What to expect at Cp+ (A5xxx and Sigma ART FE ?)

The next major photoshow is the CP+ show which starts on March 1. All manufacturers will announce new cameras/lenses and I expect the same to happen from Sony. First let’s start from two facts:

1) Sony registered a new camera code which usually means there will be a new camera launch within 3-4 months.
2) Sony discontinued the A5000.

So what can we hope to get? Here is a list of rumored (but mostly unconfirmed) stuff:

  • We know both the A7III and A7sIII will be announced this year. But the A7sIII will more likely be announced at the NAB show in April. So I guess the A7III is a good candidate for a possible Cp+ announcement.
  • Also hot rumored is a new A5xxx APS-C E-mount camera model.
  • RX models are usually introduced in May-June. If Sony sticks to that “tradition” we will not see any new RX camera at CP+
  • On the lens front we have a possible launch of a new Sony 135mm FE and 200-600mm FE.
  • What’s very hot is that we might see Sigma’s first native FE lenses! This one will be big!
  • Venusoptics will launch the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 APS-C E-mount lens
  • The Zeiss 25mm f/2.4 FE is coming too

February promises to be an exciting month…

–

To not miss any rumor quickly subscribe our social network:
RSS feed: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/feed/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonyalpharumors
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonyAlphaRumors

If you have some “rumor” to share just send me an anonymous messages here:
at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use the contact form you see on the right top of this site.

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

With Photokina and Canon/Nikon FF pressure: What should be Sony’s big thing in 2018?

2018 is going to be a crucial year for the following reasons:

1) It’s Photokina year
2) Canon and Nikon will launch their Full Frame mirrorless system cameras

So far Sony had no direct competition in their mirrorless segment and this “advantage” will be gone within 2018. The good news for us is that Sony has to adjust their pricing and technology improvements on the competition. For example: if Nikon and Canon will launch proper weather sealed camera can Sony still afford to make a lausy job on the A7/A9 sealing?

I also think that launching the A7III and A7sIII will not be enough to steal the show from the next Canon/Nikon FF launch. In my opinion Sony has to bring something “unexpected” in 2018. Something with a new design, something absolutely PRO that has the magic WOW factor to take spotlight away from Canon and Nikon’s new offerings. The following poll collects the ideas from SAR readers I read on comments during the past months. Some of the ideas are a bit on the crazy side but let’s see what you think:

What's the camera that would be able to steal the spotlight from Canon/Nikon?

  • new FF E-mount camera with larger body, new menu design, with great weather sealing and ergonomy (18%, 1,338 Votes)
  • Sony A9r 60+ Megapixel camera (17%, 1,271 Votes)
  • Camera with curved sensor (14%, 1,054 Votes)
  • Classic design and Rangefinder styled FF E-mount camera (13%, 980 Votes)
  • Camera with 3 layer RGB sensor (aka Foveon) (12%, 888 Votes)
  • something else not mentioned here (write your idea down in comment system) (7%, 546 Votes)
  • Medium format RX (7%, 519 Votes)
  • new 645 medium format system mirrorless camera (6%, 447 Votes)
  • camera with the first 100MP sensor. (4%, 298 Votes)

Total Voters: 7,341

Loading ... Loading ...

(UPDATE) Today Sony press event

UPDATE: Sony press conference is at 5:00 pm PST (Las Vegas time). And I will embed the live stream here on SAR!

So far I got NO reliable info about a possible Alpha camera announcement. All we know for sure so far is that Sony had a new camera code registered in Asia. And the A5000 is officially discontinued. But it might be that this camera will be announced in February before the CP+ show.

Note: We removed the previous SR3 ranked rumor about an Alpha related announcement. This because we learned right now that this announcement is about a new RX0 accessory. So nothing really exciting to see :(

The lenses we know are coming in 2018 and the lenses we might see coming


According to BHphoto the new Sony 400mm lens will ship in September 2018

In 2018 we will get a ton of new lenses! Here is the full roundup of what we will get and what we can hope to get:

These are the lenses we are 100% sure will be released in 2018:
Sony 400mm f/2.8 FE GM OSS
Zeiss 25mm f/2.4 FE
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 APS-C E-mount lens

These are some of the rumored lenses that could be announced in 2018:
Sony 135mm f/1.8 FE (80% chance to see this)
Sony 20mm f/2.8 (50% chance to see this)
18-55mm f/2.8 APS-C E-mount (50% chance to see this)
Sony 200-600mm FE (30% chance to see this)
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART FE (80% chance to see this)
More Sigma ART primes. Could be one or two of those: 14mm, 21mm, 50mm, 135mm (80% chance to see this)
Tokina Super Wide AF FE (90% chance to see this)
Tokina Fast Wide AF FE (90% chance to see this)
Tokina standard zoom AF FE (90% chance to see this but could be for early 2019)
Batis Zeiss FE prime lens (between 35 and 50mm)
Samyang AF lenses (unclear what focal length but there seems to be a 100/135mm prime and a zoom on their roadmap)

Interview with the Sony GM lens series developers: “we are developing new GM lenses”


According to BHphoto the new Sony 400mm lens will ship in September 2018

The Japanese site DC.watch posted an interview they had with the Sony GM developers. There is little inof about the future lenses to come. All we got is this:

– There will be no 35mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.4 GM version. At leats not for the next 2 years. The reason is that the Zeiss lenses are very new and it makes no sense to overlap specs.
– Sony is working busy on making new GM lenses. And the roadmap is based on the customers need (hint there might be a wide angle GM).

My bet is that in 2018 we will see a wide angle GM prime lens and a 135mm FE f/1.8 GM. And than of course we will get the already announced 400mm f/2.8 FE.

–