The A99 rumors roundup from the “tester”.
Last week we had some issues on the website because SAR moved to a new more powerful machine. And many missed to read the lastest A99 rumor which we got from an “A99 tester”. He sent us first a short report and than the answer to your questions:
Original tester report:
“The final production A99 doesn’t have a built-in flash lamp (Editors note: some prototypes with built-in flash were tested). There is a new hot shoe for accys so a special link is delivered with this camera. The Autofocus is really fast. The A99 (with non final firmware) has an ISO range of 50-25600 (Editors note: Final firmware will probably have a +2 stop push in High ISO). Camera is bit lighter than the A900 (973 g with battery). The A99 weights 827g with battery. The Battery is the NP FM500H. The camera has no CF slot! It comes with two slots for SD/MS and SD cards!
Testers answer on your questions:
1) He can’t talk about the Image Quality of the camera yet. Firmware is by far not mature enough to make a serious discussion about it
2) Same for video 
3) The tester confirms that there is no CF nor XQD support.
4) The new hot shoe and the special connector are there to make older accessories work (like the Sony HVL-F56AM)
5) The camera has built-in GPS
This is very likely a correct rumor! Thanks again tester for sending us this!
Vlad
10 months ago |Lighter, IBIS, swivel LCD. Sounds great.
matgay
10 months ago |why they chose to go with 2 SD instead of XQD or CF. because it cannot be to save space, since 2 SD and space clearance takes up more space than 1 XQD. and it cannot be for costs, because nobody who spends a good $2800 on a camera would cripple their system by buying a $5 class1 SD card.
–they want to keep costs down and keep the small BUFFER size!! maybe more plastics in the body?
Alex
10 months ago |Hoping to discover something new to read, but at 4-5 times the same text. Why all this many times to publish?
Henk
10 months ago |When I was working with vehicle development, you did several different prototypes partly based on existing models but of course with some new components or systems as well (mostly powertrains but all kind of configs existed).
I wouldn’t be too surprised if Sony is giving beta-testers prototypes with certain areas of functions in mind which are being new and supposed to be reviewed while some other areas or functions are crippled or carry over, either because they know about Andreas site and would like to mislead competition
or simply doesn’t have them properly implemented yet.
So don’t get upset because of the lack of XQD cards or similar things, spec’s might change.
Carneiro
10 months ago |Does anyone know is sony will revive the older Dynax shutter that went up to 1/12.000 sec?
雜草
10 months ago |Does the camera have ethernet port or wifi for studio control? Like A700′s.
Archer66
10 months ago |A700 has a ethernet port and wifi ?
AnegaTanega
10 months ago |For sure! And I think I’ll donate a million dollars to the local orphanage… when pigs fly!
Anyway… obviously not!
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |The poster’s question was really whether the new camera would permit tethering, like the A700. I believe that the answer will be yes.
Edgars
10 months ago |For A77 USB3 compatibility was rumored, some hope for axx it will be implemented?
Regarding IQ with early FW. It is always possibility to compare to previous cameras such as A900.
savic13
10 months ago |1000 times roundup A99? waiting about RUMOR. STOP ROUNDUP. not double triple chek just plain rumor please. we not bet on rumors we just want to hear it and know that rumor may not heppen at all. sorry for my english.
admin
10 months ago |Savic. I posted this because I really got many readers mail that they didn’t saw the last week A99 rumor because of the blackout.
emopunk
10 months ago |Andrea, any estimate on how long do we still have to wait?
Ren Kockwell
10 months ago |Why would sony go into the effort of developing these awesome XQD cards only to leave it out on it’s flagship product?
Maybe this is not the flagship product? Could it be that a “pro” version is also on it’s way?
EnPassant
10 months ago |Exactly! This is not a flagship camera. A99 is playing in the same class as Nikon’s already leaked D600 and Canon’s rumored budget full frame, only being more expensive than both. Just like A77 is Sony’s closest DX competitor to Nikon D7000 and Canon 60D.
The A900/A850 replacement with the 36 MP sensor used in Nikon D800/E is expected next year.
BigP
10 months ago |waiting all the time ….
I’m beginning to think that it will not end well … No official info? Axx can calmly announce the Photokina and start to sell it at Christmas
Already SAR and Canon announces entry FF camera around $ 2000 .. Nikon D600 long ago .. Sony says nothing – nothing official …
Matt
10 months ago |Erm none of those other cameras are ‘official’ either. They have not been announced and are just rumors like the A99 at this stage.
Mats
10 months ago |This is so silly.
If this camera is about to be presented witin one month, the final design and specifications are ready by now and it would be in a testing stage. Cannot simply be true that there are different versions with or without flash, XQD-support and so on.
Also this new hot shoe with connector for old flashes like F-56 is strange. All flashes from Minolat 3600HS(D) and 5600HS(D)and all Sonys are identical in the connection and the protocol (with some newer Sonys that extend the WL-protocol, F58/F43). Is this tester really familiar with the Alpha flash-system?
My fear is that there will be no FF-camera released at Photokina. Are there any real facts confirmed by Sony?
Andra, just face it. You are a marionette
Sony has total control over what is “leaked” and what is not.
This is really a much more important release than the A77. If there is a release within just a few weeks, there should be some more info. The show we saw with the introduction of the A77 was a well directed marketing-plan fom Sony that took advantage of SAR.
The most importan thing reported so far is the ability to take full quality stills while filming. This means that they manage to information from the sensor in parallel streams, to video/EVF and to record photos. This will mean that the viewfinder is calm and fluid during serial bursts and not having tha stakkato seen in A77, which is one of the major drawbacks with that implementation.
With a substantially larger buffer than A77, faster processors with more clever programming and faster interface to the storage media (hopefully XQD, but SD will do also, since the A77 cannot utilize more than about 50MB/s) and a super sensitive FF-sensor that give clean images with low noise also att ISO 12000 or so, this could really be a truly great camera!
I hope that they dont give in to those wanting “pro features” like no flash and no tiltable screen. Thats just crap.
/Mats
GunnarK
10 months ago |Hello mate!
Well, I don’t agree with you that “This is so silly”. Sony was planning to show their first SLT FF-camera at Photokina (and perhaps the second one too), but the flooding delay of A77 has also delayed the launch of their FF-cameras, so the actual date is a bit unsecure. Sony said they wanted to thorougly evaluate the user response to the A77 before finalizing their FF cameras. However, I think we can be rather sure that Sony will present at least SOMETHING about their coming FF-cameras at Photokina!
I’ll agree with you about the mentioned hot shoe adapter – I have been wondering the same thing myself.
Sony has for several years worked to make practical usable image sensors with the ability to take full quality stills while filming. That will be an important step in order to eliminate the gradually increasing lag seen in the A77 EVF during serial bursts.
Mats wrote:
“since the A77 cannot utilize more than about 50MB/s”
That can not be corret – it has to be a misunderstanding.
The link below is to a guy who has compared A77 12fps Clear Buffer Time (Fine JPG) between a 50 and a 95 MB/s memory card. The time to COMPLETELY empty the buffer after the burst was 8 seconds for the 50 MB/s and 4 seconds for the 95 MB/s card.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Benx75PFB4E
You can of course shoot shorter bursts even before the buffer is completely emptied. With shorter bursts the recovery time is never noticed at all when using a 95 MB/s card, but perhaps sometimes with a 50 MB/s.
I can myself live without a built-in flash if necessary, but not without a tiltable screen. The latter has opened new photographic worlds for me! Up and down tiltable screens covers almost all my needs, but the dual jointed one in A77 is better than anything else out there.
.
Michal
10 months ago |There will be entry FF A97 and pro A99
Mats
10 months ago |My guess is an A85 and A97, like A65/A77 in defference with an A9 next year with higher reolution (48 megapixels or so).
/Mats
justme
10 months ago |A99 = 24MP. A900 = 24MP.
Steve
10 months ago |In my opinion what Sony does in announcing new and renewed full-frame lenses is key.
All of this noise about how many MP’s and is the camera really a 9 series or is the next one going to be better is getting old.
I’m learning to be happy with my a850’s and my inventory of old Minolta and Sony/Zeiss lenses for now and let this settle out.
None of the new full-frames; Canon or Nikon is knocking me over with lust and my current rig is getting the job done for now.
I agree with Mats!
LR
10 months ago |What is the main reason to buy alpha mounts if the future is mirrorless? what is the point of buying a big flange focal distance lenses if in 10 years the PDAF will be on the sensor (hopefully).
According i’m have not invest anything in any lens system yet, i’m free to pick the brand that gives the best potential. Nex looks to show a logical route. But i guess e-mount Full frame compatible (huge lenses) would interest too few people like me?
Steve
10 months ago |A-mount can become a mirrorless platform
And the body can look like a DSLR/SLT
It’s what’s inside that counts
LR
10 months ago |Yes, I aggree.
But regarding compactness, does the alpha lens loses compactness because of the un-used flange focal distance?
Isn’t is jsut better if we can get rid of the LAEA-1 adapter that just takes places and do without if the lens is initially designed without the need of an adapter?
Edgars
10 months ago |Any lens longer than 100mm is unbalanced on small (mirror less) camera. People, who need or like tele-lenses never count small cameras as good option. Wide angle lenses with short flange distance is also somewhat insulted.
Steve
10 months ago |LR,
In time we will have a new sensor tech that is mirrorless and not SLT like the current.
The furture is different!
J
10 months ago |That’s not exactly my experience. My Minolta 135 2.8 balances fine and while shorter than 100, the much heavier 85 1.4 feels surprisingly good in hand on my 7 as does the Tokina 11-16 2.8. On a tripod nothing has proven to be unbalanced with the LEA-2 since it moves the tripod mount away from the body. In my opinion the balance argument is myth.
Edgars
10 months ago |Lets try 70-200/300/400mm lenses.
May be you could ague that high-heeled shoes also are comfortable…
J
10 months ago |I wouldn’t know about heels, but let’s talk physics. The larger the lens is the less significant the body weight is therefor again, the argument about balance fails to win me.
LR
10 months ago |Thank you for the replies.
But i’m interested in a fast lens that doesnt need the flange focal distance of the Alpha, mounted on a nex. I dont mind if its big, as soon as it’s at least reduiced in size thx to the FFL not needed.
DJsolo
10 months ago |if you think the balance issue is a myth then you simply aren’t using your camera in demanding enough situations. For my events, I am shooting for 10-13 hours straight, with 24-70, 70-200, 135, etc, all heavy lenses, speedlight mounted, with pocket wizard or other remote trigger mounted. I don’t want a tiny, shitty little body to grip on with my finger tips.
J
10 months ago |Allow me to amend my opinion a bit. For many the idea that a small body on a large lens somehow makes the rig unbalanced is a parot of someone else. Very few on this board have direct experience. If you hold your rig by the fingertips, I guess you need a better grip. You won’t be borrowing my gear.
Call the Nex-7 what you want, but it is not ‘shitty’ and the grip on it is good for it’s size. I can speak that for my needs, it feels much better than I expected it to with my heaviest lenses mounted.
Dusty
10 months ago |Why buy them now? Because I have a LOT of photos to take within the next 10 years!
Why buy a petrol-powered car now when in 10 years they’ll all be electric?
DJsolo
10 months ago |exactly. its quite a stupid argument.
Philfoto.ca
10 months ago |The SD is a bit of a downer for me , although every thing else is … WOW
I own an A77 and just to tell that there are no noticeable difference between an 30mb/s and 45 SD cards. And knowing the challenges of burst raw shots in the A77 I would have expected a better and higher data transfer rate.
But besides that … Looks like I am going to have to convince my account manager (wife) that we need this of our company
)
Si
10 months ago |Yawn, another cut and paste about the a99. Given the sites rep. I am surprised you have not come up with something more solid and with depth or not bother!
Si
Steve
10 months ago |As a long time reader of SAR I feel something different have been going on with Sony rumors.
Don’t yet know if Sony is being more secure and leaking less info or less is really going on with camera development than we think and hope.
I hope to be wrong……….And I’m sure our admin is right.
It’s just the rumors in the last few weeks about full-frames have been all over the map.
We will know shortly
New full-frame Zeiss and G lenses, new flash shoe something, new crazy AF…..?
Jesse Lim
10 months ago |No CF? Fail~
Beachrider
10 months ago |CF on newly introduced cameras is getting really rare (when did the last camera introduce with CF). They are just too big and the need for all those pins has been reduced. Sorry.
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |I generally agree, but ALL of the recently released FF cameras have had at least one CF slot. The interesting thing is that some have also had an SD slot, and one (the D4) an XQD slot. CF is on the way out.
Vladimir
10 months ago |I am waiting only FF mirrorless.
Son of Helm
10 months ago |As an old Leica R user, the attraction with a FF
mirrorless or translucent Sony is autofocus and IS with
old non-zoom lenses, as this is a build-in feature of the
camera house, not a feature of the lens.
Any hope that SLT leaves room for an adapter for such lenses?
Sensor size beyond about 20 MP is not a concern to me,
my Leica M9 (with 18 MP) yields A3+ prints much sharper than
I or my friends are able to resolve with close inspection.
Question: Any tests with SLT with old Zeiss or Leica lenses
with respect to flare induced by the mirror?
Ncguy
10 months ago |When can we expect to get images? The camera is due at the end of the month, correct?
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |the end of August
Barbarian
10 months ago |Look at the picture. It’s A99,the real one. Believe me…
ItDoesNotMatter
10 months ago |People! It is only a rumor. Don’t take it too seriously.
Daemonius
10 months ago |Im curious about different thing. How it comes that SAR is still SAR? I thought Sony threated lawsuit or so, didnt they? Or they came to senses and droped it?
Martin Gamper
10 months ago |A bunch full of dreamer here … Well as long it’s a rumor, it’s time to dream. But please don’t be too disappointed when the final spec is released.
I am already preparing to sell my entire Sony System at eBay
DJsolo
10 months ago |good for you! Another photographer who’s imagery is defined by the brand on his camera.
enjoy your nikon. Sony will see you in 15 years when video and photo merge and Nikon users are FUCKED.
Rob
10 months ago |Only 36 mpix, 4k video, no AA will get me to open my wallet.
DJsolo
10 months ago |let me guess- you also want it to cost only $2000. I guess since NO OTHER CAMERA fulfills your hilarious demands, you’ll just sit there with nothing.
zinkplated
10 months ago |The sad fact is that Nikon has nailed Sonys ass to the wall with the D800. Argue all you want re a ‘new’ 24 mpxl camera, regardless of a few electro blingo features its in the same category as the Canon 5D mk3 now. The optical viewfinder on the A900 was one of the big features reviewers actually raved about, the SLT is a video viewfinder for a video camera fr christsakes! If your going to lay out serious money on a camera system and had the choice of a 36mpxl Nikon or a 24mpxl ‘new’ Sony which way do you seriously think you’d go? be honest – regardless of brand photographers are a pragmatic bunch and always want better, sharper, more resolution images and will gravitate to whatever gives them the best results. Used to be film selection now its sensor. I’ve never seen a camera get taken up so fast, theres still a 10 week wait here in Australia and it seems every few days someones going on to me about having finally got one – and its the E varient. Matched with the Nikon mount Carl Zeiss lenses too.
Sony really has missed the boat on this one, by the time it brings out a serious contender the game will be over except for the die hard Sony users who in truth are stuck because of their financial investment in Sony lenses.
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |Every time a D800 sells, Sony laughs its way to the bank.
Sony is working in collaboration with Nikon to bring down the Canon Goliath. There is no way to get the job done alone.
john
10 months ago |Reminds me of the axis powers of WWII
America and Russia were allies until Berlin fell. Then we had the “cold war”.
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |I don’t think it is very much like the Axis, but, yes, it is an uneasy collaboration which will end in conflict.
zinkplated
10 months ago |What a load of crap, Nikon sells a D800 and Nikon profits – Sony sold its soul for whatever reason but it IS the looser here. Sony who should be selling the sensor in their own camera looses via sales, reputation and another customer they have lost and yhat customer will continue to buy Nikon lenses etc so they win short and long term. Wake up!
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |I expect that Sony will get a considerable return from Nikon for this, and not just the sales of the sensors.
DJsolo
10 months ago |You don’t like the EVF? Too bad. Leave. There are plenty of advantages that you are blind to. I like my A850 OVF but I’m not a dumbass and narrowminded to the point that I think EVF will NEVER WORK! Come on.
Eric
10 months ago |No built in flash is a dealbreaker, I dont want to have a big flash mounted or an extra transmitter.
Personally I also want an optical viewfinder (release a classic line built on demand if you need Sony, but give us the option)
Eric.
Greg
10 months ago |Yep…MAJOR fail. It literally kills it for me and makes me glad I just got the A77.
The “excuse” before was either that it wouldn’t accommodate the 100% VF or that pro cameras didn’t have one. Both facts were disproven by the Minolta 9. Even moreso now…the flash can easily be integrated with an EVF, and it still needs to be used for wireless flash, and Sony isn’t really trying to be “like the other guys”.
No onboard flash, no sale. Thanks, Sony…you just saved me $2000+.
DJsolo
10 months ago |A stupid reason not to purchase this camera. Onboard flash to trigger external flashes? You still need line of site. That system still has idiotic limitations, that you will likely need to get radio triggers to surmount. The D3X, D3, D4, Mark 2, 1D series don’t have pop up flashes- because they are meant for NON PROFESSIONAL USE.
People caught in those situations where they just “need some sort of flash and don’t have time to mount an external flash” yadda yadda are UNPREPARED PHOTOGRAPHERS. I’ve used my A850s professionally for years and NEVER wanted, missed, wished I had a pop up flash of any kind. This goes for all others using flagship bodies that lack this stupid feature.
Joel
10 months ago |Oh god, this might have actually resulted in some talk regarding photographic technique in here for a change. What’s the world coming to?
I very rarely use my D800s on board flash, but when I do, it’s only to provide fill at say two stops under ambient in rare conditions. So subtle that you can barely notice it, bar it filling the shadows. Granted most of the time ill use an SB910, but the on the camera has been a useful backup when my main flash had been deployed off camera as the key light when I’m unable to bring my large strobes.
So yes its useful to have the built in flash, but still, to have someone say it’s a deal breaker is pretty laughable. You’re right, these people are better off looking at a point and shoot rather than a high end DSLR.
Greg
10 months ago |So, you’re admitting you use it, but think anyone else who wants to should be laughed at? Oh, that makes a lot of sense.
Okay, Einstein. Explain to my why I need one on my A77, then. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right? I’ll help you since you might be lacking.
Is my A77 a point and shoot? No.
Will the A99 have any more features than the A77? No.
Is a FF sensor able to magically kill shadows? No.
Therefore, your BRILLIANT logic dictates that in order to buy one stop of greater ISO performance and one stop less DOF, I MUST give up my on-board flash. Why, exactly?
So I can carry around a HVL20 flash to make my big camera even bigger?
To give more room for the optical prism? (Oops, there isn’t one).
To show tools like you how “pro” I am?
Yeah, the last one is it. I’m sure of it.
Rory Cornelius
10 months ago |DJsolo is 100% correct. The fact of the matter is that if the absence of an on-board flash is such a deal-breaker for you, then you’re likely over-extending your needs with your camera choice – you’d be more well suited with a more enthusiast level camera.
I’ve been shooting professionally for close to fifteen years – photography pays my mortgage and feeds my family – I shoot practically every day. I’d bet that I’ve released a camera shutter more times in the past month than at least half of the people commenting here have released in the past year. And, I seriously can not remember the last time I used a camera’s built-in flash. And, I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever once – in my entire professional life – ever found myself in a situation where I wished I had an on-board flash. Why would I? Direct front-flash looks terrible. Radio triggers are superior for triggering in practically every situation. The only advantage might come in gaining a small amount of convenience in triggering an HSS lighting setup – but even then, you’d have to deal with the effect of the terrible looking front flash affecting the exposure – much better to use a decent flash and bounce it to trigger such a system.
Built-in flashes have one purpose – to expose a shot that you need to get when you don’t care about image quality and you find yourself in a situation where you’re entirely unprepared regarding your available lighting options. But, people who really have a true need such a level of camera rarely – if ever – find themselves in those situations.
If it’s a “deal-breaker” for you – if you really, really NEED built-in flash, then you don’t really need that much camera.
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |Greg
10 months ago |Wrong, Rory. I have a medium format digital camera. So yes, mine IS bigger than yours.
The fact that they took out a perfectly useful tool in order to appease idiot poseur photogs who think less capability makes them look cool is what bothers me.
I guess you’re so “pro” you never take shots in daylight and can use fill light. Oh, I guess you always carry your Sony 58, right? EVERY DAY?
Somehow, I think you’re full of (sh)it.
Eat that.
Rory Cornelius
10 months ago |“The fact that they took out a perfectly useful tool in order to appease idiot poseur photogs who think less capability makes them look cool is what bothers me.”
Then, you must be the idiot, because that’s obviously not why they did it.
“I guess you’re so “pro” you never take shots in daylight and can use fill light. Oh, I guess you always carry your Sony 58, right? EVERY DAY?”
Uh… yeah. If I want saleable shots I go prepared. Front fill looks like shit. Usually I carry at least an SB-28 and a radio trigger. And, at least one of my Sigma EF-530s is always in my pack. If I’m just out walking around and want to travel uber-light, and I’m not expecting to get saleable images, I’ll carry my back-up A-550 – but it doesn’t happen very often where I feel the need to travel so light that my A-900 with an EF-530 seems like such a HUGE hassle to carry around. I mean, think about it – are you actually serious? You can lug around an A-900… but lugging around an A-900 with a speed-light is just an insurmountable chore? Are you for real?
“PS…if you’re stupid enough to actually think the fixed flash affects HSS exposure, it’s obvious you’re not as “pro” as you think.”
You have no idea what you’re talking about, do you? On-board flash WILL absolutely affect HSS exposure when shooting at any shutter-speed at or below the camera’s max sync-speed. You don’t need to Google that, go and freakin’ try it!
But yeah… you’re right. For a pro-Photog, the lack of an on-board flash is a definite “dealbreaker.” That’s exactly why you NEVER see pros carrying around Nikon D3s!?!?! …what an idiot!
Greg
10 months ago |You apparently don’t understand what HSS exposure is if you think you can shoot “high speed sync” below sync speed. Geez, it’s right there IN THE NAME.
Yeah, I’m not a pro, so I prefer to have more capability. Call me crazy. Explain to me why they took it out exactly??? Whom does that benefit?? You forgot to address that point (among others).
Or, for a real strain on your brain, explain to my why they DO include the flash on the A77. And then explain why the A99 doesn’t need it. Or how it reduces the camera’s effectiveness.
And also, explain why a pro Nikon shooter is trolling the Sony forums, when everyone knows all real pros don’t shoot Sony. (In case you weren’t aware, Minolta’s heritage catered to prosumers…like me).
I’ll be waiting.
Greg
10 months ago |PS…if you’re stupid enough to actually think the fixed flash affects HSS exposure, it’s obvious you’re not as “pro” as you think.
(Hint: It doesn’t. AT ALL. ZERO. ZILCH. Google it.)
jack
10 months ago |yeah to control the price.. no XQD, no inbuild Flash… right..
lets hope the ISO does anything near as good as the four years old 5D mark 2!!!
thats the only saving grace for the much hyped A99!
we expect it to be A77 body with 5D-2 level high ISO performance and XQD support
Bill
10 months ago |XQD is a faster standard but for now is more expensive and the A77 is not being limited by the current SD cards. The A99 is still a 24MP camera so will still be able to improve write times over the A77 without going to XQD cards. The thing the A99 really needs for sports is a larger buffer and improvement in write times, there is still head room on 95MB/s SD cards for that to happen. The focus system is being improved, also good for sports. ISO should be on par with other current full frame cameras, a slight deficit due to the mirror, but we will have to wait for the cameras and RAW software to find out for sure.
Canon and Nikon may introduce <$2000 full frames that will certainly hurt Sony sales, but I expect it to be better than the Canon 5Dm3 and Nikon D800 for sports, better than the 5Dm3 for landscapes, but falling short of the D800 for landscapes and the 1D X and 4D for sports.
Carl
10 months ago |The A900 is barely worse than the 5D2 in high ISO.
JB
10 months ago |http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/25/compactflash-association-develops-xqd-2-0/
I guess 2.0 will come out then no point for the Axx?
redfern
10 months ago |It would be cool if Sony set up the dual SD card slots in a RAID configuration so it could either write simultaneously to both cards for backup or alternate between the two cards (each with its own buffer) to speed up write times (a stripe config).
matgay
10 months ago |why stripe 2 slow old technolgy and multiply the failure rate? when just 1 fastest XQD makes more sense… unless you are striping 2 of the LATEST tech fastest cards.
Walter Knapp
10 months ago |Is this new hotshoe setup Compatable with the Sony and Minolta 2400 macro twinflash, and the Minolta 1200 ringflash? Or are these some of the flashes Sony is cutting off for good? I could care less about the 56 as it’s been replaced by the 58 flash, but sony does not produce any macro flashes now so we have to continue with the Minolta gear.
john
10 months ago |It’s not like you are going to buy the camera anyway Walt.
DJsolo
10 months ago |jhahahahaha so true
CTPhotographX.com
10 months ago |Something tells me this an 8 Series bridge camera. Not the a99.
NIKO
10 months ago |Did anyone read the part about a new hot shoe? What is that about? Am I going to have to deal with adapters now? I have 4 Sony HVL-F56AM’s and 2 Minolta 3600HSD’s. Now I have to use an adapter? I hope I understood what I read incorrectly.
Dulaney Ward
10 months ago |I do think that we have had a slower crescendo of rumors leading up to this year’s Fall announcement. Does that mean that Sony is holding a tighter leash on information this year? If so, it could bode well for this camera.
poke
10 months ago |Seems awful quiet. We should be getting some new leaks so close to announcement. I cannot believe Sony is keeping such a tight lid on the products to be announced.
wth
10 months ago |besides the New AF system, isn’t Sony being a little too “conservative” in regards to this new camera?
The A77 had more hype going for it when compared to the other/competitor cameras.
New Bionz processor (though the real specs was never released)
Totally New EVF
12 FPS on 24MP
Fully Articulated Screen
The A99 so far when compared to other cameras:
new hot shoe (ohhh joy!)
102 AF (fair enough this is good, I hope)
slightly improved EVF
Honestly the only rumor that was exciting was the 36MP sensor and the square sensor which ended up just being rumors.
Maybe Sony will add the auto portrait framing feature and the Share to Facebook button… Maybe even the toy filter…. /facepalm
JB
10 months ago |I keeping my expectations low. Feel better that way.
Rod
10 months ago |No built in flash is an issue.
Whilst I use an external flash most of the time there are times when a built in flash is very useful.
It triggers off camera flashes
The compact size is useful in tight spaces
It is fast to use so it allows you to capture a shot you would miss otherwise.
I really hope this rumour is incorrect
DJsolo
10 months ago |it allows you to capture a terrible, flat, front-lit, contrast-lacking, shitty image. Can it provide fill? Occasionally. If you are forking $2800 on a body, you really should have higher standards for your light. Just my 2c. Fuck pop up flash.
Greg
10 months ago |DJ, if my kids were as ugly as yours, I guess I’d want their faces permanently in shadow as well. Fortunately, they’re not…so I’ll take the flash.
JB
10 months ago |I don’t miss it on my A850. Don’t need it for AXX.
poke
10 months ago |Need built in flash. I don’t see an advantage to not having it. Besides the obvious use as a trigger for other speed lights, the in the pinch use is fill and not inside but outside in light. Its use is to get rid of raccoon eyes in daylight shots. There is no flat picture look with that at all. No one is saying that it is better than strobes or off shoe flashes, but I don’t want to carry those type of lights everywhere I take my camera. The bigger question, Does including the built in flash make the camera a worse camera than if you left it out? I say no. If you hate it don’t use it. If the camera has iso 25,000, my guess is that it will not make the camera better or worse and I will never set my iso to that setting. But it is there in case.
Greg
10 months ago |Give up. You’re trying to use logic with morons.
Jens G
10 months ago |Could the new hot shoe be a DIN hot shoe?
GunnarK
10 months ago |I really hope it isn’t!
The almost 100 year old “standard” ISO hot shoe causes numerous problems in practical use. The Minolta/Sony iISO hot shoe, being a modern design actually made to be used with flash (which the old HS wasn’t – it was designed to be used with range- and viewfinders) has eliminated ALL these problems.
.
Nik Page
10 months ago |R.I.P. Sony Camera Department
Craig
10 months ago |one thing I REALLY want to know is about the manual controls. I do not want to have to go hunting through menu’s just to change the metering mode. It’s probably way too late now for Sony to change that, but I’ll hold out until next year if this one is missing a metering switch like the A77. I’m still using my Minolta 7D just waiting for the things I want. I was ready to buy the A900 when it came it out, but the 5DII had Video as well, and I thought it wouldn’t take Sony that long to get a Full-Frame with Video onto the market. In hindsight, I should have bought the A900 when it came out, I could have gotten plenty of use with that while I was waiting. The best thing I love about my Minolta is by the ability to configure everything I need without having to hunt through a menu. I’d happily fore go a top LCD in favour of more/easier to use manual switches.
ian
10 months ago |I read with interest the comments about the pop up flash (or lack of it) below – many comments seem to be missing the point..
Yes, no pop up flash is a deal breaker for me as well, however this does not mean I’m a ‘pretend’ photographer, nor does it mean that I don’t have a large flash to put on the camera if needed, or that a full frame camera isn’t what I need..
There is a category between ‘point and shoot’ amateurs and do it ‘all day every day’ professionals and that is the keen enthusiast – the same people who used to own many of the 35mm SLR cameras, and who probably own lenses from a fast 50mm to a reasonable 300mm.
For those people their camera is being used for a range of purposes, and lugging an add on flash around ALL the time simply doesn’t work – sure I often have mine with me if I know I’m doing something specific that will need it, but that often isn’t the case. Then you run into a situation that needs a bit of fill in flash and you’d be stuffed without the inbuilt one.
Yes, I might only use it for one photo out of a hundred (or even less than that) but if it doesn’t have one I’m either screwed or will have to cart another camera or flash around all the time!
And I bet I’m not the only enthusiast (non pro) who is aching to go back to full frame – all my lenses are full frame and I’d love be able to use them properly on my digital camera!
So until Sony make a full frame, with flash, (and external mic socket, which they did put on the a57/a77) I won’t be buying one – until then I will still use my film camera if I want a better picture than my a77 can do..
Greg
10 months ago |Well said, Ian. I’ve lost count of the number of times in the last week I’ve popped up my flash to create a catch light or allow the sun to backlight my daughter’s hair. I guess the “pros” haven’t learned this trick yet.
Still waiting for someone to explain why they put it on the Maxxum 9 (a harder job) and couldn’t put it on here.
Eric
10 months ago |Another dealbreaker for me is the “Nikonised” on off button around the shutterbutton that they implemented on the newer cameras.
Thats one reason I still have my A700 and not the A77.
The on off should be somewhere else, like the old models (heck even Canon moved theirs to where Minolta/sony had it)
The reason is I dont like when the front controlwheel ends up on the frons side on the grip, it should be on top just next to shutter button.
And looking at the ghostimage it looks like I will use my A700 for some time still……or grab a second hand A700…or…..the unthinkable…go Canon…no not happening ; )
ian
10 months ago |Yep – I’m still using my maxxum 7 for things I know I want printed really large or need the full width of the lens.. What I’d like, and have been waiting many years for, is a digital slr equivalent of the ’7′, with the addition of video (including a mic input)… That would be perfect.
Reading a later post here on SR they now say that not only will the a99 not have an in built flash, but it will lose the current old minolta flash shoe and go to the ISO one. Great in principle, not so great for those of us who own the 5600HS (I have two) – and I certainly wouldn’t want to stuff around with an adapter.. Still, a new flash isn’t that expensive, so I could live with that if they would just put an internal one in as well!
ian
10 months ago |and whoops, my post should have been one level up under gregs…