(SR4) Two sources confirm the launch of the NEX-7 in late August (same A77 sensor)
This is not a new rumor but just a confirmation! Some of you (and me too) were worried that the NEX-7 announcement might would have been delayed for a very long time. Todaye my sources confirmed the NEX-7 will be announced along the A77 in late August. SO we don’t have to wait that much! The only reliable info I have about the camera is that it will use the same amazing 24 Megapixel sensor of the A77. There were also rumors about the NEX-7 having a Minolta Dimage A2 look (Click here to see that camera on eBay). But I have no confirmation about that.
One more thing: I am still in touch with some A77 and full frame camera testers. Should get some more exciting news soon!
Stay tuned on SAR!
Andrea

Davide
11 months ago |And lenses ? That s amazing … More body than lenses .. When the hell those lenses are gonna be released ?
chris
11 months ago |interesting times ahead..
the olympus announcement were pretty lame..
looking forward to what samsung to the samsung nx20/nx200 announcement in july and the sony nex 7 in august : )
will be interesting to see if sony will cripple the videos features on the nex7 too.. the rumored a77 specs didnt look good (only 30fps)
i am actually having more hope on samsung to deliver a better hyprid camera..
Sky_walker
11 months ago |What’s up with this FPS insanity we have in video?
“the rumored a77 specs didnt look good (only 30fps)” – video isn’t really about FPS but rather video quality (codec used, bitrate, rolling shutter effect that’s lame beyond reason in current HDSLRs, sound quality, available accessories, video lenses, etc.). FPS could is last thing you need to worry about. And: No, 24 FPS so advertised by some people on Canon forums won’t automagically give your video clips a cinematic look nor it will make your clips hit the silver screen.
Chris
11 months ago |yes i know.. for me it is more interesting because for example 20mbit/s looks better on 24p than on 30p because it are 25% less frames..
if sony cant deliver on such an easy thing than there is no hope after all ; )
Chris
11 months ago |i would bet that the a77 wont have a decent codec that could challenge the old gh2.. and the gh3 should not be that far away too..
sony is shooting themselfs in the foot again and missing out on the hybrid camera market.. the biggest reason for all the canon 5d II hype was probably only the video features which should be pretty simple to implement but of course sony marketing is standing in the way again : P
Almazar80
11 months ago |How do you know how the A77 will perform? And the fixation on 24P? I don’t think Sony missed out on the hybrid camera market. The A55 and Nex-5 are great cameras and the sales numbers worldwide are not dismal (to say the least), as your post coyly imply. It’s great that all these manufacturers have very good cameras. Competition breeds choice, which is good for all of us.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Out here in Poland the GH2/3 sales are totally marginal – best selling ILC cameras are NEX, than m4/3: Pens, long break, Panasonic G and GF, long break, GH and NX system.
So… I certainly wouldn’t say that Sony is missing anything
Marc
11 months ago |You’re doing a great job, Andrea !
You’re saying “same amazing 24 Megapixel sensor of the A77″ – any new information regarding the differences between the A77 and the A65 ? Same sensor for the NEX-7, the A77 AND the A65 ?
I’m really interested in hearing more information on the differences between the A77 and the A65. Everybody is talking about the A77, not many details about the A65 yet
admin
11 months ago |I got an email from a new source about the A77 and A65 differences. If I dn’t get any feedback from my soruces than I might post it with low ranking to see if somebody can confirm or deny it.
KaKtusSs
11 months ago |If it is as big as a Minolta Dimage A2, it will be useless… A A55 seems to be the same size.
hanugro
11 months ago |While A2 is not pocket-able, the A55 is definitely still bigger than A2. Anyway I am not interested in E-mount.
yaker
11 months ago |Couldn’t agree more. There’s plenty of large cameras out there. Why does nobody seem interested in making a small professional camera?
Nico
11 months ago |Exactly !
I think that, unfortunatly, for most people a professionnal camera is a medium format (for studio work) or (for the rest) a SLR…
frosti7
11 months ago |Dimage A2 size is useless, i’d pick A55 anyday, but Panasonic G3 is amazingly sized, its much smaller then DSLR cameras yet has the same functionality as A55 (except for predictive AF, and ofcurse the sensel size which shouldnt make much of difference)
In other words: Sony i hope ur reading this, NEX-7 Must be compact&small!
Brett
11 months ago |I have to agree. Making it closer in size to the A35/65, doesn’t make a lot of sense. I would seriously consider the NEX for it’s compactness, and buy an A-mount adapter to utilize my Alpha mount lenses. If it’s almost the same size as the A35, then just get the A35 or A65.
pancanikonpus
11 months ago |the image is ugly! terrify nex7 if that is the way!
admin,
possible to get nex7 picture? another SAR of the year 2011!
admin
11 months ago |Hehe, I am trying
CRYO
11 months ago |As Nex 7 have APS-C sensor and will have Carl Zeiss Lens, should we say it will look alike DSC-R1?
Sky_walker
11 months ago |So that people would scream again that NEX cameras look like crap?
Sorry, but as far as I loved the R1 body functionality, and as far as it was the best bridge camera ever made – I think it was horribly ugly.
Alban
11 months ago |Would love it to really replace my R1
frosti7
11 months ago |Its interesting how many NEX readers vs SLT ones on this site…can we have a poll?
Pablo
11 months ago |I do hope, the cam DOES NOT look like that ugly blast from the past. I sure hope for some great features and performance, but pray, that the SONY engineers and designers keep the body as small as possible. I am a humble person. I even find the grip on the NEX3 good, eventhough not fully satisfying… Yet still better than the G line from Pany.
And, Andrea. Thanks for the great work! Really appreciate the news about NEX7 !!!
Thank you.
Nonmem
11 months ago |Fantastic idea. For curiosity as well as how rumors should be emphasized.
)
Sky_walker
11 months ago |I’m fun with Sony releasing small cameras as long as it’s releasing normal-sized cameras too.
For me even A55 is too tiny. I’m more of a fan for A580+VG size or A900 size.
Nico
11 months ago |Thanks Andrea, looks like we’re getting close to the SR5 !?…
I’m waiting for a nex-7 to come, I cant’t wait to see the results with my m-mount lenses !! And that’s the point…
If it has got good manual controls, a better image quality than the nex-5 (I still dreaming of a FF) and a hotshoe mount, I’ll buy it ! I don’t care that much about the look…
SVOR
11 months ago |Good news Andrea, I was one that convinced myself NEX-7 was delayed. To those that claim there is no point to an A2 or DSC-R1 sized E-mount I just say there are some other benefits to the E-mount beyond camera size. However, there was no DSC-R2 and I suspect for the same reason Sony will make sure the NEX-7 does not create buyer confusion around the A77.
frosti7
11 months ago |I cant see a meaningful advantage for NEX except for size, true it can mount m-mount lens, but that’s about it (and most of us dont have m-mount lens)
Nico
11 months ago |For sure size is important but with adapters you can mount: Leica voightlander m-mount, Leica R, Canon FD, Nikon F, Olympus zuiko OM…………………… !
yurilee
11 months ago |To Admin:
Any words on VG20? (Supposedly named so)
Please!!!
In desperate need of a camcorder….
frosti7
11 months ago |then get a GH2, seriously. (hope wont get flamed now:))
pancanikonpus
11 months ago |i sense GH3 will be a video killer to toher dslr. until today non of dslr able to deliver such high bitrate and the cinematic look filter with agressive AF
admin
11 months ago |The last thing I heard is that the cam would come in late August. But it was from one soruce only…
Pablo
11 months ago |Exactly, Nico.
I am too waiting for the NEX7 to come. I would also love FF, but as the things look now, we can only dream…
Since I bought the NEX3, I fell in love with photography again. Using MF lenses like the VC Noktons, Ultron, Minolta Rokkors, OM Zuikos, brought so much live snaps into into my photo albums, that I am again and again happy, when I view the offspring. I spent so much money on the expensive MF glass, I would never even guess to… Btw.. I don’t use the kit lens anymore. So I can’t say, I care about native E Mount lenses as well :>
I guess, the only thing I would like to have, is a 55-210 with OSS. Besides that, I have the shorter FLs covered with legacy optics. And the 16/2.8+ECU1.
And, what can I say… I have the feeling, that I will not care, how much the new NEX will cost, as long, as it delivers on the features and performance, as I hope, it will.
One biiig special wish from me would be to remember SONY to rework or enhance the color metering in that camera. Because, when I shoot with NEX, the skin tones, blue skies or green foliage, look REALLY BAD compared to my Oly EP1. I have to tweak and adjust almost every photo in LR as I shoot RAW only from the NEX. With EP1 I almost never had to spend time on white balance… :< And no, my just lately bought LCD display (hpzr24w) is set up correctly…
Please SONY!
Nico
11 months ago |I totally agree with you Pablo.
Above all for post processing in lightroom (for WB…..), I also shoot only in RAW… In that way I’ve much prefered the rendering of the Leica M8 sensor.
Linh
11 months ago |That’s barely 2 months away and still no info on the camera
Tarmo
11 months ago |That’s it? Just more pixels?
kalpurush :)
11 months ago |One more thing: I am still in touch with some A77 and full frame camera testers. Should get some more exciting news soon!
^^^ soon soon soon please! Can’t wait!!
admin
11 months ago |as soon as I can of course!
kalpurush :)
11 months ago |Much thanks Andrea
Snowbird_UT
11 months ago |Why can’t they just make a digital Minolta CLE? Is that so hard?
hellven
11 months ago |i dont even ask for a CLE body type (at least not for now…), if they give us the equivalent to M-Rokkor lenses used in CLE (28/2.8, 40/2, 90/4 in FF) i would be very a happy men
hellven
11 months ago |a nex-7? why???
i want lenses! why wold i want a new body if there are no new lenses?
we only have 2 crappy zooms and a low quality prime, please give as lenses, i cannot shoot with rumors or anouncements
if canon or nikon makes a mirrorless body with 3 or 4 good lenses (not like the awfull quality E-mont lenses) E-mount will be in big troubles, sony needs to move faster, new lenses are needed asap
Don Cox
11 months ago |I would prefer to buy just the body, with _no_ lenses. I want a NEX-7 (if it is any good) for macro and micro work, for which I already have plenty of lenses, bellows, etc.
I’m hoping it will work with existing flash gear.
savic
11 months ago |What about 3-cmos cam?
Nicky
11 months ago |It’s a long wait for my A77… really hope that it will be released soon so that I can dump away my Canon gear… : )
frosti7
11 months ago |NEX 30mm F1.8 Pancake lens Could be ours! don’t forget to sign the petition if your interested…
http://www.petitiononline.com/NEX30mm/petition.html
john
11 months ago |If you build it they will come.
frosti7
11 months ago |kurth
11 months ago |one attribute that would make me buy the nex over the a77 is a rotatable evf like the minolta.
acolyte
11 months ago |I pray the size rumor is wrong. I can’t fit that in my pocket, can’t I?
By the way I remember someone here saying his store need stock for HX9V. I got one at a best buy and.. Yeah, can see why it sells out quick.
Anonymous
11 months ago |Just bring out a 60mm f/2 pancake already!
frosti7
11 months ago |+1
something like “Pentax DA 70 mm F2.4″, please god please, i’ll go to church.
Alfonso Cuitiño
11 months ago |I hope it’s got a superb modern design. That DimageA2 thingy doesn’t look very cool :/
Esa Tuunanen
11 months ago |Not cool like fashion crap?
The less fashion marketroids have to do with something the more functional it is and Minolta A2 happens to beat the hell out of every single low end DSLR in ergonomy and controls.
nopt
11 months ago |I don’t understand the clamoring for a tiny NEX-7. There’s already the 3C if you need a compact NEX. I believe there will also be a 5C which will probably be more differentiated from the 3C than the NEX-5 was from the NEX-3, but still small in size.
In my opinion what Sony should do with a 7 series NEX is to make a solid body with much better ergonomics than the current crop of mirrorless cameras (a real grip, enough room for all your fingers), and make it big enough to accommodate a good amount of physical controls. There is a lot of promise in the e-mount beyond compacts. Some day it will replace the alpha-mount, the sooner Sony starts expanding the system to the enthusiast/prosumer market the better.
acolyte
11 months ago |I view NEXes as highly portable cameras, which to semi-pros/pros can be used as a one-handed backup (e.g. Alpha on tripod and NEX in one hand) or to sneak around :s
I guess I can do with a NEX 5C, I was just expecting NEX 7 to be a more powerful yet still a limited functionality alternative to the Alphas that I can use as my backup
frosti7
11 months ago |nopt, we want a small and portable NEX-5 camera with built in EVF and small FLASH.
For anything more seriouse we have the A35/A55 SLT cameras which wouldnt be much bigger if NEX-7 would be already big
nopt
11 months ago |Fair enough, people can have different expectations/predictions of what these cameras will be. I think since it’s a 7 series camera it will be “more serious” than either the a35/a55 in build quality, amount of physical controls, and features.
frosti7
11 months ago |Because its a “7″ series, it should get the new 3mpx EVF + 24mpx sensel, it can have loads of buttons but size wise it shouldn’t be far from nex-5, definitely not “a35″ territory
Ringfinger
11 months ago |So if the announcement is late Aug, does that mean Sept for release? Thanks…
Ashwin Deshmukh
11 months ago |Hey thanks for posting about A77, is there any news on Full Frame replacement for A850\A900
Hsein Kz
11 months ago |I can’t wait for the A77 and the Nex 7 … i read before the announcements will be in 7/7
anyway hope the wait will be fruitful … I am thinking of selling my Canon 7D and shift to Sony both A77 and nex 7 in case the specs were really huge
Hsein Kz
11 months ago |Haha didnt realize how many 7 did i use
King Renas
11 months ago |It will be a big disappointment for me if NEX7 will look like Minolta. Is one of the products that I have been waiting for, why I would need a brick if I’m looking for something small, compact, powerful and easy to carrier.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |The KM A2 was very small.
CRYO
11 months ago |1
CRYO
11 months ago |Nex 7 will have EVF and better control, don’t think it will be smaller than Nex 5, but it must be smaller than a35. If the actual spec of Nex 7 come close to a77, it will be a better body to carry legacy + A + E lens. Come on, Sony, please let A77 and Nex7 be the best cameras of 2011.
Kalpurush :)
11 months ago |It will be, no worries mate
Marcohard
11 months ago |I have the Minolta A1 and the size is not bad although it is not pocketable.
I am longing for the testers’ news to see how amazing the A77 new sensor can be.
William
11 months ago |The Minolta you say the NEX-7 will look like is a truly ugly camera. Would Sony make such a design mistake. Let’s hope not.
One of the best looking camera I ever had, was a Contax G2. Compact enough with a nice range of wonderfully sharp Carl Zeiss lenses. Never understood why this camera never surfed the digital wave…it would have been the perfect camera for me. Small and heavy enough to get steady shots. It’s like the Contax G2 I would want the NEX-7 to look like. Let’s hope it does.
Ami
11 months ago |Lower resolution mode
Rarely I would make use of 24MP. Instead, I wish to have 6MP JPG and RAW modes which would provide higher ISO with lower noise than 24MP.
And much smaller files!
Testers, ask Sony to do it, please. In all models.
Shawn
11 months ago |I hope it doesnt look like the dimage lol…I would get the NEX 7 if it had a rangefinder look to it, pancake primes and a silent shutter…But maybe I may be hoping for too much! LOL
frosti7
11 months ago |+1 For rangefinder(evf) NEX
Raul S.
11 months ago |I don’t mind if the NEX-7 it’s a bit bigger than NEX-5, but just enough to get an EVF, or if they skip the EVF idea, just enough to get more manual controls…but I suppose that the more manual controls comes automatically if everyone is already calling the NEX pro rumor the NEX-7 right?
+1 for the rangefinder look, but anything innovative like the NEX-5 it’s ok for me as long as it’s a true improvement over the already great NEX-5 (I do like my NEX-5 hehe)
frosti7
11 months ago |More manual buttons is nice…but it would be useless for me if nex-7 wont have EVF, i cant shoot otherwise
Arnold
11 months ago |Brilliant idea !
Personally I would like HDR with 1 shutter release,
and get 8 MP with 3 different exposures at the same time.
GerryT
11 months ago |Assuming the NEX-7 is of a similar design philosophy I think I might get a NEX-7 and 24/2 (1.7?) around Oct.
Davide Atzei
11 months ago |Some of our trusted sources could confirm the simultaneous use of the 3 memory card slots (or almost 2). I’m a professional, and I need this feature in order to secure my shoots.
Osang
11 months ago |Yes!!! 24MP, I need this for a poster size image.
richard
11 months ago |Sony needs to release a sharp pancake lens for NEX, something similar to Panasonic 14mm or 20mm.
bloodsucker
11 months ago |24mp sensor in nex? with e mount lens and big size file hmmm….
Andrew
11 months ago |I’m hoping the A77 will be the same size as the A700. I like having an actual camera body to grip as well as a decently weighted lens. The weight good optics come with helps make it easier to stabilize for low light shots(pancakes are best with syrup). The NEX series is really cool but I couldn’t see myself using it to make a living.
frosti7
11 months ago |Picture yourself trekking in nepal at 3000+ meters with no air,
now imagine that your carying a kit of big and heavy body+zooms for a week, and now picture yourself at the same situation with a small and light kit like NEX,
which situations do you prefer?
Those are different cameras with different goals, each have their own customers
bloodsucker
11 months ago |i’m not sure if nex can survive extreme condition. now imagine if you are at the summit and unable to power it on….
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Anwyay – in past people used to carry huge metal bodies on mountains, with fully metal lenses. Now we’ve got everything made of light plastics so we are the winners anyway, even without NEX-sized bodies
Esa Tuunanen
11 months ago |Plenty of air left at 3000m, just stop smoking what ever grass you tiny unergonomic P&S is enough for everyone-maniacs smoke. (it’s at 4km where you start knowing when you go uphill and at 5km effect is really good)
And conveniently for your ideology you forgot that as sensor is same APS-C size of the lenses you’re hauling stays same for same optical quality. As foot zoom doesn’t work there optically simpler primes aren’t that usefull so with enough optics for varying situations couple hundred gram difference (EVF in DSLR body brings weight that close) in weight of body is minor thing.
Also you’ll start with at least 2 liters/kgs of water to carry so total weight of the stuff you’re carrying is entirely different thing from weight of just camera body.
WiredAfrican
11 months ago |Why must a “point-and-shoot” NEX-7 get the same sensor as the A77? I want a DSLR A77 with a better sensor otherwise I might as well buy a NEX7.
Steve-S
11 months ago |@WiredAfrican -
Sony is positioning the NEX line (as interchangable-lens models) as a “system” — complete with dedicated videocam’s (the FS-100 is $US 5000 (yes, thousand; yes, that’s more than an a900) body-only at reputable dealers, as I write). At Sony’s website, they are “Alpha NEX” cameras, while the p&s models are listed separately (Cybershot’s).
It is NOT aimed at the p&s market (though at the low-end, there’s certainly some overlap, and I’m sure Sony intends to pick up some P&S buyers who are “thinking of an SLR, but not ready to plunk down that much money” with the 3-series NEX’es).
Do you consider Leica’s M8 (us$4700) & M9 (us$7000) as “point and shoot” models? They have some of the best lenses in the world… lots of pro’s choose these, which pretty much defines them as “pro-caliber” gear.
Let’s see what the rest of the NEX-7 feature-set looks like (and how it’s priced), before deciding it “doesn’t deserve” the same sensor…
- Steve S.