(SR2) First specs about the A1S square sensor…
One of the sources that told me about the SLT camera prototype with square sensor send me some info. Please be aware that this is a camera prototype and that there is no way to be sure yet that it is coming for real.
1) 37 Megapixel
2) 36mm x 36mm square sensor
3) Works with all current Alpha mount lenses
4) It is the biggest camera to date (beats the Sony A900 in terms of size)
5) The SLT technology permits the camera to be smaller than it would have been with the classical mirror box and optical viewfinder technology
6) New generation of square electronic viewfinder
7) 3×3 inch OLED display
The 36mm square format allows you to choose between different formats on the fly or in post production.
P.S.: Kodak once made a digital back with square sensor. The Kodak DCS Pro Back 645 (here on eBay).
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
Miika
2 years ago |37 megapixels square sensor.. so after cropping to 2:3 aspect ratio that would leave about 24 megapixels.
Daemonius
2 years ago |Well, yea..
Just, you dont need to.
And some of us really prefer 4:3 or 5:4 or 6:7. 3:2 doesnt look natural at all and it never did. Its aspect ratio that came from need, not that anyone really wanted it.
wth
2 years ago |I am sure with a bit of firmware, Sony can gray out parts of the EVF to make it look like you are taking pictures in different ratios.
It would really help with composition!
You wouldn’t even know the difference until you take off the lens and look at the SQUARE!
Solo
2 years ago |I personally assumed they would black out parts of the EVF depending on aspect ratio (if this rumor has an ounce of credibility anyway)- to not do so would be fucking dumb- it seems like such an obvious utilization of EVF technology, no?
wth
2 years ago |+1
###
2 years ago |You obviously missing the fact that it is already done.
For example when switching from 3:4 to 16:9 viewfinder in a77 automatically black out top and bottom parts.
Solo
2 years ago |Great. I’m glad they had common sense when they designed it.
c.d.embrey
2 years ago |A two page photo (double truck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_truck) on most, but not all, magasines is 3×2. Single pages are closer to 4×5.
When shooting a full length vertical (portrait) photo of a person, you need to allow for the different aspect ratio of a 3×2 camera and a 4×5 page. If you don’t the head and the feet get cut off. The nice thing about square is that you crop the sides for a vertical photo, so there is never a need to crop-out the head
Klipsen
2 years ago |Or maybe it’s intended for the next Lytro
Randy S.
2 years ago |I was thinking along those lines as well. 100mp square sensor = bad ass lytro
Randy S.
2 years ago |Yeah its probably a 24mp chip that was made square instead.
animalsbybarry
2 years ago |I would much rather see a 36 mp 24×24 sensor.
2This would:
1- Becompatable with many more lenses
2-
animalsbybarry
2 years ago |I would much rather see a 36 mp 24×24 sensor.
2This would:
1- Be compatable with many morep lenses
2- Provide the same crop factor as c sensors, very useful for macro and telephoto.
3- Maintain the high resolution of the current 24 mp a77, even after cropping
A 36×36 mmversion.
Joe
2 years ago |Any platform supporting the Alpha mount is something I support
klw10
2 years ago |+1
cynic
2 years ago |+2
emopunk
2 years ago |+3
Rooru S.
2 years ago |+4
saiman
2 years ago |+5
edpaul
2 years ago |+6
Z-man
2 years ago |+7
matgay
2 years ago |-1
-1
-1
matgay
2 years ago |not any!
not apsc!
not midget sensors!
passer-by
2 years ago |Sensor in that picture is not square.
kybel
2 years ago |you dont say
Solo
2 years ago |Thank you, Sherlock.
Booe
2 years ago |That’s because sensors need extra space for dead rows and columns (helps to reduct fixed-pattern noise) and read circuitry (because it’s a CMOS)
Vivek
2 years ago |I wonder how the review outfits will rate the corners.
This is not just exciting but also going to be very entertaining.
Bigger than A900? OK.
Simon_P
2 years ago |Any improvement of AF system for new FF (not just A1S) that can compete against Canikon?
Albin
2 years ago |i’d be a taker if they nail a cracking manual focus system
###
2 years ago |Focus peaking is already quite crac king. Or did you meant something else?
Solo
2 years ago |+1 – is there a better system then focus peaking? This is one of the primary reasons for me to desire an upgrade from the otherwise perfect A900 (although the AF system could use an update as well)
wth
2 years ago |Phase Detection + Contrast Detection is already a winner!
ZombieHeathen
2 years ago |It does seem kind of cool for Sony to be looking at new kinds of DSLR/DSLT cameras, but I’m not sure it would be very useable in real world photo taking.
Solo
2 years ago |thats probably because you are thinking very narrow-mindedly. Not to mean any offense, but seriously, what disadvantages are you thinking of concerning the use of a square sensor?
Steve
2 years ago |One little advantage for me at least is that I would no longer need a RRS “L” mounting bracket to attach my camera to a tripod to take portrait shots
Solo
2 years ago |precisely- being able to change from vertical to horizontal orientation on the fly means no need for vertical grips, a smaller- more comfortable camera body, and your external speed lights ALWAYS being above the lens!
Currently my staff and I never shoot vertical to avoid the uneven light (not all of us have brackets)- thus this would be a welcome change
Carl
2 years ago |It depends on the aspect ratio(s) you shoot at, and whether you like portrait format flash use. If you almost always shoot 3:2 ratio and horizontal, then it’s pretty much a case of “move along, nothing to see here”. Quite a few photogs don’t shoot that way, however. and for them this is an interesting potential development.
LifeStoryImages.com
2 years ago |I would put it to use immediately, commercially.
Shot by scott
2 years ago |Hi
645 backs arent square. 6×6 are 645 backs are 6×4.5
räven
2 years ago |“The Pro Back 645 has a 16-megapixel 36mm x 36mm square imager and fits on the back of these cameras just like the regular film back. “
Daemonius
2 years ago |Actually correct MF back for 645 has 57×46 mm. Those 36×36 are simply like APS-C cameras vs FF. Theres only very few “full-frame” MF backs that cover what film did.
Harvey
2 years ago |My Bronica is 56 x 42 mm.
Dave R.
2 years ago |Incorrect. For FILM, typical “645″ frame is 56 x 41.5 mm. With medium format digital backs, most sensors are 36 x 48 mm or 37 x 49 mm, with the largest being IIRC 40.3 x 54 mm or so. There are also smaller ones; 44 x 33 mm is getting more common, and Kodak and perhaps others made backs with 36 x 36 mm and/or 37 x 37 mm sensors.
Go Sony!!!
2 years ago |Make it Mirrorless Sony, or at least offer both a Mirrorless and SLT version. I want to be able to mount my other legacy lenses to it.
Make it Sony! I will buy it! Take my money!
Pablo
2 years ago |SONY, listen to us.
We want a FF mirrorless, so make it for us. Put IBIS inside the machine and we will buy it!
Neo NiGHTS ®
2 years ago |A Sony mirrorless with IBIS is something that I’d like a lot. Lack of IBIS is one of the main reasons I haven’t got into Nex system already.
passer-by
2 years ago |Large sensor is good for video pixel stabilization.
LEdgars
2 years ago |It seems that image circle is larger than the FF (35mm film) rectangle.
http://www.fourthirdsphoto.com/showthread.php?t=57126
Donald Burghardt
2 years ago |I still doubt that very much as the circle of projection should be larger or there is a larger part of the circle unused and this was foreseen in 1985 when the first A-mount lenses were designed and constructed. Let’s say this is true… It must for sure be the A99 because if it isn’t there will be very less sales of the A99 as (i expect) many will wait for the squareversion, i will anyway… and that would be ‘not the smartest thing’ to do by Sony.
Randy S.
2 years ago |All lens produce an image circle not an image oval (well accept amorphic lenses we use in film)or rectangle. so a 35mm lens would cover a square sensor just cause thats how physics works.
emopunk
2 years ago |Andrea, let’s say that for a moment we want to believe to such a rumor. But then the question is: does it mean that Sony is ready with the D800/Mark III competitor? Do they completely abandon that game? How can they focus on such an experimental thing when they still don’t have anything on the table to compete with these two cameras?
wth
2 years ago |Why offer something similar when you can offer something better?
emopunk
2 years ago |Oh well.. I am in first line to hope you’re right and that we didn’t invest so much money in a-mount without a reason!
wth
2 years ago |There is only one person that was ever correct and he ain’t in this forums.
Point in life is that not everything goes accordingly to plan. You just have to take what you get and make the best of it without regrets.
Just like when Canon released the 600D at twice the price of the 550D.
The Canon Fanboys actually paid $500 USD more for an articulated screen.
The 550D was slightly better in all other respects during launch.
This is something that us Sony users should learn from.
###
2 years ago |So, and if sony had d800/mark3 competitor now, would you buy it immedeatly?
I think not.
People like you are whining and whining about it, but it seems to me that only a small part of your miserable crowd REALLY need it RIGHT NOW.
You know, there are people still using d70, or a700, or 40d and they are making good photos despite not having last tech.
Solo
2 years ago |+1. All i want now is just a hint of release date- I need to purchase a back-up body and would prefer to make my A850 the backup and a new body the primary.
edpaul
2 years ago |+1.
why compete when u can be different. Sony started SLT. CnN just Boooo sony, but guess what, its quite diff when it sales good and people started to love it. seriously, if A1S came out, even the sensor might be slightly smaller then expected, or smaller then FF, i’ll still take it, because it offer a diff type of freedom then the typical 2:3 aspect. DOF aint my issue, i shoot at F8 anyway.
Tomislav
2 years ago |Very interesting thingy. A proper pro studio camera, makes going Medium Format obsolete. And I already have all the lenses! Yay!
passer-by
2 years ago |It’s a medium format. Well, almost.
Björn Utpott
2 years ago |I don’t think the image circle will be larger than full frame. Rather, they will crop a smaller square format – one that fits within the standard imaging circle – out of a larger square sensor. This will allow full frame 36mm x 24mm crops from the same sensor.
If Sony used a square sensor that fit into the imaging circle, then a conventional 3:2 crop would be smaller than full frame.
Randy S.
2 years ago |WRONG.
Randy S.
2 years ago |image cirle is a circle. image circle already is designed to cover 36×36 since it already covers 36×24 CAUSE ITS A CIRCLE.
Solo
2 years ago |Take off an A-mount lens and look at the baffle- it has a rectangular cut out. It will still work well on a 36×36 but not perfectly. thats ok with me though
Randy S.
2 years ago |depends on the lens and if that rear baffle interferes with the light path. most don’t
NPrincen
2 years ago |WRONG to you! Technically, the lens needs to cover the frame diagonal. So, a lens designed for a 24x36mm frame has an image circle of 43.3mm diameter (sqrt(24^2 + 36^2)). To cover a 36x36mm frame, the lens would need an image circle of 50.9mm diameter (sqrt(36^2 + 36^2)). So, a lens designed for FF will probably vignette on a 36x36mm sensor. Of course, an image circle is not a perfect light disk, but slowly tapers off at the edges, so it still may be usable. Also, some FF lenses actually cover a larger image circle than FF. But, your assertion that because it covers one side of 36mm it can cover an entire 36x36mm area is not correct.
Donald Burghardt
2 years ago |@ emopunk: that’s why it has to be the next high-end box and that *could* explain why there still isn’t a FF available while Canikon march on. It should have been not to difficult to produce just another FF even a lighter version first to keep up with the market. Very confusing and not good for sentiment.
emopunk
2 years ago |I still don’t get the point behind the reasoning (if they actually did it this way). Canikonz will sell tons of cameras in the upcoming months, and I have to admit that they deserve it at this point. Until we see a proper response from Sony. And this response has to be towards the alpha users. E-mount is another world and another market segment IMHO
wth
2 years ago |BECAUSE most likely THEY NEED TO RE-PURPOSE THEIR PRODUCTION LINE TO BUILD UP STOCK…
Rob
2 years ago |I still say that Sony’s new flagships are being delayed because the will likely have 4k capabilities, and the tvs to play them won’t be available until the Fall. Higher vid standards are already here – look at the ipad3, yet there isn’t a vid cam that can fill the screen (until next month, when Canon will release a consumer 4k vid cam). If sony gets 4k into their new flagships, Canikon’s current flagships will be rather obsolete, and given that flagship models are only renewed ever 3-4 years, Sony would have one HELL of an edge for several years. Save your pennies – there’s going to be a quantum shift in vid quality in the near future.
passer-by
2 years ago |Make sense.
edpaul
2 years ago |a big leap of faith to say that…. it sound rational, but i highly doubt it(weak faith…lol), they would require to throw in a very high speed bionz, a V4.0 bionz for 4k vid?
Donald Burghardt
2 years ago |Been thinking about that too Bjorn. And to prevent costs the corners won’t have pixels. Now this *is* feasable…
eths
2 years ago |Sounds like a “must have” to me personally, assuming, of course, that the other characteristics such as dynamic range, noise etc. are very good.
I would vote for a compact mirrorless Nex-7 like body, especially if Sony manages to significantly improve mirrorless AF speed and accuracy.
Using lenses designed for 24x36mm on a 36x36mm sensor will be interesting, because the diagonals for the two formats are not the same: c. 43,27mm for 24x36mm and c. 50,91mm for 36x36mm. A square format with the same diagonal (i.e. picture circle diameter) as 36x24mm would have sides of roughly 30.6mm. OTOH, legacy medium format lenses should work nicely on 36x36mm.
passer-by
2 years ago |“Sounds like a “must have” to me personally, assuming, of course, that the other characteristics such as dynamic range, noise etc. are very good.”
How about price? I can’t even afford a full frame camera at the moment… huhuhu
Donald Burghardt
2 years ago |possible…
Bosse
2 years ago |If this is true, it’s a very interesting move of Sony!
A 36x36mm image sensor in a camera that can use the current Alpa mount lenses is only possible with the SLT technology (or mirrorless)!
Canikon can’t do this work with their existing lens family with theirs classical mirrorbox design with the flipping mirror insida.
Besides with the square format of 36x36mm this opens up for using both 36x24mmm and 24x36mm picture format still holding the camera in the standard horizontal position!
And one can easy make many formats available as 3/2, 4/3 and 16/9 with such a square FF image sensor!
I hope Sony also will make the future SLT cameras as hybrids of both SLT technolgy using phase detection AF and mirrorless technology using contrast detection AF, maybe with the ability to flip the SLT-mirror out of position!
tin tin
2 years ago |fantastic fake))))
XE-1
2 years ago |Sounds like April 1 has come early this year!
Simon_P
2 years ago |What they need to do is to develop a small accessory to quickly adjust the orientation of the hood
lynn
2 years ago |square hood!! (better than a circle hood, for primes) or maybe a circular hood with symmetrical petals on all 4 sides
cbsva
2 years ago |Or they let us turn the lens 90° (counter)clockwise…;-)
BMan
2 years ago |Exactly!
A rotating mount (in a custom direction) could do wonders really with such a sensor. Where can I patent this?
lynn
2 years ago |36×36 would totally kick canikon’s flagship ass!!!
36×36 obviously cant be done by ovf because of flange distance and mirror flipup space. dont even know if SLT can be done because flange distance has to be the same. so more and more it looks like mirrorless. rumors of mirrorless hybrid… hmmmmm 36×36 sensor for a-mount??? all croppable later in post. or instantly selectable ratios.
24×36 sensor of canikon would seem like midget sensors!
Randy S.
2 years ago |why would you need to rotate the lens? The lens has an image CIRCLE not an image oval. so it already covers 36×36 its just got no sensor to hit.
passer-by
2 years ago |It’s for the hood in full frame crop mode(wow, full frame.. crop?damn if this ever materialized). Talking about permanent, built-in hood that was optimized for film.
Rob
2 years ago |This blather is just to keep peoples’ minds busy while we wait for the A99 and later models. IMO, the new higher level cameras are being held up until Fall, because some may have 4k capabilities, and the tvs to play them on won’t be available until the third or fourth quarter.
wth
2 years ago |UMADBRO?
Carl
2 years ago |I’m not sure if that would be successful, though. I’d sooner take the as-rumoured A1S than the as-rumoured A99, even if it required waiting an extra year.
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |simple definition of revolutionary dslr “take the sensor put into the square box – simple and fantastic!” but no one doing except medium format companies
is time to conquer into that segment!
sony laugh at the last!
wth
2 years ago |First of all, the A900 is not a square box, we don’t know the dimensions yet just that it will be bigger than the A900 for the prototype!
Secondly, the 36×36 is not a common medium frame format (48 × 36 mm).
Thirdly, we already know it will be a SLT!
Fourthly, it will have a newer EVF! OVF haters who jumped ship must be shitting their pants.
Fifthly, OLED backscreen will kickarse!
In essence, if Sony release this camera for $3k, it will make Canikon look like a cave man tool.
Solo
2 years ago |wth I appreciate your enthusiasm, however there is still a supremely little amount of credibility to this rumor- SR3 and SR2- and you have to admit, as of now, this is still outlandish. Wait before you gloat.
edpaul
2 years ago |all we need is just a little bit leap of faith.
wth
2 years ago |I don’t have to wait.
I don’t have to even care if it is not true.
I already have a brilliant camera that takes great pictures and I am happy.
I can however laugh at all the Hate Fags that spew their shit around the forums.
If you have bothered to read the post correctly, I did use the word “if”.
Solo
2 years ago |Don’t mistake me for a troll. I use Sony professionally and hope to do so for many years to come. I just don’t think we should get our hopes too high until we see atleast SR4
wth
2 years ago |@Solo,
My hopes aren’t high. I have very little expectations of Sony.
If this prototype does exist, it will most likely cost $6-10K when released to public at it’s current specs, even if it really cost $3-4K.
Sony engineers are brilliant… Sony marketing and management are greedy dogs.
So I really doubt we will see this prototype becoming a consumer reality.
what a killjoy!
Carl
2 years ago |If nothing else, a 3×3″ rear OLED display would certainly look the business. I can’t imagine an AMOLED that size would be very cheap to make, though.
It sounds like an awesome prototype. I’d love to play with it.
Rob
2 years ago |Not that anyone cares, but I’d like to add a speculation on 4k video. Simply, if the sensor is recording 2x wide and high for a 1080p image, I wonder if it would be possible for the camera to partition the sensor into 4 separate 1080p images, and then layer them together, for when HDR or noiseless low-light 1080p images are desired. Can anyone else come up with uses for a camera that can take 4 1080p images at once?
passer-by
2 years ago |I like the idea. Maybe moire will be gone too.
Donald Burghardt
2 years ago |No, all seen and read, i don’t believe this, there are technical possibilities but seen the delay that is allready there while Canikons sell like costing near to nothing… i don’t buy it. April first if you ask me.
richy
2 years ago |Yes Kodak did make a square sensor. The dcspro 645 was name so because is was made for 3 different 6×4.5 cameras however the sensor was 4.5×4.5 (actually 39.6×39.6mm iirc so smaller than the shortest side of a 645 frame like hassies mess of a digital system was until recently).
A square sensor would be interesting but would cost more than a ff due to increased area and likely decreased market (not to mention decreased yield). A 6×17 sensor would sell, albeit to a limited market. Alt least slt saves on the prism space, they might even be able to reuse the a99 body, the mount is no bigger so its not likely to need a bigger housing, especially with slt.
Good on sony for trying! Not sure I would buy one but I would rent one to try. The lenses with rectangular rear shades could probably be retrofitted as well.
wth
2 years ago |——————————————————————————
IF SONY RELEASES THIS CAMERA AS THE A99, I AM GOING TO LMFAO AT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD THEIR SONY LENSES AND BOUGHT CANIKON!
——————————————————————————
What a nasty rumor, they will be crying at night!
Steve
2 years ago |Maybe not as the a99 but the rumored second FF camera slated for 2013.
Both Canon and Nikon have a “bigger” pro body with built-in grip so maybe this is Sony’s answer.
wth
2 years ago |I hope this will be the sooner released model. Holding it off till late 2013 would be a bad mistake.
Sony needs to stand out and make a big wave, therefore the uneducated people will say… hey look, they have an A77, A65, A57!
The SLT series are good cameras, it’s just that people usually get told that Canikon is the best and soccer mums usually buys what they are told.
David
2 years ago |I simply don’t believe it..
wth
2 years ago |LMAO! Sick burn!
Joaquim Barreto
2 years ago |STOP THE PRESS!!!!
This is by far the best rumours I have ever heard in my entire life of rumour hearing.
As a current owner of my much beloved Phase One P20 digital back on a Hasselbald, which has a 36cm x 36cm sensor size, and a recent acquired Sony A77 and Zeiss 24-70 lens, this camera, if true, is coming directly from the Gods above, where they met for days on end, to discuss what would be best for me right now, and the Sony A1S is what they came up with. and by jove, they have done a wonderful job.
I have mentioned in this forum before that I need to upgrade my system and that I want more and more pixels on DSLR so that I may have a choice and not buy a digital back that start from £7,000 and go up to £30,000.
IF TRUE, well done Sony!!!! it is great that you are thinking outside the box.
37mp at medium format size is enough for me
I WANT A SONY A1S.
VOTE for Sony A1S, “all you dreams will come true.”
wth
2 years ago |+1
Say… can you pass me your P20?
A77 + 24-70 f2.8 = Awesomeness!
I hope to God they make this around the $3-4K mark
Joaquim Barreto
2 years ago |My P20 it is on sale on eBay UK.
Even if I won the EuroMillions, I could probably not get Sony to do this if they did not want to.
I would pay up to £5,000 for it. As if it is less than that, then put me down for two. In case I get tried of shooting with one of them.
Almazar80
2 years ago |Now that Sony is innovating in some of its product areas, would it be too much to ask for for Apple to buy Sony’s imaging (photo/video amateur and pro) divisions? And instead of a camera with the Android interface, why not have one with iOS?
All kidding aside, if a square camera is released by Sony, there is a high probability that a lot of people will be interested in buying it. The thing is, Sony better have a full range of modern lenses to go with this thing. Perhaps, the refitting of the 70-400 and 70-200 G lenses are a harbinger of things to come. And, put this type of sensor on a video camera (NEX VG series, FS100 type, or even Sony semi-pros). The possibilities are endless. And VERY exciting.
emopunk
2 years ago |Maybe it’s actually a bunch of sci-fi to keep last faithful users busy and prevent them from jumping ship, anyway. At this point we should already have some serious leaks concerning the way Sony wants to reply to Canon and Nikon latest offerings. And no.. That reply isn’t going to be a new NEX pocket camera, if you ask me.
wth
2 years ago |If it is sci-fi, I am truly enjoying the pain it is dishing out to all the Sony haters and jumpers.
It burns so bad that they can’t even do their usual Trolling on this thread.
Almazar80
2 years ago |Another thing to consider is that if you do video capture in a square format, you can use the camera to transfer the bitstream to the computer. Now, imagine if during the transfer, you can specify which part of the full frame image you want to transfer (to maintain a 16:9 or 16:10 or whatever image ration you want). Imaging starting a data transfer, ending it. Reframing and the starting the capture process again. You now have the ability to capture more information and selectively download the “relevant” data. How’s that for creativity?
And what if you just want to copy the stream directly from the SD card or whatever media you are using to store this? Well, Sony has a well regarded video editing suite, Sony Vegas. This is just data, after all, and you can incorporate the cropping algorithms into the Vegas software. Why not?
If this rumor is true, it will be a game changer. And Sony has the end to end capability to make this happen. Why NOT?
Wong
2 years ago |I think I just dozed off while reading this. News is awesome!!!!
Kurt Wagner
2 years ago |Sorry but your spec are wrong. Last month I was on the road in france and spain with a fellow photographer who testet one of those beasts. He had a 56MP and an 80MP prototype in his bag. testing is in it’s final stage.
Solo
2 years ago |you are clearly thinking of medium format…
PhotoNut
2 years ago |Well this is one rumor I can definitely get behind. It is a bit more fleshed out.
One thing though that has not been talked about is what the phase detection AF sensor will look like if the imaging sensor itself is square.
Is it actually possible to take a square picture using the entire sensor? I have my doubts.
A square sensor with full imaging coverage would require a lot more AF points than sony is used to implementing. Also the AF points would be quite spread out more than normal and would also mean that the top of the camera where the AF sensors sit in SLT cameras would be even larger than the A900/A850.
Kurt Wagner
2 years ago |don’t think too much alpha, form factor is more NEX’like with more size.
passer-by
2 years ago |Things just keep getting more interesting!
Almazar80
2 years ago |You know, it’s possible that Sony is waking up from its electronic slumber. Check out this new TV ad for their new mobile devices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HMnlfPvd5AI
Perhaps Sony is beginning to regain its confidence and now leveraging all its know-how to create compelling products again?
LifeStoryImages.com
2 years ago |Cute!
sleek
2 years ago |sony’s entering the Medium Format Biz with this new square sensor—could be cheaper than those hasselblads
Kurt Wagner
2 years ago |and it will repalce the full frame sony line!
passer-by
2 years ago |Sure.. but pricier than FF. Maybe about the same with Pentax 645D, or a bit cheaper.
extra|ordinary
2 years ago |I would absolutely love to see this rumor be true…except for the SLT part. Ditch the mirror altogether! This would be a great mirrorless camera!
What I would love to see is a hasselblad like square body with an articulating screen that has an a33/55 style hinge mounted along the top that would allow the screen to be situated on the back (like normal) as well as be twisted and flipped to sit flush on top of the camera like a waist level finder.
Almazar80
2 years ago |Make that an A77 style articulating LCD.
Frank
2 years ago |why not make a NEX with square e-lens sensor? The E and APC lenses give a full circle image anyway. So, up from the 24 MB for the NEX 7 to square sensor NEX and 30MB and be square!
Joaquim Barreto
2 years ago |Square format is awesome to work with, if you are doing ad or commercial work.
I have had my Phase One P20 for 7 years and it has been great working with it. It has been a real bummer that I have to upgrade and until today, I have had no hope but to go back to rectangle format.
BUT, now, I have hope that a square format will be back!!!!
Sony, please please please, make the A1S a reality!
Sekiz
2 years ago |What size would this thing be with respect to a900? Any ideas?
Steve
2 years ago |I see this as Sony’s answer to the Nikon D4 and Canon 1Dx and would expect a similar size; it can’t be a box, as it must fit nicely in one’s hand. I also think that this is the rumored 2013 full frame that will be announced to ship in 2013.
The lens question is far more interesting than what the camera will look like, and the statement in the rumor that current A-mount optics will work is rightly being analyzed in this forum.
This rumor falls right behind earlier rumors posted here that new lenses are coming, and “one big thing” was also coming soon was strangely included as part of that rumor.
Admin; can you add anything that ties the rumors together?
Maybe, just maybe, Sony’s new and replacement lenses will be designed to take full advantage of this new “square” sensor concept. The old A-mounts will work on the square BUT, to take full sensor advantage you will need to purchase new, second generation A-mounts, and all new lensesin the future will be A-mount Gen2 lenses.
Carl
2 years ago |It’ll be taller, I’d wager. But that’s a good thing, if you ask me, the 900 is too short without the V-grip for comfortable holding for long periods. If it comes in slightly smaller than a gripped 900, then that would be a major plus for me.
Joaquim Barreto
2 years ago |Penny has dropped!
Sony A1S = Sony April 1st fools day
Oh, how good it was to dream a while!
A bit early I would say
wth
2 years ago |HAHAHAHA!
good spot!
stev
2 years ago |who thinks this sensor will be in a video camera. Thats were I see this going probably the price of the Canon C-300. Way out of our reach
Sekiz
2 years ago |The rumor makes sense for video too. Pixel per area of sensor is almost the same as 5DMkII and MkIII which are precisely selected to get HD multisampling pixels from the sensor.
Bill
2 years ago |Assuming this is not a joke, a square sensor does make some sense for a studio camera. I expect the resolution for the prototype is based on the new or old 24 MP sensor for convenience and that a real version of this camera would use at least the rectangular 36 MP density or 54 MP for a 36 x 36mm sensor. Some lenses do have rectangular baffles as well as sun shades which would restrict the camera to one orientation, but many do not, the camera could include a rotatable lens mount as well. The sensor would work fine if it was restricted to just a horizontal or vertical 3:2 format, but it would be very nice to have the full image even if the corners suffered a little with some lenses. The current mirror, flippable or not, would not work using an Alpha lens registration distance so unless it uses new lenses it would have to be mirrorless. This would not be an issue for either studio or landscape use. I would also expect this camera if it ever exists to be more expensive than a A9X so still out of my price range.
doug
2 years ago |Either get rid of the semitransparent mirror or design the camera so that it can flip up out of the way to let you shoot without it.
poop
2 years ago |Why cant Sony stick to making one product better and better with each new addition such as the NEx line?
I mean if they put the same effort into a pro line, you might have an A900 replacement with shooting ability over 400 ISO, and LV.
nex7
2 years ago |The source is at least partially making this up. Why? Because 36x36mm will not fit within the image circle of a lens designed for 35mm format.
Colin
2 years ago |How do you know that? Have you measured the image circle of every A-mount lens ever made?
matgay
2 years ago |LOL!!
extra|ordinary
2 years ago |The idea behind a 36mmx36mm square sensor is not necessarily use the whole sensor at once, but rather to allow for multiple aspect ratios to be used freely, while maintaining the same 43mm diagonal measure, and original diagonal FOV.
A standard full frame sensor is 36mmx24mm(a 3:2 aspect ratio). That said, a 36mmx36mm square sensor would, at the very least, allow for the standard 3:2 format in either landscape(horizontal) or portrait(vertical) orientation without having to physically turn the camera 90 degrees.
Furthermore, and here is the really great part, the 36mmx36mm sensor would allow other(and IMO, more useful) aspect ratios to be used within the same space while maintaining the same 43mm diagonal measure that 35mm/full frame lenses are designed to cover.
For example:
3:2 – 36mm x 24mm
4:3 – 34.4mm x 25.8mm
5:4 – 33.6mm x 26.9mm
1:1 – 30.6mm x 30.6mm
Pei
2 years ago |I feel there is a 90% chance that this camera is fake. Too unusual to be all true.
BTW, #5 is redundant. There is no way there are enought space for the mirror to flip up in a DSLR if the mirror has to reflect a much bigger image.
matgay
2 years ago |D-SLT can flip mirror up u say??
This is why canikon which only have DSLRs cannot make a square 36×36. Canikon can only make a square 24×24, which means Canikon will robbed u.
Hopefully 36×36 will be mirrorless NEX
###
2 years ago |WOW. What a precise fake-detecting sense!
I guess you really can tell if that one rumor is 74% fake, but some other rumor is 69% fake!
forest
2 years ago |These sq format rumors is giving me ideas that Sony’s photography strategy is to take advantage of its capability to mass produce sensors. By standardizing in a 36 x 36 sensor it will met the target volume complemented by a modular camera system to fit different styles of photography, and be the lowest cost producer of that sensor. The modularity form is already proven: (1) the sensor back (i.e. Nex bodies), (2)body (i.e. the LA-EAx adapters), and (3) lens (i.e. A and E mount. The A1S concept appears feasible.
Atlasman
2 years ago |Let’s put aside the validity of this rumor and focus on the validity of a 36×36 format.
Pros:
• single-orientation capture with multiple aspect ratios
• maximization of the lens imaging circle
• ultimate panoramic (multiple images) captures
Cons:
• greater cost of production?
• greater heat dissipation?
• less compatibility with existing lenses
Have I left anything out?
extra|ordinary
2 years ago |“• less compatibility with existing lenses”
Not necessarily. This oversized sensor would do nothing to take away the usability of existing lenses as they are used today. The larger sensor only adds additional shooting options…options that perhaps not all lenses will be compatible with (i.e. lenses with fixed lens hoods, or rear baffles).
###
2 years ago |Less compatibility is a wrong way to think about it. Standart fullframe portrait and landscape “parts” of sensor will be covered without any difference from common FF sensor. And while there may or will be (depending on lens) some vignetting and other problems in corners of such square sensor, but this corners just don’t exist on standart FF. Think of them as bonus, not cons.
Cyrus
2 years ago |Amazing approach…
And I am really curious to see how to handle such a device…
Someting like Sony FS100 ?
Walt
2 years ago |One should think if such a camera would be practical at anything other than studio. Studios have been dwindling, and such a huge camera being used in the field is going to be a lot less practical. Especially as more and more photographs are not printed. How many, who now shoot only handheld will continue to be able to do so. Back to carting around tripods.
This is going to be an expensive camera, especially since to fully use the sensor will take a new set of lenses that, for sure, Sony will price quite high. Current FF lenses may “work” but it will be like using APS lenses on FF.
I think I could find some use for such a camera, if it and the necessary lenses and accessories were given to me
Can’t see it worth paying for.
Randy S.
2 years ago |why would this camera be any bigger then a a900 since it won’t need a mirror box? The sensor is teh same FF sensor but 36×36 instead of 24×36 So the image circle of the will fit perfectly over the image area.
###
2 years ago |One should think then, that APSC is more practical than FF, and 4:3 even more practical, and Nikon CX even more, and Pentax Q is a king of practicality between interchangable lens systems.
emopunk
2 years ago |Hey Walt, we were missing you here! Good to see you back!
Solo
2 years ago |walt the sensor is bigger by mm, not inches. Why are you assuming, like many others on here, that the body will be the size of a medium format film body?
bkd
2 years ago |Because it suits his anti-Sony agenda, that’s why
Jimmy
2 years ago |I think it would be perfect sensor for the NEXFS100U. This camera has the look of medium format camera anyway. But this one could be a pro version or A mount version of this camera?
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-nxcamsite/cat-broadcastcameras/product-NEXFS100UK/
Randy S.
2 years ago |First off the kodak sensor ISNT SQUARE. SECOND IMAGETEC STILL via Hasselblad buying them makes square sensors.
Randy S.
2 years ago |you people seem to know very little about optics other then what you read in popular photography magazines GEESH. For those that understand that a lens whose IMAGE CIRCLE covers 36×24 will naturally cover 36×36 sorry. So ANY FF lens will cover this
###
2 years ago |And you know even less. And about geometry too.
If we take 36*24, then lens must have diameter of image circle equal or greater than diagonal of 36*24 rectangle.
And to fully cover 36*36 we need circle diameter equal or greater than diagonal of 36*36 square.
And diagonal of 36*36 square > diagonal of 36*24 rectangle, so you are wrong about “naturally” and “ANY FF LENS”
Sekiz
2 years ago |Well, this did not occur to me too. But very high vignetting at best could be a price we might be willing to pay to get a big picture we can crop the hell out of. Some people use the DX format 35mm f/1.8 on full frame a900 and just crop the picture and they are too happy about it.
Carl
2 years ago |Is it even possible to disable the auto-crop on the A900 without rotating the lens to break the electrical contact? The 35/1.8 is certainly useable on Minolta film cameras if one doesn’t mind a bit of cropping, its image circle is somewhat larger than APS.
extra|ordinary
2 years ago |“you people seem to know very little about optics other then what you read in popular photography magazines GEESH. For those that understand that a lens whose IMAGE CIRCLE covers 36×24 will naturally cover 36×36 sorry. So ANY FF lens will cover this”
@Randy S.
Check your facts. I wouldn’t want you going and making a fool out of yourself now.
Ryan Leaf Rules!
2 years ago |BOYEEEE!!! Another direction change for stupid ol’ Sony! Desperate keystone cops style of camera making- no wonder Pros’ stay away like the plague!
Sony chasing phantom markets again- silly Sony DSLR’s are for C/N!! GIVE UP- or post another billion or so loss this year!
Sony must be listening to Ryan!!
HAAA HAAAAAAAA
wth
2 years ago |Stupid troll is stupid!
Ryan Leaf Rules!
2 years ago |wth is wth!
GET A BRAIN MORON
wth
2 years ago |HAHAHA! A retard telling others to get a brain!
Priceless!
Ryan Leaf Rules!
2 years ago |The only thing that is priceless is your insecurity about yourself and the products you buy from a greedy arrogant corporation like PHONY- make.believe so we don’t have to deal in reality!
JUST LIKE YOUR REPLIES.
terrytroll
2 years ago |Check your facts. I wouldn’t want you going and making a fool out of yourself now.
Come on. Basic High School Physics.
Shakespeare proved that light travels in straight lines.
A square has four straight lines for its sides of course a FF lens will fit a square sensor.
Solo
2 years ago |As much as I’d like this to be true I’m really thinking its bullshit…
Mats
2 years ago |I really have liked this idea a lot. For about one and a half year ago I wrote this on a swedish cameraforum:
http://www.fotosidan.se/forum/showthread.php?p=1589201#post1589201
However, if you look at the bayonet on most lenses you notice that there are rectangular light baffels in the back that crops the image vertically. The image circle is not round and the lenses cannot fill 36 mm on the height. Also there are flower shaped light protectors.
Unfortunately it will probably not be compatible with current lenses.
/Mats
Sekiz
2 years ago |I think not compatible is an overstatement. We would be talking about heavy vignetting on corners which would be on a different level with each lens.
###
2 years ago |Did you mean “most of 5 lenses that i own”?
Because my lenses do not have any. And google showed only one such design on first page.
And light protector is irrelevant. You can live without it or use different shape.
Your conclusions about compatibility are a bit bold considering they are based on false argument.
Mats
2 years ago |Actually, I didn’t even check my own lenses, but rather passed through a comment from the same discussion that we have elsewhere.
And you are right, non of my lenses have these baffels and propably not many, definitely not the most
I am very pro-square! It would be really great and could make it possible for all sorts of different cropping directly in the camera, such ass horizontal or vertical 24×36 or square 30.5×30.5 or any factor at all. Front wheel could zoom and back wheel could change proportions and with an EVF the image could be scaled to fill the view. This could make it compatible with all lenses and also a new line of lensen in between FF and APS-C that could fit a square APS-C.
@###
However, why the negative tone? I didn’t commit a crime or something, right? Have I done anything to you personally or what?
I think a square sensor would be truly great, but do not have too high hopes for it.
/Mats
ee
2 years ago |A1S = April 1st Fools…. this is just a prank. Too bad though, as the concept has potential and I’d shoot a true square FF sensor over ‘regular sized FF sensor’ if given the choice.
Ke
2 years ago |Samsung made prototypes for a 36 x 36mm sensored camera. It looked pretty cool too – a sleek white version of an old Hasselblad 500cm.
ee
2 years ago |My mind thought of Samsung’s MF prototypes after reading this too. If Samsung was bold enough to do it and provided it had a high quality lens to go with it, I’d pre-order in a heartbeat.
Square format/MF is really the pinnacle of photography, once you’ve used MF everything else feels subpar and you can never escape it–in the same way going from FF to APSC fees wanting.
passer-by
2 years ago |Admin, please inform Sony about this rumors and the attentions it gets. Maybe this joke could become reality.
WB
2 years ago |If Sony could pull this off, with an increase in dynamic range, I would sell my Mamiya RZ 67! I currently use the A900. The a99? with 36 MP is not enough to make me outlay the needed funds to upgrade. The square format with better dynamic range would be worth saving for! Even if this is not actually in the pipeline, I have no doubt someone at Sony is reading these responses. PLEASE Sony, for those of us who care more about print ratios, I think this could be a major coup.
lynn
2 years ago |And what if it was 36×36 mirrorless??? canikon who???
Clifton
2 years ago |A lot of this rumour sounds logical, and highly desirable, but I doubt there’s much hope of the camera appearing in the next few years, if ever. It sure would define Sony in the pro arena though, much like SLT is doing in the lower markets.
Go back 3 or 4 years…does this rumour sound less credible than one that says Sony would remove the mirror box and OVF in favour of SLT?
Ryan Leaf Rules!
2 years ago |Another move that makes Sony irrelevant in the pro/am world if true- laughing my donkey backside off till I drop.
YOUR DESPERATE SONY DESPERATE!!!
ALL YOUR POWER ARE BELONG TO US! (THE CONSUMER)
NOT YOU FOO!
GOING DOWN IN FLAMES, LOSE ANOTHER BILLION THIS YEAR PHONY.
MAKE.BELIEVE YOUR WAY OUT OF IT!
wth
2 years ago |HAHHAHAHA!
It must burn you so bad that you have to spend the time to visit a Sony rumor site twice to spew your garbage and expect people to be offended.
Sony is doing something right if people like you can make the effort to look stupid.
Did you buy a 600D? Are you angry? Does it buuuuuuuuuurn?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
lifeispixels
2 years ago |Talking crap really shows your intelligence
Ryan Leaf Rules!
2 years ago |WTH You are a Sony BOT/think for yourself if you can/but you won’t and your replies will show that, over and over again.
TARDO
Laughing at Sony’s fumble after fumble, then trying to shut down this site is HILARIOUS TO ME!!
(NOT FOR THE SITE-THE SITE HERE IS SUPREMELY VALUABLE!) GOES to show just how STUPID Sony are and how little they value word of mouth sales- this site rules but dimwits like you are the CANCER of it.
Waddle down the dark alley one day, don’t look around, nobody will miss you. EXCEPT SONY! LOL
IDIOT
Ben
2 years ago |Who the hell makes up silly rumors like this lol