It’s hard to get info about the A-mount future simply because Sony is yet focused to broaden the E-mount lens range and cementing the E-mount success. All I got in these days is a message from an anonymous source which as usual we have to take for what it is. A yet completely unconfirmed but hopefully true rumor:
1) The ICLA-77M2 is the last a-mount with the old Steady Shot system. It could not be held for the new technology and make release in H1 of FY14. We know that a missed release would have caused damage to the a-mount user base, since we are not doing entry-level a-mounts to fill the gaps anymore.
2) FY15 will see two SLTs with 5 axis and the ICLA-77M2 AF module.
3) The replacement for the 77M2 will come in FY16 H1 and it will not be called the 77M3 😉 This tech changeover is why the 77M2 has been less featured. We will re-emphasize the line with the 5 axis introduction.
4) SSM primes all with environmental seals FY15 H2
The source also said that “we have fewer cameras coming but we will make them worth waiting for“.
Let’s hope You source are one of the few telling us the truth on the A-mount future 🙂
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
210 Responses
So what to expect?
An A99II as standard A-mount FF and a higher placed model à la the three years ago rumored A1 (the pro model with integrated VG)?
@Admin
So we can expect A99 II with 5 axis somewhere between late spring and summer?
Can we also expect 36MP or 4xMP with 8FPS < ?
In spring we will see only A700 and A9?
yep A99II is likely (at last).
Would match with the new kind of naming.
5 axis in APS-C => no more “A77”, but 5 axis in FullFrame => A99 II…
But so far you got only hints that A99 II exists and is comming, but no details?
For A-mount users, solid and specific information regarding the A99II would be the holy grail of rumors and the best news in years. Please provide it if you can!
A7000 :-/
E-mount A9 will replace A99
A-mount is dead.
Too bad, that Sony abandoned a-mount users. My a99 is coming close to 150 000 frames and I have to see a solution for next camera. Need either fast info about a99II or I move over to Nikon. Have been Sony evangelist almost 2 years among Canon-Nikon pro shooters
It will not explode when hitting 200K actuations, you can wait for the new A99II even after 🙂
Nikon is not faster with newer models!?
With every proof to the contrary, some still feel “abandoned”.
Also, shutter life is an estimate, not to mention you can replace it.
What proof?
He is looking for acceptance, don’t feed the troll…
Lol.
Sony releasing a-mount bodies.
Sony updating a-mount lenses.
Sony repeatedly saying they will keep it alive.
The fact that it would be really stupid to let go of a-mount lenses, when e-mount is still being built and that there are different lens approaches to both systems.
The very real possibility of having a good adapter allowing the proper use of a-mount lenses on e-mount bodies.
The above rumor.
That’s six points. Let’s see how many you can bring for the demise of a-mount… Actually, let me save you the trouble – there is one, the slower development of a-mount. That’s it. Three facts, two assumptions and a rumor vs one assumption. Now, let’s wait for the drama queens.
“Sony releasing a-mount bodies” – That remains to be seen, although I reckon there will be an A99II.
“Sony updating a-mount lenses” – Updating, yes, developing new lenses, no. That isn’t a good thing.
“Sony repeatedly saying they will keep it alive” – Being kept alive doesn’t necessarily mean one is in good health.
“The fact that it would be really stupid to let go of a-mount lenses” – That isn’t going to happen for a while, clearly.
“The very real possibility of having a good adapter allowing the proper use of a-mount lenses on e-mount bodies” – So which is it, new bodies or new adapters? I suspect the latter in the medium to long term.
“The above rumor” – It’s SR2!
Remains to be seen? The a77II was released less than 6 months ago and roughly a year after the “a-mount is dead” comments started.
“Updating, yes, developing new lenses, no. That isn’t a good thing.”
It isn’t a good thing. But it isn’t “abandoning” or “the end”. Worst case, it is keeping a-mount afloat. Also, while there are no new lenses since the Zeiss in 2013, it is not like they were releasing something every month. There were no new lenses since 2010.
“Being kept alive doesn’t necessarily mean one is in good health.”
Agreed, but it also isn’t “abandoning”, which is what I am addressing here. And “good health” sounds as vague of a concept as “proper system”.
“That isn’t going to happen for a while, clearly.”
I am not even sure it will happen at all.
“So which is it, new bodies or new adapters?”
Doesn’t matter. I am simply saying that it’s difficult to believe that Sony will abandon a-mount lens owners when all they need to do is release a couple of bodies every two years or simply make an adapter.
“It’s SR2!”
And how high should we rate the “abandoning of a-mount” or “a-mount is dead” claims?
So if you’d do a 2k shots a day, you would feel abandoned by Sony because you don’t get a new model every 80 days?
Replace the shutter when its broken or buy a new A99 if needed. 🙂
I bought a squaretrade warranty on my first a99, and when it crapped out, they paid me full purchase price to get a new one, which I found on ebay for about $1000 less than what I paid originally. So I came out ahead on the deal. But I agree with you, we need some solid news on the replacement. In the meantime, you can get an awesome deal on a used a99 (most people aren’t doing your quantity of shots) and just wait them out.
Stop beating the dead horse. Why bother creating lenses and cameras for a-mount?
Because it’s still superior to E-Mount in every way… but despite this lonely SR2 rumor, Sony seem to have put all eggs in one basket.
Superior? Explain.
Really, for the 100500th time?
Where is A mount superior?
E mount has shorter flange distance
E mount can mount almost any lens ever built.
These are the differences. Any other thing like focus speed and accuracy are things of the camera, not the mount. Future E mount cameras will close the gap. Just like they did with stabilization.
Don’t try to make sense, this is not the place.
E-Mount doesn’t allow for a mirror, and it’s stil unclear whether Sony will pull off DSLR-quality mirrorless AF in A9
Regardless, I meant the A/E mount systems, of course, not the mounts themselves.
And I am talking about mounts. If you ask systems there is a different answer of course. Mainly because of the available lenses but also because of the body format. But nobody holds Sony back from releasing a a99-sized like camera with emount. After we saw what Sony did with 5-axis stabilisation and a6000 focus speed I am not worried that they will pull off the fastest AF system via sensor AF. Sure, the a6000 AF is not as good as a99, but the a6000 is not built and certainly not priced to compete with the a99
A99 isn’t good in AF to begin with, it only has A77’s AF on a FF body.
It isn’t unclear, it’s just a matter of time.
These are the differences to non-photographers, like our “expert” vlad who never posted anything solid or at least interesting.
Real usage tells a different story, and FE does not hold water, but you need to actually use a camera to understand it. Otherwise, it’s like debating the gender of angels.
Such a cheap shot! I admit, it’s difficult to get down to your level, which would make my comments understandable to you.
Go to school and come back in 20 years… Will be waiting LOL.
Flange distance works the reverse way when you consider lenses (important because your lenses cost far more than your camera body). My a mount lenses are perfect for my GHx and BMPCC (as long as I invest in a wide m43 lens to make up for the crop factor at the bottom). You can’t use your e mount lenses in anything like the same way.
Thank you..finally someone who mentions the freaking obvious. No way…NO FREAKING WAY am I going to get stuck with slow Sony F4 zooms I can’t adapt on any other mirrorless camera. I’m better off with my A mount glass and an adapter for now. Who knows, maybe it’ll be matched to a Nikon mirrorless camera in the future. You never know.
Just don’t start your collection with all pentax Q and those other factors may as well be reduced to ‘im better off with nikon (least open mount bar leica R and with nikon monopoly over it) even if its mirrorless too like present e mount cams’…Open mount means that manual focus accepted ANY lenses could be listed as a given persons preference or collection over those current ‘slow zooms’ (including the canon camps faster ones!) though you have the immediate benefit of AF functionality to boot in the meantime as you make up your mind and all the makers develop/bankrupt or return to prove the veracity of your veto: here’s hoping for Contax ;D etc!
Don’t use A mount 35mm camera lenses on Bmpcc, use lenses developed for the uber short flange distance and corresponding tiny frame size if possible, or perhaps the metabones speedbooster with a sigma 18mm to 35mm. I have a small leitz designed for video with m mount that is as sharp and as contrasty as can be, inexpensive with slippery aperture for ease of use, super fast and 30mm equivalent to 35mm camera. Its not easy finding best lens for given purposes and at best value, you have to balance all factors and as many options as possible with a lot of research. The fact we have involved a video cam now with its own history of specific lenses in mount discussion is evidence that one doesn’t match all as ever!
This is all now a case of blatant reductionism of the actual problem of finding best lenses and even reduction of most desirable solutions away from anything remotely objective!
Point taken… but Ive actually only needed one m43 lens for a workable system. I use the SLR magic 12mm for wide low light (actually cost less than the metabones), the Alpha mount Sigma 8-16 for wide in good light, then from there its standard Alpha lenses (11-16, 16-50, 50 f1.4 etc) with a dumb (no glass) adapter. I might have gone for the metabones if they did alpha mount, but it wasnt too much of a problem that they did not.
In the nature of dedicated solutions, I have the 12mm-35mm with Optical stabilizer as it keeps Bmpcc setup minimal, I have a fold out support that can keep it steady but i prefer to have the whole system smallest possible while not compromising the output in any way. In this sense the m43 mount made sense and none of the longer flange distance solutions or other options such as Sony A7S or Panasonic cams were as inexpensive, again without even sacrificing quality of output or versatility. Any more cost and it would be Black Magic Cinema Camera 4K with Sigma 18mm to 35mm straight on 🙂 and fold out arm support 🙂 Again all dedicated lenses to purpose in the sense that i have no Crop suitable lenses because i wanted forward compatibility and manual focus lenses are fowardly adaptable… for my still cameras even though i used the Pentax K01 again mirrorless with in body stabilizer :). and while the m42 mount and now leica mount etc suit adaption on flange distance longer than e mount- my konica which number some of my favourite glass would not for instance… e mount adapts all of them already and my new AF zeiss 55mm 1.8 lens for e mount is dedicated to absolute image quality and such not longevity anyway and i dislike the focus by wire and lack of easy manual aperture control for focusing shallow before shooting deeper in any case. I don’t want loxia as i still prefer absolute image quality in this case but obv it might be good to have both, focus by wire isn’t impossible and that AF on amazing fast prime. is kinda cool.
Just as easily as they close the gap, SLT technology and future advanced technology can be implemented in to A mount. The mount is literally just a piece of metal. It can do whatever the designer wants. This is why Minolta had several versions of their MD mount- same as Canon- same as Nikon. The only truly meaningful difference is the 1in additional space of the A mount- which by the way, seems to work better with wider angle lenses. It’s obviously more robust even compared to the A7II. Sony could choose to start releasing MKII versions of all their lenses with fast stepper motors…ASPDAF compatability. Whatever, it can all be done on the same mount. They aren’t doing it because the shorter flange distance is really nothing more than a marketing gimmick. One that is working quite well might I add. The idea of adapting any lens is great at first, but it wears off very quickly.But quickly people want native lenses- just like they’ve wanted for the past 5 decades. This is where Sony is making the money. With zero third party options and little to no used market merchandise…WAMMO. No competition for Sony. A mount is now a product of it’s own success. To much great legacy glass and to much Sony glass second hand on the market, plus Canikon dominance and a shrinking DSLR market.
Is the Zeiss 55mm 1.8 e mount a fashion accessory too? It seems quite exciting to me matched up with A7’s instead of endless derivative branded versions of old lenses rehashed with immediate depreciation. Sony isn’t the only company with glamorous older now discontinued glass with no contemporary equivalent which those interested in snap up. If i were to make a list of great lens line up, it may also include the 28mm f/2 or f/1.8 as is coming soon and 35mm’s. Not personally interested in 85mm so much as maybe an even faster 135 😉 I would actually be interested in such as 43mm fast normal and fast long tele but to say compact is a fad is to ignore the trends in all design including electronics reflected as your last lines regards shrinking DSLR market: are we ultimately arguing for a relative increase of size + ergonomics or else? Still makes no sense to me. The short flange distance nevermind anything else is most highly desirable for many reasons not least the same kind of reasons that make A7’s intrinsically small like EVF etc etc…um add in body image stabilizing? oh they did it now already too! Is Sony coming into fashion such a bad thing?
Correct 🙂
Uhm, the biggest complaint was: no IBIS. This is now past, IBIS is available on the first e-Mount camera. So… what exactly can be negative about the MOUNT? (we are talking about the mount here and what is possible or not possible with it, not speciific cameras).
Image quality is worse and so is focus accuracy.
Nothing beats MF if you can bolt down both the cmera and the subject!
Yup electric drive regulators suck right now
Remember, they only shoot statues.
Willing subjects without a gorilla retro camera in their faces at widest available angle of view? XD In Just about all procanonikonportraitthingslikeeventswithoutmovementgoingonbuta
blurofplasticdissonanceandchromaticaberrationand
shallowestpossibledepthoffieldtoobscureenvrionmentcuttingoutaboveforehead
You’re drunk, go sleep it off 🙂
Natural perspective: you know it makes sense 🙂 Anything wider angle than natural is perving closer!
Aaand that makes the last nonsensical reply from SAR that I got in 2014!
No, it makes sense, photography is part objective like science 🙂
Shooting with my alpha lenses pulls better results then e mount glass. Fs100 shooter with sal70-300g sel50f1.8 saldtf2.816-50 beer can f4 sel16f2.8 worlds worst lens 50$ who wants it
With the 5-axis IBIS and the a6000 like auto focus, there is no superiority of A-mount anymore.
Except in lens quality.. and general handling.. Lens quality is the main reason I would not switch no e-mounts as good as some of the a-mount better lenses..
It’s not lens quality, but lens availability 🙂
*sigh* You’re probably just one of those people who in all seriousness compare A7II with D750 and such. There seems to be a lot of people for whom “Alpha” means “E-Mount” and who don’t understand the differences between Sony’s mirrorless and SLT systems. This topic has been beaten to death with a wooden club, but that doesn’t do anything for you guys, because for you there probably isn’t, in fact, any difference. Comments like “but, but you can use any lens on E-Mount” keep popping up, revealing complete ignorance on the subject. All that doesn’t justify writing trolling comments like “why develop A-Mount, just make E-Mounts”. Things are different for people outside of your little hobby club, where everybody shoots statues with manual focus voigtlanders on tiny cameras…
*sigh” And you find your “still superior to E-Mount in every way” comment to not be trolling? It’s the same nonsense.
It’s not trolling, it’s a fact. I don’t care if Sony replaces A-Mount with E-Mount if they manage to release DSLR-quality mirrorless and all needed lenses. Fine then, go ahead and replace it. But it hasn’t happended yet.
Shut up Vlad, do you really want more humiliations?
No for you, but for me…
I`m waiting for a58 m2 or change to e-mount + la-ea
It would be nice if true and if they include the newest most advanced sensor…possibly add z shift for multiple mount compatability…via adaptors…. plus macro capability.
That being said I will totally not belive it till I see it.
No adapters include then in the body a-e mount
The issue with a-e mount is currently that due to differrent focusing systems the lenses are not compatable…the a mount lenses have bigger focusing elements and require more powerfull motors…e mount requires faster motors and lighter focusing elements.
Currently the laea4 is necessary to provide acceptable autofocis performance for A mount lenses on E mount cameras, and nothing is currently available to provide acceptable autofocus performance for non Sony lenses.
If these issues can be resolved a-e hybrid will be great, if not then a-e hybrid will not happen.
Seems probable. a99II and a59. a99II with a77II AF module will be a decent camera. With better video and AF than the previous one i blieve it will do good. Lots of E-mount shooters will invest in a DSLR-styled body on the side.
And some mega megapixels!!!
I still think they’d need to improve the focus real estate on the sensor. Current a99 focus area is too small, and the a77ii’s focus area, when put on a full-frame sensor, would not improve things. If they can get the a77ii’s focus module, but translate it to full-frame size, then they’d have something.
Yes it will people already looked at this the A77M@ AF area is oversized for APS and if dropped in a FF would cover the same area as several of the current FF Nikon / Canon offerings..
It’s almost the same size as the one in the 7DM2, what are you saying? Canon users are unhappy with large AF coverage?
“since we are not doing entry-level a-mounts to fill the gaps anymore.”
A system without entry-level cameras is a dead system. The future is getting clearer.
Leica seems to be doing fine. Some MF brands too.
Leica is hardly mainstream. It fills a particular niche. Sony aren’t in the business of selling niche products.
Entry-level Sony buyers aren’t going to buy into E-mount A5xxx series then upgrade to A-mount A7x/A9x later on, they’re going to stick with E-mount A5xxx -> A6xxx -> A7 -> A9 – there is a clear upgrade path.
Professional cameras are, however, a niche market. And A-mount was mentioned as being their “pro” market items.
Sony never said anything about A-mount being “pro”
It was an SR4: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr4-what-i-heard-about-the-a-mount-future-so-far-going-pro-slow-release-cycle-lenses/
LOL it must be true then.
What’s left whe you take away the entry and mid level bodies?
Sony are selling niche products. Leica isn’t mainstream, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Sony can’t do smth similar. There isn’t much mainstream about a $1000 50mm lens, for example. Also, “upgrade path” is a bit of a nonsense, the way I see it.
Yer mom is not doing fine, instead.
Hasselblad called. They said thanks for the Sony cameras and sensors, and wtf is that Baz guy on about?
😉
What part are you not understanding?
No need for entry level. Every photographer is an expert after 30 seconds these days. Don’t you read the forums?
🙂
🙂
Regarding such “experts” we have a saying in GER.
Analogously it says – “Feeding a donkey with the best hay available doesn’t make it a racing horse”
The market is changing.. entry level shooters are not buying into DSLRs heck right now go to an event and all the people who used to have P&S and small plastic DSLRs just have their phone or tablet.. The DSLR size and complication wise is going to end up for advanced people only. If you are on a budget you buy last years model A77 /A58 are dirt cheap.. No more A200/A300
The entry level cameras have been effectively subverted by the high quality compacts (RX100, LX100, etc.) and smartphones. If you want to sell cameras with low margins and one or two low margin lenses, target the so called “entry level” – it’s just not a lucrative part of the imaging market. Look at Canon – there entry level cameras have barely evolved through multiple generations. Most of the money is on higher end products. Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic, Olympus et. al. are quite aware of this.
Or the lower level e-mount cameras… And if one gets into e-mount and starts buying lenses for it, what do you think their more realistic upgrade path is – to a-mount, or to the upper-level e-mounts, where they can still use the lens collection they’ve been building?
The money may be in the higher-end products, but customers usually come to those products by way of the lower-end products first. It’s rare that one’s first camera is a Nikon D4s….
This may be merely an SR2 rumor, but it has the scent of truth to it.
This rumor actually makes sense.
Doesnt sound like any better low light af is on the way. So no safe af pics of your family around the tree. Thus no sony for next xmas 😉
The new firmware on the A77m2, along with the 16-50 2.8 is a great combination. Even for low light focusing use.
I wonder if the Sony Hack will mean less rumors for this site. Also I wonder if this site was included as a way into Sony as I have had attempts to my email address used here and also then to a work one used elsewhere but visible with the email used here.
Sony Pictures is actually a seperate entity and a different company.
If Sony can improve the A7 series viewfinder to include more pixels and less lag, and get the autofocus to the speeds of the A-mount cameras, then it’d be time to kill of the A-mount and focus on mirrorless.
Why not build and sell this camera in two versions: E- and A-mount?
the gap for a mirror box will always be usefull. for me A-mount must not die
no entry-level anymore and not a77II upgrade?
then what this 2 cameras will be? 2 ff, like a99r and a99s?
reality
– A mount its now behind IBIS vs E mount
– A6000 AF its at same level that A77II (even with more flexibility)
– at least 2 times or 3 times more E bodies than A next year
as current A user, sony its rigth shifting resources to E mount
future its mirrorles, not to mention dslr was a losing battle vs canikons for the last 5 years even when sony release better bodies
canikon are locked at mirrorles toys, they are pursuing ff mirrorles badly after sony a7 succes but…
– even canikon fans will not buy new ff mirrorles from them at launch, nikon loyals got a toy mirrorles lauded as a pro camera, canon loyals got a subpar mirrorles that is inferior to anything in the market, neither of those 2 mounts will get ff lenses, so both will introduce a new mount, few will trust a new mount looking how both previous new mounts are in limbo now
– when they hit the ff market, they will be againts a well stablished line of cameras and lenses from sony, no more pulling the card of legacy lenses, they will be followers, starters with so few lenses, no more we had more lenses card, thats why sony its smart and should focus all their resources in E glass, the future will be won in mirrorles not dslr
– new buyers will go to sony, thay had the more and better bodies/lenses, even canikons will had a hard time justifying staying loyal to a brand that had fewer lenses and bodies, and are now just followers
– ff mirrorles transition will be fast like from silver to silicon, by 2020 everyone will be selling only mirrorles, and sony its on track of domination
– 2012 ff compact small mirrorless, 2013 full line of ff E bodies, 2014 best IBIS introduced to E mount, if 2015 delivers whats its rumored (getting dslr AF) then its game over to dlsr, if sony release the a9, a pro body with everything canikon make in their pro cameras (fast af, wheater sealed, fast processing) plus the advantages of sony E line (best ibis, mount any lense, compact design, evf, etc) its game over for canikon too
Man that’s a lot of words, the majority of which are utter nonsense
What a lot of bks… Are you retired and bored?
This is the best non sense. – A6000 AF its at same level that A77II (even with more flexibility)
Try this, use the a6000 with…let’s say, SEL70200G and try shooting someone coming towards you (a dog running for example) and compare the results with the a77mk.2 with SAL70200G.
Like Cameralabs did? The A6000 and SEL70-200G is a very decent combo for action according to this review:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Sony_Alpha_A6000/index.shtml#focus
A6000 can’t even compare to a 2007’s 1D3, let alone top-notch A77-II.
http://www.verybiglobo.com/sony-alpha-a6000-worlds-fastest-af-part-2/
Tested with the SEL55210 – are you kidding me?!
Just read the review I posted.
There is NO way that the A6000 is on the same level as the A77m2. They’re both good cameras, but the AF on the A77m2 is not just a little faster. I like both cameras but the AF is not at the same level.
That’s it? It doesn’t have as good of an AF? That’s pretty much the same level then.
I said that the AF on the A77m2 is not just a little faster. (It’s noticeably faster.)
>A6000 AF its at same level that A77II
You drunk? A6000 can’t touch a 2007’s DSLR, let alone the 2014’s A77-II
But wait, I read on SAR that A-mount is dead…
yes you are right, mirrorless is the future. A-mount tech is old, aperture response is slow.
I thought E-mount cameras were the ones with slow aperture response…not A-Mount
No, A-mount has an ageing mechanical aperture.
E-mount is fully electronic, plus it has the advantage that mirrorless sensors can AF when the aperture is stopped down, so the response is irrelevant to continuous AF operations in high FPS modes.
If you shoot stills, it’s not that relevant to have full-digitized aperture control. It’s really useful in videos but if capturing photo is a concern, A-mount works perfectly.
Call me a dino but I like lenses with as much manual mechanical controls as possible. This allows for some adaptability on other systems. For example, A-mount adapters on my M43 cam works quite well with adjusting the aperture. Can’t say the same for E-mount lens or Canon EF lenses.
I wonder how many of you here really own both A and E mount? Let say A77II and A7. A77II is lightning fast AF but heavy compared to the A7. A7 is slower AF but very easy to travel with or lightweight when using it with the 70-200 F4.
Stop complaining and start shooting. Period!
I own the A77 (original) and A7. I do find the A77 to be a more enjoyable camera to shoot with especially with the vertical grip. However saying that, my A7 has performed quite well with the legacy MF Minolta MD and Konica Hexanon I have collected from estate and pawn shop sales over time. For photowalks without a doubt I prefer the A-mount glass and A77 but for travel A7 does the job.
I do have the EA4 adapter. So A7 can be turned into an A99 without stabilization. But even with the vertical grip, it just doesn’t hold in the hand that well. The A77 fits like a glove.
You don’t have a clue, but you’re entertaining.
Nope, A-mount is just hibernating.
And it will be very angry when being woken up by all the constant “it’s dead” complainers in spring. 🙂
😀
They’re still out there, just read the comments on this post.
So we may expect a very, very angry A-mount FF! 🙂
If you disregard Sony naming and consider Alpha system as a whole then A99.2 and A77.2 will top its full- and half-frame lines, respectively, together with Sony’s best lenses. This makes sense to me, actually. E mount serves beginners and climbs steadily but it is not there yet.
But A-mount is dying E-mount is not.
Who do you work for?
if there is 2 SLT models, i guess they would look like a7 & a7r. Only pixel/con.shoot capability & housing meterial are different
Will someone please ask the North Koreans to release Sony’s A-mount roadmap?
Good one.
Sorry Kim Jong-Un just told me there wasn’t one so he recommends buying a Hasselblad HV next because the value can only go up
Maybe if he kidnaps the E-mount engineer team from Tokyo they’ll get back to A-mount. Our only hope?
Lol. Trusted source that is.
Best post of the day. I actually laughed out loud at that one.
The would but then they would want to kill you
No way… I think this is a fake rumour. Logically thinking there is a very small chance that they even release more than one A-Mount product next year.
And this opinion is based on what exactly?
It’s probably based on his opinion.
Ask Tom Whogan he knows everything
Based on what they did this year on a-mount.
All roads lead to
Romedeath of A-Mount, lelAll roads lead to your sisters house. 🙂
” two SLTs with 5 axis and the ICLA-77M2 AF” – I don’t want A77II AF module in A99II body. Full frame camera deserves full frame AF module, that’s what I’m paying for. Current A99’s AF coverage with A77’s AF module is a joke and so will be A99II with APS-C AF module. This basically causes 100% time shooting with only central AF sensor as the rest is unusable in low light and they are all too close together to make any difference. No need for 80 useless AF points, make them like 15, but all cross-type and make them cover at least rule-of-thirds regions. The wider apart the better!
Yes, you are very right. Nikon FFs suffer these too…
No, they don’t. Only on the d610. I switched from the a99 to the d750… The AF coverage, while not as wide as aps-c, is much much wider than the a99. I can actually get AF points at the rule of thirds.
But IMO it is still not as useful as fewer points with more coverage (which the initial post was talking about). But you’re right though, we rarely use focus points outside the centre blocks of the viewfinder grid.
any hints about the ‘changeover’ tech on the replacement of a77II?
If Sony decides to release a Fullframe A-mount camera next year, I REALLY HOPE, the AF module isn’t the same from the a77mk.2. Fullframe camera deserves an AF module designed only for Fullframe cameras.
Agreed – this is the biggest flaw of the a99 (the weak processor / buffer being a close second).
It’s not a weak processor, in fact is was the best available at the time. But it has a lot of functions to run simultaneously because of the design of the SLT camera. Two years later, (Moore’s Law) the current processors have double the processing power.
Best available at the time? I’m doubtful.
The buffer is certainly much too small, Sony cheaped out on it at a camera at the price level of nearly 3k (at release).
That’s a two edge sword; the more spread out the focus points the greater the likelihood the camera will lock on the wrong target. Most pros and especially sports photographers use the center cross point and track the target keeping it centered in the viewfinder display. The casual “photographer” expects the camera to know what’s relevant and make the decisions for him/her. The camera is often wrong, and the casual “photographer” blames the camera for his lack of knowledge and skill.
That isn’t an issue with the a77mk2. Have you used the advanced AF modes? And thankfully, we got Object Tracking. Have you used it? And with AF-Depth Range, you can further eliminate possible distractions.
There are situations where object tracking is effective and suitable, and other situations where it’s useless. If you don’t know which and when you end up with unusable images. And yes I’ve used it many times and it’s a nice feature, but no substitute of knowing what you’re doing.
And what about the other modes of AF? I can’t see any issue with what are you saying after I went shooting at a football game at night with the a77II (soccer for U.S. People) I got better pictures with the a77II compared to the a99 thanks to the wider AF coverage (the only issue with the a77II is high ISO performance above ISO5000, it’s mandatory to turn off High ISO NR and post process every single picture)
EDIT: By saying “better pictures” I really meant, more keepers.
He didn’t say more spread, but “adapted” to FF.
Having wide coverage isn’t an issue anymore, it’s a blessing. See my reply.
If we have the same coverage as with the A77II (read “surface covered”), i’ll be very happy with it!
Never had the problem you describe, as I never leave the decision regarding the choice of AF point to the camera. The only AF mode I use on A99 is “local” where the point where tracking starts is chosen by me, not the camera. So, maybe it’s not desired for “casual photographers” but A99/A99II is not meant as a camera for casual photographers. That’s also the reason why I don’t want A99II to have so many AF points – the more AF points (which are still clustered closely together), the more time it takes to choose active point with the joystick.
The AF Module in the A77M2 is oversized for APS.. actually has a setting to turn it off as needed for some lenses. A FF with that AF module would be in the same leagues as the 6D d610 as far as coverage.. not sure about the D750
So no more entry level A-mounts, the replacement for the A77II is due in 2016, but there are 2 A-mounts coming in 2015. Which means likely the A99II and what? Not likely an a58II (or whatever) since that is an entry level camera. Maybe a more affordable 24mpix FF A-mount? Thoughts?
My money is on A88. A99 is probably going to get the 36mp+ sensor(including the rumored 48mp), while A88 would get an improved version of the current 24mp.
It is also possible that we will see the configuration, such as A99IIr and A99IIs.
Alternatively it could be A99II and A99IIr, where R version would discard the AA filter.
A65 replacement is highly unlikely, although it would be very welcome.
The rumor doesn’t sound all that unreasonable. Weather sealing makes all sense and with official announcements on the zooms I’d say it’s coming. SSM is awesome too, would love it on my aging 85/135. I say bring it on, I’ll buy it.
I’d buy an a99s.
A-mount can’t complete with E-mount. A9 will be Alpha’s flagship.
Right now, using a mirrorless in sports photography isn’t better than with A-mount. Yes, can be done, but right at the moment you use a 70-400, a 300 f2.8 or a 500 f4 for tracking it can’t keep up most of the times for AF-C operations (maybe for AF-S)
Yes, but on the other hand, maybe Sony for now just doesn’t go for sport photography for e-Mount. You see, of course it would be cool when a camera is all-purpose, but as we all know there are some purposes where some kind of camera is better than the other and vice vera. That is also the reason why Canon earlier had a 1D and a 1Ds with opposed technical data. Some situations need specialized systems. And not every camera company needs to have a product for every type of photography.
People need to learn that this is not one dimensional, just like in many other areas of life there is not A is better than B, but every so often it is “A is in situation X better situated, whereas in situation Y the camera B is in advantage”.
Considering how fast mirrorless AF systems are improving. It is inevitable that with the next generation of cameras it will be on par with pretty much any DSLR for tracking. I think Sony know this. So why waste resources on dead end solutions…
At this moment you’re smoking crack.
No, I’m not, I went to a football game at night with a850, a99, a77mk2 and a7 and the a7 underperformed given Sony says it has hybrid AF Sys.
That’s because yer mum… Well you probably know that already.
John, you’re kidding right? That’s amateur talk.
The camera is the least important part of the equation and camera systems are made by their lens line-up, first and foremost. A mount has professional glass from 16mm – 500mm. There isn’t even close the selection in FE mount yet.
I think photographers need to stop looking at this as two separate systems, but ONE system with a lot of different options.
Heading out on a photojournalist assignment where you don’t want to draw attention to yourself? Bring a A7II and 35mm or 24-70.
Heading out to shoot a football match? Bring an A77II & 70-200 F2.8 G II and A99 with 300mm F2.8 G II.
Going hiking? A7R and FE 70-200 F4 G or bring an adapter and your 70-200 F2.8 G II.
As far as questions of Sony’s continued support & development for A-mount, I’m not sure what more proof people need.
Let’s take a look the recent A-mount history.
First Sony released the substantially faster & weather sealed 300mm F2.8 G II, followed by a 500mm F4 G (weather sealed). Next, they release a Zeiss 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM (weather sealed), followed by a new faster 70-400mm G II and 70-200mm F2.8 G II (also weather sealed). Then comes A77II with AF that can compete with the likes of Canon’s flagship 1Dx sports camera and boasts 12 FPS with full time AF, increased buffer and improved weather resistance.
Then Sony launches Alpha Pro Support, worldwide.
Next Sony announces Zeiss 24-70mm II and Zeiss 16-35mm II with the radically faster SSM and weather sealing. If it isn’t already, we’ll also see a new Zeiss 85 and 135 as well with SSM and weather sealing!
Why do you think Sony is updating all their pro A-mount glass with a newly designed SSM motor and weather sealing?
Seriously, what more of an answer does anyone need?
They also launched a V2 Firmware for A77II that cements its place as the fastest focusing camera on the market right now, and we also know a replacement to the A99 is also on the way.
It’s obvious Sony has changed their A-mount strategy to focus on the high end market for sports and commercial photographers. There’s still a great need in that market for larger cameras to balance with long lenses and that isn’t going to change any time soon.
A-mount isn’t going anywhere.
+1
I really hope A mount asss f’ks FE mount next year. I don’t care that I have an A7. I want A mount to show the true reality of what FE is all about. It’s about small manual focus lenses. It really doesn’t offer photographers anything they don’t already have. It’s just another tool- a decent one, but unnecessary. I don’t need what I already have- we’re still just talking about freaking 35mm format here. Three Zeiss, one solid A99II paired down in size a bit with A77II advanced focusing for a bigger sensor and I don’t even care about the gimmick 5 axis. 46MP and call it done. Send that shiiiit right to my door and I’ll tip the mailman with my A7.
LOL.
Yeah, cause this sounds believable.
A-MOUNT IS DEAD. It’s just that some people are still playing with the corpse and refuse to check it’s pulse.
You sick bas&*#$.
Necrophotophilia!
Whether dead or alive. I will still molest my A-mounts all day. Thanks for your concern. 🙂
Are you payed by Canon to spread doubt and confusion?
Well, you are not the first one and I am sure also not the last one.
But guess what? We don’t care about your trolling.
We accept that you just try to do your job.
low paid troll..sad saw the almost exact same “corpse” comment a few weeks back. Why caps , why would a canon user care? ask these questions.
Not only Sony fgts, now even necrophiles. Jeez, HULK amazed at desperation of Sony people…
a78 with 5ibis, wifi, gps, no aa filter, teathering and other stuff would be nice
Damage Control for A-Mount Users.
Gazillions of a77ii just sold lol. A lot of people I know have the camera..Ohh and with the new firmware upload the sales just keep on going up lol
Sony can you please hire this guy!
Make him engineer a better and useable flash system than what currently you have. I want the flash system to be radio triggered w/ ADI/TTL and HSS. I want the flash system to have receiver and transmitter build in flash.
Make him engineer a better battery system than what you currently have. I want the battery to have atleast minimum of 1000 shots per charge or 2 hours of video.
Make him design a better lens system than CZ85mm and CZ135mm. Make him put SSM technology on both lens with quiet and fast motor.
Make him engineer an A to E adapter that doesn’t require the SLT technology. Make him design the adapter so a full frame A-mount lens like the new CZ24-70II will work on mirrorless system’s PDAF and CDAF.
Sony please hire this guy so your alpha system will be better and be competitive enough to be a serious pro system. Thank you sony!
http://youtu.be/D8v4T-dj7jI
He’s already got a job, with Nikon.
Nice video, crazy post.
CANIKON elite, nuff said. Hulk advise Sony: Mess with the best, go broke like the rest! Pls stick to walkmans….
Canon is the Titanic of the photographic industry, a sinking ship. Hulk will go down (not how he normally goes down) with the ship.
Sony should trade their secret sensor technology for this guy! I would pay double than Nikon pays him.
I think I’m going crazy because the Sony flash system is so terrible its making me go nuts at work. The flash system wont trigger if I don’t have an optical line of sight. All I want is a flash system like of the Mitros+ but w/ the show multi interface hot shoe that’s capable of doing ADI mode.
The terrible battery life is driving me nuts too also. I hate switching battery and I already have the VG attached on my A7.
All I want is for sony to fix the whole system so that we can go to work w/o any frustration. Sony please support us as we support you!
Dude no flash system works seamlessly whether it is radio based IR based or whatever. It is the same for all slave systems. It is murphies law that it will work flawlessly until the moment you need it to work. It has nothing to do with Sony. It is just the same technology as every other manufacturer uses…
Cry baby cry.
First world problems no doubt.
Yes, he’s working on IBIS. 🙂
And large format mirrorless. LOL
This long winded diatribe only highlights your stupidity on this subject, certainly this man is great at what he does but he is no miracle worker. Sony has some of if not the best technical staff in the electronics/imaging industry. To think one person is going to make everything perfect in one fell swoop is idiotic. Take your man crush somewhere else, it’s disgusting.
Look up disgusting… Sigh
Omg you seem to be a nice guy! Only on the internet
Hulk advise Sony: Mess with the best, go broke like the rest! Pls stick to walkmans….Join CANIKON elite!
Still wiping coffee sprayed over my monitor laughing at this anemic a-mount rumor.
You want a ‘Sony’ DSLR now? Buy a Nikon. You want a body that says Sony on it? Use a magic marker. Or you can wait for one of these 2 SLTs – free unicorn with every purchase. ;^)
D400s anyone? That is one hell of a Unicorn 🙂
So like, do you own the D750. If so, how is it?
I agree with Nikon elite Hulk… Buy a Nikon if you want a sony dslr. Sony makes the best sensors but they can’t incorporate this tech into a functional system. Everything is half assed
I don’t agree with a donkey.
And I wouldn’t call Sony equipment half-assed.
Could you please specify your “not functional system”?
Sony can’t make a functional AF system on full frame that works fast in low light, kills battery In 3 hours of pro use, EVF is no replacement for optical finders when it comes to ease of use and practicality and speed of operation ( try working against a light source and discern expressions), no flash system ( the one we have is a joke – overheats, stupid plastic shoe) – very slow operation. Need I go on? Nikon does it much better and ultra efficient – why can’t sony? Take d750 for example – that’s a sweet camera that a99 should have been. EVF belongs in e mount. A mount optical please
Just go with Nikon then…
I love Sony sensors, but a99 (the only current FF a mount camera) just doesn’t deliver. Had to sell everything (3 camera bodies, 9 lenses and 3 flashes) and bought canon 5d MK3 with EX600 Rt flashes – smiled ever since. This is what a photographers camera should be like
Doesn’t deliver what?
Ahem…do you know something about backlight issue on D750? Not everything that glitters is gold…
You would not call it half assed because you are not a photographer. These things have been explained many times, but there is no convincing a keyboard warrior.
There’s a problem when you have more bodies than you do lenses. Nikon is light years ahead when it comes to a real lens line up, flash systems, pro support, third party support.
And I know when I invest in canon or Nikon that my investment will not lose as much value as it does with sony
Not dead yet.
I wish sony would focus on cultivating a real system and not just pumping out new bodies on a monthly basis. Sony is by far the leader in sensor tech in the Digital 35mm market
Lets keep the momentum from the A7’s going before Canon does what it seems to have done historically at least and pulls something out of the bag, (unsourced and may thus be totally afactual XD)
produces a long flange distance, sensor compromised mediumish format abomination with tree trunk lenses at a monopolised: and pro policed price:
forever to diminish our photography as time still rolls on thereafter till Sony free us from all the smug everything pros who use them as the new one and ONLY pro solution!
This whinging discussion has been going on for so many years – the legendary big sensor aaamazing A mount A99, A1000 A something ! soon!! The A7r is a great little camera but the E mount lenses are not impressive. The big A mount lenses are terrific and kill the E mounts spec wise, adapt the Amount lenses to the E mount body and its an ergonomic mash up, doesnt feel right as the balance is awful. But theres no A mount system apart from the now aging A99 ( (who would buy one?). So why are new A mount lenses being produced if theres no big sensor A mount camera coming to make use of them????
Who would buy one? I bought two a99 cameras about three weeks ago lol. Amazing cameras. It was amazing less than 2.25 years ago when it was released to the public in the US, still amazing now! Cameras don’t automatically go bad in the box.. lol even if I buy an a99 three years from now, I would still be able to deliver amazing images that I could two years ago.
I hope they replace the A77mk2. My Alpha 77mk2 was so rubbish at focus lock. I had to get my alpga 77 mk1 repaired and use that