The negative reactions on my previous rumors about the death of the SLT technology lead to some dramatic and irrational reaction by people believing the A-mount series is coming to an end too. And my repeatedly statements that this isn’t absolutely true didn’t convince some of the SAR readers.
This is now pushing me to work with my sources to gather the first info on the new A-mount roadmap. I think some good A-mount rumor is the only way to convince some of these “negative thinkers” that the A-mount is going to have a bright future 🙂
A-mount lenses:
First of all the A-mount lens roadmap didn’t change at all. And in these days I have been told by very good sources that there will be many new lenses coming within the next 10-12 months. Of course there is the already mentioned 70-200mm upgrade. But there is also a new 400mm f/4.0 lens coming too. A source wrote: “It has an entirely new design. It will be the same SSM motor as the 500 f4, and will have Nano Coatings and some weatherproofing. It is being designed to be affordable to advanced amateurs. There ‘may’ also be a 400mm f2.8 lens, but as far as I know it is still in debate.“. Another source told me that he expects at least 6-7 new A-mount lenses to come within the mentioned 10-12 months. And most of them are high quality glass!
A-mount cameras:
I Still have no specs and names about the new cameras. I only got a confirmation from more sources that the next A-mount cameras are due for an early 2014 release. The only system camera to come in 2013 is the NEX-7 successor. The A-mount cameras coming in early 2014 will bring a considerable and visible improvement. That’s all I have been “promised” by trusted sources.
In Summary, four years ago SonyAlphaRumors was the first website to report about the new SLT tech coming in Sony A-mount cameras (here is the article from December 2009). Almost no one believed me at that time. And now that I am telling you that the next huge A-mount change is coming I hope you give me a bit more credit 🙂
—
Message to sources: If you have A-mount news to share you can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
125 Responses
The 60mm Sigma DN lens is NOT a macro lens! – Not even remotely with a mfd of 19,7″.
Are they serious? The shade and the Front cap are not included? Damn Zeiss! Why don’t they just add the price for these parts and sell them together?
Sure, front- and back cap as well as the lens shade are included in the package. But is it a bad thing to be able to buy spare ones?
Well put Poki..some are just, like Lotus Eater said, complaining for the sake of complaining.
And some are blindly claiming perfection from Sony when it’s far from perfection. Those folks are more useless than those who take a realistic look at Sony equipment and voice what they see about it’s limitations. Our job is not to be a used car salesman foisting a junker off on some unsuspecting customer. And misleading folks into thinking Sony produces perfection actually hurts their gain of customers. Be realistic about Sony, those who critique the gear are. So customers know what they are getting, including faults.
I agree 100% that we should state, and debate negatives about the product, but after its stated, why beat a dead horse? But tell me, WK, why are we even considering the idea of ‘perfection?’
I’ve used all the major manufactuers’ equipment, professionally. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. None are even CLOSE to perfection. When you start comparing things to ‘how they should be if perfect’, you find yourself depressed and complaining all the time.
The grass is NOT always greener on the other side.
CanonJack is right. I’ve used Contax/Canon/Nikon/Panasonic before and they all had their pros and cons.
When Contax was still alive, it was the Zeiss lenses that drew people to that brand. Before the N series cameras, Contax only had manual focus lenses and cameras. Did people really complain about Contax (by this point it was 2002 or so) not offering AF? no, because they flocked to that brand for a single reason. All else was comparable (winding speed, pentaprism size, etc)
But then, they were also priced a great deal more expensive than Canon and Nikon. If Leica was the Mercedes of 35mm film, Contax was the Japanese made BMW. Expensive, but it gave you something that others couldnt. At that time, lens adaptation was an option for Canon shooters but they saw little in it because AF was where it was at.
Today, the differences are less clear but still there. I say less clear because most cameras today take you 90% to where most want to be. For professionals, the choice is slightly more intrinsic because the minimal differences could mean you may never achieve nice shadows (because of Canon banding, for example) when bringing them up or you may never have pixel-detail sharpness (because of the X Trans experiment)
The deal is, choose what makes you happier.
I wanted smaller and mighty and, at the time, NEX 7 was it. I sold my 5D2s a 35mm 1.4, a Zeiss 35mm/2, 50mm/2 makro, and a 24mm 1.4. Although AF is not as fast, its more reliable. Manual focus is the BEST!! thanks to peaking. Size was unbeatable and people stopped taking me so seriously when I was out and abouts taking photos.
If I could afford it, I would trade the faster AF and the lens interchangeability for the RX1 because I love 35mm and the size is more fun than NEX for me (I have the RX100 and its great!) To top that up, the IQ will be the icing on the cake.
The lens caps are included as it states in the adorama description under “Overview”.
In “Features” it’s written ” Even the lens hood, typically an accessory, is seamlessly integrated into the overall design.”
I would guess that both are included and you can buy the replacement parts? Anyone more information?
The twits are a major ripoff! Good luck to Zeiss!!
Buy the 10-18 instead! It is sharp and has OSS. And cap and shade included!
Let’s hope that the caps are only being sold separately as spares. Otherwise, what a rip-off!
Is the Sigma 60mm really a macro lens? I doubt it…
sorry, copy and paste error. Fixed it 🙂
Too bad 🙁 STILL waiting for a good macro lens…30M35 sucks…
The Sony 100mm f2.8 and 50mm f2.8 are excellent macro lenses. They will give excellent results for those that know how to do macro.
You’re right. I have both ( Minolta D versions ) and they are excellent, regardless not having an internal AF motor. A99’s AFD extra AF points also work with them.
some folks don’t like the two lenses because they haven’t been upgraded to SSM and still rely on the original AF mechanism.
I don’t recall doing Macro with any sort of AF….on the contrary..AF on Macro only makes things more difficult.
Still…these two lenses are vintage lenses…their designs are from the Maxxum 9000 era.
Okay, the Zeiss version of my SEL-16F28 + VCL-ECU1 combo would surely improve corner sharpness and some more aspects, but costs five times the price and therefore is out of my budget and beyond my rule not paying more than € 500,– for APS-C lenses, but probably I’ll go for the lens cap…
Except the front converter in Zeiss version is not detachable…
Front cap included in Leitz lenses as well!
Is it really not included in Zeiss?
I look forward to the Sigma 60mm dropping to $99.
Any new rumors about Sony 85mm f/1.8 for NEX?
i wish the E-mount one had an aperture ring too. would be great for video.
How come only the X-mount model has aperture ring and not the E-mount model?
Quite simply, X-mount lenses need lens aperture control since you can’t control it on camera, E-mount lenses don’t since you can control it on camera.
400 F4 is boring. Put a teleconverter on the 300/2.8 and you are done.
400 F2.8 would be much more interesting.
True, but I’m guessing a 300 2.8 with a teleconverter would be MUCH more expensive considering that the 300 2.8 cost around £6000…
We don’t know the price of the upcoming Sony 400 F4.
But Canon is offering the 300/2.8 and the 400/4 for roughly the same price. I think it is reasonable to assume that Sony will do the same.
I’m not disagreeing at all, but it is funny to hear the screams of image quality impact when it comes to SLT mirror, but adding filters teleconverters, speed bosters and what not, doesn’t seem to bother that many.
/E
+1. Not interested in TCs that degrade optical quality.
+1.
Besides – why use 300 with TC when you can use 400 with TC? 😉
Seriously though – 400/4 might be a great lens, but I’m really afraid of the price. Canon’s 400/4 DO runs for over 5000$. Which likely means that Sony’s variant will be above my budget. :/ Though we’ll see – Sony’s 300 f/2.8 runs in similar price range so I leave a glimpse of hope for sub-3000$ price (still though I’d guess that it’ll hit the stores for 6000$ – roughly half the price of 500mm f/4 G).
Or look at it as a 70-400 without the zoom 🙂 That puts it in another price level.
The best teleconverter is Sony RX100 20 megapixel sensor.
Speed boosters? Why Sony would sell Speed Boosters for $500 if they can sell FF cameras for $3000?
> filters teleconverters, speed bosters and what not, doesn’t seem to bother that many.
Because teleconverters and so on are detachable, when you don’t need them, you just don’t put them on. The mirror is fixed.
And, if SLT mirror loses 1/2 of stop, Speed Booster gains a stop.
Think of Speed Booster as poor man’s FF.
The 400 f4 comes as a surprise to me. In my opinion, it is a better choice than offering a 400 f2.8, since that would place it near the 500 f4, price wise. Actually, a 400mm f4 is a very smart choice, since both Canon and Nikon don’t offer this lens. Canon offers a 400mm f5.6, and Nikon only offers the super expensive 400 f2.8. So this 400mm f4 fits right between the 70-400 and 300 f2.8. Add a 1.4x teleconverter and you get 560mm f5.6. If you need an affordable long lens, this would be a superb choice over the 300 f2.8 with TC (420 f4 with 1.4x TC) or 500 f4.
I can only guess what the other 5-6 lenses may be, although maybe that includes the 50 1.4ZA and 70-200 f2.8 II?
Addition to post above: I wasn’t aware of the Canon 400 f4 DO, I hope Sony can offer a conventional 400 f4 at a less rediculous price.
A teleconverter severely reduces quality.
A lens system must include a wide selection of lenses not just the most popular ones.
Since lenses are hand assembled it is not necessary to sell a huge number of each model like it is with a camera.
f4 boring? I don’t know what world you live in, but in the real world – a 400 f/4 is something waay more people could actually buy… not only dream about.
I’m very glad to hear Sony’s starting to make lenses that can sell, not only lenses for people to fantasize and read about. Now only the Sony Beercan series is missing… then they have a great price / quality balance.
You think many would buy a 400/4 priced at $3000 to $6000? I doubt it. Such a lens is neither mainstream nor exquisite.
What about lenses people actually would buy?
70-200/4
85/1.8
35/2 (non-DT)
14-24/2.8
85/1.4 and 135/1.8 SSM
at least one F1.2 lens (not useful but poor man’s show off lens)
And some lenses to really show off:
600/4
400/2.8
200/1.8
I think a 300mm f/4 or a 400mm f/5.6 would be much more interesting. I’m about as likely to afford a 400mm f/4 as I am a 300mm f/2.8 plus teleconverter.
Talk is cheap…………
Lot’s of talk about new full-frame glass but nothing shipping yet.
Last full-frame Sony/Zeiss A-Mount was the 24/f2 in 2010
Other than the big 500/f4 its been some time between quality A-Mount glass
I’m waiting to see reviews on the new 50/f1.4 and the others
Reworking existing quality lenses does not really expand the system, it’s treading water in place. It’s way past time Sony went to expand the lens part of the system. I’ve little use for a hyper expensive 70-200 to replace the hyper expensive 70-200. And even the 400, if it comes out with Sony’s idea of what’s an affordable lens, won’t be anything to get excited about (and I have a 400mm f4 already)
And there is a lot more to a entire system than camera bodies and lenses. Where’s the new improved dual macro flash or the never produced macro ringflash, for instance, where are they?. Macro and closeup is a large part of photography, but Sony is antique in their ideas of how to improve the macro system. High speed macro flash is expanding macro capabilities in Nikon and Canon. Even in lenses, where is the 1x-5x very high quality macro lens to compete with Canon?
why these st%%%d “high speed” flashes? I want central shutter.
Walt ever so positive on the Sony front across all websites, dude one needs to get out with your camera more me thinks.
Si
Will your source confirm that there are going to be NATIVE A-MOUNT APS-C models and that NO ADAPTERS ARE REQUIRED.
All this talk of full frame lenses is nice, but please try to confirm that APS-C is going to be native A-mount without adapters.
“Macro and closeup is a large part of photography,”
Not really at all. I’d say maybe 5% on a good day.Probably much less.
The large bulk of photos created are those involving people and places.
Macro lenses are opimized fo 1:10 or greater magnification.
That describes the majority of photos i take and every prime lens i own is macro.
Macros also work fine as normal lenses.
More photos then you realize would benefit from a good macro prime.
A macro prime portrait length lens would be very usefull for you if you only photograph people.
Please Sony, I’m begging you, put the Olympus 5 axis IBIS in the next A mount cameras. Do this and I will move over to Sony. You now own part of Olympus so hopefully this is doable. Supersteady shot is nowhere near as useful when it comes to video.
I don’t think being a part owner of a company automatically give you access to that company’s patent portfolio.
Ufff, what is with those comments?!?
People often complained that Sony had to many Alpha models and came with new models way to often. Now they are slowing down and I don’t care.
The next generation Alpha camera’s will be without any mirror? Great! It should be possible to create a good camera that way, look at all the very good mirrorless camera’s there are right now from Sony Olympus and Fuji. It will use a different AF system but why shouldn’t it? AF systems in mirrorless camera’s have gotten very fast and accurate, look at the Olympus OM-D.
When the SLT system was introduced some people went berserk because of the loss of light. Those people should be very happy now because Sony might create a Alpha mount camera with no mirror at all.
I want to use my Alpha 77 for some time to come because it’s a great camera and I have a nice collection of lenses to use. I trust Sony to come with a good replacement when I want it, but I am in no hurry.
And why would Sony stop producing the Alpha mount now? They could stop “really” investing in the Alpha mount line-up and still sell “new” models if they wanted to? Maybe go like Pentax and offer different colors instead of some real technical innovation.
+1
SAR readers are very passionate indeed, as admin says
They read too much into ‘roadmaps’ while I consider them like politicians promises: meant to be broken
My only wish with this site is to have a way to edit grammatical errors after i press “Enter”
A 400mm f/4 would be very welcome if the price is affordable. The only 400mm f/4 on B&H right now is the Canon at $6,500. The f/5.6 versions are around $1400. f/4 is cheaper than f/2.8 but $6000 ballpark is still too rich for me.
Most users need f4 lenses rather than a super tele-lens,so I still have no idea why Sony launches this sort of lens.
Whoa, hold your horses – the initial rumor was about a 400/f2.8. If they will make a 400/f4, then that is the best news for longer time. Because the 400/f2.8 will be too expensive for most of us. But a 400/f4 would be nice. Just the price about it worries me, I guess it will be around 6-7000 USD/EUR which is still a bit high.
By early 2014, do you mean that Sony could announce the cameras in the fall as most manufacturers do but start shipping in early 2014? Or will they do both the announcement and shipping in early 2014 (like at CES or something)?
Announcement early 2014.
I imagine Sony would price a 400/4 at $6500. Canon’s 400/4 is around that price. Still too expensive. Sony really desperately needs to stay under $2000 for the next few lenses.
Caon’s 400/4 uses diffractive optics (DO), which is why it is so expensive. It was about 3x the price of the Minolta 400/4.5 when it came out. The big benefit of diffractive optics is that they allow the lens to be shorter and lighter than a similar lens using “normal” optics, but they also substantially increase the cost of the lens. Canon is the only company that has thus far used such optics in a commercial lens and it has not done so in a while (the 400/4 DO lens is a relatively older lens). There is no reason to think that Sony’s 400/4, if there is to be one, will be anywhere near the price of Canon’s 400/4 as it almost certainly will not use diffractive optics. My “guess” would be a price in the $3,000 range, though it ultimately will depend on how good Sony wants to make the lens vs. compromises it makes to keep the cost “reasonable.”
I don’t get why Sony stopped releasing different lenses with the 135/1.8 ZA… If anything, that lens is underpriced or right where it needs to be. Sony “dared” to be different with the SLT’s and is rumored to lose the mirror altogether, why not release some different lenses?
What isn’t working: “Let’s make the same crap Canon and Nikon have and charge more for them even though we do stabilization in-body”
At least go back to painting them silver if you’re going to release the same stuff. A new 70-200 or a 300/2.8 or 70-400 doesn’t get the wallet out of my pocket for Sony. If anything, someone will bite on the new version II stuff and sell their old versions and my money will go to eBay. The $1500 50mm f/1.4 looks awesome and is closer to the price range I am looking for, but I just don’t see myself paying over $1000 more for SSM and weather sealing unless the thing finds pixels I didn’t have before.
Why not release a full line of STF lenses at different lengths? Why can’t you change the numbering up a little bit. 200-300-400-500 is boring. 250-350-450 is cool and interesting.
There must be a small pack of very profitable people out there buying these expensive lenses or Sony wouldn’t keep making them.
There are high income folks, in China and India where all the jobs were exported. In the US folks are trying to figure out how they will be able to buy food or gas in a few years.
@ WK …you are still have the high income that anyone in India or China… Get your facts straight before spitting any Sh*t from your mouth
Income is relative.
Income is relative, but only for certain things.
Things like A99 or cars are more expensive in poor countries. Gasoline and food the same price. Housing, lawyers and dentists cheaper. So WK just whines.
LOL? Do you seriously think that Chinese worker who work on Sony lens plant has higher living standard than you?
You guys in the US are wondering how to pay for gas and food. Blood hell, we pay the same price in UK pounds as you do for your camera gear in US $ thanks to Sony’s pricing. We are paying for your camera gear and having to pay for gas and food so sod off and still try to enjoy our hobby.
Si
I love to see YouEss people whine about gas prices when the gas costs half of what it costs here in sweden… And we have like double the income tax also…
The insensitivity of your comment is unbelievable. In India, buying anything more than a D7000 or A77 is beyond most advanced amateurs or semipros. Anything more than a 1000 dollars is ‘extremely’ expensive, buying several lenses is out of the question. Lets not even talk about food and gas. Talk about naivety and ignorance.
A most insensitive comment. My friend works in Mumbai for Amex process with timings like 10 pm to 10 am morning and earns $400 per month. Does WK work so much and earns as much as my friend I wonder ? How many A99’s can he buy with his monthly salary ?
Oh and gas is approx $5 per gallon here in Mumbai. So that $500 will take him a long way !
400 F4, now you have my attention, but will depend on price.
Again – a lot of People here have no idea about the real world:
It’s the Chinese, Indians, and Brazilians who do have Money that are buying the expensive stuff. Hes is seriously right. Besides the Russians, of course.
The poor People there go into the Billions – quite right – but the rich People advanced to the millions. And that is plenty!
A friend of mine in HB told me so, rthat the majority of their cams is going to that type of clientele; and the Leica shop in this City sells over 50% of their high-end Equipment to Chinese, doing very well.
In the international cities without a Chinese and a Russian employee handling those customer you cannot survive!
I believe! I make.believe!
[clicking heals together] There’s no place like SAR. There’s no place like SAR…
Andrea, are there any E mount lenses baking?
mmm sony A mount is quite dead… argument closed!
LOP
What is your definition of dead?
Does it include a full line of new lenses by Zies and Sony?
Does it include 3rd party lenses?
Does it include new cameras anounced in early 2014
Does it include game changing technology (mayby stacked sensor?
Does it include actually reading the posts you are responding to?
Please tell me your definition so I can get better understand why a mount is dead.
Canon EF mount is also quite dead, as is Nikon F mount. They’re all quite dead. Quite. LOL.
That argument will never be closed, because insecure people will never stop letting their minds run wild.
On the other hand, if the reasonable Minolta/Sony userbase could find a way to ‘scare off’ all the insecure complainers, by convincing them that A-mount is dead, things would be a lot more pleasant.
(eating popcorn)
Sounds so intersting…
Of course you are correct; without the flury of feathers and dust getting kicked about, SAR would be somewhat boring.
What do we desire? Boring & Stable or Crazy & Chaotic? There must be a balance in there somewhere.
Now I want popcorn!
Dicussing death of A-mount should be dead because the mount is very much alive! Long live and prosper 🙂 V
I’m always happy to hear news about new A-mount developments, either bodies or lenses! Nevertheless, I’ll be even happier when Sony also announces development of more down-to-earth lenses like:
– 70-200/f4 “G” SSM
– 24-70/2.8 SSM “G”(Sony version of the new Tamron 24-70/2.8 PDZ?)
– 180-2.8 SSM macro with compatibility with current 1.4x and 2x TCs
– redesign of some current lenses adding SSM:
– both 50&100mm macros
– 50/1.4 and 16-105( make it f/4 )
– Zeiss 135&85
– etc, just to name a few!
I am impressed at the hypocrisy displayed by some here when anything is announced and it gets taken as if it was an actual fact, ready to happen, the sooner the better. Later, down the road:
Before:
“Wow, that would be amazing…I am certainly waiting for that!”
After announcement:
“Nah, I can’t believe they charge xxxx for that!…I mean, it’s Sony right?”
Zeiss rumors:
“No way, Zeiss making lenses for E mount will be great because Sony doesnt want to release other Zeiss lenses for E mount themselves. I hope their price would be like no single other Zeiss lens had ever costed before. I am ready to pay with a used sock (single, not the pair) and three of my toe nails I cut last week. They are fresh, so they should be grateful”
After announcement:
“F”£k that! No way I am paying premium for Zeiss. They are not Leica. Canon and Nikon charge much less for their systems and so does Fuji. I’ll never come back to SAR again!”
Life is what it is. Sorry. I happen to work in photography and sometimes I have good times and sometimes I have bad times in my business. If I have a bad time and cannot afford gear, I don’t blame the brand for not giving it to me at a price I am willing to pay. The truth is, there is a visual difference (very stark sometimes) between Sony lenses and Zeiss lenses. Or Canon/Nikon lenses and Zeiss lenses. Even when the 50mm 1.4 for ZF and ZE was not as sharp as its Canikon counterparts, it kept on selling because people like the character Zeiss lenses give.
If you cannot see it. Dont buy it.
If you do not need it. Dont buy it.
If you do not print gallery quality prints. Dont buy it.
If you only show for web. Dont buy it.
If you shoot jpeg. Dont buy it (Sony’s jpeg engine will minimise Zeiss advantage over native lenses)
If you shoot for fun and can’t afford. Dont bitch.
Carl Zeiss lenses are tools and not a membership card to a cool kids club.
Same goes for bodies and cameras. Disappointed? go somewhere else and dont come back here.
Sony built at least three landmark cameras (NEX 7, RX100, RX1) in the last 18 months and not one other brand has come to be as bold as they are now.
If anyone from Sony is reading SAR, I truly hope they take more of the positive and constructive comments than the whining of people that feel the brand owes them something.
+10
Amen! well said my friend, I am tired of all the whining, if you want cheap good glass just buy minolta stuff and be happy it will give you great images. If you want top of line gear than you can pay for it or you are dreaming, either way top of line gear costs like it, so I would love it if people stopped complaining and started shooting more.
Yes! Couldn’t agree more! 🙂
+1×10^100
Lets make Hendrick the Sony Alpha mount community spokesperson – this person understands photography.
The entitlement most people apparently feel is unreal. Sony owes you nothing – they present their product, and you are free to buy or buy elsewhere.
Thanks. I am just tired that regardless of what Andrea announces as rumor or not, people seem convincingly frustrated. What is worse is that Andrea feels the need to work in order to dissipate fumes of something he didn’t say or do!
In regards with the Zeiss pricing of lenses (again), when did they release cheap lenses anyway? even back in the Contax days, their longest line of lenses was the C/Y mount lenses and even then their 2.8 ‘cheap’ lenses (some had 2.8 and 1.4 versions like the 35mm and 85mm lenses) were more than $1000 in the US easy. What’s so different today?
Anyhow. With regards to the Touit (maybe that name deserves mocking, really) lenses just released, we will know if the 12mm and 32mm are worth their salt.
I believe they will be. Especially the 12mm since there is NOTHING of that focal length and that speed in E mount today. For those who compare it with the ‘cheap’ 16mm… same thing. Can’t see the difference or don’t find the value? don’t buy it. Also, it is a bit idiotic to compare two VERY different focal lengths. I mean, who compares 24mm to an 18mm lens?:
“Wow, that 18mm has a bit of distortion and I don’t think the edges are as good as they can be. I think, for the price, I’m gonna get the 24mm.”
Does anybody remember a similar argument before between the Sigma 18mm (!?) and the Zeiss 24mm E? It takes some serious lack of need and understanding to weigh an argument on the price of a lens that is 1.5 stops faster, has a different focal length altogether and is better made.
Who can say: “Hey man, that 50mm 1.4 is so great and cheap that I don’t see why people need to buy the 35mm 1.4. I guess some people have more sense than money, right?”
What about new version of Zeiss 85mm and 135mm ? Do you have any leak ?
Just waiting for the posts from the usual frantic sky is falling SAR posters
Title of Thread:
“Working on the new A-mount roadmap…”
Silly SAR poster rational:
“why did they use the word “road” some roads end in dead ends”
Silly SAR poster conclusion:
“omg this means they are dropping the A mount line, omg run for the hills”
Facepalms ensue, validity of SAR conversations is again taken down a notch.
I guess I’m cynical but seriously the last few threads that the admin clearly stated they were continuing the A mount and people still tried to press the issue of them dropping it, that is just sad. Curious to see how this one unfolds.
Agree 100%, some have gotten a little over the top… I’m very happy with Sony’s choices of recent, to me they make more sense and I’m very happy with my A99 and A77 camera’s… The A77 does NOT need a refresh right now as the tech improvements will not be worth a whole new body. We have also asked for Sony to spend more time on lenses rather than body’s and it sounds like they might be delivering on this as well….
These are the things many of us (including me) have been asking for from Sony, it seems they have listened or agree with us which is GREAT!
I guess you always get some that want to complain no matter what, but come on guys this is some very positive stuff we are seeing from Sony!
I’m exited and very happy, Thank you very much Sony!
To echo what Tom Tom says, it has been clear from the outset of these rumours that the A Mount would continue. I am afraid Andrea muddied the water a little more with this post, because to say “it isn’t absolutely true” (that Sony are ditching the A-Mount) is a world of different from “It absolutely isn’t true” (that our A-Mount world is collapsing around our ears).
But I must disagree with Hendrick’s request we fun-shooters should be disqualified from bitching. What else would there be to do on days when the weather is too bad to take our (non-weather sealed) cameras outdoors?
A-mount will be around, and the new camera line will all be about the new type of sensor tech and the build around it.
That’s my thoughts.
Hope some trusted source can leak some more info. 🙂
” The A-mount cameras coming in early 2014 will bring a considerable and visible improvement.”
I agree Sony’s cameras are pretty good now…but Nikon and Fuji are also producing some amazing cameras..and maybe by the time Sony releases new A-mount cameras, Nikon and Fuji will launch some truly amazing cameras!
Let’s hope Sony will also focus on lens production..lenses that could match the new tech of the cameras they are about to launch! Let’s also hope that Sony will sell new good quality lenses at a more competitive price. (like they are doing with the new e-mount zeiss lenses)
Maybe Sony will sell the A-mount to Pentax (Ricoh) and just keep the E-mount at Sony. That would be fun.
Here’s the end-all truth to the A-mount – anyone who’s insecure about it, please read.
Nothing is absolute or eternal in this world, it is a part of life.
No product line or brand will be around forever, no matter how much we want it to be or how hard the company tries.
Everything changes; thats what keeps life interesting and worth living. Its how innovation is born, how technological revolutions happen.
But, to be constantly in fear of change is being in fear of life itself.
Sony has made it clear, clearer than its ever been before with their imaging division, that they are TRYING to succeed. Probably trying harder than any other company right now. They arent hanging on the edge of the cliff trying to pull themselves up with their bare hands, wildly grasping handfuls of dirt; they have a rope, and they’re making intelligent, creative moves to get back up on top.
People treat camera brands like its America football. They each belong to a ‘team’ and they cant stand the other teams. Which makes sense for football, the purpose of it is competition. But it’s quite pointless with camera brands. The purpose of camera brands is not competition, its making compelling photographs. If you love your Canon or Nikon or Sony or Olympus or Pentax, great! Dont waste your time posting how much its better than the others, use it! And importantly, share the good and bad things with your gear with people you meet who use a different brand. Informed decisions should sell cameras, not false propaganda.
To all the Nikon or Canon guys who might be posting here; stop trying to hurt Sony’s image or future reputation. We should be EMBRACING Sony. Any company that keeps the fire lit under Nikon or Canon is a great asset to us, and everyone. And Sony might just be OUR brand of choice some day. I dont own any claim in Nikon; I buy the gear that best does the job for me. If (and when) Sony evolves, who knows, I may not desire Nikon anymore. The manufactuer owes me nothing. They never signed a pledge stating that they would eternally support the system to my desire or need.
well said. I try to send the same message to x-box vs sony people as well. The companies only really care about our money at the end of the day so the fact that we fight over brand as if it gave birth to us is ridiculous.
>We should be EMBRACING Sony.
I am, kinda, embracing Sony with 1 camera and three lenses I bought. That is much more than the quality deserves.
We all here vote with our money, noone cares about what we write here, except ourselves.
>The purpose of camera brands is not competition, its making compelling photographs.
It is for competing. If it had been for making photos, we would have only 1 mount for SLR cameras and 1 mount for mirrorless instead of dozen of different ones.
Very true it is about competition, but we’re mixing things up here. There is camera company competition, and there is photographer competition. The camera companies compete just like any other industry. We compete with each other. We dont need different brands of cameras to compete. Our competition is a creative competition.
>The manufactuer owes me nothing. They never signed a pledge stating that they would eternally support the system to my desire or need.
++++many
That might all be true but Sony has also let its customers down by not clearly indicating its intentions. The amateur / cheap cameras are fine but when it comes to big investment systems where we use multiple bodies and a range of lenses its another matter. Sony has consistantly dissapointed in this area, it may have every right to conduct its buisness as it has but it also has to accept the consequences of being secretivive, inconsistant and unpredictable re its high end system. I for one love the Carl Zeiss lenses and hoped that Sony would have brought out a D800 equivalent as a platform for them. I’m not the only one out there who has been waiting, and Sony has seemingly walked away from all of us, sold its best sensor to Nikon and thru this site made vague insinuations that its still competitive and a new A camera sporting a big sensor is just around the corner – 2014 is a long way off in a commercial market where time frames re jobs etc are incredibly short. No wonder so many posts are negative, frustrated and cynical. Sony has done nothing to allay these responses except to drop the A99 in our laps, nice camera (not that I bought one – why?) but not the technological and optical marvel we’ve been expecting for over 6 years.
If they ever cough up a good camera heres what I think the tech should have – a digital display capable of showing DOF info (why use an app?) and a super sophisticated tethering capability.
I think what CanonJack is saying is that if you personally feel sony has let you down, you owe it to yourself to switch brands. Why would you live with that?
Other people think sony is doing just fine and are not letting them down. Again, I personally think you have good ideas, but sony doesnt care or cater to ‘your’ idea of what a good camera is or the tech it needs to have. if you feel sony isnt living up to your ideals, your crazy to stick around. its a free market, its a big world, and there are so many other options out there.
while i agree with you, im pretty sure your argument is always going to fall on deaf ears.
I have a sneaking suspicion that when you were a kid you were constantly asking ‘are we there yet???’
Really? Did you even read the post you responded to?
Yes, I did read it, I have to stop snooping around this site its a real time waster, but one last post. I still have my old A900 + the CZ 24 – 70 , CZ 135 + a few others, I really like the CZ optics and I’m intersted to see if Sony can actually come up with a knockout hi res DSLR. But I also cut and ran a year or so back, bought a Haselblad H4D50 and a Nikon D800 + a bunch of Nikon and CZ Nikon lenses. No complaints about either,the optics and results from the Blad are stunning, Nikon nearly as good but you cant beat clarity and colour accuracy via native 16 bit RAW and the blad lenses + if you look at the tech in the blad its really very simple, all thats needed is there, its the optics and sensor. What defines a hi res camera is the output, who needs 24mpxls if you print A3 on a little Epson? I print around 3m x 2m consistantly and own a 60″ Epson roll printer. Most photographers I know in the photo industry have made the shift to the D800 as its a good workhorse and trust that Nikon will continue to develop it and its lenses. Its a practical choice and a shame that Sony didnt keep the sensor and own that end of the market. To me though it would indicate that they have decided to let it go and simply sell its best sensors on to Nikon, after all the D800 must be pushing 2 years old now and getting close to replacement.
I hung back from buying the D800 as I kept on hearing that a D800 better Sony equivalent was just around the corner (how many times has that been heard now?)the dissapointing A99 turned up so finally I couldnt wait and jumped ship, I needed a lighter travelling camera, problem with the Blad is that if your working on the road the whole kit is extremly heavy and cumbersom and it needs a very heavy tripod for its v big lenses. I needed a lighter easier to handle kit, unfortunatly time was up waiting for Sony so it was Nikon, I had to make a commercial decision. I was totally pissed off with Sony re my going to Nikon as I felt that I was loosing money on my CZ lens investment which I had to duplicate with Nikon lenses plus the D800 is basically a Nikon package with a Sony sensor, a rather expensive dark irony not lost on me.
The reality is that if they want to play with the big boys Sony has to stay consistant and reassure its market that it will continue to support it way into the future. There seems to be a roadmap for every product except the hi end A camera system. I read about the tilt sensor touted for the ‘new’ A camera which will compliment tilt lenses, killer idea – but what tilt lenses? Sony dont make them. I’m still curious re the future of the A system but in regard to my professional needs I simply couldnt wait thru the huge timespans between models + after the A99 letdown who’s to say that Sony will even bother produce a genuine successor and sell their next big sensor to Nikon again, theres too much teasing going on. I wonder if they even know what they are doing, meanwhile back in their competitors camp I’m sure the new Nikon D900 is taking shape. Thats it I’m done.
Sounds good that there will half a dozen of new lenses.
Let me just assume what would make sense.
One will be the update of the 70200G. I would wish for a new 35/1.4 and a new 100mm Macro (good IQ, but the AF is a pain in the back). Then this 400/4. What else? Maybe two lenses for DT.
It’s time for a sonycscrumors.com and a sonylegacyrumors.com site.
E-mount owners are anxious for E lens and FF NEX announcement and are angry at that other, 3rd rate, camera system stealing R&D budget from E development. Atleast there is a lot of 3rd party support now.
A-mount owners are anxious for the slow drips of A lens news and are somewhat insecure about Sony’s new #1 system in the Camera division and about A-mount lack of traction. 3rd party support is slowing down, leading to more insecurity among owners.
Isn’t it time for two different sites? One for A-mount. The other for RX and NEX.
There isn’t a ton of content between covering both alpha lines, one site is more than sufficient. You do realize that you do not have to read the posts that do not appeal to you, right?
I am happy with things. My A77 is a great camera and all I would like is a partner for the 16-50/2.8 something similar but in say 50-150/2.8 would be a great partner. The sigma was good but when they went OS the Sony version disappeared. As I have the 70-300 G the idea of AFFORDABLE 400/4 would be good.
Andrea,
I hate to be rude, because I come onto this site regularly. However, with your recent comments, I think you have ‘seriously’ had a negative impact on Sony’s A-Mount camera Line.
If I was Sony, I would be very cross with you at the moment.
Whilst I think closing this site may perhaps be a step too far. I think taking a step back & learning from this recent state of event’s is perhaps in order.
I would go as far as saying your comments may be having an impact upon effecting 3rd party suppliers decisions on releasing new lenses for the system.
I don’t think we need any A mount rumours just now, just positive stories from people who are using these camera’s for their full and intended purpose.
Let a sleeping dog lie as it were.
All the best
That is absolutely ridiculous. It’s laughable to even consider that tis tiny rumor & speculation site has any effect whatsoever on the massive company that is Sony. No one at Sony, run by very proud Japanese people, would even bat an eye at the speculation on here.
You do realize that Sony produces a consumer device called the Playstation – subject to intense scrutinization and speculation since the 90s. Rumors about future products are old hat for them.
I agree with C this is an absolutely insane concept. maybe 5% of all Sony buyers even know about sony alpha rumors, and while i’m sure sony knows about the site, i’m sure they dont care. it probably gives them something to laugh about as they eat their breakfast in the morning.
Problem with your logic is that that dog ain’t sleepin’. It’s wide awake and hungry.
So, 400/4 is coming for sure. While another 400/2.8 releasing is in debate. we are discussing 2 lens here.
Mr. Admin, is my understanding correct?
correct.
Thanks very much!
“And in these days I have been told by very good sources that there will be many new lenses coming within the next 10-12 months.”
I’ll look very seriously at buying an a77 if there’s a 50-135 or 150mm f/2.8 to go with the nice (and nicely priced) 16-50mm f/2.8.
why are you telling us? ok, let me join in too with my random personal plans based on random rumors that have nothing to do with this post:
I think i’m going to buy the A77 if I can get a half gallon of milk for less than 1 dollar. and if it happens on a sunday, and there’s a full moon, i’ll buy the vertical grip, too.
Grin. I was thinking the same thing.
If its Zeiss milk you’ll never get it for 1$.
Mmmmmm… Zeiss milk.
Sony’s SLT disaster was actually causing me to be depression. It is hard to be the only Sony shooter in town and feel good about it when the company is, by analogy, making dog food that the dogs won’t eat.
My Sony G 70-300 on my 850 delivers some shots that make heart beat faster. However, because of the the poor focusing performance, I lose more shots than I get. I switched to Canon Marl III in February with one lens. The 28-300 L series. I cant say that the IQ is better- the same actually- but the focusing almost never misses. I get a lock 99.5% of the time. The Sony would focus and not lock so the shutter would not release and I had to toggle to manual focus just to get a release. The Canon shoots regularly at ISO 5000 and ISO12,800 beats Sony at ISO 1600. Actually no Comparison. Canon shooters have access to every aftermarket product imaginable. If you want to stay shooting action shots, I am street photographer, then you need to move on.
Best wishes to all you on the forum. I hope you all get that “Career” shot.
God Bless
Hey illuguyouhoohoo,
So I take it that you dont know what ‘release priority’ means? I dont think you even know what a camera is. Nice try. Goodbye.
Any Zeiss 135mm SSM news? ( Before I go & get the screw drive model…)