It doesn’t happen very often that I post SR5 ranked rumors on such long term Sony roadmaps. But I am now 99% sure of it! Sony completely changed the Full Frame roadmap! This means that also the rumored A1X SLT FF prototype camera with 36 MPX and no AA filter is not going to be released as it is. There will be..drastic(!) changes. Sony is now developing a unique and completely innovative FF range. The goal is to differentiate Sony FF cameras further from Canon and Nikon FF products. The next bunch of FF cameras is now being developed and Sony still hasn’t approved the final production of anyone of these cameras.
I am working on the details of the roadmap but as I told you there is no 100% approved camera yet. That’s why it’s quite difficult to give you reliable specs! All I am sure of is that, the next FF cameras will be quite different from a camera like the new [shoplink 14165]Sony A99[/shoplink].
UPDATE: As usual some people do misinterpret rumors that’s why I wanna say it clear and loudly: Both E and A mount systems will be kept well alive and improved!!! What’s changing is some technology used for the E and A mount. Actually, I think the new tech will bring even more “appeal” to both system! Exact the opposite of what some whiner wrote in the comments! Trust me, it’s a good news!
Stay tuned on SAR…follow the FF roadmap rumors that I will hopefully post the coming weeks! Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here)!
—
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!
247 Responses
So, do I have to wait with my rx1. When does this cams come? Give us just the info that let us hope and wait or buy.
I can read the headlines now…
“Death of NEX and Alpha – Sony Lawsuit Against SAR Website Upheld”
This rumor has effectively killed the sales of all NEX and Alpha system cameras and lenses indefinitely. Third party lens manufacturers like Sigma will take a massive hit, too. Watch out Andrea… Sony is going to be rightfully pissed.
Because I wrote they changed the roadmap??? What has that to do with change of death od NEX and Alpha??? They are super well alive!
Agree with you Andrea, my wife never visit this site and never read any rumors about Alpha or NEX, but she loves the NEX cameras. Some people actually just trying to find excuses to sell/ change their Sony gears and try to persuade other people to follow them. Sorry, doesn’t work for me.
Really…
You might want to read through your original post again. Take some time to think about it from everyone’s viewpoint, not just Sony’s or mine.
Without any details or facts, you basically tossed a grenade onto the web. Most pros avoid Sony like the plague. Those that invested very well could be holding dead gear now, based upon what you’ve written.
No offense, love your website and your hard work.
I’m just trying to get you to read between the lines, especially the lines of this little bomb you’ve written.
Really, don’t know what to write. They changed the roadmap and will use a lot of new tech in future FF model. Where is the negative part?
Ok, than mark my words. This IS a good news. All what I hear is actually good news. They wanna mark the difference. Cameras liek the A99 are good but they need to make them even better to convince NIkon/Canon users to switch over to Sony. So they decided to go a few step further.
Not true. Just because there is a rumour that new technology is going to make an appearance at some point in the future, should not make any difference to sales in the here and now. What’s new about being told that new technology will be introduced in the future? Who could not have guessed that? So why the doom and gloom mentality? As Andrea says, that is a good thing. It makes no difference to anything at this point in time.
Here is what this all means:
I’m about to rock your world.
I hope you’re sitting down.
OK, ready? Deep breath…
Today’s tech gadgets are not tomorrow’s tech gadgets.
!!!
A-mount or E-mount?
E-mount would make no sense at all. The only “advantage” would be to be able to use current E-mount lenses on it, but who would care to use those few lenses in a FF camera?? Besides, the short flange distance would compromise seriously the IQ with lenses covering the FF, which is the whole point of doing it. So it’s either A-mount or a completely new one.
E-Mount makes actually a lot more sense. Even the high-end cinema gear now has e-mount. Plus due to the short flange distance you could adapt nearly EVERY lens like it is being done already, that is not possible with A-mount.
I don’t understand what Milan means with “compromise the IQ”. They wouldn’t have done it in the VG900, if ANYTHING would be compromised eh!?
E-to-A can be adapted without any compromises. The VG900 package contains the full-frame LA-EA3 adapter. So that could very likely be the way for future FF cameras.
I agree fully. Milan has no clue what he is talking about. An E-mount would make it simple to use E, A or whatever lens you would like to use.
We can only guess what Sony is about to do, but my hopes are they will adress the enthusiasts who have been using the NEX cameras as digital backs. So I keep my fingers crossed for some modular FF E-mount cameras that are customizable for video, stills, AF, legacy glass or whatever rocks your boat.
The VG900 uses e-mount ONLY because that way you can use adapters and other lenses. In other words, it doesn’t REALLY make use of the E-mount. It just turns the E-Mount into anything else.
To release a new mirrorless system with FF sensor and E-mount just so that people can adapt manual focus lenses is completely out of the question. It works for movies, but not for stills (movies use manual focus, anyway).
They could use E-mount and develop FF lenses for it, but it has two disadvantages: no space for in-body IS (a much wanted feature) and too short flange distance for a FF sensor, especially for wide angle lenses.
The advantage of adapting any lens would still remain with a new mount with larger flange distance, because it would still be much shorter than current FF mounts.
high end cinema ger doesnt have E-mount, they have interchangeable mounts, but out of the box they are PL mount
Sony makes a lot more money off of the users who buy a camera and then invest in the native lenses from Sony. When users buy the camera and then turn to legacy and RF glass Sony makes only the minimal profit on the body. I am sure they’d take any profit, but I am also pretty sure they’re prefer bigger profit of body and lens buyers so that will be more of a concern than keeping the necessary short flange distance intact.
Not true. The f5, f55 and f65 are not PL mount. They are FZ mount and everything else inc,using PL is an adapter.
As long as the e-mount has the 1.5 crop factor, and A-mount glass is superior optically (it is), e-mount does NOT make more sense than a-mount, outside of portability.
“Besides, the short flange distance would compromise seriously the IQ with lenses covering the FF,”
Not so. Speaking as an optical designer.
What you are thinking, I am guessing, is if the last lens element is small AND close, light rays in the corners would have a high incidence angle.
Yes.
So you could make bigger lenses to solve the problem, but then isn’t it better to have a longer flange distance and make smaller lenses? That flange distance is simply too small, and it also prevents the use of in-body IS, which is a cool feature to have.
The system would require a new lens lineup no matter which mount they use (because if they use a A-mount, could you even call it a new system??? So make a new mount optimized for what you need and that’s it. Don’t use hacks with no pros and only cons.
The advantages are size and weight. And a large flange distance like in A-mount limits the lens designer to only one type of <35mm possibility (retrofocal). So e-mount also offers the advantage of symmetrical lens possibilities that are inherently corrected without additional elements compared with retrofocal designs. Cheaper, lighter, higher IQ for the price.
It has to be E mount. A mount is going to be only through an adapter in the future.
Sony should concentrate on both A-Mount and E-Mount. There will still be people who prefer a full size dslr compare to a NEX. People have different preference. If I am not wrong, after full frame sensor in dslr size body, next will be a medium format size sensor?
They’ll most likely keep on releasing both bayonets at the same time, only split roles of these even further.
I am curious what they come up with. I am pretty sure it will be impressive, but just I hope it is something people will actually want and buy.
Sooooo.. How can they be so sure (as of deserving an SR5 status) that the roadmap is changing, witbout knowing what they’re changing it into? (For example, in what aspects will the new FF cameras be different?)
I’m sincerely hoping they’ve found a way to make on-sensor PDAF sensors work well enough without needing a dedicated AF sensor, so we can dispose of that pesky mirror completely! But I don’t see how this affects the FF cameras only..
I was told by three of my best sources that 1) The A1x is not coming as it was planed 2) There will be drstic changes 3) No new FF models for the next 8-10 months for sure because they willd evelop new kind of tech for these cameras.
Let’s hope Sony “developing a new tech” doesn’t turn into another fiasco of delays the way it has previously for them, eg. the time it took them to develop the A700 successor.
Any word or rumor on the new “NEX FS200”?
NAB is around the corner. You can be certain that Sony Pro will not allow “Handycam” to have the only FF camcorder on the market. (VG900)
I think soo too that they must have found a way to skip the SLT mirror. Sensor ‘pixels’ will probably take over the AF control. That means in the end that we will only have Mirror less Sony camera’s. smart move. RX highvend compacts with fixed (zoom) lens end NEX interchangeable camera’s with different body and sensor sizes! Only question then… Which lenses to develop, possibly NEX type for FF and APS-C.
I agree Marc. This HAS to be what it is. If so, it will be a game-changer.
It must be mirrorless. With EVF. The question is, A-mount or new mount? Probably new, with adapter including the SLT mirror and PhD AF.
But then they need a whole new lens line-up. That will take them years to develop…
There is no point releasing a dSLR sized mirrorless full frame that then needs an adapter to get adequate AF performance. But then this is Sony…
Sony is like the Mary Celeste, long abandoned by her experienced crew and sailing the seas but with nobody steering her.
New mount does not make any sense.
A mount does not make sense when you do not need a mirror.
So E mount is the only thing that makes *any* sense.
Well, if there are more A-Mount lenses out there than e-mount, then A-mount makes more sense. If there will be no mirror or slt mirror on the camera, in any case, the mirror used to flip up for the picture to be taken, so no problem with A-Mount with having “no mirror”. Also, if there will be no mirror at all because of phase af on the sensor, then I’d like to have a simple option to add a crystal between the lenses and the sensor: that would allow for taking pictures and swap lenses on the field more often, and just take care of cleaning a crystal (possible swappable) than cleaning a sensor. My 2 cents.
sounds like FF NEX or RX-1’s siblings?
Well, if there are more A-Mount lenses out there than e-mount, then A-mount makes more sense. If there will be no mirror or slt mirror on the camera, in any case, the mirror used to flip up for the picture to be taken, so no problem with A-Mount with having “no mirror”. Also, if there will be no mirror at all because of phase af on the sensor, then I’d like to have a simple option to add a crystal between the lenses and the sensor: that would allow for taking pictures and swap lenses on the field more often, and just take care of cleaning a crystal (possible swappable) than cleaning a sensor. My 2 cents.
I hope that the next FF cameras will be compact camera like RX-1 with new Zeiss or Sony interchangeables lenses.
If they want to differentiate, a 36×36 sensor would certainly do it.
Sony can put full frame sensor in small body like RX1. How about a larger sensor(>36*24mm) in larger SLT body?
Has to be NEX FF cameras, a compact VG900
Not only! So I have been told.
With the Oly partnership, it is possible that Sony made a break through on on sensor AF, so an OM-D performance FF would be lovely.
this is because the a99 and a77 are a complete crap, canon is simply the best (40% of all market)
My a77 is offended.
Also I do not agree, higher market share doesn’t mean better. Look at Windows, Apple, Call Of Duty.
Nyahaha my a77 is offended too
Prestige cars have very little market share compared to the crap you will drive, does that mean that your crappy car is better?
Served!
🙂
@john:
He may have been served… but they done been trolled! 😉
A full frame mirrorless with Sony and Zeiss lenses based on E-mount (of course). Maybe electronic global shutter. IBIS like A99 would be super nice as well and lenses could get smaller and cheaper. Thats the way to go! Bye bye DSLR-Nerds…
So having a large base of followers means that it’s a great brand, with great cameras?
tell me again what happened with the Reverend Jim Jones.
xD
Most probably it’s a 36mp FF NEX with full-working on-sensor PDAF. The 36mp sensor is too good… Sony knows that has to use it!
Full working on-sensor PDAF will leave SLT as unnecessary. Also new e-mount lenses will come in 2013 BUT the big surprise is they’ll be FF ready.
The future is also bright and promising as Sony has some stacked sensor technology in the works similar to Sigma Foveon. Come on Sony!
To differentiate from C/N, Sony needs the following technologies:
1) FF NEX
2) FF DSLR (Hybrid OVF showing live histogram, exposure warning and focus peaking) to compete with D4/1Dx
3) SLT for video and high fps applications
4) Weather-sealing, Nano coating and SSM/quiet SAM for all FF lenses
5) CCD or Foveon-type sensor for better PQ
+1. Very good list.
To differentiate from Canon:
1. Make Quick AF Emount lens which fully utilizes the PDAF capability on sensor with 3D AF tracking and face detection/tracking n AF range settings
2. Further improve EVF latency and startup time to please OVF lovers
3. Launch a 28mm A-mount Tilt&Shift lens (OEM from Schneider) to close the gap for holes in the lens lines up
4. Make/update high quality Zeiss AF lenses such as Distagon 21/2.8, 35/1.4, 55/1.2 and 100 Makro-Planar. The current 24-70 needs an update coz its performace cannot keep up with L lens mkII, 85/1.4 needs SSM for silent operations, 200/2 400/4(Contax N) APO-Sonnar would be a nice to have weapon to add to Sony’s arsenal.
5. Further improve the AF accuracy and make the lens free from focus-alignment using on sensor PDAF technologies
To differentiate from Nikon:
1. Sell them the old EVF designs at a cheap price to gain acceptance for EVF in the public
2. Make fast A-mount lenses >f/1.4 but sell at a cheaper price than Canon. Becoz of the difference in mount diameter, its more difficult for Nikon to make large aperture lens at competitive price
3. Make affordable but high performance Telephoto lenses (OEM from Tamron/Sigma) to challenge Canon’s no. 1 place in shooting sports/actions
4. Put 2.4G wireless triggers into Pro Grade DSLR body with 24MP CCD sensor, with a true flash sync at 1/500s or faster, e.g. Profoto AIR grip for PhaseOne cameras
5. Focus on the development of APS-C E-mount cameras, more fast primes/zooms like 14/2.8, 58/1.4, 50-150/2.8. Launch FF E-mount with fast primes (21/2.8, 28/1.4, 35/1.4, 55/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/1.8) at the time Nikon launch APS-C mirrorless
So it has an hybrid mount taking A & E mount lenses, but E will only work in APS-C mode, new 5MP viewfinder, inbody AS, no mirrir or AA filter and maybe finally a none Bayer sensor 🙂
SONY STOP SCREWING AROUND AND GIVE US THE DAMN FULL FRAME NEX-5 ALREADY!
Just got a99… To think that a new type of ff sounds very… Sad.. Like the a99 oledi started to depreciate…. Lol.
This won’t happen in the next 12 months
Translucent mirror tech has always been a stop gap, mirrorless clearly the future, Can’t wait for a E Mount full frame!
This needs to be cleared up as to what it means for the future of the a mount asap!!!!
Makes me darn glad I didn’t jump into buying an a99 last week as I could have been buying dead tech so would stand to lose most of my cash long term come time to sell on…. This I can’t afford!!!
This type of rumour is exactly why Sony don’t always like SAR – planting seeds of doubt that will negatively affect sales.
Andreas – please clear up what this means for the future existence of the a mount for the sake of thise of us invested in it, for the sake of Sonys sales (if their sales divebomb, which could be caused by rumours like this, then they could bin the whole affair – not good for any of us!!), and for your sake as it is rumours like this that annoyed Sony & lead to them giving you a lot of hassle not so long ago – you are losing them sales here. Blunt its true, but I know for sure it is putting me off right now.
Cheers
It will be A mount..
I think that Sony will produce the first 50 MPx FF sensor…
the world first medium-format resolution on FF sensor 😉
For people who ask “A mount or E mount?”. Are you sure E-mount is designed to be able to support full frame sensor? i thought no.
NEX-VG900 has both an E mount and a 24×36 sensor.
So in other words whatever Sony has been doing for the past five years is not working. But then if you continue to alter products drastically, how can consumers have confidence that they will be taken care of in the future? Innovation is good but experiemntation with buyers is not. So for those that have now started getting used to the SLT’s upsides and downsides have to brace themselves for another new technology?
For those waiting for a D600 /6D killer, it means you have to forget it. If you like SLT that much, you better buy a99 now because it may be the last of its kind in the FF range.
“So in other words whatever Sony has been doing for the past five years is not working.” – it is working – sony have been raising it’s market share steadily ever since SLT release. Problem is that due to financial trouble they cannot afford waiting – they want to gain as much of a market as quickly as it gets.
But it also means they don’t solve essential problems (like holes in lenses lineup, or missing accessories), which rather sux as it’s a reason why any newcomers think twice before jumping onboard. There should no thinking on matters like that.
I think the nex is a different animal and should not be mixed with SLT. Nobody can disagree that the NEX is becoming popular. Of course competition will become stiff as other brands heavily invest in a similar concept. But the SLT is surely failing to gain enough ground. I dont believe for a moment that if it was working, there would be need to quickly adopt new strategies when the current ones are just so fresh. Companies only do that if they seem to hit a dead end.
RX1 and RX100 concepts are also genious. The reason why th RX100 has gained a lot of popularity is that it does not require the user to be committed to a system. You can continue using what you have and use this camera as a supplement. That is totally different from the SLT line.
Whatever Sony is deciding to do, we wish them all the best but these kinds of jumping around with strategies does not seem to be too reassuring to the users
E-mount to A-mount modulated FF system, inevitable.
I’m missing a roadmap for APS-C A-Mount cameras. I think Sony should tell their customers if there plan to sell A-Mount cameras (APS-C or Full-Frame) in long term. I think many Sony Alpha A-Mount customers are unsure about the future and don’t invest in lenses too. Why should I invest in a expensive A-Mount lens if I don’t know if Sony will sell cameras for this lens in two years or so. Maybe it is better to change to an other system.
Most Sony customers don’t know this site exists and will not be following rumours and don’t even care.
They aren’t buying lenses because they don’t *need* them, not because they are unsure of any plans Sony has.
“We” are not the vast majority of Sony customers, people here forget tend to forget that when they make outlandish statements. 😀
That is exactly what happened to me. I started with the A100 and a few basic lenses. As my skills and knowledge of photography grew, I invested in the A700 with 2470CZ and 85F14CZ and fell more in love with photography and Sony, but I decided to stop investing any further because I didn’t know if it was a wise move. I was ready to spend another $10K on Sony lenses and a FF camera but the whole mix up with the A700 successor and everything got me worried. I like the A850/900 but I need a camera that could handle low-light situations a lot better. The A99 seems like a great camera but to be honest, I have developed a strong hesitation about investing any more money in Sony.
It seems to me that over the last five years or so Sony’s market strategy has been in a constant state of flux. They seem to be in a mad rush to grow market share by promoting novel feature (SLT, EVA) to distinguish themselves from Conikon rather than releasing a steady stream of high and higher quality cameras and lenses. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anything is wrong with SLT or EVA, but that what I am really looking for is a sense that Sony has viable roadmap for the future that isn’t going to change every two years.
For the record, I still love and use my A700 but for now I rent any lenses that I need. Every now and then I think about switching but when I look at my pictures, I ask can Canon or Nikon produce such lovely colors? Honestly, if Zeiss produced AF lenses for Conikon I would jump ship.
Very well stated
I have the same view and have managed to avoid spending any money directly with Sony or A-Mount for two years. Choosing to spend money on computers, new versions of PS and LR and 27” high quality displays, and tripods and support gear without damage to my photography.
I’m not sure what I’ll do with its time to replace my a850’s
I’m not convinced mirrorless FF will be complete game changer. They can make it tiny but lenses will not be small. They are too large and expensive for average consumer. That is why most people stick with APS-C. So what is the point? In my opinion they should invest more into camera SW, camera processor and into lenses. For example their focus tracking works but only for slow moving subjects.
Marek, software may not be the most important right now. The point is what sector should Sony aim on. Canon & Nikon has already dominate the Professional market. NEX just makes room in the amateur and the “amateur enthusiastic” market. This sector mainly concern on the experience rather than pixel peeking quality of the image. What can make them happy is producing more option on lenses in large aperture and let them praise the other spectators to join them. Just tell you the story. At the beginning of Olympus pushing PEN into the market that the lens option is quite limited until 3 years later, the large aperture series are pushed out with a relative high price than those economic zoom lenses. The marketing manager explained that it is because they have enough users and lovers. It is the time for EP-3 rolling out with the high quality lenses. Do you remember what was the option for NEX-7 when releasing?. Zeiss 24mm and 18-55mm kit. What a shame…
What FF camera and lens system is not too expensive for the average consumer? I suspect there is a healthy population of FF shooters and potential FF shooters who would prefer a small NEX sized FF camera. Even if the lenses are large having 1 or 2 much smaller lenses (e.g., similar to the kit lens on the Emount) would give users the chance to go much smaller as needed. Probably a 35 and a wide angle that are smaller and folks wouldn’t complain about other lenses being larger. Even with larger lenses, the overall size should be reduced versus DSLR competitors.
Need not to explain too much. If the users are rich, go Leica. If the users are average, go voigtlander. If the users just accept AF, go Sigma. All are small size and eventually, the users should know how to stay comfort with it.
I am with you Sean. The FF NEX market doesn’t exist at all. Less than 1% of customer out there still use MF. the AF FF lens are too big, heavy which defeat the purpose of the NEX system. APS-C is a sweet spot for NEX. The sooner kill the rumour of FF NEX the better for Sony. Those people want to use their Legacy lens they can still get the NEX 7 for it. Why bother to develop a product just for this small group while you can sell the NEX 7 to them. Not that they have a choice unless turn to Leica anyway.
I guess… FF EVIL system but neither E-mount nor A-mount, new mount system for FF EVIL.
or rather: no mount what so ever. Just release that, and give people an option to buy bundles with whatever bayonet they’d like. (what also opens a doors for 3rd party manufacturers to create native EOS-M or m4/3 bayonets, which would make it an ultimate body)
Hi, what about rumored 70200G II?
Guess 50/1.4 ZA will not be dropped from roadmap, as showed in Photokina.
Coming….both!
Admin – can you try to dig out from your sources what are Sony’s plans for A-bayonet in these new strategy? Cause E-bayonet is quite clear: FF body, new lenses coming, etc. But we know nothing of A-mount.
A-mount is alive. But SLT cameras will change a lot…
This means that electronic aperture control is coming…
Thanks a lot for the confirmation!
Arto – that was as random statement as it gets.
Cheers Admin! 🙂
They should stop pissing around with formats (lot of hype and weekend photographer markets) and quirky, questionable tech and just release cameras that do the job with good rez n image quality and high iso. Look at the gap in the market for square sensors – the reason the D800 has a 4:5 frame lines/mode. The RX1 is a great concept apart from the price. I will wait until after new year for over 25mp DSLR but I will probably go nikon and the ZF lenses if this goes on and on.
They have tried competing head on with CaNikon and failed. They have to be innovative to be noticed, not churn out CaNikon clones.
Exactly! They want to kicks Canon/Nikon butt 😉
Then they better have full legacy support for all lenses and flash system, professional support, sign agreements with Zeiss for the ZF/ZE lineup, get all third party lens companies to provide all that CaNikon get (some Sigs aren’t for Sony), and return to iISO which works with HSS/TTL wireless slave units (nothing works with new shoe), and a few lenses with Tilt/Shift.
And they best stop giving their best sensor to Nikon… and use it for themselves.
The problem of kicking CaNikon butt is not the cameras… It’s the peripheral equipment CaNikon has… and Sony doesn’t. Changing cameras again will just make that harder for them.
And what about that rumored “Photo Centric” camera? You know, the one for photographers, not videographers?
For sony to stop selling sensors to Nikon could kill Sony faster and have hardly any impact on Nikon. Look at the D3200 sensor and the one in the a77. Not so much difference and yet it is not made by Sony.
Semiconductor is the profitable department for Sony for the very same fact that companies like Nikon buy from it. Surely no wise company would kill 60 percent of it business to gain 2 percent. It is understable here that people want Sony to grow but that growth cannot happen at the companys own profitability
Not at all. Most of the profits from semiconductors come from other sources then Nikon.
Nikon would have hard time surviving without Sony sensors (especially if Sony would sign a deal with Canon), but not the other way around.
Sony NEX FF:
– Weather sealed…
– EA-LA4 weather sealed FF E2A-adapter with PDAF…
– IBIS…
– Pro menu
– More onbody controls
– high-end NEX vertical grip available. Holding extra battery and an extra card slot
True FF modular system, and for those who wants the Pro SLT, then A9X/A7X will be there 😉
agree!
i was also about writing something like this, I’m betting on a modular design, like sony did recently (and very well) with their professional video cameras (F5 and F55), and will probably put some of the inovatios we’ve seen there, like global shutter, interchangeable mount (A and E), module for an optical mirror, module for a translucid mirror, for an EVF… a complete modular design
I don’t think IBIS will ever happen. But who knows. It’s Sony after all.
A pickup of the old Minolta Hi-matic 7SII rangefinder design with E-mount FF sensor and top of the line EVF and three nice Carl Zeiss pancake lenses: 35mm/f2.8, 50mm/f2.0, and 90mm/f2.8
THANKYOU SONY!
HAHAHAHA!!!!
It only took poor sales from the A99 to get Sony to rethink!!!!
I have been spurting this crap since they released the specs on the A99. Only to be met with arguments from fanbois and videographers.
Is the A99 a good camera? yes!
Would I buy it if I have a A77 already? Probably not, if I do, it is only because there is nothing else!!!
Am I pissed off at the last A77 patch that only disabled the movie button and added a few new lenses to the auto correction? Hell yes…
Am I surprised that Sony is changing their whole approach? Not at all!
Where is your evidence that the A99 has had poor sales? Do you have access to Sony’s sales figures? Or let me guess, YOU MADE IT UP.
Only Sony know if the A99 has met their sales expectations or not. You are just spouting rubbish as usual.
I don’t care either way, but a quick search of Amazon reveals that the A99 is not a top 2,000 camera — Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002 in Camera & Photo. In contrast, the NEX 6 is around top 200. Nikon D600 is top ~300. RX1 is top 500. The A99 is supposed to be the flagship FF camera from Sony. It’s not selling well.
That’s because Sony didn’t even try to make it a true Flagship. It’s just A77 with FF sensor. Waste of development time!
You missed the point.
It doesn’t matter where the A99 is on Amazon rankings, what matters is if the A99 met Sony’s INTERNAL sales expectations.
Only SONY know if the A99 has met THEIR sales expectations.
The rest is irrelevant.
INTERNAL sales expectations = Complete change on the Sony Full Frame roadmap!
Now join the dots:
Poor Sales…………..Rethink Roadmap!
Frank, its people like you that cant accept simple reality…
“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”
If Sony is having a massive success with the a99… why would they decide to change their whole fullframe roadmap…
Unless this is another brillant marketing plan to reduce their net profits…
Do you seriously think the a99 is selling like the d800 or the d600?
Look mate, I dont know what horse you rode in on, but your post didnt state otherwise any facts on the great success of the a99… in essence you did the exact same thing as I did, only on the opposite spectrum.
But you see, I am not going to insult your post. Instead I welcome you to justify your reasoning like an adult in hopes that something constructive can be made of it.
i´m very curious about this roadmap.
but so or so thats nothing hand-tight, i think whats happening right now is not good for sony also not good for customers who want to buy a new Fullframe SLT next year (not a99)
Looks like Sony stops experimentation and turns to sure things like support of current lines and release of ready models. Could be a good sign provided they don’t cut R&D significantly.
so ther is no “a85” a cheap entry FF?
So a square sensor camera that wouldn’t work with many (if not most) released A-mount lenses is not going to be released? Color me unsurprised.
with this message hurry sony just ruined the Christmas business.
great great news hopefully they really make something new.
I want a full frame camera with e mount but not a tiny nex, no I want a full sized full frame e mount camera that can be properly mounted on a tripd (not dslr shaped please, more like a leica). basically I want something like a leica m with a more modern user interface (but still with buttons an wheels of course) with no optical vf but evf d800 sensor plus maybe more in the d800 price range than in the leica m pricerange. what I really want is a integrated arca swiss compatible L bracket (grips could be slided over for non tripod use). a shift sensor would be great to use with mf lenses. the whole thing very well built and with a good user interface.
It is amazing that people want revolutionary things for the price of peanuts. How can companies balance this? Look at apple. Their products were not necessarily cheap and certainly are not cheap today. But the company has excelled. If Sony brings a revolutionary product that many want to buy, people will do that regardless. Many were compalining of the RX100 of its price but that has not stopped it from becoming a successful product for Sony
Exactly. The RX100 is one of these products Sony has to learn from. People is willing to spend money for high quality stuff. Imagine what woudl ahve happened if Sony would have announced a 36MPX FF camera now. Many would have said…yeah Sony, that is what Nikon already did last year.
The latest trend will be 100mp… D800 is so yesteryear!
I wanted to buy a a99, now I have to wait to see what Sony is planning for their FF product, before investing in Sony FF body and (expensive) lenses.
I have the a77 and love it, I was thinking about replacing my FF Nikon system with Sony, but now, I have to wait more before changing system.
I’m afraid, in the end, they will say that they are going to invest more on NEX systems and delay most of their FF products.
Posting information like this can be dangerous unless you know full and well what you are talking about. If I was a potential A99 buyer, or a new A99 owner, I would feel very unsettled about this kind of information. Who would want to invest in a system when it could be completely different or incompatible with where the company is going?
I Agree with Jason. I was also thinking of buying A99 in coming months, but now I have to wait and see what this rumored new tech is about.
If that is the case, you should be thankful to the Admin!
That is never a good approach. You should buy the stuff because it’s useful for the things you want to do with. If you delay the A99 purchase than it simply means you don’t need it or it doesn’t suite for you 🙂
It’s not that black and white. Fact is that I’m not in a hurry for buying my next DSLR. But I know that I have to upgrade my current body next year and I was thinking of buying A99. And of course if there is coming something new next year I will wait.
even if you have to wait for 2014? Admin said no FF stuff coming between now and 8-10 months, so that means, it will be released PROBABLY around August-Septemebr and even then, they will make it available in November 2013, but early shipments will be made available in Japan around December 2013 and Worldwide in January 2014…Are you willing to wait until 2014? It’s either, wait, or buy now and then sell later (or buy another brand)
@Admin:
> You should buy the stuff because it’s useful for
> the things you want to do with. If you delay the
> A99 purchase than it simply means you don’t need
> it or it doesn’t suite for you
For any particular camera-body, this may be true. But this isn’t about any camera body in particular — it’s the entire system.
As is widely noted, the high end is often as much (or more) about the “system” as a whole than it is about any particular piece of gear, even exciting gear like a new camera-body. Not every “new direction” is going to suit every user, so when a “major new direction” is announced, many (maybe even most?) serious users will take a wait-and-see attitude, rather than invest in a system that’s possibly a dead-end (for their particular needs/wants).
The EVF/OVF is a case in point. For some users, the EVF is clearly superior. For many (maybe even most) it’s something they CAN get used to, if they try. However, for (at least some) uses / users, it’s clearly inferior. For those users/uses, Sony is clearly not the system to buy: OVF models in “NIB” condition are very few these days, and used-condition gear is always a bit of a crapshoot.
That Sony simply abandoned the OVF market (despite having arguably the best (certainly ONE OF the best) OVF’s on the market, and the fact that sometimes OVF really IS just “better” (and some just prefer it — like manual vs automatic transmissions in cars)) doesn’t lend confidence as to what they might similarly abandon in this next “exciting” new change.
I don’t have the funds to buy a new SLR/SLT, and probably won’t in the next 8-12 months, so I *HAVE* to “wait and see”. But if I DID have the money? I’d STILL wait and see (unless I switched – but I certainly wouldn’t buy new gear from Sony in the face of this uncertainty).
As for my own speculations: I agree with those who suggested a global electronic shutter, AF on the primary sensor, and complete elimination of the mirror & mechanical shutter. I’d *like* to think that Sony is moving to a square sensor (36×36 for FF, 24×24 for aps-c), but their marketshare is too small to make Sonymount-only sensors (A+E together are still less than Nikon’s SLR, iirc), and providing square sensors to everyone wouldn’t let Sony differentiate themselves…
I’d love to see a fully-modular system from Sony — a body to which you attach lenses on the front and sensors on the back, along the lines of a Medium Format setup. Amazing new sensor? Buy the back, not a whole new body!
– Steve S.
Tired of waiting
I have been waiting to decide if/when to upgrade my collection of old lenses and newer bodies and every time I get close Sony moves the goalposts. I have a superb 300mm f2.8 Minolta Apo lens (see the deer shots) which I am keen to keep as changing to the latest version is a major cost, but as I am keen on sports photography focus accuracy and speed in low light are critical for me, I hoped that the A99 (the A77 did not) would give me this. By all accounts it does, but my old lens will not get the full benefit. IF I have to change the 300mm lens then I can at similar cost move ship. I am not sure I want to wait yet another 12 months (by the time the new super duper bodies are out) in the hope that Sony delivers.
well to people like me who are thinking of stepping up to Full Frame, $1800 premium is a lot, and the improvements from a77 doesn’t justify that margin, so might as well wait as long as the a77 delivers what i need. Holding out for my zeiss collection to really shine when that day comes.
does a-mounnt be discard????????????
Nope! Improved so that it makes even more sense!
I hope you meant to call me a whiner and not a wiener! 😉
Corrected you whiner 😉
How on earth would you improve an already existing lens mount!?!?
All of this make me feel so idiot… selling my Canon 550D and lenses to buy the A57 and another expensive glass. I feel that my investment it’s going down in 3, 2, 1….
yep. you are dumb to believe in Sony “system”. you better stick with canon/nikon for dslr or even Fuji for mirrorless. get P&S camera from sony only like the rx100 or rx1
I am pretty sure they won’t drop A Mount. It would mean that all A Mount users would potentially switch to Canon/Nikon and they need to offset this loss of customers by gaining new ones. That doesn’t sound like a good option.
On the other hand coming up with a new mount would mean coming up with news lenses, and Sony is already not providing enough lenses for the existing mounts! So also not a smart option.
I would guess the best option would be to use an A Mount on a Nex like system (size!) with FF sensor (if this is technically possible)
huups reading my own post again it sounds like sony’s version of a Leica…
OK let’s get keep the crazy predictions coming! Here’s mine:
1) FIXED LENS FF LINE – with the impending success of the RX1, Sony will develop a line of fixed lens, FF cameras (24mm, 35mm, 50mm and Zoom)
2) SLT TECHNOLOGY – dead. No longer required, and it makes the camera too big. There’s also a lack of consumer confidence regarding the life-span of the mirror, and concerns over IQ/light loss – so it’s gone.
3) ALPHA MOUNT – dead (phased out over time). Too big, too bulky. Emount or another (new) mount will be the focus going forward
4) SENSOR – Sony will NOT tolerate having anything less than the best sensor (right now, Fuji X-trans is arguably the best for IQ). Sony will trump Fuji, Sigma, etc with some sort of new sensor technology (whether non-Bayer, stacked, square, mega-mega pixels, whatever)
5) NEX LINE – will continue in some form (it’s too popular/profitable to end). Likely to remain APC-C and possibly not FF (depending on the success of item #1 and item #6)
6) FULL FRAME FUTURE – will be small cameras, ala Leica or an interchangeable lens version of the RX1. It will be either e-mount, or a new mount.
I don’t think alpha mount will be dead. There’s ergonomics to consider as well.
It doesn’t matter whether the mount is bulky, there’s also the amount of glass to consider, to gather enough light and so on. And legacy, always legacy, is the issue.
I don’t think they will go all crazy with fixed lens FF – reason is cost and consumer competition. The points you list are indeed the ideal points for the enthusiast market – but reality is always related to affordability and competition. 🙂
“6) FULL FRAME FUTURE – will be small cameras, ala Leica or an interchangeable lens version of the RX1. It will be either e-mount, or a new mount.”
I suspect a new mount, that will allow e-mount to be adapted. 🙂
It has to be A Mount because they can’t afford to loose all A Mount customers and they don’t have any other Full Frame lenses!
No, A-mount isn’t the future as native mount. Maybe as adapted mount because Sony is pushing hard into modular designs and mirrorless designs (Look at the F5 and F55, then look back at NEX-series).
Agreed. But my guess is we’ll see a lot more e-mount lenses than a-mount lenses from here on out. And in the long-term (10 years) it will be interesting to see how many are still being produced.
BS.
You are one of these guys that shoot their kids and got tiny hands, right?
Cause that’s how your post looks like.
Go, buy RX100 and enjoy instead of “”forseeing”” death of A-mount, lol, kiddo.
I would assume:
RX = Experimentals
Alpha = FF
NEX = APS-C
But I already have an RX100 (along with a NEX-5 and NEX-7). Did you mean I should go buy the RX1?? 🙂
My 2c – if you want to stick with traditional SLR with limited roadmap of improvements, I don’t think Sony is where you want to stay. Sony is where innovation is. Good or bad, they know tradition is not their playing field.
As much as you whine, Sony have to make money, and that means not fighting a losing battle. And if their way of fighting is not according to your selfish wishes, (no negativity here – everyone’s selfish) don’t get disappointed late.
Keep up the good work, Andrea! You’re doing great!
Sony… how long do I wait for you to love me back?
You’re like a selfish girlfriend who shares the best cheese with other guys, then tells me to wait for 8 month old leftovers.
I would like to see a FF camera in the style of the A99 but it should be dual mount. It should have a base E-Mount with no mirror and take all available E-mount lenses that would focus with on sensor contrast detect and on sensor phase detect(like NEX-6 currently does). On top op that Sony should attach a removable adapter module, like the LA-EA2, that could contain a SLT mirror and a focus engine, obviously something with a better focus than currently on the A77/A99. This would allow users to have access to Alpha lenses, FF or APSC through the detachable adapter, and a NEX camera with E-mount without the adapter.
If this is within the realms of possibility,or within the laws of physics the i think Sony is the one company that can pull it of.
Hope Sony will bring some clarity soon. If more people get a whiff of this wind of change (oh no, not a Scorpions reference!) it could seriously stall sales until people know which direction Sony is planning to go.
All new Sony cameras will be 4k.
Even more reason I’m glad I stuck with the a700 System which Sony did not replace. No pile of money spent on new cameras and needed replacement new lenses and flash mount as with the a99 and other SLT.
And this new change? Once Sony has your money they will change again to yet another need to rebuy your entire system, it’s their pattern, how they make their money, by frequently abandoning their previous customers. That’s the big advantage of Canon and Nikon, consistency, which keeps the cost of shooting more reasonable. No sudden replacements of the whole system. You can replace individual components of your system as needed without having to make wholesale and costly system wide changes. And photos taken with Canon and Nikon gear certainly are capable of being excellent.
The focus should be on photography, with Sony it is not. It’s the constant headache of what they will abandon next.
Spot on. That’s why i just sold the 5n and switch to Fuji.
“no pile of money spent on new cameras”
Not when you spent a pile of money on (5) five A700 bodies.
🙂
Why wait? It could be so easy with parts from the shelf already:
Take the base concept of the RX1, add the EVF of the A99, replace the fixed lens by an E-Mount and replace the 24 MP sensor by the AA-filterless 36 MP sensor currently produced for the D800E. Modify the sensor (and propably the cooling as well) so that it can be read out with 60p (for 1080p60).
Start with at least one fullframe capable E-Mount lens (e.g. a modified Zeiss lens for Alpha) and the rest will be adapted as until there are enough other E-Mount FF lenses become available.
That will be the moment where I sell all my Nikon stuff.
You got it 🙂
I think that’s why Sony has really been pushing the large MP sensors lately.
If they have a Full Frame 36mp sensor that works as a 24mp sensor in crop mode then… that’s perfectly usable! Even 16mp would be fine in crop mode.
I like the last part. Stay with Canon or Nikon until you see it happens. The wet dream of FF NEX “system”.
I do not get it. Apart of small FF body and slow auto-focus what will make you to through away your DSLR?
A small body alone is probably enough. But better video will also be an incentive for many. There’s no need for the AF to be slow – Nikon’s implementation (on the One system) is super fast!
Sony said they’re not ready to use the 36MP sensor because they’re not able to record at 60p right now (reliability problems? Maybe too much output for the current AVCHD format? Who knows). So your argument is invalid. But ignoring that, all other features are feasible.
… and Nikon will be sleeping all that time, right…?
I love my Sony cameras, but Nikon wants the same thing – to DOMINATE the camera market!
Plus, they don’t have what to lose, as their primary business is to SELL CAMERAS and LENSES!!! Not TVs, DVD/Blu-RAY and laptops.
Crap. Just bought a57 because it was optimal decision for me against buying Nex-6 with e-mounts that has matured yet. Now it makes me nervous if Sony is going to develop new tech that will make SLT look obsolete. I want to know what will happen to A-mount because I have invested in 6 A-mount lenses. Should I return my a57 and lenses?
Nope! As I wrote in the post. Both systems will be improved!
Thank goodness. That was quick relief.
If Sony abandons the A-mount, I will benefit from the people who react quickly and sell their glass. I will dedicate my life to making the A-mount an underground culture until some manufacturer picks it up.
This kind of radical changes do happen from time to time and either mean, that the sales were so dissapointing that the managment decided to make a fresh start, or that they have made such a radical technological leap that they think that the current tech will simply be obsolete. Or obviously – a combination of both.
I personally hope for the latter one – Sony has some new sensor tech which is just about such technological leap forward. Either on chip PDAF or such a major leap in CDAF that it will make PDAF obsolete. Or they might have a new sensor tech which will improove signifficantly the noise performance or dynamic range.
Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see how Sony will turn around its Alpha line. However, even the best sensor tech will not fill the holes in the lens lineup. Sony MUST release lenses at a much higher pace for the alpha line and those should not only be refreshes of the current lenses like the 70-200G, but completely new lenses.
Reading through the lines it’s obvious they will kill something off: probably A-mount.
You can read everything you want between the lines,but while the cameras are not competitive doesn’t mean the a-mount can’t be competitive! For example I like the a-mount camera formfactor and handling more than e-mount, when it comes to work with it at weddings, sports,.. . I’m sure I’m not the only one…
I welcome this rumor; it is exciting to know Sony is thinking.
However, this is only a RUMOR, so I’ll wait.
Sony will improve FF range, great news. I hope that Sony know that camera is not only about body but about whole system – body, lenses, accessories, support. This is what they must improve!!!
If Sony wants to get new users who are willing to pay for the equipment, then those users must not only deliver cutting-edge technology, but also the feeling that it is serious to them – listen to them, to deliver new firmwares with repairs (A77 and NEX7 what?) , expand the range of lenses (Sony now offer either basic or high-end lenses but hellishly expensive lenses, where is the offer for the average enthusiast?, and where is there any offer for E-mount?), for professional photographers offer professional service and services (as offered by professional camcorders ).
BUT
I fear that I experience deja-vu, it was very similar to when waiting for the A700 and A900 successor. With this constant waiting and delaying Sony escaped many users who were willing to pay large sums for the equipment…
Whether Sony gives me reason to believe that it is serious to me. I easily wait two or three years for a new model, but in this period either improve existing body (firmware), lenses, etc. I’m starting to feel a little as the guinea pig.
RIP A1X. 🙁
So… are we going to see a new line of camera team work of Hasselblad and Sony? Like Hasselblad’s design, Sony’s logo and price and Alpha mount full frame camera?? just wishful thinking though. XD
Both A/E-mounts should live on and be backwards compatible with all current lenses.
Perhaps more contacts will be added to communicate with new lens flash and sensor tech.
Back in 2011 Sony’s goal:
“Our current goal is to achieve 1000
frame/s high-speed imaging at under 0.1 lx
with a 4K × 2K-pixel frame. High resolution
still imaging and high-speed video imaging
will be fused perfectly in this new digital
camera world. (See figure 5.)”
http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/cx_news/vol60/pdf/sideview60.pdf
A true game changer would be variable curved sensors that adjust to each lens attached.
Nikon/Sony have patents that are years old but concept is one thing and production is another.
Well I hope their new strategy realise that a camera is primarily for taking photos!
I have an A77 and was looking forward to the A99. However the A99 release really pis**d me off because Sony expected us to pay a large premium for the Videography benefits of the A99 (over the D600), when all many people wanted was a great low light (FF) camera at a reasonable price (ie d600 price point).
If they continue to charge vast sums of money for videography benefits perhaps they could release two cameras ie A**c (camera) and A**v (videography) for each range with different price points!
I look forward to future developments and hope Sony does develop a Photo orientated FF DSLR with on sensor phase detection (thus removing the translucent mirror). It would also be nice to see some of the gimmicks from the Nex range migrate over to the alpha range ie Wifi/mobile phone control etc.
You know what? Funny thing is almost no one is impressed with A99 video 🙂 Their AF doesn’t work with faster than f3.5 aperture and it does work in P mode only – it was proven that this is intentional crippling (by firmware hack and actuator hack). Their codec sux and also is crippled due to NEX FS line and other pro cameras, stabilization is well not so good as could be optical or moving sensor (they couldn’t solve overheating). A77 has even more video problems like no AGC, can not use whole sensor etc.
If you go back to Sony statements they have said they will implement video when it is consumer ready and bug free. So far they haven’t released any A mount camera with impressive video – even A99 has issues. So if Sony says something it means… they say – nothing more 🙂
They release those buggy cameras, price it over Nikon and Canon and then their are amazed SLTs don’t sell well. How dumb one must be to think A99 would rock with price 500E over D800 in Europe. I think this camera couldn’t sell well with D600 price and it is almost 2x more than D600 in Europe.
Now this rumor about possibel change in future is nothing new to me. I see no future for A mount with such attitude. If it is good news then someone from Sony should give interview and explain us what is their plan, they should lower prices for A99 to D600/6d level.
I see plenty of A850/A900 users jumping to Nikon and Canon – and it is not A99 SLT EVF issue. It is the problem with whole system and Sony lack of policy about A mount. Anything over A65 looks like too expensive toy and not pro body from pro system. Only prices are pro 🙂
Oh and before you call me troll I have NEX and see bright future for it. Looks this system is from other company. Do you remember 5 firmware upgrades that each time introduced new features for NEX-5? I also have few A mount lenses that were waiting for A99. Now it is cheaper for me to buy Nikon d800 and I can be sure there is future for this mount. I will keep NEX but Sony A bye bye.
I agree the only way Sony will get people to buy the A99 is if it is priced at D600 levels. It has no major functions that warrant its high price compared to the D600 especially if you are only into photography.
If you think the A99 is a vast amount of money. Then you don’t make enough. For me it’s out of my reach at the moment, but vast amounts of money. Come on…..
I earn plenty enough money thank you, enough to afford an A99 and lens each month with my disposable income if I so wished.
However just because I earn plenty does not make me foolish enough to think that £750 (rough price of an A99 over a D600)for video functions is not a vast sum of money… it is… you can buy a very good camera such as an A65 for £750 and that’s ignoring the fact that the D600 has video (all be it not as good as the A99).. Sony has mis-priced the A99 as I think is abundantly clear with its low sales figures (Amazon) and sudden road map change.
Perhaps Sony will release a series of RX combo. RX-1 35mm, RX-2 50mm, RX-3 200mm etc. All in compact FF size. They visualize photographer will no longer swap lens but directly bring few mini cameras with them. Nikon photographer will have few lenses with 1-2 large FF bodies. Sony Photographer will have few small RX lens+body hanging on their body. Now that is something different from competitors… changing the game -_-“
And just $8400 for 3 focal lengths.
🙂
So, should ppl not buy the a99 or if they did return it?
thanks Admin! Excited to hear about these rumors when you’ve got it all fleshed out. Between the trolls and the whiners it is easy to forget that this is all for fun. Who knows what we’ll get until we get it. Meanwhile its fun to dream!
Sounds like something a whining troll would say 🙁
If they get rid of the mirror completely, I see no benefit in keeping the A mount around. Make a new FF mount. Remove the AA filter. Bring on global shutter. On sensor phase detect. lens motor would need to change to fit pdaf/cdaf designs. Android OS. Change the shape of the camera to be less DSLR-like. There, I have done the thinking for Sony. My suggestions would piss of the 10 A mount owners, but sales would take off immediately. Even the 10 fans who own A mount would grudgingly agree sales would rocket.
If we’re going to go revolutionary and change imaging, we must unshackled ourselves from legacy tech and thinking. Sorry, A mount fans, but you’re holding one of the shackles holding back Sony.
I’d also remind you guys that we all agree the DSLR centric thinking is holding back Canikon, but then when it comes to Sony, some think Sony should cling to their DSLR legacy. Anyone thinking clear can see the future is full mirrorless. I guarantee Canikon also see it, but they’re dragging their feet. One day, they will no longer procrastinate. It’ll be better for Sony to get a headstart on the future. Dslrs will continue to be around but will be relegated to a small niche share of the market. Can Sony afford to procrastinate till the day the big 2 are forced to jump in with both feet?
yeah, right, I will balance a 300mm f2.8 monster on a Nex 7. Face it – mirrorles does not mean the same size factor. Mirrorles means an A mount and an E mont at some point in time and those will be different sizes, for the sheer benefit of better ergonomics.
Mind that with the current low price, more and more people will switch from point and shoot style cybershots to either a Nex size camera or DSLR style camera. If Sony wants to be a major player in the market they must be good in both of these segments.
Does every camera maker really need a 300/2.8? How many people out there buys such a lens? When they do buy such a lens, I guarantee that 99.9% of those buying a 300/2.8 are buying the versions with the gold ring or the one with the L in its name. DSLR market will shrink and the two kings are too entrenched. Best leave it to them. Sony should go west and strike gold in those mirrorless mines. It’s a new age. As we saw the passing from large format to medium format to DSLR. We are now seeing the passing from DSLR to full mirrorless.
Mirrorless A won’t appeal much to anyone. Most DSLR users won’t switch from Canikon because they’re already entrenched in the systems. I know I won’t (for DSLR usage). The A mount market is small. They already have bodies and lens. A new body with no mirror won’t excite them. What sony needs is something like the RX with interchangeable FF mount. Ditch the DSLR format and the A mount. Sales would immediately rocket. I know I’d be in line. Most of the focal lengths I use are in the 24-120 anyway.
You really think so? Because you like the e-mount that every user does? There are several situations where you are better off with a large camera and a large lens. I spend 99% of my photo time with a heavy 100-300mm f/4 lens and I can not imagine to balance it off with a NEX7 which trades ergonomics for size. Its like with cars, if you need a Ford truck for what you do a compact Toyota will never get the job done because its smaller, lighter or needs less fuel. Sure, the compact has advantages, but only if you use it for propper roles.
You think that Sony can not compete with Canikon? In which areas? Sensor wise Sony is already the leader, the issue is the lens lineup. Will a Canon user switch to Sony? Currently rather not, because he would loose the huge lens selection he has currently. But he would be more than tempted to go to Nikon, because Nikon uses Sony sensors. Many people say, we want a system with Sony sensors and Canon lenses.
So what will make Sony gain market? More value for money, something where Sony is struggling. Newer tech – something which Sony is capable to deliver. At certain point the Sony sensor tech will most likely reach a point where the advantages will be too big to ignore. Obviously, only if they will keep exclusivity of the tech, because if Nikon will have access to the same sensor tech, they will always win.
@Whistler. I really think so. Chasing a declining market, where the two leaders are too entrenched is not a smart move. Those who need a 300/2.8 can buy Canikon. Sony should put their resources into the future. Imagine if Nikon and Canon had continued to try and compete with Leica in rangefinder instead of chasing DSLRs. Or how about companies like Rollei and Hasselblad? They were slow to change with the times and look at them today.
Samsung is already working on it. LOL
Yes, Sony will get rid of the mirror for future FF cameras, but there is absolutely no sense in introducing another mount! Sony has the E mount which is absolutely brilliant. You can use just about any lens on the planet using the appropriate adapter. Sony already has the FF adapter for A-mount lenses, which will offer full AF/aperture control and thus is in no hurry to offer FF E-mount lenses. And the beauty of E-mount is that if it is possible, you can get lenses which are really compact. Otherwise you can design them anywhere from there to A-mount flange distance (where the lenses will become larger of course). It is up to the lens designer really. (Expect future Sony lenses to be E-mount, but more often than not for FF…) And Sony’s FF future is going to be square format (30x30mm).
But can Sony make an adapter that will provide IBIS when using Alpha glass on an e-mount body?
To me, that was a bad decision that Sony now needs to overcome (Alpha has IBIS where-as e-mount has lens OSS) else people looking for a ‘dual system’ (Full Frame camera combined with a mirrorless back-up/carry-about camera) will be turning to Canon.
Is anyone else put-off by the fact that you lose image stabilization if you adapt Alpha lenses?
My thinking is that Sony will be offering IBIS for their upcoming FF cameras. They managed to do that for the A99 and it was a great pity they left it out for the NEX’s. I am confident that it was a decision back then based on size (the smaller the better), but the new FF E-mount cameras won’t compete for size, they will compete for a totally new concept. Sony is trying to kill the DSLR market. At least that is what I think. I hope they will manage…
My thinking is IBIS is dead. Like it or not, photo + video is the future. In-lens IS is far better for video. Sony and Panasonic knew what they were doing when they left IBIS out of their mirrorless bodies. Canon and Nikon have also stated that in-lens stabilization is far better than in-body stabilization.
If they drop native Alpha Mount, I will drop Sony…
I don’t agree with full-frame Nex… Just look at the vg900…
If they make this move it is obvious it is only to sell more nex lenses and force the Minolta Maxxum Lens fans to purchase ‘Sony’ lenses.
Wont work with me, I promise.
And if its not 24x36mm I will do the same…
They better not go square only either.
My thinking is that not everyone has a preference for video (if that for some to me unknown reason has anything to do with where you do the image stabilisation). I totally prefer IBIS so I don’t need to pay extra for each lens I buy, and also for being able to enjoy stabilised vintage lenses!
For quick win, put the a99 sensor on a DSLR body
Enable LiveView/Video mode with on sensor PDAF – it will be faster than any other DSLR in the market
Add articulated screen and built-in vertical grip – make it lighter & smaller than 5D3 or D800 with the grip
Further improve S/N ratio at high ISO, make it better than 5D3
Improve DR, make it better than D800
Add WiFi and Tethering support
Develop new photo-centric applications such as time-lapse, sound trigger etc.
OEM Phottix ODIN wireless flash controller with the new hotshoe
Development costs = very minimal
Sell it at the price between 6D and D600!
For lenses:
Make mid-range FF A-mount lenses such as
15-30/f4, 24-85/f4 with Macro, 70-210/f4 with Macro
14/f4, 35/f2, 85/f2, 200/f2.8, 300/f4
Put weather sealing on all FF A-mount lenses
Zeiss Distagon 21/2.8 & 35/1.4, 100/F2 Makro Planar for A-mount
+1
It’s pretty telling you cannot currently buy the Distagon 21/2.8 or 100 Makro Planar for A mount, but they’re available for Canikon. Zeiss sees gold in Canikon and NEX. They see bronze in A mount… not really worth chasing the 10 owners. Zeiss provides A mount with a few zooms and one off primes and crafted their premium lenses for the larger Canikon market. Sony should stop chasing those same 10 owners and focus on the millions of NEX owners, like their buddies over at Zeiss. Hate to say it, but those in the 99% (NEX) are tired of Sony wasting so much money on you 1% (A mount). Zeiss isn’t wasting much energy on this mount. Sony should also stop.
This was intended as a response to calxn in another thread. Sorry.
There is something very wrong with what happens when you respond to someone’s entry on this site. The response ends up in the wrong place. Please admin, there must be something you can do?
I hope they can introduce cameras with modular design, Just like Nex series.
light, small, PDAF on adapter, cropped lenses for E mount, regular lenses for A mount, E mount on all bodies, mid-low end bodies with cropped sensor, hi end bodies with FF sensor, etc. And most important: All bodies and lenses should be compatible with each other by using adapters. Oh Sony, make it happen, and don’t bankrupt. lol
A full frame sensor on a Hassy H5D-like design please. Make a modular pro camera! Swappable sensor! And mount! Now that’s a real professional tool! We. An swap in the 24Mpox sensor if we need low loght, then the 36 or 40mpox sensor of we need details. They can just upgrade the base skeleton every 5 years, but the sensor tech every 6months! Then, they will make a killing selling three things other than just 2! And user will have their options laid out! That would be huge for pros! Truly revolutionary!
I came to make a snide remark, but, you know, that sounds fantastic. You have my vote! 🙂
(Of course, the NEX body is a bit like an interchangeable back, in size and price…)
Global electronic shutter.
Why everyone keeps saying there will be plenty of lenses for an FF E-Mount camera?
AFAIK there’re currently NO FF E-Mount lenses, they are all for APS-C..
Blatently this is going to be an Emount camera with A or a new lens mount via adapter.
– Modular adapter system
– Backward compatibility with A/E
– Option for PDAF via SLT (A mount)
– Option for PDAF via sensor for E (& possibly new) mount
– IBIS as required depending on lens detected
– A series style controls
This is not rocket science, sony have been moving this way since the LA-EA2 came out and should not cause panic for A mount shooters as their lenses will still work.
If anything it just gives you flexibility. An SLR/SLT type camera with FF when you need it, a RF when you can get away with it and a compact when you’re being discrete.
Whats bad with that?
Bad because it’s e-mount. If we’d need that – we could buy NEX7 with LA-EA2 or NEX-FF with LA-EA3. But we don’t need that.
Youre joking?
If it has an INTERCHANGABLE adapter its BOTH E and A mount.
Asking for A mount just limits options as the registration distance is so much larger.
Any new mirrorless WILL be e-mount base. As this keeps all options open for sony and users.
Annex, what you say is very sensible. But the adapter on the camera should look good, not as LA-EA2 on the current NEXes.
Im guessing that any FF camera will have a more “pro” feel so would be significantly chunkier in the body than current NEX.
Hope that would help with the slightly lumpy LA-EA2 feel. Although quite honestly even on a 5N you get used to it pretty quickly, just looks wrong initially.
This move demonstrates one thing: that Sony has no clear vision of their future strategy. I doubt this will help to attract people to make long term investments in Sony.
Unlike Canikon who plan to sell flapping mirror boxes until eternity. Innovation will be its own reward for SONY.
I see this as confirmation that they have developed something radically new, and I can’t think of anything else than autofocus-in-sensor, which would eliminate the need for mirrors entirely. But even in that case you’d have the limitations of the A-mount, so if they don’t want to abandon that the camera is going to look more or less the same as before.
Exciting times. It’s a good thing Sony is pushing ahead with developments – Canikon aren’t being very innovative, are they?
what about this guess: alpha lenses are made for phase detection. I have a hard time believing sensor phase detect can compete with “real” phase detection with those lenses any time soon. but nex lenses are made for modern contrast detection and phase detection on chip. future full frame will be hybrid. mirrorless e-mount with a new adapter- made for full frame, with translucent mirror and phase detection and a focus motor. think about it, ff nex with la-ea4 made for full frame is basically an a99. this new ff-nex-with-adapter-hybrid will be bigger than the nexes of today though. we will want better grip, better battery and bigger screen on our full frame nexes. this might be the beginning of the the end of alpha, but as long as the adapter is there and ergonomically and technically well enough integrated with the body, I really don’t see anything wrong with that.
Here is my Armchair CEO speculation:
Sony develops amazing 36mp sensor and sells to Nikon. Makes good money on nikon sales.
Sony thinks about it’s own FF and caves, listens to trolling forum requests for low resolution full frame with high video specs. Releases the mighty a99. A fair camera no doubt but does not break any boundaries for price to features.
A99 can’t push current a900/850 owners to budge on new purchase but doesn’t gain any nikon (you would be crazy) or canon shooters to jump ship.
Sony confused by low a99 sales (the trolls had no intention of actually buying said camera) , Heads back to the drawing board while the remaining pro shooters dump their a900 and 850 systems for Nikon d800.
Just release the 36 mp sensor in a basic body. Do I have to hold your hand and tell you what makes an attractive camera to purchase?? Ask d800 owners. You could have done this 2-3 years ago. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just satisfy your current customers.
And to make matters worse, the A99/Vg900 are epic failures in the video realm. Check threads on DVXuser and Dpreview, the video it produces is soft, soft, soft.
Hit the button too soon!
I meant to add that the Canon 5d3 dropping to $2999 leaves the A99 DOA. Despite class leading features, the execution is poor. Its a great stills camera and a complete disaster as a video camera. Makes you wonder if they actually compared A99 video to the 5d3/D800 or even the EM5?
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3346882
+1 Tom_Tom
I think the real threats to the sales of A99 are 6D and D600, which are very “basic” cameras but aimed at the sweet spot of Enthusiasts upgraded from APS-C DSLRs or Mirrorless cameras.
A99 got very strong video functions but not everyone needs them, with the current development of EVF & SLT, I doubt a trimmed down A88 could have a better sales volume altogether:
1. Existing customers of A850/A900 – would have bought A99 already if SLT/EVF is acceptable
2. Canikon APS-C users – 6D/D600 seems a logical upgrade path as they can still reuse some of the accessories. If they want Zeiss lenses, they can buy ZE/ZF. If they want Image Stablization cheap, they can buy Tamron/Sigma.
3. Mirrorless camera users – what is the incentive for carrying bulky and heavy equipment if the PQ is not much better on computer screens?!
FF vs APS-C:
1. Better image quality at the same number of pixels especially in low light
2. Shallower depth-of-field at the same focal length/aperture
3. More choices of lenses
Strength:
1. Industry leading sensor technology
2. In Body Image Stabilization
3. AF Zeiss Lenses
4. On sensor PDAF which enables quick LiveView and AF video
5. Articulated screen
Weakness:
1. Lack of support for professional photographers
2. Optical stabilization is better for Telephoto lenses
3. Best Zeiss lenses (D21/2.8 MP100/2) are not available in A-mount
4. Lacks weather-sealing on most lenses
5. Compatibility issues with iISO IAS/ISO hotshoes with accessories in the market
Opportunities:
1. As sensor supplier to Nikon/Fuji/Olympus/Pentax/Hassy, Sony can leverage their strengths in 3D AF tracking/Image Processing/High quality lenses/Weather-sealing clean High ISO/True Focus Leaf shutter etc….
2. To use production facilities of Olympus to produce lenses for both A-mount & E-mount
3. Integration of Wifi and mobile apps to further automate sophisticated tasks such as time-lapse and sound trigger
4. Acquire companies with unique technologies such as wireless triggers, high speed flash, liquid lens etc.
5. Offer trade-in for APS-C DSLRs, recycle them properly, save the planet
Threats:
1. Cheap FF cameras like 6D/D600 and Price drop on 5D3/D800
2. Nikon may use another OEM for sensors
3. Canon may catch up on sensor technologies
4. IQ & DR difference between APS-C & FF diminishes
5. Niche players such as Sigma/Leica may steal sales of FF cameras if the build quality/image quality is not attractive enough
Wow…I haven’t seen a S.W.O.T. analysis in a while..nicely done.
6d and d600 show that full frame is rapidly becoming a commodity rather than a premium option. SONY really missed tapping this middle market. Let’s hope they can do it in mirrorless.
I agree, nicely done and arguably a correct
Now, having read that, and seeing what your friends use, and knowing that the vast majority of professionals use something besides Sony, and if you are an art school student hearing what your instructors recommend that you use as a photography student and why, what system would you invest your career or future career in?
If you set to one side all of the old timers with legacy Minolta and Sony glass and remove from consideration the hobbyists who like to play with old MF optics and adapters and dream of a world where Sony makes a camera that can use everyone’s else’s lenses (so they Sony don’t need to design and market their own) who do you have left that will buy Sony stuff?
Sure, the future is an unknown, but your photography can be today and life it too short to live each day waiting to see what new and wonderful things technology will bring.
If photography is important to you, you’ll purchase what is available today and later, if Sony does release your dream camera, then sell what you have if necessary and buy Sony, but don’t waste today for tomorrow.
The more Sony listen to the forum troll’s request about FF NEX, the faster she dies! LOL!!! She is already dying at the pace she is burning money everyday right now. Keep up the rumor of the FF NEX so that customer won’t buy any APSC E mount lens or the next NEX 7 until it arrives! It is like Sony will make tons of money by introducing the FF NEX. Everybody is going to line up to get it like an iphone 5. Sony should fire everyone in the marketing department and just listen to the people in this forum about what the customer want.
Love my A99 and my Nex Fs700 great combo. Lets not forget gentlemen they are just tools that prob 5 out of 10 of ya ( you know who you are, might not wanna admit it) actually know how to use. If you like sony go sony. If ya like canikon rock on. If your work sucks no camera or lenses will fix it.
Here’s the truth and it’s going to hurt…
Professionals and enthusiasts have been rapidly dumping their Sony cameras and lenses the last couple of years. So much so that Sony has no choice but to let the Alpha series dwindle away on every back alley dealer’s dusty shelf. It’s the truth and we’ve been watching it for well over a year.
The honorable thing for Sony to do with the Alpha line is just commit Seppuku (aka Harakiri – a form or ritual suicide).
The Alpha is dead. Long live the NEX.
[More correctly in reply]
Yeah, right like you know… donut…
I’m a Canon user switching away from the DSLR/mirror nonsense and going to A99 + NEX.
Never been happier and the results have been fantastic. No mirror vibration, in-body stabilisation for 4 stops difference with ANY medium/wide angle lens, real-time everything in EVF. These are the things that make a REAL DIFFERENCE in EVERY shot. My image quality is miles better than the Canikons because if I can shoot ISO 800 they’d have to shoot at ISO 12800. AF is as good if not better than any Canikon.
In my 15 years of Canon, never bought more than 10 lenses. Never really needed anything other than 4 particular workhorse f2.8 lenses, which are as good if not far better on Sony (with stabilisation!)! Go figure.
These are reasons why I can never go back to the mirror/OVF-dinosaur-relic-BS they keep feeding you clowns.
Sounds like someone peed in your Cheerios… quit crying about dropping your Canon gear and woefully switching to Sony. What’s next, a switch to Nikon? Make up your mind.
I shoot it all and couldn’t be happier.
Sounds like I ruffled yr Canikon feathers? Its true that the dinosaurs will never accept that things have changed.
“I shoot it all and couldn’t be happier.” – U shoot it all and you want to tell others to make up their minds? More like you just don’t know what you are doing!
At least I understand that the mirrorless (micro 4/3 & NEX) revolution was built on the breakthrough of mirrorless & EVFs tech. 50% of interchangeable lens cameras in Japan are mirrorless for a reason. Try getting that.
At least 15 years of Canon L lens use hasn’t blinded me to the limitations of the Canikon BS. OVFs are a relic. Its really quite funny when u dinosaurs talk about the EVFs as a “con”.
There are many of us who will never go back to OVFs, try digging that and asking yourselves why.
What I thinking is …. .A Module FF Camera Base on NEX E-mount System , able to add AF module SLR…SLT as you wish……Able to choice Additional Battery Grip….. or WIFI Grip like canon’s ………a Professional LEGO camera !! What you want , just got you want ,
SLR Lover plug the OVF Module…..
SLT Lover Plug the EVF Module ,
you want GPS… Plug on it….
Wifi Grip , Plug on it.
Additional Larger LED Display for moviemaker , plug on it…
LOL…. Day Dreaming , but it’s good if it is true~
Yeah, right like you know… donut…
I’m a Canon user switching away from the DSLR/mirror nonsense and going to A99 + NEX.
Never been happier and the results have been fantastic. No mirror vibration, in-body stabilisation for 4 stops difference with ANY medium/wide angle lens, real-time everything in EVF. These are the things that make a REAL DIFFERENCE in EVERY shot. My image quality is miles better than the Canikons because if I can shoot ISO 800 they’d have to shoot at ISO 12800.
In my 15 years of Canon, never bought more than 10 lenses. Never really needed anything other than 4 particular workhorse f2.8 lenses, which are as good if not far better on Sony (with stabilisation!)! Go figure.
These are reasons why I can never go back to the mirror/OVF-dinosaur-relic-BS they keep feeding you clowns.
You sound angry about switching to Sony. Too bad for you.
You sound like you don’t know much. Nothing but pointless one-liners. Maybe you shouldn’t post so much if your only experience is with Sony Cybershots as your name suggests.
Unfortunately dude (and the likes of @Kevin too), its totally impossible. The OVF/mirror assembly is a relic precisely due to the cost/complexity and mechanical bulk of the whole thing. Its what adds the huge bulge/hump to SLRs.
What you are suggesting requires a physical separation of the top half (or more) of the body! The pentaprism/mirror module would need to be replaced with an EVF module with electronic connectors.
How much dust are you going to get into the camera body? How much damage/misalignment might you cause to that expensive pentaprism + moving mirror each time you do that? How much would you add to production cost too? The unnecessary precision of the prism/mirror relic is the reason most SLR users who tie their colours to the OVF mast have never even experienced full 100% OVFs.
People should just slay that OVF sacred cow once and for all. I know I have.
Maybe some day the many folks like me who will never go back to OVFs should give a detailed exposé on the issue. There is a shocking lack of knowledge about how good the EVF paradigm is.
Anybody with the OVF-mirror hang up should just stick to Canikon & put up with missing out on the many EVF advantages.
+1 Wow… its as if I wrote this…. My feelings exactly !
Above comment did not go where I replied… I replied to this…
Here is my Armchair CEO speculation:
Sony develops amazing 36mp sensor and sells to Nikon. Makes good money on nikon sales.
Sony thinks about it’s own FF and caves, listens to trolling forum requests for low resolution full frame with high video specs. Releases the mighty a99. A fair camera no doubt but does not break any boundaries for price to features.
A99 can’t push current a900/850 owners to budge on new purchase but doesn’t gain any nikon (you would be crazy) or canon shooters to jump ship.
Sony confused by low a99 sales (the trolls had no intention of actually buying said camera) , Heads back to the drawing board while the remaining pro shooters dump their a900 and 850 systems for Nikon d800.
Just release the 36 mp sensor in a basic body. Do I have to hold your hand and tell you what makes an attractive camera to purchase?? Ask d800 owners. You could have done this 2-3 years ago. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just satisfy your current customers
+1 Wow… its as if I wrote this…. My feelings exactly !
man…so many opinions – Love it!
I got my A99 about 2 months ago and with this news – sure, I feel a little uneasy, but man I still LOVE my A99. It really does outshine my A77 in all ways. So regardless of what happens I’m happy I upgrade to FF. I really loving the pictures i’m getting.
I don’t really have an opinion on A mount or E mount in the future. That said, I do have some $$ Zeiss glass in my collection and when that 50 1.4 comes out next spring – i’m on it – even with this news.
Like others have said, I think a modular system would be a pretty cool thing. Last time I’m checked when you buy a car or a computer, etc you can pick your options (at a cost of course)
So imagine your online checkout experience…
Sensor – 36MP / 50MP – maybe one or both of these are square sensors
Mount – E or A
I’m sure there’s more you could pick between but I think the ‘brain box’ of this high end ‘system’ could be what people buy and upgrade over time (esp if they go mirror less). I really LOVE Sony’s ergonomics (esp on A99) – it just fits my hands so well and I like the button layout a lot, but why does that need to change every generation. It really doesn’t.
If you could get 4 years or more out of a ‘chassis’ and just update the ‘brain box’ I think as a company sony would 1) spend less money on new molds and production equipment which would be a huge $$ saver, 2) create a real point of difference with Canikon, 3) Still be able to bring innovation every 12-18months without people worried about everything changing again, 4) still be able to sell Nikon their 35mm sensors for their traditional SLR’s because your new line is clearly different not necessarily a direct competitor-especially if you go medium format 😉 5) Bring a less expensive option of medium format to the masses, that also had backward compatibility with lenses of the past. The RX1 is expensive but dramatically less expensive than Leica…so why can’t sony do that to the current MF camera world?
I’m sure there’s plenty of holes in my argument, and maybe people wouldn’t like an ‘a la carte’ method of camera buying, but man that would be a fun day online trying to figure out what configuration I was going to buy!
@OneTrackMind: Could be damn expensive at the beginning. I just had a look at the Hasselblad’s modular system and Sony’s F5… and poor Ricoh. But I like the idea of building my camera like a desktop PC.
I think the update is cool as they all need the hot shoe upgrade I dont like to have 2 different flash mounts so I can sell my 6 minolta flash and replace then with nikon sb-26 and sb-28 as for all the other dramatic changes, I suppose its a good thing because they want to compete and win and when companies compete we win.
I agree with the announcement and the clarification note.
The sheer number of idiots are mind boggling, which only suggests that they are Canikon trolls. There can’t be that many idiots.
The *rumour* is only that they will change the design. Not change the systems. The changes will maintain compatibility with the A & E mounts & in fact enhance the appeal of those mounts. Afterall, what else have they got?
Understand that 50% of all interchangeable lens system users in Japan are mirrorless now – either using NEX or M4/3. Rest of Asia is behind but following that up trend too.
The only logical conclusion is that the FF roadmap will be mirrorless too, which implies EVF. This is entirely consistent with the SLT strategy, which has been award winning in case the donuts missed it (incidentally just like the NEX).
The most obvious outcome – A FF NEX which will use A & E mounts with or without adapters. I can only think of one other thing – the RX1’s radical design might find its way into the mix.
right!
Quit calling us donuts!
You’re such a donut-hole.
Again, what have you contributed which is of any use? Have we learned anything from your posts? Precisely why u can only be called – a DONUT.
A mount FF mirror less? almost jizz in my pants for a little bit. I’d sell everything i have just to get my paw on one. make sure they have SR in there too, the NEX without SR is a pain in the butt to shoot in low light.
Sick, dude.
I make the same statement as I did time ago…
Sony has to bring two ways of improvement to satisfy the market:
– Clear advantage over the model they replace
– Clear advantage over competition models
The modela based on this strategy succeeded very well:
On top we can list:
RX100 -> no think on the market is equivalent
RX1 -> no think on the market is equivalent
Nex system -> Clear advantage over m43
A55/A33 -> SLT and all its advantages over classical dslr.
None of the competitors had a model on this segment with this size with such performances
On upgrades based on similar tech.:
A65/A77: great upgrade of the EVF. Excellent new 24mpx sensor. 12 fps….
Ad to this introduction of the 1650/2.8 with incredible price
Nex7: Amazing camera. Rangefinder oled evf. 24Mpx, tri nav….
Nex6: Direct competitor to Nex7 at lower price, pdafos, wifi, compact 16-50…
And my question is:
What the A99 brings as new to the existing market?
I am convinced that the A99 is a very capable camera… But this is not sufficient to compete against leaders in the market…
What A99 has an advantage over equivalent competitors? What A99 has new ober A77?
At least if the AF-D was more efficient system compared to Nikon and Canon AF systems… We could argue…
For those who keep mentioning that the NEX series outsell the Alpha…
That is because you CANT FIND an alpha body anywhere to purchase… ‘Best Buy’ is full of Nex Camera, 3,5,7′s, You name it they have it. but NOT ONE Alpha. EVEN at the ‘Sony Style’ stores most of the time… I had to wait 5 months before I could buy an a77 from the Sony style store, But when A nex product comes out it right there for sale immediately. So Just because you own a Nex, Stop saying its better or its sells more… If it does sell more its only because you cant find an alpha to buy anywhere… Plus 80% of Sony’s camera ads are for the Nex. Not alpha.. This is obviously Sony making this the case, not necessarily the Consumer’s choice of Nex over Alpha…
I’d like to see a mirror changing, lens changing 35mm format cam.
Let me explain. Sony with there translucent mirror Alpha cam’s
Could make it possible that the mirror could be changed out and exchange the translucent mirror to use a translucent ND filter, a Translucent Polarizing filter mirror, or any kind of colored filter and be a translucent mirror also.
The cam would also know what filter you have in it, with a chip inside of the cam and or the mirror box.
Letting Sony have the ability to sell us filter for the cam that makes it work better than a screw on one. Not that you would not be able to screw one on the outside of the lens.
The fact that this ideal mirror technology makes it possible to bounce some light to the mirror box where the Phase detection sensor is great. Sony should not let this idea of translucent mirror die because some people object to using a view finder with a electronic display or go mirror less as some say to corner the market.
I say make this translucent mirror cam better and this how I see it becoming better. You use to change out the mirror to change the screen you’d see in your optical view finder. Now doing so with a mirror that allows you to change the mirror filter in the cam for a different and more creative reasons.
I believe this would change many more minds about sony than just a better more pixel better light sensing cams.
I want just like anybody else a more sensitive cam, but better use of the technology is really what would rev up the idea behind using sony gear. That’s all I have to say.
I have been thinking of this Idea for sometime now. It’s possible because I know it is possible.
Thanks Kevin.