(SR3) Sony testing a new FF camera without AA filter

The D800 with AA filter on left and the D800E without AA filter on right.

Many didn’t notice that Pentax new K-5 IIs camera (available here on Amazon) not only features the well known Sony 16 Megapixel sensor. It also doesn’t use any Anti Aliasing filter. This will increase the per pixel sharpness although you will have to deal with moirè issues. And here comes the next rumor: I heard from a couple of sources that Sony’s next FF high megapixel number camera that will be announced next year is very likely going rid of the AA filter too! It will become a sort of Nikon D800E alike camera. I am still working to get more details about the camera. So stay tuned on SAR, subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here)!

P.S.:Photoclubalpha also posted an article about possible future Sony cameras having no Anti Aliasing Filter.

Black Friday hourly deals: Amazon (cameras), Amazon (all stuff), Adorama, Bhphoto, J&R, TigerDirect, Bestbuy and eBay. And last New A900 for sale on eBay (via Slidoo).

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!

New RX1 tests (and Shipping on next week in US?)

Two quick RX1 news first:
SAR reader Futile sent me this message: “Amazon USA has notified me that my estimated shipping date for the Sony RX1 is: Monday November 26, 2012 by 8:00pm. I preordered on September 11, 2012.” Sounds promising! At the same time also the new RX1 EVF is now available for preorder (Click here).

RX1 test:
Steve Huff posted the first part of his RX1 review. Steve writes that “No longer am I upset that they did not release full frame NEX system camera. It would have been a big fat mess with lack of lenses just like we all went through with the 1st year and a half of the standard E mount lenses. There would have also been a question of lens quality. If there were a full frame NEX the lenses would have probably been in the $500 range and very good but not having a true “WOW” factor.
I don’t agree. They could have released just the 35mm f/2.0 lens as E-mount. In fact I would have been more incline to spend $2000 or more for the camera knowing that I can buy more lenses in the future. The reasons why I like the current  RX1 are others 1) optimized sensor and lens setting 2) leaf shutter 3) extreme downsizing advantage over an interchangeable camera.
Focus Numerique (translation here) compared the RX1 RAW and JPG’s, tested the lens quality and color fidelity: “Overall, the torque sensor / lens is rather successful, but we prefer to shoot in RAW to exploit the capabilities of the case

Shipment date and price:
Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany, Sonystore DEUKFRITESNLSEFICH and more links at Alphacameradeals.

(SR4) Sony has three different new FF prototypes…

It’s getting again very busy on the rumor front and I am daily working with my anonymous sources. What I can anticipate today is that I know heard about three different Sony Full Frame prototype cameras. And I mean really completely different! Not three version of the same concept. I am still working on the details of these cameras but I can anticipate that one of these is the High End A1x (not the definitive name) High Megapixel camera. That is due for a 2013 release. And photographers are already testing it on the field!

In short, stay tuned on SAR. Trying to give you all I can as soon as I can. Meantime join out Facebook SAR comunity and Twitter stream. It’s the best place to get even more info and to chat with me directly :)

(SR4) New A-mount lenses coming the first quarter 2013 (Zeiss and zoom).

Image source: Alphaniacs

There is a good chance that Sony will launch new A-mount lenses the first months of 2013. One of the lens will be the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM. The second lens is the new version of the current 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. I don’t know yet if there will be a third A-mount lens. I told you before that Sony is facing some lens production problems. The demand of lenses is higher than expected and this makes them change the roadmap every couple of months. One more thing: New SLT cameras are also on the way in early 2013 but I am not sure yet which one is coming first (by the way…all APS-C!).

If you have a rumor to share just drop me an anonymous message by using the contact form on the right sidebar. Or contact me at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

P.S.: I don’t know the price of the lens but we have many Zeiss 50mm lenses for different mounts and I thought it would be nice to give you an overview:
[shoplink 14186 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* for Canon (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 14187 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* for Nikon (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 14188 ebay]Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 50mm f/1.4 50/1.4 LTM (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 14190 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 for Contax (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink] [shoplink 14189 ebay]Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF 50mm F1.4 Nikon Ai-S (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink]

As you see the price range is soemwhere between $500 and $800. Of course these are all manual focusing lenses and do have a different design. But I hope the price will be a bit below the $1.000 mark.

 

Sony promises new Alpha stuff at CES in early January!

SAR reader Daddybit (thanks!) spotted a statement made by Ned Namura, President of Sony Hawaii (on Hawainewsnow). He said that “We’re going to be making some major announcements at the upcoming Winter Consumer Electronics Show. We will be showing a lot of other technologies, not just the Bravia Television, but advancements with the Play Station, also in Sony Pictures, and also in the Alpha Series cameras.

The CES show starts on January 8th. Don’t worry guys, I am already working on the next bunch of rumors! Stay tuned!

Meantime try our little beta Slidoo eBay website (Click here). This is the link to the RX1 stuff. Sign in with facebook or twitter to change the search settings. It’s funny believe me!

 

 

Sony A99 and 24-70mm kit coming?

Digicaminfo found that picture showing a brand new A99 with 24-70mm lens package. The mark clearly says A99 and “SAL2470Z” which stays for the [shoplink 6050 ebay]24-70mm f/2.8 Zeiss[/shoplink]. The good news here is that we can expect to save some bucks on that combo. There are already some A99 and 24-70mm combos for sale on [shoplink 15428 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] but these are two separated packages and you don’t save a penny on them.

UPDATE: As noticed by our reader JVS the package is sold by Sony Australia!

A99 store links at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DEUKFRITESNLSEFICH and more links at Alphacameradeals.

(SR2) Hasselblad to make E-mount lenses (with Fuji?)

 

We haven’t forgotten that Hasselblad joined the E-mount system…have we? And today we have some news from the Swedish company:

Our reader Aliaume (Thanks!) spotted a surprising statement made by Peter Stig-Nielsen, responsible of Hasselblad professional products at Lesnumeriques (tranlsation here). Hasselblad want to develop their own software enhancements on E-mount lenses. But they are also considering to produce their own E-mount lenses with quality manufacturer…maybe with Fujinon.

As usual with these interview made with Managers…be aware that many things can  be interpreted wrong by the interviewers. I would be damn surprised if Fuji would produce E-mount lenses. I think there is only a very low chance this will happen. On the other side I confess I would be very happy to see some Fuji-Hasselblad quality glass. And they already worked together on the X Pan lenses ([shoplink 15310 ebay]some of them you can find here on eBay[/shoplink]).

By the way, I am really curious to see if there will be a serious partnership on the medium format front. You still dreaming of a Sony square sensor camera? :)

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!