We all know Sony has a maniacal love for prototypes. Now according to one of our very good sources Sony will show a prototype of a new NEX camera at the CES show. But before you start to blame Sony I have a good news for you. According to a second trusted source that camera will be on market within 2-3 months so unlike the A77 prototype we don’t have to wait that much to buy it!
It has been very difficult for me to get some info about that camera. It’s a prototype that only a few people have seen (it has been shipped from Japan to US without informing the press about his existence). That is what I got from different sources:
Trusted source 1: The new model is called NEX-4. But this could be the temporary name ony (for the prototype). I was told that this is not the NEX-7 which is supposed to become the [shoplink 4718]GH2 competitor[/shoplink].
Trusted source 2: It’s a compact NEX with slightly bigger body than the current [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink]. It has advanced button controls like the [shoplink 4321]Panasonic GF1[/shoplink].
New source 3: I suspect Sony will come out the new nex mirrorless version of [shoplink 3617]a55[/shoplink] during CES next week. (Don’t know if the source wanted to say that it uses the same 16Megapixel sensor).
I was told Sony will also show the A77 prototype and maybe something else (Lenses?). If you have some rumors to share feel free to contact me using the contact form on the right sidebar or write me (Andrea) at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
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P.S.: There will be a lot of new compact camera announcements:
DSC-W510: 12MP, 2.7 in. screen, sweep panorama function
Cybershot DSC-W530: upgrades to a 14MP sensor
Cybershot DSC-W560: adds SteadyShot and 720p HD video
Cybershot DSC-W570: adds 16MP, 5x zoom (25mm on the wide side)
Cybershot DSC-WX9: high end model, 16MP Exmor R CMOS, 3 in. LCD, 1080i video, 3D, 10fps, background defocus feature, HDMI
Cybershot DSC-WX10: top of the line, f/2.4 lens, manual WB, very high speed AF
Cybershot DSC-H70: 16MP CCD sensor, 3 in. LCD, 720p HD video, sweep panorama
Cybershot DSC-HX7: 16MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, 3 in. LCD, 1080i video 3D, HDR, 10 fps
Cybershot DSC-T110, DSC-TX10 – very small point and shoot camera, no other details available
27 Responses
prototype= 90% of the time not how the thing will look like 🙂
but given that it’s only 2-3 months away there might be very little changes.
i am more interested in new lenses, especially the rumored CZ ones.
it is not likely that sony will release nex-4 becaunse of asian’s tetraphobia, as it was with Palm (T3 > T5). imho
I noticed that too, but do you know the reason for it?
4 is death
I guess thats why Sony’s A450 is very limited coverage
“It’s a compact NEX with slightly bigger body than the current Sony NEX-5. It has advanced button controls like the Panasonic GF1.”
Hell yes, this is what I’ve been waiting for!
Not me. While anything more advanced than the NEX-5 is welcome, unless it has a built in EVF, or at the very least a hot shoe mount EVF then it’s a non-starter for me; especially since Olympus will be releasing a pro-grade weather sealed PEN about the same time as this.
Same here. Failed my expectations.
… we already have 2 consumer cameras, bring us something more enthusiast/professional and lenses! I must admit that, between Sony, Pentax and Nikon, their 16mp sensor production must be doing overtime, and that’s probably holding back their professional cameras.
This is becoming more interesting by the minute. When I first saw the picture of new models I assumed that this one was Sonys new LX5 and XZ1 competition. But from the description that it is a NEX and slightly taller than the NEX5 and controls similar to GF2 “touch screen buttons”?
This makes sense that this in fact is a APS-C mirrorless product with non-interchangeable zoom lens addressing the biggest factor objection raised to date on the NEXs and that is much bigger lens size.
The big question here will be what zoom range and speed will this new lens be and its IQ? I think such a move makes sense for Sony as they will design smaller primes or maybe one smaller zoom like that used by Samsung X100 for the NEX3 & 5 and the larger lenses will be for the larger NEX7 series.
This will put a lot of pressure on the m4/3 market as Sony goes after the point and shoot market that would be satisfied with a single zoom with high IQ for a travel companion or compliment to a larger DSLR. It may force Oly and Pany to come out with their own versions of a non-interchangeable zoom lens camera for m4/3 if this model proves to be too successful.
We already have a couple of NEX bodies, but very very limited number of lenses. Even though one can use an adapter to mount alpha- and other lenses to NEX, it’s not the same thing. I’d rather see some native NEX lenses than yet another body, especially fast ones.
So nothing new about EVF for current nex models 🙁
For me the next NEX model will be a GH-like.
The numbering “NEX-4” is strange since (i) this body is supposed to be slightly above NEX-5 and (ii) the “4” is badly connoted in Japan.
@Safaridan: The picture you see up there is just a black and red Sony HX5.
Probably not the Nex-4.
A big sensor fixed lens cam would be nice though. 🙂
Correction it’s the new HX7, as said at the top of the page.
Yes in my haste I failed to ready the small caption under the picture. However if a picture of the HX7 why does this need a larger or taller body than the HX5 when has the same size rear LCD screen and sensor size only increased MP? Also what goes with the CR marking on right side of camera front but maybe HX5 used that also rather than saying HX5? Because of the size difference I think this picture is of new Sony model competition with LX5 sized sensor for which Sony currently has no entry?
The nex5 its My body, i just need a portrait or a fast cz lens for My e mount camera. With the 16mm and the 18-55 its not enought.
How many more times do we have to see that A77 prototype??
Its like a chief waving a piece of raw steak in your face and he hasn’t start to cook steak in the kitchen yet.
Using an unrelated photo is causing confusion across the internet! Even with the caption that explains the photo is not relevant. FYI.
I removed the pic. 🙂
Thanks!
Nex with a bit more buttons, flash hotshoe, ultra fast af, 16 mp sensor may push me to upgrade from my nex5.
A 35/1.8 pancake plus 50/1.8 prime to complement the kit and 16mm will seal the deal.
+1 for these additions. I don’t have a NEX camera, but this would seriously push me to get one.
Yawn…
What model in the leaked Cyber-shot could be a HX1 replacement?
Sony are really focussing on NEX, that is where the money is. Doesn’t bode well for us dSLR users IMO.