(SR1) Another “unlikely” fullframe roadmap rumor…
It sounds like asian forums are full of new Sony fullframe roadmaps. I am pretty sure 99% of them are fake. But I am going to post one of them to check with you if such a roadmap would make you happy 
The “source” Emmanuel from Mobile01 (Click here) wrote that Sony’s plan is to release four different FulL Frame camera models. All are DSLT cameras (electronic viewfinder):
A93 (Entry FF)
A95 (Best Value FF)
A97 (Mid Range FF)
A99 (FlagShip FF)
One (or two) cameras will use a 24 Megapixel sensor, one a 36 Megapixel sensor and another one a square sensor.
Regarding the square sensor camera model the source writes: “Since it’s Square Sensor and fully EVF, view mode are switchable between 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, and there is no need for additional battery grip and much compact in size, there will be a physical button for the video mode switching. but movie recording mode stick to 16:9”
As I said I am pretty sure the rumor isnt’ correct. What’s sure is that Sony has multiple camera prototypes including the two FF sensors with 24 and 36 megapixel and the square sensor camera. Let’s see which one will make it through to the final improvement!
—
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!
Thanks Don'z
hobel
2 years ago |give me a square projector, and I am ok with a square sensor.
Carl
2 years ago |4:3 projectors are still readily available. You’re not really losing much more than you would projecting a 3:2 image.
dts
2 years ago |what about nex FF and new primes….
Marek
2 years ago |FF nex is nonsense many seams to repeat. You can already get very high resolution using NEX-7. The only reason to go FF, apart of snobbery, is speed. Camera with CDAF will never be fast enough to satisfy needs of action photography.
Sina
2 years ago |I fail to see the link between CDAF and FF and Speed.
CDAF will be slower than PDAF most of the time, although it has its advantages as well.
Marek
2 years ago |FF has higher usable ISO which implies faster shutter speed. That is necessary for moving subject and long focal lengths.
Harvey
2 years ago |A FF-Nex would be a perfect digital back for all lenses on the market, used or brand new. Every photographer in the world could consider buying it to get the most out of their expensive glass => hey, that’s what I call a market!
Marek
2 years ago |OK, but could you please explain what is the point of attaching large FF lenses to very small FF mirroless camera? Size of FF lens would not make it compact. So why not taking full featured DSLR instead? I simply do not get it.
Harvey
2 years ago |It’s quite easy: it’s not the back that’s important. We’ve grown to believe that, but it’s really the lens. The smaller the back you attach to that lens, the better. As long as it has its major function ‘giving a grip to the lens’ it’s all right.
. I rarely use my A300 anymore.
Try a Nex and get convinced
Brodo
2 years ago |full frame lenses are not only “SLR” lenses.. rangefinder lenses are small light and of very good quality..
and yes, they can make superb quality & compact FF lenses with AF (vide contax g)
you don’t need FF – fine, stay with APS-C, I’d gladly pay for FF camera tho
also, remember that FF will give you sharper images, not because of pixel count. 24/f1.8 zeiss pic at f1.8 is equivalent to 35mm/f2.8 FF pic in terms of DOF and FOV. Zeiss 35mm/f2 ZM lens will be sharper & better at f2.8 than the 24/f1.8 at f1.8 while giving you exactly the same pic. And with the latter you can go for even shallower DOF if you need it.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Rangefinder lenses can be tiny and light because there’s almost no flange focal distance. Never match FF DSLR lenses against FF rangefinders, the latter have far easier construction, less elements and more cheaply can achieve equal results.
Marek
2 years ago |I prefer spending >$2000 on A97/99 rather then more or less the same amount on NEX-9. For the bucks I will get much more play.
Regarding range finder lenses, there is already problem with flange distance at APS-C sized NEX-7. On NEX-9 this problem would be huge. This is because of micro lenses CMOS sensors use.
Clyde
2 years ago |Spend some time with small primes like the 28/2, 50/1.4,100/2. A FF cam about the size of an Oly OM-1 would match with small prime quite elegantly.
Don Cox
2 years ago |“FF nex is nonsense many seem to repeat. You can already get very high resolution using NEX-7.”
Not very high. The resolution of the red and blue channels is only 2000×3000 pixels. This is not enough for photographing large art works, maps, industrial installations, etc. It is not enough for digitizing fine-grain film originals such as Kodachromes. (It is enough for coarser 35mm originals.)
“The only reason to go FF, apart of snobbery, is speed.”
The reason is to get 36 Megapixels, or preferably more, without the pixels being excessively small.
A second reason is to use the whole image from lenses made to cover 35mm.
Alfonso Cuitiño
2 years ago |Resolution? Why nobody thinks of DoF?
eggluvr
2 years ago |It’s true you don’t quite get the same DoF effect on smaller sensors. Although eventually it won’t matter as much.
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/4400242053/photoshop-cs6-blur-gallery-tutorial
Sina
2 years ago |NEX FF is highly unlikely at this point. Just getting that out there.
The A99, 24MP FF camera is the most likely scenario before the end of 2012.
Sony would have to use its 36MP sensor eventually as well.
I have no idea what use a 36mmX36mm square sensor camera would have, but it is always nice to see prototypes, similar to what Canon displays at shows and conventions all the time.
Rooru S.
2 years ago |too many cameras, not a single lens…and since the FF 36mp sensor is supposed to have exclusive use by Nikon for a certain amount of time if I’m not mistaken by an earlier post on SAR, Sony is about to release only 2 SLT FF cameras (with 24MP) similar to what they did with SLR FF. A full spec camera, and a better priced camera. Something like A850 (priced below 2000USD) and Something like the A900.
Carl
2 years ago |Cameras, cameras, every where,
Nor any lens to shoot.
bcch
2 years ago |That’s so fake…
Joe II
2 years ago |… not so sure it will be priced below 2000USD/Euros…
Rooru S.
2 years ago |Sony with the A850 made people buy their FF lenses. So another FF below the 2000USD mark I think is very feasible.
joke
2 years ago |the A850 was $1999. If you really want to go around callign it “below $2000usd” feel free, but come on now. It will cost you over $2000 with tax.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, PEOPLE.
Anonymous
2 years ago |An entry level FF dslr? Hahahahaha! Good one! I think we’re still a fair few years off from an affordable entry level FF dslr. entry level + ff doesn’t make much sense. It would be more cheaper and profitable for them to make an aps-c entry level camera with a truck load of megapickles (say 42mp) and market the megapickle hype up than to successfully sell a FF entry level dslr aimed at soccer moms.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Author probably meant: Entry to the full frame market. Eg. something priced just below £1000. Not entry-level DSLR priced £250
Sahaja
2 years ago |I really doubt there will ever be another new full-frame camera below the price of the A850.
Rafael Romão
2 years ago |I am a macro photographer and a square sensor would be a must have for me. The ability to switch from horizontal to vertical with a button click and the use of the 36×36 square frame, for better resolution than cropping, would be very nice.
I’m waiting for the A99, but if this supposed A101 be confirmed, I can wait even more.
grizzler
2 years ago |I dont think you could have 36×36 without changing the mount, the square format sensor would need to be about 30×30 to fit within the MAF mounts designed image circle. Still very useful though. Assuming the pixel pitch is the same as the D800 36MP sensor, the square format 30×30 would give a roughly 37MP square shot. A 3×2 shot would be about 24MP.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |which still would be a greater sensor size than the one Full Frame offers
Sahaja
2 years ago |If they make a square sensor camera (and that’s a huge if) it won’t be 36x36mm as you’d have heavy vignetting or cut-off at the corners if you took square photos using the whole sensor. A square sensor to use existing lenses would be somewhere between 24x24mm and 30x30mm.
Seems unlikely to me
laz
2 years ago |Literally No entry FF market…they will have to buy a group of “not so entry-level” FF lenses which costs way more than a A900/D700/5D2 body. a non-photojournalist oriented FF body stuck to a’cheapo’ 28-300mm FF travel lens(not quite the case of Canon, but certainly for nikon and 3rd party ff superzoom) makes little sense other than photojournalist usage.
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |it make sense when you link back to the pyramid chart from sony, a77 is for hobby
having to say so, Sony have plenty of sensor available and able to flood the whole market whoever start in semi-pro slt can straightly jump into FF entry, FF value while enthsiast can pick up FF mid, FF high.
in the end, we have:
hobby – a77, a65, a57
semi pro – FF entry, FF value
pro – FF mid, FF high
Stewe
2 years ago |So, how much you think they will ask for entry-level ff?
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |$100 than Fuji X pro1 body
edpaul
2 years ago |i think some chinese read it from here and spread it mindlessly in some chinese forum, chinese loves to speculates (extra salt added)….
Carl
2 years ago |It’s almost like Chinese whispers.
hwelvaar
2 years ago |If the square sensor allows for cropping while shooting (shoot in 2:3 or 3:2), and have a button to quickly cycle through your preferred modes, and the EVF will only show the cropped area, then yes this will be very nice to have square sensor… so you can choose to shoot square, to shoot horizontal (3:2) or shoot vertical (2:3) and no need for vertical grip.
Sahaja
2 years ago |And the corners of this mythical 36x36mp sensor would never get used. May as well make a cross shaped sensor.
Steve
2 years ago |Sony doesn’t need more than one 9 series camera.
Maybe the 24mpmoney should be an 8 series with the 36mp the a99
Carl
2 years ago |Andrea needs to extend his ranking scale. I’ll give this one a ranking of SR0. No, SR-1.
Still, I’m still kinda hoping that the square sensor rumour does have some truth in it.
A900 Tog
2 years ago |What a load of tripe! Glad you have ranked it SR1 admin! Sony is pathetic, we are left to fight over scraps of hope while Nikon and Canon are now shipping their new cams….ARGHHH SONY please stop making it easy, I already have the D700 if you don’t pull your fingers out the D800E will be next and the full switch final. You will lose yet another Pro because you were too precious to give your faithful following even an official hint as to what you were working on.
Stewe
2 years ago |Go and buy d800e. Seriously, what sony will have that d800e don’t have right now? SLT? Steady Shot? Expensive glass?
hwelvaar
2 years ago |Zeiss glass.
And customers who already have Zeiss glass, but no Nikors.
SLTPro
2 years ago |@Hwelvaar Exactly! it’s the last thing holding me back, as I shoot moving subjects most of the time I could probably live without Steadyshot. The 35mm Sony needs to be Zeissed badly though. I picked up a vintage 35mm f/2 Nikkor for my D700 and it’s just as sharp as any of my Zeiss primes (85 and 24) and certainly sharper than my 35mm 1.4 Sony which I still love for it’s color and 3D rendering. As my favourite focal length a 35mm Zeiss 1.4 SSM just might keep me interested and half commited to A mount.
Joe
2 years ago |I’d be happy with just one full frame offering. I seriously doubt there will be four and all will be A9x. I agree with one of the previous posters, if there are two FF offerings, one will be A8x and one will be A9x. As exciting as the prospect is for a square sensor, I am not holding my breath. Of course, with Sony you can’t hold your breath for anything lately. I’m quite tempted to suck it up and get the A900. Of course, even a hint at a Full Frame offering coming from Sony would change my mind.
joke
2 years ago |the A900 will make a superb backup, and the no-nonsense interface will be a nice alternative to the likely very technologically advanced A9x. I say go for it.
Ian
2 years ago |unbelievable isn’t it, I finally went out and picked up a used a850, barely used….it will become backup if it doesn’t wear out before the new ff’s are released.
Joe Hansen
2 years ago |Square please! Give us something that someone else doesn’t offer…
Clyde
2 years ago |Which one of these cameras has no video, no auto, no smile detection, and is 48mp? That’s the one I want, as long as it’s no bigger than a Maxxum 7.
FullFrame NEX!
2 years ago |Please give us two Full Frame NEX’s, Sony!
Both a 24MP and 36MP version!
Keep the registration distance short on the Square Full Frame camera so legacy lenses can be mounted from other makers and I’ll definitely buy one!
Anonymous
2 years ago |Ridiculous. Why 2 versions..? Just make one 36MP FF NEX. Your idea makes no sense marketing wise.
FullFrame NEX!
2 years ago |You obviously don’t do marketing. What’s the point of the 16MP NEX-5N versus the 24MP NEX-7? If I have to spell it out for you then you will never know.
Anonymous
2 years ago |The 5n and 7 are in completely different classes. Where are you going with that? Why would Sony release the same camera and have one with a higher megapixel count and one with a less megapixel count? There is no way they will do it with such a niche camera like a FF NEX. They will just make one version of it, a 36MP model. Why even bother with 24MP? To satisfy the needs of 0.000001% of the market? Complete waste of resources.
explorer76
2 years ago |Actually if you are talking about NEED as opposed to WANT then I think it is the other way around. There is a only a tiny group of users who actually need a 36MP camera. Rest just want it because they can. I am sure that for 99.9% of mirror-less camera users, 24MP is more than what they need in their actual use.
Anonymous
2 years ago |For most users, 10MP will be enough for what they need. Look at the NEX-7. 24MP is stupidly high. But manufacturers are going to continue pushing more megapixels because it sells. They will up the MP count (wether good or bad) and try to get a marketing edge over Canon/Nikon. You may think MP doesn’t matter, but the general public still does, and Sony will do whatever they must to sell cameras.
eggluvr
2 years ago |Another reason for the continual rise in MP is the semi-conductor manufacturing process in general. They’re continually shrinking to produce more chips/sensors/print heads/etc per given wafer. So, a camera produced in the future will always be manufactured on a smaller process, and therefore, denser MP count per given area.
The good news is, more MP doesn’t mean worse IQ.
hwelvaar
2 years ago |When are you NEX people going to understand that FF don’t fit in NEX ?
(or not in the body sizes of the current NEXes)
If they have to build a large body for FF NEX, what’s the point of having it as a NEX anyway ? Just get an Alpha body then.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |That’s the logic Sony follows obviously, and I hardly have anything against it as an A-mount user
Wanna FF? Jump to A900 
^^
Plus: Sony probably will release lightest and smallest full frame camera onto the market with A99 so situation is getting more and more interesting
vautrin
2 years ago |Oh really? The E-mount throat diameter is 46.1 mm, which is larger than the 44 mm of both Nikon F and Leica M, both of whom produce FF cameras. The flange focal distance of the E-mount is 18 mm, which is exceptionally short, enabling the use of lens-conversion rings to mount a wide variety of glass. There are multiple ways to deal with the short flange focal distance of the E-mount, so producing a FF camera in the NEX line makes perfect sense. With a drawer full of Nikon and Canon glass, I’m certainly not buying an A-mount camera, but mounting that same glass (plus my Contax G lenses) on a NEX body has very strong appeal.
Harvey
2 years ago |Hwelvaar once PROVED that steady shot inside could never fit in a FF-body, didn’t you Hwelvaar?
Don’t take him too seriously, he’ll hang on to his belief until the world proves he’s wrong…
Walt
2 years ago |Sony makes no money when a third party lens is sold to go on NEX. There is little value to them of making a camera only. I expect they have realized their error with NEX by now.
And in any case it’s foolish thinking any lens will fully work on NEX. Try getting a Canon lenses’ aperture to work properly. If it did, then I’d have a reason to buy a NEX, just to use the Canon MPE 65 1x-5x. Though I’d be better to switch to canon to do that as then I could buy Canon’s macro ringflash to go with it. Sony does not support macro flash at all now.
explorer76
2 years ago |I want the square sensor FF – not because I will use the square format, but due to the possibility of switching from landscape to portrait without the need to turn the camera on its side. As mentioned in the article this eliminates the need for vertical grip. It also makes the bounce flash easier because I don’t have to re-position the flash head once I switch from landscape to portrait or the other way around. In fact it eliminates the need for swivel in the flash and the small “bounce-only” flashes become much more useful.
Also you don’t have to be limited to 3:2. For example you can have a multi-aspect square sensor which can support 3:2, 4:3, square, 3:4, 2:3. And if they can match it with a square EVF, it will be fairly cool.
voyager42
2 years ago |Interesting rumour!… Although it still doesn’t make sense to me about the A99 being the 1st FF… Where do they go from there… backwards to A98, 97… etc? They can’t go forwards because logically that would be the A100… been there, done that!!!…
It makes sense the 1st FF SLT would be a 24MP a8x camera… see if the market buys…
My guess is that would be followed by the 36MP A95… the A99 would be the high end, whatever that means… 42, 48MP?… square sensor… or maybe that will be the A90SS…
Seeky
2 years ago |I always thought that Sony, as a large electronics company, is capable of developing and producing bodies within reasonable timeframes. However, that clearly is not the case. The problem may lie in the merging of the Konica-Minolta camera division in 2006, which performed quite badly already marketing wise. Due to the late arrival of the 7D, many Minolta users jumped ship to other manufacturers. All this obviously slowed down development of the a900 which came far too late. Now, we are in the middle of a new development, resulting in the first full-frame SLT, which also costs much time since it is quite recent technology.
Well, why does Sony not upgrade de A900 (or a850), with the same kind of sensor but with 3 year newer technology, same VF (or make it the 98% VF of the a850), video and live view modes? This should be peanuts for Sony!?
There must be a reason for Sony not to do that. I suppose it is the bad sales, the succes of SLT, and the need for a different course compared to other manufacturers to stay in the game.
Now, whe are waiting for the first full-frame SLT. I agree with those wanting a full-frame NEX, since that will likely attract more people to the system, and really opens up possibilities for enthousiasts and pro’s. I hope Sony will take that chance, but also the chance to change the full-frame market, which is just refreshed with the 5DIII and the D800. Therefore, Sony might want to introduce a cheap SLT, wich I hope they do, because even a cheap full-frame SLT will be very attractive to first-generation SLT buyers who want to step up (with cheap I mean around €/$2000). On the other hand, Sony needs to introduce a MP monster to rival the D800; so only use the 36MP sensor this year, when it is still hot, but which will be no news anymore next year, so than jump to 48MP or higher. Of course, we need a 24MP body to get good high ISO performance, but IMO the differencess between the 5DIII and D800 are stunningly small.
Sahaja
2 years ago |Four full-frame models is ridiculous – unless one of them is going to be a NEX-like mirrorless camera and another a traditional OVF model like the A900.
Too many closely spaced / similar models only confuses the buyer. How many different iPhone and iPad models do Apple release?
MarcTGFG
2 years ago |Actually I think that three models might make sense:
1. A NEX style camera with LCD only ($2000)
2. A traditional FF with square 36MP sensor ($8000)
3. A traditional FF with the above sensor cropped to a rectangular 24MP ($3000)