A couple of days ago I told you that there are already some A99 prototypes into the wild. Photographers are testing the SLT Full Frame camera and their new features. Until know we know that the prototype has a new kind of 24 Megapixel FF sensor with base sensitivity of 100-25.600 ISO that can be extended to 50 up to 102400. One of our sources now told us that the Sony A99 has also an incredible new AF system of “102 all cross point AF“! We are talking about the A99 prototype camera so we cannot be sure the features will remain the same in the final production camera. But sources told me that focusing is one of the main area Sony is working on to beat the Nikon D800 (Click here to read specs) and Canon 5DmarkIII competition. For comparison, the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] has a 19 cross points “only”.
For the record. Both, the [shoplink 3028]Sony A850[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 3032]Sony A900[/shoplink] cameras have been removed from all Sony website (from the Alpha DSLR camera presentation page not from the store!). They will be also the last optical viewfinder FF cameras from Sony. The A99 will use a new generation SLT and OLED viewfinder technology.
P.S.: Some new A850 can be found on [shoplink 3028 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and also some [shoplink 3032 ebay]A900 (Click here)[/shoplink].
—
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!
212 Responses
Jeeeesss I hope this is true….The more FF information you can post right now the better Andrea, it’s keeping me from bad D800E thoughts! Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing!
I hope it is true also!!!
Also hope for a d800 competitor. Don’t wanna buy nikon after my a850…
+1
You mean keeping you from buying an amazing camera with an incredible track record??
No logic here, please move on.
WTF..!! Can it be true?
It can be true…
And you can be dumb- like you know anything. Grow up wannabe.
HAHAHAAHA!
It could also be a Nikon 51 point AF system … and then somebody counts each cross sensor as two.
Sony delivers sensors to Nikon, who in turn delivers AF modules to Sony 🙂
That sounds like a likely theory.
After all, Sony is also counting each sub-pixel in the EVF as a dot to come up with a 2.4 million dot viewfinder (in reality 0.8 million pixels = 1024×768).
All camera manufacturers do thiswith their displays.
That doesn’t make it any better. And as far as I know, Sony is the only major camera manufacturer to date to offer an EVF.
Panasonic and Olympus?
That’s why I said “major”. Panasonic and Olympus don’t offer FF cameras.
what ff camera does sony offer with evf??
Nikon and Canon do too (and Fuji). Next theory please
1 pixel = 1 green dot + 1 red dot + 1 blue dot = 3 dots
Why do they do this? Is that a marketing gimmicks? WRONG! Because there is other matrix which is not as optimum as this one. Such as Pentile matrix which has lesser dots.
Okay, do your genius math now.
So manufacturers of TVs, TFT screens, mobile phone displays and basically most color electronic display devices are all ignorant then, is that what you are saying?
Because they are perfectly fine with specifying resolution in pixels, and of course these are all based on RGB matrices, too. Even Sony does it for phones, TVs, …
but sony still dont have any premium lenses that are weather sealed. so much for taking pictures outdoors in the rain! unless u want fungus!
matgay, http://shashinki.com/shop/camera-rain-sleeve-cover-protector-dslr-camera-3pcs-included-p-6235.html?manufacturers_id=61
this is wayyy better then any “weather seal” claim from any brand.
no it is NOT. because moisture still creeps inside the lens. that rain sleeve i would think is in addition to a weather sealed lens.
moisture = fungus
it applied the same way to other brands. even u said weather sealed, its a double edged sword too. the greatest example is my canon fanboy friend who everyday talks about canon weather seal is everything. he went to some cold place for 2 week, come back, put his lens with body in the drybox for a month, it gets fungus! because the weather seal sealed the moisture inside the camera that build up changing lens during his stay in the mountains. the dry box cant suck the moisture out~ he has been laughing stock for us non sealing body user ever since.
so, at least the sleeve can ‘help’ prevent rain slipping directly into the lens, yea i know it cant stop moisture from going in, but u will still need non seal lens so the drybox can do its job.
Just like a Sony fanboy to recommend a rainsleeve in lieu of real weathersealing. Stupid.
Scary, the thought of Sony actually applying themselves to try to beat someone. Usually they try to win by being different. Maybe they can use their resources to win by being better.
Cant they be better by being different?
They are better in a number of areas, but don’t dwell on the positives, it isn’t welcome here. 😉
🙂
Is there such a thing as too many AF points?
Camera needs very fast processor and excellent algoritms otherwise all points become in very slow AF points.
For now Nikonians consider 50-60 points are ideal. But that’s for now. When Nikon produces 100+ focus points, they will change their opinion, just like how many megapixels should a camera have.
Sony users, on the other hand, are more open to new things.
A77 has 11 cross sensors by 19 total (so 8 1D Sensors)
A new, REALLY hot AF system sounds extremely interesting!
Although i would probably not be able to afford a FF camera anyway, but I can still dream of an A78 or something in 2013 or 2014 with “semi-hot” AF, perhaps around 30 cross point AF sensors or so? 🙂
Are there any rumors on a new 50 mm prime? I’m making a decision which one to buy – Sony 1.4 or Sigma 1.4. Sigma is preferred, but if there will be a new better Sony lens…
The Sigma is a better lens.
Always worry about problems on new Sony camera designs.
If you have the money and some time I would wait for the rumored Zeiss.
If you buy a Sigma now, it might not work on the A99 😉
Or you go for a Minolta 50mm f/1.4. At least as long there is no Zeiss around. It is quite cheap on eBay and quite a good lens. I have one and I am rather happy with it. At least it is better than the 50mm Sony lenses currently available.
Christopher
This right here
Its not that the Sony 50mm is bad – its just the difference between the Minolta and Sony versions for what you get (better coatings, “larger” aperture) for the difference in price is a little much.
Better center sharpness wide open too.
The most notable difference is that the Sony 1.4/50mm features a distance encoder for ADI flash, whereas the Minolta predecessors did not.
The Minolta 50mm f1.4 is an excellent lens… I use mine all the time. The only thing to keep in mind is that the manual focus range is VERY limited… it takes virtually no effort to dial in the whole range of the focus.
That having been said this is one of my fave three lenses (*I also strongly recommend the manual-focus only Rokinon 85mm f1.4).
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 works fine on A77. It’s a great portrait lens with good bokeh and excellent sharpness. Absolutely no reason to think it won’t work on A99.
There was absolutely no reason to think that HSM lenses that worked on the A33 wouldn’t work on the A77, but they don’t!
Good news！ new focusing and new generation SLT , I am looking forward to it. But i only use aps-c body
A99 should have 99 cross point AF sensors 😉
Word.
102 cross type AF is really good for 3-d tracking.
I hope the accuracy of AF remains good and no back,front focussing happens at low light (problem of phase detect )
In the end one needs single AF point with 100% accuracy.
PS:Hoping center focus point is double cross type 😉
probably one of the main reason that the G telephoto zooms were rumored to get refreshed models, especially the 70-400G which is not exactly an old design lens.
FUK ME DEAD! U Serious?
I wonder how much processing power that requires!
SR4? cool!!!
@wth:
> I wonder how much processing power that requires!
Raw processing power isn’t the issue; that’s always been a strong suit of Sony, all the way back to the a100 which (in sustained data throughput) equalled the very top-line pro-spec Canon/Nikon bodies, and utterly out-performeded all models in the same “class” as the a100.
And if I recall correctly, the a900 actually BEAT everything on the market (in sustained MP/sec), when it was first announced — even the top-tier Canon and Nikon — though of course there are faster cameras now (including, of course, the a77!)
More relevant to most, I think, is the question of how ACCURATE the AF is, particularly at high frame-rates. Will the “predictive” AF and “object tracking” work well enough to put it on-par with the CaNikon offerings as similar (and higher) price-points, or will similar-costing CaNikon’s have (as they so often had) superior AF?
Exciting rumor, for sure; but only the bird (or body) in-hand, particularly in comparison with other offerings from other makers, will show how truly exciting the “a99” is (or isn’t).
– Steve S.
Predictive AF – isn’t PDAF meant to eliminate the need for any predictive algorithms?
No, predictive AF has nothing at all to do with the focus measureing system.
Since there is a time lack between the last measurement and the moment, when the exposure actually starts (for the aperture to close and the mirror to flip up), predictive AF will use previous measurements in order to extrapolate the position of the target to when the exposure will start and blindly drive the focus of the lens to this point. Depending on camera model, this time lack is somewhere between ca. 120ms and 50ms for Minolta/Konica Minolta/Sony SLRs – and downto 20ms with electronic first curtain shutter.
For obvious reasons, predictive AF is no longer needed if the time lack can be eliminated. Cameras which support autofocus in LiveView mode don’t need it in that mode. SLTs don’t need it as well, at least in theory.
If the focusing system is based on CDAF it will typically continue to work with the lens stopped down, so you don’t have to count the aperture set time as “blackout time”.
If the focusing system is based on PDAF, it is designed to work only for large apertures. So, even in a SLT design, AF will not be able to work for slow apertures (ca. 6.7 and below), and this is where predictive AF would continue to be useful.
Thanks Matthias,
So PDAF will find the actual distance and drive direction of the focus. The predictive AF algorithm will extrapolate the distance changed while the mirror is flipped up.
As I suspected, predictive AF algorithm is not needed anymore in SLTs as the mirror is always down and the PDAF is always working to enable continuous tracking.
I read this in one of the articles Sony released a long time ago. It was one of the major reason why they went SLT.
But hey, if they use both, it’s the best of both worlds.
HAH noob, goes to show you how much you really know. WTF is a perfect name for you, its like WTF do you keep replying here for….you know nothing about cameras, try to sound like you have inside information, grow up loser.
Everyone has questions, everyone is allowed to ask and learn on this forum.
Unfortunately disadvantaged people like you are unable to learn, worst is the fact that your handicap is not prohibiting you from learning rather your attitude.
You still haven’t told us why you are so filled with hate…
Perhaps you need to talk with someone.
I can understand if your mum took your Xbox 360 controller from you and you are just blowing off some steam, but this is getting old.
Please let this one be true! They need to keep the info leaking to keep people from jumping on the 5DmarkIII & D800! Us Sony users have been waiting a long time for Sony to jump ahead of the pack. Better focusing along with good low-ISO will keep me a proud Sony owner!!!
“ISO in the hundreds of thousands”
Turned out to be the worst high ISO of that generation of cameras
LOL ya still here!
How is Nikon working out for ya?
ISO performance is not determined by max ISO. Just look at the nasty D4 with 200k ISO which is completely beaten by 100k max ISO D3s.
Indeed. I’ll be happy with “fixable” at 3200+.
Those who know the value in the equipment will not jump at Canon/Nikon just yet.
If you’ve collected the lenses required to use an equivelent 5DII/D800 this is good news with the focusing upgrades needed in the Alpha bodies. a77 has received good reviews for its upgrade so the a99 hopefully will follow suit.
I can’t wait to see it… can it be available earlier? 🙂
This ISO is only in “hundred of thousand” not “hundreds of thousands” 🙂
Innovative AF sounds great for video
hundreds of thousand? or hundreds of thousands?
Oh yes, thousands 🙂
The AF sensor is most probably a fake news…
And we are already used to hear about how great the “next model” will be, with huge expectations, and at the end we all get disappointed on the high level DSLRs/SLTs.
I was almost sure to buy the A77 and quieted at the end, specially because of the loss quality of the new ‘mirror’.
I hope the A99 works with the ‘flip-up mirror’ option, for single shot photography!
If so, we could get the advantages of the new translucent mirror for continuous shooting and movie, and the best image quality for single shot photography! That would be HUGE!!!
You don’t lose IQ with a fixed mirror, it’s a myth that has been busted.
yep, landscape photographers do even worst, they put 2 or more filters in front of the lens and i don’t see any quality loss, and they dont lose 1/3 of a stop, they lose much more… a simple polarizer cuts you almost 2 stops of light and i dont see no one complaining!!!
+1
anyway, I would like to have this option to resume the 1/3 EV shutter speed with same ISO.
At least share the option to end user, let us to choose.
There isn’t enough room to flip up the mirror.
I am amazed at the number of people here that take photographs in the dark, do you people actually get out during the day?
If you think day = light, then you haven’t been living around the arctic circle. With months of constant dawn/night all high improvements of ISO performance is welcome.
You have to shoot in the DARK for half a stop to make any significant difference. People here must be vampires as all they go on about is shooting high ISO.
Why shouldn’t there be enough room? Traditional DSLRs manage to flip-up the mirror, after all.
There isn’t on CURRENT SLTs.
Sorry stupid question maybe but does a lens not need
a fixed distance to the sensor for a good sharp picture? So is the distance not the same as in current DSLR’s to allow use of the lenses?
It’s the room inside the camera.
???? This was my question ?
Of course, you loose image quality with any optical element in the light path which is not absolutely required. It may not be very obvious in everyday photography, but it remains to be there, and it can be seen if you know how to spot it. Sony cannot change the laws of physics. The myth that has been busted by enough experienced photographers is the claim that the foil does not have any negative effects.
Oh ffs there’s always one that goes on about fucking physics instead of looking at the fucking results.
The mirror has been removed from both the A55 when it was released and now the A77, it makes ZERO difference to IQ.
Yes, you do lose IQ numbnuts- not a lot but don’t try to say none. Even filters on the front of a lens contribute to changes in sharpness etc. However you can take off filters, you can’t take of the pellicle mirror.
Bunch of liars here.
and how many AF points (of 102) will be useable when F8 ?
i thought aperture are fulltime wide open and only close down when u snap?
even u talk bout lens like samyang manual aperture, no camera phase detect works at F8~ oh wait, its MF lens anyway. we got focus peaking 😛
> i thought aperture are fulltime wide open and only close down when u snap?
In photo mode, yes; in video mode, no.
wait,, the 500mm f8 reflex?
70-400mm f4-5,6 with 1,4x converter or the new 500mm f4 with 2x converter
1. the 500 F8 is the ONLY mirror lens in the world with AF. nikon and canon design doesnt allow AF. minolta’s breakthrough. a special AF-able F8. that being said, the 500 F8 is a special lens, and camera still dont work with aperture darker then F6.3(F7.1 for minolta af design) or at F8(canon and nikon design)
2. if u read enough bout TC, the sony version of TC wont work with 70400. or if u even read enough, only generic TC works with 70400 and u will lost about 30% of image quality, and it will not AF passing F6.3 (7.1). try google a little more info on TC. there is plenty of indept discussion on it.
mistral, oh yeaaaa… but current SLT AF at f8? (i dont own a SLT, still using my old A300 :P) so i have no experience with SLT.
Just in time for the end of the wedding season when I will hopefully be cash rich 🙂
beat the competition ? without tethered / remote control as a standard .. don’t think so
WAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT why is it a even number of points? SR0! fakeeee
and its not april 1st.
EVEN numbers, i thought it suppose to be ODD numbers of AF points
yep, an EVEN number sounds a bit… “odd”… ^^
Yeah please Sony give us a wonderful tool with king specs… But not on paper, we need it in real with best functionality! Can’t wait for the official announcement!
That sounds good move. A77 can already properly detect face but quite often it is outside of central area with AF points. If new AF sensor covers much wider area many will be happy.
102 is not possible!
Look at all the other cams: no one has an even number of af points. That doesn’t make sense at all!
102 would be double that of Nikon’s best
funny but fake
😉
Eu, como uso constantemente o ponto de foco central, espero que a focagem seja bem precisa em qualquer tonalidade e também que o alto iso em baixa iluminação tenha grande qualidade nas ampliações, pois nós amantes dos equipamentos “SONY” necessitamos muito para poder efetuar um bom trabalho em imagens de casamentos.
Catanduva SP – Brasil.
WTF :O There are 6 days to april 1st..! Cool..
Your information re the A900 being out of stock is not correct (at least for Canada): http://store.sony.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=20153&langId=200&catalogId=100803&identifier=S_DSLR_Cameras
Hmmm I want 103!
No I am primary a landscape shooter so I need very few, and use
manual focus regulary also.
“For comparison, the A77 has a 19 cross points “only””.
Actually it’s 11.
I think the owner of this site might have less problems with Sony if he ensured the information he posted was accurate. I understand this is a rumours site, so by it’s very nature accurate information isn’t always possible. But when a camera has been on the market for several months, it’s easy to ensure you get the specs right.
Another know it all back seat driver I see…. where’s your website at Mr. I’m Perfect all the time? What have you done? Easy to sit back and take pot shots at others isn’t it- you are such a man aren’t you… idiot.
This has nothing to do with back seating driving, and whether or not I have a website is totally irrelevant – I’m allowed to post my opinion, am I not? Moreover, I don’t see how my comments relate to my maleness. What a bizarre thing to say.
I’m simply making the point that I think Sony would like to see that information posted here is accurate, so as not to push false information into the public domain that could have a negative impact on its business. If you can’t see or understand that, then you might have to consider that it’s not me who is the idiot…
Nope you’re still an idiot. Plain as the sun rises and that I go to the bathroom every day.
If you were a man you’d admit you have no idea what you are talking about. But you live here apparently, and your fragile ego has been attacked. Boo hooo hooooo, weep it and smell some flowers (rather eat some), meditate, sniff your own gas or something. But stop whining like a girl.
He contributes to the forum in a positive manner, you don’t.
Your random hate is getting very old. We all know you are a retard already, you don’t have to continue to demonstrate it repeatably.
Hating Sony is one thing, disrespecting people with fair opinions…
Forget it, just remember what your mother says when she keeps telling you off.
As I said, remember to take your medication. Having another bad week?
It seems you live here too, but have absolutely nothing to contribute apart from continuing with your bi-polar/childish (I can’t decide which) crap. The only person whining here is you, and it’s more irritating than a tantrum throwing spoilt brat, or a whining girl, but that’s your aim right?
Bi-polar bears like you are known for not being able to let go of things, which I guess is why you’re on at least your third user account.
Sounds like a room 101 to me.
Actually I only really need 4 focuspoints, one in each corner of the golden section – and a joypad control to designate which one is to be used. If at one time I would need to compose an image with an element in the center in focus, i would just have to ‘focus-and-recompose’ as I do now with 99% of my images done with spot focus. Tracking a moving object with a very fast and reliable ‘golden focus point’ would be lovely – well composed images right out of the camera – and if the exposure would follow that point as well, in spot mode, I think much of my current post-processing will be done in camera.
/M!
With static objects I don’t even use focus points. I use peaking.
But where are the lens to go with it….
Also can any one tell me why zeiss can make a lens that fits Nikon and canon but not sony is it so much different
“Also can any one tell me why zeiss can make a lens that fits Nikon and canon but not sony is it so much different”
huh?
Don’t you think that is question is why does Zeiss market manual lenses for Canon, Nikon and others and not the Sony A-mount.
I think at this is a fair question that has never been officially explained by Zeiss are far as I know.
Zeiss don’t make Sony mount lenses, so what? They probably don’t see much money in it and I don’t blame them.
Zeiss lenses for Nikon and Canon are made by Cosina and I was told that there are contractual agreements between Sony and Zeiss and so Zeiss does not have Cosina making lenses with an A-mount.
What’s wrong with the ZA mount lenses? They’re listed on the Zeiss website too.
Why is the distagone 2.8/ 15mm only available on f and ev mount
Why not ask them?
deleted.
Would be good if more than one of those 102 were of the double cross type.
Sony beat canon?? ———— ahahahahahahhaahahhahahah!!!! in 3012 b.c.
… ahhahahahahahaha try 1dx and you’ll quit immediatly sony crap
go with your canon crap color and their junk lens :p
Yes, we already beat them in 3012 B.C. and it’s been a beatdown ever since!
(geez, do all Canon shooters not know the difference between A.D and B.C.?)
+9999…i couldnt stop laughing.
It’s similar how people laughed and say Canon could not beat Zeiss back in 1950s, and in 50 years it did.
did canon? and are you sure? *evil grins* (trolling mode in standby)
TEE hee TEE hee Canon will beat Sony 3012 B. C.
Hmmmm. If All 102 points will be selectible – I didnt whant this. All I need is 9 selectible in one-click points that all works same fast and precise. Not the central point and 101 point that focusing 2 – 3 time longer.
So, you’re convinced that this is bad?
Please explain
Such high number of focus points is great for fast face tracking. For example, imagine you lock a face at F2.0 and it gets tracked across whole frame. When you finally press trigger then proper AF point is automatically selected which focuses at an eye. Fantastic. I hope it will work like this.
on my A77 may took several second to switch from left to right. On A100 it was made in one move. And on 77 point near central simply useless – they too slow and non precise. So I need only 9 selectable points
х_____х_____х
х_____х_____х
х_____х_____х
And select than making ONE MOVE of camera joystick – like it was on my A100.
Rest points must unselectable – working for face detection or tracking AF.
For now zone focus is useless too (A77) minimum 30% of shoots misfocused in that mode.
I hope Sony is willing to encroach on their higher end video market with this cam. Canon showed the way with the 5DMKII. Let’s face it, in today’s highly connected world, video is just as important as stills—especially in the full-frame arena.
Sony, give us a true hybrid FF!
Yep!
This is going to be an outstanding FF. Have been enjoying my a77 for 6 months will continue for another 2 years at least because i cannot afford the A99 when it gets first released right away. Am sure the A99 will retail at least near USD $3000 for body only
If the overall image quality is as good as of better than the Nikon D800 or Canon MarkIII and the Sony has a killer EVF, peaking and all of the better ideas from the a77 a $3,000 price is fine with me.
And yes, If I’m going to spend $3k on a body then Sony needs to make the system “real” with optics that are the equal to the sensor in the cameras, or its likely a big waste of money to purchase a Sony like this.
Funny, I and most of those I know usually only use spot focus 😉 and we never shoot video’s. Guess we are still back in the stone age. Where’s my flash bulbs? 😉 😉
Anyway, I guess that will be great for those who really want those options …… doesn’t make me all warm and fuzzy, yet. The higher ISO range might be a draw if the noise is decent.
Why 102? Why this magic number? Any reasons?
Double that of Nikon’s best 51
😉
now it makes sense… ==
my gusta!! i hope a99 will delivery great IQ and image quality!!
Admin,
Prototype now = 2013?
Why do I have the feeling it will be 2013.
I don’t believe these are prototypes that are being tested, but rather pre-production copies. They had better get this baby out this fall!
easy, april fool joke! 😀
when i saw 102 AF, i will see santa claus just fly-by 😀
Option to flip up SLT mirror please Sony. I don’t care what functionality is lost. Just put a mechanical flip switcb on the side like an Olympus OM-1 and allow me to move it up instantly without going into menu hunt for a basic feature. Please make this a feature Sony… Since you obviously don’t give option for remote command video control.
FF pros would definetely be attracted to this option. However, Sony WANTS you to shoot with their translucent mirror 24/7.
They want you to have full time phase detect AF even when you are manually focusing.
Many people strongly believe that a fixed translucent mirror offers little or no negative optical side effects.
Go figure….
I think it is overkill. Just make sure the AF is positioned at strategic location will do. It will be difficult to choose AF point. Maybe 30+ selectable cross AF is enough. the other should be helper AF used in tracking.
The more points the better- especially for motion tracking. I highly welcome this for fast-paced event work I do, as well as air shows, sports, etc.
I am almost positive if this is accurate at all that they would allow zone-selection for your AF (isn’t this the case with Nikon and Canon’s flagship systems), not JUST point by point.
A77 already allow you to choose three zone.
>Until know we know that the prototype
Until [b]now[/b] we know that the prototype
102 points is a good feature, but the size of the cover area is more important the number of the points.
Yes, cover the rule of third is a must for AF point.
102 AF Points? Lol that’s gonna occupy the whole viewfinder and btw its 19 af points with 11 crosstype not 19 crosstype af points.
Think on EVF you could easily hide some points if this function is available, so there could be a few different options in which constellation the points are displayed.
exactly- people are thinking too traditionally. The EVF does not have the same display limitations as the OVF.
Imagine for example out of those 102 AF points you could customize which ones you wanted to use- customizable AF array? Now that would be cool- change it up based on what you are shooting.
SONYA77 my mirror flips up so I can see the sensor for cleaning doesn’t yours? Seems there would be room,or maybe it would hit the lens when attached.
Hasn’t sony gotten after you yet for using thier name? ha!ha!
Yes I love my A77 and might buy an A99 if I can still get the info I want .Like on sonyalpharumors
You have to remove the lens to flip up the mirror on a SLT.
Also the buffer size must be larger and max auto ISO value should be larger then what we have today. And the camera itself weight 100 gram 🙂
…wonder where they put #102.
hahaha half on the std place and the other half for the sensor for MLU 🙂
What about the video- that is another area where Sony should be strong!
Dual Bionz for 24 fps please + dual memory card and at least 3s buffer for 72 frames 😀
Question. With 102 points, what’s going to be at the center? Two, four points instead of a true center?
make the 102 focus points cover the whole screen including every corner, instead of all concentrated in the centre. that would be great!!!
Too bad it’s only 24 megapixels.
This camera is for sports and wildlife, and so needs to be fast. Have you noticed how slow the D800 is, in terms of fps?
I am thrilled Sony put 24MP this year. Put 2 dual bionz and it could shoot up to 24fps. 😀
Any info on A950? The one with 36mp. Is Sony still working on it or they already dropped it.
It’s exciting to see what has come out of Sony’s sensor division in the past 18 months. (Both in Alpha and Sony Pro broadcast/ Cinealta products)
That 36mp sensor seems to have placed Sony at the top of the photography industry today. I’m willing to bet that if they apply that same technology to a new 24mp sensor, they would see even higher performance gains.
It’s quite possible that in 6 months Sony could have a FF model that could be a statistical “leader” in overall performance!
This is something that Canon and NIKON have never needed to worry about before now!
Translucent EVF/SLT and PDAF is has never scared Canon&NIKON….an incredable low ISO performing 24mp Sony sensor WILL scare the shit out of them!
It’s the single most important spec that snobby CaNikons brag about today!
I think that if Sony can deliver a smaller package and killer video features, there could be enough justification to jump ship.
personally I really don’t give a shit whether my buddies shoot nikon, canon, or sony. Why are you guys obsessing over this?
Brand specific forums and blogs seem to be full of that. It’s not about taking better photographs, it’s about converting followers to your religion.
CAN’T WAIT!!!
mmmm…. not sure the accuracy info on 102, which a little odd for “even” number to appear as AF points.
but after some discussion with a SLT expert, he said its possible, since DSLR, the main mirror only allows a pretty small mirror below to reflect the image to the AF sensor, that 2nd mirror cannot be too big else the main mirror actuator will have trouble pulling(mirror slapping) the weight up down for hi FPS.
but SLT, now reflect the whole frame, so its possible to fill (almost) whole frame with af points.
sony aint stupid that made a local option to select 102 points, look at Nikon D7000, selectable to work with 19 points of the old 9 point style (or was it 11?) and the new AF area mode from A77, 3 zone. i believe sony will throw in several ‘AF zone’ style inside, 21 zone (each zone with 5 cross AF point/4 assist) or 11 zone (9 af point), etc, tat will be prefect AF killer system.
a very very diff AF design appoarch that solve the limit of SLR been facing for pass 20 years, small area of AF due to limited physical size of 2nd mirror (below the main mirror)
but i still dont get the 102 even number. and i dont believe one bit bout 51af point of nikon being there. there is a reason for the even number.
Too good to be true. I am sure in some we’ll hear that altough it was in a prototype, Sony chose to sell the crappy one. 😀
I liked the nikon D3s approach with 51 AF points, it has great coverage and amazingly enough detects faces and nails focus where you need it with the mirror down. a77 has great potential and I often use the zone AF mode. a99 102 AF points could be cleverly combined into groups but taken a step further. Instead of center and two side groups like the a77, another mode with 4 golden mean groups would be awesome.
This is just specification baloney; it all comes down how good the focus system performs and how easy it can be controlled. Why not just going along with the other manufacturers, with 40-50 AF points? This likely will increase the price of the body. Reliable AF is what counts.
However, I like the idea that Sony develops a body which is king specification-wise. It is good for marketing, but in the end it comes down to the whole package. I don’t bother if it has a 19, 51 or 102 point AF system, just make them work intelligently.
I am sure somebody here knows the answer to this question. This has to do with some of the requests regarding the SLT mirror and the wish to have it flip up out of the way when shooting. This I imagine is desired by those to guarantee no image degradation by light passing through the SLT mirror. Wether this is significant or not is open for debate but not what I was wondering at this time. I have to believe that unlike a mirror which is used to reflect light that the SLT mirror has a make up that allows this area to relay information for at least the focusing of the image. Wouldn’t there be a concern that if you had the ability to flip this type of mirror out of the way when shooting that over time this action could damage the mirror in a way that would detrimentally effect the function of this type of mirror?
If it’s that fragile, I don’t want it in any open part of the camera in the first place. It certainly must be strong enough to clean every now and then. And it’s no different than legacy mirror lockup with film cameras like Nikon F2 or Olympus OM-1. Simple flip switch on the side of the mirror box. Easy.
Clyde,
I am not sure but when you are talking about a legacy mirror lockup, you are talking about a mirror thats sole responsibility would be to just reflect an image to the view finder. There are no electronics connected to such a device other than those required to move the mirror. I do not know how the SLT functions other than it allows light to pass directly through to the sensor and allowing a more constant focus of a moving object. I just don’t know how it works and what makes up the SLT to allow this. If it was possible to do this simply I can’t believe Sony would not have allowed this function as this would give it the best of both worlds. I just wasn’t sure if it was desirable to have this thing slapping up and down at 6fps or was it just desired to do under a more controlled environment or with single shots. I would love for that ability to have it both ways and if this could be done would wonder why it wasn’t being done.
IMHO, it has something to do with the fact that SLT is not angle at 45 degree (unlike mirror) hence, it is longer than ordinary mirror in dSLR. It will be more difficult to flip it up (the flip up position will take more area than ordinary dSLR mirror). It will be harder to achieve that in FF that has bigger sensor (24mm sensor height instead of 15.7mm). If Sony provide body with built in vert grip it will be very doable but the AF sensor will be in the bottom like the nex LA-E2 to give more room in flip down setup.
Another thing to consider is that in SLT mode the surface must be perfectly flat when taking picture, so providing a flip up/down SLT will probably required a more rigid construction than ordinary dSLR mirror.
That being said, it would be the ultimate machine before a-mount goes completely mirrorless. It will be nice if it can provide a single frame flip up/down mode. But the ultimate is if they can provide at least 3fps flip up/down. It will kill current entry-mid dSLR machine.
Having the sensors in the bottom makes a lot of sense. There would be more room for the EVF and flash, and even the potential for a pentaprism-bulge free camera (perhaps a similar form factor to a larger Leica like the M5?).
“Photographers are testing the SLT Full Frame camera and their new features.”
That’s the biggest false of all. Sony doesn’t let Photographers touch their cameras until the worst testers have published terrible samples at 2000pxl and fan about how -w.u.n.d.e.r.f.u.l.l- they are.
it is possible, when SAR talk bout A77 demo unit in the wild, several of my lucky friend had tested the camera inside sony office in malaysia. one photographer(malaysian) was invited to produce a number of shots to present in a gallery exhibition during A77 launch in malaysia. then another friend by chance drop by Sony HQ in kuala lumpur and by chance Gary L friendman was there, they were doing a trial test studio shooting with the A77.
I actually only hope 1500 dollars FF body from Sony. SLT, ISO 50-25600.
Not a fan of A900 OVF. Need cheaper FF body with EVF in it.
Wow, what did you use before EVF’s? I mean I love the technology and cannot wait for what the next advancement in EVF. I am sure it will occur as early as the A99. But the A900 OVF is a thing of beauty, I mean for a view finder.
this rumor sounds great. Hope the 102 AF points are true.
does it mean 2x as fast because twice the focus points coverage area? or is it 2x as slow because twice the focus points on the processor???
100, 200, 300, or 1000 AF points don’t matter if the focus area is located in the middle of the frame.
Ideally, it would be best if those AF points are spread out wider over the frame.
5dmkII, as an example, increases the number of AF points to 61. However these points are still located at the same area, not wider.
I spent some time with my A900 and A77 this weekend photographing birds of prey and came to the conclusion I don’t like EVF. The A77 can’t refresh fast enough to keep up with these birds in flight. I know the A77 is a prosumer model, but it is highest on the food chain so far and most advanced example Sony has released so far. If Sony doesn’t release a OVF Full Frame body, I will be switching manufacturers. Plain and simple, I don’t like it. I enjoy my A900, but another area Sony needs to work on is the noise at ISO400 and above. The A77 ISO noise sucks at 400 and above (I realize it is a crop sensor vs a FF sensor, but for 24 MP, it is shameful) and every Sony DSLR review I have read on dpreivew.com has the same issue.
Brian, careful the EVF fanboyz are going to come after you and tell you to leave 🙂
The a900 is a great tool, I have a a850.
the EVF will be even better someday, maybe the a99 or maybe what comes after but the EVF and mirrorless is the future.
I agree with Brian. My eyes are much more comfortable to OVF’s DSLR. Hopefully EVF will be improved a lot more in the future.
I wonder how people have been using their A77 capturing birds in flight then?
The Sony A900 has NOT been removed from ALL Sony web sites. It is still on the Sony Japan web site:
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/
24MP is lame, sorry!
For reports is more then enough – all my fotos from 77 I save in 11 Mp mode in ACR.
yea i too convert all my a77 pics to my iphone 1mb is too much
102 AF Points yep that’s what pro’s need- massive fail.
Meanwhile the A77 needs firmware updates like mAAAAd.
yes update all the pocket cameras too!
MCP? You need to take your medication! I’m sick of telling you!
What the hell is MCP a drug you take????
If your sick, shut up then.
You sound like a know it all idiot from what I’ve read here, how people tolerate you here is beyond me.
“how people tolerate you here is beyond me” – HAHAHHAHAA!
RLR – you should read what you type.
And yes, I do read what I type…
Add you to the list. Same goes for you, only flower eater is much more intelligent that you. Some here actually have knowledge of what they speak of which I enjoy reading. You’re just dumb as mudd.
@Ryan Leaf Rules!
“Add you to the list. Same goes for you,” – You are such a retard!
“And yes, I do read what I type…” – As I said in my earlier post, but hey I never expected you to have a brain larger than a goldfish.
RLR
Master Control
MCP
your mom swallows
end of line
You don’t even have an A77, why would you care?
Once again I have to point out for the admin here that not all Sony sites have removed the A900. Check sonystyle.ca
I tried to put the direct link to the camera in here but SAR seems to mess that up somehow. Anyways, sonystyle.ca has the camera.
The A900 is still in stock there, and it’s on the site.
If, I am not mistaken…The A99 prototype is look like A77 body with modification to be a FF camera…yes/no/maybe?
I think they making for the “object tracking ” and not the AF .
Hey Sony here is a novel idea… The Nikon kicks our butts on low light photography and my A77 isn’t any better (ie worse). You have HUGE ISO numbers showing here great but you haven’t even mastered (fixed) the lower ISO yet. The images don’t hold up on ANY Sony camera after 3200 and at 3200 they are still noisy. Focus with 2 million points all you want but is it going to be filled with noise “but in focus”? Fix the noise at high speeds and give me 10fps+ and I will be happy. If the A99 doesn’t get better here, I am switching to Nikon and I trust me I don’t want to!
102 AF sensors!? I only use one.
NOISE !! have an a850. Great camera except ruined by NOISE . Even at iso 100 low light + time exposures – chroma noise – lots of it. Very bright scenes ISO 100, very fast shutter speeds – NOISE – lots of it. Look at the tests comparing a900 to Canikon. Sony noise at ISO 200.
Will buy the a99 ONLY if they have fixed the noise issue. Love OVF, hate EVF but will sacrifice OVF and cash if Sony have got NOISE solved. If they have not they can s***f the a99 up their ************’s. Sony must listen to us. Use their brains.
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