(SR2) First possible A99 video specs (Amazing if true!).
The Chinese website Xjrumo (Translation here) posted some super interesting rumor. Our Chinese reader Leafye translated the text for us (Thanks). But before to read keep in mind that this rumor has yet to be confirmed (or denied) by trusted sources. I post this here in the hope they will react soon and send me some info.
These are the first complete A99 video specs. It almost sounds too good to be true:
1) AVCHD2.0 format ,below 1080p it have the Bit rate of 50Mpbs,4:2:2Sampling （other model coming next year has 4：2：0）
2) 1080P with the highest 120fps,at 720P, the highest is 240FPS
3) MP4 format still 35Mbps
4) center focus all the lens can use the biggest Aperture. others still F3.5
5) except P model, A,S model can also auto-focus but M model still MF
6) 4 times zoom in during 1080P can be captured
7) multi-recording can take a 2.4Megapixels during recording
8.) HDMI can be Non-destructive Output new shoe can fit the wireless(bluetooth) mic
9) except the high speed model,other model Maximum recording time is 29min 59s
10) Time code support
What do you think of it? HDMI non destructive output….50MPs bitrate, 4:2:2 Sampling….Crossing my finger this is real!!!!
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Joe
11 months ago |part of rumor said its called A95, A99 coming next year
mugen
11 months ago |Yes, the rumor is for A95.
Anyway I don’t care about the video specs,
at least I hope they will remove the stupid x1.86 video crop from the ASP-C cameras in the full-frame and will be x1, not x1.32 or something.
bowds
11 months ago |i really hope this is true!! sfx!!
emopunk
11 months ago |Andrea, you will now see some whiners complaining that it’s too of a video oriented camera
Sounds quite resonable to me as specs; but the price then won’t be below 3k. I would buy it on day one with such specs though.
usman
11 months ago |wow 1080P @120fps it must b killer camera for videos
Sam
11 months ago |If this were true I’d wet my pants in excitement.
grizzler
11 months ago |and canikon would sh*t theirs in terror
Bruce Bachand
11 months ago |Better buy your adult diaper now…
Matt
11 months ago |Sounds like XD CAM 50Mb/s 4:2:2 recording… which for me is great. I don’t believe these specs are 100% as there is no 50Mb/s profile for AVCHD so far as I know?
Clean HDMI output would be awesome, though it would be better if it doesn’t shut off internal monitoring? Sounds like it has smart teleconverter type function in video, a bit like the GH2′s centre crop mode.
Interesting about the AF, so centre point AF can work below f3.5, others still limited to f3.5, but only available in PAS modes still – Not much of a step forward for AF, but I assume the AF is better @ f3.5 and above (below).
Zony
11 months ago |Tom this camera IS more expensive. You have to get SOMETHING for the extra $1000. premium over the coming Nikon D600 FF camera that will use the same FF 24Mpx sensor as this FF A-mount.
I agree with you that Sony has to leverage it’s Pro-video reputation if they want market penetration with their Full Frame Professional line. The sensor tech between the Big Three is not that different, so Sony needs to differentiate itself in the marketplace. What better way to do it than video ? Since Canon has shot itself in the foot with it’s 2nd generation DSLR products, Sony has a chance to gain a foothold in DSLR video
dj
11 months ago |I agree Zony.
Matt
11 months ago |‘multi-recording can take a 2.4Megapixels during recording’ – Should that be 24MP during recording? Or is it limited to 2.4MP during video recording? I thought earlier rumours said that you could capture full size still during video recording…
JB
11 months ago |1080P @120fps? No way!
Hello FS700?
S1
grizzler
11 months ago |That would be incredible, but its also incredibly unlikely unless the camera is about 5K. Currently the HXRNX5U cant do all this and it costs $5K. The AVCHD specs dont allow 4:2:2 chroma sampling or these frame rates so I would guess this is via HDMI/SDI out. Now, if sony did do this and pulled it off for about 3K that would be one really serious game changer….and yet another sony shaped dent in my wallet.
Matt
11 months ago |They certainly CAN do that, it is whether Sony chooses to or not. Didn’t Somy just release a cheaper XD CAM camera not 2 weeks ago?
grizzler
11 months ago |I didn’t say they cant do this, I said that the HXRNX5U cant do it and that that costs much more than the rumored price of the A99. Sony can do what they like. I merely said it was unlikely but superb if true. It maybe that they have a successor to the 5U in the works with even better specs as its a bit dated anyway…who knows?
personally I’m just hoping that this is true and at least some of these features make it into the A77 firmware as well.
Steve
11 months ago |What memory cards can handle 50Mbps ? Is it only xqd ? 30mins @ 50mbps = a stack of v expensive memory cards.
grizzler
11 months ago |UHS1 SDRAM cards that we all currently use in our A77s can handle this quite comfortably.
Boomstick
11 months ago |If the A99 has clean HDMI out I’d pretty much never buy another camera, ever.
Barry
11 months ago |Are we waiting for a video camera ???
I’ll buy a specialist video camera if that’s what I want primarily. Don’t care if the video is additional, but give us a stills capable camera as well.
lollo
11 months ago |Barry, I can sell you one of my mint a900 for 2k, if you want a fully photo oriented camera.
you do not need to wait for any new camera.
Patrick
11 months ago |Emopunk’s prophecy became true! Here, my son, you have inherited middle earth.
emopunk
11 months ago |I knew it, I knew it! Now we just miss some madman to cry about how better film was at the times.. Oh those were the days! Rotfl
El Carnicero
11 months ago |I miss the good old days of film… Ah, nothing beats the IQ of film and 8mm video!!!
Steve
11 months ago |Why is it too good to be true?
What would be too good to be true would be 4K video!!!
Olaf
11 months ago |If this is true, I have a big problem. How do I explain to my wife that I again need a new camera?
Patrick
11 months ago |Tell her you are getting no satisfaction. Play the Rolling Stones and do some thrusting moves. Akin to feudal Japan era, you should also wear one of those flag posts that go on back with Sony’s logo while you perform this mating dance….Sony’s mating dance.
woonder
11 months ago |i just put an option on preorders
Amit Zinman
11 months ago |Tell your wife there are going to be some changes in your life. You have a sexy young model that you reaaally crave and that’s it.
zane
11 months ago |can anyone further explain “4) center focus all the lens can use the biggest Aperture. others still F3.5″.
Does this mean you still can’t drop the aperture below 3.5 and maintain AF?
Pity no mention of the video ISO range. FYI the Canon 5dMk3 does 25k and even the recently announced EOS-M can go to 12,800 ISO.
RTI
11 months ago |It means that if you have the center AF zone(point) selected you can use your lens wide-open, in case you wish to select different AF points aperture will have to close to F3.5 (like in current SLT models). BTW if this is true, I suppose the center AF point should be very precise, maybe double cross-type.
Regarding the max ISO range in video, why would you want 12800 if the acceptable one is currently 1600-3200 for any APS-C camera…
Sky_walker
11 months ago |my thoughts exactly – if it’s double-cross I’d be super-happy
cause no rumor included info about it so far!
Steve
11 months ago |What ISO the “dial” goes to at the maximum and what ISO is useful are different things.
Adl
11 months ago |I think that does mean you can drop the aperture below 3.5 and maintain AF!
The result of my google translation is: “Select the center focus of all lenses can use the maximum aperture, the other focus mode supports UP TO F3.5″
great news (if true)!
rbj
11 months ago |There is quite a bit here that I don’t understand the consequences of – I assume the first lot relates to ability to take high-frame-rate video (slow motion?)
Don’t understand the stuff about centre focus or HDMI (in what way can HDMI be destructive?)
Id the 2.4MP a screen grab from the video?
zane
11 months ago |Thanks 4 that explanation…wow…that is great. Why higher ISO, well better in lower light. Looking at the examples from the canon/panasonic GH2 the results are quite impressive. Higher ISO in video is not quite as bad as higher ISO for stills.
Mikey2000
11 months ago |This makes it sound a bit like an advanced video recorder with a photo camera built in somewhere. All well and good, providing the stills capability is equally impressive but I must admit to being a non-video user. I use the a77 video on the odd occasion and it is fine for my use (fun films that could be equally well shot on my iPhone). I haven’t even heard of most of these video specicifications and I find it hard to foresee a personal need for them.
All I really want is a full frame SLT stills camera with the usual SLT video mode.
I suppose these rumoured specs indicate that the camera internals are capable of shunting huge amounts of data, very quickly so I still hold out hope for a fine stills camera to be hidden in there somewhere… If they can manage those specs, surely they can manage flexible exposure bracketing and autoISO in m mode
E
11 months ago |Those hi-speed shooting modes, what does that bitrate translate to for a 24 MP picture?
I.e. what fps can we expect?
/E
PhotoSpectrum
11 months ago |F’You Sony. Still maximum 30 minutes recording? My Panasonic GH2 records for hours and hours.
Almazar80
11 months ago |If a camera can record more than 29 minutes and 59 seconds of video continously, it is considered a video camera/camcorder and has a higher duty/tax levied on it. Thus, even if the camera is able to take a video continously for longer than this alotted time, it has to be speced this way in order to avoid paying this higher tax/duty rate. Arcane artifact of international trade agreements. It does not mean it can’t take videos for longer periods of time, but this limit is there for a reason.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/05/18/WTO-looking-at-moves-to-remove-30-minute-limit-from-digital-cameras
tony
11 months ago |then we must create a hack for it!
Milt
11 months ago |I think only the limeys have to worry about that.
grizzler
11 months ago |yes its not a problem for those in the colonies
E
11 months ago |How often have you used it?
Watching a video that is 30 min long without any cuts would make me fall a sleep.
And if that keeps some import taxes away, good choice.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |+1. Good choice. I prefer lower price over giving satisfaction to people recording street traffic for over half an hour.
István Gábor Takács
11 months ago |For certain video works it is indeed important to be able to record for more than 30 minutes. We often record presentations and speeches that may exceed this time frame and it would be bad to stop during recording (you would miss parts of the speech). This was one of the main reasons we chose the Sony VG20 over a dslr like Canon 5D. (This trade agreement thing sucks, but a future hack might lengthen the possible recording time)
saiman
11 months ago |For video shots longer than 30 mins.. Watch Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope”. You shouldn’t fall asleep watching that one.
However, I understand the reason of this limitation and 29’59″ is enough for my needs.
The rumor indeed sounds too good to be true. It’s not impossible in any way for Sony though. I would also hope for manual AGC and a headphone jack. And, yes, 4K would simply by awesome.
me
11 months ago |Panasonic GH2 has 30 minutes for the video recording limit in the PAL/Europe version, but it doesn’t have this limit in the NTSC/USA version. With the Ptool hack, the PAL/Europe version of GH2 records video without limit. Probably the same will be with this Sony camera, 30 minutes limit only for the PAL version. I need more than 30 minutes to record continuously, when I am at concerts (other people need for weddings, sport matches, speeches, etc.). To not reach the 30 minutes limit, I need to watch the clock and to stop and to restart the recording, between songs, at concerts.
...a
11 months ago |Sony and most companies make the max recording time just under 30mins because if they made it any higher they would be charged a larger tax on the camera…. makes cam less expensive for use, at least I think
PhotoEye
11 months ago |One big YAWN. I don’t care for video, since I’m not a videographer. I have other equipment to take videos with, but I don’t use them. Wake me up when you have the specs for photography.
zane
11 months ago |i messed up a mates wedding when i had the camera set up in the church and left it on record. Of course the bride was a little late and because of the 29 minute limitation I only got her as she entered the church. Later, I tried explaining the WTO restriction and tax implication to the bride/groom…but no one cared
Chad
11 months ago |Would be amazing, but kind of sounds better than the FS700 in some ways… which JUST came out for $8000.
If it’s true, Sony could take a huge chunk out of Canon’s DSLR video shooter users.
For me personally, i’d be slightly annoyed because i just bought that FS700 i mentioned…
Andreas
11 months ago |Those would be amazing video specs but there is something wrong for sure:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD#Specification_addendum_.28AVCHD_2.0.29
AVCHD 2.0 is max 28MB/s and 4:2:0 color space.
grizzler
11 months ago |You can do this using HDMI/SDI out like many of Sonys existing camcorders, effectively bypassing AVCHD. you just retain AVCHD and all its limitations for those wishing to record to internal SDRAM cards….unless you own (or part own) the AVCHD specs, in which case you could just revise the specs of course. Most likely it is just through HDMI though and would require an external recorder.
Andreas
11 months ago |Well. Of course I am aware that I can use an external recorder. Atomos Ninja comes to my mind as an example http://www.atomos.com/ninja/ and with clean HDMI out it would be great but the first line here read:
1) AVCHD2.0 format ,below 1080p it have the Bit rate of 50Mpbs,4:2:2Sampling （other model coming next year has 4：2：0）
And my point is that AVCHD cannot have 50Mpbs 4:2:2 but just 28Mbs at 4:2:0 so the rumour seems to be bogus.
grizzler
11 months ago |Andreas, its a google translation of a chinese website it aint gonna be perfect….give it a bit of latitude
Ozcan
11 months ago |In my opinion if A9x will record 120FPS on 1080, probably it will record 4K @ 24FPS. Like FS700 it can be “4K ready” DSLR. Oh sorry DSLT
BTW, I hope that rumors is true!
Patrick
11 months ago |Andrea,
There is a complication happening at EOSHD, nex-hack.info and nex-hack.com (the latter by EOSHD) about Someone 1.00 ‘changing sides’ more or less.
nex-hack.info was started with Vitaly, drawing a number of users to it not only from your site but also from dvxuser.com as Vitaly is a reknowned memeber there. EOSHD efforts to build up a funding structure became undermined because now Someone 1.00 seems to be wary of how EOSHD is trying to do things and seems to now ignore or be at odds with their efforts. The feeling is that Vitaly and EOSHD are trying to somehow become the ‘managers’ for Someone 1.00′s effort.
That being said, it would be wise to make sure that no one around in this website thinks that Vitaly’s involvement is a good omen to the NEX-Hack project seeing that EOSHD (where the first news of the a55 hack began) appears to not recognise Vitaly’s involvement in the hack project (after Vitaly never expressed interest in hacking the NEX systems)
Its a two turf battle and Someone 1.00 is in the middle of it, unfortunately. EOSHS is still taking donations in order to buy 3 bodies at once in order to supply Someone 1.00 with his initial wish of NEX 3, NEX 5n and a77 to test his modified codes. I don’t know what to make of this and I hope that we do get somewhere with this.
hwelvaar
11 months ago |What ?
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Sounds bit messed up. Hope they’ll all come out with some sort of agreement build on common sense as the things they’re working on might be groundbreaking for A-mount as well as E-mount.
admin
11 months ago |Hi Patrick. I am aware of this “mess”. I am waiting to see what Someone1.00 will decide to do…
Hendrick
11 months ago |This is concerning. However, the chronology if events suggests that EOSHD is the responsible to have spread the news and the ones who put the effort in building up attention and momentum so the project can go forward (I mean, organising funds to help a man no one has met to buy him three cameras in hopes of a working firmware is a jump of faith so blind but heartful because we all want this)
I think the fact that gh13 man is now ‘on the case’ as well may be a good thing, but I suspect his reasons at why he has not done it together with the forum that published the news and organised the whole thing first. This is why I am concerned because I roam the dvx forums too and gh13 has not expressed interest in hacking Sony. As a matter of fact, he has said many times that Sony encryption is too complicated for him to do. Also worth having in mind is that EOSHD has never said a single bad thing about hacked GH models, but instead encouraging the purchase of those cameras based on their potential post hack. This I think it is similar to encouraging the work of gh13 man. It smells fishy, the sudden interest of a man with no previous interest.
Hendrick
11 months ago |I just found this very interesting. There on the DVX forums I speak about, a last year attempt to try and build a nex hacking project.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?259944-Sony-NEX-Axx-Firmware-hacking
The interesting part is that gh13 hacker (vasily) did not show up to support the project and the thread becomes highly active after someone 1.00 reported his progress. Interesting that vasily only showed up to make the nex-hack.info website only after Someone 1.00 started the progress. Also interesting I found that in EOSHD there is a comment that says that if there is more money than needed to buy the three bodies Someone 1.00 needs, he can take the rest of the money as gratification for his work. That is a motivation for anyone to get working on this, don’t you think? Again, I find it fishy to see that someone with no interest in hacking NEX has come to the attention for the project.
Ray oody
11 months ago |Sadly I think it’s not !!. Frames that much won’t be expected from Sony… Yet !!.
knyz
11 months ago |Hi everybody,
Actually i was also one of the guy who talk about the excitement of a hack support on the NEX.
I already explain many stuff about the algorithm of the Sony Encryption program that include on the firmware of the NEX…
But Vitaly didn’t listen me at all and insult me… i also made a patch that to add the english/french support on the GH2 when it was released and Vitaly again insult me…
I don’t like Vitaly at all because he try to keep all the stuff for him and trying to win money by lying that the hacking came from him when is not…
Also the GH1 Hack Project was not from him (not me ever) but from somebody that work a long time on it, he release the software to do it but he was a unknown person, nobody believe him.
That is for the part of the story
About the NEX hacking, the system encryption from the NEX 2Generation is the same as the first generation don’t expect a hack too soon if you think is not, someone didn’t realize the problem of the hack in NEX/Alpha but is totaly possible anyway, you need to make your own dat with a valid signature/encryption, also Sony use the same encryption data… you can even do this test
download the FS100 firmware and download the NEX 5 First generation firmware
Download the NEX 5N firmware… dezip the firmware… delete the dat on ever document and replace it by another dat… it would update your product on the same way… it’s the same updater for every NEX/Alpha product… it’s also easy to change the string section with a hexa editor… for now i don’t know why the people enjoy that… Someone need to show that he really did something inside the dat that is this file is encrypted… the encryption section start a 0020 after -> ‰UFU……..DATV……..PROV….
I also see something weird, you don’t need to have the product to hack it… you can ask somebody to test for you is not that dangerous because anyway if you know what you are doing have no problem with that…
And Someone you need to know that the NEX Second generation follow the same process of updating than the old generation… i don’t know what you are talking about when you say is not, you talk about a different encryption when is exactly same… they didn’t change anything, they just change the string section of the dat firmware… the dat firmware include different execution for ever Sony NEX/Alpha product that all but is not different at all in the term of encryption
Just to let know that too… Sony use the same processor and the same sensor
on the FS100-FS700-VG20-NEX7-A95-A77-NEX5 etc…
It’s just dat algorithm that add some locking section
Same hardware but different software…
Also the NEX/Alpha don’t use a lite linux but a OpenBSD…you need to check the difference, if you want to calcul the key, it’s better that to work on OpenBSD
After all whatever camera NEX/Alpha you have… you simply connect to your BSD platform and start to calcul the decryption of the dat by the firmware updater between your product and the software… you will intercept and calculate the signature key to let you know how to find it on your dat files…
that let you edit the dat file, resign and valid the update of your custom firmware on the NEX/Alpha…
But for me the story about asking body and money it’s too big, i didn’t see anything good from the beginning to now that i can really say you hacked the Alpha/NEX Product..
Unbeliever
11 months ago |That sounds too hyped to be true. No people in sanity would believe this rumor. Simply put: Sony isn’t going to compete against their own high-end videocameras with the A99 or any other SLT.
On the other hand, Sony doesn’t want to lose potential users because Nikon D600 (a true DSLR with OVF for real photographers) is coming and will be much cheaper, then they are throwing loads of hyped features list. Pure bells and whistles.
Frank
11 months ago |It’s rather presumptuous (and insulting) of you to assume that a “true photographer” is one that prefers an OVF. I take it then that all of us EVF users aren’t “true photographers”….?
OVF/EVF is a preference, nothing more, so don’t make sweeping generalisations based on what YOU want from a camera.
knyz
11 months ago |I Would say why not..
Nobody seem to know that a Nikon J1 offer a Slowmotion mode at 400fps etc..
and features that is almost the same as the chinese announce about the A99 features..
You need to know that the slow motion is not a problem of the hardware but a problem of locking software to keep that on the professional camera and give a reason to buy one… but every DSLR can have a slow motion mode based on the shutter directive and the calculating your scene by the processor and the fps you need…
PR
11 months ago |I do not understand why everyone is so happy that Sony’s next “still camera” is a professional camcorder??? Sony is a world leader in video, why not buy an already proven model of just a video if one wants to shoot and let us quickly dying out still photographers get a camera that is best for still images?? Make a camera that has good high ISO performance, put the force on this rather than to “embed” a video in a camera for photographers who do not need or want an expensive feature in its camera which will never be used!
Hendrick
11 months ago |Why did so many filmmakers buy 5D Mark II’s when they could have bought a Sony, Panasonic or Canon’s own professional video cameras?
Why photojournalists began to buy 5D Mark II’s when their job is clearly stills oriented? Because it offered both things.
But then, once you have a taste of what could be…you want things to be better, don’t you? and you don’t want to spend more than $XXXX on professional video equipment, especially since carrying a body and lens set for just video would be too much (even for professional photojournalists) See why Dan Cheung, who works for the Telegraph, Times (UK) and Time in the US uses Canon 5D series…simple, he isn’t going to carry a video set and a stills set together.
It’s a rather natural progression that one manufacturer must offer one edge over another in features (IBIS, FPS, ISO, resolution, etc) and in the case of Sony, Sony wishes to attract those who want SLR sized video and stills cam with 35mm full frame (not available in any dedicated video camera under $15,000) depth of field. Canon and Nikon essentially offer the same, albeit no one there is saying that you have to buy a dedicated video cam if you want video. I think Canon and Nikon users are happy they are given both in one package and with serious enough features to make the video not a third hand add-on like on a Fuji X Pro 1.
In the case of Sony, Sony want’s to put the best it can (or willing to) in stills and video tech. I am sure it will have amazing ISO, Dynamic Range, etc etc…and if it can outdo Nikon and Canon in video, then why not? I think the days of dedicated stills only cams are over. Unless Nikon’s D600 will have no video at all, I see your wishes for a rebadged EVF a900/850 to be dreams not coming true.
Matt
11 months ago |Whatever man, you want a ‘real’ camera – Go shoot film. High ISO capabilities? Yeah that is what ‘real’ cameras need, ISO 1 Billion!
How about this, film cameras, video cameras, digital cameras, digital video cameras are ALL essentially the same thing. To converge those devices isn’t exactly rocket science. Having video in a still camera in NO WAY makes it a lesser of a stills camera.
But hey, keep enjoying your pointless old man rants and grumbles, it is always fun to read how resistent to change simpletons can be…
AlphaK9
11 months ago |PR, I agree with your statement. Hendrick, I understand where you are coming from. I see the Alpha system as a ” photographers system” not a video system. The Video should be a bonus not the main focus. If, I wanted to take videos I would buy the best Video camera I could afford. The a850/900 technology is 3 years old and a lot of improvement in still photography cameras has occurred in that time. So yes, a New SLT replacement for them would nice. I shoot wildlife and nature with a Minolta 600mm F4 so most of my shooting is done in the morning and afternoon. I want better high ISO performance so the fine details are not lost.
Matt, it is ashame that you have to attack somebody for their opinion. Are you trying to shut someone down because you don’t agree. If, video is so important to you, go by a video camera. Sony makes great ones!
Frank
11 months ago |While the video aspect of the A9x is interesting, I do worry about the lack of rumours regarding stills IQ and basic boring stuff like tethering.
These rumours sound like they come from marketing leaks, rather than from photographers testing the A9x.
obican
11 months ago |Very smart observation.
E
11 months ago |By now, we should have seen pictures of this piece of magic…
PR
11 months ago |I know that things are moving briskly forward, and that Sony is trying to compete with Canon and Nikon, but why not make two cameras then? One with the included video that you are free to pay extra because you are so keen to have this feature embedded? We do not need the video feature, we will pay for it? You think that’s fair? I think it’s unfortunate that it gets in this way that all cameras “must” include a video feature! Am I allowed to have the idea for this forum? Or is it just you who love the video that has the right to express your opinions here? I just wonder because as soon as someone mentions something that you do not have the video function of a still camera so you get “attacked” by people who obviously knows more and better than everyone else about what some of us think. How lucky you are that always think that your views are the right one!
RossF
11 months ago |I’d love to believe these specs but, as others have mentioned, they’re at odds with AVCHD 2.0′s own specifications. Saying that, if these specs prove to be true, this could be amazing.
Of course, specs are all pointless if the video turns out to be low DR, moire and aliasing-riddled mush but, with Sony’s recent performances with the like of the FS700 and even the little RX100, I’ve got high hopes for the new Alpha.
Hendrick
11 months ago |This I have seen that it can be true. AVCHD is a cursed format in many videographer’s mind. It is because the data rate (mbits/sec) can not be higher than 28mbits.
If anyone doubts this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD#Specifications
In short, for it to record more than 28mbits, it must not be AVCHD anymore, but something else.
grizzler
11 months ago |They dont have to just comply with AVCHD, just be able to support it. The current SLTs support AVCHD and MP4. So, you just ensure that you support AVCHD 2.0 modes and have another bunch of modes conforming to something else. Look at sonys own NXCAM cameras, which support AVCHD but can do 120fps
RossF
11 months ago |True. I’d still be happy if the rumored specs were only available over HDMI to an external recorder. I’d be even happier you could use any external recorder (e.g. Atomos Ninja 2) rather than Sony releasing some sort of proprietary recorder that you had to buy to get 4:2:2 etc.
Anyway, this is all mad conjecture at this point; I guess I’m just easily excited! Let’s see what happens in the next month.
chris
11 months ago |No chance these specs are legit, the A99 would kill Sony’s entire lineup below $10,000 and we’ve seen Sony endlessly cripple cameras to protect the lines above. There would be no compelling reason to buy the FS100/700, EX1/3, VG20, or any of the other “prosumer” cameras Sony produces.
I’d buy one in a hearbeat if this was true, but this rumor doesn’t hold any water.
Hendrick
11 months ago |By this token, Sony 5n, 7 and coming 5R and 6 should also eat VG-20 sales. But they have not and will not because people preferring dedicated video cameras will still buy dedicated video cameras. I think you are thinking of Canon.
You cannot control ISO in the same way you control Gain in video (although they are very similar). The same goes for shutter speed and shutter angle (you cannot have a 1/48th sec shutter speed in any stills oriented camera for any 24p recording. However, a 180 degree shutter angle is possible with a video dedicated camera)
A stills camera with amazing video does not threaten video dedicated cameras. If you are in doubt on Sony’s strategy, I think you should think again because NEX 7 could theoretically eat a77 sales (same sensor, most features and IQ are on par if not equal) but it does not because some people prefer/need phase detection AF and SLR body shape. Does a65 eat a77 sales? maybe some, but not drastically enough to make a77 a failed product.
chris
11 months ago |No I’m thinking Sony, look at the entire video line, FS, EX XDCAM and so on and there are tiers of features, the lower priced models never step over the higher priced.
As far as the VG – the other Nex cameras have left the VG in the dust, its a sales non factor and subject to continuous rumors of the VG lineup going away completely. Sony has offered no support for the VG20 despite desperate pleas from its user base to update many features left off the camera that were originally announced. The VG20 was a dud from launch because its feature set was watered down compared to the 5n that cost 1/3 what the VG does.
Sony has always done this, all I’m saying is the A99 or whatever its called is not suddenly going to change years of practices. A $2800 camera is not going to have a feature set that would poach customers from the $5000 (FS100) and $8000 (FS700) camera. Its just never going to happen given Sony’s financial situation.
John Thomas
11 months ago |Forget “Sony’s current financial situation”. Doing that is just bad business…. Only people in this forum keep believing that a Sony will release a $3k camera that bests an $8k camera.
Ain’t gonna happen…. Nor should it…. As much as I would LIKE my $3k alpha to meet or exceed a $8k FS700….
chris
11 months ago |Agree 100%
Aero
11 months ago |It also claims A99 isn’t coming. The model is being released is a model called A95.
Bill
11 months ago |A99 was never a known name for the camera just a place holder. Some rumors were suggesting the September camera would be A8X instead of A9X. I personally think Sony made a mistake starting the A77 line out at 7. At least for the 3 series they have A33, A35 and now A37 with a potential A39 to come. The 5 series has A55, A57 and potential A59 to come. The 6 series started with A65. I think starting the 9 series as a A95 would make sense, gives Sony at least a few model number changes before the whole number scheme has to be redone.
chris
11 months ago |x
Phillip
11 months ago |Its all good, however, this is not what I want, I want a camera, that can take brilliant photos, crisp ans clear, without the major editing in Photoshop. It seems to me that sony cant put forward a camera that can take Nikon and Canon down, and it seems that they rather put there emphasis on a video to take away the spotlight from the main Function which is the CAMERA. so to be honest they can rather flip the Video off and use there time and effort in the camera itself. I am in the stage where I want to go pro, and I will definitely not be able to go completely pro with a another whana be full frame form Sony, so they should make up there minds where they want to be. I have spend 20 000 dollars on lenses, and stood with sony, but if they going to continue this path, I will Probably put all my shit on E-bay and go over to Canon or Nikon.
AlphaK9
11 months ago |+1
Bill
11 months ago |This A9X camera is not going to be a Nikon D800 killer. If you are landscape or studio still photographer, if the rumors are true, this camera is not for you. It should be better in almost all respects in image quality compared to the A900 but the added video features mean is will not be the most cost-effective FF still camera. The D800 or the rumored D600 will probably fill that role for a while yet. If all the rumors are true this camera will be a great event and photojournalists camera, perhaps not quite at the D4 or 1D X level but close and much cheaper. Even if I had the money for a full frame I would skip this model and wait for the next. Hopefully it sells well enough for Sony to make the killer still body rumored for 2013.
zane
11 months ago |Cannibalisation between sony’s product lines is both inevitable and not necessarily such a bad thing considering that the real concern is if the potential buyer is looking to purchase from the CaniKon camp. Get them “in”, have them invest in expensive glass and “they” aren’t moving anywhere fast. The potential A99 doing stills/video well isn’t a bad thing…is the iPhone any less of an MP3 player because one can make calls with it. Technological convergence has this affect.
Joel Richards
11 months ago |I agree. I bet Sony’s mid- & low- level professional video camera lines are feeling a lot heat from from the (mostly Canon) VDSLR crowd. Sony’s response has been good so far but now that they are betting more of their overall business on the imaging division I think they are finally getting ready to canabilize their own products if that’s what’s needed. After all, it would still be better to have customers buying something else Sony than something else CanNikon.
Cliff
11 months ago |There are multiple reasons why this is all false. Sony Pro Video group would squash any Alpha camera like this before it ever made it off the drawing board. Besides the video rumors are way out of spec for MPEG compatability anyway.
This should be an “SR0″ rating.
Bill
11 months ago |Do not know if true or false, but the NEX 700 still has advantages over the A9X even if all the video rumors are true. Faster 1080p rates, pro features of various sorts. It could be the advanced video features on the A9X are going to require expensive external recorders things of that nature that would bump the potential profit to Sony versus the NEX line. Also if Sony can just sell a lot more of the the cameras. I do not know what the Market is for the higher end NEX video line but potentially Sony can sell a lot of A9Xs. Half the profit per unit is still better if you can move 10 times the units.
grizzler
11 months ago |exactly, look at the vast array of buttons and connectors on the FS700. Also look at the pixel count on the sensor etc etc. the FS700 would still be worth that much more for pro videographers even if the A99 could match its colour depth and frame rates.
Hendrick
11 months ago |It sound like you think that Sony is like Canon and that still cameras are dangers to video cameras. I responded to a twin of your mind above. This camera could be likely real and it does not endanger the dedicated video cameras. Simple.
Cliff
11 months ago |The A95/99 with a GROSSLY oversampled 24mp sensor would be lousy for video anyway. You gotta find some really creative way to throw 22 million image pixels in the trash can,… just to make a 2mp HD image.
I mean the pixel “hit vs. miss” ratio will be extremely high. That really defeats the purpose of recording to a 4:2:2 codec in the first place…add Bayer loss and it gets even worse.
Look at the NEX Fs100. (Sony’s DSLR “video killer”)That thing has a large super 35mm sensor with only 3 megapixels. Just enough to compensate for Bayer pattern removal. That sensor has photo sites that are literally ten microns large! (TEN MICRONS!!!!) The thing has a base ISO rating of 800. (ISO 800 at 0db gain!) Plus a great, SHARP HD image with very little moire pattern problems.
A99/95 will have the standard AVHD 2.0 codec and will not threaten any Sony Pro video camera.
AudioDoc
11 months ago |Will it make me a cup of coffee too?
I just need a camera! This is a another gizmo! Do I have to pay extra for the this wiz-bang that will likely seldom use?
You’ve removed the expensive prism and moving mirror mechanism, so I expect a lower price!
CTPhotographX.com
11 months ago |I do so hope this is an a95. Please save the stills purist with a later a99 worthy of the 9 legacy.
Happy for all you video togs. Hope it’s everything you need it to be.
ssrdd
11 months ago |Any mention about Clean HDMI out put??
that would be interesting..
poke
11 months ago |The video rumors sound great as long as it does not cause a decrease in still performance. My main interest is in the ability of this camera to take stills. If I can get both fantastic but I don’t want any compromise in stills for the sake of video. But cheers to the best of both worlds. I hope that is what we are going to get.
anonymous
11 months ago |Some translation are off.
The first line should read as
AVCHD2.0 format, 50M bps.
4:2:2 is for 1080p and 50M mode only. Other modes (NOT models) is 4:2:0
JeffreyPW
11 months ago |As a freelance producer and videographer (currently using the A55, two A77, and a VG10), even if the A99 only has half of these specs are true it’d still be a great improvement for Sony and be a ‘most have camera’ for a whole lot of people!
pss
11 months ago |just don’t see how this would be possible….120fps at 1080? 50mbps 4:2:2? i would love it but i just don’t see it….
neither the fs100 nor the fs700 can do this and this a95/99 would have to do a lot of downsampling on top…
i wonder when sony will show the 4k option for the fs700 (i am assuming it will be an external recorder) and how/if that will be compatible with the a95/99? clean HDMI out to a capable external recorder could solve some problems….
either way i think sony will have a winner with this camera….keep the price around 2500…lower price, better specs AND performance will eventually pay off and make people switch (or at least take a chance on a second system….)….sony is already on top with the nex line, the fs100/700 and now the high end DSLR….
woonder
11 months ago |+10000
Mida Chu
11 months ago |http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1048806-1-1-1.html
there are more rumors on this site.
it says the top ISO performance will be 25600
Douglas Grillo
11 months ago |AVCHD 2.0 at 50Mpbs is very unlikely, what can be done and is AVCHD codec from the Professional line as the FS100 and FS700, is very clean and optimized at 24Mpbs.
Tha A99 need clean and uncompressed HDMI output too, even better if is 422, expanding the quality through external recorders.
RossF
11 months ago |I think Sony COULD make a brilliant SLT camera for video and stills without undermining their higher end video cameras or pricing it out of the market for stills purists, and here’s why:
1) I think the FS100 is going to fade away until it’s discontinued. I may be wrong but I get the feeling that, eventually, the FS700 will quietly go from “another product in the line” to essentially its replacement. Maybe Sony aren’t too fussed about cannibalizing its sales. Just a thought.
2) Even if the FS100 does stay current, the new camera, with its 24MP sensor will probably not be as good in low light and may have a bit more aliasing and moire unless Sony have done something very clever with a LOT of processing power. It will also likely be missing things like XLR inputs and, in the case of the FS700, built-in ND filters.
3) Remember that the FS700 has still got the 4K raw external recorder to come. When it does, the FS700 should have massive benefits over even the impressive rumored spec of the A95/A99, especially for higher-end video work.
Personally, I’m about 70/30 video/stills and travel a lot so I’d definitely buy a camera with the rumored spec. If I did PURELY video work though, I’d still go for the FS100/FS700.
RossF
11 months ago |I know a lot of stills shooters get annoyed at the price of their cameras being pushed up by video features that they’re not going to use. As such, I’ve got a question for anyone with a bit of knowledge about product development, manufacturing and marketing process:
If Sony were to include video features in one camera (say A95) and leave them out of another camera for the stills purists (say A99), would they actually be able to offer the A99 any cheaper, given that the money has already been invested in the R&D process? Surely it’s mostly firmware which doesn’t really cost anything to implement once it’s been developed? Would they have any reason to leave it out and then have to sell the camera at a lower price, cutting their margins?
I don’t mean this as a dig at anybody; it’s something that I’d genuine like to understand and would appreciate any comments from those in the know.
Tom
11 months ago |A camera that has advanced video features will be more expensive, due to increase in DSP, physical connectors, heat sinks, etc… that are required. A standard stills-centric camera that just fails to incorporate standard codecs and compression schemes that have already been R&D’d, I would suspect must be priced at a higher rate, due to a reduced sales projection. For a company to not follow this guidance would require them to ignore basic business principles. The GH2 is an example of a product that is just a simple stills camera that has decent video capabilities that didn’t really cost them much to implement, other than lost sales in camcorders. I imagine that Panasonic made up for this loss in increased sales of GH2. It has a unique sensor, but not a big departure from other sensors previously and not priced significantly different per unit than any other sensor. Sony is a bit more hesitant to allow stills cameras to eat into their prosumer and high end video camera business, so are less prone to allowing these features unless the product is a high-margin profitable product, which is what the A99 could be, since neither Cannon nor Nikon has a particularly attractive video DSLR product. Canon in fact, sort of fumbled with their 5D mkIII, so it would actually be great timing for Sony to jump in and steal some of that thunder. If the A99 came out as a stills only product, it would sell in much smaller quantities. It would seem to only make sense to position it at the very high end of the market, but then – that is a tough place to compete right now in light of other competitor’s products. In my analysis, for Sony to embrace video is not simply a value-added luxury that they are offering, but vital to the survival of high end A-mount products period. I predict that the Fuji X systems will fail due to their unwillingness to embrace video and Nikon will loose much share to Canon in the mirror less market due to the upcoming EOS-M.
RossF
11 months ago |Thanks for that Tom, that makes a lot of sense.
Patrick
11 months ago |Man, where have you been? Above a lot of people want a stills only camera because they believe adding video sacrifices something in the stills department. It does make sense for Sony to do this and I applaud them for it. Seriously, you want the A mount to be a professional mount right? with Zeiss lenses and all that…I do too, but it ain’t gonna happen if the market for professional bodies mostly comes from enthusiasts and amateurs. Sony needs some serious photographers willing to do the talking (Like Alex Majoli, from Magnum, does for Leica and Marcus Bleasdale and most of VII Photo do for Canon) If they can get Philip Bloom to say the same thing for an A mount cam or an NEX cam (below the FS100/700) then the a99 better steal Canon and Nikon’s turf and get to business.
RossF
11 months ago |Don’t get me wrong Patrick, I’m with you on this. I’m at least 70% video myself so I welcome these latest rumours massively. I was just trying to figure out if the whole “I just want a stills camera” argument actually holds any water at all when it comes to real-world economics.
Tom
11 months ago |Patrick, you bring up a good point and I do think that the battle is so much grounded in professionals and advanced enthusiasts (your not going to float a business on professionals only anymore) getting a product that targets them specifically versus the enthusiast market. I think a lot of people have miscast this battle as stills versus video. As soon as your discussing a camera that has live view, it is indeed a video product, no matter what the intended application or market. It is up to the manufacturer how much or how little they want to appeal to the portion of the market that would spend money solely on its video capabilities. I don’t think that every product should do everything under the sun, but it would seem foolish to not support the basics, to do so is just throwing money out the window.
Urban Ninja
11 months ago |People forget that the GH3 is also rumored to be announced shortly (Photokina in 4 weeks) The specs floating around in the rumors are similar to these sony specs listed above 120fps etc.. However the GH3 will be substantially cheaper and the GH2 has already built up a following of indie filmmakers (The camera was even featured in Zacutos camera shootout where it was tested with several other cameras including an Arri Alexa, Sony F65, Sony F3, Canon C300, Red One, Canon 7D etc) All filmed by experts with each f the cameras.. The pictures where then shown to an audience including cinematographers working in Hollywood without any idea of what camera sht what picture the general consensus was that the GH2 produced the third best picture after the Arri Alexa #1 and Sony F65 #2..
While the specs on the Sony do look amazing they aren’t just competing with Canikon anymore.. At this point I don’t think Canikon are even players anymore..
Lucas
11 months ago |Few years ago when the whole “Video on DSLR” started, I said many times that I couldn’t care less for video. Now that video seems to be taking over the priority over stills on DSLR’s, I can say that my fears have come true: I’ll be paying more due to the increasing video features ( which also complicates the camera ergonomics design and user interface ) and adds little to still photography! I hope the next SLT is the A95 to please the video crowd and the A99 ( or whatever ) comes right after to please us still photo fans.
Rustu Erata
11 months ago |Dear Sony; please-please-please don’t use that a77′s “joystick” MENU Button on a99! I felt that joystick is very uncomfortable (even if my hands are a little bit smaller than average ones – my gloves size is 8). It should be more uncomfortable for someone who has average or bigger hands! According to me (I studied in Industrial Design in METU many years ago), there is some problem in ergonomic: the joystick is too high and it’s head is too narrow (even according to my smaller size hands)! A65 and A57 have nice, more ergonomically and comfortable menu buttons, who needs that stupid “joystick”!..
Jim Wilson
11 months ago |SONY surely knows whaty Canon has rtecently released with their EOS-1DX and 1DC cameas; so SONY is keeping up with the competition with their own set of unique features.. Look what SONY did with their SLT-A77… we’bve been testing it for several months and it outshines Canon’s 7D in many, many, ways… IF SONY releases the A99 by early October, we will acquie it too; otherwise I will have to get Canon’s EOS-5D3 instead…