First of all: Those of you that know me well will remember that in Spring I told you that there would be likely no more A-mount cameras this year. And I also told you that 2013 would be a year of relative calm (with the exception of the great A7-A7r launch). This is just to say that I am not a guy that likes to create fake hypes or expectations.
Amazing 2014: Well, with absolute no hype intentions and with certainties based on what I got in these days from my sources I can tell you that 2014 will be many times more exciting than 2013! There are also some unexpected camera to come (with unexpected I mean cameras that not even have been “rumored” until today). As usual I am working to triple check all info I get but this is what we can expect to be released in 2014:
– New APS-C E-mount cameras (branded as Alpha). This includes the NEX-7 successor and new entry level APS-C E-mount cameras
– New A-mount FF camera
– New E-mount FF cameras (yes guys….I intentionally used the plural!)
– With 80% reliability also a hybrid A-E mount high end camera to come.
– UPDATE: I am still not sure if there will be an APS-C A-mount camera. I know there are prototypes of such cameras. Don’t know if and when they will release them.
It will be the goal of the coming weeks to grab details about these cameras. Sources are welcome to share info by contacting me anonymously through he contact form you see on the right border of this site or by sending me an email at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
One more thing: I know there is also a super brand new sensor tech. I still don’t know yet if it will make it in a production camera in late 2014 already or if we have to wait early 2015.
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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.
Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, SE, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, SE, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
283 Responses
Sad no a-mount aps-c camera on roadmap…
That’s what i am thinking as well,
I am pretty worry about the future of A mount APS-C line up.
I have no idea what’s up with that. Even more so as older rumors mentioned even as much as 3 APS-C A-mount cameras next year. And even quite recently there was an SR5 rumor about A77 successor for next year.
Admin – can you clarify what’s going on?
If you get a FF A-mount camera that gives a good number of pixels in crop mode, that can replace the A mount APS-C line.
depend on price.
Full frame sensors are getting cheaper.
How will that work for video?
+1
If street price of a FF A-mount body finally reach the 1000€$ frontier, I guess there is no longer need for semi-pro APS-C bodies. Like 20 years ago, where FF (analog) systems were really cheap (I remember my Minolta 505si 2-lenses kit for an equivalent price of €600,) no one was actually looking for smaller systems than FF if he had not a special need.
If it’s under £1500, I’m in! If they’re going to pretend the 6d and d610 don’t exist and price it compete with the 5d iii, I’ve got a tough decision to make…
I agree. This makes me sad too. I’m invested in APS-C lenses, and was hoping for a good upgrade in cameras (something with no audio gain control, headphone jack, etc, like on the RX10). If there’s no upgrade path that’ll let me use my APS-C lenses, I’m really starting to consider whether I should sell my stuff. I really don’t want to go E-mount and have to use a big Sony adapter.
+1
One thing that worries me with that hybrid A-E mount camera is the size. It needs some kind of helicoidal adapter built in or something like that and that requires space. But if they manage to make it only slightly bigger than A7/A7R then they might have some truly ground shaking product 🙂
Good to see that they’re going to push resources into FF E-mount, maybe it’ll convince 3rd party lens makers to do some lenses for it 🙂
Let the camera be as big as it has to be to fit everything.
I want all these new features… i dont need it to fit in my pocket too…
Hallelujah to that, give us a big fist full of pro camera where function is above form. In the end RESULTS talk and Pros need an effective tool not an ornament. I have stopped buying photo gear now to bulk up my bank account in anticipation of a serious new A-mount pro camera.
+1 I was excited about the A7/R but as I realized the compromises that were done and how it was not really an A-mount camera, I decided to buy a Sony RX-100 MK2 as my pocket camera. It arrived yesterday and I love it. Now I’m waiting for the Hybrid A-E mount high end camera and can bi as it has to be.
I’m still thinking about RX100 vs Fuji X100. Fuji is more expensive and less portable, but… man… that thing is beautiful…
I know nothing about Fuji. I have only had the RX100 for hours. The thing blows me away. The results remind me of my A900 and the controls are similar so I find it intuitive to learn how to use. I does well as a macro at wide angle. It even has contrast peaking and magnification to aid manual focusing. The auto focus works very well. I think I could do very well just leaving it in auto mode. I’m very happy with it. If you do buy the RX100 you might buy Gary Friedman’s e-Book about that camera. In fact I would suggest that you order his book about that camera to help make up your mind if you want to buy the camera. In his book he suggests that you NOT buy the EVF to save some money. I bought it anyway. I’m impressed by both the EVF and the camera. Hope this helps.
A-mount has zero design adavantages over E-mount except for compatibility. E-mount attracts outside users to the system, A-mount only gets upgraders.
Oh really I will bet you a lot of money you will be unable to name me even one NEX that can match the Sony A77 camera in tracking AF and has IBIS that works will all lenses attached (like the A77).
I suppose ill have to wait a couple of years for your answer as right now you will have no answer. 🙂
Those are features of the camera, not of the mount.
Aweaome! I always thought if Sony wanted to disrupt they should flood the market with FF cameras at every price point.
Great, I’ll jump in around 2018, once the sistem is mature, reliable, affordable and with plenty of fine lenses at a logical price.
Everyone will be using FF+ A50b 128mp cameras by then, using the new xE mount!
Cool!
Add to that one imac with processor i79, 40″ retina display and 20TB SSD to edit those ARW. 🙂
Give me a link on the reliability issues of the new FF’s, I would like to study that.
Andrea,
is there any clue of a FF NEX or APSC NEX with IBIS, please?
I want to shoot my Canon FL 55/1.2 stabilized…
So… just one A-mount camera and more than 4 E-mount cameras?
Eh……
+1000
Admin, does this mean a FF E-mount with 5 axis IBIS ?
I am checking this. The high end hybrod almost certainly has it.
IBIS with some lens-based OSS? 🙂
This would be fantastic news! I am desperate for the 5 axis stabilisation on a full frame!
This will be my next camera…
@Andrea. I am trying to decide on a7r or to wait. Can you speculate whether new coming e mount is gonna be higher or lower level or both (as sony did with 1st next camera?
Second. Links that you provide to pre order in Canada don’t work. As of last night sony.ca was not accepting pre orders period. If you could make a link withto Henry’s or Vistek I’d use that. Only they accepting a7r pre orders for now plus they are specialized photo stores as contrary to bestbuy that takes pre orders only for a7
Well you also said that October will bring FW update for A77 and i saw none 🙂
Not all rumors were right. Also because roadmap do change.
Does this mean the FW for the A77 is delayed or they dropped it completely?
Other than (maybe) lens profile updates, don’t count on ever seeing a FW update for the A65/77.
It’s ancient now in marketing terms and they have moved on to shiny new E-mount bodies. The people who wanted the A77 have got one, so there is no money in continuing to support it.
The Sony development team will be small and working on FW for NEW cameras.
No A mount APS-C?
A-mount lenses are for FF already right? (forgive me if i am wrong) So you can either use them on a hybrid A/E camera or the new A cam mentioned.
No, there’re a lot of lenses (especially the less expensive ones) which are APS-C-only.
Of the Sony lenses for A-mount currently for sale on B&H 23 are full frame lenses (FF or APS-C) and 12 are APS-C only. If you add in third party lenses the totals are78 Sony FF mount and 37 Sony APS-C mount. Just for comparison there are 145 FF Nikon mount and 51 APS-C Nikon mount. 135 Canon FF mount, 45 Canon APS-C mount. Pentax FF mount 49 and pentax APS-C mount 55.
And what is your point exactly?
I think he just supports the fact that there’s plenty of A-mount APS-C lenses.
Just to compare: There’s 15 APS-C Sony E lenses, and 4 Sony FE lenses (5th one comes early 2014) according to Wikipedia.
Ah, ok, I wasn’t following there for a moment 🙂
My Tamron lenses for my Sony A55 is for APS-C-only!
Sorry admin, I should work from time to time. Could you stop posting this stuff….
+1
I hate this site. It’s crappy for work efficiency…
Very nice. Let’s see that new sensor tech!
NEX 3/5/7 line to be revamped? Sounds logical provided there is no NEX anymore. I’m not upgrading my 3 though, still a fabulous camera!
An absolute full pro model full frame a mount?
Wtf… no A-mount aps-c!? This is gravely disappointing…
I hope that all these cameras at least will have IBIS… including E-mount.
Admin: what info do you have about that new sensor? BSI APS-C & FF sensor?
FF…and expensive…and many MP 🙂
Admin
Which new tech are they planning
2 layer ycg
3 layer organic silocon hybred
6 color hexagonal(i hope not)
Something different?
Will write about it soon…don’t let me unveil details now 🙂
Soon would be good.
Thanks for all the news.
Just canceled my A7R preorder.
Can’t wait to preorder the new 2014 model.
LOL
If you always cancel your order of the soon-to-be-released camera, and will wait for the one currently developed to be released…you’ll save a whole lot of money and even more post-processing!;-P lol
Sometimes you’ll have to make a decision and just live with the fact that there’s a whole new line of products just around times’s corner that will be faster, better, smaller, sexier and maybe even cheaper!
I will not cancel my Order of the A7 with the crappy Sony Kit lens, but maybe I will sell it for the A7 successor in two years…but maybe I even will love it so much, I’d invest in more lenses. We’ll see…
and still, the lenses will be E-mount.
E-mount is here to stay 🙂
LMAO
Who wants my Minolta lenses? 🙂
me!
Send’em my way!
any rumors about the rx1 successor in 2014/15?
no.
Bummer. I was hoping for an RX1 MKII refresh with the A7 sensor and it’s PDAF capability.
Is RX1/r a limited edition?
Why?
Here’s my preorder:
A6
– 24MP APS-C sensor
– Hybrid AF (phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus)
– Form factor similar to NEX-7
– A7/A7R controls (front dial, rear dial, control wheel, etc.)
– A7/A7R menu system with Quick Navi
– Wi-Fi
– GPS
– Weather sealing
– Did I forget something?
Mount.
E-mount.
With E-Mount? I order one too.
Are these cameras or Audis?
No, I was talking about Apple’s customer ARM processor.
Not that I wouldn’t like to have an Audi A6, but I prefer the R8.
I fully agree with your list. In particular, I would like GPS in a NEX-like camera. But I would also add IBIS 😉
IBIS.
If you cut a check for $100K, you might get it before Christmas. LOL!
I am interest in High-End(Pro grade) Full Frame A-mount camera only.:P
with great High ISO performance for indoor sport, indoor dog show, etc.
@Andrea: Will any of these camera have 5-axis IBIS?
A-mount likely yes.
Wow ~! It will be great. 🙂
Will it be a SLT or mirrorless ?
So no E-mount camera with IBIS planned? A5/6/9?
Do you know anything about GPS in those cameras?
I think there is zero chance of IBIS for E mount. If they were planning on it they would have had them in the A7/A7r or at the very least launched FF lenses without OSS.
If they do come with IBIS later on their OSS lenses will be a liability as they will have to still spend $$$ on the OSS mechanism when manufacturing the lenses.
So my bet is that IBIS will never come for the E mount and will be an Alpha mount exclusive. Also Alpha mount will gain all the fast f1.4 lenses and pro tracking AF systems while E mount will be more for discerning amatuers who need good IQ in a small package and are willing to sacrifice on very fast lenses with AF for slower but smaller lenses.
To bad there is no new a-mount aps-c camera on the roadmap.
Now i have to choose between a full-frame a-mount with my no FF-lenses.
Or buy the A77 which is a couple of years old 🙁
I am considering buy a FF a mount camera to use my DT lens
Sad….
Interested to have confirmation on hybrid A-E mount HIGH END camera. If it is high end i will go for it. But the roadmap will be very confusing so far, there must be something really different between A-mount, E-mount and hybrid. if the hybrid is true, sony can just produce hybrid camera to replace A-mount camera so we can have more lens choices.
Or the hybrid camera is that prototype 4k camera? i think that would make sense cause there are many E-mount 3rd party cine lens and E-mount can support all other brand lenses via adapter too. Hope sony can talk more details about their roadmap to let customer make some decision.
Personally waiting for a camera can at least record 10bit via hdmi output, but i’m sure will getting one more better A7/r camera size maybe the A9 in future that much more better performance in video for aerial, stabilizer rig.
Don’t really dare to buy more A-mount lenses first before know clearly about their roadmap.
High end are expensive. I don’t want to pay $6000 for something mostly equivalent to a EOS-1D X.
Hopefully there will be a nice small mirrorless alpha mount or hybrid (or FE with adapter) full frame camera with IBIS 😉
That will be my time to switch to Sony.
Any news about the new jpeg engine for NEX series ???
Does this mean, those who are will to wait a few months will be able to buy the A7/A7R for much better prices? Even the delivery on these have not started yet and we are already onto a new rumors cycle? Help me out here, please.
Nope. Buy the A/-A7r now. There will be no price drop.
LOL. That’s totally naive way of thinking! Especially when first price drops will pop as soon as in next month – Black Friday is coming – forgot about it?
Than the next big wave of price drops will appear as soon as Sony releases next Full Frame. And than when it releases successors to current models.
It’s obvious.
No reason to rush buying stuff right now. Especially when NO reliable reviews have been made yet. And one rule always should apply to the cameras: NEVER, EVER buy them before you read at least a few reviews.
Ijsvogel is happy and will buy it. However, Andrea’s temptations about the future makes me hesitate. The rumor site is very confusing for simpletons like me. 🙁
One of these days, I would like to check out something about photography…..
The reason these new cameras were introduced at a low price was probably to avoid a sudden dramatic price drop.
CMOS tech is nearing the end of its cycle.
As with other products such as tvs before the next tech is introduced the current tech prices drop.
Hd tvs are quite inexpensive now because 4k is available.
Apparently cmos is likely to be replaced by the next new tech in 2915.
That leaves the decisio……buy current tech now which or wait till 2015.
The next round of inovations will probably be to the cameras and modest improvement to the sensors but still cmos.
“There will be no price drop”.
Really? Is that SR5?
Come on Andrea, that’s pretty irresponsible saying that. I don’t think there has been any camera that has not dropped in price.
It’s obvious that sooner or later there will be price drops. But certainly not the next 6-8 months!
SR5 : The a7r is going to be discontinued.
It is SR5 by your logic (because it will happen eventually).
Why would the price drop after so short a period of time? It was just announced. If you want a deal, wait a year.
it doesnt really add up. guessing:
A3 aps c
A5 aps c
A6 aps c
a9 + a9r FF
A88 SLT FF
Hybrid
WHat about video a-mount?
What about speedy action and sports?
I can picture A3, A5, A7/A7R, A9 all full frame, actually.
A3 with 24mp plastic, no EVF, no weather seal, no tilt screen, no PDAF
A5 +PDAF +tilt screen
A7 +EVF +weather seal
A7R variant +resolution +better body -AA -PDAF
A9 +resolution +PDAF +hybrid mount
and then the a3000, a5000, a7000 with APSC sensors.
A-mount used only in A9, priced at $3000+
Pure video a-mount is highly unlikely, the e-mount is being used for all the entry to mid-grade ilc video cameras. Plus the a-mount adapter comes for free with some of them. For video, using an adapter is less of an issue than for handheld photography. Plus, very long lenses generally are not used for most video shooting.
If Sony (I’m not saying they are going to) decides to fully end the NEX series of still cameras to be replaced by the ax series of e-mount cameras, the NEX moniker will probably live on in the model names of the video cameras (such as NEX-FS100).
Sony themselves said video centric stills camera and action oriented camera, both a mount, are on their way. but this sr5 seems to exclude them. I wonder.
The a-e mount camera should be dslr shape and not compact.
This way no compromises need to be made to fit the small body.
Included of course should be IBIS and sensor shift.
If sensor shift focusing can be accomplished that would be fantastic for several porposes.
Macro/close focus extension
Non af lenses….even telescopes cold be auto focused by prefocusing and then allowing the camera to do the final focusing….IBIS should be adjustable to different focal lengths and/or macro for lense the camera does not recognize.
If rear focus can be made fast this would entice non sony users….in lens auto focusing might also be usable with/ without or instead of rear focus.
If sony chose to eliminate screw drive the sensor shift would replace it using the lens for additional prefocusing range.
Lastly thier best sensor should go in this camera including the newst technology sensor.
This camera probably sounds expensive BUT because this would be the real universal camera that the a7r does not quite achieve and therefore thesles volume would be huge…..this volme would reduce the per unit cost resulting in a relatively economical camera.
I don’t think it could be compact (nor should it be).
Sar sceptics have been hollering ” no no sony dont make a high res sensorimprove the other characteristics”
I think Sony has shwn them to be wrong with the a7 and a7r.
The higher res sensor performs as good as the lower res sensor even at the individual pixel level.
Also sales of the higer mp version exceed those of the lower mp version.
I hope we finally hear more from those looking for higher res like me and less from no more mp the sky will fall people that have been dominating these posts.
Like there is a lot of different cars for different people, there should be a lot of different cameras for different people. It is quite silly to argue about which car is better if the other person has different preferences. When it comes to a new camera for me, I need a FF for shallow DOF, low light sensitivity (ISO half a million), low MPix (less than 24MP), fast AF (10 fps in focus), the ergonomic, size and weight of the DSLR form factor. This will suit my purposes to shoot indoor dancing (with possibly lights off). Would you continue to argue now or you get the point?
Look at the specs.
Both the 24mp and 36mp a7 models have the same max iso.
The a7a iso is acceptablle up to 6400iso.
In every way the higher mp camera performs as well or better than the lower mp camera.
With new technology comes new technology!
So if more mp means the sky will fall then let it rain megapixels.
not in every way dude. A7 is supposed to have better focusing capabilities than the A7r.
Having said that, I will get the A7r for the same reasons as you mentioned being the strong points
Really, you need different cameras for different tasks, just as we used to use different films.
Barry, I attended a panel discussion with higher ups from Sony, Nikon and Canon about the future of cameras in the next 10 years yesterday evening at the photoplus conference. They all stated that super high resolution sensors are being developed (and that the mirror box will gone within 10 years). The nikon guy said that the dream is for there to be endless detail upon zooming into a photo, so I thought of you and your wish to see birds & feathers. Also, the Canon guy said that they had a 120mp sensor running in a 1d sized demo body three years ago…
I heard about the canon 120mp sensor a long time ago but then never heard about it again.
Im glad the camera manufacturers are starting to think more likr me and less like these sar guys that wamt fewer and fewr pixels.
I find it interesting that sony gave then thier choice…..
A 24mp camera and a 36mp camera and yhe 36mp camera is more in demand.
I dream of taking a single picture and being able to use ot as is rather than create very difficult cmposite/ stitched pictures for every subject.
Hi, Just a quick question are the new E-mount FF cameras placed above the A7r or are they budget versions?
Thanks in advance 🙂
So, one A-Mount camera. Not very impressive roadmap so far
It’s not really a roadmap, just a list of rumors.
A super brand new sensor tech late 2014 or early 2015 is not a rumor, Andrea. No disrespect, but there always will be something new two years from now. It’s the nature of markets. It only becomes a rumor if you add some data about sensor characteristics and availability dates to it.
I think what is meant here is an entirely new technology, not just improved sensors.
Analogue sensor.
Alright, if Andrea was referring to a change analogous to the change from analog to digital photography, that usherd in the fall of Kodak, this really would be a rumor. Quite some rumor, too. But it would need some clarifying…
Here’s one older rumor:
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/also-sony-is-working-on-new-organic-sensor-tech/
Current tech is cmos.
We are tallking about stacked organic or other non bayer technology…totally different sensor…not just new improved or redesighned.
This will eventuslly replace cuurent sensors similar to lcd tv replacing plasma tv.
Canon users would be dancing in the streets if their sensor tech improved every 2 years..
No APS-C in 2014 for A mount?? Are you kiding? No a79, it must be joke. a77 is way to noisy to compete with nikon 7100 and canon 70d.
@andrea
do i understand you right.there is only one classic a-mount to come 2014 and it is ff. so no successor of the a77 can be expected and also no alternative (semipro apsc a-mount) to come?
Sony will slowly get rid of the A-mount. It’s understandable, no other camera manufacturer has two mounts. But sad for those with loads of legacy glass like me :-(.
I’m coming to the same realization and am not very happy. Hoping prices don’t start to drop on ebay before I start dumping my amount glass!!
Why dump your lenses because of the minor inconvenience of sticking an adapter on the front of the camera ?
OK, it may be nicer to not have to use an adapter, but is it hundreds of dollars nicer ?
I’m glad I kept my Topcon lenses when the cameras were discontinued, as they now work nicely with an adapter on E mount. I wish I had kept all the Exakta lenses too.
I am also an A mount user but I wouldn’t fret just yet. The focus is currently on E mount for sure but I wouldn’t write off the A mount just yet.
No IBIS and no f1.4 lenses either launched or planned tells me that E mount will not be replacing A mount just yet. In the future its highly likely but not just yet.
The A77 is a 2011 launch and so its just over 2.5 years of production. Most camera models run for 4 years so the replacement should be here in end of 2014 or early 2015.
Also do note that in an earlier rumour there was talk of one camera replacing both A99 and A77. Its possible that its a cheaper than A99 but slightly more expensive than the A77 (at launch) with a good enough MP on crop and a decent burst mode.
If priced around $1600 or so it could replace both cameras. (A77 and A99).
All theory of course but I am not terribly concerned just yet. There are plenty of A mount users who will jump ship if forced to use an expensive oversized adapter to use their lenses on an E mount camera with no IBIS.
If you had the facts correct you might be less pessimistic. Both Nikon and Canon have two different mounts. And Pentax even has three different mounts. Even Leica have two mounts.
Here’s another outcry for APS-C A-mount!
But what I want to see more than an a77 successor is an a57 successor. A camera that continues what the a57 is good at… high iso, low light, speed, good ergonomics, metal mount, good LCD.
I do not so much want an a58 successor (plastic mount, bad LCD, slow fps).
Keep the megapixel count down unless the camera can handle the data so the speed can be 10 fps or higher and the buffer last for many seconds before slowing down.
Also… improve video so there are no stupid regional differences concerning 60/50/30/25/24 fps. I am really disappointed that my a57 can’t do 24p when it can do 50p and 25p. Blu-ray main standard is 24p and many productions wants 24p material.
Also… keep the SLT until on-sensor AF is great with legacy screw driven lenses. And legacy does not necessary equals old Minolta, my Tamron 200-500 is only 6 months old.
+1
Higher end a7 versions?
I wonder what else could you add to them?
Better sensor AF?
IBIS? (making the body thicker)
Some special tech to make them amazing with M mount legacy lenses?
Titanium bodies like the Contax G2?
Maybe the new Sony cameras are the Contax G2 cameras but with a sensor and still keep the G mount!
They’ll make them properly weather-proof, add bigger grips and better sensors, and slap a higher price tag. The usual 🙂
If its better made. I mean, considerable better made (solid, rugged) and costs $3k, I would say that’s fair since if it can take the beating Canon 1D bodies and Nikon D4 bodies can, I would call that fair.
All else is a nice plus.
No need for Wifi, or GPS or any of that.
Weatherproof 35mm 1.4?
So tempting.
I dont think you really need a thicker body. perhaps they can fit it in there anyway, you can see the sensor positioning on the a7 is just in the middle of the body
Though it’s tempting to upgrade to one of these new fantastic cameras around the corner, what I really need are more lens options for e mount. I’m excited for the new A7 don’t get me wrong, but it frustrates me that it appears Sony will now be putting all their energy into filling out a new system of lenses versus completing the e mount system where it could still use high quality options. If Sony releases FE lenses that also covers those gaps then I’m all for it. I just hope they don’t just make a bunch of repeats for the FF models.
The lenses I’m hoping for are mostly prime options as they are the best solution to offering a shallow depth of field while maintaining a small enough size to match the e mount system. I would love a high quality variant of the 16mm or even 14mm if that 12mm Zeiss is too expensive or too wide for your tastes, and some telephoto options to offer premium, fast glass to complement the existing zooms. An 85 is nice but personally I am hoping for something around 135mm to complement my 50 prime. I might be fine with going with that new 70-200 F4 zoom if there are no fast telephoto primes in the works, as it would give me a nice telephoto range and quick enough aperture to give me some nice bokeh, but that thing looks huge!
I know all the hype these days are on camera and sensor tech, but does anyone have any news about future lenses for 2014? I remember there was supposed to be an 85 announced this year, but will that be coming next year instead?
This has to be the biggest drawback with jumping into a young camera system. I love the size and weight savings over a dslr, but the lens options are already there with Canon or Nikon.
If memory serves, there are still two lenses on the old NEX roadmap, which haven’t arrived. But that roadmap goes until the end of this year, so I imagine, Sony will present a new one, when they announce the new APS-C E-mount cameras.
Would you consider manual focus? The Zeiss ZF APO 135/2 is often claimed to be the best Zeiss ever made in terms of sharpness and color correction.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/zeiss_135mm_apo.shtml
very confusing…
– APS-C E-mount cameras
– A-mount FF cameras
– E-mount FF cameras
– Hybrid A-E mount cameras
– APS-C A-mount cameras
Holy shit! I don’t look through anymore 🙂
What I want is a NEX-7/A7 style camera dedicated to video recording, not stills. Sony should steal the market from the flawed BlackMagic Pocket Camera. It would be awesome to have two camera bodies sharing the same lenses: one perfected for stills, one perfected for video. The hybrid approach has too many compromises, especially for video.
Of course, everything about these new FF cameras scream that they are throw away cameras. I’m so sick of waiting for compromises.
lol
It would be nice if Sony comes out a high quality (RX100 or NEX) all-weather camera. Currently, only Nikon’s 1 system has it (AW1).
Add-on underwater housings are just too big to be practical for casual use.
Andrea, anything about the exciting rumor with the sensor shift in z-axis?
Yes, sounds like it will be used by the hybrid cam (also Sony’s highesd end product)
Oh that sounds great, thank you! Hybrid means I should be able to use all my e-mount adapters and ancient glass. Considering that this will bring my manual CANON FD-L lenses (85f1.2, 500f4.5 and 300f2.8)quite equal to today’s EF, which cost almost 8 times as much, I am ready to pay! 🙂
The Hybrid being referred to will work and accept both a-mount & e-mount lenses natively with AF – not EF or vintage lenses (unless adapted but without AF).
I think Z-shift will do more for Sony ALPHA as a brand than any 5 axis IBIS, HI MP sensor or any new sensor tech.
Don’t forget that the last rumored Hybrid mount camera turned out to be the VG-900 with the dedicated adapter.
The camera you want always comes next year.
I always saw A-mount APS-C as merely a cropped FF, with no particular merit, so I never invested in the system. FF glass works on APS-C, and is only trivially larger IMO, especially when the form factor is considered. As somebody earlier said, people stuck with a bunch of APS-C glass can use it on some future FF variant if it is cheap enough.
The scientific and engineering basis for the “super new sensor tech” has no doubt already been disclosed in the patent literature. I don’t follow this area closely, but anybody who does will be able to give you a list of options.
My guess is that its primary aim will be improved video performance, unless a super-high MP version is planned. Regardless, that is years away.
A-mount might continue, because it might be a very significant decision by Sony not to capture the body market that exists as a result of all those A-mount lenses being out there. Sony is best-positioned to capture this market, and if they choose to ditch it, that would probably say 1 of 2 things–either: (1) Sony imaging is totally incompetent, or (2) the market for A-mount bodies is truly small, verging on insignificant. But for now, A-mount persists.
And all it would take to increase that market would be a decent A-mount body, to keep existing users happy, and to entice a few more users into investing in A-mount glass.
While Sony continues to pursue “features” and “technology”, I would prefer a body that pursues primarily function and design. Yes, newer technologies can enable enhanced function, but development in many areas (not all) has been incremental. As many on here comment, it’s amazing that anybody took photos at all before the latest digital FF was released.
A99 fulfills that role imho.
John–
In view of your incisive comment, I would have to change my earlier comment to include 2 A-mount cameras that people actually want–a serious FF, and an affordable APS-C.
Now I understand the pining on here for an updated APS-C A-mount.
Sorry, I wasn’t being curt and thought you wrote a really interesting analysis. And, I suspect that an APS-C A77 upgrade is inevitable to capture the existing market of lens users. Folks talk ceaselessly about SONY abandoning A-mount here, but I just don’t see any commercial incentive not to continue selling these cameras albeit with slightly fewer models to choose from.
Hi Andrea – you only mention ff a-mount in the singular… Am I reading too much into it or is there only 1 new a-mount body coming? I was hoping we’d see a pro ff and an affordable entry level 🙁 my a77 is pushing 2 years old and is due an upgrade – ff is the logical next step for me, but not at the a99’s price. Equally the lack of oss ef primes is stopping me jumping on the the a7
It seems like this SR5 doesn’t match an old SR5 rumors.
So… yea… I would say that there’s more out there than it seems.
One FF for sure. But I cannot exclude there will be more.
Thanks Andrea – I’ll go back to waiting anxiously for news
Oh… so it’s “at least one”? Rumor posted sounds more like “only one” – if it’s at least one than I guess – good news 🙂 And it’s matching older rumors much more!
I’m getting a headache.
I was already torn between the A7, A7r, and Nikon retro.
And now there’s *more* full-frame e-mount cameras coming in 2014??
Given the aggressive pricing of the A7, I’d expect the 2014 models to be bigger, more expensive higher-end models.
And yet… given Sony’s numbering system (NEX 3, 5, 6, 7) one might expect lower end models (A6, A5, A3?)
Either way, what if the new sensor tech is much better? Might be worth waiting for??
Arrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!! I need a Valium.
sorry admin … sony store does not accept my A7r payment via paypal or credit card … maybe nikon store will sell me their nikon retro? or should i use my nex6 with 28/2.8 and 50/1.8 via lens turbo for the next years? lens turbo makes some magic glow – like leica glow ; )
i wonder how people were able to take ‘good’ photos when 35mm film was standard. maybe they just concentrated on using their cameras and improving their skills not thinking too much about its limitations and technical stuff.
both the a7/a7r already offer features you might be happy with for the rest of your life. what comes next? even sharper images when people already start to dislike it? more megapixel so that all people are able to make A2 (and bigger) 300dpi prints of their (still boring) photos at home?
Doesn’t look like a good year to be a regular A-mount consumer.
Hybrid A/E is pointless except as a path to kill the a-mount.
Super expensive professional A-mount full frame may be a great camera, but out of the reach of ordinary a-mount customers.
What makes me think/hope these rumors are wrong is that Sony did JUST make statements about continuing to be behind the a-mount.
If a-mount becomes professional only — then you’re restricting the market for a-mount lenses and accessories.
So I’m hoping these rumors are way off… And 1 of the aps-c prototypes will enter general production shortly.
At the moment, that’s what’s keeping me hanging on to my a-mount glass… They’re not politicians so I’m hoping it’s a straight answer (otherwise the pr is going to be pretty damaging)
Unfortunately, the pr wouldn’t be so damaging if the base of a-mount devotees is truly small.
Sony pr was making similar statements about dslrs 3 years ago, suggesting they would continue dslrs along side dslts.
Truth is– Sony may not even be sure themselves. They will watch the e-mount sales, compare them to past a-mount sales, look at production costs…
While prototype development may be a long process, the decision to go into production is pretty quick these days.
So FF and expensive (sigh) will Sony ever learn?
They have 0 chance in the pro sports area, EVF won’t cut it and they don’t have the glass either.
APS-C well they can’t let that die, if they do then it’s time for most of us to sign off with A mount.
Hi Andrea,
Can you tell us what’s the difference between the new FF E-Mount and the A7/R?
Working on it. But they are very different.
Andrea,
Will you be able to at least get us some details before the A7/R pre-order ships? Any chance you will be able get the release/announcement time frame too?
Are they also ‘very different’ from what we know as ‘NEX’ (specifically NEX-6 or NEX-7)?
Hope that it is rangefinder style like NEX 7
Sony!!! What the H*&(£$%^ are you playing at.
No APS-C and even worse……NO FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR THE EXISTING APS-C’S.
We need that firmware update and a decent jpeg engine more than ever now…WHY WON’T YOU GIVE IT US????????
Do you really think that we will continue to buy your products knowing that if something isn’t right, (like a cr*p jpeg engine), you will have no intention whatsoever of putting it right.
The best technology in the world is useless without decent firmware and whatever anyone says, there are many, many people out there shooting jpeg for a multitude of reasons. As for storage..how many raw or even converted files can you get on a DVD. not that many at all.
Sony, we need a firmware update for our A65/77 etc. PLEASE delay no longer.
Why did you buy a crappy product?
DVD, you still store data using DVDs, and here you are blabbing about technology.
You might as well use cassettes.
You can get about 1000 converted jpegs on a DVD.
I am stunned someone bought a camera known for crappy JPEGs with some hope that Sony (which has no great JPEG camera) will somehow ‘fix’ the problem in future.
Truly amazing !
I bought into Sony for the IBIS and minolta mount compatibility. I was well aware their JPEGs sucked and their high ISOs were crap compared to Nikon and Canon.
Now they have matched Nikon and canon but are still behind on JPEG quality.
While I don’t see myself becoming a Sony user anytime soon in my opinion, they should focus more on bringing out high quality lenses rather than pumping out so many camera bodies. If they had a full set of great lenses and they had an excellent design for their full frame e-mount, I would consider buying into Sony. Until then,…
My guess is that the Sony lenses are not very profitable.
Anyway, there are already far more E mount lenses than I could ever afford to buy.
They said they abandoned the NEX naming to unify the whole alpha lineup into ILCA and ILCE…so is a7 actually ILCE7 or have they still not given up on trying to confuse everybody?
Well, looks like i’ll stock with my a57 and just buy better glass. Aps-c A-mount is likely going to be dead soon 🙁
Any possibility of IBIS for the NEX-7 successor – or whatever they may call it?
I am totally confused now. If I want to step up next year from my A77, but don’t want to get the A99, what should I wait for?
FF E-mount ?
FF A-mount ?
If the SLT is going to disappear (as rumoured by Andrea) on the A-mount, then what is the difference between a-mount and e-mount ? And why should I choose either ?
Thanks for your constructive input.
Wait and see is probably the best policy at the moment… Sony might release an affordable ff a-mount body, which would be a great upgrade from the a77.
Equally the a7/r are still largely untested and the lens selection is very limited. It’s possible that we’ll see stabilised primes in the near future, in which case it might become a more attractive alternative.
Just wait. It’s not like it will take ages – first A-mount camera should be released in a Q1 2014, so it’s just a few months! 🙂
As for why keep on using A-mount, well, obvious: Tons of native lenses with no adapters needed!
Why would you want to to step up next year from your A77?
The A77 is a fine camera but lets face it high ISO performance is way behind the competition. Just too much chroma noise in this day and age.
Also Sony’s lovely colours are missing on its cameras since the A55. My A37 colours are just off and I am not impressed on the A77 colour either. No amount of WB tweaking or PS work seems to correct that.
A77 is a great camera under sun light at ISO 100~200
The biggest problem is the High ISO noise of the camera.
Noise start visible at medium ISO ISO400~800.
Personally, it is almost unusable at ISO1600 or above.
Certain level of Noise reduction has to be apply start from low ISO by PS or LR
NR can effectively remove the noise, but at the same time wash out the fine detail.
The high resolution sensor from A77 contain lots of fine detail + noise.
But it is almost impossible just to remove the noise and keep the detail.
Most of the time Noise reduction just wash out both together.
This is good news. I hope the gravy train of a mount rumors keeps coming today. What else am I going to do at work?
Hi Andrea,
Is the new e-mount FF comes with nex7-like design? Thank you 😀
That’s what I am tyring to figure out 🙂
BIG THANKS for checking this 😀
+ IBIS and they will get my money!=)
Mine also! 😉
Mine too
Thank you!!!!!
I come from an a65 and I would to sell all my equipment to invest in a branded new a7. I’m also a video enthousiast. I’m also not glad to pay around 1800euros for a kit. Do we have to wait for 2014 or pay today for a long term investment (which is a7/a7r) ?
If the future FF E-Mount camera is to have IBIS, wouldn’t it render the lens with OSS moot? I wish Sony would’ve added IBIS on A7/A7R from get-go so it could set clear direction for the new lenses (smaller lenses with no OSS).
Yes, not only moot but they would fight with each other. People would rather use a camera with IBIS than buy all OSS lenses. Think of it this way – IBIS=More Options – whic of course means OSS=Less Options.
With no IBIS on A7/A7r and the fact that they launched FF lenses with OSS I think Sony has announced that there will be no IBIS for any future E mount camera. Else no one will buy their non IBIS cameras.
Any news about A-mount lenses? Especially FF Zeiss 35mm f1.4? Waited many years for that lens.
Any idea if the new A mount FF sensors will have offset micro lenses on the sensor? The offset would’nt have to be as great as in a FF E mount, but would still optimize the sensor’s performance. No sense in developing that tech and using it in only one camera – might as well share the wealth.
Google it to find out why offset microlenses are needed on E-mount sensor (especially WA lenses) but not on A-mount sensor.
Adjusting the offset (viewing distance) is very very simple.
Just change the temperature at which the microlens is manufactured slightly.
This results in a slight change to its size therfore veiwing distance.
No reason not to do it when it is that easy.
Hi Andrea!!!
Do you know if the Hybrid high-end Camera is APS-C or FF???
High-end = FF
I too have gotten certain information from my sources. A manufacturer of A mount and E mount cameras will be releasing A mount and E mount cameras next year. These cameras will be different from the cameras launched this year. They will be, in fact, very different, including having a different price. They could be APS-C or full frame, A mount or E mount. I don’t know eh details of these differences, but I am told the differences are there and anyone can see them. This is all 100% certain, unless something changes.
But my sources told me something else that Andrea doesn’t seem to have uncovered yet: these cameras will be sold in stores in Asia and other continents and will be shipped to people by plane, boat, and truck. They will be shipped South, West, and East, unless they are also going also to be shipped North.
In a first step, it would be great to issue a firmware update for A77 with remarkable steps forward regarding JPEG enginge.
They really need to build more lenses, not more cameras
They need more of both, Sony’s obviously still holding something off the a7/r.
It is so good to be Canon user. Everything is clear, no rumors at all…
How is one FF Amount and zero APS-C “exciting”?
Sounds like Amount is on it’s last leg. 🙁
I hope the “unexpected camera to come” is not a FF QX! :-S
It’s all about the lenses. I hope Sony keeps some good ones coming, AND keeps us informed with roadmaps.
Andrea, thank you for the rumors.
Question: does sony know what a highend/flagship camera should include? It seems that some of the most basic functions, available in canikon (i.e.: quickly record a name/description) are not in sony’s whimsical “roadmap”
Looks like my predictions become more accurate the closer we get to 2014. No APS-C A-mount cameras. Oh how people were laughing at me last year!
Prophet’s path, Frank. Take care!
Do you think the new cameras will have fake pentaprism humps like the OMD and the A7 or real ones like the new retro Nikon DF?
bye Sony….no more of my money coming your way….
same, so much for their assurance “we won’t abandon A mount” – well, they might not abandon for FF, but I don’t plan to go FF. I need new, better, improved APS-C A mount, because I don’t want to use E mount and I don’t want to use adapters.
Well, I guess, I did it to myself, chose Sony because of Minolta. Too expensive mistake,
that’s pretty lame that you would make a decision based on rumors… wow
You don’t think it’s wise to stop spending on Sony right now? I do!
There is more than rumors. A little over a year ago Sony was talking of a series of A mount cameras in both APS and FF. Now what we get from Sony is that they might get ONE camera out sometime in 2014, nearly two years from when they were working up a whole series of A mount cameras. And maybe in another year after that ONE Sports camera. For neither camera have I seen them say if they are APS or FF. But like most folks with Sony being so nutty about FF I’d expect them to be FF, and you either have FF or APS only if you are bringing out both.
So, from Sony itself we have confirmation that they have greatly cut back A mount development, to very close to no development at all.
Been there and done that with Sony, with the a700, which after a long series of reassurances from Sony that they were continuing DSLR over several years was never replaced and they dropped to a entirely different type of camera, no DSLR now, is there. And the ONE camera? Probably a NEX like camera.
So there is justification for A mount users to be concerned. Just like if Sony put out only ONE E mount camera in the next several years. With lots of reassurances that turned out to be false.
No, I don’t think that the a77 is too old. But I do think it’s line is being neglected, which is not good for even the near future. I still use the a700, could even use the Minolta 7D which is still here and both take good photos. That is not justification for Sony not producing a new APS DSLR, however.
Like many others, I’m very frustrated and disappointed. I’ve been waiting for an a77 successor for quite a while now! The a77 is too old and I’d like some newer technologies, so I don’t want to buy it now. However, there is nothing on the horizon so far. I don’t have the money for a FF camera. Even if I could afford an A7, then I’d have to use an adapter and not have APS-C A-mount lenses stabilized, and it probably wouldn’t have enough buttons for me. I want the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 stabilized with a DSLR-style body which is newer than the a77.
Is it beyond Sony’s ability to provide us with an a77 successor with better high ISO performance and a better JPEG engine, along with 5-axis IBIS? Because that, I would buy. In fact, that is what I’m dying to buy. Anything else, and I’m skeptical of going with a Sony camera at all. Sony, please get your act together. I know they are big spenders, but I still think that you can’t make all of your money from the top 25% richest camera owners, can you? No love for the middle class?
A77 to old? What are you talking about? That camera offers more bang for the buck that practically anything out their. EVF is great despite some lag and video is still fantastic. It’s almost like you people want your cameras to be worthless 6 months after you buy them. How many clicks do you have on yours?
They build these cameras far beyond the needs of the average user. Most people never get anywhere close to the max amount of useage these cameras can take. I’ve had my A77 for over 1.5 years and it works great, no problems and looks like new. I use it a lot too. Now that I have a FF it’s the perfect compliment.
@Tom: I guess you didn’t read my comment correctly. I don’t have an a77. In fact, I don’t have a Sony camera, period. I wanted to buy into the system because I like what they are (or were) doing. IBIS, EVFs, fast Live-View autofocus…that’s what I’m into.
You’ve gotten over 1.5 years out of your a77. Great for you. I’ve gotten no years out of mine because I don’t have one. But I’ll tell you what. I’m not going to get one that’s already two years old and get A-mount APS-C lenses for it and then have Sony stop supporting me.
Got it. Well, maybe just waiting to see if they roll out with a cheaper FF might be your best bet. Wouldn’t a 36MP be a decent purchase if you have a lot of APS-C lenses? I mean, even if it crops down, the picture quality has got to be on par with the outgoing A77.
Yeah, read your comment again as well. You didn’t directly state you didn’t own an A77 either. FYI
if I were you I would wait and go for full frame. I think full frame is the future for a-mount. just wait a little longer. get yourself a used a350 or a55 or a33 while waiting. those are all great cameras. just stay away from dt lenses and upgrade to FF as soon as you can afford it. full frame prices will drop. one month ago everybody thought the a7 would be twice the amount it is.
There is only one DT lens worth spending your money on – SAL1650.
oh no, there are plenty. I once had the 35mm 1.8 and it was great.
Even if he were to wait and go full frame, I’d recommend going with a full frame E-mount, not A-mount. Sony might be rolling out another FF A-mount or two to appease us old-timers in the short term, but I think abandoning the mount is definitely coming in the near future (next couple/few years).
+1
Dude, this is a rumor column. a77 too old? Come clean. Are you Ansel Adams?
@Steve2242: I think it’s pretty hypocritical for people who are so interested in future camera technology to regularly read rumor sites to insist that we should all be happy buying something that is already nearing the latter part of its product life-cycle. Next, you’ll be telling me to get an iPhone 3GS.
Hi Sony…much more of my money coming your way…
@Tom: If you’re the same Tom as before, I wonder why “much more” of your money will be going Sony’s way. After all, in your comment to me, it seemed like your current camera is far beyond what people need and there is no reason to be excited for the next thing. It might be better to put your money where your mouth is and not buy any new cameras for the next few years. Just be happy with what you have.
Yeah, it’s me. I like what they’re coming out with. I’m a camera junkie too. Why wouldn’t I want the latest thing if I can afford it? I love my A77, but I’m considering moving away from crop all together. I already have a FF but need a back-up camera. Hard to say until I see what they roll out with. The A77 is still worth decent money on the used market. And yes, I do hope they eventually ditch the mirror and the buffer speed increases.
what about lenses for E-mount any news? or any compact fixed focal length cameras?
A77 isn’t great for low light work it’s quite dated sensor wise as everyone else has better performance.
Also whilst it’s cheaper now, it’s not nearly as cheap as a D7000 and 60d
Sony need to up their game considerably in 2014. And no FF is too expensive for most many of us are ok with APS-C
Oh and one word “firmware” get on it sort the jpegs out. No more money going to Sony until you support your customers properly
Yeah, I agree with the low light performance. But man, at this point if you really need it shouldn’t you be using a full frame? I mean, not like the prices haven’t come down drastically now.
FF is not the attractive choice for some of us, or the most appropriate technology for our photography. It is, and always will be the more expensive choice. Every time FF sensor prices go down, so can APS sensors. Or 1″ sensors. Both useful choices that are gaining in technology too.
A image advantage? Only for some, not everyone is a wedding shooter, studio shooter or such.
So, yes, Sony needs to be supporting APS A mount with the same level of technology as FF. Or they cut their available market.
You won’t suddenly become a super pro photographer by buying into FF. Your images are far more dependent on you as a photographer than the gear you use.
I’m a ex film shooter, not locked into a past film format. I moved on in the last 20 years. I’m capable of understanding how any focal length lens can be used for photography.
Can’t argue with that response. Good point.
+1
It looks like time to get rid of my Sony A-mount gear while i can and join the canikon bandwagon. At-least they are not dumping their mounts away in the near future.
Now it looks like i should have listened to all those people, who told that Sony is not as promising or varied as Canikon. But i was a fool who listened to my heart over head and bought a Sony. No complaints on the current stellar line-up, but the probable desertion of A-mount APS-C users is heartbreaking.
Adios Sony!
Take it easy there chief. Those cheaper full frame cameras will support your crop lenses. Time to upgrade.
Hold on your horses. These are all rumours nothing else. Don’t take them as hard truths as even roadmaps can officially change.
Even the cheapest Sony APS-C camera will beat the IQ of any Canon APS-C camera regardless of the price.
@Akash,
Since you are dumping your Sony equipment, I am willing to do you a favor and will gladly take your equipment off of your hands and I won’t even charge you my normal disposition fee. Yes, that is correct, at no cost to you I am willing to remove your Sony equipment from you! All you have to do is merely pay shipping and handling. What equipment do you actually have?
This is great. A7/7R not even out and already SR5 rumors of new FF E-mount in 2014. Early adopters be damned.
I will bet a LOT of money that the newer FF cameras will be much more expensive with better fps performance, larger buffers and generally bigger cameras.
I feel they will be slotted higher up than the A7/A7r. Sony isn’t stupid to think about replacing a not even launched camera with a new one.
It’s Sony. You never know. And there are a lot of people, myself included, don’t mind paying more for an uncompromised A7R.
What are the chances they’ll release A7RII with PDAF? Sigh.
Bring on the NEX-7 successor! Alpha 70, Alpha 700, what ever. 🙂 It needs a viewfinder that’s in the same league as A7 and E-M1, even if that means losing the current form factor.
I think that has been achieved by A7 already. The whole point is to keep the form factor and maybe even up to FF.
Yeah, but I’m talking APS-C here, I really don’t want to swap to FF as I already have all the lenses I need for APS-C. NEX-7’s biggest downfall is that it doesn’t focus reliably in low light and in low light the EVF is not good enough for critical manual focus. So, a better EVF is really needed. It’s hard to see how they could fit a big enough viewfinder while maintaining the current NEX-7 form factor. We will see I guess.
I see. Another bonus point of the increased sensor could be improved low-light EVF performance since larger sensor will collect more light (ca 1 stop increase in our case).
What exactly is everyone waiting for in this A77 firmware update? I did the “latest” and don’t see any reason for another. I don’t know, the speed of dials could be faster but eh. It’s not like any of that is going to increase the buffer speed.
I think many users are waiting for firmware not just A77 ones. A57/65/99 users too.
Well jpegs, they suck big time on most models, there are some bugs and quirks too (A99 flash delay) forced crop video mode another irritant. Plenty of stuff for Sony to get stuck into.
NO we want APS-C as well as full frame. No point Sony having a new 5dMkIII rival at £2000+ again that’s too expensive for many.
If Sony plan A mount as full frame only then they’d better have something a lot more affordable to offer. As it is I think it’s impossible to have a camera mount and not have entry to mid point APS-C models.
A58 let’s kill that turkey cheap, nasty and bad buffer small EVF
Up the game a real proper entry model, a good mid range model and for crying out lout let’s have at least one mid level OVF model for people too.
This is really basic stuff it’s just Sony are so ignorant of what their customers want they can’t see any further than the next overpriced FF model and 0 support for current users. We won’t wait forever and will wander off to other makers.
If Sony think they can fob their current customers off they are in for one hell of a shock.
Mid level OVF….I COULDN’T AGREE MORE!!! There is just no reason to not offer the option. Let the customers decide how great your EVF is. Give them the option instead of alienating so many of them. I love both…but I prefer OVF for my FF.
Actually..hybrid OVF/EVF for the win!
@Tom and Denis
1) Forget about OVF, its clear that Sony is going completely mirrorless. On a side note, I personally prefer EVF. Focus peaking and seeing exposure levels before you take the picture is a plus for me, as well as saved weight from mirror mechanical components and a pentaprism.
2) As far as firmware goes, A65/A77 could benefit from finally fixing the damn flash metering. Why do I have to shoot at EV-1.7 all the time?
3) Don’t know about you, but my A65 is still darn slow to start up once in a while.
4) Agree on APSc comments. Not everyone wants or needs a FF. I benefit from size and weight savings on my A65 and don’t want to even think about going to a larger body. That being said, I don’t want a smaller body either.
We all have different needs. I’m ok with EVF but they are poor in high contrast.
I would like to add an up to date OVF to my system.
Secondly if Sony are going for high level sports shooters then a FF EVF isn’t going to work, they won’t buy it.
I see no reason why Sony cannot make one OVF model I would buy it in a heartbeat. Mid level 6 series OVF Pentaprism, live view on the back LCD, dual dials decent fps and buffer good to go. Thank you!
Sony need to get their head out of the sand and start listening
Talking about different needs, you have a very valid point. Thats why i add “Personally” and “In My Opinion” everywhere.
While yes, EVF is worse than OVF in High Contrast, it is still much closer to the final image than OVF. An eye has capability to adjust itself through a much wider range than 12-14 EV that camera is capable of, so just because you see something perfectly fine in OVF, doesn’t mean that it will be visible on the resulting image. EVF on the other hand instantly shows you camera limitations and where possible clipping will occur.
As far as Sports go, yes, with current EVF delay, I agree that it is lacking. And until EVF gets better in terms of lag, OVF will lead the way for sports shooters. Although interrupted Continuous AF during mirror flap has its own drawbacks. And here we go into AF, which is a whole separate can of worms. And yes, I know that SLT cameras don’t really do Continuous AF in Hi burst mode.
Sony road map screwed those of us in the APS-c A-mount camp.
Not exactly, noone ever said that there will not be an APSc A-Mount camera. After all as per Admin:
– UPDATE: I am still not sure if there will be an APS-C A-mount camera. I know there are prototypes of such cameras. Don’t know if and when they will release them.
So there could be something coming up, there are just no concrete rumors on that. Last time an SR3 or below was posted, and didn’t happen, everyone was screaming foul. No wonder Andrea doesn’t want to post anything thats not re-confirmed time and again.
Are there any reliable medium format Sony rumors? It would be interesting were the collaboration with Hasselblad goes aside from wooden grips for small Sony Cameras. Is there any Hasselblas-SLR planned with Alpha Mount to use the Zeiss-Lenses?
We’re already complaining about cost. Do you have any idea what a MF would cost? Even worse, you really need top shelf glass like the Zeiss Otus 55mm. Your talking 4k for that lens. I don’t see the need even for professional level use for that. I mean, dang…we near 40MP already with FF.
@Tom: It’s not about the amount of pixels, but rather the size of the sensor (and thus the size of the pixels). A 36MP MF camera will kick the crap out of a 36MP 35mm camera in terms of image quality. I’ve shot with MF, and the quality is amazing. There’s a reason to want it…
New FF RX1 compact?
New FF RX1 compact with zoom?
High spec A7 with IBIS?
All these announcements would eat into A7/r sales
The A mount readers on here shouldn’t be worried. All of the rumors come from sources and all of the recent rumors have been about E mount. So probably it’s just that the admin has more E mount sources at the moment than A mount. I guess that will change when we get closer to the end of January.
People, stop making assumtions based on rumors of a roadmap.
I personally work in the produt development especially electronic consumer products.
In that kind of businesses you have all sorts of products and new technologies in all kinds of stages. Every department has ists own road maps about all short of stuff (not even speaking about all the suppliers and engineering firms that are involved in the process of getting a product ready for production). When the company wide rodmap (witch is only known by a select group) made all of that is merged together to a profit making strategy. But when there is a change good/bad in any department this could result in huge changes. As you can see you never know who’s roadmap we are looking at and if it the products will be released.
No offence to our admin.
The rumors give us a bit of an idea what is in development, that is great.
So people stop saying when an sr5 roadmap or possible development is not released a mistake was made. The roadmap could be 100% correct but Sony did change something.
I could be talking ages about this kinds of stuff but I leave you with this.
Just remember no products “excist” until they are relased and Sony isn’t a non profit organisation.
Gr,
Mike
+1
Sounds to me like
“The emperor’s new clothes”
Sony have done a lousy job on A mount in 2013, only one crummy A58 body that bored everyone into buying a Canon or Nikon, an AF motor upgrade for a 70-200mm f2.8 that added a mysterious $1000 to the price.
I’ve no idea what Sony are up to, none. In fact I’d be surprised if they even have a vague plan with A mount. They certainly seem to have ignored the fact Christmas is a huge sales period for all the makers. With Canikon doing DSLR cashbacks + lenses and flashes too, Sony are rightly stuffed like a Turkey this year.
No plan, no idea, no concept completely out of touch with their users.
“No plan, no idea, no concept completely out of touch with their users.”
Big +1
+1
Sony keeps introducing fancy new things just to abandon them year later. You go and buy their latest camera and suddenly there’s no accessories, no lenses. Just lens cameras! 🙂
They need to FOCUS and they need to be clear about their plans. Instead of making one camera with EVF and one with OVF they should decide to focus on one of these and communicate that to their customers. It wouldn’t please everybody but at least we would know what to expect.
Canon and Nikon also has a short term cycle for their products…Their Rebel series and the recently announced D5300 is a proof of that…and no people is getting mad at all.. but because it’s a Sony, then everyone is losing their minds right?
@Rooru: That’s not exactly an apt comparison, because those Canikon cameras still use the same lenses, hot shoe mounts, etc. as their predecessors and their successors. Users won’t be left hanging high and dry on anything at all.
Thanks a lot Andrea what great news you brought!!!!
I wait for Nex 7 successor because i think A7R will bz my xmas only in 2015 :p once Sony and Partners will show all their FE lenses :p.
By the way do you think it s possible to put a tip application on your SAR site for easier support of your work?
Ciao and have a good nap
A number of people express a desire for a new c camera.
I too would be interested in a higher res c maby 36 mp but just as an interim camera until the one i really want comes out.
If sony as rumored produces a high res ff camera of at least 2.25x the pixels of the c camera then it will do everything the c will.
Normally the c has the advantage of more depth of field and smaller leds expensive lenses.
At 2.25x the pixels the ff image can be cropped or shot in crop mode and produce the same image as the c.
C lenses could be ised in crop mode..
In short the introduction of much higher res cameras may eliminate the need for a c camera.
Of course yhere would always be the option of using it as a ff as a “bonus”.
I’d like to see a video centric A or E mount camera, sort of like the A7 but…
1) on-board 1080P or 2K recording, compressed format ok, but clean 4K SGI or HDMI 10+ bit 4:4:4 or 4:2:2
2) lower resolution sensor, like native 4K+ would be nice (some overscan for safe area)
3) fixed LCD or no LCD – just monitor port
4) no built in EVF, but accessory with short cable for appropriate placement on rig
5) line level audio inputs
6) audio monitoring output
7) timecode input and output
most likely sony will release video related A7 successor.. like GH3… e mount lens are also used for sony video cameras anyways.
Admin – Any idea when in 2014 any of these are coming. I’m most interested in the FF A-mount design. Do you expect this to be on sale earlier or later in 2014?
So is the RX1 line dead? Sounds like it was merely an experiment that lead to the development of the A7. That would be a shame as I’d love to see it get the 36mp sensor.
It looks like by decreasing the A mount quantity, they are trying to bury the name of Minolta forever? Why did they invent E mount? Just to make happy Zeiss for their too expensive equipment? Trying to make this system expensive as Vaio laptops just expensive with normal performance? I am much disappointed.
Anything on the z-axis autofocus camera? Will it be announced in 2014? Will it be one of the FF cameras?
As a vacation-photographer-gadget-lover I would like to switch to a NEX system. My current canon 550d is too heavy but I believe that the biggest advantage of mirrorless is that you can see on the screen exactly what your picture is going to look like.
But I’m waiting for an APS-C camera with GPS and Wifi before making the switch, preferably in a NEX-5 sized format.