(SR5) Bigger announcements coming in March-April. And the three SLT models will be…
Hi!
CES and CP+ shows are over and ironically it is now that rumors will get more interetsing. Major announcements are schedule for March-April and as I told you Sony will start from the bottom entry level stuff and announce more advanced stuff in summer and autumn. For now I can confirm that three SLT models will be announced this year, the first will be the A38, followed by the A58 (both in March-April). And the second half of the year will bring us the new A78. The lenses to come will be the 50mm Zeiss, the 70-200mm, the 70-400mm and a new 18-135mm DT lens.
Soon to come on SAR is a NEX rumors. So stay tuned! Don’t miss any rumor and subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here)!
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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!
BMan
4 months ago |So, the 37,57,77 get the new hot shoe and a FW upgrade, and their numbers go +1, three existing lenses get what is most likely weather sealing and/or a facelift, and one new (probably pro-grade priced) lens.
It’s good to be a sony owner.
Oh, wait …
Luckily my minolta originals and A850 work like a charm.
Le Star
4 months ago |I hope the new camera have something truly new in them (other than hotshoe+firmware). They need something that shows that Sony is still on the ball with the Alpha range. However, I imagine these cameras are not going to feature any revolutionary developments.
Maybe if they had an audio level control… that could be invaluable to some.
As for the hotshoe… Isn’t the ‘Sony’ hotshoe really a Minolta hotshoe? We can’t blame Sony for supporting Minolta users in their transition to Alpha. For years people have been bleating about how Sony uses a proprietary shoe and now they’re bleating about the move to the standard shoe.
Frank
4 months ago |The reason Sony are releasing a new shoe is to bring it into line with the NEX range. The next thing will be the lens mount.
DalaaBachoPhotography
4 months ago |When Sony took over Minolta it was written in the deal that Sony would have to use the “Minolta HotShoe” for 6 years. This was to support the existing customers Minolta had already. That’s why 6 years after the change over we have a new Hotshoe and the old Minolta shoe is being phased out… ITS A GOOD THING. Opens up the market for flashes and accessories I am happy with the change
Frank
4 months ago |Source please.
Alex
4 months ago |“Opens up the market for flashes and accessories I am happy with the change”
If only the shoe was working properly…. good intent – bad execution!
Beachrider
4 months ago |I agree with Frank. You made that up.
The hotshoe issue was difficult, either way. NOBODY uses Nikon flashes (with their advanced features) on Canon or ANYWHERE ELSE. This is because the advanced features only use the vendor specific stuff. Canon flashes have the EXACT SAME issue on Nikon cameras.
Therefore, all Sony did was allow for basic compatibility, but who uses only-that with $300+ flashes?
CTPhotographX.com
4 months ago |Are you kidding? The market is currently more than open, it’s full of 3rd party flashes and smart radio slaves, brackets for iISO. There is no shortage for anything for iISO.
New shoe is devolution and it CLOSES the market because manufacturers don’t trust Sony to keep a standard. Photixx Odin releases a fantastic iISO slave only to discover their R&D was waisted because of new shoe. Were I an accessory maker, Sony would be permanently off my list. Too risky now. Sony just killed the invitation for an open party… but not before tricking Hasselblad into using iISO for their refits.
The only honest thing I can say about Sony is that they don’t give a rats ass about the loyal customers who support them with considerable investment. They just want to tempt CaNikon users… and that’s the only reason they changed the shoe. They certainly didn’t change it for the benefit of their own customers.
Beachrider
4 months ago |You didn’t contradict anything that I wrote, which is good. If anything, you illustrated the same point. There ‘new’ iso flash doesn’t bring Sony much more into the mainstream. It is RARE to shoot flash on DSLR using ONLY the basic compatibility. It does push iiso users a bit away. Sony is providing very-slim iiso adapters for these new iso flashshoes.
Our only hope is that this is a harbinger of Sony APPROACHING the horrible chasm of function-gap versus Nikon and Canon. I was always astonished that Minolta never bridged that big gap.
Frank
4 months ago |The problem with the adapter is that your precious F58 flash falls to the floor. Read the forums.
Carl
4 months ago |The plummeting F58 issue seems to be one of manufacturing tolerances as only some people are experiencing it.
That said, flash adaptors are one area where I’d happily pay more for tight tolerances given the weight and cost of a large flash and the ease with which metering is lost if the flash moves slightly, yet Sony seem to have favoured making their adaptor as cheaply as possible. Unfortunately, the odds of a third party making a locking adaptor with the full electrical interface is close to zero given the complexity of the wiring.
sonypro
4 months ago |So Frank you have the HVL58 and have used it with the adaptor and this has fallen to the floor?????
Ken
4 months ago |Where did you hear/read that is just the new hotshoe and FW update?
Mason
4 months ago |Is there any more information on the A78. I have been holding off buying A77 due to the rumours for updated model.
admin
4 months ago |Coming in late 2013. I wouldn’t wait if you need it now. Plus…the A77 got a nice discount in US!
Lofote
4 months ago |I guess the major thing is the new “old” hot shoe. Which brings some other advantages, like being able to use the XLR kit for example.
Mike
4 months ago |Buy an A77 with hotshoe adapter and install the upcoming firmware update.
Same thing as A78, but a lot cheaper.
Spookish
4 months ago |I think the 70-200 and 70-400 upgrades are most welcome. Maybe the 16-35 and the 24-70 could have upgrades soon as well!
ageha
4 months ago |The 16-35mm certainly won’t get an update anytime soon, it’s just about 4 years old.
Carl
4 months ago |The 70-400 is even younger.
Emir
4 months ago |Admin: do you have any info on when the lenses will be announced/delievered? … I’m looking at the 70-400 atm if I decide to stay, and just wonder how long I’d have to wait approx.
Frank
4 months ago |It was rumoured 18 months ago. The rumour will be two years old by the time it is announced in Q3 this year, of course that is if we see it at all for sale this year.
SALik
4 months ago |Do you know some info about new A38 and a58 is worth to wait for it? Or it will be only refreshed version?
Allan Bower
4 months ago |So A78 due later this year – no wonder all the A77 Firmware updates we were expecting tomorrow are non existant. Sony you really know how to pi** me off.
John
4 months ago |Who says the a77 FW update is “non-existent”? The rumour was for a release on 5/2. What’s changed?
X
4 months ago |“new 18-135mm DT”
Another one? What for? O_o
Carl
4 months ago |They’re testing our loyalty.
CTPhotographX.com
4 months ago |Heh… my XXX wife tried that with me. I ended up leaving her like a rat from a sinking ship.
Neo NiGHTS ®
4 months ago |Those are my thoughts, as well….
They’ve just released an 18-135mm! It’d only make sense if it was an weathersealed version (like the Pentax). Which I seriously doubt.
Emir
4 months ago |I’m really struggling not to be pissed about the A78 release instead of FW upgrade for my new A77… Should I try to return my A77?
ageha
4 months ago |Why, do you wanna wait 10 months for the A78?
Emir
4 months ago |I live in Sweden. Half of the year its dark and one of the things I mostly needed when I upgraded from A330 (which is on its death-bed) was high-ISO performance. As the A99 (with way better high-ISO performance than the A77) was released way after A77, I was hoping and expecting Sony to upgrade the A77 firmware using the knowledge gained from A99, to improve the high-ISO performance with lower noise and better image quality. Why did I choose the A77? I already have invested almost $3000 in A-lenses and was therefore reluctant to switch brand, plus there is no other choice than SLT (A580 is discontinued) and A77 is the best Sony A ASPC SLT available. I am not intrested in mirrorless, and A99 is way out of my price range.
I realize now that if I need high-ISO performance that I should have gone for Nikon from the beginning… Unfortunatelly photography was a whole new science for me and I didn’t know about the differences between the brands, apart from Sony having IS in-house, while CaNikon had it in lens… This was actually the reason I chose Sony – to get “more value for the money” as I could get cheaper lenses when they didn’t have to put IS in the lenses… Yeah right, when you look at the prices of Sony lenses! They’re even more expensive than CaNikon lenses WITH stabilization…
ageha
4 months ago |You’re spot on! I really want to like Sony but they make it really hard. The A99 has some features I like to have but the lens lineup scares me. Nikon released a bunch of very sharp but still relatively cheap full-farme lenses in a short amount of time. Sony’s Carl Zeiss lenses aren’t even the best but at least they are expensive. Anyway, I think for APS-C Pentax is the best choice for the past 2 years and now even more with the K-5 IIs.
Spoon
4 months ago |yuck, moire galore.
Spoon
4 months ago |The better image quality from the A99 comes from the fact that it’s a FF sensor. No firmware update is going to change the size of your sensor.
Freddo
4 months ago |Not always. The A77 bread and butter lens 16-50 f/2.8 SSM is considerably cheaper than Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. I used the 17-55 a lot in my old Canon days, and I can say with confidence that the 16-50 beats it in almost every respect. IQ and AF speed is similar, but the Sony 16-50 has better build quality, smaller dimensions, zero lens creep and weather sealing. Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 is twice the price of the Sony, and it doesn’t even have image stabilizer.
I warmly recommend all SLT shooters out there to buy a 16-50 SSM. It is excellent value for money in a way Canon and Nikon cannot touch.
a65 Owner
4 months ago |I agree. It is a very nice lens. It is my go-to lens if I don’t need the extra reach. It has also been a good lens for video.
AK-77
4 months ago |I agree, the 16-50mm is a great value.
I cannot agree about zero lens creep though. Mine creeps but fortunately there is the zoom lock
Richard
4 months ago |I love the 16-50 2.8 as well – I just wish there was a 50-150 (or even longer) F2.8 to pair it with!
Lofote
4 months ago |Why? What is broken on your A77 or what did not hold the promise when you bought the camera? People always think regular FW upgrades are a good thing. It is not, it means the product was not finished. The A580 was a finished product and as such never needed a FW upgrade. Many people complain about that. Strange, but thats the way people think…
Frank
4 months ago |The A580 certainly does need firmware fixes, but was abandoned by Sony.
Brendon
4 months ago |I don’t complain too much but the A77 is just a bit too noisy for its own good especially when Canon and Nikon give much cleaner results on their sensors.
I am unsure if a FW update can fix the noise issue but A77 owners are right in wanting better performance in high ISO when the competition is far ahead in this regard.
Tom
4 months ago |If the A58 has the new sensor, im buying it.
Holding of my A57 purchase for some more info about it.
admin
4 months ago |100% sure it has new generation sensor!
fotowolf61
4 months ago |New generation sensor means, the NEX5R/NEX6 sensor including PDAF integrated and getting rid of the mirror. Somthing like a NEX in Alpha body?
MrBig
4 months ago |A78 will have the new Fuji sensor in it. :p
Martin
4 months ago |square sensor
Kostas Karayannis
4 months ago |I am a complete beginner when it comes to anything beyond point and shoots, and I want to graduate to a nice new NEX. I am between 3 choices. Buy the NEX F3 now, wait a bit for the 3N, or just pay a little more and get the 5R now.
Admin is there any chance you might share some unconfirmed rumors about the 3N, maybe even privately. I’m new the site so, I’m terribly sorry if I’m asking for something forbidden.
Wayne Summers
4 months ago |I think you should wait for the new nex-3 and see if it has the iso shoe if not maybe you should consider a Nex-6. The price is starting to fall. I got one barley used for 800.00 with the 16-50 lens which I don’t need so after I sell the lens am looking at 600.00 for the body. I love my Nex-F3 and it would be almost perfect if I could just pop a flash on it. They do make adapters but they don’t last.
Amateur Sony Shooter
4 months ago |Why another DT18-135 lens? Power zoom add-on? Weather sealing?
Carl
4 months ago |“a new 18-135mm DT lens”
Head -> Wall
Mno
4 months ago |Exactly. I’d rather see an updated 18-250 ….
Carl
4 months ago |I’d rather see them fill a gap, rather than keep coming out with the same lens types to the detriment of everything else, like we see with E-mount’s three 18-200s. There’s room for some DT wide angle primes, an affordable telephoto (400/5.6?) an ultrawide zoom, maybe a 50-135/2.8 or similar. There are many possibilities.
Xspider
4 months ago |+1
Stan
4 months ago |I, for one, want them to bring back the legacy Minolta beercan – 70-210 F/4. It was and is still considered a good lens and Sony can definitely benefit from such glass, rather than keep releasing the likes of 70-200 f4-f5.6 (or whatever the progressive f-stop on that lens was.)
e
4 months ago |+1 18-250 or 18-270
Cyrus
4 months ago |Hot Shoe + duo AF + FW upgrade
Hope that Sony will improve their PDAF unit (coverage + Algorithm)…
At least on A5x and A7x
Frank
4 months ago |We are seeing the last of the A-mount cameras. 2014 models will have an E-mount with A-mount adapter. I can’t see how it makes sense for Sony to continue producing APS-C cameras with a native A-mount.
James
4 months ago |There is absolutely no indication A mount will be dropped. The E Mount just does not have enough lenses to support the A Mount user base. An adapter will not work as we know there are limitations with existing NEX adapters, such as slow AF, size of adapter needed etc.
Frank
4 months ago |If you want fast AF, the LA-EA2 is already out, expect a LA-EA4 for the full frame E-mount too. Most APS-C users will be happy with improved on-sensor AF.
I expect that NEX lenses will be updated to work better with on-sensor AF.
The end of native A-mount is obvious and coming.
Stan
4 months ago |Frank, I disagree. Try to use a NEX with a bigger lens, its horribly uncomfortable due to NEX body. I wouldn’t mind an e-mount with a body the size of A57 as an example. That camera is egronomic. NEX line is built for a different purpose. Yes I agree that NEX is good, but I cannot imagine anyone using a NEX with a 500mm lens as an example. It defeats the whole point of NEX line, which is to bring a more compact solution with the same quality of a regular DSLR/DSLT. Even the native E-Mount 18-200 lens makes any NEX camera look and feel quite strange.
Frank
4 months ago |I see that you’ve already seen what I mean below
A SLR sized body with E-mount.
tom
4 months ago |How can you say it is the end of a-mount if people would still use minolta/alpha lenses, through an adapter? I suppose in THEORY sony may decide to go this route, but they would only drop it “in camera” then.. besides this is just a prediction a few people concocted.
Frank
4 months ago |A-mount is a dead-end for Sony, it doesn’t make them much (if any) money and it doesn’t work with on-sensor AF. Sony don’t give a toss about supporting people who are buying Minolta lenses off eBay in the same way that they don’t give a toss about people using iISO flashes.
Sony are clearly pushing mirrorless and on-sensor AF, they are selling E-mount bodies and lenses like hot cakes. The whole future of Sony screams E-mount mirrorless bodies in varying sizes.
shamb
4 months ago |A Alpha to NEX adapter would have glass in it… so you have adapter correction glass and then a translucent mirror, whereas in the NEX you have neither. Not the best idea.
andrew
4 months ago |I’ll believe the a-mount is dead when Sony releases e-mount OSS f1.4 primes and fast zooms.
People might buy adapters to use their current glass on e-mount bodies, but I don’t see them buying expensive glass to use with an adapter… It defeats any advantages of moving to a smaller form-factor and introduces a whole load of problems.
There’s a number of very good reasons for keeping fingers in both pies…
Frank
4 months ago |You are missing the point, it isn’t for a smaller form factor. You simply replace the A-mount with the E-mount on the current APS-C SLT sized bodies.
Use better on-sensor AF with no SLT mirror and supply a LA-EA2 type adapter to mount A-mount lenses.
Sony are rumoured to be doing a full frame E-mount body WITH A-mount adapter, of course they have already done a full frame NEX, the VG900.
It is unlikely that Sony make much money from A-mount sales, so I wouldn’t hold out too much hope that they wouldn’t just ditch A-mount and pour their resources into mirrorless and E-mount. It certainly appears to be where the sales are.
OneTrackMind
4 months ago |+1 – this seems to be a pretty simple concept that no one is grasping. E-mount doesn’t necessarily mean small NEX cameras. It could be an A99 style body with E-mount. From a business stand point it makes a lot of sense to have one format instead of carrying on with both A and E. I love my A-mount glass but if I can get the same features and quality but it’s on E-mount then I’d be fine with eventually converting. In the meantime, I would just use the adapter assuming they can advance the technology on them – and if that takes some time, then I’m perfectly fine with my A99.
Emir
4 months ago |I agree on this one. However, what upsets me is the fact that the in-body stabilization is removed, rendering all my tele non-stabilzing lenses useless in case of adapter addon… Unless the adapter has a stabilizer… And that the adapter can suppoer ALL A-lenses, including Minolta & third-party such as Sigma & Tamron.
Frank
4 months ago |@Emir and it is stabilisation that greatly concerns me too. The Unique Selling Point of Sony dSLR/SLT is sensor stabilisation.
I would hope that on a larger SLR sized mirrorless body this can be retained and would work with A-mount and the adapter.
Who knows?
Carl
4 months ago |On sensor phase detection simply isn’t good enough yet, nor will it be within the next few years.
But I can totally picture Sony jumping on the technology before it is ready for primetime just for the sake of being “innovative” or “different”, similar to what they’ve done with electronic viewfinders.
Even factoring in the fact that E mount will eventually have comparable autofocus (assuming a rather long time axis), I am not enthusiastic at all about having to use all my lenses with a ~25mm tube attached to them. I wish my lenses were smaller, not bigger!
Stan
4 months ago |+1 Now this I completely agree on. I am not a big fan of the SLT mirror, so the e-mount on the “A” Body would be a killer combo for me.
CTPhotographX.com
4 months ago |Fine for those who enjoy adapter wobbles and ergonomic train wrecks.
But what bright future lies ahead for those who just like plain old simple, reliable native mounting solutions for lens and flash? I know it’s a savagely primitive concept. But is there no hope in Alpha land for those who appreciate fine gear that’s designed from the ground up for secure native mounting functionality, reliability?
Frank
4 months ago |You already know the answer
Sony and third-parties will develop E-mount lenses, leaving A-mount behind. Just like Sony will leave the iISO behind…
a65 Owner
4 months ago |I have a feeling Sony wouldn’t keep a body larger than needed just for the sake of having a bigger body. I would expect a body bigger than a NEX and smaller (thinner) than an Alpha. An SLR/SLT style body is the size it is due to the mirror. E-Mount means that the sensor needs to be closer to the mount which means there is a lot of unnecessary space behind the sensor. The bigger body would allow for IBIS and GPS that Sony doesn’t put in a NEX.
High speed on-sensor AF is a natural evolution but still has a ways to go. In my experience the NEX-6 focuses faster than a NEX-7 but still quite a slower than an a65.
I think the next step for Alpha will be the SLT + on-sensor AF like the a99. Maybe eventually an option to automatically lock-up the mirror in the highend (requires a powered mechanism that isn’t there today). I see mirrorless as the future of consumer, enthusiast and maybe prosumer, but that future is still some years away.
andrew
4 months ago |I can’t agree. The LA-EA2 makes the Nex 7 bulky to the point of being unwieldy with large glass – have you ever tried a 70-400 on a Nex 7? Even the 70-300G is pushing it. It also means your glass is no longer stabilised. Now imagine something the size of an a57 size with an adapter… Adapted a-mount glass is a poor substitute in my book.
Assuming Sony decides to make an alpha-sized e-mount body, how long will it take them to release a decent selection of glass? So far, the only stand-out e-mount glass is the 24mm Zeiss and the 10-18. Not an amazing starting point, especially compared to Fuji…
Equally, don’t count on third parties to come up with the goods. Sigma has a handful of offerings (which are good value for money but hardly comparable to their a-mount primes) and Tamron has barely dipped a toe in the water… Sigma is going to be far more interested in releasing a wide range of mirrorless lenses that caters for the Nex, 1, M and Q mounts, so expect a lowest common denominator approach for the most part.
The other risk for Sony is that people will look at other brands (especially if they’re miffed about that they’ve pulled the a-mount). The D600 and 60D have blindsided Sony…
Frank
4 months ago |But you are looking at it from YOUR requirements, not what is going to sell cameras for Sony and make them bucketfuls of cash.
MOST people don’t need fast AF, they will be perfectly happy with mirrorless and on-sensor AF. MOST people don’t have A-mount glass, they will be perfectly happy with E-mount glass. MOST people will be perfectly happy with the varying sizes of mirrorless camera bodies all with the E-mount.
It’s taking a long time for people here to figure out that from 2014 Sony aren’t making cameras for niche A-mount SLT users like YOU or ME, they are going after volume mirrorless sales.
A-mount cameras have never made Sony a stack of money, they are never going to make Sony a stack of money. Mirrorless E-mount and fixed lens large sensor cameras will make them a fortune in comparison. It’s not rocket science guys!
Pebble
4 months ago |A-mount is dead when FF NEX have IBIS…
Steve Jones
4 months ago |There is possibly room on the E-Mount (just) for FF, although it’s very, very tight. However, there is insufficient throat diameter for both FF and IBIS in E-Mount as IBIS requires about 2-3mm extra to allow for sensor movement.
Frank
4 months ago |What do you mean possibly for full frame? There is already a full frame E-mount camera!
Le Star
4 months ago |Frank, I think you are half right – Alpha IS dead.
I would guess that Sony has concluded (guided by it debt) that it cannot compete in the established DSLR market any longer; it has lost to Nikon/Canon. The ‘revolutionary’ SLT with its electronic viewfinder just didn’t whip the market into a frenzy – it just raised a few eyebrow.
However, the CSC market is still young and Sony can be a leader here. And it has made a good impact with the NEX. If it weren’t for the menu system, I would have opted for a NEX rather than an A57.
Now that the CSC market is really hotting up, when the time comes to replace my cameras, I’ll be opting for a CSC. But it won’t be a NEX. By the time I upgrade, I’m certain that Canon and Nikon will producing great CSC models that give users what they want, unlike Sony who gives users what Sony wants to give them!
Spoon
4 months ago |If it’s dead, why are they still bothering with new cameras and lenses (updated, new one too)?
It’s interesting to see all the (attempts at) self fulfilling prophecies but I rather look at worldwide relevant sales to conclude anything. And no, even relative shares only tell part of the story.
Stan
4 months ago |Just to point something out, NEX cameras are also Alpha line. So Frank is actually 100% spot on. As much as I don’t want to see A-Mount go, I might have to face that reality sooner or later. By the way, the big drag on sony’s business were televisions, not cameras…
andrew
4 months ago |Possibly, but if they abandon the ‘DSLR’ market they’re putting all their eggs in one basket. We’ve seen 8 bodies since they launched Nex, but only 13 lenses (three of which are duplicates). Add in the negative publicity if they discontinue their flagship mount and it doesn’t inspire confidence…
Frank
4 months ago |You are of course assuming that Sony care about negative publicity. I think they actually don’t care at all.
If E-mount cameras are successful they won’t give a stuff about a few moans from their *tiny* A-mount user base.
Remember that the vast majority of A-mount cameras sold will be to people that haven’t bought into a system, they’ll have, at most, two lenses and keep it on AUTO.
Carl
4 months ago |From reading interviews with the product managers in Sony’s imaging division, it does sound like they care about negative publicity…but they simply don’t understand the market or the mentality of photographers well enough to avoid it. They comes across as very naive and inexperienced.
Martin
4 months ago |are there any news about the new e-mount lenses?
Time to change the brand
4 months ago |Who will pay for the new cameras???may be new costumes since the existing ones are already looking for alternative.enough money lost.no-more!!!
Archer66
4 months ago |LOL you get free camera when you change to canikon ?
Frank
4 months ago |I poured my cereal into a bowl this morning and a 650D dropped out! Giving it away with a box of Rice Crispies is about all a Canon is worth though…
Stan
4 months ago |I opened a Kinder Surprise today and a 5D Mk3 fell out
Frank
4 months ago |I hope you returned it for a plastic car.
Stan
4 months ago |I did, now i annoy people at work by screaming “Weeee” all day long lol
David Thomas
4 months ago |Looking good hopefully Sony can put in free GPS and WI-fi transfer,also good they’re releasing lenses that are comparable to Canon and Nikon.
Still will be difficult for the big three to convert/ get users to switch as all 3 provide excellent system and the loss of $$/££ in selling at loss and paying more for comparable lens is a disadvantage.
ageha
4 months ago |With the amount of full-frame lenses released in the last few years you have to be nuts to switch to Sony.
Bear
4 months ago |I wonder if they will also update the existing Sony flashes to the new shoe, an updated hotshoe 43AM and 58AM would be nice.
andredw
4 months ago |Hi Andrea – any idea on the headline features? Is the a78 just going to be a cosmetic overhaul with an upgraded EVF and new hotshoe, or are we going to see a new gen sensor with better high ISO and PDAF a la a99? (No prizes for guessing which one I’d buy). I know I’m getting into crystal ball territory, but have you had any hints about whether we’ll see a mirrorless a79 in 2014?
I’d definitely spend money on better ISO performance at ISO 800 upwards, but I might sit tight if we can expect to see mirrorless alphas next year (more than happy enough to hang on to my a77 for a while in that case).
MarcoC
4 months ago |Admin – you say you are 100% sure a57 has a new sensor – what about a78?
admin
4 months ago |have no specs about it yet.
MarcoC
4 months ago |Are you willing to state if “new sensor” = more MP ?
Martin
4 months ago |Guess 24Mpx square sensor.
MrBig
4 months ago |Can’t wait to hear the rumors for NEX lineup. My sights are set on an NEX-7 replacement.
elipsoid
4 months ago |Any more info about the A58, please?
Guboss
4 months ago |If the rumor is true…Great!! Perhaps this means that sony is trying to produce a new 24M pixel APS-C sensor with phase focusing pixels. hope the a78 also have a hybrid AF just like the a99. Once the a78 is announced, I guess the next gen NEX7 or RX10 will be not too far away.
maggy
4 months ago |Sony – I give up. There is no real pro ff body, no weather sealed 24-70, 70-200. Perid.
kum
4 months ago |when do you expect the new nex 7 to come???before sommer or after???
Time to change the brand
4 months ago |Quality and efficiency does not provided with a77 not with 99 why they would do it if blind ppl pay f
Time to change the brand
4 months ago |Quality and efficiency does not provided with a77 not with 99 why they would do it if blind ppl pay for new prototype every year with promises to be fixed and then the fix and with new model….
John
4 months ago |I don’t have an issue with the quality of my A77 and think it’s built rather well, the issue I have is software/firmware related and the life span of the top of the line APS-C camera which should be as others have said 4+years… Sony you are becoming a bit of a pain… I hope you offer an upgrade path for your A77 customers (yeah right, like that will ever happen!)
Spoon
4 months ago |Interesting, you’re claiming live span of higher end cameras should be 4 or more years, most people in here were claiming that the replacement for the A700 (and to a lesser extend the A900) should have come much sooner.
You see where I’m going with that.
John
4 months ago |I know what you are saying but those people simply just want change for the sake of it or are perhaps people waiting for the next release to purchase as there is not HUGE leaps between technology in 1-2 years, also the competitors have generally always kept the higher end camera’s replaced every 3-5 years changing more often on the high end camera’s and not offering better support, service, software improvements and refinements is just silly IMHO….
Scooby Doo
4 months ago |Welcome to SonyAlphaWhiners.com
WTH
4 months ago |Ahhhh quit your whining…
bart
4 months ago |quit your fanboying, fanboy.
Ken
4 months ago |+1
Is funny how people whine, they are grown adults,but still can’t can’t make decisions themselves.
Max
4 months ago |Admin, the current 18-135mm DT lens was released just a few months back, end of last year. I don’t understand why Sony would introduce yet another version…
Will this “new” 18-135 be a replacement for the existing lens, or both will live on in parallel? Will the “new” 18-135 be for A-mount or E-mount? Thanks!
stflbn
4 months ago |Somehow I suspect the new 18-135 will be an E mount lens. No clue how it could be rationalized as a new A-mount of the already good 18-135.
Dimitri
4 months ago |To stflbn: You say what? “the already good 18-135″ !!! Good in terms of resolution? It can’t resolve an elephant!!! Didn’t you read the reviews?
Dimitri
4 months ago |Max: I hope it will be a replacement for the existing 18-135, because the last one is a real crap!!!
Abit77
4 months ago |Where are 70-200/400 SS2 ??????
Jonathan
4 months ago |I agree some others comments, Sony have a great way of of pi**ing people off, the current A77 being a top of the line and expensive APS-C camera should be around for 4+ years at least.. I’ve forked out the cash for the A77 and being waiting for a decent firmware update (notably tether support for a small home studio I’m setting up)…
Once the A7x comes out this means the chances of decent and continued firmware and focus will be reduced, spare parts and service will reduce (it’s already hard to get parts in Australia as it is from what I’ve heard and this will make it even worse!)
Come on Sony get your S**t together and plan ahead and stop releasing new bodies like hotcakes and focus on decent software/firmware and updated/new lens rather….
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Soooo annoyed right now (I hope this rumour is not true, but I have a feeling it will be true going on Sony’s history)!
Ian Scovell
4 months ago |The A78 will have:
The same 24mp sensor as the A77 with no change in iso performance
It will gain:
New ISO Hotshoe
Twist dial on the front (from a99)
102 point Phase detect points (from a99)
An improved buffer for high speed shooting
Quick navi & operational controls from from A99 operating system.
Sales will potentially be ‘terrible’ because its released too soon after a77 & offers little extra over and above the current A77
fotowolf61
4 months ago |A77 sensor has no PDAF integrated. If they stay with 24Mpix it will be a new one. But I would assume they do the improvements like they did in A99: 50% more light because of new microlenses and 25% more size per pixel, because of wireing improvements like with A99. But maybe this is already in A77 sensor achived.
Ken
4 months ago |You know this, how?
fotowolf61
4 months ago |….by reading documentation.
John
4 months ago |Any news on the (upcoming?) RX10. Had look at the Canon G1X which looked very compelling and was wondering how Sony would better this (larger sensor , better lens).
Christian
4 months ago |I like my A77! Maybe i will by a second one if the price is further dropping because of the A78.
The A77 is the best camera i ever had. I even use it for low light (ISO6400) a lot (downsampled to 6Mpix, but hey that was standard resolution a few years ago).
Andrei
4 months ago |No A65 ->>> A66 ?
James
4 months ago |No alpha-sixty-something? I’d think they’d update that model as well if they are touching the fifty and seventy. Maybe they are dropping it? Perhaps upgrading the fifty spec a little bit to close the gap?
Stan
4 months ago |There was no point in A65 when pitted against A57. The only advantage it had was more megapixels with worse high ISO performance, GPS (i think) and an OLED viewfinder. A57 has lens correction just like A65, so the extra price doesn’t justify extra features.
a65 Owner
4 months ago |An advantage of the a65 (at the time) is that it has a lot of the features of the a77 in a smaller, lighter body. I prefer the smaller body. When introduced it had a lot that the a55 did not. At this point the a57 or a58 may be a more compelling solution as long as it has the same quality EVF and GPS. The smaller MP is a plus IMHO since the a65 is a bit noisier than I would like – although not so much that I feel compelled to dump Sony or anything like that.
Thankfully, I’m not the type that needs the latest and greatest so my a65, 43m flash and the 4 lenses I have (only use 2 on a regular basis) will serve me for a number of years. At that point mirrorless and maybe FF will have become the norm in the enthusiasts segment.
Stan
4 months ago |Yeah, since you bought it before A57 got released, I see your point.
A57 doesn’t have GPS. Not a deal breaker for me, but might be for some others.
The EVF in A57 is not as good as OLED in A65, but it is way better than EVF in A55.
BigP
4 months ago |I do not believe that it will be A78.
These rumors should be taken very carefully. And I’m sure the new lens, it certainly did!
The A78 (if you will).
According DxOMarku the Sony A99 Low-Iso 1550 .. so from a small chip with 24mpxi (A78), I get much better results with SLT technology than what is now expected A77! Up to a small shift but nothing major.
spada
4 months ago |ummm, what?
Stan
4 months ago |+1
I hope that you’re being sarcastic, cause that math makes no sense, whatsoever… Smaller sensor means smaller physical pixel size, means more noise for the same resolution, not less. Thats why A99 with its 24mp sensor is 1550 while A77 is 800-ish. Now add advances in sensor technology and A78 might just break 850-900 mark if thats what sony after, but i’ll place my bets on A58, since it will probably be a lower resolution model than A77 (means bigger physical pixel size) and with a new gen sensor.
Joe
4 months ago |DXOMark uses calculated ISO for the sensor itself and not manufacturer ISO. The simple fact is, ISO 3200 on the A99 is the same as ISO 2500 on a typical Nikon and ISO 2000 on the A77 because Sony makes a bigger shift on the A99 to ensure metering is predictable. So on one hand you’re fooled into thinking the high ISO on the A99 is better than it actually is, which is fair, but at the same time Sony is compensating for the Translucent FOR YOU which allows you to frame your shots similarly. This is evidenced by the DXOMark score for High ISO and explains why it is so low compared to the Nikons and Canons. The A99 has a consistent 42% average shift in Manufacturer ISO compared to Realized ISO. The A77 only shifts 18% on average. You can read into this how you want to. Simple fact is, the sensor for the A99 is very underutilized and the sensor for the A77 is slightly overutilized. The A78 can only get better. I have a feeling it will score a half stop better than the A77, even if they keep the same resolution.
AG
4 months ago |I thought the DT 18-135mm was new for 2012 ?
Stan
4 months ago |18-135 F/4
One can wish, right?
spada
4 months ago |LOL, yeah, you can wish. A lens of those specs might make the secret handshake look like a kiddie toy.
Stan
4 months ago |Well, if 55-250 F/4 is possible(Canon) or 70-210 F/4 Minolta, and 16-50 F/2.8 is possible, and 18-135 F/3.5-5.6 is possible. I don’t see why 18-135 F/4 shouldn’t be possible with a bigger set of elements than F/3.5-5.6 version.
Stan
4 months ago |I must admit, i know nothing the way lenses are built, so i’m just using deductive reasoning based on numbers.
Carl
4 months ago |A constant f4 zoom requires an entry pupil with twice the area of a variable f3.5-5.6 zoom.
Stan
4 months ago |Oh, I see your point, so that would make it a lens with an 87mm front element… Rofl. A baseball bat
Kursad Sezgin
4 months ago |I am awaiting for firmware updates today… come on Sony
Raph
4 months ago |http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/01/27/new-evf-makes-it-clear-the-optical-viewfinders-days-are-numbered
If that viewfinder is included in A78 then please Sony bring on your A78 and show everybody what is possible using SLT!
Cliff
4 months ago |Andrea…..
I’m on the verge of buying a NEX FS100 very soon. Do you have any rumors on the possibility of a new model being announced at NAB this spring?
WK
4 months ago |I don’t know why people are so foolish as to think those who have stuck with Sony only because of their investment in good A mount glass could be forced to buy a new set of E mount lenses from Sony. Because if Sony drops A mount ultimately that’s exactly what people would eventually have to do. I know if I was forced to buy a new set of my lenses it would not be the very limited functionality that Nex forces on the lenses. Especially with such a flaky photography company as Sony. Go Nikon, or Canon, companies that won’t be trying to destroy their customers or take money from them by forced changes. It’s a simple matter of reliable and trustworthy support over the usual long life of a interchangeable lens camera system. That’s most certainly not Sony, they are the worst at that.
So go only E mount, Sony. You will be dumping more of the Sony users off to other brands than you could possibly gain with a system designed for practical use with short focal length lens systems only. And for which many won’t even be buying lenses from you, but bodies only and then playing with their old antique lenses. You clearly have lost all you gained by buying into DSLR from Minolta.
andrew
4 months ago |If Sony does that, they’ll need to come out with a blinder of a body backed up by great lenses to keep my money… Telling me to buy an adapter with the prospect of decent glass following is only going to make the decision easier.
Harry Lew
4 months ago |“with a system designed for practical use with short focal length lens systems only.”
So the -200 or -210 zooms aren’t practical? There are more of those than you can shake a stick it (which is another issue).
MrLee
4 months ago |True.. If Sony drops Alpha Mount, I will drop Sony… Very easy choice…
Lost Hope
4 months ago |Sony..You can bring out as many firmware updates…er sorry..I mean cameras….as you want. I ain’t buying another one.
Along with so many other of your totally p*ssed off existing users, I have had it with you. I have had my A65 for just over a year now and bought it after reading various reviews saying just how good it was. Well, using it for wildlife and in varying conditions has proved otherwise.
You know that your image quality is poor in Jpeg and that the noise and ISO is also bad, yet you refuse to give us the firmware update we so desperately need and deserve. Also, most of the facilities and innovations of the camera are only available in Jpeg and cannot be used in RAW.
Regarding all the people who tell us to shoot Raw, apart from not being able to use the cameras facilities, I have yet to find a RAW converter through which I can quickly run ALL the pictures taken in a day and get consistent results, in order to get quality Jpegs for storage, and I have tried most including Lightroom3, DxO, Capture1 etc. etc. Then again..why should I…Sony should be providing a decent Jpeg engine and decent picture quality shouldn’t they, after all, I bought a camera to take great pictures and am not getting them. Can’t think why I’m so p*ssed off.
Yes, if I worked in a studio and had perfect lighting and perfect everything else, I would probably talk like some of the people in this forum saying how good the camera is…but that isn’t the case and the camera should be able to cope with low light and give good Jpegs just like it’s competitors.
So there you have it Sony. Just another unhappy customer who will never buy or recommend your cameras again….just because you don’t care.
Peksu
4 months ago |According to DxO Mark, a65 beats the Canon 650D. I don’t know what camera you’re comparing it to, but you’re not being realistic if you expect a modern aps-c body to shoot clear and beautiful quality at iso3200.
Lost Hope
4 months ago |ISO3200…..I wish.
I struggle to get decent pictures at ISO800 out of the A65 when I’m shooting long range and want to crop in a little.
If Dxo Mark are just testing the sensors, that means nothing when the Raw files are badly compressed and the Jpegs are just awful. That is he camera and it’s firmware, not the sensor. We all know that other manufacturers are getting better results from the same sensor because they have staff who can write good firmware. This is Sony’s downfall. They make great cameras but do not convert that into great pictures. That is, after all, what a camera is all about.
MrLee
4 months ago |Very True… This is the same reason I did not and will not buy the a99 and I will bet anything the a78 will not even be able to match the image/jpeg quality of the a580…
Build what you are capable of In the A-Mount (a1x) and I will buy it… Until then I will hold on to my a580 (The best A Mount camera Sony made And Last dslr, Yes, I am including the a900) I will also continue to use my a77 when image quality is not that important. I will be selling my lightly used a77 soon and will hold on to my a580 until it dies to continue to use 4 of my favorite lenses until they wake up and produce the A1X, If they don’t, I will sell my 4 lenses too when the a580 dies and switch systems…
Dro
4 months ago |Andrea.. Wil the upcoming nex entry cams be using next gen sensor?
admin
4 months ago |Not the NEX-3n. no.
Francisco
4 months ago |Man, I’d totally buy a second body this year. If A78 is good enough, I’d buy that. If not, a A77 is still great.
A78
4 months ago |No matter what is the rumor will be… you guys having a good discussions here and no one know exactly specification of A77 replacement yet until, products is official give notice in the mean time, a days dreaming is not a bad idea to have A78 (assumed name to be) on it ways soon to hope for the best… baby…
Time to change the brand
4 months ago |How to get happy at work if vg20 does not have picture profiles and I can’t color grade it proper.a77 can’t shoot good video above iso 800 and autofocus is limit to f3,5.A99 it’s lagging like a77 early firmware and not much different from a77.And than you look just behind you canon fanboy shooting at 6400 iso and explain to the clien how will add grain in post.
Jonas
4 months ago |When the A38 is going to be announced in March/April, how long does it take until it can be bought in stores? Can you give an estimate?
Kevin
4 months ago |There a few nuts loose behind every wheel. Rumors allow anybody to come up with fiction. Sony is King. Now that it’s out there in the universe it’s true.
Just like all the other rumors here. You have to able to read the fiction between the lines.
Clifton
4 months ago |people shouldnt expect big changes in the shift from the A77 to the A78, its a model revision, not a new camera. look at almost every other camera produced and the changes that came with the annual new model. A new WB mode, a couple of extra megapixels, slight adjustments to ergonomics, they dont suddenly improve the ISO 3 stops. If you expect a revolution every time they release a new camera, you are going to be disappointed.
The best thing about new models coming out is that it forces the older, almost identical cameras down in price. If you want new features in a new camera, go higher in the range.
zstan
4 months ago |Why does the 18-135 needs an update considering it was just released few months back?!
y2k
4 months ago |Waiting For A38′s Specs!!
subodh
4 months ago |I am planning to buy A57. After reading ths news can i wait for a58. can anybody knows about new features of A58 except hotshoe.
Tom S
4 months ago |A78 is interesting for me if it has clean HDMI out, and preferably some audio level control.
Richard
4 months ago |I would have thought an A88 (850 replacement) would have made more sense than an A78, this year…