According to multiple sources Sony is preparing a big product announcement event for early April. I don’t have the exact date yet but my sources told me is that there will be multiple new products for NEX and SLT (photo cameras, camcorders and lenses).There are so many new products I have heard of, the NEX-F3 a new NEX camcorder, the new 18-135mm SAM lens, the A37 and so on. But I don’t know yet if all are coming now. I also don’t know if there is room for some surprise, the biggest one would be a preview of the upcoming new A99 fullframe camera (or whatever the final name will be).
If you have some “insider” info about the huge Sony product announcement feel free to help me out by sending an anonymous message through the contact form. Or contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
84 Responses
APS-C fixed lens compact?
+1
I too am interest in this camera 🙂
Me too full HD .. Big aperture for low light and a compact body .. I’d buy that 4 sure 😉
As long as we’re talking X100 fixed-lens and not G1X fixed lens…
+1
Yeah, I’d like that one too!
sigma!!! foveon sensor in fixed lens!!! the quality is there, just hope not the comical price
and hope it is at least as pretty as the canon g1x
damn you’re right – totally forgot about this cam!
might hang back for a while before buying a compact!
I’d prefer the Fuji X-pro sensor to the Sigma. 😛 That sensor just seems to rock all socks.
NEED MOAR RUMORS!
I thought Sony were going to split product announcements in the future for maximum press impact…?
haha LOL I was thinking exactly the same thing !!
This strategy was reported here just 2 or 3 weeks ago 🙂
Maybe because NEX, SLT and Camcorder are from different departments? The strategy is no two product from the same line.. maybe.
How about A77 firmware update? Any news?
Original planned for tomorrow (march 29). I’m waiting too on the update!
It’s a bit quiet, it’s usually leaked by now!
right that makes me nervous too…..
@ Admin: Please give an update or leakage about A77 FW .
Yeah its already the 29th in Asia, where is the firmware?
+11111111111!!!!!11!11!!1
I don’t think we will see a A99, unless Kaz decides to change gears. Would be nice though.
drooling for a full frame zeiss ssm 35mm or 50mm lens. long overdue!!! i will happily pay more for it if it is top quality!
+1 on the zeiss 35
Will the A77 firmware be comin out tomorrow ?
Apparently there’s a delay to the FS100 firmware… no one knows if it will affect the A77 as well. Hope not!
My guess is the FS100 firmware update is delayed for this new NEX camcorder launch? Please please please be better than the VG10/20.
But what has fs100 gotta do with a77?? 🙁
still waiting for nex-7N or whatever name is.. with many better improvement from nex 7 😀
Lenses too, to match the Nex 7 sensor.
At $10,000 a piece probably if they are to match the sensors capabilities and specifications.
No need to take it over the top. Olympus are able to do a great job with their m4/3 lenses. They are a near match to the Canon L lenses on an APS-C camera, on a fullframe it’s a totally different story.
It can be done. Keep in mind that good glass isn’t cheap, but will last much longer than the camera body.
right, we need more quality lens like cz 24mm1.8 and SEL 50mm/1.8 😀
i think that price lens look fairly good 😀
The Olympus lenses are good, because they have to serve a sensor with far less pixels than the NEX7 has. In fact about half the amount the NEX7 sensor has. Lenses have to be much better than that to be able to come close to the potential of the 24MP in the NEX7 and because of that will be a lot more expensive I think. But yes, I am exaggerating with the $10,000 price tag.
I hope that Sony will offer as A37 a real beginners SLT such like 1100D for ~€300, this is really missing in Sony’s portfolio of cams
http://www.preissuchmaschine.de/in-Digitalkamera/SLR-10-Megapixel/Canon-EOS-1100D.html
yeah, the a200 was a classic camera: cheaper and better than competing CaNikons. I’m sure Sony could easily do some sort of cashback on Sony Point and shoot >> APS-C upgraders
13 april begins Photoforum in Moscow – may be there will be something.
On dvxuser a user of the fs100 was contacted by sony project manager after requesting detail about he firmware that April 2 would be an important date. Possibly the announcement being mentioned here?
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?277795-Firmware-update-Comments&p=1986108680&viewfull=1#post1986108680
What about nex lenses? Few moth earlier we get a new lense roadmap for E mount, and some lenses should come also this year. What about E mount lenses for nex users?!!
It was enough to use the kit lense, i want a faster and better one.
I simply don’t understand that there are only bodies coming and there are no lenses to use on them.
Welcome to Sony
Exactly, that fast normal prime is haunting me in my dreams… 35mm F1.8 will be fine as long as it’s smaller than kit/macro30/CZ24. Pretty please, Sony 😉
And that WA-zoom – I almost forgot!
@theseb
“new products for NEX and SLT (photo cameras, camcorders and lenses)”
For the love of all that is holy, put a damn hotshoe on the new NEX.
They have my blessing to put the iISO on every camera.
But… the “old” NEX already has one 😉
I just have a doubt what it means. The post mentioned only a 18-135 A mount lense, which is for nex users irrelevant.
Where is the wide angle zoom or the high performance standard zoom and the G series standard zoom. I am interested in these. I need an e-mount version of the 16-50 or the zeiss 16-85 (in G version). I would buy one of these for sure and i wouldn’t need any other lense.
How about an NEX-5N replacement that doesn’t f***ing click, or have any other major show-stopping faults.
This is what I want as well. I feel people have just forgotten that this camera has a major fault Sony are still to put right at manufacturing point. I also don’t like how every Jessops or Sony store I visit they all act oblivious to the clicking. Saying they’ve never heard of it! That sort of thing makes me feel like Sony is just a dodgy company. But like you I’m hoping for a 5N update that won’t click! I owned 4 of them and has to return them each time. The clicking was horrendous! So fragile too. Fingers crossed!
Nex-7r with cable release port (couldn’t resist). 😉
I hope Sony don’t show only a silhouette poster, wooden or titanium skeleton of the upcoming A99.
Either a working prototype/ pre production unit or none at all. Sony famous showcase 500mm F4.5 lasted for a few years until nobody gives much a hoot to care anymore.
Don’t leave us hanging.
Any details on this supposed camcorder??? S35 or apsc?
If sony will show A99 FF 24mp 6-8fps CF/XQD 3sec buffer that I’ll go with Nikon on Sony.
I think they will come up with even better specs than you hope, safe your money for A99 and good SSM lenses ( CZ or Sony G )! 🙂
Should it be the next NEX3? funny, it’s hard to get a NEX5 or NEX7 and the company is already announcing a new NEX… Sony is more an electronic consumer company trying to sell new gadgets rather than be focused on photography. It’s becoming a joke.
I fail to see your point.
Canon make a lot of money from photocopiers and I have a cheapo Canon printer too. I guess that Canon aren’t also focused on photography then?
What lenses are coming to nex? Anyone knows?
The roadmap has a normal prime listed for early 2012, so maybe a 30 f/1.8 of similar quality to the 50 f/1.8. I do not think any G or CZ were on the list until late 2012 or 2013.
Edit to add, looked at the road map, supposed to be in first half of 2012 for E-mount
High-Magnification Zoom, Standard Zoom, Wide-Angle Zoom, Large Aperture Standard
Any speculations what “High-Magnification Zoom” and “Standard Zoom” might be?
The original roadmap is in Japanese and I am not sure how good the translations are. I expect the High-magnification zoom to be a macro-zoom that does better than the current 0.3X of the 18-55, or it could be a long focal length zoom, 100-300? not sure how big Sony is going to go for a NEX body. They have a standard zoom in the 18-55 but they may add a 16-105 or 18-135 something along those lines. I do not expect that it is a fast normal zoom like the Alpha 16-50 f/2.8 as they would have called that a large aperture standard zoom.
Im not a pro but I have attended SCAD Atlanta for photography and graphic design. I often use my Fuji HS10 for all types of photography from adventure to wedding to macro product photography and it covers all that I need with only a few limitations number one being image quality. I dont care for an interchangeable lens system as I mostly am never in the position to have the luxury to change lenses due to time and weather conditions. But number one for my reason for not needing an interchangeable lens system is weight and storage.
Example While Rock climbing on a windy day blowing dust all around I dont have the opportunity to shuffle around for the proper lens to capture the moment. That would pass in less than a min.
Compared to detachable lenses the one on the Fuji HS10 is rather good for all that it covers. Its a macro lens, wide angle, and one of the most powerful telephoto lenses. Its only draw back is its f2 non constant aperture and non smooth barrel zoom.
The camera its self is limited by its fingernail sized sensor. There are quite a few photogs like me who would drop big money on a do it all mega-zoom fixed lens system thats not limited to having a point and shoot sensor.
Bridge Camera like Fuji HS10 But with the fallowing…
1 APS-C 20mp
2 Mirror-less ala NEX7
3 ISO 50-12,000 Hi 50,000
4 On sensor phase detection 2 vertical cross type and 4 horizontal cross type.
5 Manual focus magnify / focus peaking
6 No video, just a photog camera!!!
7 Pixel binning for clean hi ISO images and selectable tele-conversions for
maximum zoom of over 1600mm without attaching actual tele-converter and not
simply digital zoom.
8 Static non interchangeable Carl Zeiss lens of 16mm-800mm with constant f1.8
aperture throughout zoom range smallest to f22. 67mm filter thread.
Basically the best possible do it all lens.
9 Selectable JPG settings…maximum detail(High grain), clean ISO(soften
details, Smooth clean gradients), HDR (low detail, high grain), Standard.
10 RAW
11 7 fps buffer equal to 2min to capture moment.
12 Hot shew, wireless flash, 2 off body 1 on body total of 3 selectable flash
guns.
13 Shutter standard 30-4000 user custom setting for long exposures over 1min
provided one is using powerful ND filter over 1000.
14 Sony hand held twilight mode.
15 Built in Infra RED selectable filter.
16 OLED evf 1080p
17 A77 articulated detachable 4″ touch screen OLED 1080p live view with smart
GUI displaying mostly in black to preserve battery life. Detachable for off
camera wireless live view camera control for self portraits. Maximum range
of around 200ft for those lone wield life photographers and rock climbers.
18 All other systems similar to A77.
19 Full weather sealed… Magnesium body. Water proof down to 20m.
20 Optional battery selection same design as A77 but with option to pop in
Energizer AA Ultimate lithium in its place when extended shooting is
needed. Example…with said batteries I could shoot over 1000 photos with
Fuji HS10 with a dozen flash shots mixed in.
The price Ide pay for such a system…well into the thousands. The value for being a complete upgrade to my current system without needing the change lenses priceless.
Your post is bit too fast 1. April is after 3 days!
Forgot mention that each who ever wrote long wishlist on SAR receives camera for free!
It would be an interesting looking camera you propose, a minimum diaphragm diameter (iris) of 444mm tapering into a 67mm filter thread would look a little funny.
Oops replied to you instead of the gentleman you replied to.
One can tell you are not a pro by the sheer ridiculousness/awesome impractical requests of your dream camera. The price you pay for such a system? In this day and age, probably around $100,000… but quite honestly a 2.8 800mm PRIME much less a zoom would be the size of a bus. We can all dream I suppose.
this is quite a good read, very funny!
Lol… a 16-800mm 1.8 fixed… haha 🙂
The wireless screen would suck. You’d have lag on responsiveness and it would require a battery… ugh. Get an accessory if you want something like that.
Option to pop in AA batteries would make the thing even larger. With your lens and this body I don’t think you would be able to climb…
I think he forgot to mention that the lag-free wireless screen would auto-charge with SOLAR ENERGY!!
no, clearly this is powered by unicorn tears.
Date 12.04.2012 😉
Is that 12th of April or 4th of December?
The next 2-3 weeks is when Sony Pro broadcast takes the spotlight. NAB is when Sony rolls out is huge ticket, mega high dollar video items. Tippy top Sony executives and engineers form Japan, US and UK will be everywhere at Sony’s pavilion for 3 days!
It’s a TREMENDOUS amount of collective knowledge and experience in such a small place at one time!!! (and it’s where Sony’s “big boys” are)
I go to Vegas and NAB every year and I have never seen them make a “consumer” imaging product announcement there….ever.
I could be wrong but I would expect that anything “Alpha” related would be announced after NAB is done. An exception could be the announcement of this new mystery NEX camcorder. New NEX lens models would be relevant to the PRO NEX FS100 too. We “might” see something like that soon.
I would imagine that any other “consumer” product fanfare would saved for later.
That could change now. New CEO, new rules!
What about 4k video cams? I think Canon will be unveiling a more consumer-priced version in April – will Sony do the same?
Sony PRO is always huge on “workflow”. Right now, there is no simple 4K codec “standard”. (Like an XDCAM or AVCHD standard that supports 4K)
However! The new HEVC (H.265) codec will be ratified soon. This will be the replacement for the current h.264 standard. (like AVCHD today)
It COMPLETELY supports resolutions BEYOND 4k and includes MVC options for 3D too.
Once this gets approved by MPEG and others, new Sony products galore!!
Sony could beat them to it and roll out an XDCAM spec (MPEG 2 long GOP) that would take resolutions into 4K. However it would be way out of current MPEG2 specs and be completely Sony proprietary.
Cliff, you make it sound like 4k can’t exist right now as there’s no “standard” however, the video on this page talks about the footage shot by Red (several major motion pics, including a new Pirates of the Caribbean), and how it’s being shown at CES on Sony 4k projection systems. Clearly, 4k is out there, standard or not. 4k tvs will be coming out within the next year – and Sony must keep up with others to supply cameras to create content (esp now that 3D is dead, and sales of hd tv units are pancaking)>
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/a-red-scarlet-x-4k-tour-around-ces-2012-video/
Of course. I agree completely.
It’s just that everybody has thier own way of doing it today. Look at JVC’s new “cheap” 4k camcorder. It records its video seperatly onto different SDCards in quadrents of video space. Thier software then combines them for you.
4k is being done every day around the world. It’s just that there is no stadardized and easily portable codec yet for it. That’s all I’m saying.
It will be here Q1 of 2013 in HEVC. (H.265)
Unless Sony makes a standard first! 😉
But, Sony IS shipping “true” 4k cameras already! Now it’s just a matter of making them available to the consumer market (within an A99 I suspect). Format is not a problem for the higher priced models. Sony and other projectors and tvs are already out there, working well with other manufacturers’ formats….. I don’t see what you’re so hesitant about Cliff.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/01/16/sony.returns.fire.by.shipping.its.first.4k.pro.cam/
Rob, have you ever worked with true 4K video?
Of course not Cliff. I’m a humble scientist (more Leonard than Sheldon) at a top 25 world-ranked university. If you have, let us know what your experiences are!
Whoa. Pleasure to meet you prof. 😀
Thanks – but of course this is just my hobby so I’m living and learning like everyone else here.
This cam seems to have the right mojo – industry standard recording format, rotating shutter to avoid jello related to CMOS sensor. Comments Cliff?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh-V34GN1SA
Yup, saw this camera last year. Sweet,…but it’s out of my price range, I can’t edit the files from the camera and I cant even monitor true 4K images. (not even close)
I think you are missing what I’m trying to say. There is no standardized 4K codec that can be wrapped into some .mxf or even MPEG transport stream.
I cant just give you a video 4K clip in a USB stick and say: “Here Rob, check this cool 4k video” and have you pop into something and play it like we can with most current HD codecs.
When h.265 is ready, we will be able to to this. It will play in future Windows Media Players, VLC and Quicktime players. All future video editors will edit h.265 and there will be future “4k Blu Ray” support too.
And,..if I shot my h.265 4K video in 3D, both left and right streams will be neatly packed into one file for easy 3D playback and file transport.
You are trying to tell me that 4k is already here. I know this full well and agree with you. But it only exists today in top end professional proprietary systems. (the JVC 4k camcorder is cool but breaking the video into four manageable standard AVCHD files is just a temporary work around)
This is problem that MPEG and others are working to solve soon with h.265.
BTW, Sony had better get moving quickly, as they’re getting a snot kicking by RED (extracted from article at bottom:
“Sony is relatively late to greater-than-HD video shooting and is being undercut by cameras like RED’s $34,500 Epic-X and $9,000 Scarlet-X, both of which can shoot in 4K and are already being used in major projects like Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.”
Having 4k capability in a 36 megapixel cam (just say NO to AA filters at that resolution) would definitely get me to break into my piggy bank. Also, a 90 inch 4k television at <$7000 would get my interest. I'm pretty happy with my 850 and zeiss 24-70 and 70-200 G – and it's going to take a SIGNIFICANT upgrade to get me to part with my loot.
Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/01/16/sony.returns.fire.by.shipping.its.first.4k.pro.cam/#ixzz1qRdXsPjf
I DO understand what you’re saying Cliff, but think that it’s really just a quibble. Like chasing a chipmunk in the woodpile while there’s a wolverine in the larder. Sony had better get on with it fast, as others are going to eat their breakfast by making a DSLR with 4k – see link ( http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/11/4/canondslr4k ).
IISO hotshoe on the rumored fixed lens compact would be nice (I have a DiMAGE Z2 camera with one)
Can’t wait to see what they have to show off.