(SR3) HOT: New Sony A1S with Full Frame square sensor!!!
A 6×6 Hasselblad camera. Is it time for a digital resurrection of square photography?
I am working on that rumor since a long time. Multiple sources keep me informed about interesting Sony camera prototypes that do break the usual monotony and long living paradigms of the current digital photography market. Today I am going to post the rumor about one of such “strange” models and a second rumor about another model will follow soon the next days.
The new A1S SLT camera with square sensor:
According to two different sources Sony has a working prototype which one of my sources told me is called “A1S“. The real incredible news is that it has a Full Frame square sensor. Don’t know if it is 36mm x 36mm or a bit smaller. The source said that “will change the world of Full Frame photography“. The very good news is that all current Alpha and Minolta Full Frames lenses will work on it without any issue! I am working on that rumor since a very long time now and I hope this post will help me to get more info about the A1S from my anonymous trusted sources.
As long as I recall no digital camera ever had a square sensor while in the film era we had plenty of 6×6 medium format cameras (Click here to see them on eBay). The list includes the super nice 6×6 Rolleiflex and the 6×6 Hassleblad cameras.
My first thoughts: I would be super happy to see such a camera. First it would create something unique Canon and Nikon never have done! Take that Nikon D800 and new Canon 5D! 
I love the square format and it’s also super practical because you always have the freedom to crop the image in post production. I would like to hear what you think about such a camera! And here is a poll too:
Loading ...Reminder: We are talking about a camera prototype and I have no info yet if the camera will be really hit the market sometimes near. That’s why the rumor has an SR3 value only….for now!
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
johanjohan
2 years ago |Matt write : “the switching between 36×24 and 24×36 without having to change the orientation of the camera”
perhaps its the square sensor is for the choice of crop with FF > 36 x 36 > (36-12)=24 x 36 (landscape mode) and 36 x (36-12)=24 (portrait mode) and another mode
I like this idea!
Matt
2 years ago |Exactly. For example with a standard 36×24 sensor if you were to do a portrait crop from a landscape image (both at 3:2) the max you would get would be an 18×24 crop. Another example, to get a 1:1 frame from a standard FF sensor you would get max 24×24. With this as users were saying you would get about 31×31, which is a fairly large difference. But you could take it further even, if they made it say a 40×40 sensor, sure you would be limited by the image circle, but if you were having wider crops say things like 2.35:1 you could be getting close to that 40mm width of the sensor, in fact the math should be very very easy for anyone who isn’t moving house at the moment
oh and you could have ALL the same aspects and sensor usage regardless of orientation (so portrait or landscape will get the same area usage without having to rotate the camera. I think it is a very cool idea!
leonedolci
2 years ago |This is THE product Sony should nail!
I want one!
It should be use a oversized square sensor with muilti-ratio capability. Something like Panasonic did with the GH2 but even larger.
Put in the D800 generation sensor and make it big, we can have ~40MP in a 1:1 format.
Oh my wet dream.
PS. SONY, pls make it waist level friendly!
shy
2 years ago |http://www.ojodigital.com/foro/attachments/camaras/168461d1332385654-sar-sr-3-sony-ff-de-formato-cuadrado-36×36-mm-36×36.jpg
b shaw
2 years ago |Perhaps A1S = April 1 Surprise. I wonder if this ‘rumor’ is just a setup for an April Fools’ Day prank.
john
2 years ago |Only if it was started by Carl Girard
Fritz
2 years ago |Another Sony rabbit out of the hat…
Marijn
2 years ago |There have been plenty of digital cameras with square sensors. Some that spring to mind are the Rolleiflex Minidigi, the Hasselblad CFV-16 at 36.7 by 36.7 mm and the mother of all digital camera sensors, the Dicomed Big Shot at 60 by 60 mm. There should be at least a few more.
Craig T. Niedzielski
2 years ago |Having just bought and perused the Vivian Meier book of street photography, wherein she took wonderful candid shots using a square-framed Rolleiflex, I am indeed extremely excited to be able to use my existing Minolta AF lenses on a square format.
Joze Suhadolnik
2 years ago |Why not 60×60 mm sensor ?
xmeda
2 years ago |LOL.. nearly all zoom lenses have lens hoods optimized for 3:2 format – just try to rotate it by 90°..
+ some lenses have non-circular last back element
Square will be nice, but you won’t be able to use many lenses properly.
Forget it.
RawheaD
2 years ago |“LOL.. nearly all zoom lenses have lens hoods optimized for 3:2 format – just try to rotate it by 90°..”
Cuz really, any innovation in camera body technology should be constrained by current lenses
And hoods???? That are detachable for the most part??? Come on. That’s a non-issue. The real issue is image circle, but apparently that’s already a non-issue as well. Whether the rumor is true or not, it’s a great idea.
Toné
2 years ago |I’d be happy with this format at the right price. Would be a Studio & Wedding Photographers dream camera.
Back to basics in the digital era.
DeepC
2 years ago |Best use will be to stitch 3 images which will give a huge mp and true pano. 36×36 is going to be 54mp sensor.
Ridder
2 years ago |I would love to have one, but with the name Konica instead of Sony LOL
Gabi
2 years ago |It`s not possible! The image circles of the objectives are too small for the 36×36 mm sensor area! Make a circle around a field with the dimension of 24×36 mm an you will see that! Sorry!
animalsbybarry
2 years ago |Square format 36 mp should be c size (24) mm. This would retain the a77 high resolution, crop factor and work with more lenses.
A full frame square sensor should be 60 or 100mp.
The smaller format would be a better seller and the full frame should come out later.
koleh77
2 years ago |squre sensor, why not ?!
Tony Kieme
10 months ago |Victor Hasselblad said that the square-format captures the best characteristics of a lens –the picture. It can then be said that a square-format sensor captures the same characteristics, allowing the photographer to choose any alternative. Exciting! I hope sony has an articulated-EVF so that a waist-level experience can be had!
Michael Przewrocki
9 months ago |samsungs new nx-camera-style also looks hasselblad-square. i am sure they will also show that prototype at photokina. the advantages are so obvious. if 3dstereo-coupled 60mm base would be possible. if only they could be gen-locked for 3dstereovideos!
TJ
7 months ago |I want one if it is OVF.