I hate to give you bad news rumors. So I really hope I am wrong on this. But I got reliable info the expected early 2016 A99II launch got postponed. Here is the story:

Back in late autumn two trusted sources got told by Sony that a High End camera would be announced within the next couple of months. One of the trusted sources actually said he expected the announcement to happen in January-February-March. And the camera would be A-mount!
At that point I want to underline that both sources sent me the correct info about the Sony A68, Zeiss Batis, 24-70mm and 85mm GM launch. So they are usually spot on and reliable when sharing those kind of rumors.

What happened to the A99II:
Recently one of the two trusted sources confirmed that Sony told him no A-mount camera would be announced any time soon. Sony did NOT tell him the reason for the launch delay. So we can only guess that maybe the recent Nikon Canon DSLR announcement changed the cards on the table. Or Sony wanted to give the GM lens launch a proper spotlight. We really don’t know yet.

A-mount strategy:
Both sources asked Sony about the A-mount strategy. Sony did not tell them anything yet but assured A-mount is well alive and they will keep developing products for the A-mount line. And that has been officially confirmed last week via Sony itself (read here). And at last the A68 is going to be available for preorder on Monday in USA too (Click here).

Summary: If the rumors we got are correct than we can only hope Sony will take a look to the latest Nikon Canon DSLR announcement to offer a serious and highly competitive new High End A-mount camera. But I admit it’s very frustrating to get only “marketing A-mount word support” from Sony. We need “real” new products Sony!

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SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

I am not sure about the reliability of that rumor. But fos sure this would be an exciting news for Film makers if the rumor turns out to be true. This is what the source wrote:

Just heard a rumour from an industry source about a new Full Frame Sony FS5 (similar body) camera due this NAB 2016. I have heard that it will have the following:
A Full Frame Sensor (based on a Sony 6K sensor, with improved 4K from it)
Improved AF similar to the [shoplink 45586 ebay]a6300[/shoplink],
10bit 4:2:2 Internal recording (not LongGop)
RAW output similar to the one coming to the FS5
A new Sony Touchscreen
IBIS
Improved Menu System, and easy access to commonly used features.
Improvement Colour Science
Improved White Balance
Price is slightly above the FS7

It would be a hell of a camera!

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
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SR4=rumor from known sources
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I am not sure this price is right. But BestBuy (Click here) listed the lens with a $3,500 price tag.

Preorders:
A6300 body at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Calumetphoto.de. Amazon.de. WexUK. Jessops. Amazon.fr.
A6300 with kit lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Calumetphoto.de. Amazon.de. WexUK. Jessops.
24-70mm f/2.8 GM FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Calumetphoto.de. WexUK. Jessops.
85mm f/1.4 GM FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Calumetphoto.de. WexUK. Jessops.

Ms Sari and Mr Masashi Wakatsuki Kamiya, designer of the Sony RX1R II, and Raphael Terris (DSLR Magazine)

DSLRmagazine (google translation) talked with Mr Masashi Wakatsuki who is responsible for the RX1rII design.. Asked about the possibility of a Sony RX medium format camera he answered that every option is open at Sony.

If I can give an advice to Sony I would not go for a fixed lens RX medium format camera. I would go straight for a new medium format mirrorless system camera. Just like Fuji is rumored to show this year at Photokina. Even better idea…work in partnership with Fuji on the same system :)

Focus Numerique (google translation here) interviewed Sony manager Mr. Yutaka Iwatsuki. Here are some insights he released to the French magazine:

1. How he sees the future of photography:
   Still and Video world will continue to get closer. And Sony will continue to improve dynamic range and High ISO performance.
2. Touchscreen:
   It’s yet not Sony’s priority to add touch screen. Sony wants to improve other “areas” first.
3. Why the A6300 has no on sensor stabilization:
   Sony wanted to make the A6300 as compact as it gets. And on sensor stabilization would have made the body bigger.
4. About 2016:
   The A7rII was the highlight of 2015. And Yutuka adds: “but 2016 will be even more impressive!“
5. A-mount future:
   Yutuka says there are two reason to keep A-mount:
   The first is that the A-mount has certain advantages over the E mount and, for now, we can not have all the same functionalities between A and E mount.
   The second reason is that they “we have many customers that we can not give up. It is a promise to our customers.“

We take a not that he made a very clear and strong statement in favour of A-mount. I cannot think of Sony to disappoint the A-mount folks now! :)

Phottix posted that teaser image of the new Odin II flash. That flash is already available for Canon/Nikon cameras. The key specs should be the same:

• Works with Indra, Mitros, Other Systems
• 2.4 GHz Frequency, 328′ Range
• 32 Channels with Digital ID, 5 Groups
• Manual, TTL, and Ratio Flash Control
• High Speed Sync & OverDrive Sync
• Manual Power & Zoom Control
• Remote Modeling Light Control with Indra
• LCD Screen, Direct Access Buttons & Dial
• AF Assist Light, USB Port for Updates

Sony patent showing an entry level E-mount FF (will it ever become a real thing?)

Sony E-mount product launch event:
Usually 1+1 makes 2. And so if two trusted sources do tell me that they got “invited” by Sony for some major “showcase” …well it means there could be an announcement soon! One of the sources who actually knows everything but only tells me little (for obvious reasons) told me “this is an E-mount” related event.
Of course we know Sony still has to announce the 70-200mm FE GM pricing. But I got the feeling (from the kind of message I got) that there could be more than just that lens price announcement.

Guessing what’s coming…
I am trying to squeeze out a bit more info from those sources. In the meantime we can only guess what Sony could eventually announce in the near future: On April 16 the major NABshow is taking place in las Vegas. The next E-mount announcement could be related to this event (new E-mount camcorder? Or first 8K E-mount camera?).
But we also can guess the A7m3, A5xxx are probably the next cameras on the roadmap. I would be surprised if Sony would announce a new A9 High End Camera or A5 entry level FF.

Anyway stay tuned, I hope to get some more details soon! And by the way, Zeiss will announce a new Batis 18mm lens soon too!

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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!