A couple of weeks ago Zeiss announced on their Facebook page that they are already working “on manual focus lenses for these new full-frame CSCs. They will have an interface to provide EXIF data to the camera. They are expected to be in stores by the end of 2014. However, we cannot provide any additional infos right now.”

One of our sources told us that they plan to launch five(!) FE prime lenses at Photokina 2014. They will be expensive but also top quality lenses. This is my wishlist: 15mm f/4.0, 21mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4. Thanks in advance Zeiss for following my wish list suggestions

These are the Zeiss “Full Frame” ZM analog cameras:
Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).

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Message to sources: 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.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Dicahub spotted that Sony Korea teaser! It says: “2013.12.04.  What is visible, experience more. Coming Soon“. UPDATE: This is definitely an event related to some new Lens. The question is: Is it for a new lens or is this just a teaser for the official first shipment of the Zeiss 55mm FE lens?

At that point I need all the help I can get from my sources. Tell me, what is that teaser for?

The last couple of months I got three mails from three different anonymous sources sharing the same info. The Hasselbad-Sony collaboration is going beyond the simple “luxuruzation” fo Sony products…read Hasselblad Lunar (Click here) and Hasselblad Stellar (Click here).

According to these sources Hasselblad and Sony developed a brand new sensor and they will show this sensor sometimes in early 2014. I can give you one important info about it:

Every single pixel can have a different shutter time! This means the sensor allows a dramatic increase of the dynamic range. What sources didn’t tell me is how exactly this works and if the sensor is going to be first used by Hasselblads new medium format camera or by a new generation of FF sensors. Anyhow, its great news to see that Hasselblad is working on some exciting new tech with Sony!

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Message to sources: 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.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

—

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Image on top shows the Sony 4K mockup camera (Source: Engadget).

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A-mount camera owners are not happy in these days to see me post many E-mount (A7-A7r) related news. But really shouldn’t be worried! Your time is coming and in a couple of months E-mount camera owners will complain on SAR that I post too many A-mount news

According to multiple sources Sony will have multiple announcement the first half of 2014. And most of them concern new APS-C and FF A-mount camera releases. From what I heard most innovations regard the autofocus and viewfinder tech. Sensors should be the based on the A7-A7r. And one of the FF A-mount cameras will DEFINITELY have 4K recording.

To sum up I heard about:
- Two FF A-mount cameras (one certainly with 4K).
- One new APS-C A-mount camera to replace the A77.
- There will be a new NEX-7 successor too (E-Mount)

2014 showdown:
As I told you before there will be many new cameras in 2014. Actually more than we had in 2013! There is plenty of room for real surprises and I am working to get reliable info about them right now.

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Message to sources: 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.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

—

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

DC.watch (google translation here) interviewed the Sony team who developed the A7-A7r cameras. As you can see from the picture this is quite a young team! If these guys are reading SAR than let me say one thing: Well done guys! You really did a great job! I can imagine it was quite a challenge (and an excitement) to create something completely new. Doesn’t happen very often in the camera industry where usually company tend to focus on conservative development of existing camera.

They have been interviewed by DC.watch and I will report some of the key info. The google translation tool is messing up a lot so please excuse me in advance if there is some mistake. Hope Japanese Friends can check up my text

These are the names and roles of the people on the picture:
Front row left (sitting): Sokabe Taku, the Responsible Designer
Front row middle (sitting): Sudo Takahiro, Design Leader
Front row right (sitting): Daisuke Sato, Product Planner
Back row left (standing): Hosoi Masaharu, Responsible for optical design.
Back row middle (standing): Hasegawa Yoichi, Responsible for autofocus design.
Back row right (standing): Foshan Sakiken, Responsible for quality design.

Some key info from the interview:
- They confirm the NEX name is gone forever. Everything is branded as ALPHA now.
- Right from the start the main goal was to create something small. A DSLR quality in a small package.
- One of the hardest challenges was to add the 1/8.000 shutter in such a small body
- The A7r contrast AF is faster than in other Sony mirrorless cameras due the new algorithm and Bionz X processor. AF is 35% faster than the one on the NEX-7. And that has been achieved by keeping a high accuracy
- The LAEA4 adapter and Sony A99 translucent tech are “almost” equal.
- EVF brightness has been increased by 30% and contrast is three times higher over the external FDA-EA1MK EVF.
- 4K video recording has not been added on the 7-series because of power consumption issues such as thermal dissipation.
- To place the EVF in the middle has the advantage on larger lenses that you are on the optical axis.
- The body would have become large with the EVF placed ion the corner like it is on the NEX-7.
- we are actively involved in the development of larger aperture lenses.

Again, thanks Sony guys for working hard to fulfill our …dreams

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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,  WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony  DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.