(SR4) Ricoh will use the same NEX-5n sensor (SR2) Pentax will use dame fullframe sensor from the A99?
I got two rumors about the new Ricoh-Pentax company (yes Ricoh bought Pentax!). Apparently some of their future products will use Sony sensors.
(SR4) The upcoming new 24-85mm Ricoh GXR module features the same 16 megapixel APS-C Sony NEX-5n sensor! As you know the Ricoh GXR system is a modular system where lens and sensor are built-in in the same module.
(SR2) For a long time now we hear rumors about a new Pentax fullframe camera. A unconfirmed rumor says the new Pentax will use the same 24 Megapixel sensor from the A99. The camera will be released in 2012. (Source: Dpreview forum)
One thing is sure, the Nikon D800 is coming very soon and will probably feature the new Sony 36 megapixels sensor. The Sony A99 will be announced in Spring 2012 and rely on the translucent technology. There is no plan to make an optical viewfinder version. Sony believes electornic viewfinders are the future. And so di I…but I think optical viewfinders still have the edge for now.
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
Sinan
2 years ago |undoubtedly sony will have a flip up option for the A9X… i wish custom firmware for a77 would have that feature
mugen
2 years ago |Agree for some FLIP UP
C
2 years ago |While I don’t think there will be an option via firmware for the a77, flipping the mirror up had better be on the a99.
Lofote
2 years ago |How would SOFTWARE be able to flip something up that has no motor or anything else!?
obican
2 years ago |I guess it has a motor, it is activated via sensor cleaning mode.
Maximus
2 years ago |The A99 will never have a flip-up mode, the mirror of the A77 stands out of the Body when flipped up and the mirror of the a99 will even be biggerbecause its fullframe
shamb
2 years ago |They could easily make it flip up and back if they wanted it to. My guess is that you yould lose steadyshot when you did this though, as the clearance between the sensor assembly and flipped back translucent mirror would be small.
Steve Jones
2 years ago |The sensor stabilising mechanism has nothing to do with the clearance in the mirror box. The space available for a mirror is dictated by the flange to sensor distance, which has to be the same for all A-mount cameras. Now, undoubtedly there is room for a flip-up mirror with image stablisations – after all, that’s exactly what the A850 & A900 have, and they have IBS. The only issue might the exact geometry of the angle of the lens, where it is hinged and the placement of the PAF unit, which is in the roof of the mirror box on SLTs.
However, people shouldn’t underestimate what providing a motorised flip-up SLT mirror mechanism would involved. If, as many suspect, the A99 is effectively the A77 body with an FF sensor, I can’t see it happening.
There is also the other problem that the “flip up” mode would require the use of CAF. A-mount lenses are not designed for the demands of CAF systems which impose special requirements on things like backlash and variable speed of gaining focus. It could well be that AF is compromised on A=Mount lenses using CAF, even if it’s just a matter of speed.
savic13
2 years ago |dame, SAME..lame,fame……
EiTaro
2 years ago |So A99 will have the 24MP sensor and the other FF camera with the vertical grip the 36MP. I though it was the other way round. In that case A99 will be the affordable FF camera. I’m looking for the 36MP one. Any info about that?
hanugro
2 years ago |A-Mount will go mirrorless when PDAF on sensor is ready.
Vytas
2 years ago |Why should A-Mount go mirrorless at all?
Cliff
2 years ago |Agreed….this “translucent” mirror is a temporary blip on the technology radar. Phase detection will eventually be on the sensor itself. When that happens, mirrors are all history.
I think people sometimes get so caught up in the hype that they forget the original reason for the translucent mirror.
Remember, its reason for existence is “auto focus”….that’s it. That’s all it does. Shoot manual focus and the thing is dead weight.
Anybody wonder why Canon and NIKON are not chasing Sony down the translucent mirror road?
Vytas
2 years ago |I wanted to point out that when phase detection is on the sensor itself, there won’t be many important reasons to keep the A-mount on a new camera.
I think people forget the original reason for the A-mount flange distance. Its reason for its distance is a mirror. Go mirrorless and A-mount flange distance is, in your words, “dead weight”.
In other words, if go mirrorless, then why A-mount?
Steve Jones
2 years ago |The reason to retain A-Mount is to protect existing customer’s investments. If you ditch A-Mount you’ll say goodbye to a larger number of existing customers. I’ve no doubt there would be some form of adapter, but such things tend to be expensive and bulky, I’m not sure I see it happening.
Lonnie Utah
2 years ago |I agree with this.
Cliff
2 years ago |If Sony stopped making A mount bodies today, that would be Ok as long as an E to A flange adapter could pass the data properly and maybe screw drive too. E mount is bakwards compatable in theory.
Besides, you could run an A77 perfectly fine without any translucent mirror as long as standard contrast AF was allowed in the firmware. And…if you wanted to build future A mount bodies that used phase detect on the sensor only…who cares if the A bunch of empty space where the mirror used to be?
A full size A77 type body with E mount and included Sony LA-EA adapters for A mount use? Sweet. I might actually attach a pelicle mirror adapter for some of my photos!
CT
JesperMP
2 years ago |The futility of Ricohs decision to mate the sensor with the lens starts to show.
Fine that the new zoom lens gets the 16.2 MP sensor. But I am sure that some of the customers who bought the 50mm, the 28mm or the M-mount module will be miffed that they are stuck with a somewhat dated sensor.
And is Pentax to go full-frame ? I dont believe it.
It will be possible to make a body with a FF sensor, but it will be a much bigger job to make a set of matching FF lenses.
And Ricoh+Pentax already have way too many systems with little synergy between them.
JesperMP
2 years ago |Correcting myself:
Pentax already has a range of 35 mm FF “limited” lenses.
Until now, these lenses only had APS-C bodies to mount onto. So could be that they will launch a 35 mm FF camera to rectify this.
Jason
2 years ago |Regarding the Pentax full frame model, I wouldn’t put any faith or hope into this being any more than the spill-over from the on-going threads on the Pentax web boards which are purely fantasy. Pentax has said time and time again there are no plans for a commercially released full frame model any time soon or in the future.
Aero
2 years ago |There isn’t enough room for the mirror to flip up, neither is there a mechanical part that does the job. Why do people think it can even happen on A77?!
Cliff
2 years ago |The mirror needs to flip up then retract “in” at what?…1/4 inch?
Hell, i’d be happy with a removable mirror too. Phase detect AF is nice if you shoot a ton of AF all day long but I don’t use AF too much to care “that” much about its benifits.
The mirror is 100% useless and nothing but a pest when we are shooting manual focus. That’s 80% of all my photos!
The darn thing does little for me.
Cliff
Carl
2 years ago |Pentax not offering a full frame digital camera is one of the great illogicalities of the industry given the large number of FF lenses they still make. They actually preceded Kodak and Contax in showing a prototype FF DSLR, but never put it into production.
What’s left of the high-end Pentax user base are probably drooling with excitement.
Wong
2 years ago |Grammar correction on the last sentence of this post. It should be “did” not “di”.
Judd
2 years ago |Shouldn’t the new Ricoh module simply be an E-mount? That would likely be a far better seller…
Daemonius
2 years ago |Woohoo..
Well, Pentax used Sony quite recently in K-5 (same as D7000, NEX-5N etc. a lot of cameras based on that single 16 mpix APS-C, must been huge success for Sony). So no reason why they shouldnt in future. If Ricoh talk sense into Pentax (means – make finaly FF for God sake!), then.. things can go into very interesting direction. Would certainly love to see Pentax FF.
Tho using that sweet 16 mpix sensor with fixed 24-85mm lens, eh.. they should do Leica M module v2.
Sonyalphalab
2 years ago |I wonder how the oled will perform in the studio environment on manual mode? Really need the optical viewfinder for studio work, so I wonder what the plan is?
Sonyalphalab
2 years ago |Nevermind, there’s a feature in the a77/a65 to turn the auto exposure feature off for the live view in manual mode. Missed this option in my review, i will add it asap!! This allows for studio lighting and I’m sure the new ff a9x will have the same thing.
Jacco
2 years ago |Am I the only one here that hopes Pentax will join E-mount?
I mean
- APS-C mirrorless
- It would be smart to use a new mount
- Already use Sony sensors
- More competitive against m4/3 and Samsung
- Can offer Sony sensor with different control scheme
Or will we get another mount?
Sonyalphalab
2 years ago |E-mount would be very smart!!
ronnbot
2 years ago |I think Pentax would rather use Samsung’s NX mount than Sony’s E-mount for the same and other reasons…
- Also APS-C
- also newish mount but with a more reasonable flange distance (for making slimmer lenses and fitting in IBIS?)
- have/had some partnership with Samsung: codeveloped sensors w/ Samsung, NX uses the same Pentax hotshoe, etc.
- more/better lenses available on NX lenses than NEX lenses, some of which are pancakes, and Pentax loves pancakes
passer-by
2 years ago |Pentax doesn’t need Samsung’s pancakes. Pentax is(was?) the pancake king.
Kevin
2 years ago |If Pentax releases a FF I will be done with Sony… Done, over and out..
I sent back my defective A77.. this camera was rushed to market.. Not production (4years to have it not perform correctly)
They did however rush it to market without thoroughly testing the camera..
So for now I am going to hold on to my money and see what Pentax does..
Carl
2 years ago |If you wanted FF, why buy an A77? Used A850s are barely more expensive, and are known to just work.
Kevin
2 years ago |I do have a FF A850.. I think Pentax does a better job with Sony sensors than Sony !! Plus I like Pentax glass.. Not ready to jump ship but Sony is starting to wear thin…
Carl
2 years ago |If you prefer Pentax glass, then fair enough. Lenses are our brushes and sensors are just our canvas.
knurd
2 years ago |Dame lens? So it’ll be pink and fluffy I’m assuming
Carl
2 years ago |Well the K-r is available in bright pink.
neia
9 months ago |hooray.. the a99 will be announced next week.. lol