Both do feature the new 14 Megapixel CCD sensor.

And A390 has Quick LiveView, while A290 has not.
No video.

Introductory prices in Sweden (approximately converted to Euro)
A290 + 18-55 mm 600 Euro
A390 + 18-55 mm 800 Euro

Common specs for both A290 and A390:
9 AF points
ISO up to 3200
In-camera SteadyShot
2,7″ Screen
Either Memory Stick or SD memory cards (no dual slot, but a single combo slot).
New Help Guide + Tip Function (very clever, says the magazine writer).

HDMI Output

via: photorumors

A new patent shows the design of a Sony Alpha camera with touchscreen. The original description says:

“An imaging apparatus includes: an ocular-type finder; a display section provided below the finder and having a display screen capable of displaying an image; processing means for detecting where a finger touches the display screen and carrying out a process according to the touched position; and a grip serving for gripping purposes provided to the right of the display section, wherein an angled area formed of a right end area and a lower end area is defined in the right half of the display screen, and the processing means includes limited processing means for carrying out a process associated with a touching operation detected only in the angled area when an eye has approached the finder.”

Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2010/0134676.html

Do you believe reading patents is easy? Check out the following new Sony pixel array patent at http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2010/0134665.html. Let’s see if you can understand what’s the key with that invention ;)

A swedish guy published some more details about the future A90 and A390 cameras on Dyxum:
“An article with pictures and a few specs about the new Sony A290 and A390 appeared today in a Swedish photo magazine, “Digitalfoto för Alla” #9

Very glad for this, despite that they are of no interest for me prsonally (I already have an A550, which I am VERY happy with – it is FAR better than most reviewers thinks). The important thing IMO is that Sony (unlike some pessimists here?), obviously believes there still is life in low-end DSLRs (and even more so in cameras higher up in the Sony camera hierarki, one might assume), and that the NEX system isn’t supposed to kill the current Alpha line. Sony is possibly expecting some reduction in sales though, since there are only two models (if it stays that way) instead of the usual three… :-)

Anyway, it seems to be mainly complaint-fixes. :-)

The much critizised grip of the A230/A330/A380 series is gone, and replaced with a more conventional and appearantly with much better ergonomy.

The Smart Teleconverter button is moved out of the way a little, up onto the camera top.

Resolution of the lowend model is increased with 40%, so now both are equipped with 14 Mp image sensors. Couldn’t find any mention of it being CCD or CMOS, but have made a quick browse only so far.

And A390 has Quick LiveView, while A290 has not (thanks Sony, for not confuse us unnecessarily!).

Still no video.“

We already saw the new Sony Alpha 290 leaked on a thai website. According to our sources the A290 and the A390 will be announced within few days. We already told you that both will feature a new 14 Megapixel CCD and they will be the last Sony cameras without video!

And after that we will see 4 new Alpha cameras all with the new ExmorHD sensor! Two cameras are the pellix cameras (The A55 and A33). And we will tell you more about the third and fourth camera as soon as we get some more details from our sources.

Thanks!

Reminder: We are a rumors website! We are not affiliated with Sony and this are not official Sony news. Please read our disclaimer to learn what “rumor” means!

In November 2009 we told you that Sony was working on a completely new type of camera, the Pellix camera. A Pellix camera has a semitransparent and fixed mirror. Canon was once one of the leaders of the semitransparent mirror tecnology (For example with the Canon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RTCanon EOS RT) Those pellix cameras were all film cameras.

SonyAlphaRumors learned that Sony will launch two new Pellix cameras at Photokina (late September). This will be the first digital pellix cameras ever made. Both cameras will feature the new APS-C ExmorHD sensor.

Why should pellix be interesting?
1) Ken Rockwell said it few days ago: “why isn’t (video on DSLR) it good enough for me? Simple: DSLRs have no real autofocus!“. Current DSLR+video cameras like the Canon 5D MarkII or the Nikon D3s do have a very slow contrast autofocus. With the fixed semitransparent mirror from the future Sony cameras you will have a fast working phase detection autofocus not only for stills but also for video. And it will be the fastest autofocus ever made on a DSLR+video camera!
2) The mirror is fixed so there will be no moving parts. That should help you to get sharper images (like on rangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefindersrangefinders)
3) The camera will be more silent!
4) The camera can take pictures (stills!) at over 10fps!

The only minor issue of Pellix cameras is that they have to split the light in two parts. A small part of the light goes to the phase detection sensor and a bigger part to the sensor. You should loose no more than 1/3 EV. We really shouldn’t worry about that :)

It is clear that Sony wants to offer the best possible video expereince on DSLR cameras! The pellix tecnology combined with the new ExmorHD sensor will almost create the Killer DSLR+video camera. I say “almost” because there is also one more thing we still would need: Raw-video recording. But according to our sources the camea will record in AVCHD format (24/Mbit/s).

What’s the difference between the two cameras? The A55 will record in FullHD (1080 60i/50i) and the A33 in 720p. The body will be very small like current APS-C Sony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony Alpha cameras. The price of the Pellix cameras? Cheap! I don’t know the price but I am certain it will be cheap!

One more thing. The cameras won’t be called DSLR anymore (Should be something like DSTR T=transparent). And yes it is a “classic” AlphaMount camera.

Design of the Pellix mirror

As you may remember in February we also posted a Sony patent which shows how it works: https://sonyalpharumors.com/sr5-and-here-it-is-the-sony-half-mirror-pellix-patent/

Some technical details about the Pellix mirror have been posted at EosHD.

So, keep following us! We are also on Facebook and Twitter! And send us your rumors at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com!
Thanks
Andrea

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This is it! ;)

Hi!

Since months I am working to get reliable infos about a “special” Sony camera. Since November 2009 we know that Sony is working on that secret project I now “believe” to know some of the infos. In few hours I will post the rumor. As you know we have been the first to post the NEX specs on early February. Now SonyAlphaRumors will be the first to give you details about the next Sony revolutionary project ;)

I am at work now so I will only have time in few hours to write the whole post.

Stay tuned!

According to the same source who leaked the NEX camera specs long time ago Sony is ready to launch six new Alpha cameras. All cameras do feature an APS-C sensor. The first two should be the Sony A290 and the Sony A390 (expected announcement early June). Both will come equipped with the 14 Megapixel CCD sensor. The next cameras will use the new ExmorHD sensor!

We received many rumors about the next Sony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony AlphaSony Alpha cameras but we are double checking the infos before to post them on SonyAlphaRumors. Keep following us! We are also on Facebook and Twitter!

P.S.: If you want to support SonyAlphaRumors read that post: https://sonyalpharumors.com/how-to-support-sonyalpharumors/