No announcement today? It doesn’t matter because I just got an even better “rumor” from a veeeeeery good source. He told me that Sony will not only launch the A35 next Wednesday and the A77 in July. There will be one more translucent camera to come!!! I am trying to get some more info about that. That’s a huge surprise!
The same source told me the A35 will replace the current A290/A390 cameras and become the new entry level DSLR camera from Sony. P.S.: The A35 price with 18-55mm kit lens will be around $699 (to high for an entry level camera?).
I am trying to get more info about the third SLT cameras. I am glad that I could at least give you one small good news after telling you about the announcement delay of the NEX-C3 and A35 🙂
Links to the A290: [shopcountry 7126]
Links to the A390: [shopcountry 7127]
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!
103 Responses
Ho Ho HO…Santa Claus is coming lol… 😀
I remembered the old rumor speak on one model to be fall between A77 and entry level (C3 in this case). Seem A77 to be highest class for APS-C in Sony line. Speculated A66 will be the one!
*correction – is A35
I can only assume it will be an A55 replacement, or a lower end replacement, like a “4-ish” series. So it’s not going to be an interesting camera if you ask me, but what would be interesting is that almost the entire alpha line could essentially be SLT within a couple of months.
I also have a feeling that we may say good-bye to the A450.
I’m sure we’ll all cry ourselves to sleep tonight 🙂
It makes sense to replace the A55. The A35 is getting close in terms of specification.
What Sony need is a D3100/1100D killer at the low end and I think the A35 is priced too high to take on established brands like those.
699 USD for A35 is way to much, especially when man can buy the A77 for 1000 USD.
I hope price will go down to $620-650.
+1
a66 or a44 I guess!..
Since the A35 is pretty close to the A55, it would be interesting to see how they could slot an A4x in-between them. Sony are in danger of having three expensive SLT cameras with nothing much (including price) to differentiate them.
What they actually need is a VERY cheap beginner model, way cheaper than the D3100/1100D. Like an A22 for example.
The only thing that can make buying the a77 harder would be if the unmentioned one was an a99.
Actually the thing that would make buying an A77 harder for many people would be if the A77 price was around the same as the A850/900. 😉
a99
Sony wouldn’t release a 7 series and a 9 series body alongside each other. No one would.
Sure they wouldn’t, but they could show an a99 prototype.
Didn’t Canon do something similar with the 7D and 5D MKII?
I think there’s room for a new midlevel model.
But what I’d want is an A35 body with C3 innards. Hopefully NEX7 will deliver!
Definitely going to be the a11 — not with 80% fewer buttons!
It is possible that we have never seen real A77 mokup, but rather mokup for other camera? It han’t CF slot etc.
A bigger version of the A55? So A66 as others suggest?
At first we see 2 mock-up of Next generation Sony Alpha.
Maybe one of them will be FullFrame camera.
If it FF that will be the best surprise to Alpha users.
How about an A55 successor with a 24-mpx sensor?
That would be interesting.
A77 light same size but plastic body/grip, single control wheel, same battery @$800
Yeah the A55 with 24mpix would certainly make sense.
Should be a A55 successor. Don’t know if it will use the same A77 sensor.
Cool, get us some more information. I hope it’s a66.
how about..a77 to compete with the likes of d400 and 1DMiV and a67 to compete with the likes of D7000 and 60D?
What will be the differences between a35 and a55 ?
I want to buy a new camera.. should i wait for a77 or should i take the ones above ?
The A77 will costs a LOT more than the A35 and is a completely different class of camera. I think if you need to ask that question then you need to do a bit of research before spending any money on any camera. 😀
Wait for the a77, in the mean time, the price of a35 nad a55 will drop further 🙂
FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME…FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME…FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME…FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME… FULL FRAME!! haha
What’s that you say? Can’t hear you. 😀
I would love to see it’s a FF replacement announcement but I bet it will be a refreshing of A55; fixes seen in A35 + better battery and vertical grip possibilities.
maybe a35 next week
and a77 in july
and a35 + a77 in july in japan
no announcement of a35 next week in japan
b’coz sony priority is overseas market
😀
or:
a35 next week
a77 + aXX in july
but no a35 in japan next week
and a77 + aXX in japan in july
in japan, there is no a850, a290, a390, a500, a450
The A850 was recently discontinued, so imagine having the A88 to put a price cap on the A77. Then the A900 will drop in price to 2000 USD as the previous rumor stated…..imagine. Ha! 🙂
I personally think an A88 FF @$1500 would be awesome but what sensor will they use….the 24MP from 2008?
I don’t think it would sell too well when the A77 would be better in almost every respect @1000
24MP A88 will have a better noise profile than A55 16MP. For $1499 kit or $1399 body only will be very nice.
I think an a22 is possible- only 720p video, lower fps, 14mp sensor (since the a35 gets the 16mp one). Hopefully it will have a killer price if it’s an entry one.
I’d like to see something 3-layered withou AA filter
+1.
Its obvious. It will be a Full Frame 30+MP SLT camera.
no more entry level DSLRs please. how many more cameras does sony need on close price ranges? just combine a2xx, a3xx, a5xx with one or 2 entry-level (call it a235X maybe :p) then the semi-pro line——the much awaited a77, then a full-frame, the a99——and, not forgetting also the NEX line.
they’ll end up competing with their own product lines.
Sony will only have the A35 as entry level soon, so I don’t see your point about “no more entry level”. Entry level is where the volume sales are, not 1000 and upward prices.
The A35 is WAY too expensive for an entry level camera. When all the magazines and the Internet are saying buy a D3100 or 1100D, then you are only going to get sales by using a cheap price to tempt people away from buying a Canikon. Poor A33 sales show that people are not buying Sony at that price, they are buying Canikon.
The A2x is badly needed and needs to be CHEAP.
if they make the a2x really cheap and a5x as entry-levels, they’re good at that. the point is, it’s not good making small iterations of one camera, like making a35 and a33 etc—why not make just one a3x, or just one a5x? it confuses the hell out of buyers, “should i get the a33 or the a35, oh i’ll just add a couple of $$ so i’ll get the a55. but do i need all that functionality? i guess not so i think i’ll get the a33.” ??
these questions always lurk in all buyers mind. having choices are good but too many options—not good, also for the manufacturer. it kills a product really fast. see how sony discontinue the nex-3 a couple of months after it’s release——a33 & nex-3. sony should lead the buyer to what they’re looking for, not lay out a lot of options giving them a 50/50 decision on what to get for their budget.
The A33 is being discontinued, so the choice is simple, the A35 or the A55. 😀
Sony are going to continue releasing products at a rate that the traditional dSLR user isn’t used to. dSLRs are consumer items and have been for some time, refreshed on much shorter cycles, just like a compact camera.
Look at the Canon 450D, 500D, 550D, 600D. Or the D3000, D3100 and D5000, D5100. Canon and Nikon are playing that game too.
By refreshing the line, Sony gets in the media, gets new camera reviews and generates interest. It’s how you sell consumer stuff!
*EDIT:
“….should i get the a33 or the a35, oh i’ll just add a couple of $$ so i’ll get the “a35″…….
+1
Sony must lower it’s entry level camera/s price if they want to compete with Canikon.
It make sense that A35 is A290/390 replacement as spec is below A33. I think the other translucent to be announce with A77 will be true A33/55 replacement. Will be pleasantly surprise if Sony announce FF translucent this year to replace A850.
The A3x price does not make sense as an entry level camera though. 😉
Yeah, well. If they can sell it as entry level then hat off to Sony. I imagine this A35 (at that price) will give more profit to Sony than any other brand entry level model. And they can just tell new customer that A35 is much more advance than other brand. Who got 6fps at entry level anyway. It might be a brilliant marketing by Sony. But I expect it to be around $599 street price within 3 months.
The problem is brand. When you are up against a Nikon D3100 or a Canon 1100D that all the reviews are telling you are “safe” brands and beating the A3x, you aren’t going to sell well unless you can massively undercut the price.
I think peope are getting carried away, there will be no new FF cameras until next year, so with the A33 getting an update and the new A77, don’t you think the A55 needs an update to, isn’t that the logical thing to happen. The A95 or whatever its called will be here in 2012
It’s true that there will in all likelihood no new full frame camera until 2012. But there could still be an announcement for the coming full frame camera. Either just in words, or perhaps also by a concept or prototype model.
Bring On NEX 7 !!!!
“There will be one more “”translucent”” camera to come!”
Does that mean there is no NEX-7?
Sad…
A55 replacement perhaps? Hopefully it will be available in black also. Looking forward to seeing specs of this new machine.
More lenses less cameras
I agree!
I’m ready to spend on the right glass
My old Minolta stuff is going bad with use
I have 4 Zeiss FF lenses but need a few new primes and a sharp 70-200 f2.8
The build on the current G Lens is wonderful but the sharpness is below new Canon and Nikon. With new higher MP cameras on the roadmap I don’t want to waste money paying for the best and not getting the best, if you get my point.
Cameras I replace every few years with a better one, lenses I keep for a long long time so I don’t mind spending big on good ones.
It’s going to be a new A55 to fit between entry and semi pro. An A8x or A9x is not happening this summer.
I agree that Sony needs to go much more into developing more lenses that match features and qualities found in Nikon and Canon lens systems. Just having a series of pro quality sealed lenses for a start would help.
I do not care what a new model will be a4,a5,a6,a7,a8 or a9…just release them …I am waiting to get it free $0 USD
A4X perhaps…!? =P
Someone gotta fill in the blanks, isn’t it? XD
Sony is still pricing the A900 around $2,600
So I don’t see them bring out a camera like a A88 that would likely be a better product for less money just yet.
I believed Sony now that the A850 is gone to lower the price on the A900 to less than $2,000
I realy love my bright view-finder, but the A77 could be a better camera at half the money.
When Sony had the a230 a330 a290 a390 etc everyone was complaining. I’ll wait for the a77, my a700 is getting old. But I think it’s time for a change. I have a good vibe about the new sony line.
a77—winner–can’t wait.
What about an A66? 6 is the only number they have not covered so far
Well, we’ve discussed this already a couple of months ago. If it’s true what Sony claims that the a77 will be the by far best camera in the market — then the upper-mid level camera would be better than the top notch model. The most elegant way out of the “inverse hierarchy” would be if Sony would upgrade their top model at the very same time… Bang-bumm… double dose for Canikon.. 😀
Plus: FF-Folks would know about the future of their premium stuff…
Do Sony even have the production capacity right now to refresh both the 7 and 8/9 series at the same time?
People that are willing to pay the cost of a 8 or 9 camera are also looking for a system to support it.
Sony needs to do a complete refresh of the Minolta lense and add a few new Zeiss and allow Zeiss to sell ZA non AF mounts like it does for Canon and Nikon.
Then a killer a88 or a99 could get some current pros to rethink Canon or Nikon and set a path for newbees just starting out with an a55 or a77 to by pro gear.
What Minolta lenses do you find are lacking? The 17-35, 24, 28-70, 85, 135, 100-300 and 100-400 have all been replaced, the 35 and 70-200 are much better than the internet echo chamber makes out. The tele primes, maybe? Or a better 50?
I find the lenses that Minolta didn’t make (fast wide angles, higher quality standard prime, high quality large zoom range, ultra wide angle prime, tilt/shift, to 500mm zoom, etc) more pressing issues to deal with.
I thought it would be $699 for just the body but if it’s with lens, that means $599 for the body which is outstanding and even less than a D3100. It also makes it even harder to justify purchasing an A55 for $749.
Yes, that the rumor
big price gap between the A77 and the A900
I don’t want an A88/A99.
I’ve been waiting for A77 and I don’t want to have too many choices :p
All I can say is “its going to be Christmas in July” for us Sony folks.
I can’t wait.
My votes for an update to the A55. It doesn’t make alot of sense to update the A33 and close the gap to the A55.
Sony – the P&S champion of DSLRs!
Despite my ragging on Sony I actually helped sell an A33 to someone who would have otherwise purchased a Canon.
I think Sony’s problem is that the Digital Imaging division’s main customer are the “C” level executives there and not the people who buy and want to keep on buying A-mount cameras and lenses.
Think about it. Alpha division is becoming like advanced P&S division because that is what pleases the executives who run the division. If you’re an Alpha designer or engineer who wants raises and a secure job who are you going to work hardest to please, disgruntled Minolta/legacy SLR /advanced customers or your boss?
So far the boses made a big bet with Minolta style traditional SLR, didn’t support it with appropriate marketing and customer/dealer education and so it flopped. The bean counters are in charge now. In ya’ DSLR, breaking ya’ mirrors. 🙂
You make two false corollations there, PhotoNut:
1. there is no corollation between “Minolta/legacy” & “advanced customer.”
2. Minolta never allowed itself to get stuck in tradition, but instead was constantly trying to reinvent itself & its cameras. In fact Sony is carrying on Minolta’s “tradition” of innovation extremely well.
A well-known professional photographer, after working at length with the A55, called it a simplified professional camera. The A77 & subsequent cameras will no longer even be simplified, and very remote from P&S.
Minolta repetitively tried to woo advanced customers. Usually in the most ham-fisted manner possible.
yes, it wasn’t always pretty
I’ve been saying this for a while now… I expect to see a 6series. In the minolta days, it was an integral part. I still* have my 600 classic!
There’s the a3x/a5x, a8xx/a9xx…
Why not a6x/a7x?
Some of those 6 series were odd cameras.
But I’d be all over a NEX-6 that had a Contax AX-like autofocus system for legacy lenses.
a77 sounds like a very good buy and the a35 sounds too expensive- at least when compared to the a77
Good good! hope sony sell more expensive for the A35, so ppl buy from Canikon 😀 so my 600D still got re-sale market lol….
That way you can sell it and get that K-r you’ve been looking at.
I think the a35 is competitively priced for the specs and options on the camera. I think you’d be hard pressed to find the a35 specs for a lot less than $699 with lens. Here’s 2 examples: 1. The Canon Rebel T1i has inferior specs and is $669 with lens and 2. Nikon D5100, which has 16.2 MP as well, is $849.
Performance for the a35 remains to be seen. If the issues people were having are resolved (ie ghosting, slow processing of RAW, etc.), I think it would be a good price.
why are people complaining about lenses????
My main lenses I use on my A900 are 80-200G HS MINOLTA, 28-70G Minolta (AF is a little slow) and the Minolta 16mm Fisheye…
All are giving me AWESOME results… the only thing I need is a better camera in low light and a faster AF on the mid range lenses. My clients are more than happy with my results… Nike is one of my clients…
Sony needs new camera that can attract the younger generation of up and coming fashion students getting in to photography… make it a trend! rather than talking technicals all the time…
I think it has to be a BETTER than good price to steal customers from Nikon and Canon.
Definitely better advertising and marketing. In body IS, IS with primes and vintage lenses, only mount to have Zeiss AF lenses, continuous AF in video mode, wireless ttl flash, large and bright EVF vs pentamirror crop OVF and etc. They have all of these advantages but don’t advertise them. At least pay photo and gadget magazines to talk about the other advantages besides the EVF at length.
It’s a common complaint because it’s true. Sony’s performance has not been at the same level as Canon or Nikon is partially due to the quality of the glass. Relying on the Minolta line is no way of being future-oriented.
Sony needs to compete on price and has to have quality to back it up because there is a great market for used Canon gear. Why would I spend $1500 on a 2470z or $899 on the sal-2875 when I could get a used 24-70mm L lens for under $1000? Most people don’t, which is why the Canon market share is a lot higher than Sony’s.
Ask the other way round: Why should anybody sell its 2.8/24-70 lens? It’s the most important and most universal zoom lens on a FF body — but as an effective 4.5/38-112 only of little use on Canon’s 1.6x-crop-bodies. Because he left the Canon ship for Sony?
Think about it, you can get the A77 for $999 (which sounds like it might end up being the best APS camera on the market) or you can get the lowest end Sony model for $699? The pricing doesn’t make sense. A35 should be priced at $499 if it is really to have an impact. That will leave room for an inbetween model priced at $699.
I think a35 price is ok if the spec. is right, though a lower price would be nice 🙂
Sony A35Full-time Continuous AF
Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting
15-point AF system with 3 cross sensors
Quick AF Full HD movies (AVCHD: 1920 x 1080)
Quick AF Live View （with the main image sensor)
Tru-Finder with 100% frame coverage
High-quality, Xtra Fine LCD monitor （TruBlack）
Newly developed 16.2 MP, Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
Fast, high-quality BIONZ image processing engine
Wide ISO range： ISO 100 –12800
Multi Frame NR (equivalent to max. ISO 25600）
Auto HDR
D-Range Optimizer
Hand-held Twilight
1200-zone evaluative metering
Compact and 433 g (TBD) lightweight
Face detection AF
Built-in SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization
Grid display
Built-in anti dust system
11 Picture Effect types
2D / 3D Sweep Panorama
AUTO+ (AUTO Advanced) mode
Creative Style settings
Like admin said before, prices are going to be readjusted once A77 is announced (or on sale?).
Good point kmfan. I suppose once the A77 comes out the price will quickly drop at least $100. And if the A35 is really gonna be their entry level DSLR it has some very nice specs. Thing is, as Sony makes their own sensors I think they can afford to sell it much cheaper- if they do so the camera will have a much bigger impact in the market. I imagine the cost to build this camera is quite a bit less than the A33. Simply competing on features is not good enough if they want to break the stranglehold that Canon and Nikon have over the DSLR market. Roll this camera out at $499 with kit lens and people will take notice. Introduce a slightly higher end model for $699. And then introduce the A77 for $999. It would have Canon and Nikon quaking in their boots. And if Sony included the option for manual controls over video they would really have Canon terrified. But Sony has so far crippled their DSLR video when compared to Canon and the GH2. It’s why serious videographers who use DSLRs have migrated to those cameras.
Maybe not a SLT?
No announcement today? It doesn’t matter
Nah, another SR5 rumor that turned out to be garbage doesn’t matter, except as a lesson to the fanboys that none of the rumors on this site can be trusted — except for the ones that Sony itself is slipping in for marketing purposes.
People just have to be reminded 🙂 when they type this website’s link – didn’t they type the word ‘rumor’? XD (or paste, or click a link, or whatever.. let’s not get to that)
Ha ha, I guess you confuse rumours with announcements. If you don’t like rumours, or don’t value the admins efforts, then don’t come here. Simple.
Remember Sony has to have a price level for the rest of it’s bodies built to please it’s cybershot bosses. Beyond the SLT and NEX they have a bunch of other cybershot models that have to have a price level too. So don’t expect the SLT or NEX to be all that low a price unless you consider them to just be Cybershot varients.
Sony have sold dSLRs at very low prices, especially with favourable exchange rates. dSLR/NEX are completely different markets to Cybershot, their relative pricing structure is irrelevant.
So from all the rumors and comments, I gather that the next FF body has potential to include some or all of the following technologies.
– in-camera control of off-camera flashes
– Foveon-like sensor
– at least 30MP
– useable ISO performance into the “hundreds of thousands”
– hybrid EVF
– GPS (either built-in or as a plug-in module option)
– wireless data (image) transfer?
– Sony’s or a partner’s built-in RF trigger for off-camera flashes (or is that a Nikon rumor that I’m confused with?)
What else? How about the option to run it on Android? Wireless internet anybody (perpetual data contract?)?