The RX100 never had a price drop since the day of his release. But at least today you can grab the camera and get a free $50 gift card back at Samys (Click here). And a $50 gift card is also what you get on the NEX-5n kit at Bhphoto (Click here).

As you know Sony launched a up to $300 rebate action on APS-C SLT cameras. Sadly they didn’t apply the same discount on the A99. Some of you said that the A99 would be to new for a rebate action. Truth is that Nikon just did it with the Nikon D600 bundle that got discounted…$700 at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.

Two more Sony related deals:
$360 in cart rebate (add in cart!) on the Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3lens at BHphoto (Click here).
Rokinon 85mm T/1.5 Cine lens in Stock at BHphoto (Click here).

The new Sony SLT design patent.

A week ago a new source claimed to know that the next generation of SLT cameras will have a Flip Up mirror. And see what happened today, I just discovered a brand new published Sony patent describing exactly how this will work! More here at freepatentsonline. The patent has been sent in back in 2009 and it is certainly not a prove that the rumor I got is correct. But at least it shows you that Sony is actually thinking on it.

As you know the so called “translucent mirror” reflects about 1/3 of stop of light for the use of the phase detection mirror. And many SAR readers wanted Sony to implement a mirror lock up mode to be able to get out the best possible image quality from their camera. The next SLT camera is scheduled for a release in February-March. I am working on a bunch of SLT, NEX and lens rumors and I hope to share some more good news like that soon! As I told you, even Canon and Nikon will envy us ;)

I kindly invite you to join the very active and growing Facebook community! And s ubscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream. You really will not miss all the news and rumors that will come from now on!

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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!

SAR reader Dave (Thanks!) made this image to show you how Apples compare to Apples :)   Check the A99 review at Dpreview. Also ePhotozine posted a new A99 review and it got a “Highly Recommended” mark.

A warning for EU readers: As you knwo ther eis that crazy 2200 Euro price on the A99 at [shoplink 15977 ebay]ukbnsuk on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Our reader “Arismakr” (Thanks!) got some info about the store: “The camera is an “NTSC only” model and that means PAL is not an option for European buyers. As you may understand there will be a problem with video playback in Europe. They also told me that the box is not sealed whatever that means”

Soudns like they improt the camera from cheaper Asian stores!
A99 store links: Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.

Your really will not have to wait a long time to see some new stuff from Sony. Trusted sources just informed us that Sony scheduled a new product announcement for early January. You may know that the CES show starts on January 8th. What you don’t have to expect is a FF NEX or a FF SLT. What you certainly will see is new compact cameras. I am still not sure if the new A-mount lenses (18-270mm and 50mm Zeiss) will be released now or in February. And so the 85mm f/1.8 E-mount lens.

Will let you know as soon as I get a note form trusted sources! Stay tuned on SAR! Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here)!

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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!

It’s Christmas time and you need some small good Sony news? Here it is: A trusted source just told us that Sony plans to introduce a new 85mm f/1.8 E-mount lens in very early 2013. I have no info about the price yet. For comparison only: In the A-mount world we have plenty of 85mm lenses:
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens for Sony $289.00 ([shoplink 15953 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink]).
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM for $894.00 ([shoplink 15954 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink]).
The Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 for $1,598.00 ([shoplink 15955 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink]).

My guess is that the rpcie will be somewhere between $600 and $800.

That said let’s finish the post with a good news for US readers. You are the first to have the 35mm E-mount lens in Stock. Check out here at AlphaCameraDeals (Click here).

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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!

Sony’s concept of an A-mount mirrorless was similar to the [shoplink 15930 ebay]K-01 from Pentax[/shoplink] (but with a different design).

As I told you before Sony changed the camera roadmap. And from the three FF camera prototypes that I heard off two were taken off the roadmap. One is the A1X FF SLT and the second is the A-mount Full Frame mirrorless camera (without SLT mirror). That was the most compact A-mount camera ever made (in Sony lab). It would have become a sort of entry-level and cheap Full Frame camera. I now have been told by two sources that Sony dropped the idea to release a camera like that. You may let me know if you would ever have considered to buy a camera like that :)

By the way, Sony wouldn’t have been the first to use the same classic DSLR mount for a mirrorless camera. Pentax did it with the futuristic (or horrible) designed [shoplink 15930 ebay]K-01 (available in different colors on eBay)[/shoplink].

Hi!

Let me begin with a personal note. After posting my direct message to one of my sources on SAR I got few critics from readers and I am here to explain you a couple of things:

1) A critic was that I posted the message to the source to make some sensationalism.
What can I say….most sources uses the anonymous contact form and sometimes the only way to ask them something is to post a message on SAR. That’s it, there is no other way. If you feel like I am not honest than simply ignore this website. But 99% of you know me well for being the first posting correct rumors like for example about the SLT technology. I remember how many attacked me when I insisted for one year that Sony would launch a SLT camera. Same for NEX and same for the FF NEX I am talking about now. Even recently when I said the VG900 with FF sensor would be launched I remember plenty of posts saying I was “sensationalist” because FF NEX is not possible..where are you now? :)

2) Another critic said…just post everything you know!
There are two reasons why I dont’ do this:
a) If I would post everything my credibility of this site would be like zero. You are here not because you want to hear all the rumors I get (many of them are simply not correct). You are here to get a possibly reliable idea of what’s coming next. Of course I am not perfect! Sometimes even trusted sources get not so correct information and many sources do not speak English and it’s not easy to translate correctly their message.
b) I have some key info that I do not post yet because I use it to check if rumors I get from other sources are correct or not. In the long term it’s very important for me to have multiple sources rather than be “sensationalist” and post everything I get at the moment I get it. This measure has many benefits a) I can recognize which new source is a “real” source b) In the long term I can count on multiple sources c) I can check if Sony (or someone else) is deliberately spreading out false info.

The current Sony rumor situation:
So please just accept that I need time to give you SR4-5 rumors. Sony indeed completely revolutionized their roadmap. And while I am waiting to get more info all I can tell for now is that it sounds like a very good and clear roadmap made to sincerely compete against the big ones. With the current economic situation Sony simply has to be as honest as possible with what they can or can’t do. As I told you before an SLT camera with the same 36MP sensor used by the Nikon D800 wouldn’t have been the dealbreaker. Simply because it comes long time after the D800 release and it would have been probably be as (or more) expensive as the Nikon. That’s why I can say it with a SR5 reliability that the A1X 36MPX SLT FF camera prototype has not been approved for final market release and mass production. And there is also no plan to introduce a cheaper A95 SLT FF. For the first half of the year you can expect the launch of plenty of A and E mount lenses, certainly an entry level NEX and two (or more) APS-C SLT cameras. The revolutionized roadmap I talked you before will take effect from end 2013 towards. And all I can promise is to post some of that highly sensible info as soon as I have the feeling I am correct about it. Once again, I repeat…there is reason to hope for some very nice surprise! Also Canon and Nikon guys may love what’s coming :)

So stay tuned on SAR, you will NOT regret it!

Big hug from Andrea!

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