And now it’s official! As we told you weeks ago Sony will have a new “special presentation” on March 15th. Our reader David found that invitation from Sony UK. From what we heard Sony will announce new Cameras AND Lenses on March 13th (two days earlier). So this event may be related to the new stuff. The Sony A57 with 16 Megapixel will arrive for sure, probably a new NEX-F3 too and than new Alpha lens(es?). I am working on details about the upcoming announcements and will post more info the next days.
105 Responses
Andrea you should be a guest of honor!
They will never invite me…the enemy 🙂
May I ask why you consider yourself to be the enemy? 😀
Without SAR giving me A77 updates I would probably be a Nikon user now…and regretting it too…
You are thick. It’s not obvious to you why? He gets inside information that Sony would rather come out later on (or would they…hmmmmm).
Pretty obvious to me, tells me a lot about your mental threshold.
end of line.
What? Have you completely lost it now?
end of line.
Are you sure you didn’t both lose it.
I’m 100% positive I haven’t. Not near that percentage for SonyA77 though. Must be tough in his world, real tough.
end of line.
MCP: I really have nothing against you but seriously, do you not understand that replying to others’ comment of your comment completely cancels the whole purpose of using “end of line” at the end of your message?
Yep.
end of line.
Cmon Sony leaks to you. I know they do.
I would find it incredible that any organisation would not make full use of the marketing potential of a website dedicated to their future products. It’s a marketer’s dream – an “independent” way to get a buzz going…
And consider, Sony are quite happy to release a lens road map so it’s hardly like they are in the business of keeping secrets like Apple are.
But whatever, the process at Sony is so painfully slow that we get “something coming” for a few weeks, then some basic/brief info for a while longer, then some possible date for more to be announced, and … blah blah blah. Protracted and painfully slow. And it’s blummin ages before you can actually walk into a shop, buy it and take pictures with it.
Unless it’s yet another nex body.
I also didn’t get invitation. Am I Sony enemy 🙂
All this for a57 and some lens? Is a57 that ground breaking?
Does it have to be in order to have a launch event?
Lenses for Sony are groundbreaking because there’s not a whole lot.
Heh
Why isnt the sony centre in london hosting anything? I could go there. Going to glasgow from london is incredibly expensive at just £120 for a train ticket or £70 for plane.
Yep, only $2000. from Detroit.
Now you know how the rest of the UK feels when events are only around London…
Give the Sony Centre on Tottenham Court road a call… they might be doing something!!!
Given the recent releases of both Nikon and Canon, I would hope that Sony has at least some concrete information or a prototype of the new full frame. Otherwise the only thing that would be news worthy is a video camera.
Everything fine – until I spotted “attendee’s” We’re all guilty of typos but on something like this – tut tut
Now, why would they not do that (“special one off deals”) in the Benelux? 🙁
Jessops in Edinburgh and Glasgow will be having special “Launch days” for the NEX7 tomorrow (saturday 3rd March).
I know John Dallas. He is our Sony Rep. But sadly i dont have his number so i dont know for sure that he will be announcing anything.
What event is on March 13th?
I really hope there is a 35mm f/2 around the corner. I’m getting fed up of waiting this lens that is essential. Why can’t they understant that ?
Get the minolta one
the minolta 35mm/f2 is really rare, man. people who have that lens doesn’t want to sell it again 😀
And if you have the two f2’s, you really don’t want to sell the pair even more. Though a modernized set won’t be too bad.
If you’re shooting APS-C, just get the SAL-24F20Z
35mm/1.8 is a nice one too!
Me too… native E-ount 30 or 35 with at least f/2 is badly needed.
I WANT A FF MIRRORLESS BODY WITH IBIS!
You also need a new keyboard. Your caps lock is stuck.
That was funny.
Yes. That’s funny…lol
hahaha good one
If there will be no announcement of a full frame, or at least not show the camera model I say f**k sony
Looks just like a boring dealer presentation. A Sony sales rep will be there with all current lenses and cameras, nothing new I’d say.
sadly I think this is the case as well
Why should you care? Haven’t you bought a CaNikon yet?
end of line.
Sony A77 your own Sony fan mates are suckering you into the fake MCP now too, lol oh thats awesome. That wasn’t me!
end of line.
Yet you are still here…do you also troll the Canon and Nikon rumour sites?
end of line.
It’s only trolling to you because the truth hurts. I know the pain, been there man, been there. It will pass, one day you’ll look back on all the idiotic defending of a greedy corporation like Sony and shake your head- you’re likely to not remember me but you will say to yourself: Self, that was really a dumb thing to do. Glad I grew up.
So anything you say now, hits duck feathers my wet friend.
Lets have a camera topic debate shall we? I’d like to see how far you can go before lies come out of your mouth.
Ready when you are sweetheart.
end of line.
Any upcoming news for e-mount lenses ?
Interesting that anyone working in a Sony Centre might actually know anything about their cameras. Last time I went into the Sony Centre in Meadowhall (Sheffield UK) it was not long after the A900 was launched (admittedly this was ages ago) and none of the staff had any idea what I was talking about!
Anyway, we can but hope for a FF release/official announcement soon I suppose.
Sony Centres are just a franchise, you’d get as much help there as you would from Comet…
I hope the show us a prototype and give us details about the upcoming FF camera. I would think they need to do this as some people are bent on jumping ship. Oh wait, it would not matter to them anyway.
Wow! That didn’t take long…I just checked the Used Camera section of Adorama Camera in New York, USA, and they had an E+ condition a77 body for sale for $1249.00 USD. Ya think it had anything to do with the release of the 5DMK111 today??? HEADS UP SONY!!
Why would a A77 being for sale have anything to do with the 5D MKIII?
+1
Thanks for the heads up if it’s true. I am thinking of getting a 2nd A77 for my arsenal so I can have one A77 with 16-50mm on it and another with A77 85mm f/1.4 on it to do some wedding shoots.
Good price to add another A77 body. Their loss, my gain.
Wow I live in Glasgow!
Just emailed to see if I can go 🙂
I got my invite! Go there directly and have a chat. You can also play with the nex7!!
since the announcement that the A600 is not coming, I feel so depressed that I not only take Prozac 😉 but also look towards Nikon. I know that some of you have tested A77 and D7000.
Witch one has the best AF tracking?
What are the major AF differences on both?
Buffer seems to be ridicules on both and slows down very early.
Canon 7D much better !?
(D800 and 5D Mark3 are too expensive for me)
What about AF-tracking on A65 and new A57?
Based from what I’ve heard the D7000 has a more accurate af tracking than the a77, on the other hand the a77 has the fastest af between the two. Based on buffer, the d7000 has more edge than the a77, either way both of the cameras are not good for sports.
thanks but which would be good for sports, running animals,…?
Buy the nikon D7000, it has a better buffer rate than A77.
And a better viewfinder too.
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Read the reviews and decide for yourself.
EVF is deal breaker for sports….I have tried a77 on a fast moving subject and it’s not so good since You’re always behind the actual action…..EVF lags, it’s not a half second lag but it’s still there and it makes action photography far much challenging…..
I worked a soccer game with my 2dx guy next to me had a77 + 70-400g…..so we switched for 5 minutes……
when we switched back I was so relieved 😉
+1 😉 I hate EVF anyway
Yet you are still here despite Sony not doing an OVF. In fact you are asking questions about the A57, A65 and A77 AF performance. If you hate the EVF, why bother asking about it?
because I first try to find a new answer instead of a new way 😉
You aren’t going to find any answer here, do your research and decide for yourself.
Especially when reading garbage that you lay down here and on the DPR and other forums. You are the problem that you are pointing out- how grand and succinct!
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You shouldn’t hate it, EVF has it’s advantages…it will continue to evolve and I wouldn’t be surprised if it surpasses OVF in many things….
all that I’m saying is that the a77 EVF is not sufficiently good for serious sport shooters.
I just shot a hockey game with a 70-400G/5n/LE-A2/EVF and it was great. I saw no lag and the focus was fast and accurate. I think soccer would be child’s play vs hockey. I cannot wait for the new FF. This make shift SLT/EVF works better much better than a 5dmarkII I have used before and my 850 for fast and accurate focus. I would love to compare it to the new 800 in focusing. The only time I see any lag in the present EVF’s is in very low light. I have an 850 which has a great OVF and many times I prefer the EVF. I was as concerned as the next regarding the departure of OVF’s and the into of SLT. However, I am beginning to embrace the this new technology.
Oh fun a party.
Perhaps we should hire a CaNikon Photographer to cover it natural light with remote tethering setup.
i wish they would release some new dslrs…. now that nikon and canon did…
🙁
@ isnt there any chance that they will?
No.
@SonyA77
Probably nothing…hopefully. It was just an attempt to let folks know that there was a used one available at Adorama, if they were looking for one at a reduced price. I bought my Maxxum 7D from them about 5 years ago, and have been nothing but pleased with it. However, after hauling around some $30,000.00 worth of Medium Format gear every Saturday for about 22 years, I am finally retired now, and looking forward to SONY’s offerings on March 13th. I’d like to upgrade my 7D, but haven’t seen anything that turns me on yet. I’m just a lowly amateur again, and do not need anything more than about 12 – 16 MPs to satisfy me. I have been following this site for quite a while now, and it seems to me that SONY has been very successful in making a whole lot of gear heads and technogeeks happy, and really pissing off a whold bunch of photographers who were real Minolta die hards, and damn proud of it too. Just an observation… take it for what it’s worth, which is probably not a lot. But SONY should be aware that they are diddling with a whole lot of photographers who are not going to buy the EVF thing and are really on the verge of jumping ship…. I say again…HEADS UP SONY! For me, I’ve used the EVF’s in other cameras, and find they are O.K…I guess. But when I load a roll of ACROS 100 into my Maxxum 9, and look into that beautiful, big, bright OVF, there is absolutely NO comparison. Personally, I’m very flexible, but I can certainly understand that there are working pros who are not, and when you put your ass on the line every month to turn the key in your door, or look into the steely eyes of the banker, you need to be very assured that you can trust the gear that you have chosen, and have the FULL PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT of the company that has it’s name imbedded on the top of the photographic tools that you are using. From what I can see, there is a lot of question in that regard from a lot of seasoned photographers out there about SONY’s level of commitment to them. Know what I’m sayin’?
If Sony OVF cameras sold so well, then Sony would still be making them.
@Sony A77
Thank you…it’s painfully obvious…you have no clue what I’m sayin’.
I don’t. Please explain… MCP about to join us.
“But SONY should be aware that they are diddling with a whole lot of photographers who are not going to buy the EVF thing and are really on the verge of jumping ship…. I say again…HEADS UP SONY!”
Was that not you then? How odd…
Btw im the same guy as BMWX5 and I work for a company that pays me for fake traffic. In this case its for Sony’s benefit, might as well come clean. I think others are here doing the same, I get paid per post. I work for a Chinese company.
Dunce.
end of line.
I’m hungry,
Think Sony will be offering a better pancake this time???
@ Sony A77
Nope…not at all.
Did you not read that I said I was awaiting SONY’s offerings on March 13th? It is a safe bet that what ever they come out with, it will be an SLT, and that is fine by me. I probably would have bought the a55 but it was just too small for my hands. From the reports, the a57 is supposed to be a little larger, with a vertical grip as well. If it is so, and 16 MPs to boot, then it will probably suit me just fine. I really don’t have a gripe with SLT’s personally, but there are many of the more established presently working photographers who will not move to it, and SONY is giving them no other option but to “jump ship”. Personally, I have nothing to prove anymore, and I couldn’t care less if the damn cameras have a wire frame to look through. Just go click and take a photo for me is all I want. However, I am not so ego driven and all consumed by the latest bells and whistles that I wish to ignore the requirements of other photographers who put bread on the table. As Romeno said, it doesn’t matter what label is on the tool as long as the job gets done. If SONY gets to be #1, good for them. Hopefully they will see before it’s too late that when they took over from Minolta, there was a reasonable expectation amongst the users of that brand, that they would be in good hands, and have their needs met and totally supported in a professional manner. We shall see in time…ya know what I’m sayin’?
Yep and I bet a lot of ‘Pro’ photographers said they were going to ‘jump ship’ when Minolta released the 7000. I can just imagine it now ‘what were they thinking?! Telling me I have to buy new lenses just so a computer can tell me where to focus! Pro’s don’t need this “auto focus” it’s just a gimmick!’.
‘Pro’ photographers are generally the ones who expect the status quo to just continue indefinitely. In fact no-one likes change in their job or the tools they use to perform their job. Ask a drafts person what they thought of using autocad in the 80’s, instead of drawing by hand. EVFs are the future regardless of those who whine endlessly about them as they do now. Personally I don’t care much about the EVF – but having a high resolution 7″+ field monitor to compose on whilst still having good AF to me is much more useful than any decent OVF (and yes I have used many). I also appreciate that other may be of a different opinion, at least we live in a world that gives you choice (for the time being).
Using sony slts or dslr for professional sport photography is like using trekking bike on a cycling race. You have to put much more effort in it to achieve satisfying result.
If your life depend on photography you should use tool that best suits your needs whatever label is on that tool.
I’m pretty sure this is more about a Masterclass with the professionals rather than a full-blown showcase of the future products. I’ve got something similar from last year when I went to a Sony Masterclass.
But I’m pretty sure you’ll get to see some nice gear. I managed to get to play around with the Zeiss 16-35mm f2.8 and as well as the 300mm f2.8 😀
So what do you think of the specs of EOS 5D Mark III? If this is the competitor of A99, no contest…
A99 rumor specs
Translucent mirror
36.9 Megapixel 3MOS Exmor sensor
(No Bayer filter)
ISO 100-102400 extendable to 204800 and 409600
12 frames per second
No infrared or anti-alias filters
Digital infrared filtering with three modes NO IR,WITH IR,ONLY IR
In camera moire remove
89 cross-type points AF
Metering direct from sensor
60/1-1/24000sec, time, bulb shutter (focal plane)
Flash synchronization up to 1/500sec and high-speed sync up to 1/24000sec
Built-In GPS and Wi-Fi plus Thunderbolt
Two CompactFlash card slots
5D Mark III
22.3 Megapixel full-frame sensor
61-point autofocus
Up to 6fps continuous shooting
Native ISO 100-25,600 sensitivity
Full HD video with manual control
14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor
Enhanced Weather sealing
8.11cm (3.2-inch) 1,040,000-dot screen
HDR mode with presets
Where do you get the rumour of A99?
Off the pie in the sky lol 😉
“A99 rumor specs
Translucent mirror
36.9 Megapixel 3MOS Exmor sensor
(No Bayer filter)- the rumour is 24MP traditional cmos & if this is true will be pretty expensive I would imagine.
ISO 100-102400 extendable to 204800 and 409600 – possible with 3mos but doubt we are there yet so expect 50 to 102400 extended max.
12 frames per second – fine
No infrared or anti-alias filters – No infrared filter just won’t work though a weaker IR filter & no AA filter could happen I suppose.
Digital infrared filtering with three modes NO IR,WITH IR,ONLY IR – don’t see how this is possible
In camera moire remove – would be a good feature & may be do-able….
89 cross-type points AF – this is where I realised you are just making up some random jibberish lol. The 1Dx has 61 AF points, 41 of which are cross; the D4 has 51 points, 15 that are cross. Both these cameras are brand new & twice the expected price of the a99 (at least!)
Metering direct from sensor
60/1-1/24000sec, time, bulb shutter (focal plane) – 1/16000 is the fastest on any SLR/DSLR to date & is limited by the shutter (that was for APS size sensor so had less distance to cover than a FF sensor), so, unless you include global shutter in your ‘pie in the sky’ specs & this is do-able with global shutter, I highly doubt it…..
Flash synchronization up to 1/500sec and high-speed sync up to 1/24000sec – I call impossible on this one 🙂 I am assume your ‘a99’ doesn’t have global shutter again by your inclusion of HSS as this would not be needed as there would be no shutter traverse time with global shutter…. The cost in creating a shutter capable of travelling at these speeds would be monumental & would be virtually pointless as the GN rating would be effectually reduced to a point of insignificance, so I don’t see who would want this & why???
Built-In GPS and Wi-Fi plus Thunderbolt – do-able I suppose…
Two CompactFlash card slots – now you make me laugh 😀
this a99 specs must be a joke of some kind
sad to bring it to you mr. marcellin but it’s not gonna happen 😉
What’s a 3MOS Exmor sensor supposed to be? Doesn’t exist mate.
89 cross points? Haha, what are you smoking? It’s a Sony! You will never see an AF system like that from Sony.
Bit of a downer, but its highly unlikely that Sony will make any announcements are a Sony Centre in Glasgow, its more likely to raise awareness of the current models. Major announcements would be saved for major events.
Don’t think the d4 and 5Dm3 was announced during a major event…
No its an upcoming announcement, they just want people to be there when the announcement happens. Andrea is right, there will be an announcement this month for sure.
end of line.
Not on the 15th in Glasgow.
end of line.
SEL 50/1.8 finally arrived! 😀
SonyA77,
I don’t know what the hubbub is all about with the OVF vs EVF. As I have said before, I have the 850 which has a really good OVF and use the EVF with my 5n. If someone gave me the choice right now on what I would want in my next camera I would chose the EVF. It’s only down fall that I can see is in very low light and I use the word “very” not loosely at all. Low light is fine. It is the very low light where there is lagging of imagery. The SLT has so many positives for action shots and moving objects that until we can get that type of performance in a mirrorless system, I would prefer the SLT to the mirror. I was just as concerned as many with the approach that Sony was taking, but I am now excited with their direction. I look forward with great expectation of the release of the new FF. And reading some of these posts, dismissing Sony as for technogeeks all I can say is that these might be the same people who snubbed the first time they came out with Shutter and Aperture priority, switched from film to digital (where are those opponents now that said no worthwhile professional will ever shoot digital), and who does not love TTL metering for flash. Just another example of technical advancement. I was so on the verge of switching to Nikon (like their cameras better than Canon) but am ready to move forward with Sony. I will definitely give them until Sept for their release. I hope I will not be disappointed but I doubt I will.
They will announce nothing on that day. In Glasgow… lol
I hope Sony will announce a lens around 30-35 mm, f/1.8, or f/2, not too big (it’s not important if it is not a pancake), good quality and reasonable price (let’s say, about the price of the 50 mm f/1.8, 300 €).
Yass!!! That’s me booked in for the event!!!!
Will let you know how it goes 🙂
Just went in 2 the sony centre, got me a NEX-7 🙂 & booked my spot! The staff member who sold it 2 me said that they are doing workshops and demonstrations on the current alphas and NEX cameras. I asked if there wld b any new products announced and he said that there wnt b. He told me I should bring my camera to test it out with any lenses I want to try 😀
Yeah looking forward to trying the Nex 7 and bringing in my A900 and Nex C3.
Maybe you will get to try the new 500mm at the show? Or it will still be vaporware.
Long swim to Glasgow from here! Around here Sony closed their store instead.
4 hours to go!
Did anything happen?
It doesn’t start for another hour!
It was a great night! Got to play with loads of nex and alpha gear. Decided I want a Zeiss 135mm and also a ea2 for my nex c3. No new gear but a presentation of Sony gear in use and talking about A77. Free food and drink and I think I tried every lens on my A900. Played with the Nex 7 and ea2 adaptor. Problem is that my fingers are pinched between the grip and adaptor. Not good 🙁