My sources finally allowed me to post a small rumor that in my opinion is the very first step to a revolution. I can post it on Monday at 10am London time. Do not expect a picture or detailed specs. It’s a small rumor, but when you think about it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back!
I bet it here, this will start a very long discussion on SAR! So stay tuned!
P.S.: I am often going on mountains, climbing here and there. Sorry if it takes long to answer your mails or allow your comments.
P.P.S.: Just a reminder. Some of you asked me how to support that website. As you can see I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks 🙂
136 Responses
Oh nooo … what a teaser ! Still 2.5 days to wait ….
“the camel’s back” = Canikon, right ?
DONT TEAZE ME BRO!
no… i hate teaser!!!
but thanks for the reminder on how to support your site. i will be ordering soon.
My bets:
– 3 layer sensor
– PD AF on sensor
But both of these already had their debuts (in compacts mostly / sigma slrs) and they did not break camel’s back, not even were close to this so…
I have no idea really what could be such a big revolution to hurt camel. Sony will give away 1 000 00 DSLRs to people around the world? Sony is going to release world first 18-200 f/1.4 zoom? Sony will release 50 lenses in next year to run after Canikon?
Anyone else got ideas?
“But both of these already had their debuts (in compacts mostly / sigma slrs) and they did not break camel’s back”
Discrediting your own guess concerning a rumor about a rumor??
How much more ethereal can this site get???
24 Megapixels of hardware binning..? 🙂
Keep on dreaming. The news is probably that the A77 has been cancelled, delayed further or something else. 🙂
It’s suppose to be revolutionary not “the same what last week”. 😉
Why wait till Monday??
Uhm, cause it helps with reader views on the site during the weekday?
He wants you to come back next week after the leaked A77 shots from Dyxum stole his thunder.
Just like TV shows that use teasers and stuff to bring you back
And what’s wrong with that?
At last!! One company whose going to make the big two stand on its knees, its so boring seeing people only using nikon or canon cameras as if they are the only camera company that exist in this world
I totally agree, Andrew!! I’ve been scoffed at, mocked and “urged” to dump my Sony and come over to the light of Canon or Nikon. If that’s true, it hasn’t exactly hurt business for me. It’s picking up, if anything!
Probably something to do with Microsoft. They recently registered sony-microsoft.com and microsoft-sony.com.
Either that or they’re going to let me be the first one to order an A77 😀
Oh no, after such build-up it better not be a new cellphone camera
Sony leaving the APS-C market!!
Nothing has really changed in lenses for SRL “type” lenses for a very very long time.
And a revolutionary change could explain why Sony hasn’t done much in this area.
Remember years ago when the Hubble telescope was launched with badly failed optics and NASA provided a “technical” solution?
Sony developing a S-mount? which will then be used in Nex and Alpha camera’s Nex being small, less buttons, and alpha having better features????
Well I’m guessing ‘we’re’ the ‘camel’ so I don’t think its good news:-)
(unless he’s mixed his metaphors:-)
Oh yes, please let this be a case of mixed metaphors and he’s really referring to David taking down Goliath or something.
PDAF on sensor Alpha camera and NEX camera without any mirror?
AF for manual lenses on NEX?
Sensor can rotate 90 degree?
Sensor can tilt and shift?
Sensor can rotate with horizon?
Phase detection on sensor, it’s the obvious following step after SLT.
Quote, “a small rumor that in my opinion is the very first step to a revolution. Do not expect a picture or detailed specs.”
These are the words that intigued me the most. It has to be some kind of hardware. Sony have been working on a new liquid lens. Could that innovation be close?
For cell phone yes.
🙂
I think liquid lenses too.
Imagine all lenses in one.
I bet my 2 cents on it!
yep, john is right. Liquid lenses – at least in form seen in all patents till now – were only for cellphones. Super-tiny. There isn’t really a foreseeable perspective of seeing this as A-mount lenses.
I love the part about a revolution but yet “Do not expect a picture or detailed specs. It’s a small rumor”
So which is it?
Nicely played. You write well.
Sony is buying out Nikon…it was bound to happen….
Frankly, I’d rather there had not been a post, and then you just told us how revolutionary the implications of this rumor are on monday.
This feels like hype, and before a long weekend…. then, inevitably, the rumor being small will not be impressive on monday and you’re guaranteed to let us down.
I think pre-selling it like this is a mistake.
Sorry, I am an amateur and not a journalist. Probably I am a bit to emotional on that. Anyway, I wanted to be sure you will not miss that on Monday! Just be a bit patient!
You’ve generated a lot of interest and comments. It’s clear the majority of readers have enjoyed or at least wondered about your post. I’ve enjoyed reading people’s “best feature ever” guesses. Relax and smile, and to quote an old song, “You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself”.
+1
Ya, please don’t worry about some of us!
Just have some a77 pic and official sepesc. with the small rumor on Monday 🙂
You’re doing a good job, and my comment wasn’t meant to be mean in any way. Just telling you my preferences. If I feel too jerked around, i’ll visit less. We’ll see what happens monday.
But my point was more, surprise feels good. Knowing somethings going to happen, but not what it is, creates tension and that feels bad for a lot of people.
You might not be one of those people so I wanted you to know that there are people out there like that… this gives me stress, believe it or not.
But it’s ok. I appreciate your work and your site!
PDAF +global shutter
I’m a minute late, was just about to write global shutter 🙂
It will be great when it happens, silent still capture and no more jello effect in video.
Perfect for stealthy street photogs.
😉
OH HELL YEAH. Global shutter!
“Sorry, I am human and not a journalist”
Hahah, what journalists have to think now?
Anyway, keep up the good work Andrea!
Good post meh. Thank!
FF+EVIL
I was thinking the same thing – a mirrorless ff pro camera line – the SEX !
my best guess would be about the news in the past that sony nikon and sandisk acknowledged the need for super fast memory cards and that they were working together to create those cards.
So like the news that A77 gonna be first camera to use it, or something alike? Perhaps it’s possible. Certainly would be a very welcome news.
And what….Canon won’t license same tech?
Hardly “revolutionary” or camel killer.
:-/
hmm, do canon or nikon have a license with zeiss for autofocus lenses? that was the first sign for me that sony is here to stay in the camera world 🙂
Are all Zeiss lenses available in A-mount?
There are people who wish they were.
Does Nikon license DRO?
But they do have D-Lighting.
I don’t see any dead camels in the parking lot at Henry’s.
Sony in for the long haul…? OF COURSE
🙂
Any tech pictures is not so interesting to wide public. I bet there is very few people who will ask for droving of sensor etc. Last time similar post was about A77 pictures, now it is about some specs.
Still didn’t understand two specs of A77: such a dramatic increase in resolution (60% over 16Mpix) and some time earlier rumored hundreds of thousands of ISO sensitivity. If maximal ISO will be “just” 102400, then two stops less than max ISO should be pretty useful picture and tree stops less (ISO12800)- awesome. I think rumor is about A77 high ISO IQ. At least I hope so.
It is small, but the same time important and awesome rumor and one picture could tell more than thousand words.
Likewise on the ISOs. Anyone know about what percentage (ballpark calculations greatly appreciated) of available light is captured if the ISO is ~100,000?
I think it’s going to be global shutter too. But FS100 already has some kind of global shutter and panasonic is rumored to be working on a global shutter too.
The only other earth shuttering thing i can think of is either liquid lenses or maybe sony is buying Nikon lol. I would love to see how Nikon fanboys react to that.
Maybe sony might not buy Nikon but they might collaborate on something or Nikon might be joining the emount?
On sensor Phase detection on would be nice too.
I hope it wont be something like sony will launche 6 cameras in 2011 or something not really interesting or innovative.
Well it’s suppose to be a “first step to the next revolution”, lets hope it’s something that really shakes up the market and leaves Nikon and Canon trembling in their knees.
Hate to Wait !
FF cancelled.
Andrea, at least mention whether it is good news or bad news.
Good news!
Awe, I wanted a full frame…..!
Ok…
But wihch level?
SR1… SR5 ?
SR5 of course!
1. On sensor PDaf for Nex7
2. SLT 10/90 instead of 30/70 for A77
Lets hope…
maybe we will be able to order A77 with options… like no AA or warm filter or with IR filter instead of warm filter…
User replacable sensor? So we don’t have to throw away/retire a complete camera each time we want a better sensor?
this would be cool!
swap APS for FF!
Everyone is talking about large sensor cameras, this rumor may be about a big leap forward for small sensors 😀
this is kinda of childish…no ? Either post the rumor….or don´t . Reminds me of someone saying they know a secret….but can´t tell you !
agreed 🙂
It’s coming on Monday mate 🙂
Hmm, something so revolutionary it’s going to make Canikon worry. Canikon is dominant in fullframe cameras. So I guess it’s going to be something revolutionary with fullframe … maybe a fullframe NEX ? That would be awesome !!
Nevertheless some nice jokes in these replies.. Really liked Vagabondo’s one..
I know! I know!
The small rumor: the badly photoshopped rendering of the NEX 7 is, actually, fake.
The revolution: SAR decided to check sensationalist rumors BEFORE posting them.
Can’t wait!!
Hey Andrea,
Can you at least give us a clue? Is it related to technology or finance, like a company merger?
I believe a PayPal address to make donations for this page is a good idea. I don’t plan on buying anymore gear for another month or two, but would like to contribute to this site. I like how you keep the ads to a minimum.
Have a good weekend,
It’s about technology.
A mount lenses on NEX.
I agree. I like to support local vendors, but would like to pay a voluntary subscription for this site.
I am surprised how little interest many Sony vendors have in at least checking out this site. Is that anyone else’s experience too?
ADMIN – A Quick thank you for your work! I justbought my first system camera in two decades and I used your links. (:-{)}
Have fun in the mountains!
Bill
Sony will buy Nikon?
Or a77 will be available in green?
Interesting that a rumor site is not allowed to publish rumors …. 🙂
/E
Andrea is going to have a sex change, and become ummmm!! Andrea 🙂
you keep me hooked anyway with these rumours
LOL
I know what it is but I won’t tell you guys.
You won’t believe your ears!!
Sony introducing a light field camera??
Maybe as long as a year and a half ago Thom Hogan said the the D400 would have a revolutionary new AF system. Could it be PDAF on Sony’s new sensor?
Nikon has too much on its plate to go mirrorless with the D400. Don’t count it.
You mean like the a77 info we were supposed to get the last week but didn’t?
Where did I say it was an A77 info?
“very first step to a revolution”, ” the straw that breaks the camel’s back”
These seem to suggest a technology which will allow us to depart completely from traditional DSLRs. So in that sense on-chip PDAF seems to be a strong candidate – it will remove a major limitation of the mirrorless design. However that does not seem to fit the “small rumor” description 🙂
One of the problems here is that Andrea’s English is not precise enough to give a good, yet subtle hint.
rangefinder!
Somy has found a way to reduce production costs by half and all existing users can get 50% of all cameras and lenses? 😀
That would mean 45% profit for Sony and a 5% saving for consumers. At best.
😉
Sony introducing a sensible E-mount lens? 😛
I just hope it isn’t another of their wonderful ideas that were doomed to failure, like MiniDisc.
Mini disc was hardly a failure, they literally just stopped producing it after 19 years or so.
You know what? I wouldn’t mind if you put up the banners.
I enjoy the site and the banner ads don’t bother me.
I think you should be compensated for all the hard work you put in and if that means you need advertisers, that’s ok with us!
+1.
I don’t want banners but if Admin would add a few to the site, I would still check in multiple times every day.
Thanks for your work, admin! It’s really appreciated.
Sony merges with Panasonic and form PanaSonyC 🙂 ?
real camera (this year) with 3-layered sensor!!!
God, please make my dream come true
che guevara edition of a sony camera ?
Best comment so far!
My guess: Lytros will announce that their first light field camera is produced by Sony.
Reason: light field cameras need lot’s of megapixels and high processing power. Something Sony is able to supply. Also Sony has a lot to gain if light field turns out to be the next Photography revolution.
SonyAlphaRumors.com will buy the domain NikonRumors.com
Upcoming full frame will be 3-layered sensor with no AA filter and first of the class high ISO performance? Sbav.. Wish it was true..
Global shutter… It would be the only thing can change everything
Does anybody have a link to a good article about global shutter? I would like to read some more about this technology.
Search in google for “global shutter cmos” gives you this
About 1,080,000 results (0.20 seconds)
http://www.google.ca/search?q=global+shutter+cmos&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Have fun.
🙂
A Sony robot that goes out and takes photos on its own, making human photographers obsolete.
Thats soooo yesterday.
Back in 2009 Sony had this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYZZ8i5e-08
🙂
I wonder if it is going to be related to an old rumor.
the successor of the A700 was meant to be a FF cam.
One can always dream and maybe the revolution is to announce a sensibly price FF cam
It seems like a dream! 🙂
$1000 FF simple camera for beginners 🙂
Finally it is true – Nex A mount 😀 lol….
A dream: New/advanced SLR/SLT system with EVF.
A translucent mirror with 3 user defined modes (or at least 2)
1. SLR mode
As in SLR The translucent mirror flips at each shot (after AF)
Allowing 100% light to reach the sensor
2. SLT mode
As in the actual SLT. The translusent mirror is static.
Allowing PDAF and high fps
3. Mirrorless mode
The mirror is up allowing 100% light and CDAF
Hmmm…
Perhaps I have to fill a patent for that 🙂
Good luck with #1
SLT mirror is too big
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ndnuRsm5FQ
and too fragile .
Removal of SLT mirror on A33/A55 is quite easy now but manual focus only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDhVkmxaHzw
🙂
Technically… I think it is more than possible.
Perhaps more expensive… And needs more space… But why not in FF?
actually the dslr mirrors are already somehow translucent to allow PDAF.
NEX-Phone running android..
Releasing full documentation and sourcecodes allowing 3th parties to code new UI, noise algorithms, implement 16bit raw or webcam :]
Now that could be revolutionary! And has the potential to stir things up a whole lot. I don’t know if this is the expected rumor, but would be great if it is.
Rather than wondering earlier if the liquid lens was the rumour I’m now beginning to believe that the rumour will involve Sony’s progression from DSLR to SLT and towards PDAF and Global Shutter which would break the camels back.
And I wonder as Andrea’s sources have asked for the rumour not to be released until Monday 10am London time, whether Sony are planning an official announcement of some new technology at the same time.
I wonder if that’s why the A77 announcement was delayed for a month? I can’t wait.
Now that would be the start of a revolution. Interesting, I wasn’t thinking of attitude changes at all. (This goes with the open source comment. Not sure why it’s one post too low).
Sony is going to produce a true a700 replacement as their top 7 series camera, with pentaprism OVF….
That would stir things a bit.
! Really ,no one cares about traditional technology anymore. You can tell by the number of posts in this thread. We want the future and we want it yesterday ! PS….if you want a traditional dslr, there´s probably about 18 on the market as we speak but best buy for tomorrow because the times they are achangin´. And I´ll throw my hat in the global shutter ring.
Guess: FF for the masses. All future sony Alphas will be FF, no matter the target range.
– I like the idea of liquid lens and global shutter too, so I wouldn’t be pissed if they have this new tech in the works.
Kurth- By far if you include all brands of interchangable lens cameras the OVF DSLR is the fastest selling camera, the most popular and wanted. Only if you blind yourself to all other brands, and also Sony’s sales of OVF DSLRs do you find a small sales area for your so called future technology cameras or how much they are desired by all, non p&s photographers.
However, I was simply making a sort joke about Sony and their clear lack of ability to build for other than consumer cam people.
A new sensor with different pixel density on different area?
Walt,
Why do you have to resort to referring to those with opinions as other than yours with terms like P&S photographers or consumer cam people…even you must know that many embracing new SLTs are very fine and serious photographers – so why these crude caricatures. Argue the merits of OVFs by all means but enough name calling, it just makes me dismiss what you say because your style of argument is so intentionally inflammatory.
Concave image sensor?
A curved sensor?
Less than 23 hours left until the ‘small revolutionary rumor’ will be revealed.
I’m not sure if it can be done or if it does make sense at all, but what about a mirrorless A-mount camera ?
Something like a slightly bigger NEX with an A-mount and a retro style like the Leicas or the FinePix X100 ?
Sony going to release a Nex adaptor with a translucid mirror, so you can use all your alpha (SSM) lenses in Nex bodies at full potencial and with PDAF 🙂
+ 1
I sure hope the “revolution” refers to Sony coming out with a full frame that competes with Canon’s Mark 2D. I’m tired of the Canonites telling me that Sony never could or never will be able to compete with their big boy.
Here’s an article on field use by the good folks at Luminous Landscape (who can and do use the most expensive equipment available). They like Sony products JUST FINE THANK YOU. Keep in mind that the article was written before some fixes in raw handling in Adobe lowered noise, so the comments comparing noise are no longer relevant. Despite the vaunted weather sealing by the competition, guess whose equipment failed most (Canon)? I have no feelings of inferiority when it comes to quality of equipment I own (Alpha 700 and 850) compared to Canon – the stuff sounds like it’s buggy as hell. Also, video on the big chip has a certain look that’s trendy, but it’s DOF is too shallow for most purposes – not to mention the fact that the AF barely works!!!!! You’re MUCH better off with an A55 or whatever is around the corner.
Have a read!!
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
i guess, maybe OSS (VR) on NEX-7 🙂
this will make people playing with adaptors to get stabiliser on their Canon NIkon lens
else it is some sort of adaptor for Emount 🙂
I am afraid that this is another useless nonsense 🙁 like “revolutionary” technology, called SensMe Control (Sony Ericsson MH907). … The headset will be able to recognize when you have put the earbuds on, thus activating the above-mentioned functionalities. If you place both earbuds in your ears, this will automatically start up the music player, while removing them will pause the song”
This time will be a revolution in the form of a detector of broken strap or dusty viewfinder 🙁
– or masterpiece-meter of taken pictures :))))))
I believe it is TX55. The “Clear Image Zoom” feature, I think it is similar to panasonic’s int. zoom
source:http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/07/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-tx55-a-new-type-of-digital-zoom.html
– New BIONZ processor to allow live warp stabilize using contrast-detect data.
– Plastic polymer lenses and high power LED flashes.
– Introduction of JPEG2 format.
– a900/a850 refresh will be mirrorless
– third parties to finally announce E-mount products
lol just taking stabs in the dark… more wishful thinking than anything
Less than 2 more hours to go. I am excited.
1h11m to go 🙂
We’re just half an hour from the “revolutionary” rumor… Andrea we have high expectations 🙂
My tuppence is for an interchangable mount on NEX7 – E-mount no sss etc, remove the MOUNT (not adaptor) replace with A-mount with SLT mirror & this activates SSS…
Either that or pro tech services……