While I am working to get info from my reliable sources I will share to you these rumors from first time sources. It means they have to be taken with BIG caution:

Source 1:

Ran into local pro photographer at XXX (SAR edited) using small camera with tape covering identification markings.
Looked like he was holding a member of the cybershot family.
He was pleasant enough about my inquiries, but said he was testing a new camera and could/would not discuss any aspect of his activities…period.
I saw that all his other visible gear was…Sony.

Source 2:

Sony will announce sports oriented camera body. Because it’s exactly 1 year for the next Olympics 2020…announcing brand new sports-oriented body will give signal to the industry that Sony are going big next year

Basically according to them one RX camera and one (APS-C high end?) camera would be announced on July 17…

Reminder:
Sigma will announce new FE lenses on July 11 and Sony a new camera and new lenses on July 17. Livestream on SAR!

I am collecting small breadcrumb rumors here and there and this small evidence is leading into the same direction:

We could finally get the A6500 succcessor on July 17.
I have been told the A6500 is all focused on speed and to give to the mass a “sports oriented” APS-C camera. The APS-C version of the Sony A9 :)
What I also heard is that Sony would also announce a new APS-C zoom lens and maybe even a second APS-C lens.
I also heard one rumor about a new small RX camera that could be announced on July 17 too…but I don’t know what kind of model we can expect…

I rank this rumor with “SR3” which means there is a 50% chance it’s correct.

I have no reliable specs about the A6500 successor but this is what I have heard the past months (take it with a grain of salt):

– EVF in the center
– 4k 60p
– Only slightly bigger than the current A6500 model
– Features the new A6400 and A9 autofocus system
– Slightly improved IBIS
– New High Speed sensor (no global shutter)

In summary:
– There is a 90% chance that Sony will announce a “mass market camera” on July 17. This could be the new A6500 successor or a new A5 alike entry level FF camera (or both?)
– There is near ZERO chance we might et the A9II or A7sIII
– There is a 99% chance we will get the new 35mm f/1.8 FE
– There is a 90% chance there will be new APS-C E-mount lenses

17 July Livestream:
We will livestream the Sony event directly here on SAR.

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Image on top shows the Pentax 40mm f/2.8 FF lens. The new Sigma will be a bit bigger but still compact.

I always liked the small Pentax Limited pancake lens edition. And I hopes the day would come we would get some nice compact FE lenses. Well that day is finally close!

One source shared some more details about the new Sigma 45mm f/2.8 FE lens that will be announced in mid July:

45mm 2.8. Apparently this is some kind of a retro model with physical aperture ring, however it still has AF. Very nice build and small size.

I am now 99,999% sure that on July 17 Sony will have a very BIG product announcement day. I got confirmation that the invited press have been told that they can post hands-on reviews of these products the very same day of the event.

Moreover, I have learned that this is a much bigger event than the previous 200-600mm and 600mm FE lens announcement. There will be definitely at LEAST one new camera and a new lens (the 35mm f/1.8 FE). But there could be more because we know Sony registered three camera codes in Asia (2 E-mount and 1 Cybershot).

These are the camera(s) we could get:
70% chance to see a new mass market camera (not a top high-end model). This could be the A6500 successor, or a new A5 entry-level camera.
70% chance to get a new Cybershot/RX camera. What this is I don’t know.
20% chance to get the new A9II. It’s more likely to be on market by end 2019 or early 2020.
5% chance to get the new A7sIII. This camera is likely to be introduced in autumn
1% chance to get a new A9r…I only got one anonymous source saying Sony was considering to launch it…let’s see :)

These are the lenses we could get:
99% chance to get the new 35mm f/1.8 FE
70% If Sony announces the new A6500 successor…than I have been told 1-2 APS-C E-mount lenses will be announced too!
30% chance to get a new 100mm (or 105mm) f/1.4 GM (this lens has been patented by Sony)
20% chance to get Sony’s first f/1.2 FE GM lens (Sony managers officially said f/1.2 would make sense)
10% chance to get a new 21mm f/1.4 FE GM lens
1% chance to get the new 500mm f/4.0 GM (this lens has been patented by Sony but it’s likely to NOT be announced this year)

One more thing:
There will be a livestream of the event!

Spread the gospel on the web!

Sigma Reminder:
Sigma FE lens announcement will happen on July 11 at 9am London time! 35mm f/1.2 45mm f/2.8 and 14-24mm f/2.8 FE lens coming!

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Sigma officially confirmed the launch of the new FE lenses on July 11 at 9am London time! This would be:

1am in Los Angeles time
4am NYC time
10am Berlin time
16:00 Peking time
17:00 Tokyo time

These three lenses will be announced:

35mm f/1.2
45mm f/2.8
14-24mm f/2.8

We know of a fourth lens which will be available in late 2019 but its’ unclear if it will be announced on July 11:

24-70mm f/2.8

What’s very new with these lenses:

They are exlusively designed for Full Frame mirrorless system (there will be no DSLR version of these)
Sony E-mount and L-mount version will be announced on July 11
Nikon Z and Canon EOS-R versions will be announced later

Some additional info:

14-24mm f/2.8 is smaller than the current DSLR version (here)
The new 35mm f/1.2 lens has:
– Premium construction
– Lot of HR elements in construction, record low aberrations
– Record MTF of any FF lens at F1.2
– Ultra fast and silent AF, made also for video

Here is the teaser image:

Stay tuned on SAR for more info coming soon!

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THIS IS HOW TO NOT MISS ANY OF THE UPCOMING RUMORS:

1) On the bottom right of the page you will see the red button (see screenshot on top). Subscribe to get notified via browser when there is a new post!

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14-24mm 2.8. It is not the same as the SLR version, smaller

There is no mockup of the 24-70 2.8 so it will not be available this summer

I am now starting to get some info about a possible Sony product announcement in late July. I actually got two different dates:

1) around July 17-18
2) around July 25

Maybe the July 17/18 date is “only” for the meeting with the press before the unveiling of the new gear. I will try to get some reliable confirmation the next days.

While I yet have no 100% confirmation I am guessing that indeed we will have a new Sony announcement in late July. The indirect proof is that Sony has registered three new camera codes and one lens (35mm f/1.8 FE).

Summary of what we know and have heard so far:

• possible Sony product announcement between July 17 and July 25.
• Sony officially registered three new camera codes in Asia. Two for E-mount and one for a Cybershot/RX camera. Usually those models will be unveiled within 1-2 months after registration.
• There are rumors saying that one of the new cameras model will be a “mass model”. Maybe a new A6500 successor or new entry or mid level A7 camera. Very wild rumor says it might be a direct Canon RP competitor named A5 or something like that
• The Sony 35mm f/1.8 F will definitely be announced on the late July event
• Sony did patent the 500mm f/4.0 and 100mm f/1.4 FE lenses. But I do not believe the 500mm GM will be announced in 2019. The 100mm GM on the other hand could be announced in 2019
• Sony A9II is rumored to be announced in August-October timeframe
• Sony A7sIII should be announced in late 2019 at earliest
• I got no rumors about what the new Cybershot/RX model might and no rumors at all about any possible A-mount camera.

Keep in mind Sigma is going to have a major announcement in mid July too! With four FE news lenses to be announced: 35mm f/1.2, 45mm f/2.8, 12-24mm f/2.8 (or 14-24mm f/2.8) and 24-70mm f/2.8.

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Thanks!