In Japan Sony is conducting surveys (see image above) to provide input in a-mount lens development (A-mount and not E-mount!). Note that when Sony writes “121-300” they don’t mean a zoom but a prime lens within that focal length range! This means when they ask you if you want a “121-300 F2.0” lens they mean a f/2.0 lens within that range.

So let’s help Sony and give our SAR community shot on this. I copied their focal length suggestions…

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Sony sent out an invitation for a press conference at the CES show. The conference will be streamed live on Ustream on January 4th at 5:00 PM PST (Las Vegas time).
Last year Sony officially said that they do not announce major A or E-mount stuff on such events because they prefer to get the full spotlight. Expect a new Sony announcement by late January or early February.
So far the only “leaked” info is that Sony registered a new camera in Asia. And it should be a new compact fixed lens camera (maybe a new RX). A new Sony A7 mark III is rumored to be announced in late Spring.

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via Ubergizmo.

I don’t think we will ever see a Super High End A-mount camera. But this is a rendered image showing how it could look. It’s would be an expensive professional tool similar to the $6,000 Canon EOS-1D X Mark II.

But let’s get real, Sony will never do a camera like that…or not?

via SonyAlphaForum

This one sounds a bit crazy but it actually comes via two trusted sources (inlcuding the on who shared the correct A99II specs and on source from Kakaku):

They showed us another version with 24mpix bsi sensor. That model was also very ready, it is completley new chip design and on that camera was the famous new 24-105/g f4 lens/, but the mark,dept decide to go with 42mpix model.

It’s interesting to hear that there were very different version of the Sony A99II. I do think it was a wise decision to go with the higher reoslution sensor.

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Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. BestBuy. Calumet Germany and WexUK.

Source 1:

Sonys next thing at e-mount are two prime lenses. one large prime for wildlife and portrait 100mm at f 2.0- one vastly open wide angle 24mm

Source 2:

The sony A7S III that will be anounced next spring will be the first interchangeable lens camera featuring a RGBW sensor. This will result in an sensitivity increase of 84%. Additional improvements and the cooper wired backlight sensor will result in a total of over 1 fstop of noise improvement

Source 3: Sony A7III

The A7III will have dual card slots and a much faster AF system.I was speaking to a Sony rep who assured me that the newer A7III and above will have these two features.Those were my big two concerns, so I didn’t ask about anything else. I’m a horrible source

Notes on those kind of (im-)possible rumors:

• Fake rumors sent by so claimed sources that are known to create fake rumors are NOT included. What you see here are messages I got from unknown sources where I have no track of any “rumor history”
• It’s by readers request that I create this sum up of low ranked rumors. But please remind all that these are not rumors from trusted sources and don’t count me accountable on those kind of very low ranked rumors :)
• The last year a couple of those rumors were right (RX1rII and A6300 specs). So miracles sometimes can happen :)

An imaginary Sony A9

Sony had a very difficult 2016 mainly because of the Kumamoto earthquake that forced them to revise and delay their camera launch roadmap. So hopefully in 2017 things will go smoothly and this is the possible (and impossible) 2017 camera roadmap based on the rumors we got the past months:

1. Highly Likely: New Sony A7 mark III (New 24MP sensor, maybe dual SD card slot, improved autofocus)
2. Highly Likely: New Sony A9 (or A7 mark III?). Larger body, duals SD (or XQD) card, unlimited RAW recording, new High Resolution Megapixel sensor (around 70MP?)
3. Likely: New A77 mark III. New 24MP sensor, faster autofocus system
4. Uncertain: New A7s mark III. Not sure it will be announced in 2017. Early 2018 is more likely.
5. Uncertain: Sony A5300. It’s unclear if Sony wants to continue that series or simply keep the A6000 as entry-level camera.
6. Uncertain: RX5 APS-C camera with zoom lens
7. Wishful thinking: RX camera with Sony’s 101 Megapixel medium format sensor

Time to ask our readers to express their opinion:

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The following rumor has been shared to me by an Japanese source who claims to be very close to Sony retailers. I chatted a lot with him and while this is the firts time he shares a rumor he seems to be a honest and genuine guy. So let’s see if he will one day become a trusted source. For sure I want this rumor to be correct:

“I got several information about FE lens from Sony retailers. Some FE lens is already making. Retailer said sony will announce some lenses what customers expect
such as:
1) 16-35mm f2.8
2) STF GM lens
3) telephoto zoom lens (like [shoplink 53805 ebay]70-400mm f4-5.6 G[/shoplink])
4) telephoto prime lens (like [shoplink 53807 ebay]300mm f2.8G[/shoplink])
5) wideangle lens (like [shoplink 53808 ebay]24mm zeiss[/shoplink])
6) standard zoom lens (like [shoplink 53809 ebay]24-105mm[/shoplink])
And he also says all FE lenses started making before the next new a7 camera series launch.
Sony will complete FE lens lineup almost same as A mount lens lineup.
16-35mm f2.8GM lens will be next.”

Important note: The lenses mentioned in parentesis “()” are just “indications” and the real specs will almost certainly differ. And now:

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