We now know everything about the new A7rII. So let’s talk about the future new A7Rm3! Max Fury from SonyAlphaForum shared his list of the “17 Things we want to see next” on the A7rIII:
“Since the introduction of the excellent Sony α7r II this year I cant help but think of the features that the next iteration of the camera will bring, and set a new bar for Full Frame Interchangeable Lens Camera once again. Althougt the α7r II seems to have many and killer features, there’s still a lot of room for improvements.
With that said here are the 17 things I like to see for the successor of the a7r II, that will keep all of the features of the 7r II, but also add these 17 things that will make it the best Full Frame Camera… Ever made!
#1. New Name
Ok, I work at one of the biggest camera stores in my country and even my boss when talking about the Sony cameras many times confuses the names. 7a II, ar7, as7 and so on. He never gets confused with the Nikon cameras. Why? because they have simple names that’s why. The alpha 7r II or how Sony likes to call it the ILCE7RM2/B. Huh?! What’s that? Sony is absolutely terrible at naming their products. So I want a new name simple enough that even my grandmother can remember it. Get on it!
#2. Dual SDXC Card Slots
Even though the α7r II is aimed at pro’s. Having just one card slot is not professional at all. In fact, it’s amateur. I, and I think all of the pros, would like to see this changed.
#3. Revamped Menus and User Interface
Ok, this is the most complained about feature of the Sony Cameras. the User Interface. Everybody is complaining about it and nobody likes it. I own and have own many Sony products myself over the years and the one consistent thing that has been bad about Sony products is the UI. Sony… if you cant do it yourself, which you obviously can’t, please, acquire a company that can. And have that Time-Laps app by default in the camera for Christ sake!
#4. Faster Start-Up time
Faster start-up time helps to capture that fleeing moment in life. And makes you confident to keep the Camera turned off to save battery and know that it will come back to life immediately when you need it.
#5. Touch Screen OLED Screen
Nothing is more intuitive than touching to focus or to change a setting or to zoom. The iPhone has been demonstrating this since 2007. And no screen has better contrast to review our stills and clips than an OLED screen.
#6. Large Battery Capacity
What is inside that grip area of the body? Just cram a huge-ass battery inside there. Because 270 shots in a modern pro Full Frame camera is just laughable. Especially when you think that it shoots 4K video also. Which btw brings me to the next feature request.
#7. 10 bit RAW Video (internally of course..) and Unlimited Recording
For that ultra flexibility while editing in post our amazingly artistic videos with no time restrictions.
#8. Unnoticeable Rolling Shutter or Global Shutter
Action or fast moving subjects look absolutely abysmal with that god awful Rolling Shutter. Do another Innovation and make the first Pro Full Frame camera for Action movies. It will be another huge innovation Sony!
#9. 16 Stops Dynamic Range, Stills and Video
The current α7r II has a decent 14 Stops of DR in photos, but let’s live up to the potential and promise of digital and finally leave film and its 15 Stops in the dust. (The D810 is almost there with 14.8 DR). Color depth is great at 26 bit. No complaints there but your’re welcome to improve it even more.
#10. Faster Autofocus
Who doesn’t like fast? Do your thing and add more of those cross focusy things to make focusing as fast as lightning.
#11. 10 fps Continuous Shooting
I don’t mind the current 5 fps, but if you want to get those sports and wildlife pro’s on board, and get all that cha-ching $$$, gotta have the speed to keep up with their demands.
#12. GPS
Apart from when, I also need to know where exactly I took those cat photos! Come on GPS is in everything these days. The cheapest phones have them! It’s useful for reference and organization that the pro’s need.
#13. AC WiFi
Again. Who doesn’t like fast? Gotta transfer all that 42MP files fast and effortlessly. For better workflow and freedom.
#14. No Overheating
The fastest car in the world, (Bugatti Veyron), has like 10 fridges in it. Why can’t you cramp on of those fridges in the new body but still keep it small and lightweight? Come on Sony, if you can’t do it… somebody else will.
#15. RAW Histogram and Preview
Many of you may not know this but the photos that you see on the viewfinder or the LCD screen of the camera are actually Jpegs of the RAW files! Which are of course not representative of the real RAW captured data. No more lies Sony! Give us the true previews and histograms of our RAW images! ;P
#16 Variable Low-Pass Filter
Sony has done it in the RX1R II! Now just put that thing in the next alpha 7 model. No more R’s and two models of the same camera, with and without Low Pass filter.
#17. Get rid of the mechanical shutter
Why do we need a mechanical shutter in an all digital camera? I don’t get it. (I also don’t care so don’t bother explaining it to me.) Getting rid of that mechanical shutter will not only make the camera more reliable but also more power efficient, and ninja silent of course, so we can creep around and attract no attention whatsoever… Mooohahahahahaha.
Ok, pretty big list of feature ha? But I know if one company can do it it’s Sony.”
What do you think about that list? Sony is reading us, so feel free to add your suggestions on the comment system or directly at SonyAlphaForum!
A7rII store list:
In USA: at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore US, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
In Europe at Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Wex UK and ParkCameras.
In Asia at Digitalrev, CameraPro.
In USA: at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore US, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
In Europe at Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Wex UK and ParkCameras.
In Asia at Digitalrev, CameraPro.
269 Responses
Yes every time I pick up my a7ii I think “if only it wasn’t missing pinch to zoom”. Perhaps they could add apple pay while they’re on…
Oh, the unhappy. Oh, the unsatisfied.
Without their insatiable needs I would have remained blinded by the dull, unsharp, out of focus, flat and soulless images made in the past.
Them photographs of the past hold no candle to what the future cameras, we will always wish for, will bring us!
I can’t believe I was exposing without a histogram all this time!!
GPS,
A built-in / pop-up xenon flash,
Better Battery,
S log/gamut 3 (or 4 by then?) we should really have this now…
I know, I know “a tiny flash?! why?” well I prefer not to use a flash at all, but for the odd/rare moment I may want one, I’d rather not have a big honking attachment but rather something small and inconspicuous
A small accessory flash should be better than a pop-up…
The wishlist is missing a couple of important features and includes a few which aren’t important, like a new name (who cares), faster startup time (it’s already fast enough) and AC wifi (yawn).
The important new features it missed are:
1. 14-bit lossless compressed RAW
2. Larger internal frame buffer – it needs to be 4 times the size it is now
3. Faster image processor
4. Faster refresh EVF. The current one has a tendency to tear. Higher res would be nice, too,
Excellent choice’s
I totally agree, these would be the most useful improvements to the A7r mk2.
As with Ming Thein’s list, many of these are a real pain for some, but the most minor of issues to others, and some of them might require unacceptable compromises to realise.
Almost all of this list is of no importance to me whatsoever, although I’d accept faster AF if accurate, higher capacity battery if no bigger and heavier, and extra memory slot if the body remained at the same size. However, here come those compromises…so no, thanks.
The one item I would like to see isn’t necessarily what others are asking for, except in a roundabout way, and that’s the menu revamp.
Actually, I don’t see the menu as bad as many make out because, in its very nature, there is room to disagree about where to put items. Of course, a custom menu would resolve this, but I suspect it could be a fairly long-winded and complex task to create your own, let alone have the system to allow it.
What I would like to see is very, very simple (and I do it to my phone and other devices): that is to allow hidden items.
If I could hide all those settings that I don’t use (video), or never change, then the menu would be simple and clear in one fell swoop. I’d have about half a dozen items on show at most. Easy peasy!
Then I prefer to have in each sub-menu the option to sort the entries to my wishes. And I want to grey items so I can select them but I know at a first glance to the menu what are the important ones and which I can ignore.
If I would be able to hide elements from the menu, I (personally) would hesitiate of hiding any entry because I always think: “And what to do if I need it in 2 months – how should I remeber it is hidden?”
As with all those annoying phone menu items, just have a one-click ‘Show hidden items’; then the menu would be in full again.
I suspect that very few photographers actively use more than 20% of the menu in a 12 month period. In fact, I suspect the real figure is a lower percentage and for the entire life of the camera!
Of course, everything in there needs to be accessible, but just allow it to be hidden or shown on command. It woud be by far the easiest way to modify the menus and could be activated on all Sony cameras retrospectively. It probably only needs a few lines of code to enable.
In fact all video menus should be hidden unless the mode selector is set on vidéo but Than the still camera menus soule be hidden…
But yes, hiding things could help.
A9:
12Mp sensor
399 points
A99-type body with fully-tiltable screen and AF point selector (or touchscreen)
Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS
f/2.8 native zooms
Enough with the R!
I’d like to add: full support for A-mount lenses or at least better adapter than the obsolete LA-EA4
I can go along with everything here …..except ….. Touch Screen.Why on earth anyone wants Touch Screen I do not know.
How do you get your hand in there with your eye up to the viewfinder?
How do you hold the camera with one hand, zoom or focus or even just hold the lens for balance with the other and still manage to use a touch screen?
How do you do anything with the camera and use a touch screen at the same time. A camera, in general, needs two hands to hold and operate it steadily.
This is a camera, not a slim, one handed phone!
The ONLY time a touch screen may come into its own is when previewing shots, and come on folks, I certainly don’t want to pay big bucks for a touch screen which will only be used rarely. These E mount cams are too expensive to start with!
My guess is that the people wanting the touch screen do not use the view finder, ever. They almost certainly would scream if the view finder was removed so go figure.
I don’t really understand either…
None of those matter.
What matters most is that it’s so hard to select a focus point!
It takes forever to move it and the moment is lost.
I spend more time moving the damn rectangle than making the composition!
Give us a joystick button and that’s it.
And don’t change front-back dials when in focus assist (magnified) mode. Keep them as shutter-aperture controls!
That´s it!
All A7x bodies to date are made for unhurried photography.
sad but true
I would wholeheartedly support this. It is also why I will not buy an A7-camera as I want to make the decision as to where my focus point exactly is!!! Instantly and not after pushing a number of buttons… SO bring back the joystick as it is on (amongst others) the A900.
Is focusing and recomposing not working ? It is usually fairly fast…
You miss focus that way!
http://digital-photography-school.com/the-problem-with-the-focus-recompose-method/
You only miss if you don’t reckon the point of equal distance properly.
Certainly if you don’t appreciate the change of plane then you will get it wrong, but if you pick a point that is the correct distance then it works perfectly and that is the real trick to focus/recompose!
Why can’t some people be happy with their 2 months old camera?
Are we really already waiting for the mark III?!
It’s not the gear. It’s the photographs they make which makes them unhappy. So they need to point the finger somewhere.
Good remark. It’s a bit weird but since Sony is reading I believe people are trying to influence the next iteration…
They aren’t happy because there’s still time to release the mark iii before the A68 comes out. 🙂
#1 Touchscreen
For faster switching between AF points.
#2 Touchscreen
#3 Touchscreen
#4 On sensor PDAF
#5 Low resolution (12Mp is ok)
#6 Powerful AA-filter for zero moire
You forgot to mention a touchscreen.
reminds me of my 2007 Panasonic Lumix
Add:
An RGB overlay to the RAW histogram.
More peaking settings.(Threshold, sensitivity, Trap shooting)
Simplify the focus assist zoom, one press to zoom.(Like the NEX-7)
Same for the play back, make it simple.(Like NEX-7)
Map a button to toggle the display: EVF, LCD, OFF
EVF in the corner.(Like the NEX-7)
How can you tell I want a FF NEX-7?
Better/Less noise.
More DR
14bit Compressed raw(Lossless)
All settings available in all modes(14bit, raw[raw hdr], etc…)
Custom display.(add or remove icons/info, and where they’re located) For example: Histogram and level at the same time….
Why an offset EVF ?
The most useful simple thing for me: Add aspect ratios: 4:3, 1:1, 4:5, 2:1, etc. It’s painful to compose those images (and wasteful of space and time) when forced into 2:3.
The most useful complicated thing for all of us: Open up the entire platform (not just the “app” area) to all developers, just like Google and Apple have done with their smartphones. It certainly has not hurt their sales. Lots of developers will make awesome UIs, something to please everyone (well, there will still be complainers on forums…).
Unlimited time for video: nice request. So it’ll become a videocamera and it will be charged with extra taxes.
Get a damn video camera if you want unlimited video.
And, well, I will not tire of repeating…
#0 AF 85mm STF!!!
You forgot to demand that it shoots laser beams and has a built in french-press.
Two form factor. One like A7rII, the other like this:
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Bildschirmfoto-2015-11-10-um-09.40.00-700×386.png
Sounds familiar? ;-P
Yawn 😉 We seem to see this fictional picture in every thread about possible future cameras.
Everyone wants improvements. The question is whether you want them if they come with tradeoffs. E.g. Longer battery life means a new bigger battery. For pros, sure, that’s exactly what they want. For amateurs, it means a larger body, buying a whole new set of spares, etc. For video recording: Again, for pros, sure. But the reason the limit is there is EU legislation that taxes video equipment differently. Does everyone in the world want to have to pay the tax for the small number of people for whom 30 minutes is not enough? Or you think Sony should just absorb it as charity?
The battery is made for the tiny Nex-3 grip. The grip-size of A7 and especially A7II series is already bigger. In A7ii the material around the battery is more or less dead and only space consuming.
I thought it was full of electronics…
A 30 minutes take is extremely long when filming. I went on cinema and TV shoots and it very rarely happened.
“#17. Get rid of the mechanical shutter
Why do we need a mechanical shutter in an all digital camera? I don’t get it. (I also don’t care so don’t bother explaining it to me.) Getting rid of that mechanical shutter will not only make the camera more reliable but also more power efficient, and ninja silent of course, so we can creep around and attract no attention whatsoever… Mooohahahahahaha.”
So he doesn’t know why there is a mechanical shutter in an all digital camera but he doesn’t want any explanation about the reason. He just wants it gone.
Okay…
We can approach everything like this:
-This is an all digital camera, why is there a mechanical button?
-This is an all digital camera, why do we need lenses?
-This is an all digital camera, why does it need strap lugs?
This is an all digital camera, why do we need humans?
It’s too easy to make a fool of anyone who in fact put an interesting topic forward… The mechanical shutter will certainly remain at least for the time being.
Getting rid of the mechanical shutter might well increase power consumption. The vastly higher sensor read rate required to keep rolling shutter artefacts acceptable has the potential to draw a great deal more power from the battery (and create heating problems too).
There are cameras without shutters (like many P&S or smartphones), but it’s rare on systems cameras. The Nikon J1 manages without one, but it involves compromises that don’t work so well on larger format sensors.
If a company finally produces an acceptable global shutter for a large format CMOS sensor still camera then that shutter can go. It’s one of those wholly grails of digital photography, but at the moment it involves compromising ultimate still image quality.
Yep. The day when we will see mechanical shutter in a high end camera will necessary be the day when rolling shutter will be gone in e-shutter, and it’s not today. It is still far worse with E-shutter than with mechanical shutter.
It means that his point #17 will make sense only when his #8 will be fully completed with electronic shutter.
#1 Nobody gets confused with Nikons? Ok, how about doing a comparison between D600, D650 and D700, which is best and most recent? I assume D700 is the one to go for, right?
There is no D650.
Sorry, was thinking of D750.
Then it shoud be, the D750 is the most recent.
But D600 is the oldest one
No, D700 is the oldest one :).
You hit the nail – Nikon names are even more confusing… Sony is simple:
NEX = old
A# = FF-nex
A## = SLT-Amount
A### = DSLR-Amount
A#### = APS-C nex
This should be really obvious – much easier than Nikon!
No worries. Your point was valid.
Shouldn’t we be doing an A7 III wishlist first? My only wish is they ditch that damn AA filter.
A7R III wish list…MORE SPEED EVERYTHING!!!!!!
Sony could fit a variable AA filter… Why ditch it altogether ?
Would like to have shutter and aperture dials to be improved. Both feel small and cheap on current A7r II.
#14 Yeah, Bugatti Veyron has 11 radiators in it. It also weighs TWICE as much as the previous fastest car, McLaren F1. They will quote you of a weight of around 1800 kg but add in the water and oil and fuel and it’s much closer to 2.5 tons than you’d imagine.
Leveler and histogram- be able to see them on the screen AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!
His #1 gripe is new name…moving on, skipping the rest of the rant.
It’s not a rant. I’d read it all, some points are valid whilst some are more nice to have than others… I agree the name thing is rather peculiar; weird…
Sony doesnt get it
You need a big boy body to compete with the big boys.
Sony continues to invent the best pro level component and stich them in amateur bodies.
This list is a starting point, or copy the Lieca
But it has to be simple for Sony to biild a pro level body, stsrt thincking like a camera company..!!!!
2 body styles ….pro, and consumer….then put your differrent camera models in each body style.
The large, heavy, DSLR body types will almost certainly remain for the A-mount.
At least I hope so.
you’ve suggested to someone before to use a battery grip on a7rii and it becomes a pro body. did you try it yourself or was it just some random gas you came up with?
I have the Meike grip
I liked it at first , it works fine,
But I usually end up using the camera without it.
Sony should offer 2 body styles.
you need to try anything first before suggesting it to other people. otherwise it’s just methane gas from an opening
Have you yourself tried all the products you comment on or are you yourself the big ball of gas of which you speak.
The small battery and controls are not a major issue for me…but wben they do bother me I use thegrip.
I have consistently said that Sony should so offer a pro body…but if Sony is unwilling then the grip is the best we can do.
I desperately want the z-shift sensor so that I can use all my fantastic
manual lenses with auto focus but that will possibly remain a dream.
Andrea had written about it some time ago (never as a real rumor
though).
Okay, my take:
#1. New Name
I’m fine with the naming, and part numbers (the ILC bit) are part numbers, deal with it. Nikon’s part numbers don’t even match the product (all numbers, and they can be a lens or a camera).
#2. Dual SDXC Card Slots
Yes, but it also needs UHS-II support at full speed.
#3. Revamped Menus and User InterfaceMostly agree. The current menu system is not particularly well structured or convenient.
#4. Faster Start-Up timeI’m not really having issues with this. And better battery and power management would let you leave the camera on and ignore this anyway.
#5. Touch Screen OLED Screen
You’re adding expense to the product, which has already gone up in price. While both these things, done right, would be nice, they’re not high on my list of things to do. I’d rather have a better EVF first (faster refresh, less lag).
#6. Large Battery Capacity
Yep.
#7. 10 bit RAW Video (internally of course..) and Unlimited Recording
Well, some realism about how video actually gets used in workflows would be very nice. That means 10-bit ProRes or equivalent, not the Japan-maker-centric ADC type compressions. And 4:2:2 is a minimum requirement, as well. Unlimited recording is likely going to require heat dissipation in the Sony designs.
#8. Unnoticeable Rolling Shutter or Global Shutter
A number of these suggestions, added together, would require far higher internal bandwidth capability. More bandwidth comes in two forms: (1) now and more expensive; and (2) later and less expensive. Which do you want?
#9. 16 Stops Dynamic Range, Stills and Video
No complaints on my part. I’d rather make sure that we’re not getting pre-processed raw. The new uncompressed raw was a step forward. Video needs to make a similar step forward (see #7).
#10. Faster Autofocus
Let’s be specific: better instant control of the focus position, better focus setting options at the fingertips (not buried in custom settings where they compete with other desires for button definitions), better description of what the system is actually doing and how to use it. Then and only then: make it faster.
#11. 10 fps Continuous Shooting
Not necessary unless the EVF is fixed to a no-lag one. Sony needs to look at what Samsung did with the NX-1.
#12. GPS
Low on my list. I know where I took my photos, and I don’t generally need to publicize that to others. Moreover, I wonder whether sticking more into the camera is the right approach. Why not just pick up location from the smartphone the user already has? GPS built in is also going to demand more power, so you’ve got competing requests here that need to be resolved.
#13. AC WiFi
Okay, it’s not just using the fastest WiFi standard out there, it’s using the WHOLE standard. That means I should be able to do AdHoc or Infrastructure, and I should be able to automate connections either way and program what happens on that connection.
#14. No OverheatingAgree. I’ve had real issues with the RX100IV in hot weather. I haven’t yet submitted the A7rII to the same torture, but I suspect I’ll see the same thing. Heat makes for less than optimal data in the first place. We need camera makers to do more about dissipating it.
#15. RAW Histogram and Preview
Raw histogram yes, absolutely. Not sure what you mean by raw preview.
#16 Variable Low-Pass Filter
Maybe. But this seems like a random feature. How are you actually setting it?
#17. Get rid of the mechanical shutterThe shutter will eventually go away. But be careful what you wish for. Electronic shutters currently produce noisier results.
#18 Camera shutdown during buffer writes
Let your finger off the shutter release and you’re frozen until the buffer clears. That’s not good, and the reason why I want faster card writes, amongst other things.
#19 Open PlayMemories to third parties
Okay Sony, your apps are mostly naive or attempts to get people to pay for features. How about letting some real developers make real apps that do real useful things?
#20 Flash system needs major improvements
Lots needs to happen here, too much to list, actually.
#21 Button positions still need some ergonomic rationalization
#22 Pro and serious user support
Start SPS. Charge a yearly fee to below. Make it actually useful.
RAW preview is a nonsense. RAW files have to be rendered to make them visible (also, do we actually know that the histogram is of the embedded JPEG?).
Well, I think I wrote that. However, your statement is a bit over the top. Products like RawDigger do give you abilities to see and understand raw data through a demosaic.
And yes, we know the histogram on every current digital camera is derived from the embedded JPEG or JPEG stream. That’s why Iliah, myself, and a few others helped create and promote something called UniWB over a decade ago: it’s the only thing that gives us even a reasonable chance of seeing what the individual channels are doing, as this creates a JPEG without white balance offsets being applied to the channel information. Ironically, Nikon actually supported a form of UniWB in their original Capture software (which we could then import to the camera), though they didn’t actually know they had done that. Instead of capitalizing on that, they took that feature out of Capture!
Leica has one camera, the S, that can display histograms from raw data. That’s it so far.
From what I’m reading from the rawdigger instructions, it is actually performing a rendering process (of which demosaicing is part of course). There’s also an option page on how to do it.
That’s a wholly different issue to characterising RAW data graphically over which there are no such issues. That’s clearly possible.
A bit disappointing that the histograms are of the JPEG though. It ought to be possible to present all sorts of information about the actual RAW data.
As far as I know, the histogram is of the embedded JPG, but please correct. A histogram from raw data should be possible and would be really great.
The problem with the current system is that the clipping of the jpg happens at a different exposure level than the raw, so you are always guessing how much headroom you have, so when you are exposing to the right and trying to not clip, you end up throwing away unused dynamic range.
Thom, are you really OK with the post battery change start-up time??? Methinks not! 😉
For the way I use the camera, it’s not a big deal. But yes, it needs to be fixed.
The Variable Lowpass Filter is already a thing. Look at the RX1R II
Yes, it’s a thing, but when do I know to invoke one setting or the other? Guess.
You can just keep it to “OFF” if you don’t use it.
If you have a scene where you’re not sure, you can use LowPassFilter-Bracketing…
I think yours is a rational appraisal, although I don’t agree entirely.
Again, as far as the menu is concerned (and this includes the implementation of AF) I think it is easier to criticise than to create and I don’t think it is necessarily as bad as many make out.
Certainly, sometimes the logic is not obvious, but if you have a complicated operation it can be almost impossible not to ‘bury it in a menu’.
That is why I think, for ease and maximum acceptance, Sony should just allow the ability to hide menu items (they could allocate a button to toggle this on and off while in menus). Then we could get rid of everything we don’t use and navigate the menu in the blink of an eye!
To get back to AF, I happen to think they have over-thought the system (along with everyone else) and it’s why you will still see most pros using focus and compose on the fly, even with the very best of the Canon and Nikon gear. It simply isn’t feasible to have it all set up to pick the exact right spot every time and too risky to trust it!
Some ‘gadgets’ are wonderful, such as ‘Eye detect’, but as with all the other menu items, if you could hide the ones that are not appropriate, not accurate enough, or just downright annoying, then we’d all be better for it.
#1. Disagree. Naming is stupidly simple. A=alpha (interchangeable lens camera) number=order (1-6 consumer, 7 semi-pro, 8-9 pro), letter=type (resolution, sensitivity).
#3. Disagree. Menu and interface is clear and simple. A user configurable menu would be a good addition though.
The rest sounds reasonably in line with current developments resulting in more expensive and advance cameras.
#10. Faster Autofocus
“Who doesn’t like fast? Do your thing and add more of those cross focusy things to make focusing as fast as lightning”.
Also very important is AF sensitivity for low light sooting which now is not impresive, so -3EV AF for new A7x.
I also believe that the A7 line has moved beyond the “compact” niche that Sony marketed when introducing the A7 line. We all like the the A7 line for the technical aspects of the cameras and if the size increases a bit to accommodate things like dual card slots and a longer battery life ,then that has to happen to lure in the doubters.
I would not buy if the A7 series was getting larger than it is today… I hope it has reached its maximum.
I agree with a previous comment about apature and shutter dials need beefing up. I would also like some Olympus style weather proofing, these two would be #1 and #2 on my list 🙂
A real body, flawless design, logical interface…
Just kiding I don’t care! I’m staying with Canon, its worth waiting.
1 eos pays for more than 7 years of intense professionnal needs.
Together with occasional renting for special needs, my 5dMII can do most
of the jobs. Saving for next major generation while skipping the last. That’s
speak for great products.
What is a real body?
The one you marry 🙂
Sony is in springbreak right now, but its ok to have fun!
Yeah, there’s no such thing; just the one that works best for you, personally. For some, that’ll be a 5D, D810, etc.; for others, it’s an A7, OM-D, etc. I love when people think they have to define it for everyone. My A99 can do any job I throw at it, but honestly, so could my A7(s)…
Hmm, sounds like maybe you should get a DSLR – plenty on the market – wouldn’t want you to get a body that isn’t real! 😉
Where should I start from here, there is so many… What do you think? Where should I look !! Panic Attaack !
Without the mechanical shutter and electric ND filter, they could raise the base ISO and maybe get even better low light performance.
Better grip, like the one in Panasonic GH4. Otherwise , the camera feels unbalanced with Len mounted and heavy . I don’t need a body that is too small
A preview of a RAW file? What on earth is he talking about. A RAW file does not make for a visible image. It has to be rendered to make it visible which means demosaicing and adjusting the output tone curve (at the least) to fit the dynamic range of the screen (which will be much lower than the DR the sensor is capable of handling). Then there are issues like colour temperature to consider. Do you want to see that yucky yellow cast from tungsten lighting or do you want to see how the RAW converter will see it using the colour profile recorded by the camera?
Of course some cameras allow you to do RAW conversion within the camera which might be a nice feature so you can play with those conversions, but personally I’ll wait until I get home.
As far as histograms go, then those certainly ought to be of the RAW and not the JPEG (aren’t they?). But as for previewing a RAW, that’s simply silly. The image has to be rendered to make it visible.
What he means is a histogram that is generated from the actual RAW data with no JPEG processing applied. RAW files include a small 8 bit JPEG that is written into the RAW file which has all of your picture style, contrast, sharpness, etc applied to it making the histogram data unrepresentative of the actual 14 bit RAW file. If you were to generate the histogram off of the RAW data, you get a much more accurate histogram. Here is an informative article on RAW histograms and also if you read all the way down to item 9 in the article it describes what the in-camera histogram is based on (an 8 bit embedded JPEG with all of your camera’s JPEG settings, tone curve, etc applied):
http://www.rawdigger.com/howtouse/rawdigger-histograms-what-is-the-raw-histogram
This actually reminds me of a feature I miss from Pentax cameras that would go well with PlayMemories Mobile:
RAW development – re-doing the RAW->JPEG conversion but using different WB/contrast/sharpness/NR/etc. settings. Since you can’t transfer RAWs via WiFi and even if you could, there aren’t really any good RAW development mobile apps I’ve ever seen, it would be nice to be able to fix WB/etc. on the fly in-camera and transfer the results to a mobile device.
What if your workflow is more video-centric (that’s the other half of the camera non of the Raw Digger crowd appear to utilize)? Then wouldn’t their “recommendations” would become a liability?
The RAW Digger crowd appear to swim in a rather shallow and small pond……
#6 -> I can push ~1700 images out of two batteries w/ the grip over a days worth of usage (image preview turned off and a few other minor tweaks…turned off between sessions).
Just add a good compressed 8k Video and nobody worries again about the fps/sec 😀
That would heat up the camera 4-5 times quicker. Would hardly be possible without fan or water cooling, and expect larger and heavier camera bodies.
Regarding brand name confusion: I get it that Sony’s names are generally similar to each other but how is the name ‘Alpha 7r II’ so different from ‘EOS 5D Mark III’?
Screw the video all together. Let a7s be video cam, and a7r be strictly photographers tool. I was amazed when I saw that a7r2 has 4 stars on BH. The most sophisticated camera of today has only 4 stars. And then I saw all those comments “it’s overheating when filming”, “video is limited to 30min only”, “video is this”, “video is that”….
Screw the video! Add another sd card slot, add a new battery, create desktop app for organizing menus, so that everyone can hack it to taste, make it shoot 10fps and that’s it.
completely agree! Give us at least one “photography-only” camera, finally we are not wishing a b/w only camera!
Expect to pay $5k for all these improvements
Sony a9 please, x sync speed higher than 1/250 sec, who need mechanical shutter?? no HSS fiddling around,
2 sd Card slots, a sony original 85 mm G prime lense, no Zeiss lens, not everyone want zeiss lenses and can afford them, just a Sony lense, a 2.8 24-70 zoom, a 135 mm 2.0 prime, a 35 mm AF small 2:0 lense, not a 2.8 or 1.4 lense, a proper Flash wireless Sony ORiginal Speedlight system after 6 bodies of A7XXX cameras?? Phottix is the only third party TTL wireless speedlight .
Support with studio flash lights like Profoto Airs system ttl hss, for Profoto B1, phottix INDRA 500, Elinchrom Quadra HS system, if again the cant finish leaf shutter in a PRo camera like in the RX1II. Thats a pro system otherwise Its a superberb enthusiast system, I have Sony A7 and A7R, A6000, 2 Phottix speedlights, lot of lenses but I’M missing really third party pro features like the the big 2.. N and Ca..
I love my system , will keep it but you need patience as sony user:-)
This^^^^^^^
“Support with studio flash lights like Profoto Airs system ttl hss, for Profoto B1, phottix INDRA 500, Elinchrom Quadra HS system…”
AMEN!
This would be very welcome, but all these are third party manufacturers and have nothing much to do with Sony. Phottix were promising Sony MIS support in Odin II and eventually Sony TTL in Indra 500 via Odin II or Mitros+. So far the only of their products to support Sony MIS natively is the Mitros+, with Odin II still delayed one year later and Indra 500 not getting Sony TTL either and Odin I for Sony discontinued.
First company to make a 500W/s flash which can be powered from batteries and grid and supports Sony TTL gets my order for two units and a controller.
Yeah, that’s a good point – Sony can’t control that. Once Sony achieves enough market share, those manufacturers will accommodate them. Until then, it’s not worth their while (apparently).
+1 on the faster sync…. but hopefully the near-magical global shutter will give us that 😉
Sony I would also like a true Ring Flash for macro too!
The people b*tching about the NEX menu were praising this menu. Now we are b*tching about this menu.
Because it was an improvement, it’s still far from perfect.
ah and USB 3.0 for a 50+ Megapixel camera for thethered shooting
I”m fine with that but it’s been shown- and I see it in my photo’s- it degrades sharpness.
Are there already tests with the variable lowpass filter of the RX1RII?? Can you link them? (I’m serious)
2) Who defines what is professional and what not? 😀 The A7 is made to be small, not feature-complete.
6) That grip area is already full with stuff.
14) Laughable… no-one else did manage to put so much stuff with a large sensor inside such a small body, and still people complain…
15) A true histogram of the RAW would require a 16k pixels wide display. Do your math.
17) becuase tech is not that far yet. Silent mode has serious disadvanges for now.
Sony is already ahead in most of the things that is listed here, but still people still brag about it – oh man 😀
This new camera sounds like what the new A99 should be. At least the larger form factor will accommodate a lot of the wants on this list. ie card slots, larger battery, larger heat sink…
From his wish list, it’s more like an A99 II then a A7R III, all that he wants will require the body to end up being bigger and heavier.
Dissagree
Lieca style mirrorless body. E mount.
5) OLEDs suffer from poor lifetime (burn-in) and poor color rendition. Touchscreens are for consumer-grade cameras.
7) Not going to happen without a massive price increase unless European recording device taxation changes.
9) Good luck with that
12) Onboard GPS always offers poor performance. Oh yeah, didn’t you also want great battery life? Mutually exclusive dude.
17) Readout rates still aren’t fast enough for this.
>Touchscreens are for consumer-grade cameras
“EVF are for consumer-grade cameras…”, remember? A touchscreen is an up-to-date way of controlling an electronic device
>Onboard GPS always offers poor performance
Fine performance on A65. Do bring it back! Make a separate version if necessary for Europeans, but let the rest of us have it.
Cell phone touch screen with gestures could be so useful. If your using a manual lens in live view you could gesture to enlarge an image section for fine tuning focus. Also I have a touch screen camera where I can change the focus point and snap off a shot at the same time, without a control wheel.
Since the A7 are much smaller than Dslr’s and therefore haven’t got space for lots of buttons, levers and knobs, the 3″ lcd could be a very useful control surface for turning on and controling options without going into menus.
I’d like to see additional aspect ratios – 1:1, 4:3 – like the RX1II offers. And please don’t tell me I can crop in post.
This, this, this, this, this, this, this, this wtf asldfkjaslghawo this!!!! It’s an EVF camera, there are 0 reasons why i can’t shoot and compose in a proper portrait format. I don’t even get it because it’s not like Sony makes money on me having to crop everything in LR.
Yes, absolutely. It seems all the other manufacturers of mirrorless cameras offer optional aspect ratios. I dream that Sony will do a firmware update and add them to the a7RII. I know, dream on.
I would like a 5:4 for direct 8×10 composition, and a 1.2x crop for all the lousy lenses that were underdesigned and vignette in the corners. Lets crop with a chop dark and soft corners.
:
Yes, 5:4 should be an option too. I was going to list it.
I prefer it to 4:3 the old TV standard, print to 8×10 is still the most popular big print. Instead of 4:3 if the 5:4 is the option then a landscape
crop like 16:9 or 16:10 would be useful. When I shoot landscape often there is too much Sky with no detail and I must adjust the height of sky in the picture above the horizon.
16:9 has always been an option. The only one in addition to the 3:2.
I have a friend who is a notable landscape photographer who has a history of photographs made with 4×5 and 8×10 film cameras. He bought a Nikon D800 because in the finder there is a 4:5 frame line and he likes that familiar ratio.
“minimum shutter speed”/auto shutter speed
would be a great function
That function is already implemented.
I’ll quote from “Sony A7RII field test review – Part 1” by Brian Smith (well worth reading):
http://briansmith.com/field-test-sony-a7rii/
“Menu > Camera Settings 5 > ISO AUTO Min. SS > Standard is default
You can now choose auto minimum settings:
Slower, Slow, Standard, Fast, Faster
Or choose your minimum shutter speed:
1/8000, 1/4000, 1/2000, 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 Sec, 2 Sec, 4 Sec, 8 Sec, 15 Sec, 30 Sec”
I THINK that the 5 Auto minimum settings will be adjusted automatically for different focal lengths.
And you can also set Min and Max for Auto ISO.
.
if there is a high end a-mount (i.e. a99ii) before a7riii, i won’t be needing a7riii. if not, then a touch screen and completely redesigned more functional menu would be nice.
A more durable Glock like finish the present one is scratched off by camera bag zippers.
Touch screen controls for settings instead of menus, for fast changing important operations.
Touch screen focus point movement, and taking picture.
New placement of Movie button.
Better control wheel feel, its now not good enough.
Menu reorganization and simplification, separate video and still menus so they are not in the way.
only 25mp leave the higher MP for the RII’s
way to turn off LCD if you only use EVF, higher capacity battery,
Sony’s own L plate, $175 for a RRS is crazy. In camera speedlight cammander.
Canon, Fuji like colors for portraiture we want better out of camera skin color.
Perhaps we could have one more like a Glock. Then when the subject is really annoying you could fire off a shot…
The Glock and H&K have really hard finishes known to last thousands of draws from kydex holsters.
I don’t find anything annoying about taking pictures.
I think you missed my poor attempt at some dark humour. I was suggesting if it was more like a Glock then it would fire 9mm rounds at those who annoy…
It was too far off topic of A7III I was making. Your right I didn’t get the humor
Have you seen the Lenny Kravitz Lieca? It’s worth a Google, LOL.
I don’t want a new A7RIII for the upcoming 2-3 years, as our investment into the A7RII will otherwise depreciate like icecream in the sun. Some of these good suggestions can be solved through Firmware upgrades. Please Sony – don’t make me regret that I’ve invested in one of your cameras.
I wish 4K 60 or even better 120fps!!! Even better 4.5K or 5K video!!! Would also pay more for that.
I think they could probably pull off UHDp48@150Mbps on the current A7r mk2 and A7s mk2.
I believe the hardware is capable enough, and should hold for at least 15 minutes before they get too hot.
Please Sony – give us firmwareupgrades to solve some of these issues and not a new camera which makes the A7RII depreciate like icecream in the sun. A product lifecycle of 2-3 years with incremental software – improvements along the way is healthy and protects our investments.
Please ! This will also ensure that you’ve had enough time to create a real improvement next time which is fully tested and doesn’t make me a beta-tester.
Otherwise you lose my commitment.
my five cents for an A7RIII are: get 100g lighter, faster, have better battery life and an electronic shutter which creates real 14-bit files and doesn’t loose DR compared to the pictures made with the mechanical shutter. The rest is just fine.
Buy a Canon 5D3 if you want glacial-incremental-improvements and three year release cycles, they have every lens you could ever wish for too! Amazed at the (lack of) thought process some have. It’s a good job automobile manufactures aren’t like Canon (and you), we’d still be driving Corvair’s.
Want an investment, buy Bonds!
1, Combine the A7r and A7s line, or in other words, high pixel count and full sensor utilization@4k in one camera, specifically, sensor level 4:1 pixel combination @ 4k video readout, to utilize the whole sensor for video while maintaining a high pixel count around 45m
2, x265, a must have for video
3, larger view finder with higher resolution, for manual focus
4, z-axis shift autofocus,
Sony should use its relationship with phase one to make a tethering studio Beast. An ethernet tether or a thunderbolt or that usb thing. Something that works with the 100mp monster they are about to drop.
Gotta change EU laws first for that to happen.
Update the Play memories app for android 6.0 support!
Not this much. I am shure this small boards find another location. And from generation to generation the number of boards shrinks, if there is no added functionality. https://de.ifixit.com/Teardown/Sony+a7R+II+Teardown/45597?lang=en
IMO, the only thing SONY needs to focus on now is better native pro level, zoom lens selection with great optics and consistency along the lines of Canon and Nikon. The FE 16-35 SONY G 70-200 are about the only two native FE zooms that meet the high standard. I think, however, the telephotos need to have faster f/2.8 versions.
Also, SONYs high end flash system could use some updating to include a transceiver unit and flashes with built in receivers. Most pros do not want to mount a flash on their hotshoe just to trigger other flashes.
native ND filter
extended ISOs: 0.5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 75
You do not want to extend the ISO much lower than to ISO 50. There you will lose 1 EV of DR if ISO 100 is the lowest non-extended ISO. At ISO 0,5 you have lost 8 EV of DR. These situations are much better dealt with by using ND filters.
I understand that I lose DR when I go up with ISO – even if it is not extended. But going down should also lose DR? Why should it? Can you send me a link with examples or charts where extended ISO to small numbers is weaker then normal ISO?
I don’t know about any links, but it is easy to figure this out anyway. Suppose that you have set ISO 100 for a scene where the highlights are just about to clip and the shadows is at the sensor noise floor. If extended ISO 50 is available, this is achieved by doubling the exposure and afterwards digitally lower the image “exposure” with 1 EV step, so the image will retain the look of “normal exposure”. Accordingly you will clip 1 EV step off the highlights. And 2 EV steps for extended ISO 50 and so on.
Of course you can simply overexpose yourself with e.g. 2 EV steps in case your camera doesn’t have extended ISO down to 25, and then adjust the exposure in the post processing afterwards.
But often the highlights is well below clipping, and then you can use extended lower ISO (or over exposure) with no loss of DR in the image. The scene DR will vary considerably, between well inside the DR of the sensor, or outside of it (scene and sensor DR is seldom identical). If outside, HDR might be usable (for calm subjects).
.
If you look at DxOmark, the “extended” low iso of e.g. D810 gets better scores in terms of DR and noise and color sensitivity than the native ones.
In my opinion there is no extended ISO. It is just marketing. It is an artificial range where the manufacurer claims it is useable. But with extended ISO you can print a bigger number into the spec. And if someone complains about the quality, one can say: “Hey – it is extended ISO, we don’t recommend that. Look at native:)”
My point is, that thinking makes sense for high ISO, but not for low ISO. A camera with a ISO range of 1 to x.000 would simply correspond to a built in ND filter. Even when the noise level is only a margin better, or even the same. This type of built in ND filter has no problems with false colors. It cost no money. It works with any filter size. It adds no weight to your equipment. It costs no space in your bag. And you can compose your picture, because the sensor/OVF is still properly lit.
In my opinion ND filters are a relict of analouge era, and manufacturers don’t do my idea, because with selling ND filters the industry earns money.
Replying to others here… I do not ‘invest’ in camera bodies, I buy one as a tool. I don’t really care too much if it depreciates because something better (ie a significant upgrade) comes along. And I would say that IBIS was a significant upgrade….. as would be a global/superfast scanning shutter for the version iii’s.
Good list though. I would add:
– faster processing and writing to cards, including full support for UHS-ii (the current USB2-speed internals really need updating!)
– improved workflow support – eg ability to flag/star photos in camera, maybe voice to text tagging, maybe in camera raw-reprocessing and upload…… or maybe just better integration with phone/pad/laptop apps
Some of them you specify the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’ – so I would rephrase these… eg
#6 I want more shots per battery charge, not necessarily a larger battery. If they can do this by reducing power consumption then that would be fine too
#2 I want redundant/resilient storage, not necesarily dual SD slots…. eg if they need to add internal storage (SDD) to get the speed increases… then I’d be happy with internal plus one SD card
You could drop the GPS for me…. maybe add better integration with Apps/Phone apps instead.
AlphaDog, you’ve got it right. There are a lot of people talking about “Investing” in Sony bodies. Let’s get one thing straight here. When you buy something, it isn’t an investment if it doesn’t make you money. If it loses value, it is an expense that you can perhaps depreciate, but it is, in the end, an expense. Even professionals should view it as an expense. Just ask your accountant.
More like a wish list then a practical one and if one were to follow his wish list, with current tech it’ll make the body as large as an A99, which defeats the purpose of A7 series, in fact any “improvement” that’ll will cause a much more increase in size then the current A7 series should be given to A mount or whatever it may evolve into in the future.
Sony need some to remember this and not get derailed from their vision for the camera (providing they even have one in the first place)
And RAW preview is funny, it’s as if he doesn’t know that there’s no such thing as RAW preview, be it from Sony or any manufacturers or LR and etc, raw needs a “layer” to display, even videographers needed LUT so that they can have a “preview” how the image will look or else it’ll all be grey and muted.
USB 3.0 ?
High FPS video, at least the same as the newest and much cheaper RX-100 (1000 fps)
slow day in rumor land. :S
While I don’t dislike the features listed, this isn’t practical in terms of size and energy use. The A7R II features are pretty good for what it’s meant to be.
If you want more “pro” features needed by, say, wedding or sports photographers, a bigger and more fully-featured A9 is what’s in order. This list is like suggesting Canon drop their 5D line and just have a 1D series.
A useful camera is more than simply having every possible feature in it.
If this camera had the right mount on it I would consider it. As an e-mount, nope.
Brilliant. Care to share which one it should have?
A-mount, of course.
Ha ha, the camera is mirrorless so you can’t have A mount lenses without an adapter period.
That’s why I wouldn’t buy it.
I don’t make him a fool and his list is very interesting (and I share some of his requests). But the intellectual path which leads to this particular point is not very logical to me.
The last thing, in fact we never want a touch screen, that for kids to play games, I can only think these people do not use a camera, if you want a touch screen use your phone.
blackberry had that philosophy back in 2007. touch screen on cameras will become standard someday and in slightly more distant future cameras will include a computer or be more easily tethered to phone/tablet via bluetooth.
Not on a pro camera.
Eventually all cameras will have touch screens, even pro cameras. They’re very handy, especially when shooting on a tripod or shooting video. You can always turn it off.
The touch screen element hopefully, we still need to chimp.
You obviously have no idea how useful a touchscreen is on a camera……
You are right, please tell me what a touchscreen can do, that I can’t do now to take pictures. I know what it can do to mess it all up, so please enlighten me.
Pretty simple really. I had a NEX 5n and it was fantastic to just be able to touch the screen to choose a focus point. I didn’t use it all the time, but it sure is handy when you do. I really missed it on the nex 7 and now the A7. Best of all, it allows you to access it without having to click a couple buttons first or be in a certain mode to use it.
Now, I did accidentally touch the screen choosing a menu or something accidentally, but I don’t remember actually adjusting settings this way by accident.
It’s also really useful for playback and menu navigation instead of scrolling through lists. In fact, I wasn’t really bothered by the Sony menus with a touch screen. I didn’t notice how frustrating the organization is until I lost the touch screen.
How do you choose a focus point with a manual lens? How do you use a touchscreen looking through the viewfinder?
If you ever use gloves in a fast moving situation and the screen does not respond and lose a shot just so people can play with their cameras it’s not for pro camera’s
1. Focus point implies auto focus.
2. Really?
On the 5n at least, The touchscreen wasn’t the only way to do anything. If you are wearing gloves, or need to look through the viewfinder, or trying to move the magnification point for focus assist, the buttons are still there and ready to go, though there were less of them.
I too would like to have a good easy way to choose focus point built into the actual button controls, but as of not, Sony doesn’t have it right. I feel that a touch screen could make a bunch of things easier a lot of the time.
Why on earth would you want everything duplicated on a screen and on buttons? All that does is make more things to go wrong when using the camera, another set of componants that have to be reliable, there is nothing that the camera can’t do just with buttons, I can look through the viewfinder and when Sony makes it 1 button to full manual zoom its done.
Well we’ll just need to go our separate ways then. The button situation IMO is unacceptable.
I take it you have an A7rm2?
The buttons are fine apart from too many presses to get full mag for manual focus.
Not many years ago a camera body lasted many years and you either accepted or not the layout given or bought another brand, if you stuck with it you got, same with a car, change is always difficult for some.
I was skeptical about the usefulness of touch screens, but trying Olympus/Panasonic cameras has made me a convert.
Tapping the screen is the fastest way to set a focus point, and also allows you to quickly resize the focus area. Using physical controls to set the point, or focusing then recomposing, adds the extra second or two that could mean a missed shot.
One neat thing with some cameras is that you can use the touch screen to move the focus point even when you’re looking through the EVF. Olympus calls it the “AF Targeting Pad” – you slide your finger over the screen to drag around the AF point displayed in the viewfinder.
It’s even useful for manual focus, as you can tap to set where you want the image to be magnified. It also makes it quicker to scroll around an image in playback to check the focus.
It may not be essential, but that’s true of a lot of the features that have been added to the A7 series.
Simple fix for the memory card and battery issue without redesigning the camera: why not a new “vertical grip” with its own two-slot bay for SD cards AND why not use the space inside that huge prong (it’s the same shape) for a THIRD battery -essentially, Sony, redesign your present vertical grip, you needn’t junk the A7RII
Exactly, these people are not photographer’s they are just playing with a toy, so why not use their Phones.
With or without mirror, all of those nice features would require a bigger body same size as a99 mk2. 🙂
Geez, this goofy wishlist would make the camera as big as the even goofier Leica SL.
No thanks.
I would like to see this method of manual focus assist using the OSPDAF sensors. It’s better than magnifying and peaking.
http://i.imgur.com/8LIauGX.jpg
A quick question if I may…(to all you knowledgable lot) if they were to do away with all the video functions and make it a stills only camera. How much could that change the ergonomics of the camera? Could it be made smaller? Not that I want smaller. But more space for stills tech.
I would like complete weather sealing. A “my favorites” menu. Built in nd filters 3,6 and 9 stops to be used independently or together. More speed of start up and AF.
wow, grate idea!
Points that don’t make a lot of sense to me…
#1. New Name
The distinction between A7, “s” and “r” makes a lot of sense. 3 names for 3 specific cameras.
As for Nikon Cameras having “simple” names:
D3200, D3300, D5500, D5300, D5200, D7100, D7200, D750, Df, D610, D810, D4, D810a. Really?
#2. Dual SDXC Card Slots
I’m a professional, and frankly I’ve used way more cameras with one slot than 2. Having 2 would be nice, I guess, but only if it doesn’t come with some compromises.
#5. Touch Screen OLED Screen
If buttons and menus get better, I don’t really see the *huge* benefit from having a touch screen.
#7. 10 bit RAW Video (internally of course..) and Unlimited Recording
If I wanted raw video, I’d buy a video camera (and unlimited recording is there for legal issues, not because the camera can’t do that).
#8. Unnoticeable Rolling Shutter or Global Shutter
Again, go buy a video camera.
#9. 16 Stops Dynamic Range, Stills and Video
It will get there, eventually.
#10. Faster Autofocus
Maybe “better” autofocus first?
#11. 10 fps Continuous Shooting
if Sony is interested in Sports and Wildlife photographers (a niche market), then we’ll see something for them in the next 5 months.
#12. GPS
Pretty much no one gives a fuck about GPS.
#13. AC WiFi
The module would probably make the camera bigger. No, thanks.
….as for things we can all agree on, based on what I see around here and elsewhere…
#6. Large Battery Capacity
Yes, that would be nice, but not if it significantly increases the size of the body.
#3. Revamped Menus and User Interface
Yes. Most definitely. Priority #1.
#4. Faster Start-Up time
and as for something you left out…
better buttons and button placement
Dear Sony, please take a hint from Canon and Nikon, they know how to place the user interface on the back and on the top of the camera. Sometimes they too do weird things, but there’s a lot to learn from those 2 camera companies.
Sony must be doing things right, I don’t really see anything on the list I absolutely need. Touch screen would be nice but not essential. Likewise GPS would be nice, but no big deal. Dual SD slots, nice but I never had that before. I think dynamic range is pretty amazing as is. AC wifi could be a nice feature, then again it is probably still to slow for 42mpx RAWs.I’d love my Panasonic style articulating screen.
Again I didn’t see anything there as essential. Sure better battery, But i already convinced myself to carry 2 extra batteries. No big deal shooting 300 pictures per battery. I still remember 36 exposure rolls, and 12 exposure 120 film. Not a big deal.
it will depreciate, you can be sure about that. If you think in terms of investment, then cameras are pretty much the worse deal you can find, if you’re not a professional, that is. Lenses very less so.
In 3 years, you’ll be lucky if you get 1500$ for that camera. It’s in the nature of this kind of things.
But the most important question is: will you *really* need a new camera in 2 years?
Obviously, not everyone want the same thing. I can understand these features from a Professional photographer point of view, but as for me :
#1. New Name
I couldn’t care less.
#2. Dual SDXC Card Slots
No. I prefer it as light as possible.
#3. Revamped Menus and User Interface
OK, but I totally fine with the current ones
#4. Faster Start-Up time
OK, but actual start-up time is not bad at all
#5. Touch Screen OLED Screen
Yes, this one would be an improvement
#6. Large Battery Capacity
No. See #2. Using the same battery for A7 and Nex series is a plus. Furthermore, I never need to change battery before the end of the day.
#7. 10 bit RAW Video (internally of course..) and Unlimited Recording
Why not.
#8. Unnoticeable Rolling Shutter or Global Shutter
Why not.
#9. 16 Stops Dynamic Range, Stills and Video
Yes.
#10. Faster Autofocus
Yes.
#11. 10 fps Continuous Shooting
Yes.
#12. GPS
Definitely yes. This one would be my personal number one.
#13. AC WiFi
Why not
#14. No Overheating
I didn’t experiment overheating so far
#15. RAW Histogram and Preview
Why not
#16 Variable Low-Pass Filter
No. I’m not such an experimented photographer that I want to adjust this feature
#17. Get rid of the mechanical shutter
Yes.
A curved side profile. Laugh all you want, but this is the reason why Sony SLT’s are more comfortable than Canikon’s. They bubble out on the side so there is more contact with the palm of your hand. Do it Sony…DO IT!
I don’t get it.
WE NEED LENSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Canon has been making lenses for its EOS-mount.during 28 years.
Nikon has been making lenses for its F-mount during 56 years.
Sony has been making FE lenses for its E-mount system during 2 years.
Do “we” really have anything NEAR realistic demands here…?
Sony are designing as many FE lenses they are able to do (about 7-8 lenses per year). I doubt that there has ever been any camera manufacturer in the history that has launched so many lenses with this speed.
In addition to this, Zeiss, the world’s largest optical company, says that the company’s main priority now is to turn out so many Loxia and Batis lenses they are able to (and asks their customers to forgive them that they haven’t been able to increase the production capacity fast enough to cover the demand).
Finally, third party lens manufactured lenses are coming out with an increasingly number of new lenses for FF E-mount. You can read about the latest, the SLR Magic Cine 50/1,1 lens, here on SAR earlier today.
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Manual focus customization for fly-by-wire FE lenses:
– Enable/disable focus acceleration
– Switch focus ring direction
– Tweak focus ring sensitivity
To navigate through the menu and touch focus when using a live view…this is very useful for video.
I would add some things to improve which imo are still missing n the list above!….
1. USB 3.0 slot not old 2.0 as it is the same with the mentioned WIFI standard (wish ac not N) use always the latest port/speed standard….!!!!
2. 14 bit uncompressed raw file (option) should be also possible when shooting in continous af mode and silent shutter modes (silent shutter is enabled!!!)! So no drpping of dynamic range liek nikon and canon is offering
3. one button to 100% magnification to check if shot is really 100% sharp and not blurried as nikon as others have it via click on ok button
4. one button/option for direct AF point control
Please sony add the list above and all the points of the commentaries which are missed on the list above and add it via future fimware update and the things/customer improvements wishes not possible via firmware update in the 3rd generation of the sony a7 Series so starting with A7III…..
@SAR_Admin
Please send the 17 point list added which the missing points from all the user comments (not on the list) to Sony or one of your trusted sources you know to work for sony!!!!
thanks in advance!!
get some addtitonal desirable features/improvements…
5. electronical shutter speed up to 1/32000 as along as they are using (focal plane) mechanical shutters where it seems 1/8000 is max for them and no leaf shutter or global shutter mechanisms are introduced or technical possible
6. built in pop up flash or at least radio transmitter, HSS sync possible for new future upcoming sony flashes (new more powerful radio controlled flashes and a competitive flash system is one big disadavantage/gap for the fe system against canon or nikon flash (system)
7. native base iso lower than 100 like the d810 64 iso or 50 or even 32 iso as the lowest native base iso would increase DR significantly!!! WOULD BE AWESOME!!!
Iso 32 has the Nikon D810 as the extended minimum iso range, native base iso is 64!
8. new battery grip where you can put in two or three standard batteries NPW 50 simultanouesly or develop one big powerful battery as it is the case with the Canon 1DX or Nikon D4S for their native built-in grip alone would be more useful for the studio and more advantages for using and buying the battery grip of course !!! 😉 , maybe you could add a second or third micro sdxc slot uhs II standard in the battery grip as well;)
8. higher max sync flash possible would be nice as well max of nikon and canon 1/320 so maybe 1/400 or even higher would be nice to get if the camera would be capable of/technical possible!
9. DUAL SDXC Card slot was already mentioned but not that of course it should be the latest and fastest speed standard as it always should be the case in general !!!!!! So Please UHS II STANDARD!!!!
10. improve and tighten QC of camera and lens development/ production so less sample variation than nikon and canon have see reports of lensrental.com it seems sony (only with zeiss label) have a higher /more sample variation than nikon and canon lenses just to name one among others the brand new sony zeiss 35 1.4 fe lens!!!!
It might be one reason because of the very fast development and demand/high production of the lens and very competitive goals you have !!!;)
Be aware of this and improve this PLEASE! Quality control is very important nd money well spent!!! Less returns, less problems, less lost money and so on….;)
Only satisfied customers are loyal customers on the long term view!!! And you could easily make a good customer retention by contiously improving the mentioned things/features and by firmware updates (thanks to fuji for being the first of the KAIZEN philosophy with contious firmware updates and improvements for their customers/cameras, it seems sony, panasonic and olympus at least – the mirrorless camera producers- follwoing this approach!!!THIS HAS TO BE SAID IT IS VERY WELCOMED BY ALL CUSTOMERS!!!!
@SAR_Admin
please remember to add these points to your list before sending it to whomever of sony Kazuo hirai, kenta honjo or to a trusted source working for sony alpha camera department !!!! And of course dont forget any of the points SAR readers adding to the main list!!!;) I know lots of work but it would do no harm anyway i think sony will listen and consider all the seeked improvements for having even a brighter and more glorious future becoming the leader in the camera industry on the ling term view of course 😉 long way to go …..
esp. lenses and flashes are needed….tilt and shift fisheyes, macro, telelenses, super telephoto lesnes, telephotoprimes for sports and wildlife shooters…. etc.
Excellent list.
Only global shutter takes care about the mechanical shutter too.
But unlimited shutter actuations is bad for planned obsolescence. Well, they will find a way.
No reason you can’t have it both ways. 😉
Disagree with only your first wish list item:
I Read ILCE7RM2/B as a really simple description of the exact camera:
Interchangeable Lens, Camera Emount Series 7 Model R Mark 2 / Black
Though it may be my military background is the reason this makes sense to me. 🙂
I like in camera GPS which I have in my Canon SX260hs. What I have found though is GPS takes a while to get a fix, so if you start your camera, take a shot and shut it down you don’t get a location. Alternatively leaving your camera on with GPS drains the battery. I carry a pocked GPS (about the size of a matchbook) and sync the time on all my cameras and use the GPS software to update the location in the image metadata and the benefit is that the pocket GPS provides location data/track even when I’m not taking pics.
All of this list you could live with if not implemented. They are all wants not needs.
What I want to see is aspect ratio shadowing in the EVF, RAW histogram, and a 10 last used menu items from the menu only not from the function or custom buttons.
my wish list would be:
short burst recording of high speed video : 2 second, 5 second, 10 second, 15 second?
(super slow, greater than 120fps) minimum size 720/1080/4k?
internal intervalometer / custom timer with number of shots to be captured and time between.
do away with red side video button and just add mode to top dial and use shutter release to start recording.
the ridiculous top dial lock which can no longer be turned with the same hand holding camera.
MAYBE touch screen focus you and turn on and off.
personally the only purpose i would like it is for selective spot focus.
I hope Sony can solve the EVF flickering issue for non-US versions. I just don’t understand why does Sony treat countries differently. Now, only the US version A7 cameras have the best EVF (no flickering).
Setting the camera to NTSC solved the flickering problem on my UK A77II. I very nearly returned the camera before finding that trick – the 50hz flickering EVF was headache inducing. I’m not sure if that’s an option with the A7 series?
I don’t use the camera for video, so the only drawback for me was a warning message that adds a few extra seconds to the start up time.
i have an asian a7r2 never experienced flickering, i have it set to ntsc though
I’d love to see a better phone/app situation. The way the camera uses the PlayMemories app is just awful. Add the need to turn on airplane mode to conserve battery and it takes a good 2 minutes just to get the app going and have the phone talking to the camera.
I’d like to see it setup so that when you start the app on your phone, it opens the app on your camera. Or at least get NFC working on the iPhone to pair them.
Yes, and the ability to change shooting modes and access all menus and functions from the phone, including playback and focus magnification.
What most people are saying, plus: 1/500sec< flash sync speed. USB3 connection. (seriously WTF is this not already built in?)
a global shutter will allow flash sync at any speed
Totally agree with the dual card slots. OR, in what would be a completely Sony way to solve a problem – release a fast and small card backup system that sucks down cards in a minute or two. There is very little in this space, and most of it is slow and rubbish.
That’s a good idea. Sony could use a microSD card to transfer the files to progressively.
A professional FF camera based on the Medium format design.
Like medium format designs Sony will have 3 main modules, the lens, the body and the back.
1. A simple but fully customisable high quality professional body with a interchangeable A – E mount. Like RED the new Sony will also have the option of an EF and F mounts. The body will also have the option to add a large variety of different styled grips and add-ons.
2. A separate brainsensor back which can be swapped out as easily as changing a lens for a variety of sensor backs. Options for FF, crop, square, panoramic, high iso, high mp and video based sensor backs will eventually be available.
3. Lens selection will no longer be an issue as the new Sony will be a true universal camera design offering add-ons for most major mounts.
This system will make it possible to truly blend both the A mount and E mount into the one modular system while keeping future production costs to a minimum. Along with the mirror the shutter will also disappear allowing for a full electronic design with minimal moving parts and unrestricted flash sync speeds.
This system will be geared towards professional photographers.
It would also be geared to future upgrade of individual components. I’ve imagined something like this for a long time. They could go a step further and make the monitor an individual component as well. Perhaps even pairing with any phone or tablet.
Not feasible in a declining market. It’s far easier to design 5 slightly different cameras for 5 different kinds of customers than building a whole new system, from the ground up, with dozens of different “modules”. Plus, it would cost a fortune to offset the bigger demand of some modules over others.
Oh, and you probably would have to forget about weather sealing.
You may not like the fact that the a7rii is a video camera but it is. It’s both advertised and used as such. There’s no other video-only camera that can compete with what used to be known as stills cameras in anything near this price range. If you don’t like hybrids, go buy a film stills camera.
Maybe I wasn’t clear. My bad. I don’t really care if every still camera today shoots video. Actually, for my work, it’s a great thing, since I often get requests for footage along with stills. But, as you rightly said, we’re talking about “hybrids”, i.e. tools that were designed for one purpose and ended up being used for something else as well. If people want to buy an A7R II for shooting video exclusively, good for them! I’m just saying, coming from a background in film and tv series, that there are inherent compromises in the ergonomics and video capabilities of a camera that was designed primarily for photographers. I’ve used DSLR for video for a few years, but frankly if I’ll ever have to shoot a commercial or a tv series again, and if the budget allows for it, I’ll probably look to rent a camera designed specifically for video. Oh, and Sony (just like Canon) actually has a line of pretty amazing professional camcorders!
Nice wish list. And so the camera weights like a 5D Mark III…
“10 bit RAW Video (internally of course..) and Unlimited Recording”
10 bit XAVC is far more practical and better option
IMHO most of this “needs” are not useful, they are for formal exists and not for photographers, they are fore table shooters and photozone readers (only 2 cards, menu optimisation (?) and hybrid A-E mounts)…
1. setings of minimal shutter speed in auto ISO (now it useless, how can I use auto ISO for a kids shoots with 1/50 ???)
2. special small joystic or option to programming cross button for fast AF point movement without extra clics
3. no more megapixels!
4. Jpeg quality, camera jpeg colors!!! we dont have a good camera jpeg yet! in most cases we can use only raw (arw) and often need to make a big job in c1 with colors…
1 and 4 are already taken care of.
1 – ??? In a7r-2 ???? I do not have 7r-2 because 42mp I do not need, and I think this is a disadvantage for me. In new firmware for other models?
4 – not yet, not yet…
And? You were talking about some future camera. Sony have already addressed these so will be on said future camera.
I hope to see realy good JPEG in the future camera, good skin tone in camera JPEG. I hope it will have special small joystic for AF point and hope to sea not only multy pixel vercion (7s-3 and 7-3 with BSI)
GPS or real time sync with smartphone to get GPS info
Vote for GPS as well (disable it if battery is an issue by default and use users that want it can enable it)… Never understodd why Sony removed it from the camera… I just don’t accept there is no room for it as there is phones allot smaller with allot more (NFC, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi 2.4G, WiFi 5G, Blueooth, GPS, IR…etc..)..
BRING BACK THE GPS!!!
They prioritize battery life first, until then, no GPS.
Forgot the most important thing: external flash AF-assist activation!
Well, 17 points and no one considerable from my point of view ).
Actually I don’t have A7RII, but I own A7 and A7II. And A7RII doesn’t looks desirable for update for me especially in view of its apparently high price. So, what I would like to get in a new FE camera from Sony to decide to update:
Sensor. It is the main camera element the quality of the image depends on. I don’t maind against further resolution growth, although my current 24 megapixel quite enough for my needs. So I think it should be mandatory to provide the ability to record RAWs in reduced resolution like it was done since long ago by Canon (sRaw modes).
Autofocus. It’s no secret that phase points greatly increase its effectivity. So object tracking becomes ineffective if the object moves to the edge of the frame. In A7RII coverage area of phase points was increased up to 50% of the frame, but this is not enough. My friend owns cheap Canon 70D and its double pixel technology covers 90% of the sensor. And from my point of view overall object tracking works better on Canon in lifeview, so come on Sony! You have mach to improve here.
Viewfinder. After the sensor it is the most important element in camera for me. In A7RII EVF magnification was slightly increased. Great! How about resolution? Currently I can clearly see the moire in some cases. And about magnification… how about to make it variable? Somebody want to see whole scene at once, but somebody may want to have really huge magnification which may allow to refuse digital zoom for precise manual focusing at all.
And the screen. In fact it is my main viewfinder in 90%. And I am portrait photographer. So I hate the fact that the screen can not be rotated in portrait orientation. Why? Did Sony want to save three cents on the additional articulation? Or a millimeter in size? Or is A7 a product for videographers only who don’t use portrait orientation at all? It’s a shame, Sony! See the same Canon 70D as example.
In camera raw developer, paired with a good quality touch screen. Like an actual smart phone, not like the one on the Nex 5N, because it’s not reactive and it annoyed the hell out of me. And an app system where all apps don’t have to be opened to be used, per example you could download plugins and mods for the existing system and menus to make the camera behave as you want it to without having to open an app. And talking about apps, I’d like to be able to transfer my photos to my phone using bluetooth instead of wifi, and I’d like to be able to transfer my raw files to my phone, not just the jpg. For the bluetooth thing, it could just be an option in a menu whether to use wifi or bluetooth for the quick transmission of files from playback.
And to come back to the raw developer, it should contain all the basics. Curves, levels, shadows and highlights, exposure, white and black points, saturation, contrast, sharpness, clarity, white balance, colour balance, vibrance, denoising, hot pixels, lens correction profiles, cropping, straightening and orientation, images aligning and HDR creation from aligned raws, etc. And it should be able to record profiles and batch process raw files to jpeg using those profiles. Would be pretty awesome. Or they should come out with an app like that to use on phones, and enable the transfer of raw files to the phone. Alternatively, the profiles could be created from a phone and saved both on the phone and on the camera, so that the user could convert the raws to jpeg either in camera or in phone, depending the circumstances.
I completely disagree with the first item. I think Sony’s naming convention is among the clearest. They should keep that one.
you think RX1rII is a good name? i mean even just calling it the RX2 would have made more sense and been less cumbersome. compare the sony naming convention to something simple and sexy like the Leica Q, and by comparison sony might as well be making cars and just naming them with the VIN number.
Well Leica names their cameras like “Leica M Type 240”. Sounds like a screw category to me (“Give me two M Type 240! No, those!”).
But cars are nice. Why not “2015 Sony RX1”?
The problem with RX2 is what do you do with e.g. A6000? A6001? A7000? The problem is that you reach your limit quite fast: What do you do after A9000? A10000? Back to A1000? Or AX000?
No, actually it makes a lot of sense. You see the series (A7), you have a specific model (R/S) and you number the iterations (Mark I/II). Even with the Mark IV you still see the origin and you can sell them side by side. And for all those who aren’t working in a camera shop, simply don’t care about it. Reading is easy and I just say “…the new A7…”, “…the new A7R…”, “…the A6000…”. Works.
LOL.
This is coming from someone who runs Linux and thinks they are cool. probably uses KDE GUI to!
Nuff said.
Like the list, sounds great, but one feature missed for me would be a USB Type C connector (USB3.1), this was tether will be instant, you could also charge your camera via the USB port and downloading files would go as fast as the camera/card can read the files 🙂
Even the Smartphone manufacturers are having trouble to put type-c with 3.1… I think cameras will take a bit longer to get there.
But I hope it doesn’t take long, type-c with 3.1 you could use only the USB to charge/transfer data and hook an external monitor/recorder with ease.
Weather sealing, like Olympus OMD.
That’s the one big thing I miss.
Funny how people keep wishing for larger battery capacity, more card slots, and less overheating, on such a small body. Making the camera bigger and bigger totally defeats the purpose of the E-mount, and the same goes for wanting large f2.8 zooms. Once the new FF A-mount arrives, all your rants will be solved 🙂
Manual focus assist that’s connected to face/near eye detection. Turn the lens and magnify the eye for assistance.
Can we add Fuji? I dont think the mode dial has a point here. With the right dials, I think we can haply live with MASP and a mode button as the pro lines from Canikon.
The mode dial is something that pretty much every camera has. I’ve used Nikon and I use Canon and Fuji regularly now, and I think that one thing I personally like a lot about Canon (5D III) is how they designed the buttons/dial layout. Only one mode dial on top (left of the viewfinder), and the multi-purpose wheel in the back, little joystick for focus point selection, dedicated af button. And a lot of other buttons that, depending on the use, have more or less importance.
Canon 5D mark III: one dial, one multi-purpose wheel, one joystick, 16 buttons.
Sony A7R II: 2 dials, one multi-purpose wheel, no joystick, 9 buttons.
So, if I had 2 minutes with a Sony engineer, this is what I would tell him:
drop the exposure compensation dial (the multipurpose wheel can easily do that, a-la Canon). Design a better multi-purpose wheel, clickable to move AF focus points. Make better, sturdier buttons/controls. That’s it. Add a kick-ass Nikon-style menu, and you have an even better camera than the one you currently sell.
That’s the problem with burying the lead, attention and/or credibility may be lost.
This is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for news, reporting on a forum post by a user with one post to their name who doesn’t understand the technical side very well.
10 fps, 10-bit RAW internal video and no overheating…. by installing a fridge in the camera??
Larger battery, dual card slots -> going to mean a larger body, which is not what most people want.
Global shutter/remove physical shutter and 16 stops dynamic range: these goals are completely incompatible with eachother.
Maybe he can afford a $50k body only camera.
And with physics.
Offset like the NEX-7 & A6000, because the camera is smaller, I can use a smaller bag, I have a tiny bag for my NEX-7, I can fill it with 3-4 rangefinder lenses and it doesn’t get in the way, when I bought my A7r, I had to buy a new bag because the A7r wouldn’t fit.
Also think about the people who use a tripod all the time. The live view and touch screen is really helpful in that scenario. Somebody mentioned pinch zoom and tap focus, those sound awesome while on a tripod. One might argue that the specific circumstances of this type of shooting does not justify the extra cost of a touch screen though.
The most disappointing thing about my a7 is that I cannot download any apps on it or even upgrade existing remote control app. Sony says it’s impossible in my country. Just not nice for sony to not give a f*ck about some countries with not so great sales. I still paid it full for the product and want all of its functions to work. Treating people in different countries should be equal and not like it is now.
10-bit raw video? Spoken like someone who’s never touched that kind of footage in the editing room.
18. Fast charging battery like qualcomm fast charging 2.0 technology. charging 60% in ten minutes . will solve number of batteries you carry … huge help in the battery section
LOL. My highest priorities aren’t even mentionend 🙁
#1 14-bit A/D in bulb (also bracketing)
#2 Way less dark current (through better heat transport, greater heat sink and if possible peltier cooling)
#3 10-bit output (HDMI is capable of this, so new gen Bionx that supports 10-bit is needed)
uh, I shoot with manual lenses on my A7s and get more than 1200 shots out of a single battery. I absolutely do not understand where you guys are pulling these >300 shots per battery numbers.
….uhhhhhh…. DOH!
http://m.memegen.com/ymd2mg.jpg
A7RIII wish list:
Extra sexy
This is the most ridiculous and clueless list I’ve ever seen. The author definitely has zero knowledge about tech trends or basic physics. Not to mention the trade offs a company have to made.
totaly agre.
Wow, look, another negative post by someone who offers nothing constructive in return. Why waste energy making a post when clearly you’re just a dick who can not even offer a counter-arguement. I hope you and all your family gets aids and dies.
#18 Unicorns riding on rainbows.
#19 Puppies.
#20 Deluxe Coffee Maker.
everyone knows that rainbows don’t really exist!
A7s mk3 wishlist (i.e. I want an FS5 in an A7s body! 😛 ha):
#1 internal electronic ND filter
#2 10bit 422 (even if only HD)
Just do not change the battery.
Andrea, the heading is incorrect. Sony has NEVER used “Mark” or “Mk” in their camera names – that is Canon terminology.
Sony is using the abbreviation “M”, and what I understand is that it means Model version.
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A simple option:
Always preview with LCD [on | off ]
Combined with FINDER/MONITOR set to Viewfinder, this could be single most effective way to get back some battery life. Many people are compelled to leave finder/monitor in auto just so that they can review the pics.
Any idea why it’s taking long, I know there is some phones with type-c connector already? Also I’m not sure why Sony is still using USB2.0 on many camera’s? why has it taken so long to move to USB3.0 even? I hope they skip it and go directly to 3.1 as it’s a big difference and the ability to super charge whilst tethered is great!
I don’t get it… if they prioritize battery lift first why remove it all together? like a phone and old Sony camera’s you can turn GPS off and it does not consume any battery? as I said ship the camera with GPS disabled by default so battery is still the same without it and users that really want it and don’t mind the slight extra drain can enable it…etc..