There is a Japanese Magazine that published a possible Sony roadmap for 2014. The image can be seen on top and has been posted on Dpreview forum. Just to be clear, this is a pure mix of speculation and already existing rumors. For example they wrote the new A99r will have a 54MP sensor. They toke my 54MP sensor rumor and fitted it inside that camera 🙂
I can actually tell you already this is NOT going to happen. It’s true Sony has such a sensor. But It’s not going to be used in a real camera this year.
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Its a shame really an A99r with a 54MP sensor would be a welcome addition to the A-Mount family
It’s E-mount 🙂
Read the article. The third paragraph states a soon to be released A99r, and a APS-C A5 or A6 to be released in 2014. Note the blue box is indicating that it is, “supposedly confirmed”.
What you don’t speak Japanese?
If something called a5/a6 is going to be an APS-C camera, it turns any remaining logic in Sony’s lineup on its head.
I’d like to see it with 36mp and the low light performance of the 1dx – and a huge buffer. Asking too much?!?
Been a family Sony User Since the times of my grand dad.
Sony A77 is incredible while A99 wasn’t much appealing now all I wish from Sony for New Alpha Mount Camera is;
1.Big Buffer
2.High ISO noise control
3.36+ Mega Pixels
It is either 36 MP or the low light performance of the 1d x for the present. There is a reason the 1d x is half that resolution. For now, camera makers still must balance high ISO performance & speed with resolution & highest low light IQ.
Yeah, I know it’s asking too much realistically. Plus, if it could be done then I couldn’t afford it……
The problem with a 54MP camera is that Sony would never increase the buffer size enough to take more than 1 shot every 10 seconds. They have an entire engineering department devoted to slow, tiny buffers and advanced flash delay algorithms. In these two areas they are market leaders!
If they fixed those two problems, I would buy an upgraded A99 in a heartbeat. I like my A99, but would love it if Sony would fix a couple glaring faults.
If it happens, it has to have a silent shutter. Otherwise there is no point to buying it (for me).
Sony needs to pull it together ASAP. Put out a clear roadmap for A-Mount lenses, state their commitment to SLT, make it very clear that SLT cameras are their priority and they are going to seriously compete for the pro DSLR/SLT market.
New FF PDAF module is needed fast (not OSPDAF), WR and SSM for all top lenses, an f/4 zoom line for A-Mount are a must.
Time is running out quick, even the Sony faithful may be eventually forced to jump ship, and then Sony will be left with only E-Mount on their hands, competing with the likes of Olympus and Fuji.
::I personally couldn’t care less about DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, I came to Sony for SLT, that is the huge advantage they have over all other manufacturers, and with proper development and PR it could bring Sony to the top. But only if they start acting quick!!
I’d love to talk to Sony’s head of marketing because sitting from my armchair their strategy appears incoherent. Assurances month after month it’ll all make sense ‘soon’ have become comical. Will CP+ make it all clear? I’d hate to think we’d have to wait until Photokina 2014 for a clear roadmap for this year. It’s not until mid-September. 😉
A statement like what you want “A-mount are the priority” would be a flat out lie so you won’t see that. You’ll continue to see “we are committed to A-mount” but a priority would just be false.
BTW, no SLR/SLT manufacturer has a roadmap out like what you are asking for. The problem with roadmaps is that when they don’t come true due to whatever reason, the PR is much worse than not having a roadmap. Underpromise and Overdeliver is the mantra in business.
“Commitment” as in “we will support A-Mount users while we slowly transition to E-Mount” is worthless.
“SLT is here for the long haul and we plan to put a lot of effort into making pro-grade SLT gear” – a statement like this is essential.
People are already selling their carefully assembled expensive glass because of all the uncertainty surrounding the A-Mount, like this one guy here on SAR who put $10k of Sony gear on ebay and switched to Nikon. Continued radio silence from Sony won’t do any good.
Selling everything simply because there is no clear roadmap borders on the insane! 😉
I like slts, Daenur. The concept has allowed Sony to produce some great cameras, and its potential has certainly not yet been exhausted. But if the can produce a mirrorless a-mount system that focuses at least as well as the best slt, what is there not to like? And I feel resaonably sure that Sony will continue to produce slts until that happens.
Until Sony can get their OSPDAF to be used to focus their existing A-mount glass, they have no choice, but to use SLT. I’d love to have an a-mount or even e-mount mirrorless DSLm, but even with NEX6 resorting back to CDAF when non-native glass is mounted, and A99 supporting only some glass, that transition doesn’t seem likely to happen soon, if ever.
Rumor to debunk another rumor LOL!
Is this even a rumor?
Wasn’t the 54MP the medium format sensor? Is it another rumor? 54 MP sounds much, but it’s just twice the resolution of a 14 MP sensor, and these are the minimum in almost all digital cameras today.
Yep, all correct. The 54mp FF Sony camera rumor has been floating around for a while and, yes, Sony has a MF 50mp sensor used by Phase One and Hasselblad supposedly will use it too.
We all keep waiting for Sony to give us a clear picture but they don’t seem interested. I’m sure they realize they’ve frozen camera body purchases amongst many of their customers who keep saying they’re waiting for it before they buy another Sony camera. Sony seems to think silence is more important than those potentially lost/delayed sales.
I wonder if Sony will release a 54mp FF sensor to Canikon before they put it in their own bodies? While it goes against any rumor it’d explain the silence so I might was well start a new one. 😉
It’s not entirely inaccurate.
We all know the 54mp is coming in 2015, its probably the worst kept secret in the industry.
We also know Sony will possibly launch up to three full frame cameras using it (A-Mount SLT, A-Mount Mirror-less, and FE-Mount).
So the article is only off by a mere 12 to 18 months.
Still, its slightly more accurate than most of the E-Mounters (users of squeaker toys) comments on the future of the camera industry today.
A-Mount mirorrless is not coming. The FF mirrorless that the rumors were about came out in the form of A7/A7R.
Actually your wrong. A FF mirror-less A-Mount is coming 2015-16. It will make the A7r irrelevant, and A-Mount users bypass it as an option entirely. Cause we are. Rumour is they’ll be much smaller than the current SLTs. Look-up the Minolta A9000 to get an idea what the form factor will look like.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minolta-9000-M4771.jpg
That would be awesome, but where do you get this information from?
And what with AF? OSPDAF is ages away from maturity
Its actually on this website buried in the achieves. Plus there are other sites, and you really have to keep your sources protected. When Sony’s mirror-less A-Mount design objectives are met then the SLT tech will be discontinued, and 2015/16 is that timeframe.
Once the SLT tech is gone the cameras will shrink to a fraction of the size they are today. The SLT tech makes the cameras look bulky.
Its a win – win for A-Mount users. We can adopt the newer tech and keep out existing investment.
So, in your opinion, the only difference between A and E cameras, besides the mount, will be IBIS?
A-Mount cameras continue to be larger, more sophisticated stabilization and autofocusing systems. The extra size will allow Sony to include much more features.
Think Minolta A9000 or 700si
The DSLR form factor will remain (the technology inside will change), because over 80% of customers prefer the larger DSLR/SLT over the smaller squeakier toy mirror-less bodies. This is unlikely to change now or in the future. The SLR design is a part of our culture.
A-Mount cameras will be backwards compatible with the existing lenses, and tailored to suit the needs of current, and future A-Mount users.
And mirror-less will continue to recede.
If this will be the case, I don’t see much reason for keeping A-Mount around then.
Nothing will prevent Sony from making larger DSLR-shaped E-Mount cameras with lots of controls and an A-Mount adapter that would be essentially just an extension ring. Top lenses need to be re-issued with WR and SSM anyway, may very well add OSS as well. And the ability to adopt any lenses will be a big selling point.
So it’s likely that when the mirror’s gone, so are A-Mount bodies. But I don’t see that happening until maybe 2019-2020. OSPDAF as fast as dedicated PDAF by 2015/16?? Doesn’t seem likely…
The current user base prevents Sony from replacing the A-Mount.
The A-Mount has a much larger and more profitable user base, should they end production they would lose 10% of the Global Interchangeable Lens Camera market to their rivals. That would be a tremendous mistake.
The A-Mount is the last mount you should be worried about.
I don’t believe we will see an A-mount mirrorless anytime soon because current On sensor PDAF technology from Sony is not mature enough, not even for production models. Current PDAF on sensor on a99 is used only to assist the main PDAF module, not for AF lock. NEX-6 PDAF has never impressed me, and there are actually faster CDAF from Olympus.
A native A-mount mirrorless doesn’t make any sense to me due to the wasted space between the lens and the sensor.
Sony are more likely to make a dSLR sized E-mount with IBIS using an adapter to mount A-mount lenses onto it.
I doesn’t make sense not to actually. Sony’s in business and needs repeat customers, so by providing the mirror-less solution it gives current customers a logical upgrade path. Oh the Lightbox isn’t as deep as you think without the mirror in the way (blocking the path) you can move it a little closer to the sensor.
So like I said win – win for A-Mount users.
BRWAT, it sounds like you’re suggesting you can move the a-mount lens closer to the sensor. Is that right? The flange distance is the flange distance.
I call 100% complete BS on this.
The flange distance CAN NOT change. It is physically, optically impossible. You sir, are an imposter. You have NO clue what you’re talking about.
That is all. Carry on.
No Jim you can’t change the 44.50mm flange distance of the A-Mount. However with the mirror gone then the wasted space in the camera can be reduced. resulting is a camera that is smaller than the current A99. Possibly smaller than the A100. Maybe they could cram it a pop-up flash in the empty space.
@KEN
You can change the Flange Distance, by inserting a set of compensation lenses inside of the camera (which would prevent any negative affects on image quality), in the big empty space where the mirror once sat. The compensation lenses would also provide an extra layer of protection to the sensor. They could easily cut it down to 22.25.
Lesson finished, carry on
What does the R stand for (Rubbish or Ret@rd)
I’ll easily settle for a budget 30-something MP FF SLT this year with decent ISO. 54mp with dual BIONZ X processors, mirrorless, new advanced AF, IBIS, etc. all sounds grand but the price point would be pretty high. I’d prefer not to go there. It certainly deserves to be built to boost Sony’s pro street cred.
Will it look like a Minolta a9000? Sony could do worse and retro is all the rage with Nikon and Fuji. While it violates their new naming convention they could call it an a9000 too. It’d be an amusing irony in tipping their hat to the past. 😉
I don’t think it’d kill the a7/a7R because of the e-mount/a-mount system divide. It would dampen enthusiasm for the a7/a7R with many a-mounters. The e-mount crowd need their upgrade path too.
Speaking of roadmaps, has there ever been any mention of continued development for E mount APSC lenses (specifically in the development of high end options)? I suppose the upcoming 6/7 replacement will give us a clue to how Sony views the APSC E mount segment. If this update is anything like Fuji’s new X-T1 then I would be confident enough to remain in Sony APSC land. If on the other hand, it turns out to be a nice “amateur” camera at best, then personally, that would tell me that in Sony’s ecosystem, one must jump to FF (A or E mount) should they want a more rugged and “pro-grade” camera.
For my needs, APSC seems to be the perfect compromise between DOF control yet offering a smallish camera system to tote around. I have really been eyeing Fuji lately with their continued development of high quality optics and cameras using an APSC sensor. I hope Sony comes around with their answer to the enthusiast market within the crop sensor realm with the NEX7 successor and continue to develop compact yet high quality optics such as the Zeiss 24mm prime I love so much.
Obviously I could just attach high quality FE lenses, but size may be an issue to me depending on the particular lens.
Andrea if you know this isnt true, atleast not for now, that means you know what is coming and how things look far ahead so why dont you just give us some information? Some rumors?
Please?
+1
Could you probably post some SR1 and SR2 s ???
We realize most of them won’t be true, but please let us hear them anyway
I don’t know. I’d personally rather not get stirred up this close to CP+ which is like 2 weeks away. Sony certainly will at least hand out some more details on their spring releases like the a7000 and a79. I also expect Sony to dribble out some stuff to SAR between now and CP+ to get us all interested into following their CP+ sales pitches.
You are asking Admin for SR1-2? Isn’t that exactly what he has been doing today!!!
Admin just gave us an entire roadmap of sr1 rumors and clearly indicated that they are Sr1.
This is what we have been asking for so if you want more dont even think about complainig !
Intrigued to see what any A9/A9r would be like. I love my A7 so far but clearly there’s room for improvement when Sony choose to update it. What an even higher spec version would be like is definitely interesting. How much more powerful do these little cameras really need to be?
What’s the 90% and 65% in the magazine? Probability of correctness of the rumor?
I believe that Andrea thinks there is something like 0% chance.
You guys are funny… You keep asking for a roadmap like Sony owns you one, but how would that benefit Sony? So u will hold on and not buy a camera if you see a roadmap? That doesn’t seem to work as far as I can tell…. A7/r is stilling pretty damn well last I check
>how would that benefit Sony?
People won’t sell their Sony gear due to uncertainty around the fate of A-Mount.
Semi-official assurances of “commitment to A-Mount” don’t work anymore, since all new announcements are for the mirrorless. If Sony can’t announce any bodies/glass at the moment, at least a roadmap should be enough to keep the fanbase around.
Daenur, how many times do people have to tell you that NO camera maker puts out such a roadmap. And those assurances have been OFFICIAL, not “semi-official.”
And plenty of vendors sell a-mount.
I wouldn’t mind a roadmap, but we ain’t gettin’ none.
This is simply not true, example: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/xf_lens/roadmap/
I find roadmaps extremely valuable to me since I have limited funds I can devote to a hobby of mine versus more pressing needs(I’m a graduate student). They allow me to plan my purchases over the long term so I can save up money for this lens or that, and since we are talking about relatively new systems versus the DSLR market, I can’t afford to dump money into a system that may or may not suit me in the long term (with reason of course).
Since Sony seems to be spread across so many camera projects these days, I worry if my camera setup of an APSC NEX will still get the attention it needs in order to be considered a “complete” system.
Have you looked at the Fuji XT-1 preorder sales rank on Amazon lately? 😉
Well now that we have been assured what is not, maybe we can start finding out what it may be. I will be visiting everyday waiting for the arrival of this exciting info. I hope it won’t disappoint. Any idea when the new ff A mount will be ready for sale?
I’m sure they have their marketing material ready now with 2 identical looking SLT’s.
I think Sony’s roadmap requires OnStar. You better make sure you select “detour” in the user selection menu as well.
How real is that RX1Rs? I’d rather see an A7RF (ie RX1R with E-mount).
If a A 9/A9R is coming. Then i hope they have IBIS and faster autofokus than the current A7/A7R. And a more silent shutter. If they do. Then i will gladely change from Alpha 77 to A9R
E-Mount won’t ever have IBIS, that’s why they make lenses with OSS.
And fast mirrorless AF is at least several years away too.
YOU ALL FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION…
SONY HAS RELEASED SO MANY FKING CAMERAS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS THAT THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF NUMBERS…
AS A RESULT:
1) BAD FIRMWARE SUPPORT
2) YOUR CAMERA IS WORTH SHIT WITHIN 4-6 MONTHS
3) CUSTOMERS ARE PISSED BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BOUGHT SHIT.
1 would be nice to fix the bounced flash overexposure problem and what I hear about flash delays.
2 & 3 aren’t me, I love my SLT and would not swap it for the equivalent CaNikon model. My camera isn’t an investment and anybody buying modern camera gear as an investment is a fool.
Unless A99 prices drop through the floor I will be keeping my excellent A77 for the foreseeable as the replacement will no doubt be insignificant. I might grab the A850 at some point when it gets VERY cheap as a second body, I simply could not use an OVF as my main body now but fancy a FF for portraiture.
Electronics in general and digital cameras in particular are a poor investment. If you are concerned about maintaining value, splurge on good lenses and stay a generation behind on the bodies. Quality lenses depreciate slowest.
Personally, when I buy a camera I consider it an investment in myself. So long as I get the work , complete more jobs than I would have without it (either more efficiently / at higher quality) than the investment is sound.
+1
I just sold off a bunch of lenses to fund the zeiss 50mm and barely lost any money in the transaction. Lenses are a solid investment while bodies are fairly worthless after a few years.
Let me know what you think of it please. Its the next lens on my list after I pick-up a 135mm STF, and 16mm fish eye.
Very good as far as wide open performance. The bokeh is no where near as harsh as the Sony 50mm 1.4. It also transitions smoothly toward the area of focus which I like. My brother has the Sigma and honestly, I think it’s a great bargain with very close performance stopped down. But, the microcontrast issues I wasn’t up for and I have this thing for Zeiss- plus the SSM I’ve always been impressed with. Is it worth 1500.00- no, but I personally don’t care as the build and overal quality through out the range is fantastic. I got it for 1300.00 from B&H in mint condition. Next might be the 24mm but I’m debating that one- I don’t use 85mm and already have the 135mm.
I can absolutely recommend the 24mm, its razor sharp, fast focusing, and its colours are great.
This. The camera I bought more than a year ago hasn’t deprecated at all. Actually, the price has risen a little (and no, it’s not that they’re running out of stock with a large number of retailers still offering them).