The A99 specs: Do you like the camera?
On Friday I posted the A99 prototype camera specs. I got them via trusted sources so I expect them to be very reliable although small changes can still be made for the final production version. I can add some info from unconfirmed rumors (SR3) saying that there will be a 3 Megapixel OLED viewfinder and a more reliable info that (SR4) it records 10-12 fps. In short, for around $2,500-$2,800 (or Euro or Pounds) you will get a FF SLT with 24MPX, 102 all cross AF, ISO50-25,600 (with +2 extension), 1080/p60, weather sealed body with built in Flash and optional vertical grip.
If those specs are correct the question is:
Loading ...My impression is that the camera is aimed for sport photography and video. It’s where the cameras can beat the upcoming Nikon D800 and the Canon 5DmarkIII.
Stewe
11 months ago |No. But i’m interested in f1.2 primes.
C
11 months ago |This guy knows what’s up. I’m interested in cinema with the new primes.
ee
11 months ago |No AA-less version? I see they’ve gone SLT but why not go totally mirrorless which is the logical conclusion. Apparently the days when Sony innovated have already passed?
I’m holding out hope the f1.2 prime is real and coming soon, this lens alone could be enough to bring me on board. Otherwise, WTF is Sony thinking?
ck
11 months ago |i will care more about A77 future, how the next firmware?FF i can’t afford the price
Stewe
11 months ago |Well it is top-notch APS-C for this year and a half of next. So the could be new fw. BTW what’s wrong with current fw for a77?
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Still lags, no option to customize ? and movie button, no option to assign SSS to custom buttons, no option to view histogram and level a the same time, no “shake detector” icon,
I made somewhere in previous comments a long list of issues with current firmware for A77. There’s a lot of things to fix.
Stewe
11 months ago |If only they were smart enough to give people chance to make alternative fw…
LEdgars
11 months ago |Stills during video is unique feature, but I still think, that A88/99 could stand out by at least 2K video .
Agrivar
11 months ago |Canon 5D MkIII and Panasonic GH/G has this feature. Its not that rare
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Agrivar: with the 5D MkIII, you can take a still while taking video, but it interrupts the video, resulting in a one-second-long “still” moment in your video. Not recommended. As to the Panasonic cameras, the video is not interrupted, but the resulting stills are in 16:9 format and something like four mpx. Hardly acceptable. If the new FF Alpha can offer us something rather better than these serious compromises, it will in fact be a breakthrough.
Frank
11 months ago |There is a difference between fixes and feature requests. Yours are requests to add features and the lag is practically non-existent.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Perhaps besides last two – these are fixes. And if you don’t see a lag – it’s your problem, it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Johan
11 months ago |The low max bitrate when recording movies, no volume control for audio when recording movies, no “smart teleconverter” in movie mode but my biggest problem is no auto ISO in manual mode. Or at least the option to set a minimum shutter speed when using auto ISO. What were they thinking?
Randy S.
11 months ago |No auto iso in MANUAL MODE? Is that a joke?
VisX
11 months ago |I think it will be handle to have AutoISO in Manual mode FOR VIDEO. For example, I want to be able to fix shutter to 1/50 and aperture to f2. And then let the camera take care of the exposure through ISO while I am busy focusing and/or flying the camera.
Since we are not using film (fix ISO) here, we should be able to have Aperture-AND-Shutter priority mode while ISO is auto. As this is not really “Manual mode”, cameras should add this new “SA” priority mode to them.
DJ
11 months ago |Randy there are plenty of situations where shutter and aperture priority would be useful with auto-iso. If you don’t get it, thats cool.
Randy S.
11 months ago |DJ aperture pri and shutter pro are not manual mode. That would then be something called auto iso mode or auto
GAIN mode. Manual mode means manual.
dennismullen
11 months ago |Flash exposure problems need to be fixed!
PhotoNut
11 months ago |+1
The price is what kills it for me. Why in the world would SONY even consider such a huge price given that the Nikon competition is so aggressive? I mean come on, SONY knew that Nikon was going to release with their new 36mpx sensor while SONY would use older 24mpx sensor, so why would they expect folks to pay close to the price as new 36mpx high end Nikon for a lesser brand SONY with less professional features and light robbing plastic mirror?
I was ready to upgrade to the new SONY A99 for the expected better high ISO/low light performance and most importantly the video but I can’t if it is going to come out priced above $2,500.
I think that the price ceiling for SONY A99 (or at least a Sony FF model for non-pros) should be $2,000.
If SONY released entry level FF for $1,500 (A77 with FF sensor) and a higher end model at $2,300 – $2,500 that would definitely help it move sales of FF cameras and lenses.
Its funny how SONY and all its fan boys were boasting about how getting rid of the mechanical mirrors, HQ penta-prism and optical viewfinder was going to make the cameras much cheaper. If those mechanical parts were a significant cost of these cameras then how come the SLTs are no more cheaper than DSLRs?
SJP
11 months ago |I completely agree. Nikon knows what’s up. D600 level FF for ~$1500 without all the bells and whistles. Sony should have done that first seeing as they are gearing their products towards consumers with all of the silly options they include in the software. SLT was supposed to be cheaper and we’re not really seeing it. Why is it so hard to make a simple a57 or a65 with a FF sensor?
Sahaja
11 months ago |Didn’t Sony try that with the A850 – a full frame DSLR without all the bells and whistles that was priced way below any other full frame DSLR at the time it was released.
PhotoNut
11 months ago |Well, didn’t the A850 sell loads more than the more expensive A900? Also, neither the A850 or A900 had the basic live-view or video features that *every* other DSLR has.
Personally, I only paid about $1350 for my A850
but I seriously miss the ability to record short video clips when shooting events. I also miss better high ISO perf for low light. However, I don’t miss the higher frame rate of the A900 (the only major difference between the two) and I never shoot in continuous shutter mode anyway. Maybe if I shot sports I would care.
SONY is always coming late to the party. It is like their product and marketing teams are in a time warp where they can only react to photography industry developments six months to a year after they happen.
Spoon
11 months ago |In many countries Sony didn’t even bother releasing the A850. I’d love to see some statistics that tell us the A850 sold “loads more” than the A900. But I already know Photonut is talking hot air again.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Nut, we don’t know what the price will be so far. but let’s suppose that this camera comes in at $2500-2800. With a new high-performing sensor (not the old sensor at all) and a new high-performing AF system, and much better high-iso performance. Coupled with 12fps, that doesn’t sound to me like a camera with lower specs than the D800. Instead, it sounds like the camera the vast majority have been calling for, a camera to compete with the D4, but priced to go up against the much more expensive 5D MkIII. In fact, I believe it will challenge the 5D MkIII in video, a realm in which the 5D MkII was unchallenged, and, as a great camera for sports and wildlife, will be Sony’s first challenge to the D4 and the 1D series.
Remember, Sony has a serious partnership with Nikon, albeit an uneasy one, and their common foe is Canon, the 800-pound gorilla in the dslr-slt room.
PhotoNut
11 months ago |Dulaney,
The thing is that which real professional sports or wildlife photographer is going to abandon their Nikon or Canon professional DSLRs, lenses and professional services and switch to the SONY just because SONY released *one* DSLT that had better specs than Canon/Nikon?
Seriously? Why would a Canon shooter with access to almost every kind of fast lens one would want, 200mm 2.8,300mm 2.8,400 f/4,500mm f/4,600mm f/4 and even 800mm f/5.7 (i think) decide to switch to a platform with only one expensive telephoto prime — an expensive 500mm f/4 lens. And that lens is not even optically stabilized which means that the image in the viewfinder is not steady which hurts AF tracking.
This strategy/hope for the A99 that you describe makes no sense. SONY cannot seriously believe that they will make great sales if their upcoming and only FF camera is mostly targeted at well-heeled sports and wildlife professionals especially when SONY does not even provide any professional services and you cannot find local services to rent SONY gear from like you can for Nikon and Canon.
The main market for SONY is and has always been former Minolta users, users new to DSLRs, P&S upgraders, folks coming from film SLR or Pentax background and those without significant investment in AF lenses from Nikon or Canon.
I’m sure there has been recently very little migration from Canon or Nikon users to SONY. This is even more true now where SONY doesn’t even have a full frame camera for sale anymore.
Nikon has it right. Pack with features, sell low and make it up with volume. Making high volume in sales is very important for SONY because otherwise they will keep on having very high manufacturing unit cost due to lack of economies of scale.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |This camera will not be aimed “mostly” at sports and wildlife photographers, but will be broadly attractive to advanced and professional shooters. However, the sports and wildlife markets are very important, because photographers in these markets are willing to shell out big bucks for telephoto lenses, and because many of the photographers in these fields are high-profile.
You’re probably right that the number of pros who switch to Sony because of this new camera and the lenses that will accompany it will be limited, but it will be real. The other markets you have mentioned are not small, and there is another, the considerable number of photographers who are either actually moving into the professional market, or planning to, or hoping to. If the results that this camera can produce, with the current and projected lenses, are as good as I believe they will be, the A88 or whatever it will be called will be very attractive to this market.
Furthermore, although Sony has a long way to go on other fronts, such as pro-level service or rentals, they have made progress and will continue to do so. This infrastructure cannot be created in a day, and involves the eternal problem: You have to have adequate availability of equipment for rent to convince photographers to switch, and you have to have serious numbers of photographers in order to get equipment rental outfits to stock Sony. But they are working on it and making progress.
matgay
11 months ago |such useless info!!! it says NOTHING about the performance. iso50-25600 at native?? how much of that is usable?? 24mp could be ok or not ok, whats the dynamic range n colors. autofocus hitrate? 12fps is lovely though, but 10fps is meh. guess we will all have to wait half a year until actual REVIEWS not specs are out.
bottom line is how will it outperform the competition?
Stewe
11 months ago |ISO performance of a99 must be really on whole new level, since a77 was comparable with a900.
Ss
11 months ago |A77 noise performance is much worst than a900.
Close to 2/3-1 stop difference in RAW …(ref dxomark.com)
Stewe
11 months ago |Now you ruined my life. I will take a shotgun and killmyself with a spoon.
klw10
11 months ago |It is not as bad as he has made it out to be. Shoot Raw and use LR to convert and remove noise.
Francisco G
11 months ago |LOLOLOL
klw10
11 months ago |Using Lightroom on the Raw files of the a77 you could come close to the a900 but the a900 is still better in the noise department. It is to be expected though due to the sensor size. I think your statement of being much worse is still a stretch though.
Beachrider
11 months ago |DxO doesn’t publish anything that it calls ‘noise’. They do: 1) Color depth 2) Dynamic Range and 3) Low light ISO.
In two of the three, a77 gets better marks than a900.
The low light ISO is 2/3 slower for a77 than a900. I suppose that it would be truthful to say 2/3-42 f/stops because the number is 2/3 fstop.
Spoon
11 months ago |Yes they do. You have to look past the silly single data points and “score” and look at their actual measurements. SNR for example, short for signal to NOISE ratio.
Which shows between 0.9 to 0.5 EV (from low to high ISO respectively) SNR difference between the A900 and A77.
doug
11 months ago |The noise measurements of the A77 are unsurprising. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that when you divert 20% of the light away from the sensor with a semitransparent mirror some image degradation is inevitable.
But for better or worse Sony has made a marketing decision that more potential buyers want fast autofocus than want the best possible image quality, and they seem very willing to alienate some buyers in the process. I wish them luck with that.
The Lotus Eater
11 months ago |Useless info? Wow. Maybe you should wait until the camera is announced and there are some reviews out there, and try not to behave like a spoilt brat in the meantime.
matgay
11 months ago |ura obvious unthinking lemming.
The Lotus Eater
11 months ago |Clearly.
Ure grammer and spellz is also gr8.
Sonypro
11 months ago |This camera has not even been announced yet. How on earth can you expect answers to your questions that you have posed???? A tad ridiculous don’t you think??
matgay
11 months ago |and if u kow anything about cameras, just knowing that it is “24 mp” is absolutely useless. those info above are first of all, subjective opinion. and second not even for sure, with large ballpark ranges.
12 fps = a real 12 fps
… but iso 25,600 is not iso 25,600.
even the pricing, 2500-2800 (usd or euro or lbs), big difference.
well… having yes a vertical grip option or no not having one is definitive. so what else is definitive?
matgay
11 months ago |$4500 us dollars for this camera. according to above info, if in pounds.
JS
11 months ago |They price it locally. Much like a Big Mac is £5 in the UK or $5 in the US. Unless you’re silly enough to buy it abroad or while on holiday, you won’t get it for whatever the exchange rate is. Relax.
The Lotus Eater
11 months ago |2500-2800 lbs?
That is one heavy camera.
DeMarcusAllen
11 months ago |Let me get this straight, 12fps is good but 10fps is “meh”??? You guys are such children, never satisfied with anything at all. Most of the people commenting won’t even use CLOSE to half of the features this camera comes with. There’s always a complain, it’s never good enough for you guys. I’m a firm believer of complaining only being ok when you’re about to make a change. So if it’s not good enough for you, just shut up and get a Canon or Nikon!
matgay
11 months ago |knock, knock. its called sarcasm. hello!
Beachrider
11 months ago |AKA speaking for effect (not for collegial discussion).
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |We have to wait just six or seven weeks for the announcement with full specs, and probably at that time at least full hands-on previews, maybe even full reviews. Barring a catastrophe like last year, I suspect that the camera will begin shipping in October, just three months from now.
lollo
11 months ago |@ Matgay
what a moron.
Those info are more than useful, since you do not have any better info to provide….
Again, try to get as many infos, as SAR does, on unreleased Canikon cameras and than you can tell us.
DJ
11 months ago |wow you sound like such a little brat. I’m sure the A77 is already too much camera for you to handle. Everything is amazing, nobody is happy.
Brian
11 months ago |Medium to high ISO Noise is what I want to hear more about…and hopefully a much needed improvement. Not excited about SLT. Still think the A900 has the best viewfinder out there.
Stewe
11 months ago |A few years later (5 i think) you couldn’t find a difference between evf and ovf.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |You still will be able to find a difference. Sorry to disappoint you. Major thing though is that EVF doesn’t need to pretend to be an OVF. What it needs is to display as close image as possible to the one that will be captured after pressing a shutter button. And that’s a field where EVF will win – actually: it already wins (at least in A77) with OVF.
Stewe
11 months ago |>You still will be able to find a difference.
Just wait untill you’ll see it.
matgay
11 months ago |if ovf is so much better, how come none of the hollywood cameras use ovf?
Sky_walker
11 months ago |I don’t have to wait. I just know the current state of industry and happen to be educated as microsystems engineer
. In 5 years you won’t see any EVF that will give you the image of OVF in terms of dynamic range, colours, reaction time, “3D feeling“.
What’s possible though is that you’ll see an EVF with resolution high enough for anyone to be more then capable of extremely precise manual focusing, and possibly also a reaction time in good light short enough for most people not to see a difference between OVF reaction and EVF.
But as I said – NOONE should care if EVF offers image of the OVF. It’s MEANINGLESS. What’s important is if viewfinder offers the image as close as possible to captured photograph. The desire to have this feature is a primary reason why we shoot with reflex cameras instead of rangefinders. Realize that people, finally!
Randy S.
11 months ago |LOL MAYTAG every use an ARRI Alexa? Its a optical view finder. f65 can have either OVF or evf. Most Sony F900 f950 f23 f35 all have OVF. But Hey I just work in Hollywood.
matgay
11 months ago |just saw the ovf for videos. they are monstruos! bigger and heavier than the camera itself. without b&w focus peaking. no wonder only 1 out of 1000s cameras use those dinosaur.
evf technology is “already” better than ovf. it just depend on the price to trickle down to the camera segment for affordability.
Randy S.
11 months ago |may tag why don’t you go look at price of Alexa with mirror box and without. The mirror box version is WAY WAY WAY MORE. Like $20,000 more. The point is what you said was totally wrong not whether EVF is or will be better.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Randy – Yes, some pro camcoders can use OVF, yet I’m yet to see one anywhere outside the promo materials of their developers. matgay is right IMHO – the EVF is one, and only standard for video. OVFs out there are more exotic then EVFs in DSLR world.
Randy S.
11 months ago |sky walker. HE said NO HOLLYWOOD (where I work every day) uses OVF. Thats just WRONG. Most TV and Movie camera’s have OVF ACCEPT RED. Alexa has both. f900 optical f950 optical Panavison genisis optical.
f35 f23 optical. So whats your point? my point he said they don’t use them in Hollywood. Well unless you are making porn or low budget crap with a HVX or using a RED (while common not ALL things are shot on RED)
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Randy, cool down.
As I said: Yes, the OVFs are used, but standard is an EVF. And it’s not like you try to make it up, that only low-budget productions use EVFs: everyone use EVFs or build-in LCD screens or external screens with rare exceptions in few cameras used under very specific circumstances. There’s more surprises! Huge part of productions are made only using prime lenses. Or one that viewfinders used in profession video sometimes are… black and white. Yep. They use viewfinders that don’t display color at all. Especially in broadcasting for TV.
EVF is the way to go for a pro productions. Whatever you like it or not – entire video market discovered it lomg, long ago. DSLR market slowly starts to acknowledge EVF advantages, but it’s a very painful process as you see yourself.
Mikey2000
11 months ago |I wonder if Sony will have cured the ‘slideshow effect’ for hi fps bursts, hopefully allowing liveview between shots…
matgay
11 months ago |what i really wanna know is will this larger photocell 24mp a88 have better iso than the higher pixel 36mp a99. logic says yes, but then again the 36mp will be 1 year later technology. so logic also says the 36mp a99 should outperform the D800.
Stewe
11 months ago |>a99 should outperform the D800
Don’t count on it. You’ll be less dissappointed.
Beachrider
11 months ago |Speaking for effect?
Ken
11 months ago |well, according to the SR5 rumor YESTERDAY, the a99 will have the 24MP sensor
hugo
11 months ago |Apart from the quite impressive 101 or 102 AF points module, the specs are pretty much in line with the A77.
I am really curious about the improvements to the EVF.
passer-by
11 months ago |I think it’s about the same.
Beachrider
11 months ago |I don’t know, myself. But I would be surprised if Sony doesn’t use the intervening year to improve the EVF, given that they did such a big improvement for a55 to a57…
Albert
11 months ago |i think specification in paper is not that reliable. Need to wait and see the field performance compared to D800/5D3. If it has a good balance in terms of resolving power/dynamic range and high ISO performance, it will have a great potential.
Jakob Røjel
11 months ago |I must say if Sony not with in the next year can produce cameras at a quality of Nikon D800/D4 I think that I will leave the alpha mount.
Så improved AF,improved image quality, improved ISO handling
Frank
11 months ago |For every one that leaves, there will be many more that buy it. It’s how Sony works, they don’t care so much about existing customers, they want new customers.
bloodsucker
11 months ago |it sucks to be existing customer then?
Jakob Røjel
11 months ago |Can’t see how Sony can continue running a fullframe business if they can’t keepup with Nikons 2011 lineup. But I really hope that Sony will deliver
/jakob
whistler
11 months ago |This kind of attitude towards the existing customers has ruined other large companies before. Why should this work differently at Sony? Oh, wait, it does not! Every single existing and profitable company succeeding only by valuing their existing customers.
Beachrider
11 months ago |The correct short-answer to everyone that advise that they are leaving is ‘au-revoir’.
That being said, I am also hoping that Sony can exploit their own sensor technology more optimally. They are committed to EVF (both Nex and Alpha). They should be able to beat OVF machines on price NOW and on performance SOON.
We do need to keep an eye on them.
aidualk
11 months ago |I am waiting for the 36MP Camera.
I do not need 12fps or 102 AF Sensors or perfect video in a photocamera…
eths
11 months ago |To beat a dead horse – Lenses and real professional support are far more important if Sony wants to break into the high-end and professional markets.
That said, the camera does sound very interesting.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Lenses are already there, and support won’t be made if there’s no modern full frame available.
XE-1
11 months ago |Hey Andrea, does ‘external grip’ mean ‘built in vertical grip’ or ‘optional vertical grip’?
admin
11 months ago |optional vertical grip. Will correct my text now! Thanks!
XE-1
11 months ago |Thanks Andrea. Much clearer and also the answer I was hoping for:)
Stuart1701
11 months ago |All depends on price. Competing at close to $3000 with the rediculusly over priced 5Dmk3 will be a no-no as far as I am concerned. Needs to be below D800 price or I think it will bomb, no matter how it performs.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Agreed.
matgay
11 months ago |“no matter how it performs” uh, ok.
Tanglefoot
11 months ago |Agreed – too expensive. I may well consider it when it comes out & if it has the tilting rear screen (pretty valuable for my style of shooting) then I may be swayed, but a switch over to Nikon will be tempting at that price. Nearer the $2000 mark & they will get my custom unless it is a comlete dud!
Gamagama
11 months ago |Yes, euro2500-2800 is way too high, with the uncertain AF performance and the traditional badly-performed Jpg rendering. Especially true when the competitors are strong and the price differences are not attractive enough
Frank
11 months ago |D600 is the real worry, never mind the D800.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |We’ll see. So far neither D600 nor A99 was released, so there’s nothing to judge. One thing is certain: Many, many people will buy cheapest full frame regardless of anything else.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Well, only if it’s Nikon or Canon. I don’t think that the cheapo FF camera route is the way forward for Sony, even if they could make money with a lowered price.
Matt
11 months ago |I don’t care so long as it doesn’t get the Australia Tax! If it actually came in at a $2800 price point it would be cheap, damn cheap.
PE
11 months ago |Might switch to Nikon and get a D600 instead.
It will probably have better ISO performance.
Not very intrested in movie and sports…
Frank
11 months ago |If jpeg ISO performance is your only concern then you should already be with Nikon!
Beachrider
11 months ago |Au-revoir
travelshots
11 months ago |I can’t tell from this specs if I like the camera or not. I will like it, if it meets the following criteria:
1) EVF better than A77 in the following aspects
a) Dynamic range (most important)
b) Brightness outdoors
c) Colours outdoors
2) Image qualitiy (RAW based):
a) Less noise than A580 (about 1 ISO step better step on pixel level, that means about 2 ISO steps better than A77 above ISO 400)
b) Dynamic range better than A77, at least on the level of A580 at the same ISO sensitivity value.
3) It has multiframe NR
It would be perfect if additionally the mirror could be moved away in shooting mode (MF would be ok in that mode).
wth
11 months ago |WHY THE HELL WOULD I BUY THIS IF I CAN SPEND $400 MORE AND GET A D800……
GOOD ONE PONY!
Matt
11 months ago |Why the hell would I spend $400 more and get the D800?
wth
11 months ago |Because it has the BETTER Sony sensor in it!!!!
Randy S.
11 months ago |right so your $10,000 in lenses don’t matter? Its why I will never buy an A99 or A88 because I have Nikon Glass going all the way back to when my Step mother was starting out as a PJ in the early 70′s
wth
11 months ago |Are you stating a point or attempting to ask a rhetorical question?
whatever it is, good on you.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Interesting, Randy, that you are hanging around a Sony rumor forum.
Matt
11 months ago |Better?! HOW EXACTLY? More MP does not = better.
Tell me some other way the D800 is ‘better’. The D800 doesn’t fit any of my lenses, so the D800 isn’t much good at all to me.
Oh and if it is in line with Sony pricing recently, it will be about $1000 cheaper than the D800 to me and I seriously doubt the D800 is $1000 better.
matgay
11 months ago |and sell all ur alpha mount lenses at 30% worth to re-invest in another mount? what a fool.
Frank
11 months ago |Depends on whether you take the long or short term view. It also depends on whether you have many lenses that you would lose a lot of cash over.
If you had bought second-hand Alpha glass you wouldn’t lose much at all and it would be easy to swap systems.
bloodsucker
11 months ago |i sold my lenses which i bought it brand new and lose close to 5%, thanks to sony price hike =)
Tom
11 months ago |Depends on the situation…. I bought most of my lenses used, and even the new ones, before the price-hikes, so I will not be losing much at all by selling my Minolta/Sony lenses.
Hellven
11 months ago |try to shoot sports at 10/12 fps with on a D800 and then we talk, no… wait… you would have to pay $6000 to do it in any other brand!
wth
11 months ago |Whenever Sony decides to release this camera… Probably won’t see it till late December-2013…
I believe it’s nearly 1 year since Sony pulled all their Flagship Professional cameras off the manufacturing line?!?!?
Anyone bought a cake?
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |It will be announced within two months, and available in about three months.
wth
11 months ago |first statement, probably.
second statement, maybe… if you are lucky
Randy S.
11 months ago |No real sports shooter is depending on 10 fps. There are times to use it but its not what people count on to get the shot.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Depends on the sport, and on the photographer. Perhaps some great photographers are simply not “real.”
Sky_walker
11 months ago |DON’T FEED THE TROLL
Thank you
wth
11 months ago |I wouldn’t know what sound a troll makes…
So here’s the sound of a turkey…
*gobble* *gobble*
Andrew Lynch
11 months ago |Hold on everyone is going on about the D800 but reviews I have seen have liked the 5d mk3 better. Due to better handling and autofocus and better quality video.
On paper the D800 is the best DSLR out but real world it isn’t.
I would rather Sony brought out a camera that makes good use in the real world.
OVF vs EVF it’s only there to compose your image.
The EVF has so much more information to help me do that. Levels, histogram and also seeing what the image will actually look like (minus studio and flash)
No mirror means its silent as well.
I have the A900 and the A77.
commsbloke
11 months ago |“No mirror means its silent as well.”
Silent? Quieter possibly.
Beachrider
11 months ago |Why isn’t a stationary mirror silent?
Greg
11 months ago |Because shutters make noise too.
Booe
11 months ago |NEX, esp. older models are noisy as hell
Pacman
11 months ago |PLS., NO MORE EVF!!!
ON IT’S CURRENT PRICE RANGE, I’D RATHER GET D800 [PERIOD].
Frank
11 months ago |Well then you have identified what YOU need from a camera and that Sony is not the brand for you. So what? Just go and pick a camera that meets YOUR needs.
wth
11 months ago |OVF = Old View Finder
Rory Cornelius
11 months ago |OVF = Obsolete View Finder.
Matt
11 months ago |So go buy a D800 and enjoy/work with it. What more do you need? So god damn sick of ‘but I want a D800 because the Sony isn’t going to be as good’. Great for you! Go buy the fucking D800 if that fits the bill so well for you.
Rob
11 months ago |Will wait for 36 Mpix, MLU, and 4k video – this is too small and increment to bother with.
DeMarcusAllen
11 months ago |Yea, because you REALLY need 4k and 36MP… You guys are really spoiled children, you don’t need any of that nonsense. Truthfully, you don’t need more than 18mp and 1080 for most of us. Just stop being brats.
Steve
11 months ago |And its your job to say what we want?
Frank
11 months ago |Actually I was out shooting with my A77 this weekend and stuck with the 16-50mm and huge crops rather than swapping lenses, so yes, I needed those 24mpix.
Rory Cornelius
11 months ago |Speak for yourself. I don’t need 4k video, no – in fact, I don’t need ANY video. I couldn’t care less if a camera body even has the ability to shoot video or not. But, 36MP would be a dream come true for me. I’m still shooting large-format film – mostly because of the limitations inherent in my 24MP body when enlarging. So, every little bit of resolution helps.
Albin
11 months ago |4K video is a tad overkill. Displays are hardly there and I am unsure if you would actually see the difference on a normal sized screen.
may be this would get interested in the alpha system though.
Randy S.
11 months ago |Japan already has 4k television and Sony already makes a 4k tv and has a 4k projector.
HELP!
11 months ago |How do existing users login to their account?? Where is the login button?
jerome
11 months ago |No OVF, no sale for me.
No OVF in 2013, change of system. I already got the D800. I still prefer the A900 and Minolta and CZ glass, but 3 millions dots is a painful joke. No way.
Before people jump at me: I have no problem if other people prefer an EVF. I don’t. I have high eye acuity (so so me the A77 EVF raster is obvious), good night vision (so I see better in an OVF than in an EVF at night) and do not want my composition overlaid with info I don’t use (e.g. histogram). Other people have different eyes and different tastes, that’s fine with me. But I won’t buy what pleases them if it does not please me.
matgay
11 months ago |no left hand shutter no sale for me
Albin
11 months ago |well you know you can remove all the info on teh EVF and have the image only? the a77 EVF is really good. 3M dots should improve the current a77 EVF quality.
Matt
11 months ago |That’s good for you.
jchristopher
11 months ago |Starting to look too expensive. If the OVF is an expensive piece of glass and it is gone with less expensive components, why is the price going up?
Rooru S.
11 months ago |Good question. That was the main “aim” of Sony by replacing the Flapping mirror with the translucent one. Hope the media ask them why and make themselves look at their own words on the initial launch of SLT cameras.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Check last year Sony balance. And you’ll know why prices never went down.
(yes, it might be naive from Sony’s side, but still – it explains what’s going on quite nicely)
paulesko
11 months ago |Mmmmm I don´t like it to have a pop-up flash, I like the high and low iso figures… and I really don´t care about the rest, ao I think I´m not going to buy it, though I´ll try it.
Eric
11 months ago |I would actually like to see some improvements on the video front:
1. 1080p60 should have better encoding bitrate than 28Mbps. I believe 1Mbps per one FullHD frame is the sweet-spot, so for 1080p60 I expect to see 60Mbps, even if it’s not in the AVCHD2.0 spec. This should give 1080p video a nice quality boost.
2. I would also like to see 2560x1440p at 23.976/24/25/30. That would surely give it a nice edge over the competition. 2560p should have 1.8Mbps per frame.
John Thomas
11 months ago |60Mbps??? With the exception of HDCAM-SR (which is about $100,000 per deck), all of Sony’s professional video gear tops out at 50Mbps…. And that is MPEG-2 (HD profile). There is no way Sony is going to have a consumer device best their bread and butter on the broadcast side.
As for the folks thinking this camera will or should have 4k. Again… Ain’t gonna happen. Sony has two cameras that have 4K…. The F65 and the FS700. The F65 actually uses an 8K sensor to remove the artifacts from a Bayer imager. The FS700 will have 4k “in the future”.
Both cameras require external recorders to cord record 4k (the f65 needs an attachable recorder anyway, the FS700 only needs external for 4K… Past that it is the EXACT same AVCHD 2.0 that the a77 (and likely the a88/99) will have. So, add on another $5-10K for the external recorder for 4K.
So, there is no way this new camera will have 4K. If you wait three to four years a high end camera will likely have it. Regardless, 4K will likely come out first in a high-end consumer camcorder first anyway. Sony typically makes a consumer model and a low-end pro model from the same design. The pro model gets a few extra features and xlr audio jacks and demands another 30% in price.
Eric
11 months ago |First of all, 2560×1440 is NOT 4K! It is called 2.5K
Secondly, 60Mbps is not all that much. The Panasonic GH2 can get higher bitrates than that, and in case you haven’t noticed – most Canon DSLRs shoot at 50Mbps. So requesting 60Mbps for 1080p60 is not too much to ask.
John Thomas
11 months ago |Don’t confuse higher bitrates with necessarily better quality, it completely depends in the codec.
For instance, canon and others (Panasonic in their pro video,line) use non long GOP codecs like AVC INTRA or jpeg. These codecs essentially make each frame it’s own entity in terms of compassion. Using a long GOP codec like Mpeg2 or AVC (long GOP… AVCHD) is far more efficient.
I have used the Panasonic and canon stuff and (I’m sure you’ll disagree with me) but I would put AVCHD 24Mbps against the canon any day of the week. Same picture quality, same sound quality, way lower bitrate.
In the broadcast arena, Sony and Panasonic are battling it out with MPEG2 vs. AVC-INTRA. AVC INTRA can take upwards of 100mbps to achieve what XDCAM can do with MPEG2 in 50mbp or even 35mbps. All that extra bitrate gives you is less recording time.
Total I-frame codecs were made in a pn era where editing PCs were not powerful enough to handle long GOP codecs, especially AVCHD very well. This ended up with a lot of stuttering and serious performance issues. Now even a mundane PC with an i5 processor can handle AVCHD easily.
I understand about the 2.5k. I was actually responding to multiple people’s posts. But… Where is there any kind of 2.5k standard?
Matt
11 months ago |Nor is it 2560p. Further to this the 50Mbps codec that Canon SLRs use is completely wasted on those cameras, the FS700 (and FS100) do far better with ‘only’ 24Mbps. In fact the high end Canon and Sony ‘quasi-broadcast’ type cameras use HD Mpeg2 4:2:2 at 50Mbps and that is much better than what the poxy Canon SLRs kick out from their 50Mbps.
Personally I’d like to see Sony throw in an XD-Cam format, just for ease of working even if it is only their 35Mbps mode.
Dan
11 months ago |A Tad expensive for only slight improvements on the A77.
To get me to upgrade from the A77 it would need:
HDR Video (and higher ISO)
Really good high ISO performance
Tethering
Better JPeg engine (A77 needs some work!)
Higher dynamic range than the A77
Faster HDR Processing
WiFi
Android and iPhone remote apps
Touch screen (help to select the the 102 cross AF)
Bill
11 months ago |Hard to tell on price until final numbers and capabilities are known, $2500 would be a completive price unless the D600 comes in really cheap and well featured. The Canon 5Dm3 did not lower the expected price for a FF camera but the Nikon D800, although not a lower price, did increase the expected specifications.
Hardly a slight improvement over the A77. You get a FF sensor, a major gain right there, a lot more focus points, could be a lot better and would be a major gain. ISO performance should be significantly better than the A77 just due to the larger sensor and a modern sensor.
Features not listed, a bigger buffer would help make that 12 fps worth a lot more than on the A77, WiFi for just WiFi is meh, but if it can incorporate a remote mode via, phone, computer etc. that would be a nice feature. If Sony is aiming for sports shooting, then this mode may fall off the stack of things to do, more important for a studio camera.
We can hope for a better JPEG mode, but I think most people buying in this price range are going to be shooting RAW anyway.
I would like to see more intelligent JPEG to RAW switching, the A77 has that for Sweep Panoramic mode but for none of the other JPEG special features.
I am really expecting to see a full frame A77, with better focus, ISO and hopefully more useful FPS. If Sony can hold $2500 and the Nikon D600 is crippled enough it should do fine in sales.
Frank
11 months ago |“We can hope for a better JPEG mode, but I think most people buying in this price range are going to be shooting RAW anyway.”
Unless of course you are Ken Rockwell.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |I believe that this camera is intended for sports and wildlife shooters, and, if this is the case, a top-flight jpeg engine will be very important, since sports shooters, even pro sports shooters, use jpeg capture, since they have to be uploading what they take immediately.
Eric
11 months ago |John Thomas,
I have collected many sample videos from many digital cameras, from low-end to very high-end (RED EPIC, Sony F3, ARRI Alexa – just to name a few). I have a collection of many resolutions, bitrates, codecs, etc. I have samples of original from-camera footage, RAW files, ProRes encoded footage, and AVCHD encoded footage. Whatever camera there is today, I have probably seen footage from it and analyzed the quality of it. I’m also a member on RedUser.net and participate actively in the discussions that go on there. I listen to what the professionals have to say.
Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. You’re also right – it’s not only the bitrate. Another factor is the color-sampling which is also important. We live in an 8bit world. All DSLRs, mirrorless and compacts shoot 8bit 4:2:0 video – no exception. I am patiently waiting for a consumer 10bit 4:2:2 video from a reasonably priced camera (less than $1500). I don’t care that this makes the bitrates much higher because I care most about the quality of the video. Media is cheap these days, and modern computers can handle high-res/high-bitrate/high-sampling footage.
Tyler
11 months ago |I think you’re right on Eric. If Sony wants to “break into the high-end market”, that has a lot more to do with video than a lot of you give credit. If Sony provided a clean 4:2:2 output (and I think they have the skillz given what they’re doing with the FS700) and/or a 50mbs avchd codec, then a lot of MKIII and D800 users would seriously pay attention– given that the quality is better than the D800 and MKIII at a lower price, which seems plausible.
I use my a65 for video and pictures equally. The D800′s clean HDMI output is a huge deal for me. It’s expensive though. Grading 8-bit footage, especially if shot in poor conditions is pretty difficult.
Tyler
11 months ago |Also, 2.5K or 4K isn’t really used for its high-res capabilities per se, its used to punch in (crop) video and still maintain 1080P quality. It’s not quite the gimmick y’all are making it out to be.
Letsi
11 months ago |I’m not convinced yet. I’ve so many doubts about this camera. If all the rumored specs are true, how come is Sony going to charge roughly the same price as Nikon for the D800? There is something wrong here… unless there are several drawbacks hidden behind the big specifications: ridiculous buffer, slideshow EVF, short battery life, useless extended isos…. but, oh, yes, in-camera HDR and panorama and teleconverter for jpeg only. Just like the A77 but its bigger brother. I hope not!
Bazis007
11 months ago |Andrea, do you have any information about frame buffer, or it will be one else ferrari with 1 litter fuel tank?
Also have any news about any improvements, such as aperture and shooter controls in video mode with WORKED auto-focus?
Or it A77 with FF sensor?
Steve
11 months ago |So, do we know if it’s really a 9-series camera or could it still be an 8?
,
wth
11 months ago |Sony can call it the Alpha 78 for all I care.
Sounds like a A77 with a Full Frame Sensor and other upgrades.
Makes sense, since Sony is not beating their chest about this camera unlike the previous Alpha series…
Sitti
11 months ago |It sure looks interesting but too late for me now. I just ordered D4. I wasn’t planning on spending too much money on camera but then I thought what the hell!! I want really high ISO and good burst.
Eric
11 months ago |Excellent choice. The Nikon D4 is the top camera to have these days.
BigP
11 months ago |Why do many people compare A77 and FF newcomer to the same resolution?
Why, after all is crystal clear that the AF must have a new sensor with more precise imaging quality (contrast, shadows, DR) and especially sharpness without undue noise.
Can not compare small sensor with a large!!!
The main novelty feels right in the new generation of sensors and a new focus module is not about resolution!
Resolution may be the same as the A77 but with much better quality when viewing 1:1 and lower noise and higher ISO usability, which is now necessary to have quality output at ISO 3200/6400 had a chance to compare with Nikon / Canon.
Then the price will be adequate.
a99
11 months ago |I need 16-20fps.
dieselmooth
11 months ago |Completely unrelated to the story, but I’ve noticed recently that whenever i follow a link to SAR from Facebook on my mobile, it no longer defaults to the mobile site – I get the desktop version.
hwelvaar
11 months ago |Andrea, this is a private msg for you
Steve
11 months ago |dieselmooth
Yes, mobile was lost about two weeks ago.
Dennishh
11 months ago |The hottest camera on the planet is the Nikon D800 full frame with hundreds of lenses. If Sony wants to compete their top-of-the-line camera has to be as good if not better than the Nikon. Canon should be out with the new camera soon. The specs sound like too little, too late. No information on tethering or other professional implementations. Doesn’t excite me at all! Not enough to make me switch to Sony.
C
11 months ago |Canon? Out with a new camera soon? Pssssssssssssh, let’s count the number of years the Rebel had the same sensor or waiting for the 5d3 lol.
Spoon
11 months ago |Canon is in a difficult position, especially compared to Nikon. If they want to compete with something like a suggested D600, they have to bring out a downgraded 5dMK3 with cheaper and less advanced specs. The problem is (again) mainly the sensor. The sensor already loses in all areas but one compared to Nikon (noise performance at the highest ISO’s, where it’s almost equal): resolution, DR, pattern noise, colour depth and speed.
A cheaper Canon FF would have the 5Dmk3 sensor at best (and most likely still lose in all those areas), or a cheaper and even lower positioned sensor at worst. If it were better, they would upset the current 5Dmk3 market and owners greatly.
But they have to act, because if the D600 is featured decently (as in, not lightyears behind a 5Dmk3 in this area), it’s going to murder the 5Dmk3 sales, which were already struggling against the current Nikon offerings (D800 et al.).
Sony differentiates itself more from these 2 behemoths. With features that appeal to some, and are hated by others, but atleast something that doesn’t make it another “me too” but without the Canon or Nikon badge (which would mean instant fail).
wth
11 months ago |Canon just needs to buy Sonys Sensors and tweak it better than Nikon…
LifeStoryImages
11 months ago |lol.
hwelvaar
11 months ago |Tethered shooting must be included !
I will buy this camera, upgrading from my A77 and keeping this as backup, together with upgraded/wetaher sealed FF lenses (24-70, 70-200)
Updated/modernized external flash system would be welcome as well.
(wireless multi flash setup)
Steve
11 months ago |It’s very difficult to understand why an electronics company that makes computers would not include tethering. The SLT is totally digital from the viewfinder down unlike any other camera from any other company. A connection to a computer and/or ipad type of device is a no-brainer.
If it’s not included by the release of the 36MP full-frame I will add a camera to my bag that has the feature as I’m done with using my partners Nikon when I need this.
The computer is part of my workflow and not to have this feature fully running on my a850′s is hard to explain to Nikon and Canon shooters I know.
Dennishh
11 months ago |Yeah that’s what I thought to but the Nikon is taking away to many user’s, they have to do something.
passer-by
11 months ago |Wireless tethering?
JB
11 months ago |No tethering, no purchase. It must have tethering.
Sekiz
11 months ago |I am no fan of efv either, but these specs are dam good even if low light performance is only as good as a900. This will be a good piece of hardware, period. We are talking a bout a machine which can shoot 12 fps 24 mpx photos. If you interpolate between two sequential photos, you can make short 24i or 24p 24mpx videos from the photos you had taken, which has about 12 times more detail than 1080 line videos. There are few PC’s which has processing power to play that video and fewer displays. Now, what is there not to appreciate about this? There are lots of you who cannot admit the obvious, which is depressing. You may not be needing this, maybe you’d rather have another feature. Still you have to admit the impressiveness topping Nikon D4. And this is only one of them.
Jeroon
11 months ago |A Sony source told me that the price of the first coming new FF will be 1999,- Euro / Dollar.
rttew
11 months ago |give the failure of sony to produce a viable a700 replacement and the fact that with slt technology, you are loosing available light, thus not getting the exposure it says you are getting, no, if the a99 incorporates sony’s useless slt crap, i will pass.
Bill
11 months ago |The A77 is a fine camera certainly a sound replacement for the A700. You get the exposure you set on the SLT cameras, if you set 1/100th second at f/4 you get that. The ISO setting takes into account the 1/2 stop loss from the mirror, but ISO settings for cameras are just approximate in any case and will vary from camera model to camera model. If you must have an OVF then yes, you will have to switch makers, but in a number of years (could be 20, depends on the pace of on-sensor focus development) all the makers will be using EVF then what will you do?
Greg
11 months ago |No worse than your failure to spell “losing” correctly.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |Pass, my friend, I use an A700 ^ love it, but oh that I had the funds to get an A77!
tojefajne
11 months ago |body of clay for 2 years as the successor to A700?
niti
11 months ago |cannot make decision from Sony spec. have to wait and see the SOFTWARE first.
wth
11 months ago |Comes with calculator and clock!
Tom
11 months ago |If this is directed towards Video producers, the must have feature is CLEAN HDMI out, so we can use external recorders! Secondly, for those who shoot events etc, where there is simply too much work syncing sound afterwards, it needs to have much better audio options than the A77. (I can probably live without #2 here, but not #1 – if that is still missing, I will probably sell my Sony/Minolta equipment and get a D800)
P D
11 months ago |I’m very excited to see the built in flash, as much as it is a lame flash, it is way better than having nothing when you need it. It must absolutely have wireless flash control built into it. That feature alone really makes having only one external Sony flash a much more capable system for the pro-sumer.
I have said as much on the original A99 rumor, way back when (http://bit.ly/LCcxpG). Yes I know how to use a camera with ambient light only. The added flexibility is what I desire, for when available light is insufficient.
The magnesium body and weather sealing, oh please please please keep that in there. That is one of the key parts to the professional quality that I want to see included in my leap to a professional grade camera. Konica-Minolta 5D->Sony A33->A88/A99
All the other specs are very exciting too. This thing seems to have what I’m hoping for, almost in every aspect. I didn’t want the 36 MP, I wanted 24 Good and sensitive MP. 24MegaPixels that are a leap above the fantastic A900, what more could you ask?
I have grown to like the SLT on my A33. I do hope the A99 would work in between shutter activations during 12FPS shots, though at that speed, I would guess the stop motion image effect is good enough compared to the 7FPS of the A33.
The only thing I would like to see increased from this spec sheet is the display. Sony has produces rear displays in the 2-3 megapixel range for their cameras. It was never on the A900, by why not on the A99? Nikon has it.
Was the A900 screen sufficient enough at .9MP?
wth
11 months ago |“what more could you ask? ”
< $2000.00
Wishful thinking…
jw48335
11 months ago |Impossible to decide yet. The poor high iso performance makes Sony unattractive for most of my use cases. I like the Sony Lens lineup and forecast better than the other vendors though. I would have already upgraded my a55 to an a77 if it didn’t have the same lousy low light performance. Hopefully the a99 comes in much better. I’ll order one as soon as they’re shipping, and return it just like I did the a77 if it still sucks at low light. At that point there will be at least two if not three other new FF options.
skm
11 months ago |I am an amateur and personally I am not seeing any justification to move to Sony FF unless Sony comes out with a D800E (gold standard for me) killer. Why should I invest over $10K sweat savings on a company who killed the FF professional line of Minolta –Sony need to re-build the trust and guarantee that they will not abandon FF line again and need to aggressively invest in whole FF ecosystem (especially quality lenses).
I am not sure why we are penny pinching on the Camera price – the camera price is only less than 1/3rd of the investments on FF eco-system. I need invest atleast 3 times more (on Trinity Lenses (>6K for 14-24, 24-70, 70-200MM 2.8)+ Carbon Fiber Tripod+Flash + best in class SD & CF/QFD+ LR4 & CS6, Shutter release, warranty, insurance etc.).
It looks most of the FF lenses were developed by Minolta itself (may be launched by Sony) – hardly any new FF lenses by Sony post 2008.
I recently read an interesting article from Kurt “http://photojottings.com/…jottings/sonys-cameras-and-lenses-by-the-numbers/”.
He says
Sony does have a few top-notch lenses for full frame, like the 70-400mm, CZ 135/1.8, 300/2.8, 500/4 (no review yet) and the cheap but good 85/2.8. Price for the five lenses; $24,100!
As mentioned above, well over half of Sony’s full frame lenses are re-badged Minoltas from the mid 1980s to late 1990s, and most of those use the old fashioned slot-screw focusing system.
Also worthy of mention; the APS-C A77 is more useable than the now defunct, and former flagship A900 due to the tilting screen, much faster continuous shooting, live-view focusing and peaking feature. I think the different viewfinders (optical VS OLED) have their pluses and minuses, so that’s a toss-up.
The lack of good quality, less-expensive lenses such as a 70-200mm F/4, or 200/300mm F/4, 35/1.8, 85/1.8 etc will keep Sony from becoming a real player in the full frame camera business. Sony has been doing this for six years now, with no real progress. At least they had one or two full frame cameras to offer between 2008 and 2011, now there’s nothing. I’m sure Sony will come out with a new FF camera later this year or in 2013, but who will care? I think Sony’s whole FF system is meant to impress amateur photographers; making them think Sony is a legitimate force in the professional camera world, and a logical choice when they become more advanced photographers, and ready for professional equipment. Unfortunately, Sony is not a real player by any means in the world of full frame, so switch to Canon or Nikon for the best value and choice in full frame pro cameras. However, not all is lost. In the APS-C world, things are looking very good for Sony.
Dulaney Ward
11 months ago |There’s a lot of nonsense in this post, starting with your statement that Sony killed the Minolta FF line. Minolta did that by screwing up big-time, and Konica Minolta replaced it with digital apsc cameras, long before Sony bought Minolta. In fact, Sony revived the Alpha-mount FF in 2008 when it introduced the A900.
As to lenses, yes, you are right, slightly more than half of Sony’s FF lenses are of Minolta design originally (12 out of 22), though often updated with new electronics and mechanics, as well as coatings. But with the introduction of the upcoming FF camera, that is about to change. Already, Canon & Nikon are hard-pressed to match most of the Zeiss and G lenses that Sony HAS introduced. The new 500 f4 is a signal of great things to come, soon. For example, a new 300 f2.8, a new Zeiss 50 f1.2, etc.
Interesting how many trolls find it necessary to drift over here to a Sony rumor site and attempt to bash Sony. I wonder why.
Spoon
11 months ago |+1.
skm
11 months ago |>>Interesting how many trolls find it necessary to drift over here to a Sony rumor site and attempt to bash Sony. I wonder why.<>The new 500 f4 is a signal of great things to come, soon. For example, a new 300 f2.8, a new Zeiss 50 f1.2, etc.<<
Let me TROLL again – This is my hobby and I am not rich enough to buy Sony 500 F4 for $12999 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845555-REG/Sony_SAL500F40G_500mm_f_4_0_G_Lens.html).
Considering image stabilization is built into the body of the Camera, I am wondering why Sony is charging premium for its lenses. Also if I am correct, the weather sealing is missing/ not as good as Nikon/Cannon when it comes to Trinity lenses (14-24, 24-70, 70-200MM 2.8 which I am interested)
There is not even a Single FF camera offered now – all Sony FF Camera's are discountinued currently. Sony need to take it seriously this line of business
skm
11 months ago |My reply got messedup when I tried to edit it. Let me post it again:
>>Interesting how many trolls find it necessary to drift over here to a Sony rumor site and attempt to bash Sony. I wonder why.<>The new 500 f4 is a signal of great things to come, soon. For example, a new 300 f2.8, a new Zeiss 50 f1.2, etc.<<
Let me TROLL again – This is my hobby and I am not rich enough to buy Sony 500 F4 for $12999 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845555-REG/Sony_SAL500F40G_500mm_f_4_0_G_Lens.html).
Considering image stabilization is built into the body of the Camera, I am wondering why Sony is charging premium for its lenses. Also if I am correct, the weather sealing is missing/ not as good as Nikon/Cannon when it comes to Trinity lenses (14-24, 24-70, 70-200MM 2.8 which I am interested)
wth
11 months ago |BOY! Trolling shouldn’t be a hobby!
Booe
11 months ago |@wth
one must be at level of Ken Rockwell to get money from trolling
skm
11 months ago |I am consumer of Sony with well intentions to continue if they launch great products like NEX-7 – I am sorry, I am not here to worship. Many of my purchases including a high end laptop (VGN-AW190) from which I am emailing are from Sony. I bought 3 Sony NEX systems (as a GIFT & for family) and personally using NEX-7. I am still seriously considering A99 with the anticipation it will be better than D800E with reasonable affordability on whole FF ecosystem – not just the camera price.
Let me TROLL again – This is my hobby and I am not rich enough to buy Sony 500 F4 for $12999 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/845555-REG/Sony_SAL500F40G_500mm_f_4_0_G_Lens.html).
Considering image stabilization is built into the body of the Camera, I am wondering why Sony is charging premium for its lenses. Also if I am correct, the weather sealing is missing/ not as good as Nikon/Cannon when it comes to Trinity lenses (14-24, 24-70, 70-200MM 2.8 which I am interested)
LifeStoryImages
11 months ago |Sadly misinformed, skm. Sony REVIVED FF from Minolta. You forgot the Zeiss FF zooms. Better value than comparable N/C zooms. $12k 500/4.5 = lens that is expensive to make, not just SONY charging “premium prices” for inferior (non-IS) lenses; it is a high-tech opto-mechanical premium product. Get what you pay for, and in most cases, more compared to N/C. I have several Sony bodes, many lenses. Many decent 3rd party lenses are available new/used for your 500mm desire, for just a couple grand. I have one.
Want Sony? Learn to shop and you’ll be VERY happy.
Don’t want Sony? Bye.
voyager42
11 months ago |Still seems odd to me that 2 months before the new FF camera is officially announced we don’t know what it is ACTUALLY CALLED!!!… Most of the comments here and elsewhere are still calling it a99 which doesn’t make sense when we hear there is another FF coming in 2013… a88 and a99 make sense but again… WE STILL DON’T KNOW!!!… stretches credibility a bit when Sony cannot even tell us what the camera model is which will give us more idea of where it sits in the product line…
WhiteSites
11 months ago |Even though 36 MP would have been nice, 4K video would have been nicer. This thing better have really good Dynamic Range. Else its just a full frame a77. The price point doesn’t bother me, as the a900 still sells for just under $2k on ebay. Build in flash is kind of a surprise. Hopefully this means it will support remote flash triggering, similar to the models with built in flash did.
poke
11 months ago |Any date on the official announcement in August? I am ready for a new camera. I am just an enthusiast, but all I want from this camera to be worth it is ability to shoot video, faster and more accurate focusing than the 850, better iso performance than the 850. If the 88/99 can give really good images at iso 6400 I will be a happy camper. I am really hoping and thinking that this will be a great camera. I find it hard to believe that Sony will release a new FF that is not significantly better than any of their previous releases and not comparable to the 5DM3.
redfern
11 months ago |More and more I’m starting to think that art illustration CAPA had of the possible A99 is correct. Their mockup had the pentaprism-style hump of the A900 to retain the visual connection to the previous FF (even though the new one is DSLT). And yet their mockup also depicted a pop-up flash in that viewfinder hump. If that’s really what it’s going to look like, then it’s a nice-looking camera. Now, hopefully it has the performance to match those looks. If CAPA is right about the AF point layout, well… it just seems silly to have all those points densely packed in the center!
RandyPD
11 months ago |For me, the biggest factor on how successful this camera is going to be (in terms of a being an action/sports/wildlife camera, which looks like what Sony is intending it to be)is how they fix the slide-show effect with very high frame rates. The SLT (pellicle) mirror has a lot of advantages: Live view that performs just like EVF, constant AF and metering info, etc.. What Sony failed to fix is the very reason why pellicle mirrors were used in the first place in SLR’s: constant viewfinder with no blackout, which makes it easier to track your subject.
Francisco G
11 months ago |2000$ body only is the sweetspot IMO.
photopoole
11 months ago |As a 900 and now a 77 owner, I can agree with most comments that the 77 is an excellent camera. As a keen sports photographer I managed to get some excellent shots with the 900 with the Minolta 300 f2.8 but hankered after better low light performance and faster shutter response. On checking pixels so far the 77 does give me better results at ISO 1600 than the 900 does and I miss less shots. The 77 works well with the 300 lens.
I am hoping for more of the same with the 99, especially the ISO response. Despite strong doubts about the EVF, I love it.
As to price, I tried the Canon 1DX and the Nikon D4 and was impressed by the size, tank like construction and machine gun sound and the ability to keep taking shots (the 77 is weak by comparison), but the 77 scores on lightness, mechanical noise – it buzzes by comparison. I also tried a Canon D60, which is an excellent camera but prefer the 77 and for what I want I think it beats the 7D. So IF the 99 is the same price as my old 900 and gives better ISO and the viewfinder is even better than the 77 I would probably buy one.
renato
11 months ago |A77 A88 A99 don’t care new features if first they don’t give me a better (much better) file jpg
Lele
11 months ago |For you guys there isn’t a wifi connection for share and download derectly the photos?
poke
11 months ago |?
Peter
11 months ago |Seems expensive for the feature set. It’s clear Nikon’s working on a low-cost FF. Sony should try to hit the sub-$2000 point with a full frame with good high ISO (maybe sacrificing resolution, speed, focus points, etc.). Sony should also open the !@#$% firmware so someone else can fix it. It’s obvious Sony can’t.