The new Sony cameras just got announced! Stay tuned on this post! I will update it as soon as I find new info and the first reviews! Let me know if you find something I didn’t post here…Thanks!
Press release:
A58 at Sony, ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographic Central, Photographyblog, Photoscala.
NEX-3n at Sony, ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographyblog, Photoscala.
The three new A-mount lens news at ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, AlphaNumerique (french), Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographyblog, Photoscala.
New Cybershot cameras at Sony, Techradar, Photographyblog, Photoscala.
News also on TheVerge, Alphanumerique (french).
Preorders:
The new Zeiss 50mm at Sony UK store, Sony DE store, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES (available in June).
Preorders will be up at Amazon US on Monday!
Hands-on and previews:
NEX-3n at ePhotozine, Techradar, Photographyblog, Pocket-Lint.
A58 at ePhotozine, Techradar, Pocket-Lint.
Sony NEX-3N Verses Sony NEX-F3 Comparison at ePhotozine.
Description in short:
NEX-3n: 16-megapixel sensor, 180-degree tilting screen, zoom lever. Sony markets it as the “world’s smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera with a large APS-C sized sensor” (it weights 210g). It has “Triluminous Color” for an expanded gamut when images and videos are played back on the company’s Triluminous Bravia displays. The NEX-3N will ship next month.
SLT-A58: Brand new 20-megapixel that Sony says will produce excellent low-noise results. New OLED viewfinder and a new 15-point autofocus system with “more accurate subject tracking“. On market in April.
Pricing of the new A-mount lenses (in Pound):
70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II telephoto zoom – £1800
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM – £1300
DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II zoom – £180
Technical specifications (Click on it to enlarge)
333 Responses
I’m glad that Sony is now using the Hot Shoe.
+1
-1
definitely -1. No idea why people are so happy from having 2 flashes that work correctly with a new cameras while they had nice collection available with the old hotshoe.
+1
-1
±0,9674
That’s how you do it, people.
+1
+1
-1
-100
Yeah because iISO to ISO adapters were so expensive….oh wait…
Also, why do Sony still have “DSLR Cameras” in their page? They don’t sell DSLRs anymore, they sell DSLTs.
No….again!?
D = Digital
SL = Single Lens
R = Reflex
Which one of those a Sony SLT doesn’t have???
Get a life!
Reflex stands for reflection. as in mirror.
There is reflection in the DSLT. Bam!
And a mirror for that matter.
SLTs are sub-type of DSLRs
pretty much like rangefinders are sub-type of mirrorless cameras.
There are people that disagree with both of these, but well… can’t do much about it.
not too impressed, wished sony kept the A38
Im assuming there won’t be a A65 replacement either
No 60/50p video on the 3n. No thanks.
This is the European release announcement. Historically Sony have always had 50/25 for PAL and 60/24 for NTSC. I’m sure the NTSC model will have 60/24.
Full resolution burst speed of the A58 is cut in half compared to its predecessor two generations ago. So much for progress. Low tech LCD was expected after they scrapped the A38 and the lower price was rumored. Still a bit weird too just like that A35 LCD.
Significant increase in battery stamina is impressive though, considering the constant LV.
Oh and the reduced ISO range compared to its predecessor the A57, is a fact hard to sell as well, even just from a marketing (rather than actual usability…) point of view.
Andrea rocks!
Many thanks Andrea for all your hard works. Great job.
Lol a99 on the picture (although taken from the Sony site !).
lol! Didn’t notice Sony did use the wrong image 🙂
If Sony can’t even get the photo right for a release, then what should we expect regarding the release itself?
Basically, both of the newly released cameras are a let down. Shame on Sony for releasing downgraded updates. Such a sham. And… I’m a big fan of Sony. What gives? Everyone would be better off snapping up the previous versions as soon as the prices drop. Or, God forbid, just get a Rebel or M.
Sony better be ripping off the low end to reallllllyyyyy deliver on the high end in the next few months. Otherwise, look for sales to plummet tremendously. Come on Sony!!! Give us the Nex 10.
on the a99 image you can see they use the 70 400 ssm II …
yep!
Any news on the CZ 50mm Andrea?
My guess is the A-mount lenses may be announced on Monday. I am checking this now…
and one of my favored option on a sony camera..the 10fps is reduced to 8fps…sony please give me a reason why u did that..
20Mp vs 16Mp will take more processing power and more time to write to card.
But isnt nw sdhc class 10 cards thr for that? The sandisk extreme sdhc are evn faster…
Wait a sec…isnt a77 and nex7 above 20mp and a77 has 12fps
Isn’t A77 and NEX7 significant more expensive than A58?
Isn’t it significantly older, using old tech? By Moore’s law this camera should process data at least twice as fast as A77 generation for the same price.
Their respective prices have fallen significantly. Add to that what Skywalker said.
Thanks!
a58 looks good.
Looking just at the spec for a58, seems disappointing.
Other than the better battery life, do not think its any major change compared to a55/a57….
Have to see real life operation and tests to confirm.
But april is so far away… gosh.
What’s the EVF resolution on the A58? Also, a GN4 flash on the NEX-3N seems pretty useless …
I hope the high end announcements (NEX-7N and A78) will be more impressive.
1.4 million same as before, just oled.
found some more images I thought I would share:
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259110 (g lens map, is that a 70 – 200 SSM II ?)
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259111 (new flash)
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259112 (new flash)
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259113 (new remote)
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259114 (new remote) (with zoom ?? on alpha)
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259115 (new remote)
Thanks for sharing these. Too bad the only flash I’m interested in – the HVL-F43AM – is still not updated. At least they try to update the line-up slowly.
The new remote looks strange … At least it’s a wired one, finally.
wow I see two new potential G lenses!
false alarm, just one 🙂
The little flash looks like a hack job, no different that regular F20AM with adapter. The foot is an ergonomic train wreck.
A58 sounds like the a38.
Does sound kinda like they just merged the aspects of the two. I wonder if they’ll even do an A65 successor. That really what I was waiting for, but I don’t want to wait til the end of the year.
Well, I also found it kind of ridiculous that you could shoot at such a high frame rate on the high-end Sony cameras, but it was only for like 1.5 seconds before you ran out of buffer. Then comes the waiting for 20 seconds or so for the buffer to catch up. I would be interested to know its maximum burst length and the subsequent write times.
Not too worried about the LCD, I like looking through the viewfinder whenever I can. If I can’t, it should prove adequate.
I would also like to know the OLED resolution, and whether or not the camera itself is UHS-1 compliant.
Was hoping for a quicker release though. 😛
Yep, the tiny buffer on A57/65/77 really deprives them of taking the full advantage of 12fps. Hopefully A58, or at least A78, adds more buffer.
The RAW buffer of the A57 is considerably larger than that of the higher positioned D7000, and even larger than the RAW buffer from the 7D before the recent firmware update.
The RAW buffer of the A57 is considerably larger than that of the higher positioned D7000, and even larger than the RAW buffer from the 7D before the recent firmware update.
A58 SAL70400G2 <<<<<< new lens 70-400G2
http://presscentre.sony.eu/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=259109
April, huh? But I guess that’s the Europe date – not necessarily the same date in the USA. I hope that soon they will post what kit bundles will be available and their prices. I’m hoping for an 18-135mm option if possible.
Considering Sony’s track record, they like to make that 18 – 135 an option most of the time. Except on the last A57, where it’s mysteriously absent. You can get it on the A37 though, which is weird. I think with them dropping off the A37, you’ll see an option for it eventually on the new A58.
Noo !!!!
One of the worst things on my Sony A37 is the LCD. Horrible horrible crap ! Its practically useless if you try tilting it as the viewing angles are the worst I have seen in a long time.
Such horrible tech should have been dead and buried years ago.
On the bright side, the battery life has improved quite a bit which is a good thing and the low price is a bonus.
Just for comparison
a55 a57 a58
MP 16.2 16.1 20.1
ISO 100-25600 100-25600 100-25600 with Multi-frame
AF 15+3cross 15+3cross 15+3cross
burst 6/10fps 10/12fps 5/8fps
EF TFT 100% TFT 100% OLED 100%
LCD 921k dots 921k dots 460k dots
Articulated Full Full Parital
IBIS Yes Yes Yes
Flash Yes Yes Yes
Size 124x92x85 132x98x81 129x96x78
Weight 500g 618g 492g
GPS Yes No Unknown(most likely not)
Battery(LCD) 380 550 700
Think a57 is still better?
a58, u lose burst fps.
You do get OLED LCD, but at the cost of lower resolution and full articulated LCD.
But you get better battery life for that.
Seems like Sony is playing a58 down to be closer to a3x series….
So that they could make a68/78 look better when they release it later this year?
“So that they could make a68/78 look better when they release it later this year?”
That was my thoughts. The A65 never really stood out enough over the A57 – unless you really, really wanted 24mp and better EVF.
the a57 cannot do 12 fps..not sure where you got that from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plaZNu4R18A ?
I just discovered much improved battery life (almost double)
Given the battery life increase. I’d like to know how they are stabilizing the sensor? Electronic or the shake and bake?
It’s the same way as they did it with A57.
Photo – mechanical
Video – electronic
I can’t believe that in this day and age they stepped down to a 460k dot LCD on a 5-series cam. And that the 8fps burst mode is only in Tele-zoom mode. Even the A580 with a flip-up mirror could manage 7fps at full res (just with the exposure and focus locked). I don’t know. Seems like a step down from the A57, which was a pretty damn nice cam.
A57 was mid-level
After they scrap A38, now A58 officially become entry level dslt.
Let’s hope for the A6x release if they will do that
Can this do 1080P @ 60FPS?
If the specs are right, no they wont do.
the US version of the camera should be able to record on 60p or 24p
Nope the US version will be able to do 60i and 24p
In the promo video on YouTube it says it does 60i/24p.
Low resolution LCD and no 50/60p video, only interlaced. Looks to me this is done intentionally to differentiate the higher models from the lower ones. Not new, it’s been done before, and not only by Sony. I bet that the cameras could do 50/60p and but the feature is disabled and the low res LCD may save only pennies.
Most likely.
You’re right. If only Sony SLT is hackable..
+100
Was on the fence whether to buy an a57 or wait for the a58. a57 it is.
bundle it and save. one A57, stereo mic, 55-300mm 700 usd money. Save 450 that would make the a57 250 bucks
Clearly they have merged the A37 + A57 + A65, bringing the most important features of the higher end models into the lower end, while leaving less important features from the lower end to reduce overall price –
Body = A57/A65
EVF = A65
Sensor = New, between A37/A57 & A65 in terms of resolution
AF = Improved version of all 3 which were the same
FPS = A37
Video Modes = A37
ISO range = Dependent on sensor to a large degree. Small difference anyway between 16000 and 25600
Hotshoe = New multi acc shoe, was a given anyway
GPS = None, same as A37/A57
LCD screen = Between screen used on A37 (260k dot) and A57/A65 (921k dot) with 460k dots
Articulation = A37
Weight = A37
If the price of $599 with kit lens is to be believed I think the new A58 has all the most important aspects of the cameras it will be replacing, at a much lower price point with some cost savings in areas that really aren’t all that important anyway.
Oh and the much improved battery life.
I think they could have added a grip option, if this is replacing all three models so they will have a 5, 7 and 9 series, there is enough to differ the 5 and 7 now that a grip could have been offered on all models. My guess however is not enough people bought them in the past.
Surely not a merge.
The A58 does not have the same EVF as the A65/77.
A58 is 800×600
A65/77 is 1024×768
But it’s an OLED which doesn’t even compare with TFT used in older cameras. OLED viewfinders are miles better than TFTs.
A65/77/NEX7 are all OLED viewfinders at higher resolution.
WOW. 4x AF speed improvement with the new 70-400mm.
“Steadyshot inside image stabilisation” – does that mean no matter which lens is used, it will be stabilised?
Yes!
Yes, all Sony cameras have on-sensor image stabilization.
Nikon and Canon have in-lens image stabilization, so its lens dependent.
Which basically means that you can forget about stabilization in primes.
Sony is a win-win here.
EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM
EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM
EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM
EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM
EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 MkII & 50mm f/1.8 Mk III with IS are rumoured.
We haven’t seen the sensor yet!
But, It would have been more reassuring for those of us hoping for a strong and full-frame future for the A-Mount if this camera would have been a little more revolutionary than evolutionally.
Update… a58 only has tilt-angle LCD.
WTF!?
EVF is same resolution as A57 etc, lower than A77. Not a big deal, much improved for not being phase sequential (my only beef with the previous EVF). New EVF could also mean cheaper EVF option for NEX in the future?
1.44m OLED, based on ephotozine’s hands on. Meh, I’ll take it. Gotta cut the price somehow, right? 😛
its written 460k on sony’s eu website.
800×600 resolution.
Well I was talking about the OLED EVF, not the read panel LCD. Ephotozine’s hands on says it’s 1.44m
From dpreview:
“The A58 builds on the A57’s feature set and gains an SVGA (800×600 pixel) OLED viewfinder, rather than its predecessors’ LCDs.”
Well I’m confused, cause it says right on DPreview in the specifications that the viewfinder resolution is 1,440,000. Is that perhaps separating each and every sub pixel? Why do it just for the viewfinder and not the LCD? Strangeness. Is that some kind of marketing trick?
WOW! Now I like the CZ 50mm 1.4 lens price – I am up to grab it…
Lot less than the rumored price!!
Thanks Sony!!! 🙂
the prices listed are in pounds, so the converted prices aren’t that much different than the rumors.
Assuming Sony’s European price directly converts to USD it breaks out as follows:
70-400= £1800 / $2,779.87 / Euro 2,072.80
50= £1300 / $2,007.68 / Euro 1,497.02
But let’s hope that the US prices are cheaper like they usually are with the camera bodies!
@ OneTrackMind
Thanks!
Yes, I am hoping too that US price would be much cheaper like camera bodies as usual!!
I think they still got a lot of 57 hanging around.
WOW the photo of the new SAL70400G2 is HOT
Color looks like it’s a deferent
DPReview states camera is not released to U.S. market at this time. Wise, as this new 5 would get creamed by the Canon T4i with much better LCD that fully articulates.
Now I bet Sony doesn’t update a65, because it’s gonna get smashed by Nikon 5200.
Folks are gonna freak out when they discover only one $600 flash fits their new a58. This is starting to get comical. The “improvements” don’t show themselves to be obvious when these cams sit side by side at counter.
no they have small flash that fits.
What flash?
20 version model with new shoe. The tiny thing.
I didn’t know they had a new foot version of F20AM… so I guess it’s an F20M?
Any news if it continues the wireless delay problem on SLT cams?
Wireless delay? What?
Yes except the Nikon handles like a bucket of ass. The Canon is alright, with it’s ‘latest gen’ sensor and all.
Erm why is flash a problem?
That’s okay because they all got built in flash.
Built-in flash? Oh ok…..LMFAO
Not all that impressed here. The early info sounded good but they just left the negatives off until later. Smaller screen with poor resolution and incomplete articulation is lame. This really does seem like a blending of the A37 and A57, rather than an upgraded A57 which was what I was looking for. The cost of the A57 was already very reasonable, I’d have rather seen a model that cost a little more but offered a genuine upgrade rather than this budget-compromise model.
Horrible camera, Sony just f*cked me.
I was waiting for this camera to change my busted a500, and now I get a58 with same tilting LCD that works halfway. LCD quality compared to previous a5x models is bad, framerate is lower but at a cost of higher mpix number, nothing interesting, lets hope the sensor is good as they say it is or pray that a78 will be not so expensive and have good stuff inside it.
I for one would love having a better sensor with better light performance and noise handling. You can zoom on an LCD to see any glaring flaws, but with the OLED available it’s not really an issue, unless you’re doing studio work with a remote and no computer and like relying on a tiny low res screen to confirm your photos. The LCD on the back has always seemed extraneous to me anyways with a decent EVF available. It’s going to be so far from my eyes when, and if, I choose to use it that it’s not very critical to me. Photo review can be done through the OLED. Just my thoughts…
You should be glad coup now you can get an A57 for a discount
Where are the people complaining about the 70-400G2 price? At 1800 euros, the price seems quite reasonable.
The price is in Pound!!! Not in Euros!!
That’s not euros. It’s pounds.
I stand corrected but it’s not going to cost 3000 euros as some people were speculating, since it is only around 200 pounds more than the current model.
Looks like the 70-400g2 will be priced at 2200 euros, with the 50mm Z at 1500 euros.
Yes it is not as bad as all the whiners were proclaiming.
I guess in dollars it will be around $2200 (convert then deduct 20% VAT).
ahhhh, real world prices.
ZA50/1.4 for $2011.36.
For a little more than the ZA50, the Sigma trio
35/1.4 $900
50/1.4 $450
85/1.4 $900
Total $2250
______________
Nikon 50/1.4G at B&H for $384. Boy that lens must be a real dog. Poor Niko.
You are comparing like apple and oranges here…
Though, price is higher, but you have to consider it is a
> CARL ZEISS and Weather sealed
Even Sigma one is better than the Nikon!
Photozone tests suggest the opposite. At least how I interpret the results.
Siggy 50/1.4
http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/616-sigma5014ff?start=1
Niko 50/1.4G
http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/441-nikkor_afs_50_14_ff?start=1
@ CTPhotographX.com
Well, you are right there – per Photozone, Nikon is better!
But most users, including myself, like the Sigma better for it’s razor thin bokeh @ 1.4 to 4f and only for that single reason I have bought the Sigma.
It depends on personal taste I guess!
I do agree that price is much higher than compare to other relatively low priced lenses. I would love it @ $1100 or lower though. A wishful thinking of course!!!
What I expect is the new ZA50/1.4 will be much better wide open corner sharpness than the excellent Siggy, as all ZA’s have this trait. Both great lenses for sure.
I get you’re trying to make a point..but bringing the exchange rate into this is misleading. UK items aren’t priced based on US value. The 35 1.4 is 760 pounds or $1200. Based on that offset I would expect the Zeiss to be $1500..which is what the rumor is anyways
Thanks Dave. Good insight.
The zeiss 55mm 1.4 Distagon for Nikon and canon are 3000 dollars, so in a way, the Sony 50mm is a bargain, relatively speaking. People want Zeiss – it is not going to be cheap.
SAL50F14 is US$424.99
Dunno why you compare Zessis price against Sigma price
For the same reason I’ll compare price of a Mustang vs BMW. Sure, one is “nicer”, but the other performs really well at half the price.
I didn’t read the whole thing but optical performance are both 3.5 stars on sigma and sony
Correction:
Sigma 2 stars
Nikkar 3.5 stars
Sony 3.5 stars
The Nikon is indeed nothing to boast about since it’s outperformed by the old Minolta designed Sony 50mm already.
improvement in noise is done by zone noise reduction. I guess like DRO.
Any bets on actual selling date. We in for months or days to purchase the CZ 50mm. Just wondering
Seems like Sony is leaving the true entry level DSLR space (A3x) to the NEX line. Good for them. There’ll be the A5x line, next up A7x, then A9x.
Nex 3N is not an Apps support camera?
“Multi Terminal interface, the RM-VPR1 wired remote commander features handy controls for zoom and video recording start/stop. It also includes a shutter lock function that’s ideal for long-exposure ‘bulb’ shooting with ‘α’ cameras. The remote comes supplied with two cables. One is for use with Multi Terminal-equipped cameras/camcorders, while the other allows simple shutter release with ‘α’ A-mount cameras that only include a REMOTE terminal.”
Now this is great news!
Really, Sony..? Sure, it’s an update to the a37, but compared to a57.. a much worse LCD screen (2.7″, 460K, less maneuverable), worse burst speed and a plastic mount.. No wonder if they can keep the price very low.. But 599 USD with kit lens, while it says somewhere that it’s not even introduced in the US right away.. That better not be pounds. Anyhow, at least there seems to be plenty of room for an a65 update..
Noticed the plastic mount – that is pretty bad!
In pounds they are saying about 450.
Yes it does leave the option for a nice A6x model with dual controls dials and weather sealing, like a K-30 competitor.
Let call it an A4x
One of the review sites say that the F3 has a touch screen while the 3N does not???? neither one has a touch screen.
I think that everyone’s forgetting that Sony, as a whole, is not in that great a position right now. They’re trying to maximize profit while giving us the features that actually matter like an OLED, a better sensor, etc. IMO, an LCD on the back panel is not what I’m going to use 95% of the time. Let’s not forget that tethering is a real option now. This camera reminds me of what Sony is doing on all fronts, which is to restructure so that they can remain profitable. You can either buy the new one, or get an old one. Either way you’ll be helping them actually keep going so we can keep watching them improve what truly matters in photography… how well it takes a photo.
The camera doesn’t take the photo… the photographer does. And the photographer can take (make) a photograph more efficiently with the fully articulating high resolution LCD.
Seriously, I was considering this camera for a lightweight portrait shooter because I expected it to have high resolution LCD that could be used at waist level vertical position with focus peaking… like the previous 5’s.
Can’t do that with this new 58… thus I “can’t” make the kind of photo that I’d like to with this camera. It’s a devolution of the previous product.
Really? Really? Can you really see the resolution difference between these two from 3″ away at waist level. Yes the A37 screen was pretty bad, but you haven’t even seen this display! Seems like a lot of crying over nothing to me.
The EVF improvements on the other hand will certainly be welcome, well by rational people at least.
And they do this to save battery life for more pictures per charge
With a magnifying loupe, yes, I can see the difference.
Just checked out the image analysis page of Nikon D5200 at DPReview. The new Toshiba 24mp APS-C sensor is unbelievable, looking practically as good as a99. Don’t even bother comparing it to NEX7 or a65/a77… It’ll make you angry.
The camera has fully articulating LCD at high resolution. Alas, no HSS flash mode. Possible deal breaker for this strobist.
Maybe that’s the sensor we will see on the 7n/A78
Sure, a Toshiba sensor in a Sony camera. Might not be a bad combo, especially if the SLT mirror could flip out’ da’ way… like we’ve been begging Sony for since SLT was released. But nooooo… we get downgraded LCD instead. Did anybody ask for that?
Minutia of terms aside (you know what I meant), I’m not trying to say that it’s going to work for everyone, but the other cameras are still there if you can’t wait for the higher end models to come out later. I’m not saying this is a win all solution for everyone, it’s just what Sony is doing right now to remain profitable.
That’s pretty much the short and sum of it. I just don’t know why people complain so much when they have so many alternatives in the world. Don’t like the new model? Don’t buy it. If that’s the norm with the product, then Sony will adapt. I think it looks great for overall price and the features I want. Not a devolution, just a mutation.
+1
Hoping there would be AF fine tuning. But I doubt it.
IF there is tethering I don’t see a reason why not?
My A65 was a sound investment. All the newer middle-class SLTs that have come out of Sony are a bunch of crap.
Nobody has been whinging about the resolution of the display on the 3n, which is FAR more relevant as that is the ONLY option you have on the 3n. This camera seems far more of a downgrade from the F3 than the A58 is from the A57. I cannot see an area where it is better, other than being smaller.
It has a lower res screen, no accs port and same everything else. This isn’t just a downgrade on the F3, it is a downgrade from the C3 as well. It better be cheap, like REALLY cheap. I suppose it does come with the new pancake.
I might take the opportunity to snap up a cheap, unloved F3, at least I can add an EVF or flash to it.
Nobody does, because this site is full of NEX fanboys that always see A-mount gear as inferior and look for issues everywhere while overseeing the obvious crap in NEXes.
Eventually you’ll get used to it.
Get that chip off your shoulder. It’s because pretty much nobody that visits this site is really bothered about an NEX entry-level camera.
Besides, isn’t it you that views NEX as inferior, rather than the other way round?
Are you freaking kidding me SONY?
Sony ZA 50 1.4 = US$2300
Sony 70-400 G = $US2800
OMG!!!
of course… realistic profitability may take some adjustment….
ruffy – you probably should reduce 20% UK VAT from those prices, and get a more realistic prices in stead of whining before the official prices have been revealed.
The Zeiss may well be the best FF normal lens ever made, hence the Mustang Vs BMW comparison, should be more like Mustang Vs Ferrari…
Zeiss is a premium lens maker. It got its price. Put performance aside, only their QA worth the money. You will always get the same top quality for every lens you buy. For other manufacture, I have heard ppl complain that qualities are varies given the exact same lens, and they have to go to the shop and hand pick it.
So you’re saying -30% VAT, it should be US $1600? then this is still the most expensive 50 1.4 Zeiss ever MADE!!!
These two lens should not even be discussed in the same sentence with the A57/58. I would hope those thinking of a A57 or 58 that the Zeiss and g lens are not even considered.
That was my two cent worth. In zeiss and g land it would have to be 2,000 cents worth.
Only 15 focus points for A58?…. real dissapointment
Downgrade from A57
People will keep buying Canon and Nikon unless Sony gives some thing better for same price point
Hope sony will make in future fast small SLT camera
better focusing, more buffer memory, A55 size etc.,
How is 15 AF points a downgrade from the A57?
Down to 15 from 19
Check again, the A57 also had 15 points.
Yup, it’s a joke compared to the D5200 and I highly doubt the A58 will have an amazingly new low noise performance as SAR claimed…
“People will keep buying Canon and Nikon unless Sony gives some thing better for same price point”.
I don’t think so. People will keep buying Canikon no matter what.
Has anyone seen the supposed tethering support mentioned anywhere?
So what was that again about the new AF system in the A58? o_O
Now I suspect/expect that the new sensor on the a58 what sets it apart from Canikon. I mean, it needs to beat the D5200 on IQ and perhaps AF tracking to be REALLY interesting.
The 3N is nice except from the screen res downgrade, which is disapointing as my 3 had 921K pixels. I like however how they have made it smaller and cheaper. A tempting extra good looking body solution.
It’s gonna have to pull out some wicked voodoo to beat IQ of that D5200. I just checked DPReviews comparison page… It’s new Toshiba 24mp APS-C sensor is practically as good as a99/D600 for all intent and purpose. Don’t even bother comparing it to a65/a77/NEX7.
And it has full articulating LCD at high resolution. Way to go Niko. Watch out Sony. Here comes Toshiba.
Haha, its going to be a hard task I know, but if it is a new generation sensor, then who knows.
DXOMark wise the D3200 is only marginally better than the NEX-7. About 1/3 stop better low light performance, but on par in other aspects, but I haven’t seen real test comparisons.
Isn’t the A58 closer in price to the D3200 now? (but ok D3200 has a nice sensor as well) So it really have to be the A78/A6X which needs to beat the D5200 when I think about it.
about ⅙-⅐ stops, not ⅓ (because log₂(1161/1016)≈0.15∊[⅐,⅙])
You are right, I meant compared to the D5200, not D3200, that NEX-7 has around 1/3 stop lower low light performance score… The D5200 is around a factor 1.25 better, which should be around 1/3 stop.
D3200 and NEX-7 are in practice negligable when it comes to low light performance.
I think the max. ISO is a good indicator how good the noise performance really is. 😉 We saw that already on the NEX-7 and NEX-5N, the latter one even had a higher max. auto ISO.
From the samples, D5200 might match D600 in high ISO, but it clearly lags in detail.
That high ISO discussion is getting really out of hand. The 24MP sensor in the A77/NEX-7 might not be great in low light, but is rather excellent otherwise.
The zeiss 50mm sounds good a T* coating on every element layer, eliminating ghosting.
The zeiss 50mm sounds good a T* coating on every element layer, eliminating ghosting.
It sounded so good sars had to say it twice.
I’m glad the marketing works for you. 🙂
The new 70-400mmm does NOT say “The dust- and moisture-resistant”.
There is no weather sealing on this lens?!?
Do you really expect Sony to go back to the drawing board to fit weather sealing into the new body? A new color should be enough!
LOL
OMG dpreview said “no” under seal.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/02/20/sony-lenses-50mmzeiss-70-400mm
The Mark III in 2023 will come with weather sealing. 🙂
mark III are you talking about Canon again:(
and a E-mount…;)
through adapter, sure, only no point in using toy with pro lens.
What a momentous day!
Life will never be the same…
No sealing would be sad, given the cost of the lens the focal length that it would be used for, slow f stop and long focal means it’s outdoors, sports, birds, wildlife, etc. They put nano coating on every layer of the lenses to improve optical performance, but then not weather seal it. Doesn’t make sense. you’ll all say Sony doesn’t make sense. I guess I should start believing you all.
official video of a A58 from Sony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASiNiZRTyBs
They should promote there products more. The stuff the put in is great, but then people here say it all point and shoot. I think that who there after. Theyh should advertise more.
Continuous shooting of 8fps for the new A58 (at telezoom?), at which resolution is this? Is it at 16MP, then it’s not that big difference from A55 / A57.
If I get 8fps at around 16MP with this for the A58 I think it’s OK.
The tiltable LCD without being swivel makes it a more mechanical robust construction, far less prone to break or be damaged.
For me is an up and down tiltable LCD just OK!
On my A55 I very rare use the swivel possibility, but very often the up and down tilting function of the LCD, at hard to photo via the viewfinder situations, often nature photos low near ground or high above head.
I cannot believe either that the 70400G2 is not sealed. Makes no sense to me.
4x faster AF sounds very good, and regarding IQ I’m interested in what improvements we can expect.
The Planar for me personally is a must buy, because the crappy old 50/1.4 needed a replacement.
Although I’m not interested in the A58 I wonder if it might be a bit risky to downgrade the A5x specs (low res screen, burst speed, etc). I assume that many of the A57 owners will not upgrade due to that fact.
For sure it has been done in order to clearly separate the upcoming A78 specs wise.
Otherwise it would be hard to justify the double price tag on it.
Do you have an official source saying it is not weather sealed, or is it people who have jumped on the rumor-whinging-band-wagon who say that?
The point is that there isn’t a source saying it is weather sealed! It isn’t mentioned on Sony’s press release, but it is mentioned on the CZ.
true. And it’s very, VERY weird. We’ll see how it goes closer to an actual release (like: when it hits the stores).
I’m also curious about the IQ comparing to the old version.
i think Sony is making a more comfortable room for the A65 successor, maybe an A68. Sony must have realized that there is a big potential on A65 market, and the current A57 is causing some conflict there… so now they merge A3x & A5x to become the only entry level A5x series, and continue the A6x series, making an A mount APS-C line-up of A5x(entry), A6x(medium), and A7x(high); while the E mount APS-C line-up will be the NEX-3x, NEX-5x, NEX-6x, NEX-7x.
A57 users, like me, should aim for the A65 successor for upgrade! i hope.
I wouldn’t think so. if they were to continue having three categories of aps-c cameras, why didn’t they just name this one the a38 and the upcoming midrange camera the a58? that would make a lot more sense to me. they are dropping the a3x line to make room for nex. the a6x will never become a regular product line just like the a8x didn’t happen after the a850. with prices dropping a little bit every year, there really isn’t room for too many models. a7x will become THE midrange choice for Sony shooters I guess. Full frame price will continue downward as well, making FF photo the enthusiast upgrade segment.
that would make the ladder look like this: a5x entry, a7x midrange, a9x high end. remember prices will drop!
Exactly, A3x users are now seen as potential NEX users. How long before A5x users are then seen as NEX users?
This is a slippery slide into NEX and the end of A-mount. I can see it a mile away, but other people here have their head buried in the sand.
Somehow I agree especially if we see it from technological perspective. Maybe someday the on-sensor focusing speed can be as fast as the one in the SLT today, if that’s the case then people using the 3x and maybe some 5x users will switch to NEX. Maybe A mount would be limited to FF only (I missed the old SLR + dedicated AF sensor days)…
There is still room for a A38 with a smaller capacity battery,Lcos/lcd EVF ,fixed lcd screen and a smaller body.
Sony needs to compete with D3100 which is available for $459 so the A3x makes sense.
+1
the current price of the A57 on uk amazon is £499 and on US amazon 599$
so if the A58 will be released at £450 ! I think the us price will be 599$ or less
Also when do you think we will see it discounted (after how many months usually sony cameras drop 100$) ?
According to the Camel Amazon price tracker the A57 started out at £699.95 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Here’s a link to the graph where you can see how quickly the price dropped: http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-Alpha-Interchangeable-Camera-18-55/product/B007IU3WPU
Had a look at the US Amazon price graph on a whim, and it’s very different… keeps bouncing back up to full retail price for months at a time? http://camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-SLT-A57K-Translucent-Technology-Panorama/product/B007ILK5LI
A58 is a hype.
Nothing about 1 stop better ISO or DR from Sony.
Maximum ISO 16.000 and only real 5 fps.
What is new? More or less nothing.
The only good, Sony droped the A3x line.
zone noise reduction is where they are stating improvements in noise and dynamic range. It’s like DRO.
Maximum ISO doesn’t say anything necessary, as it can be a software cap that Sony has put on it.
NEX-7, 5N, 6 have in practice the same low light performance, as details, DR and color depth at high ISO’s are the most important objective factors, and not how you like the grain in pictures shared on the internet.
Correction,
Sony didn’t drop the A3x line, they dropped the A5x line and renamed the 3 to 5.
The A58 is a major downgrade from the A57 in functions and build quality.
Sure it has a new sensor and some new software “magic” (better AF with the same module?, better noise reduction?) that is yet to be seen if it lives up to the hype …
Major downgrade in functions and build quality?
What functions have been removed?
How do you know the build quality of A58, and how did it dropped standards from plastic A57?
I really do not understand what Sony is doing with these tow cameras.
Yes I can see that from Sony’s point of view that dropping the A37 and the A57 and replacing them both with one camera in the A58 makes sense. But from the customers perspective you just get a downgraded A57 with ( maybe? ) a better sensor? Everything else looks disappointing….and the A57 sensor is a stunner – so this new one had better be good!
The new NEX is just another Nex body in an endless stream of Nex bodies. The NexF3 has hardly been launched and now its discontinued!! Maybe Sony knew the NEXf3 was a poor camera? I hear it is pretty unreliable so maybe for once they have doen the right thing and made a ‘better’ body ?
We shall see.
As a long time Sony fan I must say I a disappointed.
The CZ lens looks nice but I shall never be able to afford one. The other ‘new’ lenses are just revamps. Not really new at all.
Agree
Hope for better new in near future
Lets see how it is priced in US since sometimes UK pricing doesn’t make sense.
It appears to be a merge of A5x and A3x, if they price the A58 in between current A3x and 5x. Then, it would not be that bad.
Dun care about the model number that much, I would call it an A48.
To me, sucessor is an update, not upgrade. If I want more functions, I will look for a higher series.
Plastic Body Mount on A58~!?
Looks very nice,although i will miss the form factor of the A37 & A55. 460K is not that bad… they might have sacrificed it because of the cost of the OLED VF. Cant wait to see the new sensor, i do think 20mpxl is perfect, they should have put this on the NEX-6 that would be a perfect combination.
They do it for the battery life, it takes half the power compare to 921k. And I guess the designer thinks that way too 460k wasn’t that bad when look from a distance (you got the OLED EVF if you can look close to the camera), so they might think that it’s a gd compromise in return for better battery life. But some ppl may not like it.
LCD battery life is easily improved. Flip the screen around.
No need to decrease the quality of it.
So your answer is instead of having a slightly lower quality screen and be able to use it more, have a high quality screen and not use it at all?
Question…
Is the sensor in the NEX-3n the same as what’s in the NEX-6 ?
No, there are no PDAF sensels on chip, so it is the same as the 3F, 5N etc…
OK. So am I correct in thinking the quality is the same as the NEX-6, it just doesn’t focus as fast. Is that the only difference?
When will the lenses be available? On Dpreview it’s said march, is it true??
true.
Sony UK store says Zeiss will be available in June
Odd, there is no replacement for the HVL-F43AM flash. You would think if they are moving the new shoe to the lower end models, they would offer a lower end flash, after all most people at this end of the spectrum would, if they want a flash, whould go for a low end one, not the HVL-F60M. Mind you, there enough 3rd party ones about, I suppose.
I had hoped the A58 would replace the A65 as well as the A57, making it an ‘upper-mid-range’ camera, but it’s gone the other way, replacing the A37. So, I’m a little bit meh, due to the compromises. On the other hand, being ‘lower-mid-range’ you do get a heck of a lot of camera for the price.
P&S upgraders of the new wave are given two excellent choices indeed!
These cameras are not for us though. Next, please.
I always wondered what kind of functions do the “pros” need on their cameras, that the low-end DSLRS and SLT don’t have. What kind of pictures you took with a high-end camera that could not be taken with a D3200 or a A57?
This is a serious question, I am not mocking anybody.
I am not a pro and have the A77, as an ex-A700 user I chose it over the A55 for the better ergonmics, such as more dedicated buttons, an extra wheel and a vertical grip option. It is a joy to use compared to the A55/A57/A65.
There are other things such as more focus points, AF adjust, 1/250 sync, ISO 50 and 1/8000th shutter that I would genuinly miss on the lower-end models. One simple example is that at the time of buying the A77 the A55 EVF could not turn off the effects of exposure, making it useless for studio flash (the A57 fixed this) and this was simply unacceptable to me.
On the more advanced CaNikon models I’m sure pros would be able to list other features that I am not aware of on their cameras.
So yes, a pro could get a low-end camera, but it’s the difference between getting a budget tool and a high-end tool. It simply gives you more options to get “that” shot and gives you a better end-user experience.
^This!
And also I do change lenses often so I shiver looking at that plastic mount. I’m no pro by any means, I simply enjoy solid things.
I’m yet to see anyone having his “plastic mount” broken in any way.
+1. That is the same complaint we were hearing for years with the articulating LCDs.
pretty much repeating above but
1) better high iso performance
2) faster focusing
3) faster sync speed
4) more fps
5) build quality
6) weather sealing
7) ability to add grip
8) longer battery life
9) ability to tether
10) etc, etc, etc
Wow the LCD is major downgrade v the A57. 2.7″ and half the resolution. What a let down.
Meh….
Maybe they need that new A65 because few will bother with the A58 if they have an A57
Can someone tell, does it have AutoISO in M (Manual) mode?
Is there any confirmation of tethering?
Not even a rumor of it.
Which then begs the question, will the A78 get it?
It’s ironic that the A77 is a great studio camera but doesn’t have tethering. Even the lowest Canon model has it.
Sony has not addressed tethering at all AFAIK. No more than Canon addresses EVF for on-sensor image validation…
d5200 indeed seems like great bang for buck, but remember: no ibis. NO FOCUS MOTOR (which means only manual focus with a lot of glass), and less useful liveview imo. and my guess is that that Toshiba sensor, or something very much like it, will show up in future high end models from Sony – there is a partnership after all, at least that’s what I’ve heard.
The D5200 has a Nikon badge and that’s all it needs to sell in vast numbers. Stick a Nikon badge on the A58 and Nikon users would be gagging to buy it.
LOL…bring that old qoute out again, and again…If thats what it takes to convince yourself that Sony is doing right by its customers then fill your boots. I’ll never again buy anything badged with @ Sony.
Then why are you here in a Sony rumors site….just come here bitching and trolling?
shut up fanboy and speak only when you are spoken to.
@true homer
Were you speaking about yourself?
Clearly, I wasn’t replying to you. And yeah I agreed with you, you shut the F up.
Speak only when you are spoken to , you dyslexic little SH_T.
@true homer
Is that all you got? Just asking ppl to shut up and don’t speak?
I was replying to “dumped my Sony gear”, I dunno why you get so offended.
Is that your decoy screen name? Mr dump?
If not, I suggest you seek mental treatment immediately, otherwise it will get worst, and remember, take your pills for your own good.
And yet you open your F_ggot mouth without my permission. STFU you F_ggot. Speak when you are spoken to and make statements only when I tell you you can, you maggot.
I like how he censors his own polemic. He may be the cast-off detritus of society, but even HE has standards.
I’m not sure what the big deal with faggots is, though. I have stacks of firewood here ready for winter.
Changing you name to another still does not allow you to speak you little FAGGOT.
You are right Nikon sell on name, but Sony have to put even more effort into their products. Making a camera with a ho hum 2.7″ LCD 460k screen isn’t going to convince anyone. I for one get sick of the same penny pinching from Sony. That LCD is years out of date even budget DSLR’s have better LCD’s now.
This is quite a lame release from Sony and it’s not even going to dent the 650d/D5200 sales. Must try harder. The basic idea of new models is to make them “better” not downgrade them.
Cant help but feel a57 is better than a58 at the end of the day.
even kai feels the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qS2jhHg60M
Kai doesn’t comment even ONCE on a58 in this old vid.
Kai is biased to canikon, he never like sony
It sounds like an excellent A38. Shame they put a 5 in its name.
More interesting to me is that there is actually some optical change in the 70-400 II. Will it be significant enough to change the bokeh, though? That’s the current design’s weakness, not sharpness.
“It sounds like an excellent A38. Shame they put a 5 in its name.”
Spot on.
There is already some information on the 70-400 II on the Sony web pages.
I can’t see any significant difference in the technical data.
here the link to the Austrian homepage:
http://www.sony.at/product/ddl-sony-g-lenses/sal-70400g2/technische-details#tab
Should be available start of April 2013.
What we need is test shots. I guess we’ll need to wait until it’s up on the Japanese website.
What we need is for you to go back to wearing a dress, you little fairy puke.
bah with the new canon 7dII coming sony can go to bed 😉 maybe this is the reason because all in the streets and olymp. have canon, is way more valuable
I don’t understand previous comment. A58 si a good subisti tute of a57 if you want some more you can wait for a78
If you want more, you can buy the cheaper A57 now or a used A77. 😀
TFT EVF alone scares me away from A57. I tried… can’t get used to it. It’s like night and day comparing to OLED. Not to mention new sensor (we’ll about to see the scores though).
I doubt A57 qualifies as “more” in anything else even marginally important than FPS count.
Some people here think that the LCD is a step back, I guess it’s an important point to them.
Very important. I don’t even consider a camera without an articulating or tilting one.
It’s a real LCD. Cameras for ages didn’t have them AT ALL and somehow noone complained. Now the amount of pixels in real LCD and the way it’s tiltable is a major reason to whine… seriously… get a life people.
*rear
Vlad – but it does have. People whine cause it tilts in a different way than in A57. *facepalm*
Sony giveth, and Sony taketh away…….
Plastic lens mount! Let’s not call this an update
To Simon: You are absolutely right!!! Hardware costs a lot, but software is almost gratis!!!
I will never touch with my hands this plastic crap!!! Today SONY shows me the way to jump to NIKON. Tomorrow Ι will buy a D 5100 to replace my old A 500 (It costs 500$, only body, and its I.Q. is much – much better than D 5200 – BELIEVE ME!!!)
Every time Sony release a new model I’m thinking I’d be better off with Canikon!
They actually “improve” their products with each release.
Folks grab an A57 while you can this turkey is best saved for Christmas
May I remind you of the 60D?
And entry level Canon cameras have lost burst speed a few times too as resolution went up.
Yep they ‘improve’ them and prices stay the same or go up. The A58 is 25% cheaper ($200) than it’s predecessor and still manages to improve in the most key areas. But we all gotta whinge!
I know I was expecting a full frame, titanium bodied, weather and vacuum sealed, diamond encrusted model with 8″ 4K display with 3D stereoscopic 2 x 2K 4 colour EVFs and included constant f0.85 11-500mm weather and vacuum sealed titanium kit lens for $599 – I can’t believe Sony didnt deliver this! *Smashes on table* I’m moving to a Canon 1100D, I’m sure that will meet my expectations for this budget!
+1
Ok.. here are the bullets of my dialogue with a Sony guy this morning:
– LCD screen has been shrinked to increase battery life
– There had to be a significant difference between entry level and high-end APS-C models (she’s referring to A58 and A78).
– Amount of plastics used in A58 is more than A57 to decrease production costs and make the camera lighter
– There won’t be a battery grip option for A58
– There won’t be a tethering option for A58
– The same BIONZ processor and the same buffer memory in A57 had been used in A58 and this cpu cannot handle 20 megapixel images on 8fps burst mode, therefore it is decreased to 5fps to allow ~3 seconds of burst shots on full resolution
– AF tracking is improved compared to A57 but this is just a firmware trick which could be implemented on A57 too! But this won’t happen to distinguish A58 from A57.
All in all, this is not an upgrade, but a downgrade. Sorry Sony, you failed big time!
How exactly did Sony fail? By not providing you with a pro camera for 200 bucks?
+1
By not improving the A57. It’s obvious to everybody but you!
Not improving? New EVF, new sensor, smaller & lighter body (rather an issue than advantage for me, but well… some people see it as a huge + ). That’s quite good improvements.
Canon or Nikon got in their history successors that were made by updating firmware, putting new sensor (or not), sticking a new label and selling for higher price. I hardly see how Sony is worse then them. Rather: much better.
Moving away from TFT viewfinder alone is a good reason to upgrade.
You’re wrong. A58 is the successor of A37 not A57.
Sorry Crop9, A58 is introduced as the successor of A57.
It was a joke.
Flash news… A59 specs have been leaked. A59 will have 22mp resolution with 1fps burst mode, build is completely plastic. “This innovation will change everything” The new entry model of Sony will introduce a brilliant 1″ monochrome LCD. The R&D and marketing dept decided not to include a gps, tethering option or a battery grip to provide a fluent and easy-to-control camera. The details of the projects are kept top secret but the code of the new camera is said to be “Sony Pinhole Camera A59”!
My name of the game is Don’t expect too much …….!
A58 is a disapointment to me, allthough we have to wait and see how the new sensor turns out. For the price it still might be a good camera but it really should be called A38 or A48. It sucks that 50p seems to be reserved for the semi-pro and pro models A78 and A99 now.
an entry level camera with those features and that price is very well done indeed. the only thing wrong with this camera is the name.
So, to sum it all up this means:
– finally OLED-Viewfinder, but with 1,44 MP instead of 2,4 MP
– 460k pixel 2.7 inch lcd instead of 921k pixel 3 inch
– plastic mount
– no swivel screen
– did I miss something important?
So the only UPgrade from A57 to A58 is the new sensor with 20 MP? Well Canon, I think it’s your turn to deliver.
Not important but compared to the 3 year old A55 it falls back from 10fps to 5fps at full resolution.
And compared to the A57, it drops the progressive 60p/50p video output at full HD.
And the A55 was also more expensive. Plus all the other actually, you know, important upgrades that the A58 has over the A55.
Let see:
Sensor
Weight
Battery life
Price
Controls
AF
EVF
Multi Accessory Shoe
I wonder what “improvements” the A78 will get? 😀
Well, if it has an MSRP similar to the A77 MSRP, I’m sure it will be 95% to 100% improvement. If however they decide to lower MSRP to about a $1000…. hold on to your seats. 😀
LOL
I dont give a hoot about that it is called A58. They could have called it A38, A48, A-anything. At this price point it is clearly an entry level camera, and it is amazing what you get for your money. Thats just my opinion. If it is an upgrade to A37 or a downgrade to A57, is irrelevant.
Personally I find the change from LCD EVF to OLED EVF much more significant than the downgrade from 920k to 460k for the rear LCD.
The most important component in the camera, the sensor, is an unknown at this moment. I am betting that it will be a small improvement over the older 16.2MP sensor, which means it will be quite good actually.
The only real disappointent I have is that they did not increase the number of AF points.
Apparently, the new focusing system is using the image sensor itself to lock on subjects similar to a99 with dedicated AF points to fine tune the process.
Could the mount be black colored metal rather than plastic?
I am glade I got a57+18-135mm @$798.00… Only thing I would have wanted was OLED EVF. I would be okay with less articulated and low resolution LCD if a57 had OLED EVF.
” Only thing I would have wanted was OLED EVF. I would be okay with less articulated and low resolution LCD if a57 had OLED EVF.”
Erm isn’t that what an A58 is?
That is what I am saying. A58 for some will be a good value. I am happy with my a57 for the price at which I got it.
Oh and let’s not forget the price improvement. That plays a big factor. Fact is this is competing with the D3200 and Canon D1100.
The EVF, hotshoe, sensor (presumption), AF, controls, battery life, weight, PRICE are all upgrades. Yes the screen is lower res, which is a minus. The articulation is different, I think it is a plus, others a minus.
I don’t know what everyone is chucking such a sad about? According to you lot Sony can’t do anything right. I had a look on a Nikon site and everyone was bemoaning Nikon for not releasing a D400 and claiming to jump ship to Canon. Everyone whinges, especially when a new model comes out.
I’m going to buy an A58 over the A57 because the EVF in that model is disappointing, the controls are in an awkward spot, it wasn’t sufficiently cheaper than the A65 which had a FAR better spec sheet and wasn’t better than the A55 it replaced.
The A58 is significantly cheaper than the A55 and A57 and is better featured in the most important areas. A slightly lower res screen and a frankly more useful and sturdy articulation are not enough to sway me that this isn’t a better camera.
For Someone looking for A38 (me!), A58 comes as a great little Gift.(For some one looking for A58 you are Supposed to look at A66 and pay its price . If you’ve ever played TETRIS ,when the block underneath breaks,it feels good and the block above it takes its place. 🙂 this is what happened)
-OLED EVF
-20Mp
-8fps or (5 fps at 20MP)
-599$ price tag
-460K up from 260k
-Standard Hot-Shoe
-Multiple Interface Shoe
-Improved Battery (200 shots more) the greatest plus.
-New Sensor!!
But i had hoped for 60p video which would have thwarted the competition)
Enough for me.
Good JoB Sony.
It sounds as if many of the posters that were excited about the a58 rumors are less enthusiastic of the camera actually released, and now we are awaiting the a78 and attaching our remaining hopes that Sony will deliver the killer product many here believe they can.
But I think that the SLT is dead. And the recent lackluster releases seem to bear this out with cameras that are more of a consolidation and hot-shoe alignment than cameras being marketed to create demand for this product class.
The new lenses are also somewhat of a disappointment are the rumors of weather sealing don’t appear to be true.
We need to wait to see how the new sensor images before passing final judgment, but so far I see little any reason for a newbie to buy into this system over a Nikon or a Canon.
A year ago I would have jump to preorder both the 70-400 and the new Zeiss 50, without even reading a review to mount on my a850 camera, but now, a year later and after what I see being a stills photographer an underwhelming for my needs Sony a99 my money is going to remain in the bank.
I still want to believe that Sony’s going to soon release a truly mirrorless A-Mount camera so I’m just going to hold on and watch SAR and wait and see.
A plastic lens mount on an interchangeable lens camera, I`m realy disapointed. That`s maybe Ok if you`re mostly using a Superzoom and seldom change lenses.
I would prefer having a metal mount and pay 50€ more! But in that case I say A58 thanks but no thanks.
All those still bleating on about the A58, here are a few things to ponder before you continue down the path of ‘Canon and Nikon will eat this thing for breakfast’ blah blah.
MSRP of the D3200 with 18-55mm VR kit lens is $699
MSRP of 1100D with 18-55mm IS II kit lens is $599
I cannot begin to fathom a way to tell all you whiners how much better the A58 is than either of these turd piles. One of these two does have a higher res screen though, so I bet that makes it heaps betterer! But I might try to point out a few:
Lower fps.
Woefully inadequate live view.
One of these has an antique sensor.
One of these does up to 720p video only, no manual control on either.
One has zero AF in video, the other has pointless AF in video
Neither of these can add XLR inputs, nor would you probably ever bother with their terrible video capabilities.
Neither of these have IBIS.
Both of these have awful optical tunnel viewfinders. OVF or EVF pick your poison, but these are truly some of the worst viewfinders available in a +$599 camera today.
No motor drive in either body, though the Canon system was never designed for such so it gets a pass, Nikon fails.
Crap, cheapo plastic… If you think the A58 is bad…
Worse AF systems on both 9 (single cross type) and 11
But no, you’re right, the competition is HEAPS better. Death to Sony, death to Sony!
What the hell is that plastic mount? That’s another shame Sony!
That and a cheaper LCD screen just saved you $200.
Next!
Unscrew the metal mount of a Minolta film camera and screw in onto the A58. As long as you pick the right camera, it can actually work well. Just make sure you don’t loose any fiddly bits.
Only 5fps full resolution cont shooting another big downgrade over the A57. Grab those A57’s while you can folks
Canon 1100D = 2fps
Nikon D3200 = 4fps
Next!
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about regarding the A58.
If the camera you own is already good enough, then why worry if a new one doesn’t improve the possibilities. If it isn’t, then decide which is the best for your money as there are other options, even within Sony!
As to whether this particular design is any good, I think it will likely be very good value. The ‘issue’ of the mount being plastic is entirely moot, as I’m sure it will serve the purpose very well; there is no inherent reason why it can’t be perfectly adequate.
The one item of this news which is distinctly bonkers is the price of the 50mm lens!!!
Unless absolute perfection is a requirement then I doubt there would be any visible difference between it and pretty well any other fast 50mm. The Sony version for a fifth of the price would likely serve as well. I’d be interested to see how many they sell.
My money will sooner go on the Samyang T&S.
As an owner of a A35 the A58 would serve me well in almost every aspect but the plastic mount is defnitly a dealbreaker for me. A friend of mine, who is working in a Photoshop, advised me not to buy this camera, cause in his opinion plastic is not durable enough if you often change lenses, especialy if these lenses have a metall bajonett.
I think that`s the wrong way to keep the price low. I would willingly pay more if it had a mtall mount.
Your Photoshop friend……has he tried and used this camera long enough and actually has the mount broken because he swap lenses often, to support his claim? I guess not, huh? The camera hasn’t been released yet!!
It may be bad if it is too fragile and break. It may be good if it don’t break, less weight.Only time can tell.
Sometimes, the plastic mount maybe a life saver. If I got hit on the lens and I’d prefer the $20 mount broken rather than my $2000 lens.
Shut your face you little retard. Notice how no one answers you…cause you speak when you’re not spoken to…little FAGGOT.
From all the info I’d say Sony was thinking that the A5x series was making a lot people, not upgrade to pro cams. The A77/65 have poor HIGH ISO, comparatively. The plastic mount, 5 fps, give little chance that you’d buy it and put a heavy lens on it.
Sure there plastic 55-300, and the little zeiss will not be a heavy burden on the plastic mount. The trouble with a plastic mount is wear and tear and if you drop it forget fixing it, and I would be reluctant to even leave the lens on at all during transportation. Production cost are only relevant given the fact most people buying a camera are not buying a Sony. Strange to see the plastic mount period given the fact that all nex are metal. unless I’m wrong about the mount. Seems like frank might have the truth that Sony is pushing us all toward the E-mount.
For hard core Photographer the A58 will not be a back up low priced cam.
For those type including myself, it’s dead fish in the water. The a57 true finder was truer than the A77, if I go from one to the other, There’s a larger change of color, if I used both eyes, the lcd provided a more accurate field of view. I love the oled, but the lcd view finder was truer.
There will be no updated A65. Sony are cashing out of SLT they will offer NEX Only from 2014. We won’t care bar the nice Minolta glass so most will move to Canikon products makers who continue to support their mounts and users.
Sony have lost the plot on this one, the plastic joke is just a sign they are out of touch with the market and users
PLASTIC A-mount?! wtf SONY what are you doing?
My Photoshop friend has enough experience with old analog Minolta cameras. They have also used plastic mounts on their cheap DSLR`s. Plastic mounts arn`t as durable as metall mounts. With a metall mount the A58 would have been my new camera!
We still dunno what kind/grade of plastic they are using. It could be a strong one. Anyways, as long as it can withstand a couple of years, it should be good cuz by then you might upgrade your camera again. Don’t let this small thing get in your way when making discussion. Lots of goodies on this camera if u up from A3x.
Still talking arent ya, you little puke?
he’s most likely a dyslexic goof, that’s why he’s hear on a fanboy site..he cant see too far and he cant read too well either. LOL
@true homer
See what you are doing here?
You forgot to take your pills, didn’t you?
Not only that, you have to take pills on time.
Taking one day portion at once is overdose, and is bad for you. Just a friendly reminder….
Yadda yadda yadda…your mouth keeps moving but I don;t hear nothing from little pukes.
If anyone is still reading this, when can we expect pre orders for the A58 to be available through Sony’s website, if at all? I have access to a corporate discount program and would like to order through that if possible, but I don’t want to be waiting for weeks after the release for them to actually get stock in (if it’s even an issue). Didn’t they have the A99 up for pre order before it came out?
Biggest bummer about this news: RM-VPR1, the much needed remote for NEX is… NOT COMPATIBLE with anything other than the new A58 or the NEX3 according to two Sony reps. What a joke…