong from time to time. If I do mistakes they have little effect. As do my positive effects by keeping some interest on Sony while many would switch to Canon and Nikon.
Do you mean they have AGAIN changed their mind on the roadmap to abandon SLT, so they are going back to SLT for a while, or is this still the old roadmap change to come with a mirrorless a-mount?
Any more news on a firmware for Nex systems? I would love if they could improve my 7!
Thank you.
That’s exactly what he means though. Thanks to your rumors, i held off on buying a A77, and i’m sure i’m not the only one. Sony may have lost thousands of sales after u released the rumor saying that SLT was done.
Well, if it turns out they are going to announce the A88 after all, then I shall go on buying the lottery tickets. The chances of my winning enough to buy an A88 are … slightly worse … than those of the A88 being the new market conqueror
Just like the move to SLT, when Sony continued to sell optical viewfinder cameras for a while, Sony should still sell the SLT cameras for a while after introducing the “New” A-mount whatever it may be. If the new models are coming along slow I would not be surprised by Sony bringing out the A78, aka A77 with new hot-shoe.
One thing I would say to prospective buyers is to wait for Generation 2 of the “New” body. How many A55 buyers would have loved to have the A57 instead? Any new system is going to have issues for a while. Hopefully, like the A77, mostly fixable via firmware upgrades, but they may not be.
Sony instantly stopped selling DSLRs as soon as they went SLT. The last DSLR was released simultaneously with first SLT. There wasn’t anything past that.
Any increase on megapixel for the nex5 successor? Or they use the same sensor with AA filter remove? I need at least 20 megapixels…
You NEED at least 20 megapixels? for what??
Cropping? The 24mp A77 is great for it.
I would imagine that Sony has some aces up on there sleeve regarding focus speed, if they plan to replace SLT with complete mirrorless.
But I really don’t see the need for SLR form factor, it’s kind of stupid. It should be form follows function, and if a mirror and phase detection sensor is not included there is no need for a DSLR hump. Just make all the pro cameras look like the NEX-7, I can’t see anyone complaining about this.
Catalin. I can see many, many people complaining about only having a NEX style/size body.
What about those with big hands who can’t cope with small body’s where buttons are small and close together. I like the NEX performance but the body just doesn’t feel right in my hands.
What about those who do wildlife and sports photography who use big lenses and need a reasonably sized body for balance and handling.
There are many other reasons why DSLR body’s are much more suitable for so many people and we look forward to any and all advances in a body of this type.
NO.
I will not use a NEX size/shape body. I want a dSLR sized body with a decent grip and dedicated buttons/dials.
What is useless for you could be essential for others. Size is not just a hindrance but it gives a different grip, usability, controls and balance. I can agree as far as doubting the necessity of a bulge but the one in A99 and A77 is already much less pronounced.
In the picture of the A99 that accompanies this article, the hotshoe is unmistakeably of the iISO type. Will there be such an option?
It’s only a photoshop image, iISO is dead.
I would have 99 if it sported the iISO hot shoe.
Likely me too, but as it is, I’ll be off to Nikon for future SLRs – at considerable cost and loss, I might add. Apparently Sony don’t want my money as an SLR photographer, chosing instead to jump on the video bandwagon with all the bells and whistles in the shape of a microphone system that is ridiculously big for use with even the A99, and all the more so with the NEX and RX cameras.
Disappointed: new NEX and A-mount cameras are ready to hit the market. I prefer “camera” replaced by “lenses”
To me, sounds like the next SLT could be a77 successor.
Like to know the technology of new SLT! Because to me by now, i still feel confident on SLT for AF capability.
if they are having a hard time making up their mind regarding af tech, i guess the new on sensor PDAF isn’t perfect yet. BAD NEWS! Sooting Sony is a shakey ride indeed.
I was gonna buy the a99 bit I’m not sure if I should wait for the new models??
If you can wait, I’d wait. The A99 is going to get cheaper anyway.
Looks like past is here again:
Sony a850 was last FF DSLR
Sony a580 was last APS-C DSLR
Sony A58 is last APS-C SLT
So now it is time to get Sony A85, which will be last FF SLT. 😉
And then will be time for only mirrorless.
This is exciting and makes sense…. 1-6 months… multiple cameras.. and possibly additional SLT.
It may be recognition that full-time mirrorless isn’t quite there yet as a complete and total replacement for dedicated phase detection.
But it also makes sense given the discounts we have seen, especially to the A77. The pricing of the A77 suggests to me that something new is on the immediate horizon, not 6 months away.
I thank Andrea for rating the reliability of the rumors, giving me enough information to take these latest rumors with a grain of salt.
But I am hoping to see an A77 replacement this year. I’ve been tempted to buy an A77 at the current pricing, but feel like I want to see the next evolutionary step.
I think SLT is fine for APS-C optimized for sports n DSLR video, so give us a a77 successor with 18-20M sensor, performance n image quality comparable to D3s n video quality comparable to 5D3 at an affordable price!
Rebrand Tamron DT10-24 n make a DT50-150/2.8 with superior image quality like FF C/N 70-200/f4.
For FF A-mount, lower the price of a99 to match D600/6D. Buy time to develop a FF Mirrorless A-mount with excellent image quality n Focus performance comparable to 5D3/D800!
+1
And video cameras ?
Can we dream of a NEX-VG40 and VG950 with sensors with less megapixels (Example 8 megapixel) to remove the moire, aliasing, rolling shutter.
And of course a greater bitrate, new codec, 10-bit …. 😉
You dreamed, Sony just did it ! 🙂
Well, it’s nice to read there’s a lot to come, but more and more it sounds like one day Sony will beat Canon and Nikon. Myself I’m simply waiting for the NEX-5R successor to get the new one or a price reduced acutal one depending on the specs, but there’s not a single clue popping up…
Not very clear is it? We’re told SLT is dead no more this year bodies cancelled (by CEO)no mirror bodies in early 2014, now we might have a new body/bodies in a few months?
I’m confused right now no doubt so is everyone else
This change can be due to Canon 70D, which has on sensor PDAF, so SONY is again late. 🙁
No, Canon are finally catching up to Sony who have had fast AF in live-view since the A300/350 days. The Canon implementation is still crap.
Trouble! Very confusing time! Would like to hear more about lenses..I’m afraid they are still focused on releasing more bodies than lenses..
Sony will need an SLT-A65v successor before the year is out if they are to compete heavily against the most important T5i/D5200 market. This is the most popular demographic in DSLR camera purchases by huge percentages and it would make perfect sense for one last SLT to make its mark on the community; possibly, like the 70D, partially cannibalizing the model above it in an effort to make a strong statement for the 3rd/holiday quarter, and give a good push into the 2014 paradigm.
It’s good business sense. Which doesn’t necessarily mean Sony will implement it 😉 but they’ve been doing remarkably well of late. It helps when you throw good money at good solutions, and the SLT/RX/HX compact lines have most certainly benefited from that ideal.
Yes they could use an A65 updated body. But Sony are going to have to “up their game” After the uninteresting/lame A58 downgrade they’ve stopped making the A57 too and have a big gap, ie no up to date mid level body.
A real A65 update should have dual dials, a sensible priced VG option, no sealing, GPS/wifi, better sensor and you could put me down for one right away…well we’ll have to live with the silly hot shoe change but if the body was compelling enough it would be worth looking at.
Sony are going to have to take the 5/6 series bodies back to being decent mid level bodies with enough stuff for most folks. And yes that means proper user set Auto ISO levels, proper jpegs, and stop wasting space on stupid zoom/? buttons real customisation.
Admin is doing a great job. Maybe there is some internal divisions within Sony on how to proceed, so we get different bits of info as time moves on. Different teams and such. Look how the RX and NEX series are very different. I believe Sony needs to have an equivalent of a developers conference for the imaging group and get itself straight.
So many new cameras so few lens. Where is our decent macro 85 or 100mm?
Whining for the sake of whining? Sony has a 100mm Macro already
he asked for something decent.
If anything – there’s Sigma 105.
The Sigma 105mm is no better than the Sony 100mm. I have owned them, including the Tamron 90mm. There is zero difference outside of a test lab.
If you can’t get sharp results from a Sony 100mm then it’s YOU not the lens.