(Continually updated) Sony A58 and NEX-3n officially announced! And new A-mount lenses too!
The new Sony cameras just got announced! Stay tuned on this post! I will update it as soon as I find new info and the first reviews! Let me know if you find something I didn’t post here…Thanks!
Press release:
A58 at Sony, ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographic Central, Photographyblog, Photoscala.
NEX-3n at Sony, ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographyblog, Photoscala.
The three new A-mount lens news at ePhotozine, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera, Techradar, AlphaNumerique (french), Lemondedelaphoto (french), Photographyblog, Photoscala.
New Cybershot cameras at Sony, Techradar, Photographyblog, Photoscala.
News also on TheVerge, Alphanumerique (french).
Preorders:
The new Zeiss 50mm at Sony UK store, Sony DE store, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES (available in June).
Preorders will be up at Amazon US on Monday!
Hands-on and previews:
NEX-3n at ePhotozine, Techradar, Photographyblog, Pocket-Lint.
A58 at ePhotozine, Techradar, Pocket-Lint.
Sony NEX-3N Verses Sony NEX-F3 Comparison at ePhotozine.
Description in short:
NEX-3n: 16-megapixel sensor, 180-degree tilting screen, zoom lever. Sony markets it as the “world’s smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera with a large APS-C sized sensor” (it weights 210g). It has “Triluminous Color” for an expanded gamut when images and videos are played back on the company’s Triluminous Bravia displays. The NEX-3N will ship next month.
SLT-A58: Brand new 20-megapixel that Sony says will produce excellent low-noise results. New OLED viewfinder and a new 15-point autofocus system with “more accurate subject tracking“. On market in April.
Pricing of the new A-mount lenses (in Pound):
70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II telephoto zoom – £1800
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM – £1300
DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II zoom – £180
Technical specifications (Click on it to enlarge)
kangzai
4 months ago |i think Sony is making a more comfortable room for the A65 successor, maybe an A68. Sony must have realized that there is a big potential on A65 market, and the current A57 is causing some conflict there… so now they merge A3x & A5x to become the only entry level A5x series, and continue the A6x series, making an A mount APS-C line-up of A5x(entry), A6x(medium), and A7x(high); while the E mount APS-C line-up will be the NEX-3x, NEX-5x, NEX-6x, NEX-7x.
A57 users, like me, should aim for the A65 successor for upgrade! i hope.
o
4 months ago |I wouldn’t think so. if they were to continue having three categories of aps-c cameras, why didn’t they just name this one the a38 and the upcoming midrange camera the a58? that would make a lot more sense to me. they are dropping the a3x line to make room for nex. the a6x will never become a regular product line just like the a8x didn’t happen after the a850. with prices dropping a little bit every year, there really isn’t room for too many models. a7x will become THE midrange choice for Sony shooters I guess. Full frame price will continue downward as well, making FF photo the enthusiast upgrade segment.
o
4 months ago |that would make the ladder look like this: a5x entry, a7x midrange, a9x high end. remember prices will drop!
Frank
4 months ago |Exactly, A3x users are now seen as potential NEX users. How long before A5x users are then seen as NEX users?
This is a slippery slide into NEX and the end of A-mount. I can see it a mile away, but other people here have their head buried in the sand.
Ario
4 months ago |Somehow I agree especially if we see it from technological perspective. Maybe someday the on-sensor focusing speed can be as fast as the one in the SLT today, if that’s the case then people using the 3x and maybe some 5x users will switch to NEX. Maybe A mount would be limited to FF only (I missed the old SLR + dedicated AF sensor days)…
jim
4 months ago |There is still room for a A38 with a smaller capacity battery,Lcos/lcd EVF ,fixed lcd screen and a smaller body.
Sony needs to compete with D3100 which is available for $459 so the A3x makes sense.
Ario
4 months ago |+1
hei
4 months ago |the current price of the A57 on uk amazon is £499 and on US amazon 599$
so if the A58 will be released at £450 ! I think the us price will be 599$ or less
Also when do you think we will see it discounted (after how many months usually sony cameras drop 100$) ?
AndySX
4 months ago |According to the Camel Amazon price tracker the A57 started out at £699.95 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Here’s a link to the graph where you can see how quickly the price dropped: http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-Alpha-Interchangeable-Camera-18-55/product/B007IU3WPU
AndySX
4 months ago |Had a look at the US Amazon price graph on a whim, and it’s very different… keeps bouncing back up to full retail price for months at a time? http://camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-SLT-A57K-Translucent-Technology-Panorama/product/B007ILK5LI
Maxwell
4 months ago |A58 is a hype.
Nothing about 1 stop better ISO or DR from Sony.
Maximum ISO 16.000 and only real 5 fps.
What is new? More or less nothing.
The only good, Sony droped the A3x line.
Kevin
4 months ago |zone noise reduction is where they are stating improvements in noise and dynamic range. It’s like DRO.
spaceman
4 months ago |Maximum ISO doesn’t say anything necessary, as it can be a software cap that Sony has put on it.
NEX-7, 5N, 6 have in practice the same low light performance, as details, DR and color depth at high ISO’s are the most important objective factors, and not how you like the grain in pictures shared on the internet.
BMan
4 months ago |Correction,
Sony didn’t drop the A3x line, they dropped the A5x line and renamed the 3 to 5.
The A58 is a major downgrade from the A57 in functions and build quality.
Sure it has a new sensor and some new software “magic” (better AF with the same module?, better noise reduction?) that is yet to be seen if it lives up to the hype …
Sky_walker
4 months ago |Major downgrade in functions and build quality?
What functions have been removed?
How do you know the build quality of A58, and how did it dropped standards from plastic A57?
Ian
4 months ago |I really do not understand what Sony is doing with these tow cameras.
Yes I can see that from Sony’s point of view that dropping the A37 and the A57 and replacing them both with one camera in the A58 makes sense. But from the customers perspective you just get a downgraded A57 with ( maybe? ) a better sensor? Everything else looks disappointing….and the A57 sensor is a stunner – so this new one had better be good!
The new NEX is just another Nex body in an endless stream of Nex bodies. The NexF3 has hardly been launched and now its discontinued!! Maybe Sony knew the NEXf3 was a poor camera? I hear it is pretty unreliable so maybe for once they have doen the right thing and made a ‘better’ body ?
We shall see.
As a long time Sony fan I must say I a disappointed.
The CZ lens looks nice but I shall never be able to afford one. The other ‘new’ lenses are just revamps. Not really new at all.
AllanT
4 months ago |Agree
Hope for better new in near future
Funny
4 months ago |Lets see how it is priced in US since sometimes UK pricing doesn’t make sense.
It appears to be a merge of A5x and A3x, if they price the A58 in between current A3x and 5x. Then, it would not be that bad.
Dun care about the model number that much, I would call it an A48.
To me, sucessor is an update, not upgrade. If I want more functions, I will look for a higher series.
Jesse Lim
4 months ago |Plastic Body Mount on A58~!?
Ace Disgrace
4 months ago |Looks very nice,although i will miss the form factor of the A37 & A55. 460K is not that bad… they might have sacrificed it because of the cost of the OLED VF. Cant wait to see the new sensor, i do think 20mpxl is perfect, they should have put this on the NEX-6 that would be a perfect combination.
Funny
4 months ago |They do it for the battery life, it takes half the power compare to 921k. And I guess the designer thinks that way too 460k wasn’t that bad when look from a distance (you got the OLED EVF if you can look close to the camera), so they might think that it’s a gd compromise in return for better battery life. But some ppl may not like it.
Frank
4 months ago |LCD battery life is easily improved. Flip the screen around.
No need to decrease the quality of it.
MdB
4 months ago |So your answer is instead of having a slightly lower quality screen and be able to use it more, have a high quality screen and not use it at all?
Chris Geary
4 months ago |Question…
Is the sensor in the NEX-3n the same as what’s in the NEX-6 ?
spaceman
4 months ago |No, there are no PDAF sensels on chip, so it is the same as the 3F, 5N etc…
Chris Geary
4 months ago |OK. So am I correct in thinking the quality is the same as the NEX-6, it just doesn’t focus as fast. Is that the only difference?
crazydoctor
4 months ago |When will the lenses be available? On Dpreview it’s said march, is it true??
admin
4 months ago |true.
Sky_walker
4 months ago |Sony UK store says Zeiss will be available in June
Stuart1701
4 months ago |Odd, there is no replacement for the HVL-F43AM flash. You would think if they are moving the new shoe to the lower end models, they would offer a lower end flash, after all most people at this end of the spectrum would, if they want a flash, whould go for a low end one, not the HVL-F60M. Mind you, there enough 3rd party ones about, I suppose.
James
4 months ago |I had hoped the A58 would replace the A65 as well as the A57, making it an ‘upper-mid-range’ camera, but it’s gone the other way, replacing the A37. So, I’m a little bit meh, due to the compromises. On the other hand, being ‘lower-mid-range’ you do get a heck of a lot of camera for the price.
GreenLens
4 months ago |P&S upgraders of the new wave are given two excellent choices indeed!
These cameras are not for us though. Next, please.
elipsoid
4 months ago |I always wondered what kind of functions do the “pros” need on their cameras, that the low-end DSLRS and SLT don’t have. What kind of pictures you took with a high-end camera that could not be taken with a D3200 or a A57?
This is a serious question, I am not mocking anybody.
Frank
4 months ago |I am not a pro and have the A77, as an ex-A700 user I chose it over the A55 for the better ergonmics, such as more dedicated buttons, an extra wheel and a vertical grip option. It is a joy to use compared to the A55/A57/A65.
There are other things such as more focus points, AF adjust, 1/250 sync, ISO 50 and 1/8000th shutter that I would genuinly miss on the lower-end models. One simple example is that at the time of buying the A77 the A55 EVF could not turn off the effects of exposure, making it useless for studio flash (the A57 fixed this) and this was simply unacceptable to me.
On the more advanced CaNikon models I’m sure pros would be able to list other features that I am not aware of on their cameras.
So yes, a pro could get a low-end camera, but it’s the difference between getting a budget tool and a high-end tool. It simply gives you more options to get “that” shot and gives you a better end-user experience.
GreenLens
4 months ago |^This!
And also I do change lenses often so I shiver looking at that plastic mount. I’m no pro by any means, I simply enjoy solid things.
Sky_walker
4 months ago |I’m yet to see anyone having his “plastic mount” broken in any way.
Vlad
4 months ago |+1. That is the same complaint we were hearing for years with the articulating LCDs.
-
4 months ago |pretty much repeating above but
1) better high iso performance
2) faster focusing
3) faster sync speed
4) more fps
5) build quality
6) weather sealing
7) ability to add grip
8) longer battery life
9) ability to tether
10) etc, etc, etc
Simon T
4 months ago |Wow the LCD is major downgrade v the A57. 2.7″ and half the resolution. What a let down.
Meh….
Maybe they need that new A65 because few will bother with the A58 if they have an A57
PRZ
4 months ago |Can someone tell, does it have AutoISO in M (Manual) mode?
Frank
4 months ago |Is there any confirmation of tethering?
Beachrider
4 months ago |Not even a rumor of it.
Frank
4 months ago |Which then begs the question, will the A78 get it?
It’s ironic that the A77 is a great studio camera but doesn’t have tethering. Even the lowest Canon model has it.
Beachrider
4 months ago |Sony has not addressed tethering at all AFAIK. No more than Canon addresses EVF for on-sensor image validation…
o
4 months ago |d5200 indeed seems like great bang for buck, but remember: no ibis. NO FOCUS MOTOR (which means only manual focus with a lot of glass), and less useful liveview imo. and my guess is that that Toshiba sensor, or something very much like it, will show up in future high end models from Sony – there is a partnership after all, at least that’s what I’ve heard.
Frank
4 months ago |The D5200 has a Nikon badge and that’s all it needs to sell in vast numbers. Stick a Nikon badge on the A58 and Nikon users would be gagging to buy it.
Dumped My Sony Gear
4 months ago |LOL…bring that old qoute out again, and again…If thats what it takes to convince yourself that Sony is doing right by its customers then fill your boots. I’ll never again buy anything badged with @ Sony.
Funny
4 months ago |Then why are you here in a Sony rumors site….just come here bitching and trolling?
true homer
4 months ago |shut up fanboy and speak only when you are spoken to.
Funny
4 months ago |@true homer
Were you speaking about yourself?
Clearly, I wasn’t replying to you. And yeah I agreed with you, you shut the F up.
true homer
4 months ago |Speak only when you are spoken to , you dyslexic little SH_T.
Funny
4 months ago |@true homer
Is that all you got? Just asking ppl to shut up and don’t speak?
I was replying to “dumped my Sony gear”, I dunno why you get so offended.
Is that your decoy screen name? Mr dump?
If not, I suggest you seek mental treatment immediately, otherwise it will get worst, and remember, take your pills for your own good.
true homer
4 months ago |And yet you open your F_ggot mouth without my permission. STFU you F_ggot. Speak when you are spoken to and make statements only when I tell you you can, you maggot.
Carl
4 months ago |I like how he censors his own polemic. He may be the cast-off detritus of society, but even HE has standards.
I’m not sure what the big deal with faggots is, though. I have stacks of firewood here ready for winter.
true homer
4 months ago |Changing you name to another still does not allow you to speak you little FAGGOT.
Simon T
4 months ago |You are right Nikon sell on name, but Sony have to put even more effort into their products. Making a camera with a ho hum 2.7″ LCD 460k screen isn’t going to convince anyone. I for one get sick of the same penny pinching from Sony. That LCD is years out of date even budget DSLR’s have better LCD’s now.
This is quite a lame release from Sony and it’s not even going to dent the 650d/D5200 sales. Must try harder. The basic idea of new models is to make them “better” not downgrade them.
JustSoldMySLT
4 months ago |Cant help but feel a57 is better than a58 at the end of the day.
even kai feels the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qS2jhHg60M
Beachrider
4 months ago |Kai doesn’t comment even ONCE on a58 in this old vid.
Funny
4 months ago |Kai is biased to canikon, he never like sony
Carl
4 months ago |It sounds like an excellent A38. Shame they put a 5 in its name.
More interesting to me is that there is actually some optical change in the 70-400 II. Will it be significant enough to change the bokeh, though? That’s the current design’s weakness, not sharpness.
Frank
4 months ago |“It sounds like an excellent A38. Shame they put a 5 in its name.”
Spot on.
Deischi
4 months ago |There is already some information on the 70-400 II on the Sony web pages.
I can’t see any significant difference in the technical data.
here the link to the Austrian homepage:
http://www.sony.at/product/ddl-sony-g-lenses/sal-70400g2/technische-details#tab
Should be available start of April 2013.
Carl
4 months ago |What we need is test shots. I guess we’ll need to wait until it’s up on the Japanese website.
true homer
4 months ago |What we need is for you to go back to wearing a dress, you little fairy puke.
michael
4 months ago |bah with the new canon 7dII coming sony can go to bed
maybe this is the reason because all in the streets and olymp. have canon, is way more valuable
Andrea
4 months ago |I don’t understand previous comment. A58 si a good subisti tute of a57 if you want some more you can wait for a78
Frank
4 months ago |If you want more, you can buy the cheaper A57 now or a used A77.
Sky_walker
4 months ago |TFT EVF alone scares me away from A57. I tried… can’t get used to it. It’s like night and day comparing to OLED. Not to mention new sensor (we’ll about to see the scores though).
I doubt A57 qualifies as “more” in anything else even marginally important than FPS count.
Frank
4 months ago |Some people here think that the LCD is a step back, I guess it’s an important point to them.
Vlad
4 months ago |Very important. I don’t even consider a camera without an articulating or tilting one.
Sky_walker
4 months ago |It’s a real LCD. Cameras for ages didn’t have them AT ALL and somehow noone complained. Now the amount of pixels in real LCD and the way it’s tiltable is a major reason to whine… seriously… get a life people.
Sky_walker
4 months ago |*rear
Vlad – but it does have. People whine cause it tilts in a different way than in A57. *facepalm*
Frank
4 months ago |Sony giveth, and Sony taketh away…….
Simon T
4 months ago |Plastic lens mount! Let’s not call this an update
Dimitri
4 months ago |To Simon: You are absolutely right!!! Hardware costs a lot, but software is almost gratis!!!
I will never touch with my hands this plastic crap!!! Today SONY shows me the way to jump to NIKON. Tomorrow Ι will buy a D 5100 to replace my old A 500 (It costs 500$, only body, and its I.Q. is much – much better than D 5200 – BELIEVE ME!!!)
Simon T
4 months ago |Every time Sony release a new model I’m thinking I’d be better off with Canikon!
They actually “improve” their products with each release.
Folks grab an A57 while you can this turkey is best saved for Christmas
Spoon
4 months ago |May I remind you of the 60D?
And entry level Canon cameras have lost burst speed a few times too as resolution went up.
MdB
4 months ago |Yep they ‘improve’ them and prices stay the same or go up. The A58 is 25% cheaper ($200) than it’s predecessor and still manages to improve in the most key areas. But we all gotta whinge!
I know I was expecting a full frame, titanium bodied, weather and vacuum sealed, diamond encrusted model with 8″ 4K display with 3D stereoscopic 2 x 2K 4 colour EVFs and included constant f0.85 11-500mm weather and vacuum sealed titanium kit lens for $599 – I can’t believe Sony didnt deliver this! *Smashes on table* I’m moving to a Canon 1100D, I’m sure that will meet my expectations for this budget!
Perrin
4 months ago |+1
Kursad Sezgin
4 months ago |Ok.. here are the bullets of my dialogue with a Sony guy this morning:
- LCD screen has been shrinked to increase battery life
- There had to be a significant difference between entry level and high-end APS-C models (she’s referring to A58 and A78).
- Amount of plastics used in A58 is more than A57 to decrease production costs and make the camera lighter
- There won’t be a battery grip option for A58
- There won’t be a tethering option for A58
- The same BIONZ processor and the same buffer memory in A57 had been used in A58 and this cpu cannot handle 20 megapixel images on 8fps burst mode, therefore it is decreased to 5fps to allow ~3 seconds of burst shots on full resolution
- AF tracking is improved compared to A57 but this is just a firmware trick which could be implemented on A57 too! But this won’t happen to distinguish A58 from A57.
All in all, this is not an upgrade, but a downgrade. Sorry Sony, you failed big time!
Vlad
4 months ago |How exactly did Sony fail? By not providing you with a pro camera for 200 bucks?
Douglas
4 months ago |+1
Frank
4 months ago |By not improving the A57. It’s obvious to everybody but you!
Sky_walker
4 months ago |Not improving? New EVF, new sensor, smaller & lighter body (rather an issue than advantage for me, but well… some people see it as a huge + ). That’s quite good improvements.
Canon or Nikon got in their history successors that were made by updating firmware, putting new sensor (or not), sticking a new label and selling for higher price. I hardly see how Sony is worse then them. Rather: much better.
Moving away from TFT viewfinder alone is a good reason to upgrade.
Crop9
4 months ago |You’re wrong. A58 is the successor of A37 not A57.
Kursad Sezgin
4 months ago |Sorry Crop9, A58 is introduced as the successor of A57.
Frank
4 months ago |It was a joke.
Kursad Sezgin
4 months ago |Flash news… A59 specs have been leaked. A59 will have 22mp resolution with 1fps burst mode, build is completely plastic. “This innovation will change everything” The new entry model of Sony will introduce a brilliant 1″ monochrome LCD. The R&D and marketing dept decided not to include a gps, tethering option or a battery grip to provide a fluent and easy-to-control camera. The details of the projects are kept top secret but the code of the new camera is said to be “Sony Pinhole Camera A59″!
Jules
4 months ago |My name of the game is Don’t expect too much …….!
Jan
4 months ago |A58 is a disapointment to me, allthough we have to wait and see how the new sensor turns out. For the price it still might be a good camera but it really should be called A38 or A48. It sucks that 50p seems to be reserved for the semi-pro and pro models A78 and A99 now.
o
4 months ago |an entry level camera with those features and that price is very well done indeed. the only thing wrong with this camera is the name.
ME
4 months ago |So, to sum it all up this means:
- finally OLED-Viewfinder, but with 1,44 MP instead of 2,4 MP
- 460k pixel 2.7 inch lcd instead of 921k pixel 3 inch
- plastic mount
- no swivel screen
- did I miss something important?
So the only UPgrade from A57 to A58 is the new sensor with 20 MP? Well Canon, I think it’s your turn to deliver.
Spoon
4 months ago |Not important but compared to the 3 year old A55 it falls back from 10fps to 5fps at full resolution.
And compared to the A57, it drops the progressive 60p/50p video output at full HD.
MdB
4 months ago |And the A55 was also more expensive. Plus all the other actually, you know, important upgrades that the A58 has over the A55.
MdB
4 months ago |Let see:
Sensor
Weight
Battery life
Price
Controls
AF
EVF
Multi Accessory Shoe
Frank
4 months ago |I wonder what “improvements” the A78 will get?
Spoon
4 months ago |Well, if it has an MSRP similar to the A77 MSRP, I’m sure it will be 95% to 100% improvement. If however they decide to lower MSRP to about a $1000…. hold on to your seats.
Frank
4 months ago |LOL
JesperMP
4 months ago |I dont give a hoot about that it is called A58. They could have called it A38, A48, A-anything. At this price point it is clearly an entry level camera, and it is amazing what you get for your money. Thats just my opinion. If it is an upgrade to A37 or a downgrade to A57, is irrelevant.
Personally I find the change from LCD EVF to OLED EVF much more significant than the downgrade from 920k to 460k for the rear LCD.
The most important component in the camera, the sensor, is an unknown at this moment. I am betting that it will be a small improvement over the older 16.2MP sensor, which means it will be quite good actually.
The only real disappointent I have is that they did not increase the number of AF points.
Sergei
4 months ago |Apparently, the new focusing system is using the image sensor itself to lock on subjects similar to a99 with dedicated AF points to fine tune the process.
hemuda
4 months ago |Could the mount be black colored metal rather than plastic?
hemuda
4 months ago |I am glade I got a57+18-135mm @$798.00… Only thing I would have wanted was OLED EVF. I would be okay with less articulated and low resolution LCD if a57 had OLED EVF.
MdB
4 months ago |” Only thing I would have wanted was OLED EVF. I would be okay with less articulated and low resolution LCD if a57 had OLED EVF.”
Erm isn’t that what an A58 is?
SonyHemuda
4 months ago |That is what I am saying. A58 for some will be a good value. I am happy with my a57 for the price at which I got it.
MdB
4 months ago |Oh and let’s not forget the price improvement. That plays a big factor. Fact is this is competing with the D3200 and Canon D1100.
The EVF, hotshoe, sensor (presumption), AF, controls, battery life, weight, PRICE are all upgrades. Yes the screen is lower res, which is a minus. The articulation is different, I think it is a plus, others a minus.
I don’t know what everyone is chucking such a sad about? According to you lot Sony can’t do anything right. I had a look on a Nikon site and everyone was bemoaning Nikon for not releasing a D400 and claiming to jump ship to Canon. Everyone whinges, especially when a new model comes out.
I’m going to buy an A58 over the A57 because the EVF in that model is disappointing, the controls are in an awkward spot, it wasn’t sufficiently cheaper than the A65 which had a FAR better spec sheet and wasn’t better than the A55 it replaced.
The A58 is significantly cheaper than the A55 and A57 and is better featured in the most important areas. A slightly lower res screen and a frankly more useful and sturdy articulation are not enough to sway me that this isn’t a better camera.
y2k
4 months ago |For Someone looking for A38 (me!), A58 comes as a great little Gift.(For some one looking for A58 you are Supposed to look at A66 and pay its price . If you’ve ever played TETRIS ,when the block underneath breaks,it feels good and the block above it takes its place.
this is what happened)
-OLED EVF
-20Mp
-8fps or (5 fps at 20MP)
-599$ price tag
-460K up from 260k
-Standard Hot-Shoe
-Multiple Interface Shoe
-Improved Battery (200 shots more) the greatest plus.
-New Sensor!!
But i had hoped for 60p video which would have thwarted the competition)
Enough for me.
Good JoB Sony.
Steve
4 months ago |It sounds as if many of the posters that were excited about the a58 rumors are less enthusiastic of the camera actually released, and now we are awaiting the a78 and attaching our remaining hopes that Sony will deliver the killer product many here believe they can.
But I think that the SLT is dead. And the recent lackluster releases seem to bear this out with cameras that are more of a consolidation and hot-shoe alignment than cameras being marketed to create demand for this product class.
The new lenses are also somewhat of a disappointment are the rumors of weather sealing don’t appear to be true.
We need to wait to see how the new sensor images before passing final judgment, but so far I see little any reason for a newbie to buy into this system over a Nikon or a Canon.
A year ago I would have jump to preorder both the 70-400 and the new Zeiss 50, without even reading a review to mount on my a850 camera, but now, a year later and after what I see being a stills photographer an underwhelming for my needs Sony a99 my money is going to remain in the bank.
I still want to believe that Sony’s going to soon release a truly mirrorless A-Mount camera so I’m just going to hold on and watch SAR and wait and see.
Lothar
4 months ago |A plastic lens mount on an interchangeable lens camera, I`m realy disapointed. That`s maybe Ok if you`re mostly using a Superzoom and seldom change lenses.
I would prefer having a metal mount and pay 50€ more! But in that case I say A58 thanks but no thanks.
MdB
4 months ago |All those still bleating on about the A58, here are a few things to ponder before you continue down the path of ‘Canon and Nikon will eat this thing for breakfast’ blah blah.
MSRP of the D3200 with 18-55mm VR kit lens is $699
MSRP of 1100D with 18-55mm IS II kit lens is $599
I cannot begin to fathom a way to tell all you whiners how much better the A58 is than either of these turd piles. One of these two does have a higher res screen though, so I bet that makes it heaps betterer! But I might try to point out a few:
Lower fps.
Woefully inadequate live view.
One of these has an antique sensor.
One of these does up to 720p video only, no manual control on either.
One has zero AF in video, the other has pointless AF in video
Neither of these can add XLR inputs, nor would you probably ever bother with their terrible video capabilities.
Neither of these have IBIS.
Both of these have awful optical tunnel viewfinders. OVF or EVF pick your poison, but these are truly some of the worst viewfinders available in a +$599 camera today.
No motor drive in either body, though the Canon system was never designed for such so it gets a pass, Nikon fails.
Crap, cheapo plastic… If you think the A58 is bad…
Worse AF systems on both 9 (single cross type) and 11
But no, you’re right, the competition is HEAPS better. Death to Sony, death to Sony!
Anfernee Cheang
4 months ago |What the hell is that plastic mount? That’s another shame Sony!
MdB
4 months ago |That and a cheaper LCD screen just saved you $200.
Next!
Carl
4 months ago |Unscrew the metal mount of a Minolta film camera and screw in onto the A58. As long as you pick the right camera, it can actually work well. Just make sure you don’t loose any fiddly bits.
Simon T
4 months ago |Only 5fps full resolution cont shooting another big downgrade over the A57. Grab those A57′s while you can folks
MdB
4 months ago |Canon 1100D = 2fps
Nikon D3200 = 4fps
Next!
Aardvark7
4 months ago |I’m not sure what all the fuss is about regarding the A58.
If the camera you own is already good enough, then why worry if a new one doesn’t improve the possibilities. If it isn’t, then decide which is the best for your money as there are other options, even within Sony!
As to whether this particular design is any good, I think it will likely be very good value. The ‘issue’ of the mount being plastic is entirely moot, as I’m sure it will serve the purpose very well; there is no inherent reason why it can’t be perfectly adequate.
The one item of this news which is distinctly bonkers is the price of the 50mm lens!!!
Unless absolute perfection is a requirement then I doubt there would be any visible difference between it and pretty well any other fast 50mm. The Sony version for a fifth of the price would likely serve as well. I’d be interested to see how many they sell.
My money will sooner go on the Samyang T&S.
Lothar
4 months ago |As an owner of a A35 the A58 would serve me well in almost every aspect but the plastic mount is defnitly a dealbreaker for me. A friend of mine, who is working in a Photoshop, advised me not to buy this camera, cause in his opinion plastic is not durable enough if you often change lenses, especialy if these lenses have a metall bajonett.
I think that`s the wrong way to keep the price low. I would willingly pay more if it had a mtall mount.
Funny
4 months ago |Your Photoshop friend……has he tried and used this camera long enough and actually has the mount broken because he swap lenses often, to support his claim? I guess not, huh? The camera hasn’t been released yet!!
It may be bad if it is too fragile and break. It may be good if it don’t break, less weight.Only time can tell.
Sometimes, the plastic mount maybe a life saver. If I got hit on the lens and I’d prefer the $20 mount broken rather than my $2000 lens.
true homer
4 months ago |Shut your face you little retard. Notice how no one answers you…cause you speak when you’re not spoken to…little FAGGOT.
Kevin
4 months ago |From all the info I’d say Sony was thinking that the A5x series was making a lot people, not upgrade to pro cams. The A77/65 have poor HIGH ISO, comparatively. The plastic mount, 5 fps, give little chance that you’d buy it and put a heavy lens on it.
Sure there plastic 55-300, and the little zeiss will not be a heavy burden on the plastic mount. The trouble with a plastic mount is wear and tear and if you drop it forget fixing it, and I would be reluctant to even leave the lens on at all during transportation. Production cost are only relevant given the fact most people buying a camera are not buying a Sony. Strange to see the plastic mount period given the fact that all nex are metal. unless I’m wrong about the mount. Seems like frank might have the truth that Sony is pushing us all toward the E-mount.
Kevin
4 months ago |For hard core Photographer the A58 will not be a back up low priced cam.
For those type including myself, it’s dead fish in the water. The a57 true finder was truer than the A77, if I go from one to the other, There’s a larger change of color, if I used both eyes, the lcd provided a more accurate field of view. I love the oled, but the lcd view finder was truer.
Simon T
4 months ago |There will be no updated A65. Sony are cashing out of SLT they will offer NEX Only from 2014. We won’t care bar the nice Minolta glass so most will move to Canikon products makers who continue to support their mounts and users.
Sony have lost the plot on this one, the plastic joke is just a sign they are out of touch with the market and users
Pacman
4 months ago |PLASTIC A-mount?! wtf SONY what are you doing?
Lothar
4 months ago |My Photoshop friend has enough experience with old analog Minolta cameras. They have also used plastic mounts on their cheap DSLR`s. Plastic mounts arn`t as durable as metall mounts. With a metall mount the A58 would have been my new camera!
Funny
4 months ago |We still dunno what kind/grade of plastic they are using. It could be a strong one. Anyways, as long as it can withstand a couple of years, it should be good cuz by then you might upgrade your camera again. Don’t let this small thing get in your way when making discussion. Lots of goodies on this camera if u up from A3x.
true homer
4 months ago |Still talking arent ya, you little puke?
jeff
4 months ago |he’s most likely a dyslexic goof, that’s why he’s hear on a fanboy site..he cant see too far and he cant read too well either. LOL
Funny
4 months ago |@true homer
See what you are doing here?
You forgot to take your pills, didn’t you?
Not only that, you have to take pills on time.
Taking one day portion at once is overdose, and is bad for you. Just a friendly reminder….
true homer
4 months ago |Yadda yadda yadda…your mouth keeps moving but I don;t hear nothing from little pukes.
Sythrix
3 months ago |If anyone is still reading this, when can we expect pre orders for the A58 to be available through Sony’s website, if at all? I have access to a corporate discount program and would like to order through that if possible, but I don’t want to be waiting for weeks after the release for them to actually get stock in (if it’s even an issue). Didn’t they have the A99 up for pre order before it came out?
Alex
3 months ago |Biggest bummer about this news: RM-VPR1, the much needed remote for NEX is… NOT COMPATIBLE with anything other than the new A58 or the NEX3 according to two Sony reps. What a joke…