I posted many QX and lens rumors lately and little about cameras. The reason why I did so is because the last weeks I got plenty of “unexpected” rumors from sources saying that Sony is literally “skipping” Photokina and planning to release their big A and E-mount cameras some time AFTER Photokina.
The last weeks plenty of sources shared more and more hints about that “big” event. And now I can finally tell you with 100% reliability that this is exactly what’s going to happen. Sony will announce “minor” stuff at Photokina like the QX, new A and E-mount lenses, E-mount 4K and maybe maybe a new A99II and RX camera…but I am not sure about that yet.
What is really hot is that Sony decided to release the big stuff 3-4 months after Photkina. I am now working to get details about those new cameras. I am sure there is a brand new sensor in use in those cameras capable of shooting in very high resolution!
But before that I hope that Sony will at least launch the A99II at Photokina….
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Good to hear that! My wallet is safe for another 6 months. 🙂
Any news on the flashes (the ones that give light)?
3-4 months after Photokina will be too late for holiday season.
I guess they had to cut their R&D personnel and could not get ready in time.
exactly!!! me and my family are going to australia on december, and my a55 is half way dead, i dont want to repair it and not going to buy another APCS lens because i want to upgrade it to full frame…but now it’s another 3-4 months 🙁
Or that stuff is not for kids and moms but enthusiasts and pros…
Even enthusiasts get gifts on holidays.
And pros don’t buy Sony. Sorry.
Apple.
Well well well, it’s not for me.
Still waiting for Rx1 successor news !!
hope to have them very soon
So are we talking a new class of camera/s, say A1 (A-Mount) and A9 (E-Mount) or are we talking updates? Seems weird they would release an A99 II (which seems to be with little fanfare) and then release an A1 (or whatever it will be called) a couple months later. Especially given the likely upgrades the A99 II will receive regarding AF and buffer and WiFi (pretty much the only things that can really be ‘upgraded’ in the A99, other than the sensor), or are we saying this might be an A99 IIR vs the 36MP ‘standard’?
My predictions remain the same as before.
New class of cameras.
Interesting! Though above you say this might be A99 MkII and the A88?
new mount?
Yes, because Sony need to introduce another mount. Two isn’t enough.
They can build A-mount mirrorless MF camera. Or even with PDAF, as they managed to fit FF af module in laea4… so they can do it with A-mount body and MF SLT probably
The LA-EA4 doesn’t have a FF AF module.
Yes and no at the same time… mirror is FF, af points are only in the centre of the frame… they could repeat that in A-mount MF body… a99 with this new 50 MPix sensor
The exit pupil of A-mount lenses are not big enough for medium format. Even if it is possible to squeeze a big enough exit pupil into A-mount (haven’t measured it so not sure if it is even physically possible) it would still require all new lenses.
I think it’s possible…
http://i.imgur.com/dkdi1Iq.png
Yes, you just cutoff the corners and it’s all good.
Like an old color TV.
So you say that all the lenses have last element bigger than sensor?
No, I’m saying it’s a stupid idea and won’t work.
Please explain why it won’t work.
MF requires MF lenses..to make a lens perform as well in a larger format is no necessary for 35mm lenses therefor none of them have sufficient coverage for MF
Of course adding new lenses would be necessary, but you can use crop mode with existing A-mount lenses. Just like apc-c on a900… now it will be ff lens on mf sensor… plus few new primes for MF.
MF would require a new mount…probably wider and longer than the existing mount.
A wide field 1.4x teleadaptor could convert ff lensds to MF use however as with any teleadaptor there would be some loss of quality.
It is doubtful that there would actuslly be any advantage over ff and certain that there would be dissadvantsges….but can it be done..yes.
You don’t need any adapter:
http://i.imgur.com/63XjFgm.png
Should be: “A-mount: 44.5 mm”
Only if one of the new cameras is medium format, this would require a new mount or use a current popular medium format mount.
If it were medium format (which personally I doubt) it would probably have to be the Hassy mount since they already have a strange partnership with Hasselblad.
How about a new range of full frame mirrorless cameras?
This will include the medium format as well.
You will still be able to use existing a-mount lenses.
A new class of cameras! That sounds very intriguing
@Admin One thing doesnt make much sense.
Releasing a A99II this year and making it obsolete in early 2015…
That doesnt fit…
Unless this is the A99 IIR, which is actually what I expect. The ‘standard’ will have the current 36MP (EFCS D810 version).
The reason the R version is later (rather than the same time) will be because the sensor isn’t quite ready, like the A7S wasn’t either).
Two different cameras. Makes sense 🙂
Did the D800 replace the D4? 5D mk III replace the 1DX? The A99 was Sony’s flagship, but it never really competed with the flagships from Canon or Nikon.
Besides, there are many different needs in photography, so the “best” camera varies upon your preferences, budget, and style of shooting. There’s A LOT of room in Sony’s a mount lineup for high end bodies.
It would make sense to introduce a A88 now, and A99 mk2 flagship only with the new sensor.
I hope this is exatly what’s going to happen
so the a99 II is going to be a little better than the a99 but cheaper, and the new stuff is going to be a lot better/different but also more expensive? would be wise to announce those cameras together otherwise some might buy the a99II who actually want the new one and could also afford it…
Wrong.
Andrea, so what you are hinting at is that there will be a camera above the A99II. So by very high resolution are we talking greater than +46MP more like 54MP or even as higher?
46MP as far as I know. And yes, I have been told it’s above A99II.
A99II 36MP and early 2015 an Axxr with 46MP Bayer Sensor?
The only way that A99II isnt going obsolete is that its fast and the 46MP is the new 36MP…
Is the 46MP still a Bayer Sensor?
What is your thougth about that?
Oh cr@p. Barry is coming…. any minute now.
I’m stuggling to see why Barry should give a toss. A 46MP full frame sensor is low res than his APS-C 24MP A77.
just curious who is this Barry you guys talking about?
He’s a legend!
No!
I am Legend
🙂
The forum jester.
The inventor of the stacked sensor.
Barry is animalsbybarry – this site’s self proclaimed knower of knowledge and Sony insider – somebody that Sony execs call to share information with…. Unfortunately all of this occurs in his own mind only and not in the real world that the rest of us are burdened with.
Don’t envy him because he has better contacts than you. ^^
Hirai-san is calling me every two days to share his thoughts with me, too. ^^
Ah those voices in your head. What they say must be true!
Only Randy Orton has voices in his head.
Maybe Rnady should RKO him. 🙂
Oh, come on, be nice to Barry. His rants are the main reason coming back to this site after I switched to Nikon 🙂
He’s a consultant and design engineer at large.
Not sure about what kind of sensor tech yet. I heard there is “something new” on the sensor.
Yes, Barry jizz.
That would match with the story i told you about a photograph and his little information he shared about a prototype he used.
He said his prototype is going to be released in early 2015 and he also mentioned a change in sensor development.
He said that the speed of development was very slow until now and the upcoming speed will be like the shinkansen train. 😀
Now im convinced that he had an Sony prototype and not an Samsung.
Also that Sony will steamroll the photomarket.
I think bayer is unlikely.
Possibly the long time ago rumored A1 (the 1D & D3/4 competitor), that was indicated above A99 shortly before Photokina 12?
I guess that means a D850 can’t be far behind 😉 and possibly ship before the Sony 46mp 3:)
Where does this put the A7r and A7s ? Just bought both! Did I waste my money?
Good to see Sony are keeping this sensor to themselves, at least for a while. A trend that they have been doing more and more of lately – Most excellent to see!
This is going to trigger more sensor envy, hence more trolls.
We need faster AF and better battery life. Enough with the pixels BS 😀
Can’t wait for the FE micro thou
You know whom we need in this thread…
what could be bigger news than a new pro Full Frame body as the A99 II?
medium format mirrorles, new sensor technology, completely new kind of camera (something like qx but more professional) and so on
A new pro full frame body in e-mount with faster and better low light AF than the A6000. THAT will be bigger news and it’s just a matter of time until it happens.
A mirrorless A-mount (if it ever happens) would still be based on an ageing mount designed for DSLR. The e-mount is built from the ground up to be mirrorless, which is why it has more of a future (assuming you agree that mirrorless IS the future).
If you think flappy mirror cameras or cameras with mounts designed in the days of flappy mirrors will always be top dog, then I guess you can blissfully ignore me.
The E mount is flawed from the ground up…it was desighned for C size crop sensors and than juryrigged as an afterthought to accomadate full frame.
As a result IBIS is highly problematic.
E mount will not replace A mount in the professional mainstream. ..the few pros using A mont now will migrate to Canonon or Nikon if A mount is eliminated.
That is a tale commonly spouted on forums, but only the irretrievably stupid believe it. Do you seriously think the designers of the e-mount sat in a room and decided that it would be for APS-C only and not left flexible enough for possible FF sensors in the future?
If Sony had really designed it for APS-C only, then they would have made the mount even smaller in diameter, as its size is just not necessary for APS-C lenses.
The e-mount was designed to be flexible. A best of both worlds approach, where a camera package could either be compact or as big as required with big sensors and/or big lenses. That makes it the exact opposite of flawed.
In terms of IBIS, Sony clearly went with an in lens solution because it would facilitate the more flexible approach to camera size I mentioned above. I doubt we will see IBIS in an e-mount camera – and people need to understand it wasn’t primarily designed to satisfy existing A-mount shooters who might want to adapt and migrate.
Most of the reproach you hear are from legacy A-mount users who don’t want to give up their hope of continued support for future native-mount bodies. They are delusional in believing that Sony, forever in a losing position to Canikon, can continue to develop an antiquated, inefficient mount design that is already obviously being neglected over its modern and forward-thinking sibling.
E mount was designed for mirrorless, not APS-C. It is the most space-efficient mount ever created, yet it is in the realm of possibilities that a more robust body could be fitted to it. That is the likely the future Sony is headed in. Greater size efficiency with E-mount lens designs but with multiple future body-type options for both enthusiasts and professionals. The fact is, A mount is a dying breed and will ultimately face extinction soon.
Thank Andrea for all of the hard work in verifying the rumors. However Photokina is one of the largest & most important Camera shows in Europe / World – not giving any announcements here is not good. If anything it says we have nothing to announce. Not good marketing at all. All of the press are here and yes all of the other camera makers are here as well, but announcing 3-4 months later not good.
Reading between the lines it also gives the impression (& I hope I’m wrong) that they are having production / processing problems. Again not good.
So for the moment we do not know if there will be any Sony camera announcements at Photokina at all? There better be or all of the a-mount users on this forum are going to go on the rampage
;-). I think we all know who they might be.
Again we are playing the waiting game with no real news. It is all very quiet on the Sony front.
Sony and marketing? lol 🙂
But I think Sony is waiting for Canon/Nikon announcements at Photokina and they will react accordingly 3-4 months later.
If Canikon dont announce something groundbreaking/surprisingly Sony will win anyway!
And it doesnt look like thats going to happen.
My guess, in few years Canon camera departement will share the same destiny as Kodak.
Yep, my Godzilla suit just came back from the cleaners, and I’m ready to roll.
Any rumblings whatsoever on an updated LA-EA4?
updated La-EA4??
Y?
Better PDAF module.
Oha. I haven’t read about that.
Actually the M1 of it is working quite well on my A7R.
If a M2 becomes better from AF perspective – it’ll be welcome. 🙂
Nor I. But it would just be good to get something better than a base model APS-C AF sensor. Everything else can stay the same, even the A77 II sensor would be a massive massive improvement.
I would like to see an LAEA5 with variable tele and optical image stabilization..
Here’s how it would work.
Tamron has a patent for a .9-1.5x teleadaptor with biult in opical image stabilization.
If Sony were to license that patent and combine that with the LAEA4 …the new LAEA5 would make A mount lenses fully compatable with E mount and add zoom capability.
Alternatively an E mount camdra could be made capable of high speed focus on all AF lenses and Ibis could be added so only a simple extension tube/like adapter would be needed.
Did they ever show off a working prototype? Having a patent for something is fairly meaningless. Anyone can fantasize and put a pencil to paper.
I’m not sure how you expect an SLT AF system to work with the optical elements required for a tele-adapter with IS? Also, while a tele-adapter with it’s own IS may be possible, there is nothing to say that it a) doesn’t degrade IQ and b) is effective for all focal lengths.
I know you are a telephoto enthusiast, but I have next to zero need for IS other than for occasional video use. What I do want is an SLT adapter with an AF system designed for a 135 frame rather than an APS frame.
These new cameras won’t be a7/r/s upgrades?
Admin said no yesterday.
I am yet not sure but I think they will play in another league.
Price-wise as well…?!?
“THAT big” and “another league” = medium format.
actually I would love a ff QX camera with the latest high mp sensor (36 or more) obviously not to mount on a phone, but to use for panoramas (or for tripod/studio use in general) preferably with two tripod sockets (90°) for an easy portrait mounting… I don’t see the need for a screen on a camera for tripod/studio work…
Huh? An a99II isn’t “big stuff”?
Well compared to what’s coming in 3-4 months it isn’t THAT big 🙂
Outside the Sony camp the A99II won’t make a dent in the CaNikon biased media, it’s just another SLT that doesn’t have a Canon or Nikon badge on it and will get a footnote in some D810 review.
If there is a medium format camera being readied then I’ll be very interested. The Pentax 645Z is supposed to be outstanding. I can only assume the Sony cameras will be better.
If they’re smart they’ll keep it a SLR design. Mirror-less AF is still garbage, and there is no way they’ll be able to change that for years to come for such a big sensor.
What about the z-shift “make everything autofocus” sensor?
Also, if we are talking about 2015 modells now, the A7000 was rumored to this date too…
That rumor was just silly.
You cannot correctly focus lenses with floating elements by using the Z-shift principle.
Well, the technology is alive, i saw a demo… But on mobile phones. And thats a silly contrast focus sensor…
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/05/digitaloptics-mems-cam/
Imagine that with the a6000 hibrid sensor.
I guess it is too good to be true
Cannot? How then macro extension tubes work?
Somewhat incorrect? No trouble here. Photographer sets approximate focus by scale, then Z-shift nails the focus.
Cannot, because not all lenses are constructed the same. In some (mostly old designs) you move the complete optical assembly inside a helicoid, but most modern lenses have internal focusing or floating groups (there are variable air gaps between element groups inside a lens assembly). Z-Shift would not work properly. This concerns both zooms and primes.
All manual lenses I have except one do not have floating elements.
For many modern lenses, internal focusing is primarily to make AF quicker (esp. CDAF) rather than optical reasons.
I have many that do – Zuiko 24/2, Contax 35/1.4, Zuiko 90/2. Then the real good teles (I wish I had one of those!), also the manual ones such as Zuiko 180/2 or 250/2 also have internal focusing even though they are uniquely Manual Focus.
Anyhow, I still don’t see why would a manufacturer develop and release an (expensive) solution for which 100% of users would have to pay, but 1% would use.
The latter is a valid reason… through the speculated camera was high-end, not for beginners.
Z-shift is realistic, but I believe the idea is misunderstood. It was never ment to focus old lenses. It can, however, be an additional axis for IBIS, or in the most optimistic case, a solution for minute and extremely fast focus adjustments for object tracking.
Light field camera?
Yippie medium format camera is coming the first from sony…..take your sensor sony… used in the pentax 645z, p1 IQ 250 and hassy h5d 50 cmos and show them how to built the best mf (mirrorless?) digital camera on the market….
Make it better than Pentax 645Z:
1. 16 bit color depth files
2. new afs system (not just take one of your apsc or ff cams) if you do than increase the coverage of the focus points appropriate to the mf format
3. higher flash sync than 1/180 or 1/500 (of pentax if leaf shutter lens used), Hassy has 1/800 and p1 1/1600 with leaf shutter lens…..so 1/1000 would be a good compromise….
4. wifi and gps built in
5. two fastest …uhs III sd slots
6. full 100% viewfinder coverage
7. maybe a full swivel/articulating screen
8. quiet shutter mode for very silent release / (efsc like d810)
You will have a winner…….the new ME Mount…..
+1000 🙂
I thought one person can only add one more (+1), except you have so many personalities ^^
Need to ask my doctor, but I assume it’ll be a few… 🙂
Seems you are one of them. Hehe.
Translated:
“Yippie medium format camera is coming the first form sony… take our sensor sony used in the pentax 645z, p1 iq 250 and hassy h5d 50 cmos and show them how to built the best mf (mirrorless?) digital camera on the market… make it better than pentax 645z:
1. 16 bit color depth files
2. new afs system (not just take one of your apsc or ff cams) if you do than increase the coverage of the focus points appropriate to the mf format
3. higher flash sync than 1/180 or 1/500 (of pentax if leaf shutter lens used), hassy has 1/800 and p1 1/1600 with leaf shutter lens… so 1/1000 would be a good compromise…
4. wifi and gps built in
5. two fastest… uhs iii sd slots 6.
full 100% viewfinder coverage 7. maybe a full swivel articulating screen 8. quiet shutter mode for very silent release (efsc like d810) you will have a winner… the new me mount…”
Why not 32 or 64 bit?
I wish … 😉
Some of this is contradictory, a mirrorless with less than 100% VF coverage? APS-C or FF AF system on a mirrorless making sure focus points cover sensor? These are a given if it is mirrorless.
Leaf shutters would assume that Sony are going to develop MF lenses, really can’t see that happening (though in reality you don’t need that many MF lenses). I see it being more likely that Sony (if they do do MF) would create a basic black box to use with other lenses (like a MF QX camera, but not naff or designed to attach to a smartphone) or a fixed lens camera.
U forgot to add NFC to your GPS built in, to be able to pay with ur camera 😉 … Btw wishing a GPS in camera is totally nonsense, unless you want it to empty ur battery as fast or to allow the photographer ‘s wife to locate him while she’s busy with her sports trainer 😀
I have been predicting almost 2 years now…….based on picking through rumors plus my own logic….
That Sony would release thier new Stacked sensor early in 2015.
Rumors have been for 54mp..so if it is 46mp that will be a little less than what I was expecting.
This is exciting news and hopefully I will have one in my hands before the next wildlife photograpy season begins.
I am of course hoping this will be A mount as it will be a huge dissapointment if this is only offerred in E mount.
What would be nice to go with it would be a Sony 600mm zoom of f4.8 or 5.6 with matched 1.7x teleadaptor.
I do not expect one but am anxiosly waiting to see how the new Sigma compares to the new Tamron…I am leaning towards the Sigma so far.
This lens will be permanently attached to my new camera.
Why are you so excited by a 46mp FF camera? Surely the A77 is a better camera for your needs.
Ultimately the resolution of the files trumps the academic resolution of sensors when comparing pixel density.
I also partly agree with you..there will still be a little DOF loss and when working with long lenses a loss of effective reach…however at 46mp those trade-offs are fairly small.
I partly agree…there are more than 20% fewer pixels within the C size viewing area…however that translates to only a little over a 10% linear resolution differrence.
Offset that by the increased image area, and larger pixels and the lower pixel density is less of a factor.
So although I would actually like 56mp to exactly match the pixel density …..46mp is not a huge difference.
Because there is no wildlife present in the winter.
Barry = Tard
Because the entire planet is coming into winter right?
Lets just forget that for some countries, Winter just finished……
I was planning on purchasing an a7r relatively soon. Is that something I should hold off on?
How long do you want to wait? They will release the new cameras and then release a new version of it some months later and then we will see a new camera product line. Sony is the No.1 in making camera bodies….
lol…point taken. I just don’t want to buy into a new system this month to find that 3 months from now the AF and shutter have been upgraded. The idea of more megapixels isn’t a big deal to me, but at better AF would be.
I just bought the a7r this Sunday. Having and still owned a99 I see a big difference! I don’t care for better a/f because that will come at a cost. I’m 100% stills no need for video. So in short, I felt I made a good 3-2 year purchase, and it will be very, very, very hard to convince I bought an outdate body with 2 years. It’s just that good. The shutter sound, doesn’t matter. No need for silent shutter as I was looking at the a7s as well at the showroom table. If your serious about still, get it with the rokinon 85mm 1.4. Go to zagg get a custom shield for it [20 bucks for lcd]
Awesome advice, Jim. Thank you!
Few typos in my last message. just visit flickr , Sony a7r -> most recent. There was a surf guy who worked with all the latest dslrs, canon 5d m3, d800e. He ended up sticking with the a7r. Here is what I’m doing, bought it, and taking very easy on visiting the rumor sites. Solid purchase, can ignore the next 2-3 bodies firmly from here on. It has to be small body, super drastic changes. But honestly I’ll ignore what’s coming up until 2017 still wise. Make sure you upgrade the firmware as well.
Just answer me this. What would you say to someone in a-mount land who ownes some zeiss glass. Sell it all and just go e-mount? Do you feel that confident in the A7R and what’s up ahead?
I’ve ditched all my A-Mount bodies for an A7 and A7S. May pick up a discounted A7R at some point. I still use mostly A-Mount lenses, but have a couple FE’s and a smattering of other off-brand lenses, such as M mount, LTM, Minolta MD and M42.
‘What would you say to someone in a-mount land who ownes some zeiss glass.’
if you dont know what there is to gain after selling the ‘old’ stuff you should better you use as long as it falls apart.
Well, I don’t think there is much to gain. I’ve looked at plenty of A7R files. They are nice, but I can’t say I’m blown away. I’ve never shot the A99 so I can’t compare though. But if someone says they ditched their A99 and find the A7R better I’d just like to know why- outside of IQ.
My apologies, thinkinpictures. To me the a99 in my imo was a close as a medium format look in dynamic range, the a7r takes it that much closer. I think it comes down to not being a huge luggage of a machine. If I could only one could pick a free medium format camera, a99 , or a7r. I would pick the A7R, and I feel I would be just in a great position for stills for a long, long, long time where I wouldn’t have to check sonyalpha rumors for the next thing, I’m set, done, I’ll check back in 2 years. Disregarding all the cliche things I want to say, rich medium format like colors. I took a picture of my cat and I was astonished how much the image looks better in detail than my a99. I’m fine with the mount on it, I’m great, attached the A-mount non-slt on it. Focus peaking is all I need, no firmware hack like the canon required. I’m set, I’m done, I don’t need to worry about the next best thing, it will feel , very very very hard to feel out of date at this point.
For me, it’s looking more and more like a yes. I own an a77ii and mostly use my Sigma 35/1.4, 70/2.8 and cz 24/2 (and occasionally a beercan). The main reason being I want to upgrade to full frame, but would prefer something lighter and more subtle for street photography. Assuming a 90 or 100mm macro is released, FE meets all my needs and I can cover my current lens lineup…
Another factor in the decision is that pros seem much more interested in FE than a-mount, which dramatically increases the odds of Sony investing in it. I’m not saying a-mount is dead, but over the last year it’s fairly clear that in Sony’s priorities it come in 3rd place (behind apsc e-mount).
More like 5th place. Playstation and cellphones get more respect that A-mount.
Meh forgot about qx…
Just shot film then. For everything else, be ready to constantly feel the need to upgrade.
Thanks Andrea !! Any idea what lens mount to expect? I might not pounce on the Loxia range if we have to sell it all in 5 months …
It is quite possible that the new tech sensor will be in a new A mount mirrorless camera.
I would not mind seeing the mirror go…and sooner or later it will but I do not want to see A mount go with it.
I have also not totally given up hope for a ff hybrid A E mount camera.
The original rumor for this sensor was it would appear in 2015..3 layers of 18mp..54mp….mirrorless..and appear in the first hybrid camera.
This camera was also rumored to have Z shift for varying the flange distance…supposedly the shift would do something more than just thay but would not be z shift autofocus.
Those rumors are now quite old..and much could have changed between now and then.
Another interesting patent from sony..though I am not predicting this …
Was a 2 layer rather than a 3 layer sensor.
The first layer would be a checkerboard array of red and blue pixels and the second layer would be all green pixels.
In a 54 mp sensor for example there would be 26mp green, 13mp red and 13mp blue…rather than 18mp of each color as in the 3 layer sensor.
The physical depth of the 2 layers would be less and the resolution higher than the 3 layer.
This 2 layer 54mp sensor would produce both a native 26 and 13 mp file.
andrea, or anyone else, would there be any reason to think curved sensors will need a new type of lens design to make full use of it?
Yes, new lens designs needed for curved sensor ( primes only).
Yapp. Current lenses are designed to create a flat image thru many curved lenses. That’s why they are heavy and need a lot of lenses. With a curved sensor you don’t need all of that, just a simple lens… Because the sensor itself is curved.
problem is that the sensor will be designed for 1 focal length….so only in rx(something)
well, thats good i guess. so..standard flat plane photography lenses arent dead???
He’s saying that zooms for curved sensors won’t be much smaller than zooms for flat sensors (unlike normal-wide primes)
Not necessarily. Certain focal lengths (and designs) will be “naturally” adapted to a give sensor curvature. But a zoom can be accomodated to conform to the field curvature just as current zooms are able to accomodate flat image fields. The “gain” will just be less interesting with these, I suppose.
Still need more than a simple lens for sharp images, but it can be simpler and smaller than a lens that has to correct to a flat focus plane.
Yes, all current lenses are designed for a flat surface. New lenses will be needed for curved sensors, but should be smaller, cheaper and lighter (easier to design).
ugg..standard photography lenses are dead!
at least for SLR lenses there will be an adapter (like SpeedBooster) to use them with curved sensors. Combined focal reducer/plane curvener will exist, too.
A focal plane corrector could be desighned..however currenly curved sensors are better suited to fixed lenses.
I’d still like more info on both QX lenses, if possible. I’m really keen on getting either as soon as possible!
So they’re waiting until *after* the holiday season? Why? Stuff just not ready in time?
Perhaps they are waiting for a gap between announcements when a Sony product release doesn’t get drown out in all the rival news?
The drowning will happen regardless. It’s Sony.
Sony release a 46MP full frame body (or more) and it will get attention, LOTS of attention.
I have the same concern. me and my family are going to australia and my current a55 is half way dead. and i dont want to get it repaired and not purchasing any apsc lens because i will definitely upgrade to ff….but why, why after holiday season!!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe that, after hundreds of posts speculating about the eagerly waited Sony A99 successor, it is announced on this site as a footnote?!
It isn’t announced.
If there was something real and serious to announce, it would be more than a footnote…
It is still a weak rumor at this point.
Sony should give the 45-50 megapixel prototype to Jose for testing, I would love to see a few of his landscape shots with this new sensor.
I can. What I never really expected was a formal a99II announcement at Photokina.
Am I missing something or does Andreas’ wishful thinking we may at least hear about the a99II at Photokina being separated from the big camera announcement later indicate he doesn’t associate the two? Or that the a99II itself might not be big stuff?
The A99II may be the last of the old technology cameras.
The release of it may be speeded up to allow more time to pass before the new tech is introduced.
I do therefore not expect the A99II to be a very expensive camera because the new technolgy will make it harder to sell them.
We may see a price jump when the new technolgy comes out.
The term. ..new class of camera….is a definite hint along those lines.
Todays economy may play a factor in pricing as there may be consumer resistance to extremely high prices….
Keep choking more life out of that A99 Sony. I don’t care if you skip Photokina- but waiting is like skipping over your customers entirely.
Hmm, I would have to agree, skipping Photokina is a RED flag, just and opinion at this point but I think many are starting to agree… does that really make sense, after all its just announcing new products not actually releasing them so …. whats the hold up?
Sony’s marketing department doesn’t appear to me to well leverage big shows for the short time I’ve been following them.
It’s more a redshift as they delay the release to the future :p?
lenses ARE the big stuff. We don’t need a fourth A7, we need lenses to put on the ones they’ve already made.
but i need A99II or A88 or any a-mount body
I don’t think Sony needs higher pixel density sensors – Sony needs better lenses and flash systems. They have the sensors covered – they make the best sensors in the business. They need to complete there systems by building all the necessary lenses and sorting out there flash systems.
is there going to be a new mount? or is it the e-mount that will be the future? the a-mount just doesn’t make sense in my opinion as it just wastes so much space. I just have a feeling it won’t be either. since the e-mount obviously works for ff but I have a gut feeling that it isn’t optimal either for professional use. they both just don’t seem ideal for a real professional system.
and it certainly doesn’t make sense to keep both alive in the long term (since their both mirrorless anyway).
I think sony is going to introduce a professional mirrorless mf system, but that won’t be ideal for most professional sports/wildlife photographers.
So I think sony should dump the A-mount (like in pure a-mount cameras), keep the e-mount but make smaller/cheaper (ok the cameras are already not too expensive, actually) cameras and lenses for it for enthusiasts, and introduce a new really high quality ff (or similar, no need to keep the strange 3:2 ratio) system. maybe with interchangeable mounts to keep the a-mount crowd happy. the new mount should be very sturdy, like a pl-mount for photography.
hmm as it seems the sony fz mount actually fits those criteria (very short flange distance, big and sturdy (ideal for adaptors), didn’t even know about that one. good.
why was my last comment not posted?
anyway I was just basically predicting the same thing as was predicted here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52067571t
so can you please tell us if the BIG news involve the fz mount?
I predict there is a brand change in my future. One that doesn’t cripple advancement to clear stock of forgotten cameras that retailers get stuck with. One that doesn’t put phone togs and gamers above pro level enthusiast photographers. One that is accepted by third party players. One that doesn’t promise the moon every three weeks.
sweet tears, so sweet
Dry your crocodile tears Mary.
WUT? Upgrade from your Cybershot and you’ll be ok.
Stop crying you big baby.
Canon won’t have replaced the 5D MKIII for over four years if the march release of the MK IV is correct, so what are you whining about.
High-end cameras are replaced every four years. Sony replaces their’s in three or less years, so they’re actually they actually respond to the needs of their customers faster than the other two.
Fine fine but what about more Otus news?
“some time AFTER” sounds very promising! Great rumor.
Ok three to four months for Sony to announce….Andrea, when will you have a bit more juicy news?I!
Thnx!
Very interesting from Sony indeed… I hope they are going to release the A99II together with the A88II and the a7000 or something similar and of course don’t forget that the release of a lot of A and E mount lenses could actually be possible.
A88 II? When did they sell the a88? lol
Marketing, doesn’t always make sense. It’ll be a MKII because they’ll say that most of the technology was derived from the original A99.
Well, they even released the Z2 Tablet without the Z1 Tablet and announced the Z3 Compact without the Z2 Compact… Maybe it is just going to be mk.II after all…
A 135-format sensor with more pixels would be a challenge for the lens, even the Otus from zeiss, claimed to be the best of the best, would not offer sufficient details that such a sensor is able to record.
24mp APSC sensors already approach 54mp 135 format density. Interestingly, SAL1650 has no issues outresolving that kind of resolution. I’m sure that Otus, or any other lens that is sharper than the 1650 zoom, can outperform it on APSC sensor, meaning 135 format can go well beyond 54mp.
the Otus produces freaking moire on 36 mp sensor, even wide open, it needs 80 MP
46MP is nothing. Lenscore says the 55mm Otus resolves 100MP at f/3.7 and 79MP at f/1.4!
Sony knows SLT isn’t the game changer they need for A-mount now. Maybe we can expect another curveball from Sony early next year. Major MP gain, class leading AF, mount that allows for FE glass as well or flip up mirror. Crazy thought here- better flash. Maybe keep A mount on life support for another two years and pull the plug- but first dig for some more cash with easy lens warm overs. I don’t care, I just want my A99II. Give me the 16bit 46MP beast- unleash it. I don’t care if it weights a ton- I just finally want a true DSLR worthy of my Zeiss glass. Anything after this I’ll just go medium format.
We’ll know for sure if Nikon announces a 46MP D900 at Photokina. A99II version to ship 18 months later with the same sensor as the D810. ;^)
If Sony were to do something interesting in a-mount FF I might switch back over in a year or two after the price comes down. But if they do something it needs to be with a long-term vision. Some half-hearted swansong… might as well kill it now and be done with it to go belly up to the compact Kool Aid dispenser.
I do not expect Sony to give this to Nikon first…..but do expect Nikon to have it the same time as Sony.
Is it still worth buying the A7S for video and the A7r for stills?
Yep. It’s even worth buying A7S for stills and A7R for video.
There have been rumors about a high resolution new technolgy Canon sensor to be anounced at Photokina.
Thos rumors have been conspicuously absent lately from Canon rumor sites.
My guess therefore is that Canon has delayed the release of thier new sensor and we are likely to see many of the major players in the camera game anounce a new tech high res camera at about the same time.
Canon will have thier own, Nikon and others will have the new Sony sensor.
I do not expect Sony to keep this sensor just for themselves…nor do I expect them to license it exclusively to anther competitor.
How hard is it to build up a professional wedding photography business. Anyone here seriously tried it out? I’m wondering what the markets like. Lots of cheapskates I’m sure.
Powered by Di-lithium crystals.
I like your thinking.
The word BIG and the phrase NEW CLASS OF CAMERA keep being repeated throughout these new postings.
I have wonder just what those words mean.
Probably a 50mp medium format that looks like the Lecia for about a third the price. If Sony wants to be considered high end it’s gonna need some medium format lifting power to get there
Sony practically owns Zeiss, so it shouldn’t be hard for them to come up with some decent lenses.
The Zeiss 110/2 would be a great lens for the possible Sony MF camera.
You shouldn’t call yourself The Truth when you’re either extremely ignorant or lying. Sony has ZERO ownership of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which is not just MUCH larger than the Sony imaging division and the Sony sensor division combined, it’s even larger than the whole of Nikon, including Nikon Medical. Please, don’t post if all you have is misinformation.
Are we forgetting about this image from a year ago? Seems like this could be a mirrorless FZ-mount in a DSLR style body. Pentax used their processor to get 3fps out of the MF sensor. If Sony put Dual Bionz-X processors in this type of body and implemented the same style auto-focus we see in the other mirrorless bodies (a6000/a7 etc) you would get somewhere around 6 fps and be able to do 4k video or maybe create an option in software to use the FF crop of the sensor the same way FF cameras use the APS-c crop to raise FPS and allow video to be shot with PL mount lenses or any other FF lens. With the shallow depth of the FZ mount you would be able to have adapters just like currently used with A7 line that would allow a-mount lenses to be used.
A great way to keep all current lenses useful and give an upgrade path to high end users to use the FF crop until they buy MF lenses.
http://1.static.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS940x940~forums/52067571/06abde0de5174ce2a99b87a09f4ce0ea
I hope it comes with a harness.
No way!!! If you want to record in 4K, Sony have dedicated camcorders sector 😉 for you…. Just remember we want a digital camera to take pictures and casually video BUT NOT the opposite ;)… By doing too many things at once we won’t have a great camera 😉 but just a bling bling gadget
I rather look for an upgrade version of Sony 7S which will have 24 Mpixels sensor, AF Speed of A6000 and still “see in the night” 😉 ( cf. http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-announces-bsi-sensor-withthe -10x-sensitivity-than-the-previous-generation/ ) in order to shoot indoor pictures without flash ( and not to spies the lovemaking of your neighboors 😉 ) or for astrophotography ( and IR Photography as well) without needing a full spectrum conversion. That’s a serious request 😀
At the present moment, Sony’s cheapest standalone 4k camera is 27,000 dollars (unless you count those tiny-sensor newscams) while the GH4 is 1500 dollars. And since you want so desperately for us to remember what you want, remember what a lot of people who aren’t you want: the kind of decent full frame hybrid 4k that Sony/Canon/Nikon have been throttling back on for years now. It’s not videographers’ fault that the only interesting video cameras have been strapped on to dslrs/dslts/etc. but as long as that’s the case we have a right to voice what we want just as much as you.
“Organic CMOS sensor”
We know that Sony, Panisonic and Fuji are working on it feverishly. (and patentning the Hell out of it)
It’s supposed to be a radical shift in sensor performance…….
RANT ALERT (don’t read this if you’re anti-troll): Am I the only one wishing that Sony would STOP focusing on new cameras (or at least focus less on new cameras) and focus MORE on new native e-mount FF lenses? I know they’ll announce a few lenses at Photokina but seriously … I feel like Fujifilm and other companies established their full range of lenses much faster. I’ve been using adapters for so many lenses and it’s time I get some quality lenses w/ AF and OSS. No more of these manual focus lenses … I have plenty of those. Sometimes you need AF & OSS. Size & weight aren’t much of an issue when it comes to lenses (as long as it’s quality).
Am I crazy to hope this will be a MIRRORLESS medium format camera? So that then I can use all my existing medium format lenses on it 😀
Not a chance, Sony is gonna try to squeeze as much cash out of a medium format system as it can, which means forcing customers to buy Sony/Zeiss lenses.
They’re not a charity.
No one expects them to be a charity but if they don’t provide a good deal they’ll need all the charity they can get. Sony isn’t the prestige name it was 20 years ago precisely because they overcharge for underthought equipment.
Sounds like the A99II will be the last SLT (Remix) Alpha Body… Thank God.
Where do you draw this conclusion from?
A-Mount SLT is the future of Sony professional line-up.
From stupid land
till now, i haven’t seen any camera beating the AF speed of SLT. The only issue of SLT is kinda reduced Image Quality, but its really good enough. And of course improvements will be there, so no, i doubt Sony will stop them. Too much investments on them.
no way sony (or any other company) will announce new products last month of the year, its suicide
no company kill their biggest sales period of the year, by telling the world they had just make a better product
now, if you just say it that way, so keep everybody at the edge of their sits, fine, but you clearly talk about CES, and with all the buzz in that show, maybe sony could announce some cameras, but the real stuff will be show off in february at CP+
Here is my guess as a big news.
Medium Format Curved Sensor.
-Sony already sell MF sensors to Hasselblad, Phase one and Pentax. it will be hard to compete in this sector.
-Sony has cool Curved sensor but this requires a new lens mount as E/A mount are designed for normal sensors.
-Sony just recently brought out A7/R/S for full frame and are going pretty well, might be a bit early to dig into their profit potential.
So that’s what I’m hoping anyway. Camera might be quite expensive, but hopefully lenses will be cheaper due to more simple designs (but if it’s going to have a little blue label on it, they will add extra $$$$thousands to it anyway)
From the comments SAR_admin has been making – it seems something BIG is coming, it will be a new class of cameras (a new range).
Here is what I think is going to happen. They have already produced a 50MP sensor for MF – so we know they can do it. Therefore the new top of the line Sony Alpha will be a Sony branded MF camera. It will use adapters to take the a-mount lenses & Sony will most probably bring out new native MF lenses for the camera as well. This makes sense because both Nikon & Canon do not make MF cameras. It will either use the 50MP or 46MP sensor. I presume this will also be mirrorless.
Since we are getting a new class / possibly range of cameras. The next camera down I believe will take on the Nikon D4 / Canon 1Dx and it will have to really stand out. It will be full frame and mirrorless. This could be interesting. Will take a-mount lenses.
Then we will have the equivalent of the a99 in this new class / line up but it will be mirrrorless. Yes they will have to sort out the distance issues between the sensor & lenses but I believe they can do that.
Then they will develop possibly APS-C versions e.g. the a77II equivalent. Again it will be mirrorless. This will use a-mount lenses for aps-c.
The key thing through all of this is new sensor tech and mirrorless. I think they are going to more on from SLT.
Just my 2 cents & wishful thinking.
It can’t simultaneously ‘take on Nikon D4 / Canon 1Dx’ and ‘be mirrorless’.
Those two are mutually exclusive ATM.
Its more than obvious that Sony is ready to launch a medium format camera. Zeiss is a major manufacturer of medium format lenses, and is likely designing glass for Sony’s new system. I bet this one of the reasons the FE mount has had to wait for new lenses.
This medium format will either be a SLR or SLT camera, because it will need a dedicated PDAF which is well beyond the parameters of current mirror-less technology. And redesigning all of Zeiss’s medium format lenses for mirror-less technology would be time consuming, and completely moronic.
However the idea of Sony moving away from SLT is absolutely absurd. The new mirrors that use 50% less light than the current models are ready to be installed in new cameras.
The world fastest PDAF (A79) installed in the A77II wasn’t designed solely for that camera. The full frame version of this PDAF (A89) has been designed, for both the A88II, and A99II.
Sony’s sensors high ISO performance is evolving rapidly negating the only argument the anti-SLR has left. The A77II made them look like utter fools. The A88II, and A99II will likely do the same.
A dedicated PDAF is and will always be faster.
SLT are the future for Sony professionals.
Finally some useful info. I stand corrected. How do you know about the A89 PDAF? Has SAR already mentioned it? If it is used in the a88 or next a99, then I agree the focusing will be fast.
I just wish Sony would release the a88 or a99II or both soon – so I can get some answers.
So when Andrea mentioned a “new class” of camera do you think that it is going to be just the MF (in a DSLT body) with a new sensor or are we going to get a new line of cameras?
A lot of people hate the a77 II so not everyone thinks the naysayers were fools.
Yeah it really did. The A77II is the world best APS-C camera. There is nothing that can touch it performance wise.
Sony will get rid of the a-mount. No A 99 MK II. The new camera will have the same solution as the A7 series. So you can use every type of lenses available. But with a A99 body. IBIS and the things that proffesionals wants. They will make FE lenses that suits the new curved sensors thats coming in the new cameras. The new series will have the name . A9R = 54 mp, A9=36 mp and a A9s = 18 mp
Or am i maybe dreaming here
Thinking about what I said below (Sony MF) – I don’t think it would be a good idea for Sony to bring out a new camera that requires yet another new line up of lenses. They have already done that with the FE line up.
And creating yet another line up of FE lenses for the curved sensors – that would be suicidal. I think enough is enough with new lens line ups (not I hasten new lenses for existing line-ups).
Adding IBIS to ff mirrorless cameras e.g. the a9 – I believe is a must. If you take the a7 (with new sensor, not necessarily curved), put it in a small DSLR body + IBIS, that takes the FE lenses & adapted a-mount – Sony will have a winner. I will get it.
True. But the problem with th A7 is the autofocus. To many pictures not in focus
The problem with (any) camera is the photographer using it.
E-Mount is not getting either big bodies or IBIS. It doesn’t make sense to release a camera like that until mirrorless gets fast AF, and it’s not happening either.
Curved sensors will not come to FE, it will be RX-series cameras.
A99-II is going to be announced soon.
Remember: A-Mount SLT is the future.
Well they have fast autofocus on the a6000 – yes I know it is not FF & doesn’t take FE lenses but I can see Sony going down this route.
Adding IBIS to this I don’t see being a problem either. I am sure Sony is looking into it – if & when it will happen is another story.
I agree curved sensors will be in the RX series – don’t think they will come to FE soon.
A77-II runs circles around A6000.
And it has better handling, bigger body (good for huge lenses), it is possible to mount a vertical grip etc. I hope for good A-Mount cameras in the future, but also for non-professionals 🙂
The A6000 wouldn’t survive one real photo-shoot. The build quality is garbage. One drop of water and its gone. Plus the AF speed is only with certain lenses.
Please could you back that up? According to Sony the A6000 has the world’s fastest AF amongst APS-C cameras. I didn’t see Sony claiming the A77II had wrestled back that crown when it was announced.
In what situations and circumstances does the A77II run circles around the A6000?
Sony’s claim may be correct for AF-S in good light.
A6000’s AF-C may be on par with an entry-level DSLR, but not quite as good as, say, 70D, let alone 7D. That said, A77-II’s AF is visibly better than 7D.
A6000’s AF also loses reilability in low light, while A77-II focuses easily even with the assist lamp removed.
This all is according to the reviews I’ve read and feedback from users on Russian forums.
ROTFL………..
Lets just dump 60% of our interchangeable lens, and camera sales for some obscure mount, cause it makes more sense to chase after the 26% of the market made up of low margin barely profitable cameras.
The A-Mount is designed for the other 82%, those of us that use DSLR, and hate mirror-less.
Willful: Having been happy with my Olympus 4/3 DSLR for 8 years, my view has been well below the horizon of developments since then. So I am new to the concept of mirror-less and it is intriguing to me. Can you please explain why you hate mirror-less?