Image of the Pentax FF prototype at CP+ (Source: DC.watch).

By end of 2015 Pentax will announce their first digital Full Frame DSLR (picture can be seen on top). Rumor has it that Pentax will use the current Sony 36MP sensor used by the Nikon DSLR and Sony A7r. The very important news is that it will feature a High Resolution shooting mode according to the reliable source Thistanaka. The same feature is already used by their brand new K-3II:

The K-3 II is the first camera in the PENTAX line to incorporate Pixel Shift Resolution® for capturing still life subjects with ultra-high resolving power. Pixel shift technology uses the camera’s in-body Shake Reduction mechanism to move the image sensor at single pixel increments, capture 4 separate images, which are subsequently combined into a single high definition image. Benefits include higher resolving power, reduced false color and improved overall image quality of non-moving subjects. 

If Pentax can use Sony sensor and their on sensor stabilization for high-resolution mode…than Sony should do this too! As Diglloyd reported such a feature on the A7rII could generate 144MP raw files of your…cat pictures :)

After one of my trusted sources told me that Sony was already producing the A7rII things got a bit silent here. I believe Sony will make a “silent” announcement of the camera just like it happened with the A7II. This means no bloggers and almost no photographers will be able to get their hands on the camera in advance. And if you remember the A7II got announced in Japan only at first.

According to a person who was able to get in contact with a person from Sony Japan this is what to expect with the A7rII:

 It has same 36Mp sensor and from what I’ve been told it will have EFCS and IBIS and faster AF.

The A7000 (or whatever the final name will be) is coming in mid-June. So let’s hope the A7rII is coming too and will not get any delay like it happened with the A7000. Remember while the A7000 release info should finally be the right one I am yet not(!) sure when the A7rII is coming.

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While this news is not directly related to the Alpha World it’s still interesting to hear about Sony’s future sensor tech. Feng.com reports that the next generation of Apple iPhones will use a brand new 12 Megapixel RGBW Sony sensor. The “W” stands for “White” pixels and it allows to increase the sensitivity which is a weak point of current smartphone photocameras. Usually those RGBW sensors have as a consequence that the pixels size decreased and therefore the image quality gets poorer. But Sony claims they solved this with a new kind of technology (not explained yet):

While the individual pixels of the Sony models are extremely minute at 1.12μm, the incorporation of the “RBGW Coding” function has realized a SN ratio (signal-to-noise ratio) equivalent to that of a unit pixel size of 1.4μm under conventional methods, which in turn has enables the image sensors to achieve a higher resolution at a more compact size.

Don’t know if that RGBW sensor tech will be applied on future APS-C or FF sensors too.

The Japanese site Egami spotted a brand new Tamron patent for a 85mm f/1.8 optical stabilized lens for Full Frame mirrorless system. We don’t have yet the official lens element design of the new Zeiss Batis but it could be that the Tamon design has been sold to Zeiss for the Batis?

Anyway, what really matters is that the lens performance is terrific no matter who actually designed it. And it’s quite common in the lens world to buy lens design from other companies. So this doesn’t diminish the value of the lens. Or, what do you think about it?

Both Batis lenses are now available for preorder in USA and Europe (UK/Germany)
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
In Europe and Asia the Loxias can be found in Stock via [shoplink 36456 ebay]eBay sellers (Click here)[/shoplink] and Digitalrev (Click here).

Here are some ulterior info about the new A6xxx/A7xxx camera coming in mid June:

1) It has the same kind of weather sealing of the [shoplink 36714 ebay]A77II[/shoplink].
2) Autofocus is faster than the one of the A6000 making it the worldwide fastest autofocusing system camera of the world.
3) The camera is more expensive than the A6000.

The new A6xxx sounds like a real PRO level APS-C camera. Let’s hope the “more expensive” part doesn’t mean it is really MUCH more expensive :)

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[shoplink 8454 ebay]

[/shoplink]
The [shoplink 8454 ebay]NEX-7[/shoplink] tri navi controls.

These are the brand new rumors I got from two trusted sources. These kind of sources shared correct “rumors” in the past. But that’s yet not a guarantee the info here will be correct too. Here is what they told me:
1) New A6xxx will not replace the A6000 but be placed above it. The final name of the camera is yet not clear as it has a “working title” only. It could be named “A7000”.
2) The A6xxx was indeed scheduled to be released earlier in May. But it’s now scheduled to be announced around mid June.
3) The camera will ship in late June in Japan. July elsewhere.

So far five(!) trusted sources who contacted me told me that the new A6xxx camera is placed above the A6000. That’s good news! Now let’s just hope this is the real final announcement date rumor!

Short heads-up for US readers: You got a Gold Box on Sony SD cards at Amazon (Click here)

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The leaked Sony roadmap at Wikileaks.

Lately we got confusing info about the possible new Sony camera announcement date. And I have to say that’s quite the weirdest rumor time I ever had. So I want to be 100% clear with you:

1) Many of my best sources confirmed those cameras are coming for real.
2) Particularly the A6xxx should already have been announced but one highly trusted source told me Sony had to delay it because of “last moment” discovered issue.
3) I have plenty of top stores managers telling me that they got info from Sony about the A7rII and A6xxx launch a while ago (starting from March).
4) Latest I got from one trusted source and one major store manager is that Sony told them there is an announcement within end of May.

All those info are from sources who shared correct info on the past. This leaves us with two options:

1) Either ALL those trusted sources and Sony reps went mad….or
2) ….Sony is struggling with the exact A7rII and A6xxx launch date release (for reasons I still have to learn about).

I now kindly ask my old good time sources to help me out to solve the “announcement date” mystery. And I ask my readers to forgive us for that confusing time. Sometimes rumors are highly reliable, sometimes not and sometimes they change in between (as it seems to be in that case).

I will now do my best and take as much time and resources as it gets to finally receive 100% solid info on when those cams will be announced. Wish me luck :)

Andrea

UPDATE: Already receiving first feedback from trusted source. Thanks a lot!