Image on top: The A99 FF sensor

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Two months ago I gave you a shock by telling you that Sony canceled the planed A-mount camera releases for 2013. This means not entry level FF, not high end FF and not A77 successor will come within the next 6 months. The reason why Sony dropped them is that the new CEO wants to really challenge the Canon-Nikon dominance in the only profitable pro camera market. And to achieve that goal the new cameras have to be not just a small upgrade but a real new big step forward over the predecessors. I am now working on the new A-mount roadmap. And I got some reliable info about the new Full Frame strategy:

1) Two new A-mount Full Frame cameras coming in 2014
2) There is a third A-mount Full Frame camera planed but it may be released in early 2015.
3) All new Full Frame cameras will be mirrorless (this means DSLR shape, A-mount, but no SLT mirror).
4) Both cameras will use a new generation 30+ MP sensor (yes, I said new and not the same of the Nikon D800…it’s better!).

There are a few more specs I am working on and I am asking all my trusted or possible new sources to share what they know at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com (or via anonymous contact form). Thanks!

Editor’s note: Also the E-mount roadmap got some small changes. That’s why it takes so long to see the new NEX-7 successor. Don’t worry, that camera is coming this year with announcement likely to be in late August.

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Free advertising form my new project: All daily Sony deals can be seen at dealsrunner.com (register to see how well it works!).

The official Asian Samyang retailer unveiled via Facebook the first picture and specs of the new Samyang 16mm f/2.0 lens. It will come in both A and E-mount versions  mount too. They write: “The 16mm focus length with rectilinear imaging system ensure extra wide angle of view amounting to 83.1 degrees (for Nikon version and 79.5 for Canon). The big aperture opening of F2.0 ensure photographers able to use it for low light environment like night street shooting. The weight of the lens is just about 571g, as a result this lens will be a attractive carry on for architecture and landscape shooting.” P.S.: Save this search on Slidoo to get notified when the Samyang lens will be available one Bay.

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I like Rokinon/Samyang lenses a lot and I recommend you the following two lenses for Alpha mount:
1) The 35mm f/1.4: In US you can find it as Rokinon at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and on [shoplink 7453 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. In Europe the name is Samyang and you can find it on [shoplink 7380 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and with the name Wallimex again on [shoplink 7831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
2) The 85mm f/1.4: You can get for $274 on Amazon (Click here), branded with the name Rokinon on [shoplink 7456 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded with the name Samyang on [shoplink 7454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

And here are the links to the newly announced Samyang/Rokinon lenses:
8mm f/3.5 fisheye at Amazon, BHphoto,
14mm f/2.8 at Amazon, BHphoto,
24mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,
35mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,
85mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,

A trusted source told me that Sony is very confident that the new A-mount cameras to be launched in 2014 will drive up A-mount lens sales by almost 50% for the entire 2014 year (compared to 2013). I still have no specs about the new A-mount cameras but Sony is pretty confident that this could sign a new start for the system. Key aspect of the new cameras will be that they are mirrorless (no SLT tech) and sensor tech and autofocus performance will be dramatically improved.

Let’s hope Sony isn’t too optimistic with that kind of “predictions”. They have been wrong quite many times in the past. And now they cannot afford to make any mistake anymore. To challenge Canon and Nikon in the profitable High End digital camera business they have to deliver some noticeable game challenging camera. There is no other way around that.

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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!

You know it already…the compact camera market is dramatically shrinking and the present and future of photography is smartphones with high photo quality. That’s where Sony is investing their development sources. And the next “honami” phone is supposed to come soon featuring also a new JPEG engine that we may will see in future Alpha and NEX cameras too. According to a new source the new “Sony H2” phone “will use a 2/3″ sensor with xenon flash and Cyber-shot branding and manual controls like the RX100.”

P.S: Do not confuse the H2 phone with the H2 cybershot :)

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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!

By mid 2014 Sony will launch the new NEX-9 Full Frame camera and there will be a couple of Zeiss Full Frame E-mount prime lenses will be announced too. I have no specs yet but sources told me that both, the camera and lenses will be expensive. I have no info yet about the exact price but I got the feeling a Zeiss prime lens could be priced at around $2000 (or a bit less depending on the lens). I took a look at the current Zeiss Full Frame range for DSLR. Le’ts asusme they will release lenses with similar specs. Which one would you consider to buy if they make it for the NEX-FF system?

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Last year Olympus and Sony announced their official partnership with Sony acquiring part of the company. The first effects of the collaboration in the digital camera business will be seen in early 2014 when the new 400mm f/4.0 Olympus lens will be announced. It will come along new FF and APS-C A-mount cameras. According to a trusted source that lens has been designed in collaboration with Olympus engineer’s. That’s really a good news because Olympus designs some of the best lens son the market. Their Zuiko series has top notch quality and they also made some super fast zooms like the [shoplink 17943 ebay]14-35mm f/2.0 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

From what I heard the collaboration is very tight and Olympus will use new generation Sony sensors for their MFT cameras. I can exclude for now that Olympus may join the E or A-mount system with official Olympus cameras or lenses. Although I would like to have official Zuiko lenses for the upcoming new NEX-9 FF system camera. But that’s just a dream for 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!

Yesterday Zeiss said that a new NEX-5-6-7 firmware update is due for August. This also indirectly confirms the rumor I posted two months. There I wrote that a new A77-NEX-7 firmware is coming in August. A77-A65 owners can expect some of their requests to be fulfilled by Sony…some, not all :)

What I don’t know yet is if there will be a new A99 firmware update too. Some source got some information about that?