A77 will be superior to any other APS-C camera. New professional NEX coming! (Sony says)
And finally Sony gave us an explanation why it is taken so long to develop and release the A77. In an interview with dpreview they said that “we want it to be superior to its competitors, that’s why we couldn’t make it sooner,“. And about the NEX future: “so we’re planning to expand NEX in a more easy way, a lighter way, but we’ll also expand to make models that have more manual control and more DSLR-like capability.“. Sony confirms that the NEX-3 and NEX-5 will be replaced soon and that the next FF camera is not coming soon.
So it sounds like our rumored roadmap could be true: Nex-4 soon, A77 by mid 2011 and NEX-7 at PMA. FF? maybe early 2012…
Read the full interview on Dpreview and feel free to share your thoughts on that on SonyAlphaRumors!
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Comment from AVESTA: yup... the only reason why Sony hasn't b...- Comment from AVESTA: I have the A900, and I couldn't care les...
Comment from Raccoon: There are countless examples from the Dp...
Comment from SonyA700: What's ISO? :D...
AVESTA
2 years ago |Good news for me since I just got the A900.
I have no problem selling my NEX5 for the new upgrade with more controls. If the video has 24P capabilities that would be great too
Thomas
2 years ago |Yay! Finaly, Sony gives out some information. Let’s just hope that they don’t push it back even further.
Personally, I really hope that the EFV on the A77 is better than that on the A55. I tested the A55 a bit, but I didn’t like the EVF compared to the OFV on my A350. I’m looking forward to the release now
richard
2 years ago |Kinda shame that Sony isn’t focus at professional level of photography, they keep delay release of full frames camera. Nex has all the bell and whistle only thing stop me from buying one is lack of mode dial and hard to navigated.
cpreece
2 years ago |Release date for a7xx is still an mystery. There was no timeline mentioned in the interview. It would be nice to know if Dpreview even asked about the timeline for release?
Steve
2 years ago |Nice to here from someone in charge.
I’m a very happy a850 user so I’m not in the market for a new FF body right now. but if someone develops and ships a “perfect” camera I could change my mind….
If it two years before a a900 replacement I okay with that as long as the a77 is as good as everyone thinks/hopes.
I’m amazed everyday about the quality of the raw images from my Zeiss lenses and the Sony a850 as developed by Photoshop CS5 and other tools I use now instead of a darkroom.
I only wish my skills as a photographer and most of my subjects equaled the quality of the camera.
Please Sony……….. MORE Zeiss and G series glass!
That’s how I want to spend my $$$ this year!
AVESTA
2 years ago |I agree… I would rather spend $3000 on more Zeiss lenses rather than on another body
SonyA700
2 years ago |No details on the A77 and it doesn’t sound promising for a new FF camera being produced any time in the next two years!
Why bother with that so-called interview if you don’t ask time-scales? It said absolutely nothing, there was no substance to that interview at all frankly.
AVESTA
2 years ago |I don’t think the DP guys really care about sony, that’s the real problem
SonyA700
2 years ago |Fair point, probably not far from the truth.
Raccoon
2 years ago |You must have been living in a cave the past 2 years if you think that.
They have said numerous times that at this point there is probably no other camera company they have such close contacts with. Hence for example also a full review finished, practically the day a camera is announced.
AVESTA
2 years ago |Just because you have close contacts with someone doesn’t mean you care about their products… they report on Sony because they HAVE to in order to be considered a reputable camera news site.
Ezio
2 years ago |AVESTA is right, and reporting on Sony tech is their only method to hide their bias for Canikon
Raccoon
2 years ago |Just read the review and their evalutions on the A55 again and the process prior to that where they had close contact with Sony too. Also note the recent comments from people such as Richard Butler (just check his posts today in the Sony forum, in clear defence of the SLT’s).
mastroalex
2 years ago |Please, can you write the link to the Sony Forum?
Raccoon
2 years ago |There are countless examples from the Dpreview staff where they show they have anything but a bias against Sony.
This thread is just one of those many examples:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=37444345
It’s always ironic to see people from Sony forums claim bias against Sony when the *OPPOSITE* is claimed in others. Goes to show what coloured glass can do.
Panfruit
2 years ago |Lol.. people really need to stop saying that: it simply is not true. IMHO, It is only Sony has yet to earn the sort of respect that Nikon or Canon or Pentax or Olympus has earned.
Froo
2 years ago |Of course it is true. There has always been a hostile attitude towards Sony. This can easily be seen when just comparing reviews. And why would Sony “prove” anything? Sony has the Minolta heritage, which is at least as distinguished as these others.
Raccoon
2 years ago |No there really isn’t. In fact, is you visit the forums from other brands, you see people being convinced there is a *PRO* Sony bias.
(….)
cpreece
2 years ago |Agreed
Doug
2 years ago |I also agree. Frankly I don’t have clue why DP doesn’t like Sony cameras.
Froo
2 years ago |They didn’t like Minolta or Konica Minolta before that, so it’s a clear pattern. But they compensate by a genuine love for other smaller brands, for example Olympus, Samsung and Panasonic. /sarc
rt3
2 years ago |i’m sure it’s been asked but the interviewer didn’t get a definite answer so it is not posted. to create a superior thing is like creating a masterpiece and takes time. so i guess Sony does not want to over promise with delivery and gets delayed only to be blamed.
Kiril
2 years ago |Very interesting read.
Seems Sony saw nex 3&5 as expensive cybershot but it turned to be a cheap Ikon or Leica M. Sounds promising that more Feldman nex is coming – I hope it is not humongous.
I like the idea of releasing products in big increments rather than small steps. Looking at it there is not that much of ff cameras by nikon or canon either after a850 release, so may be ok to delay for a while and deliver something big. I also hope the new 7 series is really in league with the competition around things like af accuracy, tracking, noise, functionality. A700 though great camera left quite a bit to be desired in all departments compared to 40d/50d and d300. Now d400 is too on the horizon and Sony better get it right this time round.
Doug
2 years ago |I didn’t see any indication in that interview that Sony was developing a “professional” NEX model. More “DSLR-like”, yes, but “DSLR-like” is not the same as “professional”.
jg
2 years ago |‘Professional’ may not be the excact understanding of ‘DSLR-like’, but it’s close. Enthusiast-level or semi-pro is probably even closer.
safaridon
2 years ago |My take is both the NEX3 and NEX5 will soon be replaced by a single NEX4. Since the comment is light maybe this will be plastic similar with NEX3 & maybe lighter plastic bodied lenses to match?
The NEX7 with more manual controls and DSLR capability I take to mean this will be metal bodied as NEX5 but adding hotshoe and maybe in body flash. There will be new user controls and interface. Just my best guesses and I look forward to seeing what comes.
b shaw
2 years ago |Kudos to Sony for communicating.
zstan
2 years ago |unless the new *rumoured* D400 will be using the a55/580 sensor..i don’t see nikon coming out with a newer body(be it APS-C or FF) soon if they are still sticking with sony sensors.
and if nikon & sony aren’t gonna produce anything significant in the next few months, i’d doubt canon will be coming out with anything new with the looks of this as their current line up are already selling well with the 5Dm2 etc.
Raccoon
2 years ago |I think Sony always ends up in the same catch 22. They want to be unique, perform better than the competition. For example in the case of the sensor. But in order to make a project profitable, they need to sell a newly developed sensor in huge quantities and usually that means they have to sell it to third parties too. So they sit around the table with for example Nikon to come up with the right specs and make Nikon sign an intention agreement on buying the sensor from them. The result is that by the time Sony comes out with their classleading IQ (noise charachteristics, DR et al), so does Nikon with say… a D400, detracting from the Sony release.
Edgars
2 years ago |When Sony will use same sensor for 3-4 cameras which they could sell “in huge quantities”, then they could keep their unique sensors only for Sony cameras. It could be NEX7, A77, some downgraded camera e.g. A57 and some advanced video VG-17E.
FreeRadical09
2 years ago |If Sony did this kind of thing more frequently, the blood pressure and heart rate of most Alpha users would be kept at healthy levels and not on the hypertense levels they are at right now.
From what I read, some good things are on the future for those of us who still stick to Sony but Sony has the mission to deilver on those promises ON A REASONABLE TIME TABLE.
Panfruit
2 years ago |Definitely true. If they kept an open dialogue with the public it would help greatly.
Froo
2 years ago |If those Alpha users really are having these problems, they would do better to sink their money into some serious therapy sessions instead of another camera; a camera which they will undoubtedly be deeply dissatisfied with in another year, despite the numerous cat pictures they will take in that timeframe.
JB
2 years ago |Lots of 5D Mark2 replacement rumors are flying round and once again no A900 replacement in sight or even in early development stages.
Sony, your going to fall behind again, like 7D or D7000.
Not a good sign.
clivengu
2 years ago |“we don’t want to make the same products as everyone else and just cannibalise each other in the existing market.’
sony makes very clear they dont want to just target the same existing market. So there is really no need for them to compare or fight with canikon with every single camera they released. So they can take their sweet time producing what they believe as “LIKE NO OTHERS (i know thats old)”
They simply want to create a new market… But i hope they still care for their existing Alpha user
DoCo
2 years ago |Why wait for A700 replacement if we can buy A850 for reasonable price instead. And there is very little they can improve in A900 to make new model more useful and wanted so they can get better margins to cover development costs. FF replacement can have resolution about 35K. But who needs it? Just current users of middle format cameras. And they are not many to make it profitable enough. So I understand and I agree with current SONY plans.
Ezio
2 years ago |FF ISO quality, MP count, Drive speed. All can go up. FF video can also come in handy. That itself already warrants an interim A9xx with just a simple new sensor. Many Alpha users will be happy using the same body design if they throw in a newer and better high-ISO sensor.
AVESTA
2 years ago |I have the A900, and I couldn’t care less about having video in my FF camera. If I want to make a film I use my video camera.
The base ISO is fine for shooting. anyone who shoots in high ISO obviously doesn’t care about image quality.
MP count is the only thing that can be improved, but that alone doesn’t warrant an upgrade. And even so… if you really need that big of a resolution you should be shooting medium format film in the 6X9 size.
Will
2 years ago |“we’re planning to expand NEX in a more easy way, a lighter way”
That sentence to me sounds like the speaker did not know enough English-language adjectives to really say what he meant. It sounds to me like he’s saying they feel the current NEXs are too complicated and they want to simplify them. Makes sense. Forums are filled with newbies who can’t make sense of what the difference is between the several night modes, for example.
So it sounds to me that the next NEX will have more intelligent automation within fewer modes.
jg
2 years ago |Agreed – and the NEX line is about to be more diversified in different directions, lighter and more complex. From two models in 2010 to three models in 2011, four models likely in 2012…
Arthur
2 years ago |Professional NEX? Sounds like shit to me. NEX was meant to be an easy to use P&S with manual focus and large sensor, and it shall remain as such. A900 is a professional camera, that is why it takes over 3 years to replace it. Nex will be replaced every 6 month from now on. Keep spending money on half-cameras and semi-lenses. As for me, I’ll wait for a 950 or get a 900 if no viable alternative shows up next year.
RC
2 years ago |Ok coming at this from a non professional angle. I’m in the market for my first DSLR type camera. I tried the a55 – liked it, but want it with better battery life and manual controls on video. So I wait for the rumored a77. Will look at canon and nikon as well, but Sony has the lead in my books for now.
What I don’t get is the folks whining about lack of updates from Sony for the full frame line. Assume the a77 comes out tomorrow and I buy it, in 3 years it’s obviously been passed in terms of technology. Does that mean it won’t take the same quality of photos and video as the same day I bought it?
I’d rather not have my product be upgraded / refreshed every year because I would rather the new upgrade be quantum leaps better than what I currently have vs just an incremental upgrade.
Jus my thoughts
Ezio
2 years ago |I agree with you for sure. Its just that it “seems” to most pros that sony’s offering of professional bodies (A900, A850, A700) are all at least 2 years old. That’s why theres some screaming.
spasti
2 years ago |great to hear at least something from sony concerning alpha cameras. however i don’t really like, what they say. I tried the a55 evf and didn’t really like it, i’m not sure whether it can replace an ovf.
it’s nice that they want to innovate and try to set themselves apart from canikon, but i don’t think, that this is what minolta and early alpha users expectedh. some of us just want the latest sensor improvements and other “old fashioned” features, like dual-”scroll”-wheel or second display on a proper, weather sealed aps-c body.
I don’t mind a rather long lifecycle for a ff a900, however it is not very promising if there is nothing on sight. I’m just still not convinced that we’ll see a few “old-fashioned” semi-pro to pro dslr bodies from sony…
it’s not just about releasing the newest and maybe best and most exclusive tech, it’s also about giving people who invested in the system the chance to upgrade and keep up with the tech.
john
2 years ago |interesting read
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1294806676.html
SonyA700
2 years ago |That is an interview! The dpreview one was rubbish!
Still being evasive about the A77 announcement date though, it didn’t sound that close either.
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |Indeed. The interview with Weir is remarkable, and together with the interview in DPR represents something of a departure for Sony Alpha in terms of communication with the public. I hope that they keep it up.
The upshot for the A77 is that it will be a revolutionary camera with new technologies that we have not seen yet. Let’s hope it comes soon. Gustav believes April; these two important interviews may be a hint that Gustav is right.
Interesting too that Weir said that the NEX cameras are leading the 4/3 cameras in the US in sales.
john
2 years ago |Actually it’s the BEST interview I’ve read from Sony EVER!
Sony has been very vocal as of late.
Good sign. Shows confidence and instill that in its users.
A77 sounds like a MONSTER
Steve
2 years ago |Yes, everyone who spends time in this group should read this!
I’ve read it once, now I’m going to read it again.
good questions and some clear answers
ew
2 years ago |to admin: FYI, vgripe.com is translating your news into Russian but doesn’t mention that original news was published here (this article, for example, is on their first page right now)
PhotoNut
2 years ago |Bulls**t! Sony always over promises. The fact is that they are not able to compete with Sony/Nikon, remain #3 after billions spend on R&D and are not able to offer any competitive cameras for the medium to upscale market.
I wouldn’t believe anything they have to say until they can answer the question of when they will release a competitive APS-C or new Fullframe camera with the same functionality (Live View & Video) as Nikon or Canon.
Adi
2 years ago |I would say that A55 and A580 are VERY competitive APC-C camera with better live view and video than Nikon and Canon.In fact SLT technology allows fast phase detection autofocus during video. Check this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHPaVD0pHpQ
The A700 update ( let’s call it “A77″ ) it is also an SLT so the autofocus will at least match the A55 ( I expect to be even better). As Sony camcorders and even some compacts anounced at CES include 1080p60 video is a real possibility that A77 will have this also (if not 1080p24 for sure). A77 is comming in a matter of months.
For the FF you will need to wait, probably another year after A77 is out, and you should expect slower refresh cycles as it becomes a very small part of the market.
Froo
2 years ago |Obvious troll is obvious. Go away.
Raccoon
2 years ago |Heh, so what brings you here then?
SonyA700
2 years ago |How long have Canon and Nikon been in the SLR/dSLR market then?
For Sony to take over Minolta, integrate it into the Sony group and then get to the number 3 slot over long time SLR makers Olympus and Pentax is simply an ASTOUNDING achievement.
To then produce ground-breaking products such as the NEX line and the A33/A55 in only FIVE years since entering the market. Well, you simply don’t have a clue mate!
As much as I will knock Sony for not giving me an A77 today, I can not agree that they can not compete with Canikon.
The Web, photography shops and up the media have been very anti-Sony over the last five years, so it is no surprise that they don’t sell well. That is NOTHING to do with how a Sony performs, it is simply bias and will take a few years to change.
AVESTA
2 years ago |yup… the only reason why Sony hasn’t beaten Canon and Nikon is because most of its old users are stubborn and closed minded. Sony’s cameras/sensors are superior in so many ways, hence why Nikon uses them. Also, Zeiss wouldn’t team up with a shoddy camera maker. They obviously see value in the Sony brand as well.
Edgars
2 years ago |IR interview
manual AF? WTF? autofocus could be manual?
“people tend to by advanced APS much more than FF” – of course, there is 2-3x price difference. However, I didn’t realise which Sony advanced APS camera he could mention. Discontinued A700?
Weather sealed
2 years ago |IF SONY WANT IT TO BE SUPERIOR THEY BETTER MAKE IT WEATHER SEALED.
SonyA700
2 years ago |No, they don’t.
mochapaulo
2 years ago |In fact, I am quite reluctant to the pixel upgrade of future camera. Using m4/3 CMOS and the 18MP APS-C sensor from Canon 7D as reference , you should see what is the drawback of over density. I really can’t hope for any superior image quality from a 24MP sensor. What I can think of is a smarter image engine for noise reduction and give you more artificial image quality, and less detail.
Froo
2 years ago |While I agree in principle, the latest generation of Sony sensors have proven that it is possible to increase pixel density AND lower noise — as they are better than the a700 in this respect.
(This has been true — maybe even more true — for other brands as well, but it’s easier to give references within our own brand)
SonyA700
2 years ago |Sony have claimed that the 24mpix sensor will match the noise of the A55 sensor. Not too sure myself, but we shall see, eventually…
Adi
2 years ago |Not only match, I expect to be at least 1 stop better as is one generation newer.
Milos Janata
2 years ago |I hope they don’t target audience who says “24>18>14>12.. DR and ISO??Never heard of it..”
SonyA700
2 years ago |What’s ISO?