(SR4) A-mount showdown between February and April. 4K A-mount camera coming.

Image on top shows the Sony 4K mockup camera (Source: Engadget).

A-mount camera owners are not happy in these days to see me post many E-mount (A7-A7r) related news. But really shouldn’t be worried! Your time is coming and in a couple of months E-mount camera owners will complain on SAR that I post too many A-mount news :)

According to multiple sources Sony will have multiple announcement the first half of 2014. And most of them concern new APS-C and FF A-mount camera releases. From what I heard most innovations regard the autofocus and viewfinder tech. Sensors should be the based on the A7-A7r. And one of the FF A-mount cameras will DEFINITELY have 4K recording.

To sum up I heard about:
– Two FF A-mount cameras (one certainly with 4K).
– One new APS-C A-mount camera to replace the A77.
– There will be a new NEX-7 successor too (E-Mount)

2014 showdown:
As I told you before there will be many new cameras in 2014. Actually more than we had in 2013! There is plenty of room for real surprises and I am working to get reliable info about them right now.

Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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!

Interview with Sony A7-A7r developers: Faster lenses are in development!

DC.watch (google translation here) interviewed the Sony team who developed the A7-A7r cameras. As you can see from the picture this is quite a young team! If these guys are reading SAR than let me say one thing: Well done guys! You really did a great job! I can imagine it was quite a challenge (and an excitement) to create something completely new. Doesn’t happen very often in the camera industry where usually company tend to focus on conservative development of existing camera.

They have been interviewed by DC.watch and I will report some of the key info. The google translation tool is messing up a lot so please excuse me in advance if there is some mistake. Hope Japanese Friends can check up my text :)

These are the names and roles of the people on the picture:
Front row left (sitting): Sokabe Taku, the Responsible Designer
Front row middle (sitting): Sudo Takahiro, Design Leader
Front row right (sitting): Daisuke Sato, Product Planner
Back row left (standing): Hosoi Masaharu, Responsible for optical design.
Back row middle (standing): Hasegawa Yoichi, Responsible for autofocus design.
Back row right (standing): Foshan Sakiken, Responsible for quality design.

Some key info from the interview:
– They confirm the NEX name is gone forever. Everything is branded as ALPHA now.
– Right from the start the main goal was to create something small. A DSLR quality in a small package.
– One of the hardest challenges was to add the 1/8.000 shutter in such a small body
– The A7r contrast AF is faster than in other Sony mirrorless cameras due the new algorithm and Bionz X processor. AF is 35% faster than the one on the NEX-7. And that has been achieved by keeping a high accuracy
– The LAEA4 adapter and Sony A99 translucent tech are “almost” equal.
– EVF brightness has been increased by 30% and contrast is three times higher over the external FDA-EA1MK EVF.
– 4K video recording has not been added on the 7-series because of power consumption issues such as thermal dissipation.
– To place the EVF in the middle has the advantage on larger lenses that you are on the optical axis.
– The body would have become large with the EVF placed ion the corner like it is on the NEX-7.
– we are actively involved in the development of larger aperture lenses.

Again, thanks Sony guys for working hard to fulfill our …dreams :)

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PTWexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony  DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.

(SR4) Sony increases resources for Alpha development (including hybrid cam).

One of my trusted sources told me that Sony increased the financial resources for the Alpha segment development for the years 2014-2016. Part of the new resources goes to the Hybrid A-E mount Sony camera that is due for a late 2014- early 2015 release.

I should get more info about the hybdrid model soon. Stay tuned on SAR as usual!

Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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!

UPDATED: Full Frame Contax G to E-mount electronic adapter will get updated in December.

An UPDATED Full Frame Contax G to E-mount electronic adapter (autofocus enabled) will be available around the 1st week of December.  The AF speed has been improved over the video test you saw a couple of days ago (video embedded on bottom of this post).

This means that all the following lenses will work perfectly on your A7-A7r with full autofocus and electronic aperture control:
Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on [shoplink 16235 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16236 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16237 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16238 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16240 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on [shoplink 16241 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Go and buy them! :)

Here is the test video:

(SR4) New NEX-7 successor is coming in early 2014.

As I told you before we will get plenty of new cameras from Sony within the next 3-4 months. Along the new A-mount cameras we will also get new E-mount cameras! A couple of sources told me that this time we will really see the new NEX-7 successor! Finally!

As you know there is a big show in Japan in mid February (CP+). I guess we will see all that new stuff by than!

One more thing: There may be even more cameras we haven talked about yet (for example new RX).

Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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!

Almost certainly fake….but I love it: The super Sony FE lens roadmap!

Click on image to enlarge!!!

To be clear: My guess is that this is a fake. It has been posted on xitek.com forum which is known to post many fakes but also (sometimes) real leaks. I hope trusted sources can confirm or deny the roadmap. As I said, I still think it’s fake so don’t get too excited. But if (I repeat “IF”!) this is real than this is an astonishing roadmap! One of the reason I think it’s fake is that it’s to be good to be true :)

These are the lenses on the roadmap, let me know which one you would seriously consider to buy:

in 2025 there will be no more cameras from...(multiple choice possible)

View Results

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Just a note: If Sony would even came close to a roadmap like that I am pretty sure they would get even more A7-A7r preorders than they have now!

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PTWexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony  DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.