The following rumor is from an external source (Minolta-Forum.de). But I choose to post it on SonyAlphaRumors because the info posted by them is very close to the rumors we received from our sources. A German forum user talked with a Sony and a Zeiss representative at an event organized by Foto Sauter in Munich. Those are the five “news” he received from them:
1) Zeiss/Sony are already working on a few new full frame lenses. And the first lenses are going to be announced soon!
2) There will be new Sony-G full frame lenses. They will be produced in OSAKA (by Konica-Minolta)
3) There will be a new A900 successor with optical viewfinder.
4) The [shoplink 4617]A580[/shoplink] could one of the last (if not THE last) APS-C camera with optical viewfinder
5) The future for APS-C is NEX and SLT
Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!
87 Responses
What are the news here? This are all things we already know for a couple of months, if not years. Just check sonyalpharumors… 😉
1+2) Obvious. *Very* important Zeiss/G lenses appear discontinued on the Sony Style page. So, there are just two explanations for it: Either Sony will give up their entire camera business (and the discontinued lenses are already out of stock) — or they will be replaced by a revised version.
3) FF is too important for the aura to shine on their beginner’s cameras. I wouldn’t have invested several Kiloeuros in Sony a900 stuff, if I wouldn’t have a very strong believe in Sony here.
4+5) This has Paul Genge, Sony UK, already clearly stated on the photokina.
So, you can safely set this “rumor” to SR5 😉
Hi RB!
I told you that I posted that news just to confirm once again the rumros we already wrote. It’s good to see that our rumors are correct 🙂
🙂
Sounds like I was right about OVF, and since the only way to have video that satisfies sony is to make a transparent FF mirror, this new FF will be a straight photo shooter(no video stuff)
The new Sony Full Frame camera body will come logically
with the new 500m G lens presented at the PMA 2010 and
the Photokina 2010 ! ;-))
the 500G has been ready for the last 6 months waiting for the release of the A77 mid 2011
😉
seriously no more aps-c OVF? my eyes are gonna get spoilt faster than i thought looking thru the EVF..a9xx will just be too high a resolution to constantly be up to date with..a9xx would mean better computers, more storage, more HDDs..ie more $$$$
but thats the direction of the industry… HDDs are dropping mad in price, now days u can pick up a TB of a drive for 200 USD or less. You can either stay ahead of the race (like sony), or stay behind (like all other brands). 😛
Funny that we even care that they may announce any new FF lenses. Their typical order of business is to announce and then never release them. The 500/4 has been shown for over two years now. The future (for me) is most likely Canikon.
They’ve announced plenty of lenses that they have subsequently released. As to the 500/4, they haven’t had the camera for it–but it will come with the A77.
Well the last FF lens announced showed up on shelves in under 6 weeks (the 85/2.8 SAM).
The 500’s probably just waiting for the A700 successor as Sony has no cameras which are a good match for a super-tele until the A77/A750 get released in the spring.
oke, here we go, I would like:
– Sony/CZ 70-200
– Sony/CZ 50mmF1.2/1.4
– Sony/CZ 85mmF1.4 SSM (though I just bought the CZ 85mm)
– A9XX, 8FPS, ISO 800->3200 two stop improvement, AF ala D3, better exposure and flash handling.
blablabla, well for know my A900 still rocks!
Add Sony/CZ 35mm f1.2/1.4 to that! And a Sony/CZ fisheye zoom, 14mm f1.0 etc etc
“Sony/CZ 50mmF1.2/1.4”
+1
50-58 f1.2, no point on the 50/1.4 as the Sony version is quite good for the cost. The ZA should be a premium lens like the 50L or the DA* 55/1.4 SDM, not a mid-range prime like the current 50/1.4
Well, the 50mm f/1.2 would work great if it’d have SSM added… but I can only dream I guess… ~_~
and why not a CZ macro too… just make the entire sony lens line CZ
+1 on the macro. I’m not buying the 100mm cause I want a better version 😉
100mm+ Macro will more likely be a G lens than CZ. Zeiss haven’t built recently any 1:1 macro lenses for DSLRs as far as I know so I doubt they would enter this part. IF Zeiss gonna release any macro-alike lens it’s gonna be close-up most likely, 1:2.
Zeiss or G… as long as it is a replacement better to the current 100mm.
yeah, I have the 100mm as it’s the only option right now… and it’s alright. But I’m definitely upgrading if Zeiss puts one out.
70200 G is enof better
It is hard to belive that you have 10-15 kUSD for 500mm lens, if you are writing such a stpd coments around forums.
Agreed, and Sony dosn’t do this type of “announce and release years later” thing for consumer lineup of lense. Hell they don’t even do announcements until they have it ready to ship: 85 f2.8, 35 f1.8 DT, etc.
There are ways to pair up the 70-200 G with teleconverters and APS-Cs to get an effective 400mm or 500mm reach and f4 or f5.6 in the mean time.
4) 🙁
Niko, Sony has released fullframe lens they’ve shown, outside of the 500mm. Considering the cost of such a lens, it’s probably in very low demand, anyways.
“2) There will be new Sony-G full frame lenses. They will be produced in OSAKA (by Konica-Minolta)”
I wonder if this means they’ll be overpriced like the current white beast lenses? 😐
@panfruit: the thing that upcoming lenses will be built via Konica-Minolta facility is really nice, and I’m pretty sure a guarantee of highest grade lenses. 😉
Well said. Having KM make lenses for sony is like a family reunion.
That’s true. But the prices… 😛 🙂
Who cares? Lenses are an investment only better and more fun. In ten years your CZ will still be the best lens out there, no matter what happens to the world
No surprise that they’re working on more lenses. I’m interested in knowing what the focal lengths and speed of them will be. Time to start grilling your sources for that information.
I sold my A700, grip, two batteries two years ago on the solid rumor that the replacement was imminent. Two years later, nothing. If the 580, a toy camera in my opinion, is the last APS-C OVF Alpha, I’m done.
I’m keeping my Alpha 850 because it is a sweet camera, but other than that I am done with Sony APS as a consideration for my secondary camera. Instead, I’m going to be purchasing the Pentax K-5, the camera that Sony could have and should have been able to produce at least a year ago.
Sony is not pursuing the professional imaging market. I don’t care about NEX. I don’t care about SLT. I definitely don’t care about the A560 or A580.
Pentax K-5, here I come. Sorry Sony, you pissed me off after I sold my A700. Best of luck with the soccer mom market!!!
You don’t have to say sorry to Sony as it doesn’t hurt them. Their ‘toy camera’ sales have been helping them to do RnD on newer, better techs.
which is ahead of CaNikon
🙂
Hopefully they use their success in the low-end market to flesh out their mid-to-high-end range of cameras (which is currently pretty bleak).
you can find similar tune in other forum. other side are waiting for 1Ds, D700 replacement etc..
I waited and waited for an a700 replacement, until I finally had to break down and buy a d300. I still miss the a700-style ergonomics. (not that I can complain about the d300 much, lovely beast that it is — but i would have preferred to stick with SonyA.)
As really a non-Sony user (I only have a NEX 3 + 16mm), this is very interesting. To my mind, it’s the first camera company with a “full” product strategy (assuming this is all true). Something for each level, while also preserving the high end. Right now, I’m running with a Canon 5D + EP1 with a NEX3 to try out. This could move me over to Sony.
yes a a900 successor with optical viewfinder is al i needed to know
The only reason Sony could have to not bring a very capable, K-5 level camera (at least!) is to produce something even better.
But Sony, do it QUICK PLEASE! 😀
You most loyal customers are running away!
Buying Canon, I mean…CANON! 😀 😉
I don’t understand why people get so upset about the sensor.
Should it not be about the quality of the image produced?
In a few years I bet the APS-C shipping on new cameras will be sharper and have better detail than my FF sensor.
Is it about the size of the camera?
So manny a pissed about sony not replacing the a700
To me the a850 and a900 are replacements as both use the better A Mount glass.
Now can we thank all those review sites and amateur snapshooters who bashed Sony to death for not offering video on their DSLRs and forced them down this road so they could have the video function to shoot boring videos and feel like if they are the next Ridley Scott?
So now we lost OVF in APS-C so people could take video of their baby walking or their cats/dogs doing stupid things so they can show it to people on YouTube and feel famous. Awesome…
I guess that now I either go FF or go Nikon.
SLT has two major flaws that keep me from going to it: Ghosting and purple fringing. If Sony fixes those two, I may go to SLT.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sony would be better off selling OVF and SLT versions parallel to each other. Not everyone needs AF-C in their video just as not everyone needs an OVF.
Sony should show some respect to their whole user base and release both versions, not force them to go the way the *think* it’s better for us.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sony would be better off selling OVF and SLT versions parallel to each other. Not everyone needs AF-C in their video just as not everyone needs an OVF.
Maybe Sony will offer OVF on special order only.
At a premium of course.
Parallel lines would be a really good. For years we had choice whatever we want LV or not in the entry level (200 and 300 family) so why suddenly we can’t have choice of viewfinder which is far far more important???
Did You check A580 vs A55 viewfinder? I did and there is no advantage. Really I saw no benefit.
A580 isn’t best example really as it’s noticeably smaller and dimmer than the one from, eg. Canon 7D or Pentax K-7. What I’d like to see in OVF successor for A700 is big pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage. Even if it’d be smaller than EVF equivalent.
We’d already lost usable OVF’s in the APS-C line due to Sony’s terrible Quick AF Live View and the compromises in OVF design it forces. The EVF in the SLT’s is the only decent viewfinder in the current APS-C line from Sony (the others are the A100 and A700 OVF’s, both are of course long discontinued).
The word I’m hearing is that the SLT’s are completely destroying the rest of the APS-C A mount line in terms of sales. My local pusher can’t keep A55’s in stock and can’t move the rest of the line (A33’s sell a little, but are too close in price to the A55 here in Canada, nothing else except the A850/A900 is selling at all. He hasn’t even ordered the A580 since his A550 stock hasn’t moved a unit in months).
Don’t expect parallel lines. The OVF models aren’t selling.
sure ghoisting and purple fringing are a bit of a problem, but honestly what was the largest print you ever made? people are too concerned about the small things and forget the big picture… SLT has a huge advantage, it ofeers very fast autofocus for still also, much better than any sony camera to date (maybe the a900/a850 can beat it now with the FW upgrade though i doubt it) also it offers a huge boots in FPS, and without the mirror moving you don’t have to lock it up for macro work and if you shoot in low light hand-held, for me those are the reasons to consider SLT over normal APSC DSLR, and besides when using mf you can enlarge the imagine in the EVF, something you can’t with OVF, although i will miss the quality of the OVF, i won’t mind getting a SLT camera.
As I have said before: Sony goes EVF on their FF camera Monday, and I buy A900 Tuesday.
@ Sony Corop.
I could care less for video, for I take pictures for pleasure not videos. If I get an urge to make a movie, I’ll buy a dedicated Sony camcorder.
Also, this may be stupid but I see no reason to have some piece of glass in front of my sensor. As a film user, I have to variables that I can control at all times: qulity of lens and film. Equivalent in today’s terms is lens and sensor.
Why should we be told to embrace video technology with open arms? Most of us are photographers not cinematographers. Please respect the sanctity of our bond(after all you want us to buy your stuff, and so do we).
The market wants video and buys based on video regardless of whether or not there is a subset of users who don’t care about it.
Personally I don’t want video. I don’t have any interest in it. But the market does and to not have video is to ensure your cameras aren’t competitive on the market.
I really wonder if the owner of this website can actually convey the message of the minority of us who would like that Sony keeps OVF in APS-C DSLR to any top brass in Sony…
If I want video, I have my Flip UltraHD with me for that.
SLT is a great breakthorugh in technology and must be commended but not everyone wants it and it’s a fairly aggressive move by Sony to force APS-C users to go with it or go elsewhere.
Maybe this is a little far fetched, but I’m looking at this move as when Minolta and Canon dropped their MD and FD mounts and went with new electronical mounts, losing a lot of people in the process.
This is what Sony wants? Can they even afford to lose users and market share at this point? Not even Canon or Nikon who are the top players can have that luxury, what makes Sony’s execs to think they can?
Last I checked it was the user who knew more about photography the one who bought lenses, flashes and other accesories for his/her camera, soccer moms and NASCAR dads usually never go beyond the kit lens and when they upgrade, they upgrade the camera altogether and sometimes they even switch brands just like that.
So Sony’s strategy is to cater for the user who won’t buy anothing else beyond the camera and kit lens and will drop the one who will actually “marry” the system?
I can only think of one word for such strategy: HARAKIRI.
you would be surprised to find out that sony sells a lot more SLT apsc cameras than normal DSLR, so i say it’s the best strategical move they could have made, hopefully they can improve on the technology, some people are too scared to go forth with technology…
Agree, A55 outsell A580. I suppose in a one year period it could be several times difference.
I’m also not convinced with current A55 EVF, but already for A77 there will be huge improvements.
Yepp! Sony triggered huge expectations on the a77. Let’s be curious, wait and see. If the a77 EVF is crap, go for something else. But if I remember right, Sony said something like: Once you’ve seen the a77 EVF, you will forget OVF immediately…
So, let’s see how the reality will look like….
Personally, I would love good video function in my SLR. But not at the expense of still image quality.
Totally agree… I shoot a lot of video, and it would be nice to combine the 2 devices. However, when I take my SLR out the one thing I need it to do is shooting reliably and well.
The problem with that is that you are a minority. If you want OVF’s, you need to convince the market to buy cameras with them. Right now Sony’s selling tons of NEX’s and SLT’s but not all that much in the way of the traditional DSLR’s in APS-C. That means that we aren’t going to get new APS-C models with OVF’s since people simply aren’t buying them.
Sony’s making large gains in marketshare, not losses, with the SLT’s and NEX’s. That’s a net win for them and a loss for you.
Did you check the battery life of the SLT compared to the a580? I think there’s a difference there.
The a55 has a different battery than the 580 (same as NEX)!
Even with A580 battery an EVF camera will have notably shorter battery life time.
New lenses will ne nice, but I would like to see some updates as well. Am holding off on the 50 1.4 and CZ85 1.4, as I would like to see both updated to SAM (SSM probably too expensive) for to 50 1.4 and SSM for the CZ. All CZ’s and G’s should be SSM IMO, for what you pay.
Well, I for one would welcome non-SAM version more gladly – less battery eating, probably quieter operations, lower price.. no need to bother for SAM.
SSM… yea, certainly all CZ and G lenses should have it. It’s bit odd that they don’t do already anyway *eyerolls*
SAMing the CZ85mm would be an insult. You just *do not* shit on a top-tier lens like that.
+1!
SAM sucks, I believe everyone here would agree to that.
SAM’s just fine on cheap lenses. It’s an insult on anything above $300USD or so (28-75 SAM, I’m looking at you here) which should be either screwdrive (for DMF capable bodies) or preferably SSM.
Make that super SSM
Who said anything about putting a SAM on a CZ or G lens?
“50 1.4 and CarlZeiss 85 1.4, I would like to see both updated to SAM”
You did obviously
I believe that Sony after releasing the SLT as a separate group of the 5Series and seeing the reaction of everyone.while showing the benefits and cons.. each has over the other.
It would make sense for Sony to have all entry level cameras SLT style with EVF.
then in the middle (5series) have both for now.. and the Higher up 7-8-9 series perhaps with traditional DSLR, OVF.(as clearly seen on forums… the majority of the higher up Camera users have made it clear they prefer OVF)
Also posted here there seems they are working on the next step of the SLT technology with 2 mirrors… we will have to wait and see how that new solution performs…who knows in which Camera Series they will release it(7series???).. but since is new tech.. most likely they might offer both choices and see how people react and sales go to make the decisions for future products.. just like right now with the SLT.
these way they offer the choice that best fit your needs.
Sorry, but I’m afraid if sony goes all EVF, then as much as I hate to say it, its canikon for me 🙁
I played with the a55, and just dont like it one bit, I love OVF’s, all the RGB tearing in the evf in my opinion is one step forwards and two steps back…
If sony made a camera just like the a55, minus the SLTness (basically a canon 60d) I’d be sold tbh…
Also, why on gods earth do the vertical grips on sony cameras look so darn ugly, for one they dont even look like the were made to fit the camera, and why do they only make the actual grip about 3/4 of the size it could be :O
I think most people would be happy with just an OVF a700 replacement that could compete with Canon’s 7D. I’m willing to bet $100 that no such thing ever comes to pass. 🙁 🙁 🙁 Or even just an a700 repalcement that cuold compete with the big boys. meh.
Isn’t 580 basically “a55 minus the SLTness”?
To prove a point
After a good 15 minutes of photoshopping I came up with this
http://i56.tinypic.com/29o0b9h.jpg
It started as this
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dslr_a900-review/camera-battery-grip.jpg
As you can see, the grip has been extended, and MADE TO FIT THE CAMERA!
Having said that, sony did so much of a better job on the a700 and 900 grips than they did with the 200, 450, 500 etc, which were just a shambles, the grips look shocking, they hang off the left side of the camera for god’s sake lol…
It started as this
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dslr_a900-review/camera-battery-grip.jpg
As you can see, the grip has been extended, and MADE TO FIT THE CAMERA!
Yeah it’s a brick
Don’t get your point. Are you interested in design or function? Take the a900 with grip and 1,0-1,5 kg of lens on it in your hands — and you will LOVE the grip! Especially, as the position of your hand relative to the lens does not change…!
I need a wide angle prime which is lacking at the moment. A 16mm CZ or G for FF would be good enough as it would be 24mm for APS-C.
the price of a 16mm CZ or G FF prime might as well be an A850 @ boxing day discounts… and that brings value to every other FF lens you have.
Eg: Canon 14mm f2.8 USM II = $1980 USD on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Ultra-Wide-Angle-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000V5P94Q/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1292212059&sr=8-11
Nikon 14mm f2.8 D ED = $1650 USD on amazon http://www.amazon.com/NIKON-14MM-Ultra-Angle-Nikkor/dp/B00005LE73/ref=lh_ni_t_
so seriously, think of price when u say this 🙂
i do hope they will come out with a 17-50 f2.8 sony version though for APS-C users like me.
or a 16-80 G f2.8-3.5 is good as well. 😀
I believe there ia an update in the works for thw CZ18-80 to 2.8-3.5.
with SAM. 😐 Carl Zeiss does not deserve SAM, either screw mount or SSM pls!
Pure guess or do you have anything to support it? New rumor for Andrea?
I like this rumor, and hope it’s true about new FF lenses.
I have an a850 now and doubt I’ll be in the market for the next FF body, but do hope to continue replacing my old Minolta glass with high quality stuff like my 24-70 CZ.
I’ve been holding off buying the CZ 85 f/1.4 to see what Sony’s plans are for the pro market and I would like to replace my old beercan and my old 50mm f/1.4 with sharper faster focusing Zeiss glass.
But It’s the future of the A-Mount lens that I care about, so seeing Sony ship new FF products gives me hope and the willingness to spend big $$$
My Wishlist:
50mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss SSM with 77mm Filter
30mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss SSM with 77mm Filter
85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss SSM with 77mm Filter
100mm f/2.8 Micro G SSM with 77mm Filter
For me, I hope that my next camera will be Sony’s replacement for Sony’s replacement of the a850-a900 products in 2013.
My first SLR was a SR2 then a SR101, followed by an 9000 in 1985, so I’ve been with this productline for sometime now and hope I don’t need to change.
+1 on the lens wish list, or a 50 1.4 G 77mm would work too.
I’d suggest the 70-400G to replace the beercan (if you don’t mind ^_^)
Personally, I don’t see the point on a CZ 50mm F/1.4… bring back the CZ 50mm F/0.7! *evin grin*
On the otherhand, I’m all for a 100mm G macro lens. 77mm’s kinda big though; have mercy! 62mm would be enough.
Even tho its a fact that dropping MD and FD mount support lost the 2 company users, its a foolish argument because every mount today is an electronic mount.
STL isn’t even at its finest implementation yet (and yes, A55 is great and flawed at the same time). Think of the first version of EOS mount, electronic F mount, and A mounts… they weren’t at their finest implementations either.
Sony might be banking on the idea that the entire market will become an SLT market, if they implement well and continue to push out cameras that canikon can’t beat (at any and various price points) then this might be a reality. Long gamble though, just like how long it took the entire industry to transform into electronic mounts.
The A55 never really gets serious complains for its SLT mirror (afterall the pros it brings far outweighs its cons), but most want OVF with SLT mirror.
I think the A77 will speak the truth: the rumored designs of it has an EVF-backed OVF (call it hybrid view finder if u want). And if SLT 2.0 means a hybrid viewfinder design, you’ll have a hard time complaining about it because you get both OVF and EVF in one… (permanently no mirror blackouts & 14+ fps anyone?) I always will think of the A55 and A33 as a very successful early return on R&D investments, but it doesn’t stop there, the A77 will be even better, and then A99 or A9xx (w/e naming).
At this rate too, it is highly possible to further refine SSM tech and make it super fast, we know A55 was advertised as if it can track AF on a train coming at you, but imagine even faster…
I’ve spend a lot of money on good 77mm filters.
I have hundreds of $$$ in 49mm, 55mm, and others. For me, my bank account and space and order in my camera bag it would be nice to see more of a standard.
I know…, it’s just my little gripe.