The Zeiss 35mm FE cut in half at CP+ Sony booth (Source: Matthew Allard).
Well, Sony decided to literally skip the CP+ show and is as far as I know the only major photo company not having announced a new camera or lens. But also the other companies kept a low profile (Read Engadget articles about that). Canon’s 5ds will ship in June only and all other manufacturers did show many prototypes and much less “real” production cameras.
Just like it happened with the A7II launch Sony seems to prefer to launch major stuff off the big show to get more publicity. And here is the question to our SAR readers:
[poll id=”215″]
209 Responses
The big issue for me is that they are missing a deadline without announcing anything else or even apologizing. Remember: at Photokina, the slides said “Targeted start of shipment Feb/March 2015”.
“Targeted”
Either their target changed because they failed as a company to reach their target, in which case they are inept, or their target was a lie to begin with, in which case they are inept for having to lie.
In either case, it doesn’t give me much faith
Grow up wnd stop wining like a litle baby.
You cannot even spell the word, child
Well you cant spell either egghead! cannot is not a word.
“cant” is not a word, “cannot” is.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cannot
You are wrong
Can’t win eh? Of course you don’t have faith (nobody “gives” it), you are a cynic.
Oh Sony. Why not at least pretend to care about your reputation. If you’re going to pull out of markets and close up shop entirely.in Canada- can’t you do something, anything, to restore our confidence? I can tell you that as an A mount shooter in Canada the outlook FROM Sony appears bleak. Sony is losing my faith while at the same time releasing incredible new tech. They never have been good at marketing but this seems more total uncertainty. Make and release an A mount road map and stick to it- what would be the harm!?
A mount is dead. You have been warned for like a year in advance.
mine are known:
i’m sorry…………… it’s a sony 🙂 it’s normal 🙂
but i must admit that i LIKE VERY MUCH my a7… amazing camera. misses only the companion of FE 24-105/4.
Why should it be a good strategy ??? there is no strategy at all, coming to such a event with empty hands ? ?? What are they thinking ??
It can be a perfectly valid strategy. What are you thinking?
Waiting for the bomb to explode. Perhaps that Distagon alone is worth it.
Everything is marketing. The solid rumors are just marketing. Announcements and charts are marketing. These lenses were already announced in response to a cry for more lenses. If you can’t yet deliver lenses, then announce, or put out the rumors, so people will buy the bodies. Regardless of what rumors they released, this is probably not a delay, because they never intended to have them on the market at an earlier date, but they did intend on creating the buzz. So, Sony feeds the rumor sites and rumors get announced to generate website revenue and this subset of miscreants hangs on every word, because a web life has taken over far too much of our lives and many of think more about gear than record images.
I think about gear and beer. Occasional pictures are taken of me with my gear drinking beer. Which vise should get the axe? Hmm, probably the beer.
Somebody’s thinking! Call the trollice!
This will draw customers away from Sony to other very attractive new product, such as the E-M5II , this new MFT camera beat the A6000 at Imaging Resources up to ISO 3200 ??? and with all those new feature on bord, Sony better come up soon with something better then the E-M5II ?? what ? I dont now.
Didn’t draw me away.
Sony, please release a 8mm wide angle with zero distortion. I’m really lazy- catch it all crop later. 35mm is just to much work.
is this a joke?
From Engadget: “most of whom took Thursday or Friday off to see this year’s big camera launches.”
Companies disappoint their fan base at their own peril. Nothing kills excitement faster than disappointment. Boy would I be disappointed to burn vacation days on a show that was a bust. A couple of those and I’d choose a different hobby.
Without random blog posts by hands on show attendees, new offerings must be treated with skepticism until after the product has been delivered at retail to early adopters and reviews not at risk of vendor bias become available. That may add months to a sales ramp as the bulk of buyers await credible assessment of the new offering.
Avoiding shows may improve marketing metrics in the short run, but I think it will hurt sales metrics in the mid and long term.
On the other hand, that so many companies have so little on offer may speak to the challenging and uncertain economics during a time of global economic weakness and dramatic tecnical change. Cost control may be the order of the day, and we may all need to be patient.
The hobby is taking pictures, not going to gear shows (I think) 😉
I’ve sold my a6000 because of a7000 rumors.
Why bother spread rumors and lie?
Rumours are not necessarily the truth; you do understand that, right?
Probably you did not really need it in the first place 😀
Couldn’t you wait until a7000 appears on market?
Why sell your camera before the replacement is available? Doesn’t make any sense.
Rumors are just that: rumors, not official statements from the manufacturer.
An excellent point – but I have a hard time dealing with stagnation in the quality of results I achieve. Improving skills over gear is, of course, always more satisfying – but when my skills plateau the prospect of better gear helps keep me engaged in the pursuit (fantasy or not) of improvement.
I don’t go to shows – but I get immense value from the blogs of those who do. I can only imagine the frustration of those who attend the shows. If unbiased information (clearly outside the influence of the vendor) about new gear gets too hard to find or comes too late in the product cycle, or only at ‘random’ times during the year, I could well choose a less frustrating hobby than “taking pictures”.
Sounds like you need to get a life more than a new hobby… Jeeze…
That’s half of the glass. Maybe what you describe as “stagnation” and “so little to offer” is nothing more than the extremely short attention span of an entitled geared?
Not introducing thier products when people go there to see thier product is an absolute discrace.
Once again Sony blatently displays total disregard for the consumer and cares only about how the strategy might benefit themselves.
The purpose of going to a show is to see and compare all the new products.
Once again Sony delivers the incompetent self centered management decisions we have come to expect from Sony.
Before someone disagrees with this post, ask yourself “how good would the show be if everyone unannounced their products?” It truly is a disgrace. A big disgrace
Really? Who cares when anything is announced. The vast majority of consumers don’t go to these things or hang on every press announcement.
It’s a simple matter of commercial and marketing approach. Whether the number of Barry’s going into hissy fits over lack of announcements is wise or not, who knows. It’s just a camera show after all.
So your attitude is who cares about the people who go to this show to see new products…they are not important enough to to worry about. That is totally consistant with Sony thinking…who cares about_____________ fill in the blank because they are not inportant enough.
But who is to guarantee that the the select group Sony does choose to care about will care about Sony? Or that there will be enough of them left to matter.
I have been buying Sony equipment for 45 years..long before it was Sony….but clearly that is insufficient loyalty to get me into the exclusive Sony cares club.
Tell me… .do you think Sony cares about you?
It’s a business. The huge majority of people only care that products meet their needs, at a decent price. There’s nothing unethical going on. Just a strategy of announcing products at a time that suits them. Nobody has died. Nobody attended that show simply for what Sony was going to announce. Sony haven’t broken any promises to anybody. Relax.
I hope only that when Sony will fill their shelves with their favorite toy cameras the customer are still there to buy them . Trust in a company is important when it comes to spend >3k$ .
Absolutely with you there. For instance, if Sony abandoned A-Mount owners without at least a viable migration path to E-Mount, then I’d feel extremely betrayed as that would hugely devalue a lot of investment I’ve made. Fortunately I don’t think they will, and they do seemed to have listened (the A7II with IBIS being a case in point). Clearly the strategic direction will be to E-mount (challenging Canon and Nikon is fruitless), but I’d rather not be left with a load of useless glass on my hands.
So I can’t get very excited over no announcements at a camera show.
nb. some people make a false parallel with Sony abandoning the laptop market, which is not really the same thing. It just meant that you couldn’t buy any more Sony laptops; it didn’t devalue investments in a system
they do seem to try to challenge canikon, by releasing huge lenses which duplicate a-mount ones
Is that surprising? The A7 series are 35mm FF cameras, and A-Mount was designed for that format. If Sony is to produced a fully-featured 35mm format systems camera based around a mirrorless form factor, they will surely have to reproduce at least the most popular lenses focal lengths and speeds. Basic optics dictates much of the size of these things, so they will be comparable in size to equivalent DSLR lenses.
These will, of course, compete with Canon and Nikon DSLRs using some of the features the mirrorless format allows for, including much more flexible lens mounting capability, cheaper and easier fabrication, full-time live-view in a more compact package. It won’t suit all needs, but does provide features a DSLR can’t.
The problem is how to deal with the other perceived advantage of mirrorless, that is the compact size. For that, it will need smaller (and cheaper) lenses. Apart from a few “sweet-spot” focal lengths, that probably means a parallel range of APS-C optimised lenses. A tough demand. Whilst many enthusiasts like the A7 series, I can’t help but feel that for the great majority of people, the A6000 is a better fit. It’s great value, but it does need more lenses.
>they will surely have to reproduce at least the most popular lenses focal lengths and speeds
no, they should to do at least those things where mirrorless have the most advantages over a DSLR, not a DSLR duplicate! unless their strategists are morons.
>Basic optics dictates much of the size of these things,
never mind leica’s M 35/1.4 is twice smaller than leica R 35/1.4 ?
>so they will be comparable in size to equivalent DSLR lenses.
Just great! We get large DSLR-sized lenses, no real benefits over DSLR but without benefit of OVF.
>full-time live-view in a more compact package.
that is, shorter battery life. how is that a benefit?
>cheaper and easier fabrication
Just great! Sony would be able to save on manufacture but we will pay same price as for a DSLR. Even if the bodies are tiny bit cheaper, the lenses are 2x the cost.
>the A6000 is a better fit.
there is no good wideangle for A6000 too, only this overpriced and oversized “zeiss” 24/1.8
The decision over which range of lens to provide is clearly based on what Sony’s view of the market is. For instance, I doubt that they will rush into producing a fast, long sports orientated lens. So let’s say that’s a matter of judgement (plenty on this site and DPReview appear to want classic 35mm focal length lenses).
Your example of the difference in size between the Leica 35mm M & R mount is actually a very good example of how optical requirements impact lens design. R mount has a 47mm lens mount registration distance. That immediately means the R mount version has no choice but to be a retrofocus design. That adds considerably to the bulk of the lens as it requires a negative acting group at the front, and a strongly positive one are the rear so the back focal length is sufficient to allow focus at infinity. (It also has knock-on effects on the front element diameter – you can see that on any DSLR wide angle lens). In contrast, the M-mount has a much shorter lens registration distance and that allows for a simpler, more compact design.
In principle, mirrorless cameras could, with their short lens registration distances, use much simpler wide-angle designs, but for the problem of incident angle problems due, primarily, to the relatively thick 3D filter/microlens layer in front of the sensor. It’s particularly pronounced on FF of course. Current reports are that performance suffers if the rear focal length is more than about 35mm (and even longer for fast aperture lenses). Yes, it can be tweaked a bit for cameras with a limited range of focal lengths (read Leica M), but it’s not practical for something covering a huge range of focal lengths. I’m sure than any EF lens over 35mm will retrocus in design, and very possibly a bit longer than that (for all those people looking at corner performance). An APS-C optimised lens might be OK down to about 28mm (due to basic geometry).
What all of this means is that, for a given focal length and aperture an FF mirrorless lens is likely to be of similar bulk and size to a DSLR. It needn’t be as crude as slapping what amounts to an extension tube onto the back of a DSLR lens (you can still place elements closer to the sensor of course), but the placement (and size) of the exit pupil places limits.
Who claimed everything on a mirrorless is better by the way? I certainly didn’t. Yes, battery life is inherently shorter, but I’ve never found carrying a couple of spare batteries too much of an issue – I do it with a DSLR anyway. (I suspect that we will see some larger E-mount bodies in the future with larger batteries).
As for the cost of lenses and bodies, that’s all a matter of what the market will bear. The point about cheaper costs (for the camera body) is that Sony have flexibility. They aren’t going to hand over savings automatically. In any event, Sony don’t have the volumes of Canon or Nikon, so lose some of it in economies of scale.
I think lens prices will only come down when competition hots up in the mirrorless sector from other systems and when more third party E mount lenses become available. I believe there are only 3 fully AF third party lenses from Sigma.
As for the A6000 WA position, I’ve already said there’s a lack of APS-C lenses in general.
>relatively thick 3D filter/microlens layer in front of the sensor
The problem occurs only when using lenses which are not designed for the camera. Zeiss modified their Biogon 35/2 — changes are invisible to naked eye and it works perfectly on A7.
>An APS-C optimised lens might be OK down to about 28mm (due to basic geometry).
The Canon EF-M 22/2 is non-retrofocus and much lighter than EF-S 24/2.8 (100 versus 130 grams) yet a full stop faster! There is no requirement to make retrofocus lenses to move exit pupil away — which could be achieved just by moving aperture forward.
>Who claimed everything on a mirrorless is better by the way?
well, a mirrorless setup has to be at least one of those:
1. smaller than a DSLR
2. have more IQ than a DSLR or more flexibility
3. lower price
But, it’s neither of those!!
A7 has focal plane shutter => same vibration and noise as a DSLR.
No built-in polarizers, ND filters, no built-in sensor tilt, no Z-axis sensor movement… (you can’t have it in a DSLR because it would shift focus between OVF & sensor)
Sure, liveview allows accurate focusing, but 98% people shoot AF anyway.
So what’s the reason for mirrorless then? If E-mount lens lineup is for a few exceptions, like 16-50PZ, is a total duplicate of A-mount?
Oh, mirrrorless allows us to play with m39,m42 and f/0.95 lenses. Cool!
BUYERS go to these events to decide what products to carry and sell to thier customers…but obviosly Sony does not cinsider buyers important enough to care abought.
I just wonder…besides Sony who does sony care about? And if Sony doednt care about me why should I care about Sony.
Other camera rumer sites and forums have very few comments.
Sony sites are overwhelmed with lots of discontent people and the few fans that call them troll and defend Sony. But why does Sony gemerate so much more negative critisism than anyoneelse?
My wild theory is that it just might be because Sony does not care about anyone but themselves…and that they dont even realize thier are benefits to at least convincing people that you care about them.
So fans like you will go on defending how Sony should not care about thier customers.
I am no ones fan…I will say good things about Sony when I have good things to say and critisize them when I see reason to do so.
I think you should relax a little. That much anger over a simple commercial and marketing strategy can’t be good for anybody, especially to take it so personally.
I’m neutral. I’m not making a value judgement. It’s up to Sony whether it works or not. This is a business after all, and if sufficient customers feel like you do then they will suffer the consequences.
One thing. Not sure where you live, but around me the buyers are all gone. Sure you can find a rebel easy(@best buy), but nobody stocks anything interesting at big box and the small shops are largely gone.
Buyers these days = b&h, Amazon, Norman’s. Adorama. That’s about it.
Calumets stores have closed, but when they were open it was pretty sparse. Well, except for the calumet branded stuff..
Which photography expos have you attended?
I agree.
I believe we will see a large announcement of the lenses on display at CP+, a new roadmap, along with at least the A7rII mid to late March, unless they are making some last minute updates to the hardware of the camera / s like the high resolution stitching option seen in the new Olympus and future Pentax FF cameras. Which has delayed the production of the camera. The A9 with new sensor technology could be coming but I believe it will not see the light of day until later this year at the earliest, but Sony please prove me wrong 🙂
“Do you think it’s a good strategy?”
The admin at this site needs to get an editor, seriously. The possible answer to this question is “yes”, “no”, “maybe”. Whether you care or whether they will “keep launching great products” is an entirely different question altogether. Furthermore, of course it’s not a good strategy.
If you want to judge how good it is as a strategy, ask yourself, do you know about another brand’s upcoming products? I don’t own nor do I want to own a canon camera right now but I know about a camera they are going to be releasing. What if every company decided to be like Sony, would that show be as good? Would anyone want to attend it?
Speaking more subjectively. I’ve given myself a £10,000 budget for a “hobby” camera (I use my hasselblad for work projects) and lenses, etc. I do not want to invest in first generation, old technology. I realise there’s always going to be a “latest and greatest” camera, but the sensors in Sony cameras are somewhat old in IT-age. I believe we’re at the breaking point of a new sensor coming out and it might be in camera models for the next five years.
Sony get criticized for releasing a lot of bodies and a lack of lenses, but I think they are two separate departments. People wouldn’t complain if Sony released lots of bodies and lots of lenses. The two are not antonyms of each other. In addition to this, despite Sony releasing a crap load of bodies, there’s very few that feel like a final product. The a7r to me feels like a beta product with a decent sensor. The a7ii feels better but I would prefer the a7r’s sensor or a new sensor altogether.
To conclude, I’m left with no news, news that I thought I had, news that the admin of this site promised us (well he said he was 99% sure and “mark his words”) and back to square one.
Do I buy a leica? Do I buy an a7r? Do I buy an a7ii? Do I wait? Do I buy a DSLR?
Canon announce something, they get blasted for announcing it months in advance. Sony announce something, it turns out they’ve basically lied about the announcement and it’s likely going to get released months later.
Both products are likely going to be available at the same time, but Sony’s announcements worry me. I ask myself… Have they got manufacturing troubles? Have they got financial troubles? With canon, I don’t get the impression the company is going to simply die and my investments will be wasted.
Despite all this. I really don’t want a DSLR (size reasons), I don’t want a canon (the sensors are obviously inferior), and I don’t want a leica (I don’t like rangefinders). I would be happy with an a7rii, assuming it fixed shutter problems and other little bugs.
If we assume there are 1,000 people like me, with a £10,000 budget. Ready to click the “buy” button an an a7rII, and these 1,000 customers get put off by the whole fiasco and end up placing their money in another company, then how does this benefit Sony financially?
I’m not a Sony hater either. I know this post will get negative responses. Which is why I must reiterate, I have £10,000 starting budget. If I really love the camera and lenses enough, I can double it. If I’m put off completely, I will simply buy from another company (which I don’t want to do because I like the original a7 design).
I think the a7r was used partly for market research but the results are skewed. People might not buy that camera because it’s known to have shutter shock, a loud shutter, etc. The loss of sales might have nothing to do with the fact it’s a 36mpix camera. My point here is that if they wanted to do market research properly, they would have done a fair test. A quiet shutter vs a loud shutter where you can physically feel the camera whack you as you take the photo, is not a fair test.
Sony, I have £10,000 (and potentially more) waiting for you if you can release an a7rii, some lenses and a radio controlled flash.
Also, don’t take any replies to this too seriously. I notice there’s a million bobs that post here
There can only be one true Bob.
Thank you, Mr. “official” camera market researcher….
“I use my hasselblad for work projects”
Which one? the Hasselblad HV???
LOL
H5D-50; I only use medium format for work projects. I think that’s a sony re-branded camera or am I mistaken? I think fujifilm have more to do with mine than sony but I’m probably wrong so don’t quote me on that.
Your quote is made up so I won’t bother to reply to that.
I don’t understand your humour, sorry. I wrote down my opinions (like many here), and the best you can reply with is gibberish. Please do not think this is an invitation for you to explain your post to me either
Fujifilm and Panasonic made no announcements, either. The former updated their lens road map, and the latter showed a 30mm macro lens that isn’t ready yet.
Is Panasonic making cameras now?
Poor CP+
Between good rumour sites such as this one (which also report news) and other social media (User Forums, BLOGS) CP+ is really beginning to lose it relevance.
Throw in the rapid rate of technology change (including cameras), more frequent product refresh rates, and increased consumer expectations / shorter attention spans and a new strategy is definitely required/evolving.
The new A,B,C’s:
A) 2-3 months before Buying Season: announce product release dates and firm pricing
B) 1 month before buying season: ensure product is available to Bloggers, Social Media users, Photography oriented site users
C) Buying Season: Ensure lots of product availability
Speaking in terms or North America only, the next big buying season would be the June/July vacation season. Ideally (again, strictly speaking of North America) that would mean:
APRIL – announce release dates and pricing
MAY – Make sure product is in the hands of early adopters and social media users (sample images, discussion, blog review will generate excitement and buzz… assuming the product is good)
JUNE – Make sure product is on the shelf everywhere and ‘ride the wave’ of initial sales
DECEMBER – offer discounts and promotion for the 2nd wave / buying season
Canon has boldly displayed thier 120mp sensor as an immenent threat to Sony of whats to come in the megapixel war.
Samsung has boldly introduced a camera with 30mp blackside illuminated sensor in an aps c .
Sony ,has once again boldly displayed their total lack of concern for thier customers.
Sony really has very little choice but to start using backside iluminated Exmor R, or Exmor RS tqo compete.
At the smaller pixel sizes needed for these higher mp sensors front illuminated Exmor sensors are really pushing thier limits and will put Sony at a disadvantage.
Samsung will be a real threat..providing excellent new camera mirrorless camera at a value price..they also have vowed to provide firmware upgrades on an almost monthly schedule based on customer input.
That is thier huge advantage..
Canon and Samsung care very much about what thier customers want. Sony cares only about thier own interests and demonstrates total lack of concern for thier customers.
They are so self centered as to show nothing new to thier own customers that have traveled to this show just to see thier new products, just because some Sony exec thinks this might give them some advantage.
“immenent threat to Sony” yes because everybody always said: I will go with whomever has the highest megapixel, which is why everybody has a Nikon D810 or a Sony A7R.
BSI gained all of a third of a stop for 1″ sensors. The gain would likely be lower for APS sensors. The cost of producing such sensors is higher. Benefit?
The one thing that Samsung may be getting from BSI on that sensor is a deeper lens/detector distance on the on-sensor PD. That would allow more data discrimination than non-BSI. But I don’t know for sure that Samsung does this; I suspect not.
Your “likely be lower” is just a speculation.
more benefits:
Improved angular response (which allows to make small high quality primes)
Improved fps.
It’s an informed speculation. I’ll bet that you could fab on smaller process machines and get nearly the same benefit BSI would get an APS or larger sensor on current process sizes.
The change in angular response is fine if you’re designing new lenses. The minute we start talking about legacy lens use, we have some issues, including color spill.
As we try to push more and more out of sensors and lenses we reach a point where we must work harder and harder for smaller and smaller gains…I may not have the wording correct but I believe you once said something like that to me.
So if there is a benefit to be had , and the competition is doing it so must Sony.
Sony faces major competition not just from the big boys like Canikon but from smaller players like Samsung.
Make no mistake..although Samsung is not there yet they represent a very serious threat to Sony’s place in the market.
Sony represents an economical alternative to the top players….Canikon…
This is precisely the role that Samsung is gunning for.
No one thought that they could knock them out of the TV market but they did.
As far as Samsung is concerned Sony has a target on thier back and Samsung is very specically going after Sony.
The reason Samsung TVs were so successful was due to the subsidies offered by the Korean government which allowed there products to undercut the opposition this gave them the initial foothold and for a time an on going advantage in the market. Sony had the same help with their TVs when they started.
Let me be the first to predict that Samsung is going to have the same troubles downstream as Sony has had in consumer electronics. Maybe even worse.
It’s very difficult to be an industry supplier and an industry competitor simultaneously. One big wrong move and you will have one or the other of those things suddenly wilt on you. The problem is that you’re trying to be in two businesses that are in conflict simultaneously. The supplier side wants volume first and foremost. The device side cares about market share of competitive devices, which are being propelled by that supply side.
Samsung’s already trying to run this dance with Apple. And it’s slowly failing on them. They’re lucky enough that so far they haven’t been matched on quality and price simultaneously. Every time that happens, they lose Apple as a customer and a big chunk of volume goes away that they have to fight hard to return. Meanwhile, corporate is still trying to defend those IP lawsuits they’ve lost against Apple, and their device side is still trying to copy any move Apple makes. Works great right up to the day when it doesn’t. ;~)
Sony has been in that problematic area before and is getting back into it again. It’s a really tough space to dance in, and eventually you make a mistake on one side or the other and you’re closing down products and divisions.
AFAIK Samsung isn’t licensing their APS sensors to anyone. I haven’t even heard anyone say they were even offered for licensing (I have a couple of friends who shop for sensors for their company’s products). Likewise, some of Sony’s sensors have not been offered for licensing lately (24mp APS, for one). There’s only one reason why you do that ;~). And it’s going to hurt one part of your business in order to reward the other.
Sony is probably playing the let Canon move first game.
Now that Canon introduced 50/53mp Sony may have to release a 56mp instead of thier previosly rumored 46mp sensor.
56mp would be a scaled up 24mp C sensor.
Possible. Even Sony now knows that “maximum pixels” is not the sweet spot. If it were, the A7r would sell more than the A7s for sure, and more than the A7, too. But that isn’t the case. Nikon knows this, too, with the D750/D810 volumes to examine. More pixels is more a bragging spot.
While there are applications that require “more,” they become fewer and fewer the higher “more” gets. We had this same thing in film, too: 35mm, 645, 4×5, 8×10, etc.
Our cameras already outshoot the output we’d normally use them for. By a mile. So first move is the only one that’s going to get bragging rights, I think.
I would also like to put 2 layer senors on the table…as opposed to 3 layer foveon like sensors
Several manufacturers now, including both Samsung and Sony hold patents for sensor with all G in one layer and rg in the other.
Samsung patent is for an organic all G layer first , then a silicon R B layer.
Sony has a patent for organic R B first and an all G second layer..not sure if second layer is organic or silicon.
This technology seems to offer a middle of the road approach between Bayer and Foveon.
Nikon recently patented a sensor with a bayer array first layer and a W layer second layer…which they claim makes yellow?… I have not yet figured out how that one works or what the advantages would be.
For sure, the value of BSI increases with higher MP.
The value of BSI increases with decreased photosite size. The reason is that in a non-BSI implementation, the power and data lines as well as the electronics themselves take some surface space, reducing fill factor. The smaller the photosite size is, the bigger their proportion of the surface area. However, you can also reduce those power/data/electronics size by simply using a smaller process fab, which is one of the differences between Sony/Nikon and Canon sensors at the moment.
That is my point…higher mp count means smaller pixel size therefore the benefits of BSI are greater.
Otherwise we would be seing Exmor in cybershots instead of Exmor R.
I think Exmor R will be better for large high mp sensors than Exmor RS because of possible overheating issues.
Impressive how you can continue to twist things around, just to serve your emotional state.
Off your meds again?
In a way, it was better not announce a 5 axis stabilizer beside a game changer
like a 50MP sensor ! .. it would just have looked like a gadget for
geeks, not like a real step for photographers (they already have 4 or more
stops IS lens stabilizer). Next announcement must compete with Canon 5Ds level
After a year with the 7r I’m actually quite curious as to how ibis will help with the big sensor.
I don’t think you understand business strategy at all. Number one rule you get taught in business school, do not engage in price wars. A price war is, you offering the same product to compete with another product.
The a7 cameras, in some instances, appeal to a COMPLETELY different demographic. They don’t have to “compete” with any camera because they’re a design of their own (for now).
People that want a small, semi-versatile, full-frame camera are not going to be interested in a large DSLR. Sony failed miserably at producing DSLRs, so they stopped engaging in price wars. There’s no competition
But many customers will indeed be making a buying choice between a Sony A7 series model and a DSLR. Obviously not those who “want a small, semi-versatile, full-frame camera”, but those who just want a full.frame camera, period.
So in that sense, the A7 models do compete with other cameras; they compete for the customers’ money.
I’d rather companies concentrate on providing carefully designed, well sorted products, rather than be in some imaginary race that can never be won as it’s endless!
Certainly, it’s disappointing when you have a need that isn’t perfectly provided for and it seems so close, but false starts and endless ‘roadmaps’ don’t really help. In Sony’s case, though, they have been shaking up the market more than anyone, so I think it a little unfair to suggest they have ignored customers.
I’ve said it before, I don’t envy the product development team managers one bit, as they tread a very fine line between success and failure, especially these days, but I’m sure we’ll see something good sooner rather than later.
Agreed. But do you really want another Canon 5D, as that’s about the most sorted digital camera out there right now. I’ll take a few rough edges if it allows me to tackle video and audio a little more efficiently.
Yes. Because I am a photographer.
If I were shooting “only stills” I’d still be shooting a 5D3. With the introduction of the new 11-24 zoom Canon have a fantastic lens line-up for any editorial shooter. They just need a modern/quality 50L now and they’re done.
Agreed. But the current status quo will continue churning out crap.
I only care about products that are IN THE SHOPS all this rumours and news is a total waste of time, buIIshit to sell advertising.
Then why bother visiting a rumor site?
boredom
tough
Facepalm of the day!
I am affraid the new cams with new sensor (A7000, A9 and A99II) we will see not sooner than at end of this year, and that means that many who planed and need to buy soon new cam and considered Sony (like me) will take something different (I will probably take small D750 + G 24/1.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.8 and 85/1.8). It’s gona to happen, can not wait longer.
I was in the same boat 2 years ago. a850 didn’t have the ISO performance I needed, a99 was bad in a lot of crucial points and a big let down for me. I had to look for a new system. 5Dmk3 offered everything I wanted. D750 is a nice camera, shot with it yesterday – the view finder is HUGE and the camera feels fresh.
Nikkor don’t make G 24mm f/1.8. Do you mean the 20 or 28mm?
G 24/1.8 will be on sales in spring.
24/1.8 G doesn’t exist.
35/1.8 G is mediocre
50/1.8 G is one of the worst 50mm lenses on the market
85/1.8 G is a fantastic lens
D750 is a DSLR, what does it have to do with an A7000/A9 release? Apples and oranges…
Either way, if you have to base your purchase decision on “the next camera around the corner”, you will never be able to buy anything because there’s always a next one around the corner.
24/1.8 will be on sale in 2 months
You had to have very bad example of 50/1.8, it’s good and 35/1.8 very good.
And true, 85/1.8 is fantastic. And all are 1/3 price of Sony ZA. D750 is small and light DSLR – only 240g weigh differnce compared to A7II (simlar size with 50mm lens http://camerasize.com/compact/#567.353,579.395,ha,t) and its features, DR, AF is amazing (not the league for A7II). I waited for A9 announcment and 85/1.8 lens but seems waste of time, and seeing how huge the 35/1.4 ZA is, I am affraid the 85/1.8 will be the same, what means not well ballanced. Thanks for your input.
My hope is dead about the A-mount. All I can say to Sony is a big
BOOOO!
I thought the same thing until last week. Seeing these lenses and body combinations is slightly killing the buzz on FE mount for me. I think at some point the dust will settle and FE won’t be the new kid on the block anymore. I think by the end of this year we’ll see that. Still a good time to shoot A mount.
Impressive.
Canon announces a nice but very niche camera that looks like every other camera they’ve produced, and DPReview chokes on the traffic (it did here in eastern North America.) I mean, Forbes even had a write-up. And those mugs? Genius.
Brand matters. Managing brand awareness matters. Canon not only nabbed a few headlines, but also changed the dialogue back to one about, good grief, megapixels…an issue I thought died about 5 years ago. The funny thing is, Sony was the first to start started brandishing that ridiculous 50MP sword, only to turn around and summarily fall on the thing at CP+.
none innovative product – MP race! of course it can be done by canon. try watch the eos cinema clip from eoshd. then you will understand it what to call innovative product 😀
you really think Canon to be innovative? The only interesting is the mug thing. Everybody laughing about. Among the most funny own goals ever made.
If you’ re looking for a camcorder than grab a camcorder.
Canon’s 5ds is focused where the focus should be – on photography. It’s a DSLR after all!
Why did Sony announce a 50MP sensor that we don’t know about? It’s rumours… get to understand the difference.
Because Nikon was not ready to implement the sensor. We should know by now that Sony makes us wait a year or two after Nikon. And oh yeah, that is for E mount. We have yet to see a 36mp ff sensor in an A mount yet.
Waaaaaaaaaa! Oh and yes, we totally had to wait for every sensor for Nikon to have it first, like the 24MP FF, 24MP APS-C, 16MP APSC, 20MP 1″, 12MP FF… and all the iterations of said. Yep definitely an average 2 year wait period on blessed Nikon.
Sony didn’t brandish anything (that’s actually the point of this here post) and the D800 was released 3 years ago.
Every year I go out and shoot all the new cameras side by side at the stores like B&H. I tried a7 and a7R, Nikon d610, D750, D810, Canon 5Dmk3, 7Dmk2 side by side. These a7 cameras feel lethargic and cumbersome in comparison, especially the 7R. 7Dmk2 is just a beast – a crop sensor Ferrari – ridiculously fast. There was no a77mk2 on display. I really want to see how it stack up. The only Sony cameras that excite me are A77mk2 and A7S. Make a99 with this crazy sensor and make it work FAST.
No a77mk2 at B&H? Of course …
B&H has it, read more carefully “stores like”. This time it was an amazingly equipped Best Buy in Illinois
On display in the middle of the store or they do not have available at the counter to test out?
They have them on display at the store. You don’t have to ask some middle aged bald guy to hand you a camera. It’s pretty awesome. Used stuff is behind glass. Go to their website and check out their store video- it’s sick. I might go down there tomorrow.
No new product announcement? So what? What photos can’t I make with the equipment I already own?
You are on the wrong forum, possibly even planet. Here we get emotional about equipment we don’t use.
LOL! You’re absolutely right!!
I’d say we can get emotional about equipment that’s not even for sale!!!
I know. The _next_ camera will MAKE me into the photographer I’ve always dreamed of becoming. Right? 🙂
It is simple. Sony wants to sell more A7II first before letting ppl hopping for an a7rII or A9
Bottom line, IMHO, this dumb tactic is disrespectful to customers, to journalists who cover the industry, to the people who put events like CP+ together, and even to their peers in the industry. It’s the equivalent of photobombing, a cheap, tacky way to grab attention.
There is risk, too. When they finally decide to make an announcement, they may not get the attention they expect. Something else big could be going on that week, monopolizing the news.
Disrespectful? That’s absurd.
Customers get to have hands on time with the gear currently available. Journalists should have more than enough content and when Sony is ready to announce their products on their timeline, it will give journalists additional content. Journalists report the information, companies do not report to them. The organizers of CP+ And other shows are handsomely paid by the vendors for their booths and presence, no one is doing anything out of charity.
When an officeholder or politician shows up at an event but smugly refuses to say anything – or attends a press conference but won’t answer questions – they should expect shabbier treatment in the future. Events like CP+ are damaged when major participants are effectively no-shows. People who spent money to attend the show feel cheated and may not come back. It hurts the industry.
Yo clearly have no idea what an expo is, especially when you are comparing Sony’s attendance to that of a civil servant doing their duty.
Sony and other exhibitors / vendors pay the expo organizers serious money for a presence there. Sony is not elected or beholden to citizens who have to answer or explain their actions. They develop their products and can announce new ones whenever they see fit. Does Apple announce new iPhones, devices or macs at CES or E3? No, they do it where and when they decide to…as is their right.
Sony has a far fresher line up of products that canon or Nikon combined, it is smart business to pitch what is currently for sale. Samsung has a strategy you might like…announcing the next big thing every month. I hear they have a fairly new camera, maybe you would like it.
This is a similar story being told in other main stream conventions. Comic books, video games, movies, etc. Lots of companies dodging announcements for smaller venues. Sometimes no venues at all. You got every major vendor shouting some new gimmick so why not wait for the herd to clear.
So, technology marketers don’t like the shows anymore, they’d rather sit on a beach and play games on Twitter. I actually sort of get that. But why leak the rumors for months in advance – pay the big money to get in the show, set up the booth, the giant logo, fly in the well-dressed reps and the big display of hardware – then stiff all the attendees by not making any of the announcements everyone was led to expect? Does playing ticket holders, show promoters and journalists for chumps really increase people’s liking of a brand?
You assume that the rumors were consciously leaked by the manufacturer. This is rarely the case.
I think we’re seeing a transition right now. Conventions still get media attention. There just not the primary outlets for major announcements.
That’s a shame.
I, for one, don’t care but I am intrigued by this 35mm design. There’s a lot more glass in there than I thought there would be. Definitely not a repurposed DSLR design. Way too $$$ for me but I’m curious to see how it holds up.
Totally agree, very interesting design. Tough competition as well for 1.4/35, Sigma, Nikon, Leica, Zeiss… I hope this Sony delivers..
When I decided for a Sony E/FE system, neither market share nor marketing strategies were on my criteria list 🙂
The a6000 performance and image quality strongly contributed to my decision to go from Nikon D800 to A7R and a dual camera system. The later being the first of its kind and thus a concept camera, I expect to exchange it for a A7R II or a A9.
This 35/1.4 is ugly. Did they optimize it for big size? Or maybe it resolves 150 mpx, so where are 150 mpx sensors?
Because how a lens looks is so much more important than how well it catches an image… SMH
Happy Valetines Day Sony. I thought you’d give me a heart shaped A99II, but I guess a 35mm is enough.
I love my sony a7r and the small body non mirror is the only way to go. So eventually they had to go in the lens direction to fill in that section. What I would like from sony is a new speedlight that has an internal radio trigger and it never overheats. A new 50+mp sony a7rII would be nice later on 🙂
There is no point in announcing new bodies and/or new lenses, when they can’t even deliver on the lenses on time. Last I heard the announced new set of lenses are delayed, it was announced before the a7ii, and its being delivered???
Sorry but shouldn’t the question be “Do you think Sony has a strategy?”
As a Sony A-Mount and E-Mount user for the last ten years I have my doubts and certainly if they have a strategy it’s a mystery to me. A-Mount cameras anyone….what happened to new bodies and new lenses and a clear strategy….E-Mount strategy is also a mystery to me too…..
i don’t care about the e-mount but i totally agree … it seems that they have no strategy … using new tecs that at least i do not care about instead of improving theirs: this means that you will never get the best out of what you have. 2nd to answer the question about the strategy: if Sony tend to launch major stuff off the big show, this is called strategy of the WEAK … instead of showing of urself and dominating the show, they do it alone … that is a SHAME
Not really. Showcasing and giving consumers hands on demonstrations on their technology at big shows where many consumers are present looks beneficial to me. I would rather showcase what the benefits of Sony are over the competition (at an event where many people are present…and many who don’t really know Sony) than announce one camera…. Looks like good marketing to me. Link below.
#cheers
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3468545272/cp-2015-sony-shows-off-new-technology
So you think that after the Photokina 2014 debacle sony’s marketing finally as arisen from the mediocric ashes? Or is it more clueless trying to avoid embarassing statements and 180 turns?
Just a different approach towards consumers. If you look at the link I added…you’ll see how interesting and effective the Sony booth was for consumers and the DPReview editors at CP+ with no camera announcements. CP+ is a camera show, and Sony did well with hands on demonstrations at a “camera show”
It seems to me too that Sony has no strategy, no long-term plans and no vision. There’s no good explanation for their actions in 2014…
You have no vision hence the endless knocking of your head around here.
You got me! I’m blind, that’s must be the reason I can’t see any CP+ announcements from Sony.
The e-mount strategy is pretty clear. The a-mount camera body situation is far more nebulous (will there be new bodies beyond the a99).
Yes, they do have a strategy, and it is very clear. FE-mount all the way, lip service and milking the remnants of FF A, APS-C A and APS-C E without overspending on R&D, until there are no suckers left. No doubt they will do the same with FE as soon as they are done with it (sold enough lenses to all suckers willing to pay $1200 for 55/1.8 etc), but there are a few years ahead until we are there.
Bringing new products or not in ONE trade show is hardly a strategy, more like a decision.
Or just the fact that there is nothing new to bring.
The last 2-3 years have been fairly intense, so omitting this one is actually not a disaster.
Just look at how long it took for Canon to move pass 23 MP.
IF, and that’s if, Sony have a 50 MP sensor up their sleeve, it may still be announced, released and on the shelves before Canon’s offer becomes reality.
To be fair they just need to announce it. Any canon owners who are considering e-mount ate likely to wait, especially if the 5ds doesn’t review well
E-Mount must be dead.
Finally Sony can roll out F(aggt)-Mount. 5 bodies and 2 lenses by Q4 2015!
They already released 6 lenses in slightly over a year. I see you chose your screen name based on the character’s IQ (certainly has nothing to do with strength).
Don’t care as soon as they start launching great products again. 3 years is a long time…
Sony only have 15 days left for those huge A-Mount February announcements that were supposed to fix the situation.
You must have heard something I didn’t…
3 years until what? The a99 & rx1 shipped in December of 2012. The a7 II just came out. The a7s is 6 months old. The a77-2 is less than a year old. The a7/r are slightly older than a year. That’s a fresh line-up.
Cameras should be refreshed on a three-month basis to keep up with technology. If you want to shoot with state-of-the-art gear then it’s important that the manufacturers keep their end of the deal. Old gear is insufficient for photographic purposes.
Right, tell that to Canon.
Old gear, you must be shooting Canon or with a TLR. How can you say such a nonsense? Do you really think that photography technology evolves in such a small time span? Funny guy.
You’ve to consider people who not bother about E-mount or adapters or possibility for legacy glasses. There are people out there who are waiting for the A-Mount stuff which at Photokina 2014 were promiced.
And btw first rumors and announcements (read lenses) are far ahead of the shipping date? Does it mean that Sony will in future ship products the day after announcing them? No I guess not see the new lenses. They will be in store on christmas
The old maxim of “a sucker born every minute” ran dry for Sony. No more fools were willing to buy an 11+7 bit camera.
There you are, I was getting a bit worried that you weren’t going to comment here.
Anton, you’re every bit a loser. And a bore.
Takes one to know one!
I see that you have become more active here, now that 43rumors have an active moderator. Good thing that you have this site to fall back on!
Go suck a rod.
No, I am 100% heterosexual.
Sony has given us nothing new ..good.. to talk about.
So the only two choices are complain about Sony or talk about all the good stuff everyone else…like Canon, Samsung etc…are coming out with.
Or talk about the good stuff they’ve already released or the good lenses that are coming or, you know, take some photos…
The good stuff they have done is for the history channel, not the rumor site.
Taking photos and talking on this site have no correlation.
No camera company can or should release a new camera every month. Sony is not selling talking points either…and I bet Sony will have a new camera available before the 5ds in July…neither of which you will purchase or be satisfied with regardless.
As I told you before I will be buying a high res camera and a 150-600 lens.
There I have preordered multiple mounts and will cancel the ones I dont want when I determine which camera I will get.
Actually… I think sony did a great job at CP+. They have good demonstrations on their technology. And because they know many people will be attending, it’s a perfect time to showcase what the advantages are in the Sony system with AF technology, IBIS technology, Sensor technology, etc to the consumers who “don’t” know much about Sony yet. Then weeks after a show after showcasing their technology, it would be a great time to announce “new” stuff. To gain recognition, I believe Sony did a great job with demonstrations to the public. See the link below.
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3468545272/cp-2015-sony-shows-off-new-technology
Give it the end of March and see what happens. Give me either new A-mount body or an E-mount body that’s rugged, fast, high res and wouldn’t mind if it’s larger than the current series.
Eventually, I think Sony is going to produce a “PRO” E-mount body that is similar or slightly larger than the A3000.
My guess – we’ll see pro e-mount bodies in a dslr shape and a7 or a6000 shspe
Agreed. An addition of dslr body shape “PRO” E-mount would make one that normally shies away from a small body really happy.
I find it strange that some are so possessive about Sony and its direction, I hope my life is a little richer than being owned by a brand..
If Sony think there is no benefit in attending a trade show and delay launches till such a time as they feel they will benefit that’s their decision. If my buying decisions are based on flaky things like non attendance at a trade show then I may have a problem.
Why should a company or person just follow the herd because everyone is doing it?
Don’t they have the possibility to do things different to get there products into the hands of its customers and get the news out there while not competing with hundreds of other announcements… Why try and shout loudly in a crowded room… you become part of the problem then and not solution focussed not sure that’s a good idea either… not very creative.
Do you really think that yelling your opinions here about what a corporation will change things? Canon don’t have a public plan that we are privy to about the future of its camera direction nor do Nikon, Pentax, HP Apple computers etc. sure they might drop hints…so why do expect Sony to?
I love that people are passionate about stuff, sometimes though a little reflection on our own place in the electronic cosmos might be worthwhile, if you don’t like your gear move on, buy something you can get along with, enjoy life, photography have some fun.
We live in a time of electronic miracles, saviour what you have, life is short, stop salivating over dreams unfulfilled desires, don’t give up on possibility but tease the possible out of what you have now, challenge yourself to extract everything you can out of what you posses without letting it possess you and see what happens.
In the meantime I’m enjoying taking photographs with my A900 the world hasn’t ended and my camera still surprises me in nice ways.
You’re making sense, so you’re in the wrong forum buddy!
Yep that’s right. Sensible comments, not what you expect here for some reason. Go off to Fred Miranda with your considered intelligent comments you!!
All I got from that was – “I find it strange blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah….”
Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!
I know the feeling!
Ppfffff lol
Wow, that’s word masturbation at its worst! Keep it concise and to the point, please!
I think you meant ‘verbal diarrhea’ 🙂
That’s it! I’m gonna sell my A99 and A7S and adopt a more reliable system! I AM SO SICK OF THIS, DO YOU HEAR ME SONY?
Sarcasm?
So you think Sony is now working 24/7 just to make sure you won’t sell your gear ? :/
You have the most new 2 cameras in their category , A7S and A99 and you are looking for a new one ?
I bet both of your cameras have less than 5000 shutter actuation
?? So sick of what??
Pretty dumb. I’m gonna buy the EM5II if there’s no quick response (I planned to wait and see what sony had to say before deciding on a system).
You know what’s funny ?
I still remember most of the guys here were complaining that Sony is releasing more camera bodies than lenses and they kept whining “we need lenses to use our cameras”.
Now when Sony started to focus in lenses a little they got back to request new cameras !
So ?
What else ? You need flashes right ? :/
We need the right lenses. Sony got their priorities wrong. They need to listen to our requests, and not release products that the market doesn’t want.
Lenses in general depends on what you want to photograph , your style.
For portrait photographers the 85mm is essential , for wildlife photographers the 85mm is worthless…
There is no “right lenses” and no company will be able to satisfy all photographers in the world.
Maybe it’s time for you to make the switch to another brand if Sony is not releasing stuff that fits your needs.
I think quite a few people here ought to switch to another brand. More than half of the commenters seem to hate Sony and everything they make with unbridled and often nonsensical passion. Why they keep coming back I just don’t understand.
Hate tends to be either a result of fear or envy – neither would be easily solved by productive paths of coping.
I think most of the haters aren’t Sony users at all. They only come here to flame and troll.
If I say the a7 is the best camera, I’m loved, my opinion is honest.
If I say the a7 cameras are silly; they’re a travel camera without any GPS options and no proper moisture sealing, and they don’t work in the studio because the shutter vibrations are too much on longer lenses and there’s no flash sync port, I’m a troll.
People can express their opinion or state facts without being a troll or a fanboy. It is a hard concept to grasp
I never said that you can’t criticize Sony, or make factual statements about Sony gear. Doing those things doesn’t make you a ‘hater’, so it’s not a hard concept to grasp, at all. But you obviously didn’t understand what type of poster I had in mind.
I know what you have in mind, I have it right here.
The problem is you make a quite reasonable comment then insist on finishing it with a rude and sarcastic quip for the sole purpose of winding people up. That makes you a troll, plain and simple.
I’m sure you’re right. Let’s not forget those who obviously come here to bless us with their far superior photographic skills and knowledge. They’re always a joy to behold too.
There are no other full-frame mirrorless options (leica doesn’t count, they actually contain some mirrors) like the a7 cameras. Sony are potentially sitting on a gold mine, and they’ve designed some nice cameras for the most part, but they’ve ruined them with the most stupid mistakes. Naturally people are going to be disappointed about it. Just like if you saw someone paint a great painting and then they threw a tin of beans over it. It has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the competition in some cases. I’d still not want a can of beans thrown over a painting I liked, regardless of whether there were 984948984948 people that could paint the same painting
Are you saying that Sony is a Dadaist camera manufacturer?
Why would Sony do anything posted on this buIIshit comment section? If you have a request, post it on the sony forum or find their feature request e-mail. To pretend sony somehow has “need to listen” when 90% of comments posted here is trollbait, is just dumb.
Sony doesn’t need to do anything anyone ever posted here, you want to be taken serious? Write them personally with your real name.
New body is not necessay but since they released the A7II, we kind of expect the R version of that camera.
Far as A7000 is concerned, A6000 could hold out for another year.
The least we could’ve gotten was a release date and pricing on the lenses announced at photokina. But we didn’t get that either. That was a major dissapointment.
You have puny inferior intellect,
I’m still waiting for a camera system to replace my Playstation. No way I’m going to go out and take photos instead of playing video games, UNLESS Sony comes up with someting truly innovative.
You smell like popcorn
Want to know an interesting fact? The binturong, a mammal that is related to the civet cat, smells like popcorn!
Well… I think someone needs to make dance-dance-revolution for Canon cameras 😀
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Here’s the lenses I’ve been waiting for …
fast AF primes (wide angle can be f/2.8 or f/4): 24mm, 58mm, 85mm.
Also, I was hoping Sony was gonna announce something with even higher specs than the a7ii &/or with a rangefinder form factor … but they announced NOTHING.
Ah yes, they only have a pretty good 55mm so now we need a 58mm, and I don’t want just a 85, or a 90mm macro, I want a 87mm and a 22mm because otherwise there will be nothing left to bit*h about.
I love my A7. While there is only a few FE lenses I can always mount other lenses. Sony is doing a much better work than Canon.
Nobody can complain about news brought by Sony so far, the Roadmap of FE lenses is impressive (1 or 2 months of delau who cares?), A7ii just launched etc… The only ones who can complain are the A-mount FF fans, the A99’s successor is long overdue!
Seven years and three a900 bodies used to a mix of lenses from Minolta, Sony and Sigma. Now it’s time to get new cameras. Dear Sony, can you give us a modern pro a900 (24mp, 4D-AF, Hi-ISO, 10fps, built-in vert.grip) before next Easter?
One last thing: please, no video function on it. Most of us are photographers not videomakers.
+1 Me2, looking for the 3rd a900 body if no new A-mount flagship camera from Sony !
I won’t mind even if Sony put a7R sensor on it and keep it at 5fps, just get the Liveview working on OVF and I’m sure it can beat 5Ds in terms of DR and perhaps Hi-ISO!
Sony probably saved their ‘Booth Bucks’ since everyone has a guess at what is coming a7rII and a7sII; but even Sony does not want the constant question of whether their will be the newer IBIS from Oly and even better Sensors from Sony — or will it simply be a ‘dupe’ (clone) with IBIS (and a thicker Body).
Once they nail down if the new models will be ‘the same’ + IBIS or much better they will make a separate day for their own “Worldwide Announcement” — “We don’t need no stinking Booths”.
With the clamoring for higher frame rate 4K and Global Shutter; that may be where the holdup is.