A99 with 24 or 36 megapixels? (D800 beats 5DmarkIII)
The two main A99 competitor are now shipping worldwide and at first glance it appears that the Nikon D800 sells more than the Canon 5DmarkIII. See the Amazon US rankings (Click here). According to my trusted sources Sony has two new FF sensors, one with 24 megapixels and the other one has 36 megapixel sensor (used for the Nikon D800). I am pretty sure the A99 uses the 24 megapixel sensor. But we are just a rumors site so everything is possible 
The main and very basic question you should answer is:
Loading ...Now I am curious to learn what you need!
Matthew
2 years ago |24MP is so much more than enough for pretty much anything. I wouldn’t have any more or less in my NEX-7, nor a big alpha DSLR.
Don Cox
2 years ago |I wouldn’t buy either of these, but I would buy a NEX with 36 Megapixels.
It might nearly equal the image quality of the Sigma SD1, given a good lens.
vam
2 years ago |In resolution, maybe. In colors, not a chance.
St.
2 years ago |You do realize that the 36mpx sensor (even if it’s the same used on D800) will not give you the same results as d800!?
Sony may produce good sensors, but still have to learn how to make good cameras (DSLR/SLT).
It’s good to watch their innovative approach though.
matgay
2 years ago |but then again, sony can also easily take a nikon produced sensor and charge $5000 premium on a $2500 camera for sony to tweak the nikon sensor a “little” better.
(yes, that was exactly what nikon did, D3X)
Spoon
2 years ago |Just looking at DSLR’s, I’d say the A580 is a good match for the D5100 an D7000 using that 16MP sensor. High ISO performance the same, a bit more DR for the Nikons due to a 14 bit mode, better colour separation/accuracy for the A580 due to better CFA’s. The 5N tops all these in terms of resolution thanks to a lighter AA filter.
David
2 years ago |@matgay, you’re right, but I bet there were more D3X’s sold than a850/900s.
@Spoon, I agree that the d580 matches the d5100/7000, and I prefer the output of the Sony cameras.
We just don’t know what, if any, effect the SLT design will have.
Solo
2 years ago |I wouldn’t be so sure David. The D3X was a serious ripoff, Nikon users were pretty aware of this.
matgay
2 years ago |why on earth would anybody buy a Nikon D3X, when you can move up to big league for only 20% more? From full frame to medium format for “only” $2000 more is a huge bargain. Pentax 645D.
Medium format baby!!!
Olaf
2 years ago |The question should be: “What A99 would you buy if you have the money for it?”
Luis
2 years ago |The question should be, what A99 would you buy in case Sony releases one… A lot of rumors and nothing happening… Ok, the question should be, will it ever happen?
Lofote
2 years ago |Uhm, it was delayed, but why should it not happen!?
David
2 years ago |Because nobody can predict what on earth Sony will do next! One day they release new plastic entry level cameras, discontinue something that was on the shelves for 11 months, and release a $15,000 lens.
wth
2 years ago |Actually it makes perfect sense…
Release entry level cameras to get new people introduced to the Sony ecosystem. Sony has acknowledge that they can’t effective pull a majority of “old timers” from other ecosystems. So the logical step is to acquire a new user-base.
Releasing the 500mm f4 shows that Sony is serious about the Professional/Enterprise range.
Discontinuing the FF to re-purpose their production lines for the new FF camera makes more sense.
If you are indeed the same David from the other threads, I know you are bitter about the whole Sony and have moved over to Nikon.
Bashing Sony in a Sony Rumor forum won’t help you or the people here in this forum in any way.
HD
2 years ago |36 megapixels. Built in Wi-Fi and GPS. FLIP UP translucent mirror! With this camera, the world and the competition will be amazed.
Dave Cox
2 years ago |+1
Vlad3D
2 years ago |FLIP UP translucent mirror alone should be enough to amaze at least me
kalpurush :)
2 years ago |I want FW update 2.0 verssion for my a77. Not interested in a99 at the moment.
Sony, give the full satisfaction the money I have spent for my a77.
Sony. Make (us) Believe!
Karl
2 years ago |+1
Tom L.
2 years ago |+1
A4W
2 years ago |+1
Gibba San
2 years ago |As long as ISO performance is up to the newest APS sensor from Sony and the 10-12 fps also from the latest processors are in there, I would buy any of them.
Richard Harris
2 years ago |The MP count would be one of the last things I’d look at if buying an a900 replacement in the future.
Lonnie Utah
2 years ago |24mp is no upgrade over my A900.
RVN
2 years ago |with live view, low noise handle, high fps, focus peaking, video, panorama sweep, Tilt LCD, etc. it’s a lot of upgrade man
what we need now beside that camera is some new CZ and G lens for a99
Big_T
2 years ago |I agree Loonie, 24 mp is no upgrade on my current a900. All those options you mentioned RVN mean not much to me ,nice options to have no doubt but no reason to buy a new body. All I need is solid AF and the controls for Shutter speed, aperture and iso (and more resolution
.
Come on Sony: Give us the 36mp ,, We know you have it!
matgay
2 years ago |even a nokia n808 41mp is better than a 12mp nikon d3s. **rolls eyes
Lonnie Utah
2 years ago |I have no need for most of that stuff beyond the capabilities of my A900, therefore, an a99 with the same resolution, is not a upgrade, for me.
matgay
2 years ago |or a brain, for that matter
Gabriel
2 years ago |Why progress always means more ? Canon stop the megapixel race with their MKIII. For more mpx, there is the nokia n808
or nikon. It’s like new release of old cars, no need for more power, but better handling, brake and so on. For camera, i prefer larger DR and less noise over more megapixels. And those nice stuf like in board panorama, multi-shot nr.
David
2 years ago |Lonnie, if you shoot lower ISO and want the highest resolution, d800E seems to be the best option.
Carl
2 years ago |A 645D would be better still.
matgay
2 years ago |a 645D ccd sensor would be useless if all she understands is MP then image “quality” is moot.
Save $15,000 on the setup and buy a point and shoot at walmart
woop
2 years ago |Comparing with megapixels is stupid.
Kevin
2 years ago |+1
SonyA77
2 years ago |Doesn’t that depend on the 24mp sensor and processor used?
If you are happy with your A900, great, but there may be something in the A9x that makes you think twice about that statement.
Vivek
2 years ago |It beats me why the D800 and the Canon cam are “competitors” to vaporware!
Brent
2 years ago |How is an unannounced product vaporware?
Lofote
2 years ago |It is new to me that the A99 is *that* much delayed!?
Mike
2 years ago |Vaporware is anything, that is announced but not released after the announced availability date.
The A99 has not yet even been announced, and we’re certainly not past any release date.
Stop reading rumor sites when you don’t know how to deal with it.
Vlad
2 years ago |Vaporware is quite a new term and it also can mean something that is predicted, not necessarily announced. Vivek does have a point, no matter what semantic twist you put on it.
Dennis_photo
2 years ago |Well… “quite new”… depends on what you are comparing it to. I have been aware of the term since the early 90s, but evidently it was coined in 1982 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware).
So it is about the same age as autofocus, and some would say that is quite new. I am borderline here… I started before autofocus, but I have grown quite used to it now.
Vlad
2 years ago |Well, I am comparing to the rest of the language that we are using. 30 years is precisely “quite new”.
Mike
2 years ago |Excuse me, but Vivek does not have a point here. There is no reason whatsoever to assume that the A99 will not be released. And thus, it is not vaporware, even if it gets or is already delayed.
Vlad
2 years ago |From what I see he only assumes that it still isn’t released. Until it is, it isn’t a competitor to anything.
Dennis_photo
2 years ago |Yes, I understand. Sorry if I was too blunt, didn’t mean to.
And… I would like to be able to buy a 24 mpx Sony FF cheaper than D800 in september. Please!
Edit: This was supposed to be a reply to Vlad’s comment a little above here.
SonyA77
2 years ago |You clearly don’t understand the term Vaporware.
Vlad
2 years ago |I think I do, but if you have an argument to make, I am listening.
gio
2 years ago |d800 beat 5dm3 in term of price
FullFrame NEX!
2 years ago |I hope Sony makes two versions of the NEX Full Frame. One with each of these new sensors!
all4sony
2 years ago |Whichever comes first, IT’S MINE!!
John
2 years ago |Well I hope that Pentax will use the same 24MP Full Frame Sensor as the Sony A99. If not the A99 may be in the cards, although I would prefer an optical few finder. If Sony can put this out for under 2500 it will have a real winner. Diddo for Pentax but the A99 is much more likely in the near future. I really hope the sony users get there Full Frame camera soon.
Adi
2 years ago |One more proof tham megapixel sell. Not sure how hard is for Sony to have 2 prototype with different sensors (the sensor size is the same ) or how late in the game is camera already, but if I would be Sony and I could still have an option I would chose the 36 Mpixel sensor based on market research.At least as the first release, and keep the 24 Mpixel as a possibility for a slightly cheaper and maybe feature-less model. Or if they release first the 24 Mpixel they should add fetures and increase the price for the 36 Mpixel one (my opinion is that the first is a better idea).I am sure however that in any order they do it the 36 Mpixel will be the “high end one” and the 24 Mpixel the lower end one, and I’m sure they will add (or take out) features also to keep the 36 Mpixel as the higher model. You will not get 2 cameras with exactly same features only the sensor and with almost same price for sure, whatever the release order.
Vivek
2 years ago |The 36MP model if it shows up has to be cheaper than the Nikon 800. The 24MP, as you say, has to be even cheaper. Sony still can make a bundle if they are SLTs or mirrorless since the mechanical moving parts are eliminated.
$2,500 for a 36MP cam.
$2,000 for a 24MP cam.
$1,200 for a NEX-7 ?!
Gets interesting, doesn’t it?
harpo
2 years ago |Really! I can’t see Sony moving off of the $3,000-$3,200 mark for 24mp FF. The a77 wasn’t far off of the original pricing for the a700. $3,000 is still reasonable for a new FF when compared to canikon. A lot of R&D happening the last few years. Have to get that back somewhere along the line.
C
2 years ago |You mean with sales of those sensors to Nikon? Huh.
Vlad
2 years ago |I can see it very easily. The A850 is a great example.
harpo
2 years ago |The 850 was a dummied down 900. I can’t see Sony doing that again. Sure it was affordable, but my understanding was it didn’t sell very well and had a very short production cycle. IMHO $3,000+ is the range for the 24mp and ++ for the 36mp if that’s the path they chose.
Vlad
2 years ago |How much was the A850 dumbed down exactly? It’s pretty much the same camera.
David
2 years ago |Yup. The a850 was one of the smarter Sony moves imo. Affordable, no-nonsense full frame with no gimmicks.
It looks out-specced next to other cameras which had video, live view etc. But the images it made were awesome, and the viewfinder was huge, tough build quality etc. A fantastic camera.
wth
2 years ago |@david,
Which is why you sold yours and ran over to Nikon and is now hanging around a Sony forum like a bad smell because you can’t move on properly.
Totalreader
2 years ago |$2,000 for a 24MP cam.
just a dream
$2700+ i guess
Solo
2 years ago |get the a850
tomiZG
2 years ago |Yep. If the main reason of using SLT technology over slapping mirror technology is to reduce production costs and/or raising the profit margin compared with a900/850s, how could Sony justify a price level of Canikon?!
And when you are #3 in the market and want
a) existing semi-pro users to step up
b) Canikon users to switch
c) Sony FF users to stay
d) all of the above
you need to make great cameras at least a bit cheaper.
harpo
2 years ago |Because they are the only DLSR manufacturer pushing the envelope when it comes to new technologies and that has a cost. I also believe they are for the most part listening to their customers. The a77 is an example where Sony listened and put in a top LCD, kept dual control wheels, great ergonomics, programmable buttons, weather sealing, etc…these were all things a700 owners wanted in an upgrade.
David
2 years ago |I agree actually.
I think having an entry level full frame is a great idea.
Though honestly I’m still sceptical about this idea that SLT should be cheaper. I mean, an EVF might be cheaper to manufacture because it’s electronics vs glass pentaprism. But you have to factor in all of the R&D and testing costs too. Who knows how much money they spent developing, testing and making the OLED EVF.
Same with the SLT mirror. It’s a brand new piece of gear which had to be designed, tested, manufactured etc. That would have costs which then get distributed across all the cameras they sell.
And I doubt Sony sells enough cameras to get massive reductions in the cost of the EVF from production. And consider that they already make three different types – for the a55, a57 and a77/65/NEX7.
And not to mention that EVF keeps needing more R&D. They will get old, so you need to keep updating and tweaking and developing. Whereas pentaprisms/mirrors won’t need that at all. They don’t need continued support and R&D costs.
wth
2 years ago |Actually the reason why they used the SLT is to:
1) Gain continuous auto focus
2) The ability to focus while taking a shot where as the SLR mirror couldn’t do this when it was flipped up.
3) Phase Detection, stops that annoying focus pumping, great for video
4) Accurate Auto Tracking of objects
I know you don’t like EVFs, however it has it’s advantages as well as disadvantages. The professionals at Sony has measured this and has chosen to go with the EVF.
If Sony did everything just for the lower price point, they would have not even bothered including a VF… That is the cheapest!!!
a900
2 years ago |Sony is not 3rd, but 2nd behind Canon and it’s Nikon lost its place down to 3rd!
wth
2 years ago |+1
Vlad
2 years ago |That’s not proof of anything. These are the cheapest FF cameras on the market, that’s why they sell. I would like to see that market research saying that people want 36MP.
Tom L.
2 years ago |+1 @ Vlad
Gabriel
2 years ago |Market men read forums, it’s a place where people don’t take picture, but only talks about specifications, and how how more is better, same old complex about bigger is better
Maveric19
2 years ago |I agree 100% with your comments.
Edgars
2 years ago |36Mpix with pixel binning, Sony could learn, how to do it from Nokia.
In addition, long awaited RAW 15fps of sensor central part crop in APS size.
emopunk
2 years ago |I guess Sony has few to learn from Nokia concerning imgaging devices. This being said with all respect..
Mike
2 years ago |Except of course you want to have a camera with built-in phone, cheap plastic build, ugly design and outdated operating system.
Adi
2 years ago |+1
Vlad
2 years ago |+1
emopunk
2 years ago |Ehm.. I hope you people understood that I meant “Sony has nothing to learn from Nokia concerning imaging devices”. Didn’t you?
Edgars
2 years ago |Nokia didn’t hesitate to put 41Mpix in 1/1.2” sensor.
What to learn? How about in camera WiFi image transfer?
passer-by
2 years ago |Sony has to learn how to market large MP sensor. In my opinion, Nokia manage to convince people that large MP is the way to go.
Vlad
2 years ago |Nokia did it so they can have a zoom function and still keep the device very small.
Maxwell
2 years ago |With pixel binning the sensor could be more like 200 MP.
If there where options for e.g 6MP, 12MP, 24MP, 48MP, 96MP, 200MP
RAW files I could maybe agree. But CPU and power requirements
would maybe be very high to process such many MP.
If the “pixel binning work” was done in hardware
it could maybe be very fast and less power usage.
I guess this is the only option if you also want fast frames pr second.
sonyboy68
2 years ago |+1
Maxwell
2 years ago |Is there any official information that say the D800 36 MP sensor
is a Sony built sensor?
And the design is by Nikon I guess?
So I guess again we can not be sure IF Sony release a 36 MP sensor
camera the sensor will be by the same design as the D800 36 MP sensor?
Adi
2 years ago |The sensor (silicon) is made and designed by Sony , not Nikon. The filter layers are Nikon, and they are designed by Nikon, and very possible added on top of the sensor during manufacturing by Sony, as I don’t think it makes sense or is even possible to add the layers after.
This is same with most sensors sold by Sony.
Spoon
2 years ago |This.
doug
2 years ago |Give me a full frame mirrorless alpha mount with 36 mp. That’s all I ask for.
emopunk
2 years ago |That would be awesome. But we’ll have to wait past a SLT ff model I guess.
Rooru S.
2 years ago |are you OK with CDAF or MF? Because PDAF on sensor, at least from Sony is not ready yet.
doug
2 years ago |99% of the time I manually focus anyway, so for me it’s not a big deal. And presumably a mirrorless Alpha would have focus peaking, like the current NEX bodies.
pikeaxe
2 years ago |Doesnt a camera actualy have to exist inorder to be concidered a competitor? There is no A99 yet so it possesses no threat to Canon or Nikon. I think Sony is losing customers with no full frame on the market.
Neo NiGHTS ®
2 years ago |Wow! A $0,95 discount? Who can beat THAT price now? I’m in for a D800!
sleek
2 years ago |well, that just means that there are more nikon crybabies out there than canon people.
Sitti
2 years ago |So 24MP is A99. 36MP is A950? I hope the rumor of A950 is true. And mirrorless would be great!!
C
2 years ago |24MP for that sweet sweet 3×3 1080p downscaling.
Hopefully it downscales instead of skips.
gamagama
2 years ago |by the time A99 is on shelf (from SAR’s info, the earliest, end of 2012), it’s too late to compete against D800/5Dmk3..
Mike
2 years ago |Not if it is substantially better than the competition.
Solo
2 years ago |not all of us care if Sony “beats” Canon/Nikon. I just want an FF replacement for my 850.
David
2 years ago |Yup. I don’t think anyone would care anyway.
Put it this way – it isn’t a lack of good camera bodies that has held Sony back. They’ve had the a700, a580, a77, a900 and other brilliant bodies.
Even if they came out with the a99 with the same IQ as, or better than, the d800, it would barely matter. People aren’t going to jump ship to Sony.
Robert Bell
2 years ago |The sensor in the d800 is not a Sony sensor. Nikon have told techradar this in an interview.
Spoon
2 years ago |Just like they said the D7000 had a Nikon sensor at release, despite the fact the A55 and A580 had appeared with that sensor already by then.
It’s very rare they openly admit using a Sony sensor, I’ve seen it less than a handful of times.
Sonyalphalab
2 years ago |I’m really surprised how many voted for the 36mp!! Good to know;)
matgay
2 years ago |what a meaningless loaded question. 24mp vs 36mp given that every other spec remains the same? dont think so.
emopunk
2 years ago |At least some of us do realize what that sensor is producing on D800. Awesome stuff!!
Robert Bell
2 years ago |Here is the link http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/sony-nikon-d800-pushes-the-boundaries–1071249
Adi
2 years ago |I think you misread:
”
Of course, it is widely believed that it is Sony that produces the sensors for the D800, Nikon confirmed to us that it was working in partnership with another manufacturer for the sensor.
”
I take that that Nikon confirmed that it’s working wit “another manufacturer” without naming which one and most likely that is Sony ( there is no mention in article that Sony said it’s not them).
In fact a little search confirms this:
http://sonyalphalab.com/2012/02/new-sony-36-mega-pixel-full-frame-sensor-in-the-nikon-d800-sensor-specs/
”
Rumors have been floating around about what the new 36MP Sony Full Frame sensor will be capable of and we now have a sneak peak!! Turns out Nikon is using the 36mp Sony sensor in their new D800 Full Frame DSLR. Of course Nikon is going to use the sensor for capture, but then send that raw data to their own proprietary Expeed processing engine on board the camera”
VirtualMirage
2 years ago |Resolution-wise, I find that the 24MP my A77 gives me is all the resolution I need…for now. I would much rather see R&D resources focus on refinement in the rest of the camera and in the 24MP sensor than to work on a higher resolution sensor. That way we can get more out of the camera while potentially keeping the overall cost down. Otherwise, I fear all the investment will be going into the sensor and full frame SLT technology, and not much anywhere else.
Having said that, for a full frame A99 I would ideally want the following:
-Keep resolution at 24MP.
-Improve dynamic range.
-Up the A/D from 12-bit to 14-bit or 16-bit.
-Implement true pixel binning, ie 6MP from binning on a 24MP sensor.
-Improve the noise control throughout ISO range.
-Native ISO 100-12,800 with expansion to ISO 50 and 25,600.
-Ability to fully turn off noise reduction.
-1080P (60/50/30/25/24) video like the A65/A77 but with a higher ISO limit.
-When integrated steady shot is turned off for video, allow option to use full width of sensor to eliminate crop factor.
-Expand the continuous frame rate options from current 3 on the A77 (3,8,12) to 4 (ie: 3,5,8,12).
-Weather sealed.
-GPS.
-Increase the buffer to retain double the amount of images than what the A77 can hold at 12FPS.
-Tethering capability.
-When shooting RAW+JPEG, offer option to have Extra Fine JPEGs instead of just Fine JPEGs.
-Retain the articulating screen of the A77. I love using it for low shots and storing it away when using the EVF.
Hopefully, my suggestions above isn’t asking too much all the while keeping cost in check. Now if cost wasn’t a factor, I would like to also include the following:
-Integrated vertical grip.
-Backlit buttons.
-Dual memory card slots with the ability to mirror (ala RAID 1), split JPEG and RAW, split video and photos, and/or automatic switchover when first card is full.
-Network connectivity via 802.11n, Bluetooth, and/or Gigabit Ethernet.
-Have a native ISO starting at 50 instead of 100 with an expansion to ISO 25 on the LO and 51,200 on the HI.
-Imbedded option to flip up the translucent mirror with the lens on for those tripod moments you want to get the most out of the camera (ie: astro-photography, landscapes, long exposure, etc.)
redfern
2 years ago |+1 to all of these. The funny thing is that everything on the first list seems like a lot to ask for, but really isn’t. The second list, on the other hand, is more ambitious and in some cases — like the flip-up translucent mirror — a definite design challenge (if even possible). Still if Sony could give all of this, I would be blown away.
Lonnie Utah
2 years ago |Being one that carries my camera over long distances on my back, the last thing I want to see is a built in vertical grip….
Maveric19
2 years ago |I think an intergrated vertical grip on the 36mp will really make it the flagship camera Sony wants. Kind of like the 1d from Canon. Just my opinion.
Lonnie Utah
2 years ago |Sure, but why force it on people that don’t need it? Just to look like the other guys? Make it an option for the folks that need it…
VirtualMirage
2 years ago |I can see where you are coming from on this. While I agree that for many it should be an option, as a flagship model it is usually expected to have an integrated vertical grip.
Ideally, I would like to have an integrated vertical grip. I would assume that the overall camera weight would be lighter with it integrated than to have it as a separate accessory that was added on to it. Weather sealing would be better since there are fewer points of entry. Lastly, you’ll automatically get longer run times since the battery will be either larger or there will be room for two.
If the weight difference between a non-vertical grip body and an integrated vertical grip body was large, say close to one pound, then I wouldn’t even want it on all the time.
For comparisons: The weight difference between the Nikon D800 and D4 is 440g (.97 lbs) which is too much to me. The Canon 5D MkIII and the 1D MkIV (I couldn’t find the weight of the 1D X) is only about 230g (.51 lbs), that’s more realistic and liveable. And those are with the batteries. A standalone vertical grip is around 320-335g (.71-.74lbs) without the extra battery and 413g (.88-.91 lbs)with.
So, if the camera with the vertical grip was only about 230g (.5 lbs) or so heavier, then I think I can live with that. And since there will be some weight savings by getting rid of the pentaprism in favor of the EVF, that should help offset some of that weight too.
saiman
2 years ago |+1 ….Thank you for listing almost all the genuine concerns for improving the Sony line up.
JS
2 years ago |I don’t know….what I do know is that it’s disappointing to see that Canon and Nikon’s FF’s are on the market already and us Sony users are left with polls. I love this site and appreciate the info, but Sony is making it hard to remain patient for cameras that never seem to be coming.
matgay
2 years ago |blame it on the thailand flood. A99 originally scheduled for spring release. what next? the new factory burns down?
JS
2 years ago |I’m skeptical, only because there have been several announcements and releases of P&S’s and entry level SLT cameras and production a77/65/Nex5/7 have all rebounded…as for the FF’s there’s been nothing but speculation, polls, debate and whatnot. I’ve invested a lot in Sony/Minolta gear, so I’m not eager to switch, but this waiting is just getting old.
dts
2 years ago |NEX9 with FF 24mpx hands down
commsbloke
2 years ago |Voted 24
Low light / High ISO should be better.
Smaller file size.
Possibly higher fps and longer bursts for the same sized buffer
tomiZG
2 years ago |All these comments and both Nikon and Canon having at least two FF models with different specs and area to use are reason enough for Sony to bring out 2 or 3 new FF models.
Especially as they let us down with at least 7 months of no FF model to buy if the one you use for work breaks down.
dav38
2 years ago |36 mps in FF means APSC at 16 mps in crop, the perfect body !
removable mirror for landscape pictures
Carl
2 years ago |Either is fine, but the option to remove the AA filter would be a plus for what I shoot.
Of course, it’ll need to have better image quality than the already good 900 for me to consider it an upgrade.
Oliver
2 years ago |Two versions please.
Next gen 24MP sensor A98
36MP sensor A99
One colour only, vagina pink.
Daemonius
2 years ago |Well, try to get some RAWs from MF cameras, around 36-40 mpix and try to process them with your current HW. Soon you will see what every owner of D800 will .. you need new PC or serious upgrade.
Sure theres a way, simply downsize it to lets say 24 or 16 mpix and then process .. but then, why you have those 36 mpix?
Btw. this is called dimnishing returns and I believe it starts at those 24 mpix. At least for few years..
Rob
2 years ago |Using your logic, Nikon should be selling no high megapixel cameras. However, they ARE, meaning your reasoning is clearly faulty (i.e., wrong). So, you won’t mind if we just ignore you.
Spoon
2 years ago |3.5 years ago, people were processing 24MP fine. Computer speed has more than doubled (>200%) since then so for the life of me, I can’t understand all these comments about 36MP (a mere 50% more data) being a problem for computers. We’re not talking about P&S or low end system cameras here.
passer-by
2 years ago |“Sure theres a way, simply downsize it to lets say 24 or 16 mpix and then process .. but then, why you have those 36 mpix?”
Maybe.. future PC upgrade. Who knows. BTW, why use 24mp sensor when you can have 36mp sensor that also can be resized to 24mp?
It’s more sensible to ask a 24mp RAW capability from 36mp sensor than a native 24mp sensor.
Rob
2 years ago |I want a naked 36 megapixel sensor (no AA filter). Also, HD tv sales are flat lining – and 3D is toast – so tv manufacturers (probably including Sony) will be selling 4k tvs soon (3rd or 4th quarter), so the highest end sony cameras should support 4k video (canon will be announcing a consumer 4k video camera next month). Hence, I suspect 4k tvs will coincide with a ff sony cam that’s 4k compatible. If the cam has a 36 meg naked sensor, then I’ll buy the cam and a 4k tv (although I only have $3500 in savings for them right now). Let the D800 and Mark iii suck dust with their hd offerings – the future is MUCH brighter and sharper than that!!
Hugo
2 years ago |There is a 99! when it appears there is no longer market share, is the story of Sony Dsrl or SLT market. Who comes first with good products make money and satisfied everyone.
Regards
seppoj
2 years ago |I do not see any other alternatives than coming with a 36mpx version. In marketing terms it is headline stuff regardless if it makes the camera better than it would have been with 24 mpx.
Seeky
2 years ago |Sony would not be Sony if they didn’t release a 48 MP or higher cam within the next two years. But I hope they split up the full frame cameras so we can choose for e.g. a 24 MP with clean high ISOs AND 48+ MP for ultra high resolution.
Vivek
2 years ago |Nailed it! I agree with that. I may not buy it though.
Steven Hoagland
2 years ago |On Amazon’s rankings, the Canon 5D Mark III body only is ranked 4. But, there is also a 5D Mark III with the 24-105 lens that’s ranked 19. There are no other Nikon D800′s listed. So, it’d be interesting to know how the 5D Mark III would rank if you combined the body only ones with the ones kitted with the lens.
Amit Zinman
2 years ago |“Pro Photographers” laugh and scoff at cellphone cameras, but the fact remains that these cameras are useful and is lightyears away in terms of operating system from all available cameras. Is anything on my phone useful? Sometimes when in the field I am required to carry a hefty laptop, just to send a single photo to beat the news deadline. I have seen photojournalists who take a few photos with their actual smartphones just so they could avoid that. I’ve just downloaded a few photo apps to my Android cellphone that can do all kinds of things, like HDR, Panorama, and basic editing. Sure, the quality sucks but it’s immediate.
Now that Sony completed it’s takeover of Erricson, my guess is that a NEX camera with some sort of Android or even Microsoft phone-like OS that developers could write apps for could be a hit.
Jen
2 years ago |of course u right b samsung already implementeing android on its next cams
koal
2 years ago |Sony will go with an average camera as usual… we must compare a99 with d4/1dx not with d800 5d III….!!! 1dx will rock out and sony can only lay down
dealaddict
2 years ago |Having more MPs not necessarily a bad thing. However, high MPs often means worse noise at high ISO, and often means more expensive.
If Sony can delivered a FF with 36 MPs with the noise beating 5D III, and price lower than D800 .. then I am ok. I will need more storage and more powerful computer, though.
If the 36 MPs with worse noise, and more expensive, then forget about it.
Different people has different need. Ideally, for me, I want a 24 MPs, with good noise beating or close to 5D III, and lower price (< $3000).
Spoon
2 years ago |The 36MP sensor already does that. Similar overall noise, less shadow noise, (thus) more DR, more resolution.
Daniel
2 years ago |Sony..untill you decide to release any FF camera…please…just give us a new 35&50 !!!!!!!!! Those should be Zeiss!! If you do so i promise to buy an SLT FF.
As an experimented FF user i’d go for the 24, because mostly i’d like to see autofocus improvements, significantly lower noise levels from&above 1600 ISO, better DR, being put in something like the rugged, tanklike body of the A900/850.
I used the A77 but haven’t bought it for myself..no improvement in picture quality over the A900(wasn’t expecting any), not that impressed with overall fuctionality and ergonomics mostly, speedy autofocus in good light though … feels just a little bit artificial, slightly not good enough, doesn’t suit my need just right.
And the A77 took ages to come out..history is already repeating with the FF, just get it right!!!
Bstei18
2 years ago |Would it be possible that the 24MP model be called the A88 and the 36MP Model called the A99?
greenieadi
2 years ago |24MP is sufficient for me. Other aspects of the camera should be look at and further improve. Sensor-wise, is more than adequate for work and play.
One area to further improve is the AF module. Higher DR could be next (not that current DR is bad). Another could be battery life.
For me, getting better glass is where I should spend my money at right now until I’m certain SLT and EVF technology has stabilise and mature a bit.
Poke
2 years ago |I would love either one and will buy the first available which I guess will be the 24 since it has been speculated or suggested by people on this site that Sony may have an agreement with Nikon to not release their 36mp for at least a year after the 800. I like EVF and think it will prove to be better than the OVF someday. I love the WYSIWYG view. However, one thing I seem to have trouble with is the fps claim that Sony makes with its SLT technology. I went out and got the fastest SD card I could find, put it on the the speed priority, take all the Lens Comp settings off and still only get about 5 to 6 shots before slowing down significantly. I don’t believe I ever get 10 to 12 fps. I don’t know if this means Sony needs to ante up the processing speed and/or increase its buffer size. I don’t know how they came up with that number but I never seem to be able to approach fps number as stated. File size is not much of a concern and I greatly appreciate the ability to crop a 24 mp photo and still have a well resolved photo remaining. It will definitely be a long summer waiting for the net FF release.
TTT
2 years ago |In amazon rating I swithced to “Compact system cameras” and first 3 places is
1. Sony NEX-7
2. Sony NEX-5n black
3. Sony NEX-5n silver
and on 5th place is Sony NEX-C3
good for sony
Maxbl4
2 years ago |I would buy even 10Mp, but with useable ISO 12800 or above for decent price. Low noise is far more important than resolution.
SonyA77
2 years ago |To YOU, not to ME.
You should be a Nikon user. Use the correct tool for the job.
Cron
2 years ago |Depends who you ask. I enjoy 24MP ISO 100 pictures more for my kind of shooting.
Rob
2 years ago |How pompous and presumptuous to make such a declaration. Who ARE you to just make that absolute statement?
Solo
2 years ago |low noise is just as important as resolution and dynamic range, especially considering the latter two have a direct effect on the reduction of noise.
If you are going to take pictures of your dog at 12800iso then go to Nikon. I am a pro event and wedding photog using the a850 and have no problem getting usable images from iso1600-4000- I guess I just know how to expose properly, use lighting, and post process. Editing my partner’s images from his D700/D3/D3x – the color is lifeless, and requires a lot more work.
PeMo
2 years ago |I have seen the D800 on professional imaging show. They did shoot an workshop with it. Afterwards they wanted to process the images in photoshop. The files where so big that the professional Imac almost crashed. So you need to update your hardware if you want to shoot with 36Mp camera’s
David
2 years ago |Rubbish. I’ve downloaded and processed d800 raw files no problem. They wouldn’t “crash” a computer. Maybe the computer was already a pile of crap?
I can’t believe anyone is anyone who buys a £3000 camera, probably a few $1000 lenses etc wouldn’t have a $800 computer with dual/quad core and enough RAM to handle some photo editing.
Solo
2 years ago |ditto. I’m using a 4 year old system with quad core 2.4ghz, 8gb of ddr2, and gtx260 – childsplay compared to modern systems and it rips through thousands of 24mp images fine, including 50 layer composite images.
UPDATE YOUR FUCKING COMPUTER, CHEAPSKATES!
Carl
2 years ago |I still use a Mac G5 to edit my A900 images. The biggest issue is lack of raw software that are still universal binaries, not processing speed.
Dennis_photo
2 years ago |I hope Sony does the opposite FF choice compared to CaNikon.
They have a camera with lower resolution and a larger body with integrated vertical grip (1Dx and D4). Then they have a smaller body with higher resolution (5Diii and D800).
I suppose they have done their research on what sport/studio/landscape photographers want from a camera and then adapted to this. But there will always be people that fall outside this kind of guesses and compromises/adaptations. Those who don’t are happy with CaNikons choices and it would be difficult for Sony to compete here. So I hope Sony targets those who wants it the other way round: 36 Mpx in a big expensive body with integrated vertical grip and all kinds of advanced functionality. Then a less expensive camera of a77 size with 24 Mpx (low resolution in Sony’s world – not in Canon’s apparently) which is advanced but not as advanced as the bigger 36 Mpx camera.
I have a limited budget, so I hope I am right.
Dennis_photo
2 years ago |And a side note…
Regardless of sensor size… please, Sony, please please… stop doing that annoying regionalized differences concerning video. I live in a PAL country and I want 24p!
Neither the alpha-available 50p nor 25p is included in the Blu-Ray standard for Full HD, so I would be forced to convert to 24p (somehow) or 25i for 1920×1080 video.
Or go down to 1280×720 at 50p or 1440×1080 or 720×576 at 25i (there is no available resolution for 25p!!!).
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc (the table in chapter Video).
Cyrus
2 years ago |And the DXO score of the D4 is very good:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Nikon-D4-review/Sensor-performance
89 points… And position #2 based on overall test score.
Axx FF should be as impressive…
Silva
2 years ago |I think the host doesn’t realize that the 5D3 sales at Amazon.com are split between the body only and kit versions. You can’t compare the D800 body with the 5D3 body sales because a lot of people use the 5D3 puchase to get the 24-105mm which is an excelent lens.
Jakop.com
2 years ago |To soon to tell.
markusfcb
2 years ago |The really question is:
Does Sony really care for the need of their customers?
Meanwhile I doubt that heavily!
Sony has announced a high-end 500mm f/4 – and has currently no camera in its programme, which can use the whole potential of this lens. – That is ridiculous!
And that’s a perfect example for the situation of Sony’s photo branch.
It’s unbelievable that Sony put the A900/850 and A580 out of production and sale and has no fully sufficient successors for these cameras regarding image quality or sensor size.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/734|0/%28brand%29/Sony/%28appareil2%29/685|0/%28brand2%29/Sony/%28appareil3%29/371|0/%28brand3%29/Sony
Another issue is that Sony has unbelievable gaps in its lens programme.
For example, where is Sony’s counterpart to Canon’s 24-105L or Nikon’s 24-120?
Yesterday I spoke with my father (70 years; he loves filming, photography and music; he has a Rolleiflex and a Canon AE-1 at home) about that topic. We both think Sony has an enormous potential.
Sony is a very innovative company – but it doesn’t think in long-terms and it doesn’t operate very professional.
For example, my father says that Sony’s Minidisc is still the best for music editing – it’s gone. No spare parts, no successor available.
Same for photography. As mentioned above, Sony puts cameras out of production & sale without successors. – That’s UNBELIEVABLE.
However, my father also says that Sony could handle a branch professional and think in long-terms. That can be seen in video/filming.
That’s the way Sony has to handle its photography branch:
- professional -> that means: long-term thinking, offer spare parts, offer high-quality products & service
- close gaps -> in lens and camera programmes; don’t open new gaps; THERE IS a NEED for a A900-successor with OVF, since SLT/EVF isn’t fully developed and accepted by the users
- be innovative -> YES, for Sony’s way to bring A-mount to mirror-less (I hope so)
Also a good example to enhance the attractiveness of older cameras is to offer new accessories (e.g. Wireless-LAN-adapter/transmitter) or new firmware (maybe even for sale).
The most important thing is that Sony NEEDS to bring TRUST and confidence in its system.
For this reason Sony should show a rough roadmap (without exact dates), how Sony is going to develop its photography branch, especially the A-mount-programme.
So:
- Offer an A99 (with EVF) optimized for sport photographers AND offer an A9xx (with OVF) for landscape and studio photographers as well!
- Offer spare parts & service (including firmware-updates, maybe for sale) for long-term/several years -> put the photography branch on a professional basis
- Close gaps in the lens, camera and accessories.
Sony: USE your huge POTENTIAL finally!!!
hurf
2 years ago |I would MUCH rather have a slightly lower resolution, low light KILLER. I’d gladly sacrifice some pixels to be able to shoot at higher ISO’s with less noise. Canon has the right idea with their 16mp full frame.