Now it’s getting really interesting. I aks my trusted source if the following info I got now could be correct:

“Concerning Honami/i1, there’s a few more things I would like you to confirm with your sources if you don’t mind. As you already know, SONY is working on a new JPEG algorithm for this particular phone, which is suppose to be from the imaging department of SONY. Based on current rumors so far, this new algorithm is also, “supposedly”, developed for their Alpha, NEX, and other cameras because their JPEG processing is horrible(base on user feedbacks). Can you confirm how true is that, and are we getting a new JPEG processing algorithm for NEX, Alpha, etc lineups?”

I will give you some feedback as soon as my trusted sources contact me. Anyway, if true this is a greta news. The JPEG image quality is not on par with the best in it’s class (Canon-Nikon-Fuji). I hope this will change soon!

P.S.: As noticed by SAR readers the new Sony “honami” would be the second smart phone having a large sized sensor. The first has been the Nokia PureView Smartphone (here at Amazon).

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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!

We usually don’t talk about Sony smartphones. But as you know, the digital compact camera is considerably shrinking because more and more people uses their smartphones for daily photography.

And now there are rumors about a new Sony Xperia flagship phone with the codename “Honami”. It should be the first smartphone using a large 1/1.6 – 1/1.5″ sensor! It features a Sony G lens. a mobile Bionz chip and either a xenon or plasma flash with a dual LED as well. Lens might be f2.0 and it should have a new JPEG algorithm to ensure things are far better than current Xperia phones.

I thank the source sending me this. He also asked me if my “usual” trusted sources can confirm this! The 1/1,5 inch sensor sounds huge. Almost unbelievable they can do it. UPDATE: Nokia did it with the PureView Smartphone (so it’s possible!) That said Sony is right on the track working on smartphones with high image quality. The “Normal” digital compact camera market is death anyway.

The Sony RX100 price history in Germany (Source: Idealo).

For the first time I found new RX100 cameras priced under 500 Euro in Europe -> [shoplink 18236 ebay]Photodirect (eBay Germany)[/shoplink]. And in US you can find them for less than $600 on eBay (here on Slidoo). Does it mean the successor is going to be announced soon?

Rumors is floating around a web created by the Chinese Forum XITEK. It says the RX200 is going to be announced the first week of June. It will have a 28-140mm f/1.4-2.2 zoom lens. The body is more or less the same of the RX100 but it includes a pop-up viewfinder.

I hope my sources can tell me more about it soon but to me this sounds like a fake rumor. A 28-140mm with that bright lens and having the same large 1 inch sensor would require a huge lens! It’s almost impossible to maintain the current RX100 size!

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

[shoplink 18239 ebay][/shoplink]

You can now find the brand new A99 for $2499 on [shoplink 18239 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s likely that this is a consequence of the great A99 superkit deals (here at Amazon) where you can get free vertical grip and flash.

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 :)

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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!

The A-mount camera roadmap may changed and if the rumors I got are correct we will have to wait until early 2014 to see the first next generation A-mount cameras. And honestly I can’t wait to see if Sony can keep up the promise for a real huge step forward in the camera tech.

And according to one trusted source what didn’t change at all seems to be the A-mount lens roadmap. The updated 70-200mm, the 400mm and one more “surprise” and “completely new” A-mount lens will be announced within the next 6-10 months.

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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!

After yesterday’s post about Sony removing the SLT tech form the APS-C series quite some people got scared that this also means the end of the Alpha Mount lines. I keep stressing you that this isn’t true and that the A-mount line will keep being developed. Three years ago Sony switched from Optical viewfinder to Electronic Viewfinder with translucent mirror. And next year we will see another switch (with some surprise?). The death of SLT is just the death of a feature..not the death of the camera line :)

So what’s the goal of Sony? One of my best Sony sources that always shared correct info sent me a short sentence:

“The Alpha line is not going away. They are working on technology that will outshine the competitors for early release next year.”

He is a top source and in one year from now we will be able to see and touch the new Alpha Camera Generation. Trust SAR and that source…he always told me the truth! Spread the word!

Readers are welcome to share their thoughts about the how the new A-mount camera generation should be to really make a difference in the market against Canon-Nikon DSLR!

Sources are welcome to let me know how the new generation A-mount cameras will be by sending an anonymous message through the contact form that sticks on the right border of this website or by contacting me (Andrea) directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account to hide your ID). Thanks!

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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!