Sometimes I get rumors from new sources that are very difficult to “believe”. I hope my trusted sources can confirm or deny the following rumor:
“The “nex pro” will indeed use the A-mount. Sony is marketing towards professionals who want it as a main camera and even as a 2nd camera. It may also have the standard Sony SLR/TLR shoe mount.”
It’s not the first time I get rumors about an A-mount NEX camera. To me that doesn’t make sense at all. And for you? I hope the new soruce that sent me this is not offended by the low rumor rating but I wasn’t able to confirm it with my trusted sources. Anyway, I hope you are right because I like the other rumors you sent me too!!! 🙂 Thanks!
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!
86 Responses
I think its a concept – “we are not sure what customers want so lets make it just in case and see whats going to happend”.
Rokkor lens (previous rumor) with different (MD/A) mounts, NEX cameras with different (A/E) mounts… OMG, Sony wants we are breaking our brains?
Will this A-mount NEXT allow AF working with non-SAM lenses? AF-drive in NEX body?
weird naming an A-mount camera a NEX (even if its intended for pros). hmmmm
It cannot be done! It defeat the whole lineup and approach! It will create a mess to consumer! [SR1]
Exactly ! (SR-1) for me…
Can’t you already use A-mount lenses through an adapter on NEX cameras? What’s the point?
1. Add extension so that A-mount lenses can focus to infinity.
2. Add mirror system so that A-mount lenses can be focused.
3. Add iISO flash shoe so that Alpha flashes can be used.
Result: A Sony Alpha DSLR or SLT.
So what’s the point?
Mirrorless A-mount
300+ amount lenses that autofocus albeit very slowly with CDAF + IBIS might be a selling point.
When CDAF is improved or PDF on sensor is in place 90% of all cameras will become mirrorless .
If that was true, then there would not be the “SLT” concept, because all the idea behind it is to use PDAF
SLT is just a stop gap design until someone cracks the code for on sensor PDAF.
All makers have their own patents and Fuji released a camera with very limited success.
When that happens 90% of all cameras in all mounts will be mirrorless.
Traditional DSLR’s with moving mirrors and OVF will still be made for those that cant live with EVF.
They do still make vinyl records, B&W TV’s,film cameras and horse drawn carriages.
🙂
The on-sensor PDAF so far is a dream. Mostly due to accuracy issues (that’s why it was used only in compacts where depth of field is so huge that it easily masks any AF mistakes made). I wouldn’t be surprised if no PDAF on sensor DLSR-alike camera would be released in next 5 years. And till than? Likely CDAF will be perfected in some ways to provide enough accuracy & speed for serious camera, or developers will figure out that mirror after all is a necessary thing if you want everything working top-notch.
Sky_walker
PDAF on sensor was already introduced by fuji in their last compact camera, the truth is that i find my GH1 CDAF fast enough + more accurate then my canon DSLR PDAF, also it does not suffer from back/front focus issues.
The GH2 is much faster then my camera
Yes, I know frosti 🙂 that’s why I told that it was used only in compacts – fuji was exactly what I had in mind.
GH1 CDAF is “fast enough” for regular uses, but in serious sports photography it sill lags badly beyond PDFA. But IMO: it’s more likely that this gonna be perfected than PDAF on sensor will work well enough on DSLR.
the rumor is wrong!
What’s so weird about such a good idea? Compact NEX size with many more lens options and a hotshoe. This would tip the scales…especially if it was FF. But If they treat it like their latest cameras and don’t include many common features found in other brands then there is no point. It’s just another high-powered, high-potential camera that they disable so their pro video or whatever division don’t lose sales.
My strategic view on this topic “a nex/alpha pro EVIL camera with a-mount”
Why not? It would be the best counterpart against the whole mFT and FT world and all coming EVIL-cameras and compact system cameras with lens mount anyway it would also blast Nikon’s and Canon’s future plans for an evil-system with F- and EF-mount away! It would upset any plans from the competition!
Sun Tzu: “Attack him (the enemy) where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected”
The A-mount have got a much better lens lineup with all Zeiss ZA and Sony/Minolta G lenses than the current young NEX-Lens lineup.
A professional NEX-Camera (or Alpha “EVIL”) with A-mount would have got much more possibilities than any “Evil System” ever would does gave. Imagine you can use with such a camera the AF-System also with old lenses with old screw-drived?/mechanical drived AF without any SAM or SSM motor and you can benefit from the whole A-mount system!
Imagine you could have got a compact professional “EVIL” NEX/Alpha-camera with the A-Mount, which is the perfect 2nd or first backup-camera between your expensive high-grade professional or semi-professional d-slr or upcoming fullframe/35mm digital single lens translucent (SLT) camera! This would be a compact and gorgeous/great solution in technological aspects + compact size for everyday use!
And you can use Fullframe/35mm Sensor in a compact sized body and without any negative aspects in relation to the lens system! This would be a real leica killer and better than any compact system camera with mount!
But why call this a NEX pro a-mount camera? It would be more an EVIL Alpha camera!
Conclusion:
Of course it is my opinion only and such a pro NEX/Alpha (we should call it a Alpha camera) with A-mount is too good to be true!
But in other aspects a “EVIL” Alpha camera with A-mount is surely possible in near future! Because we all know sony’s plan to bring phase detection AF into the sensor!
With this technology you can have got fast af-cameras and bigger sensor sizes in smaller and light-weight bodies without big mirrors, optical viewfinder, etc.!
But it would indeed blasts everything away in the market! It would be the next level of “disruptive technologies” brought by any camera corporation such as Sony, which could revolutionize the camera market once more again!
conclusion:
-the rumor about a nex pro camera with a-mount is surely maybe just fake
-but a Sony Alpha “EVIL” Camera with a-mount, with maybe sensor build-in phase detection AF could becoming true in the next years!
Best regards,
Photongraph
I hope this rumour is wrong. The whole point of the NEX series is the lens mount and the short distance from mount to sensor, which allows you to mount almost any lens, even C-mount.
If Sony want to include a fully functional A-mount adaptor, that is OK, but of no interest to me as I have no A-mount lenses and don’t intend to buy any.
NEX is the name system for E-Mount bodies.
Can never be A-Mount.
NEX is used together with the product department, as well.
NEX-3/5 are Alpha products, FS100 is NXCAM and VG10 is Handycam.
Sony is pretty clear on their naming.
What would be possible are E-Mount pro bodies with iISO hotshoe, or A-Mount body without mirror (classic or SLT) and contrast detect AF only….
Nope I think Sony’s real future plans in near or later future, would be much more a Sony Alpha EVIL camera with A-Mount without any mirror and any optical viewfinder, with sensor build-in phase detection AF, contrast AF is still until now too slow against the good old phase detection AF-system.
This would be the perfect evolution or next step after the SLT cameras, which still have got mirrors but have an electronical viewfinder…
But the NEX rumor is probably really a fake! 😉 Such a product with the NEX name on it, wouldn’t be really consequentially!
The sooner we get a clear picture of the NEX-7 the better.
a pro nex camera should be e-mount imho. pros are more likely to use mf adapted lenses like leicas, suikos etc. instead of making an a-mount nex sony should make an e-to-a mount adapter with af motor for the screw driven a-mount lenses.
Pros are more likely to use old 80’s vintage (Zuiko) or hyper-expensive (Leica) manual focus lenses with an adapter than established super-performance modern AF lenses (Zeiss and G)? Yeeeeah keep smoking what you’re smoking, must be really good…
Maybe he means the NEX-7 will be bundled with an A-Mount adapter. This could be a good thing, and I’m a wishful thinker. :-/
Such a camera would also need to have in-body stabilization.
For the registration distance to be correct, so the image is properly focused on the sensor, the mount to sensor distance will have to be exactly the same as in a SLT/SLR – therefore you may as well stick a mirror in to get some decent autofocus….
I may be wrong here
I do wonder if Sony have come up with some kind of workaround so that a mount lenses can be mounted better than with the current adaptor – perhaps a kind of ‘dual mount’…?
I do also wonder about the life expectancy of the E mount if there is some kind of better adaptation between E & A mount. There are just so many more native options lens wise on the A mount…
At the moment Sony makes most of its NEX money from the camera bodies (plus bundles with kit lenses) – the main advantage of NEX is its adaptability for using other lenses – these other lenses can hardly be a money spinner for Sony…
I agree. A NEX (with an adaptor) that can handle screw-mount lenses AND can do fast focus (NEX today is slow on focus at 100+mm medium-to-fast image focus tracking) would be a PRO NEX machine. I also hope that it is an adapter, because those pancake E-mount lenses would also be sweet on such a small camera.
Make sense to me especially that NEX uses APS-C sensor so lenses need to cover this area anyway (they essentially cannot be much smaller that standard APS-C lenses). We get rid of mirror, reduce size to optimal and we can use A lenses, I like it.
That would make since if you consider how slow Sony has been to release E-mount lenses. Maybe they just wanted enough lenses to keep us at bay until they could design a NEX body with an alpha mount. I would love it, but it would have to have image stabilization built in!
Sony are probably hoping that independent lens companies such as Sigma will bring out a good range for NEX.
Sony is not really a lens company, it is more a professional video company.
Sony have produced more lenses in a much shorter time frame than Minolta + Konica Minolta did the last fifteen years or so. Get yer facts straight.
mirrorless alpha camera, make sense
Thats like hit your left hand with your right hand….doesn’t make sense at all.
It’d be such a great news for Fujifilm and his rumored “X100 with interchangeable lens mount” coming….
success of E mount NEX is clearly an indication for SONY maximising the A mount line up.
Changing lens is always the issue with pro cameras, many are willing to purchase an extra camera for the lens. THerefore
If NEX-H7 (H for pro line as in High end) is A mount and retail 699 body only offer control on par with A55 with a A77 sensor then it would be Hot cakes for those willing to attach their Prime 24-85 mm lens on it.
THe key for Emount NEX is to lure users of other camps to Sony technology camera bodies, subsequently make them buy a proper Sony SLT / A mount NEX camera. IT is a long term method to infiltrate the enemy camp
this camera will be a bombshell to CN camp!
Why would you want to make an A-mount NEX? Since the mount distance is fixed for a certain mount it will not be as small as an E-mount camera. Some people here seem to forget that.
You have 2 system like this already,
1)SLT
2)NEX+A-mount adapter
3)if this rumor was true then the camera would be an SLT just with CDAF instead of PDAF, how logical does that sound?
4)how this system is going to be different then NEX+A adaptor?
I can’t be the only person who is looking for a digital camera body to replace film cameras for macro, micro and other applied and technical photography.
The NEX-5 is almost ideal because of the big range of adaptors. I have a lot of macro equipment in Topcon/Exakta mount, as well as some in Nikon, and a stack of specialised lenses. The NEX will work with all of them.
The limitation of the NEX-5 is that the resolution is well below that of full frame films such as Tech Pan or Microfilms. A 24 Mpix sensor would get us nearer to that requirement – but not all the way. A larger, possibly full 24x36mm, sensor in a NEX body would be ideal.
The Alpha cameras are of no interest to me whatever. If I bought a DSLR it would be a Nikon, but I think the whole mirror-and-pentaprism concept is obsolete. What is needed is better LCD displays and tethering to big computer screens.
APS-C sensor area os roughtly the half of 35mm film.
So the NEX-5 actually has higher resolution per area than a 24mp FF Sensor (equalling 32mp FF).
The resolution per area is only of technical interest. What matters is the total resolution of the image (and of course noise, colour quality, etc).
Bear in mind that the effective resolution of a Bayer mosaic sensor is about half of that claimed.
Ideally, the NEX series could do with larger sensors, maybe about halfway between APS-C and 24x36mm.
You are missing the big picture, NEW + adapter only works for new Sony lenses and not the legacy Minolta lens for AF control. Alpha mount would mean ALL Alpha mounts would work and AF.
This is fake!!!
They are really going to come out with a NAX camera! 🙂
If phase contrast AF is on sensor, then it is possible to make A-mount AF camera without mirror which basically is mirrorless camera ala NEX. Expect in 2-3 year future if E-mount AF lens number will be still very limited.
It is more SLT then nex,
just remove the already transusent mirror and you pretty much have the rumored camera
The ‘E’ in E-mount refers to the 18mm (eighteen) flange-back distance that the camera models have, which allows them to use lenses made for other mounts. The flange-back distance is important as this is the distance required so that the lens attached can focus the light onto the image sensor.
The adapters people buy to put a lens made for a different mount onto an E-mount mainly increases this flange-back distance to match.
The A-mount found on the Alpha systems use a flange-back distance of 44.5mm, and if used in an NEX system, will obviously increase the size of the camera that it will hardly be seen as “compact”. And as what some people have already mentioned — you might as well stick a (translucent) mirror in there for decent autofocus, ie., SLR/SLT.
I’d have no more problems with a mirrorless alpha mount camera than I would with a SLT. I’m not sure why they would call it a NEX if it didn’t have an E mount, though.
I don’t think that Sony would or should bring out a Nex stills camera that only uses the A-Mount. What I could imagine is a solution similar to the PMW-F3 motion-picture camera, that has a custom mount on witch Sony added a custom PL-Mount adapter. That camera was specially designed to support PL-Mount as well without having to face any limitations.
By the way the e-Mount has the huge benefit of a very short flange focal distance, that advantage would be lost switching to the e-mount. By the way why should a A-Mount camera be named Nex there is no point to this.
its call NAX, not NEX…. lol
and, contrast detect NAX? its a big waste of time, i just buy a SLT instead. i am very very skeptic bout this SR2… make it SR1
+1
Make it SR1
It’s interesting to read of this A mount NEX (if it’s true). I remember suggesting this (in a discussion on the Dyxum forum) as a solution for the A mount user who might want an alternative (hopefully quiet) camera. I had imagined a NEX with a fully functional A-E adapter incorporated so that both mounts could be used, including legacy lenses. Let’s hope this comes true!
So it would be… an A-Mount camera not a NEX :S I don’t think the author of this rumour understands the technology properly…
This is only my idea of what SONY could be looking at and a concept that would work for me.
A mirror less camera based on the Alpha a77 body without the mirror box and a smaller electronic view finder on the top of the body. No bulge on the top of the camera but a clean square almost M-8 look.
Plus the ability to use the battery grip of the Alpha a77 and the external flash of the Alpha line.
All in a Mag Alloy Body and Chassis.
Also quiet the shutter I want to be silent when shooting close up in a Church Wedding.
Paul
“A mirror less camera based on the Alpha a77 body without the mirror box “
May I remind you that the distance of this mirror box is built-in into your A-mount lenses (“hard wired”)?
So, what’s the point to build an empty mirror box on a camera…? Either you skip it completely (means new (E-mount) lenses) or you put something useful in it (e.g. translucent mirror).
Probably not a true rumor
But it does bring-up the issue of the number of different lenses needed to compete with Canon and Nikon to really support a camera platform.
Many here have complained about the lack of lenses for the A-mount and Sony’s slowness in upgrading the acquired Minolta designs. Now with the NEX platform, users of this camera are clamoring for quality choices.
Is Sony really willing to invest in two lens systems at the level necessary?
As a NEX can use almost every Nikon and Canon lens, this is not an issue.
Maybe it would be if Sony was primarily a lens company, like Sigma or Leitz.
NEX with A-mount? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight…throw away that source immediately…I’m tired of people that suggest that idea, because they go after a moment of excitement and they don’t see things with logic.
+1 with all the people that got their facts right…
Why bother with the Zeiss emount lens if the nex pro is amount, ther is already an amount 24/2 so why bring it for the non pro market?
NEX stands for N(New) E(Eighteen millimeter) X(Experience) NEX. NEX exists precisely for this reason, to enable use of multiple lens mounts (including A mount) by using adapters. Therefore an ‘A’ mount camera cannot be a NEX. It just is not possible or even desired. They are two different approaches.
Exactly. An A mount NEX would be a NAX (and nonsense).
I would think the admin would know this but there is no way to have a NEX camera (ie, a camera that works with NEX lenses) that has a native A-mount.
It is impossible.
So the rumor rating of SR2 is being too generous. You will need to award something like SR-1 (aka When pigs learn to fly)
Now an A-mount camera with contrast detect AF is possible to make although quite pointless. If Sony had decent contrast AF that worked well with a-mount lenses it would have already used it to provide video AF for Alpha cameras and negated most of the need and purpose of the SLTs.
PhotoNut – meaning of “A-mount NEX camera” is “Mirrorless camera with A-bayonet” as almost everyone in here understood. Not a camera using NEX lenses with A-bayonet. How did you came to such conclusion anyway?
Whatever it’s pointless or not is another thing, but don’t twist what’s being said, please.
The collective IQ of the users of this forum is so low. A impossible rumor is floated and all of a sudden forum users are saying how it is a great idea and how they look forward to the product or how they would sightly modify it.
Yet anyone who knows anything about SLRs and lenses knows immediately that the proposed product is not possible and hence there is nothing to discuss about it.
This is the problem with the new Sony users that are coming into the family. They don’t know anything about the history of photography, don’t know anything about how SLRs and lenses work but yet they think that since they moved up from a point and shoot to an SLT that shoots at 10fps or NEX camera that they are now completely knowledgeable about everything under the sun.
Meanwhile most of the knowledgeable people are moving away from participation in Sony forums or are switching to more serious brands.
What a shame.
You are right, Sony is bringing all ex-pointandshooters to a higher levels of knowledge and you are affraid and intimidated.
I’m on the other hand very happy to share my oppinion:
It’s a fake rumor like saying A77=Nex7.
What a colorfull minds.
Relax. We all aren’t as low-IQ as you perceive. The configuration needed to make this work implies several unstated simultaneous changes. EVERYONE here knows that. The conjecture on this improbable result can be unnerving to some, but it is at-least-amusing for others.
It’s always nice to dream they made some nice HUGH breakthrough! It is a dream but how many of our new daily use devices were thought to be impossible decades and even years ago. I heard recently from multiple sources a small company has developed a sensor for cameras that can be re-focused AFTER the photo is taken. That is a hugh step forward that most people will doubt until they see it in real life! That would be awesome if Sony bought the rights to that technology!
If this rumor is true, it will most likely entail a FullFrame NEX. By using the larger mount, Sony should have the space to implement better AutoFocus and Flash systems.
I don’t want the A mount, though. I bought the NEX for the E Mount. I want a FullFrame E Mount NEX so I can use ALL of my legacy lenses, plus the newer Sony lenses. The A mount is very restrictive, you can only mount Alpha lenses and M42.
If this is true I won’t be able to use my Leica/Voigtlander M lenses on it! 🙁
Say it ain’t so, Sony!!!
Please give us a FullFrame E Mount NEX!!!
You may have to rework the micro-lens array on the edges of the sensor like Leica has done with the M9. I’m sure this is no problem for Sony!
So would it be called NEX just because it has no mirror or translucent element? Weird. I don’t see the point in doing this.
Andrea, I think posting this is not very serious from you. It’s obviously impossible to do an A-mount NEX!
@ PhotoNut
Is Thom Hogan posting here again under other names?
I wish Hogan would choke on his own B.S.
Pretty sad when Hogan has to invade other blogs because his blog is a running joke.
Andrea does a great job here, the opinions of the posters are as varied as the photography market. No one has a perfect background in photography. Well, except Thom Hogan and Ken Rockwell, of course! 🙂
Hello,
when a NEX PRO have a FF sensor then they need another mount. E-mount is to small because of the electronic contacts. Therefore it is the logical solution to build a NEX or mirrorless cam for A-mount. This sounds logical for me. I would buy this body.
I would leave it as SR2 at least – there is something going on with the mount on the NEX7 though if this rumour is correct or not i have no idea.
how about a modular mount…?
Take some inspiration from the rather odd Ricoh but leave the expensive sensor in place.
The camera body itself is smaller than DSLR but bigger than NEX3/5 with the built-in hotshoe that would make lots happy – perhaps rangefinder in style or perhaps with in built EVF fed from the sensor..
The most interesting feature would be that you can swap the lens mount.
– E-mount to keep a smaller form factor & retain the adaptability with other lenses. The camera would automatically detect the presence of the E-mount & disable SSS…
– A-mount adapter fitted – a larger mount incorporating a mirror box & translucent mirror to enable faster autofocussing & an inbuilt motor so AF is enabled with legacy lenses. The camera would automatically detect this and enable SSS.
I think this could be possible & given the fact there is no news whatsoever on the NEX7 I do think we are in for something quite special.
If it was rugged and had a good grip and a usable screen interface and maybe a few more external controls pros like, it would be my next Sony body for sure.
I think it is a brilliant idea.
Rumored product vs Nex:
44.5mm vs. 18mm flange-back distance
Rumored product vs slr/slt:
Contrast detection af vs. phase detection af
xx lenses vs. 4 lenses
So…
agree, just a little bigger to balance the lens!
I always use the A mount adaptor with my nex. I bet they can get the lens closer to sensor and make it smaller then the nex with adapter. The 24mm, 28mm, 50mm a mount lens wound not look bad.
Fake rumor. It will add to the apparent confusion that already exists at Sony. Carrying on with 2 separate lines of mounts is plain stupid. There’s no need for an E-mount in general and it should never have been created. Sony should have made the NEX with an A-mount to begin with and stop wasting consumers money and time with inferior E-mount lenses.
It seems you don’t understand the logic behind creating a new mount…If Sony decided at first to create a NEX with an A-mount, tell me, what logic solution you could find to keep the size at a minimum? (REMEMBER: all the A-mount cameras have a distance from flange to sensor of 44.5mm)
The basic idea of the E-mount it’s to create a system with a short distance from flange to sensor (18mm) to keep the size at a minimum, and by now, the NEX cameras sale numbers don’t lie, so maybe it’s not stupid to have 2 lines of mounts.
Also, don’t say that Sony should have made the NEX with A-mount from the beginning…(that makes you the stupid don’t you think?). Sony with the NEX series camera have brought back use of old rangefinder and SLR Film cameras lenses to several people. So it’s pretty smart move from Sony to create the E-mount.
If that would mean that they would ad the sensor based stabilization to the NEX Pro then it would kmake a lot of sense.Just as I thought some months ago,seems Pentax will be the big player in the mirrorless arena since they now have a sensor based image stabilization model…something nobody else have not even Sony.
You seem to be ignoring all the Olympus models with sensor based IS. Also, the Pentax Q is stillborn and a completely crap camera. It will only sell in Japan because of cuteness factor.
Downgrade this one to SR0 (Completely made-up horsesh**)
This has already been stated a bunch of times but for anyone who missed it: For a mirrorless camera to use alpha lenses it would have to incorporate the space of the alpha mirrorbox between the lens and the sensor into the body for the system to work. So… a whole bunch of empty space inside the camera body. Now does that seem like a viable idea for a camera? I didn’t think so.
Or you have an adapter for Alpha lenses which offers full AF and other adapters, as now, to put any other lenses on – leica, zeiss, nikon, canon, etc…(some adapters might even offer AF for these other brands).
This concept was rather popular with NEXs even with no dials and buttons…but a more fully featured camera with twin control dials, SSS, wireless flash and proper hotshoe and an optional 3MP EVF…
So not so silly to maintain the shallow body…a pro mirrorless compact for ALL brand users to break the system inertia of Canon and Nikon users and introduce them to Sony. Then they buy a couple of Alpha mount lenses…and a flash…and their next DSLR choice becomes a lttle more open. I think I could make a case for that…indeed I think I just did.
I too think there should be a “NEX pro”, and in fact I’m hoping the NEX-7 will be very much like what you described. You don’t really need to subscribe to the retarded idea in this rumor to accomplish anything you described. As far as an adapter that offers full AF, I’m afraid that’s currently wishful thinking. Maybe once Sony cracks PDAF-on-sensor they can make some kind of super alpha-to-e-mount adapter that has fast performance, and includes a screw-drive to boot, for full AF support of all a-mount lenses.
I need “alpha” Flash mount NEX Pro. Thanks!
Regarding AF at the launch of the NEX the following answer was given to a question on AF:
Q. At the launch it was mentioned that the adapter for the A mount lenses has compatibility issues such as AF not working. Is that something that’s going to be amended in the future?
Mr Katsumoto: Autofocus should be working with the adapter and we have engineers still working very hard. We wanted to prepare a solution for connecting the A mount lenses from the beginning so that’s why we released it.
A long time ago now but the full interview is here http://www.ephotozine.com/article/interview-with-sony-s-toru-katsumoto–13659
So in time Sony will have a solution for the focusing problem?
Mr Kondo: When it’s done maybe we can do it on a firmware upgrade.
You are a year behind, AF was provided with the adapter via a firmware upgrade about a year ago. It only works with SSM/SAM lenses, because it otherwise would have to feature a built-in motor, and focusing is so slow it’s useless anyway.
NEX is defined by its mount so I think this rumor is nonsense.