The Sony “Go Pro” action camera is coming for real!
And the next rumor turned out to be correct. A couple of months ago we first reported that Sony was ready to launch a Go Pro competitor. Tonight Sony Blog unveiled the camera: “The video camera is tiny and lightweight, but it houses Sony’s hallmark SteadyShot® image stabilization technology, Exmor® R CMOS image sensor, and an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss® Tessar® lens.”
This is not an SLT nor a NEX camera but you have to know that Sony is entering a very huge and profitable market. Go Pro cameras (Click here to see them on Amazon and here on eBay) are very likely the most sold cameras ever. You see them everywhere! I met many climbers, skiers and cyclists using them here in the Alps.
The already doing well Imaging Division now has the chance to expand the business (and profits). Now let’s hope Sony engineers will make us go crazy with the A88, A99 and new NEX cameras too!
P.S.: Thanks to all sources for sharing the rumor about that camera. It makes SAR a pretty reliable rumor site although of course nobody is perfect 
Via Sony Blog
Kiril
11 months ago |NEX lenses are more desirable. New NEX bodies without lenses will push me to shift to Nikon or other vendor that understands what they are doing.
Sky_walker
11 months ago |“are more desirable” – they are? not by me. Not by hundreds of thousands of people interested in sports or already shooting with go-pros.
They are desirable by nex owners/potential customers. Noone else.
AVESTA
11 months ago |so true… in fact, most nex shooters don’t even care about nex lenses.
nex lenses are shit… the body is amazing though
Bruce Bachand
11 months ago |There are two good lenses… but yes… Sony has so dropped the ball.
The irony? Fuji announced a blast of new pro lenses today for the X-Pro 1 cameras:
“Fujifilm will soon be adding new lenses to its line-up for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1.
Further to the three single focal length lenses that are already available for the X-Pro1, in autumn 2012 Fujifilm will introduce a bright, super wide, 14mm f/2.8 (21mm in 35mm equivalent) single focal length lens, and a bright, fast aperture, 18-55mm f/2.8-4 zoom lens (27-83mm in 35mm equivalent). An additional five lenses will be added to the line-up in spring 2013, making a total of 10 lenses in the XF range.” – copied from http://www.professionalphotographer.co.uk/News-and-Reviews/2012/6/Fujifilm-to-launch-new-X-Pro1-lenses
NEXfive
11 months ago |Well, thanx to the small E-Mount lens range Sony gave us the best Focus Peaking on the market to enjoy manual lenses especially since Full Frame lenses are better with APS-C than with MFT’s crop or smaller sensors. My only direction to leave NEX would be a full frame mirrorless system, because Samsung or Fuji might offer better lenses, but Sony’s got the better low light and ISO range plus advantages when recording film.
Personally I’m mostly fine with Sony’s NEX lens range & roadmap, since I decided to stay away from the NEX-7′s resolution. In that case the SEL-1855 is good enough to walk around with nothing else and the forthcoming G pancake might do much better. For extended photo cruising especially at night I’m using the SEL-16F28 + VCL-ECU1 plus a Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.4 as long as the SEL-50F18 isn’t available. And then there are special occasions for a biger bag and stuff like Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 mm with Tilt-Adapter or long telephoto lenses. So I don’t need much more lenses from Sony.
As a professional filmmaker I’d prefer to attach CP.2 to a NEX-FSx00 and not expect Sony to compete with that at all. Only NEX-7 users depend on IQ of SEL-50F18, SEL-24F18Z or Sigma 30mm and are screwed on super wide angle. But the basic needs of a mirrorless system are fulfilled – Samsung or Fuji don’t offer that much more for APS-C.
Geir E
11 months ago |Great, i have been on the brink of buying a go pro for a while, getting a sony instead would be great.
Mark
11 months ago |Nice, I just started shooting with my GoPro while climbing and will take it on mountain ultras in Switzerland, quality is good but not fantastic, looking forward to the Sony version.
Puggs
11 months ago |I saw one of these at the recent Digital Camera Show here in Melbourne, but it did not have the Sony name on it.
Looks like Sony may have aquired some tech….
ok looks a bit different, but very simular
http://www.meecosales.com.au/shop/contour/02
Jakob Røjel
11 months ago |http://blog.sony.com/povcamera
Tom
11 months ago |No, this is different. I own a contour, they have been out for a while. Sony is coming out with their own camera, but yes, you can say it looks pretty similar. No Exmor chip in the contour that I know of though…
NIkola
11 months ago |http://blog.sony.com/povcamera
Tanglefoot
11 months ago |“Go Pro cameras are very likely the most sold cameras ever. You see them everywhere! I met many climbers, skiers and cyclists using them here in the Alps.”
I have lived & worked in tourist areas for the past 15 years so see many cameras of all shapes & sizes but have never seen a single Go Pro….
Using local sightings in an area which is prime market for such a camera is a bit brash to make such a broad statement…
Anyhooo… enjoyed the SR2 yesterday – nice to see lower chance rumours once in a while. keep up the good work.
anon
11 months ago |because it’s more for the enthusiast market than tourist market.. Even more so the past 15 years.
passer-by
11 months ago |Damn, just bought a Gopro Hero 2! Video is great(apart from its fisheye only lens) but still picture is not great. Maybe I was expecting too much.. picture quality is only as good as Blackberry 2mp camera. I bet the Sony’s would be better in this regard.
Greenieadi
11 months ago |This design looks bigger than the gopro.
Next, will this sony design be simple to use including similar or more innovative functions, rugged enough for sports or underwater use, provides multi mount accessories and priced similar or cheaper than the gopro.
Only then users like me would consider this product rather than the gopro.
Matt
11 months ago |Most sold cameras ever? Are you kidding me? The Go Pro is a NICHE market product. Even the Nikon D3100 will have sold more then the basic Go Pro model.
Varn
11 months ago |Wise move Sony! The more $$$ they earn, the faster they roll out new products, which include new lenses for Alpha & Nex.
LR
11 months ago |yes, I’m glad sony releases product I don’t need which can be sold. That way they generate profits and will make the products I need.
zstan
11 months ago |I didnt know these things existed until I started reading SAR.
cbsva
11 months ago |Interesting toy – especially for Youtube-junkies
I’d rather be interested in A- or E-mount news, especially A FF. It’s hard to wait for A99 or A88 or whatever their name will be. I hope Sony is using this time for the development of an excellent FF case with features I can’t get anywhere else, such as a tiltable monitor… – and lots of interesting and excellent lenses!
Rooru S.
11 months ago |good! wondering about the ease of use or image quality and durabity against current gopro. If it’s good enough (or better) it will sell well.
Keith
11 months ago |Any news on the 16-50 G Pancake release date?
Thanks
Sky_walker
11 months ago |Photokina.
Be patient
Chad
11 months ago |It’s really funny, because i just bought a GoPro Hero 2 and tried it out today. My first impression was “man, this thing needs some image stabilization”. Now i come here and see Sony will release something similar, but with stabilization. I think i’ll take the GoPro back and wait for Sony’s. I’m sure it will be great.
Gunnar
11 months ago |mhh Sony is once more late to the party, i just hope they bring some serious punch.. gopro offers a billion of accessories and thats what makes them so interesting.. you can mount them to anything, control and view their video from you wifi phone etc. i wonder what the Sony offers beside good video quality.
and also i dont see the connection to alpha-rumors here 
but its hardly the most sold camera category, that would most likely be cellphone cams
Josh
11 months ago |Engadget has a hands-on. It’s a lot smaller than it looks on the Sony blog.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/27/sonys-action-cam-hands-on/
NEXfive
11 months ago |There’ve been times, when stuff like that has been originally invented by Sony :-/
So I’m waiting for the specs, especially low light & slow motion, where Sony engineers shine these days, since the main question is if one can mix this stuff with recordings from other sources…
In the meantime I’d simply like to visit a store to get a SEL-50F18 – the flood does not count any more.
Milt
11 months ago |Gee… Sony is only 2 years late to the party. Prediction is that these will be overpriced and not sell anywhere close to numbers Go-Pro is obtaining.
maveric19
11 months ago |That camera is tiny.It looks to be less intrusive than the Go Pro.I only hope they price it under the competition.
Sonyalphalab
11 months ago |Sony may be a bit late on this, but I’ll bet anything it will destroy the gopro. I have the gopro2, and it’s awesome, but pixel peeping quality is pretty poor. Is would really help big time!!
I’m looking forward to it and depending on price will replace my gopro2.
Jay
anon
11 months ago |problem is.. for things such as gopro.. mainly people are not looking to pixel peep.. they’re thankful enough for the functionality..