I am getting more and more details about the new Sony roadmap. As I told you before the next camera should be the new NEX-7 successor (shipping from October). We will have new A-mount FF and APS-C cameras (mirrorless) in early 2014. And we will see the first FF-NEX compact camera in mid 2014 too.

And according to one of my best sources Sony also finally approved the new a-e hybrid bridge camera project development. This camera is scheduled for a release in late 2014 right in time for Photokina! As I told you before I have no clue yet how this thing is going to work. And the only example we have form the past is the [shoplink 10295 ebay]Zeiss Ikon Contax I, II and III (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. It had a sort of native double mount on camera.

Anyway, stay tuned, I am working very busy with my sources to grab some info about the specs off all these new cameras. One thing is sure. 2014 is going to be a hell of a year for all of us A and E-mount owners!

—

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!

Yesterday I told you that the new A-mount roadmap will lead to new FF and APS-C cameras announcements in early 2014. And I am almost sure these cameras will be the first “mirrorless” A-mount cameras. This means they neither will have an optical viewfinder and mirror nor the famous translucent mirror. The key of the new A-mount camera sis the new advanced on sensor phase detection autofocus system. And guess what, I just found a brand new patent (United States Patent Application 20130113982) that describes exactly that kind of cameras!

The image you see on top shows you the A-mount camera design with no mirror. And the image below shows you the arrangement of the phase detection pixels on the RGB sensor.

.

Yep, that’s it guys. say by by to SLT and to that 1/3 stop light loss :)

People asked me why the heck A-mount and E-mount should coexist and what the difference will be. There are at least three reason that came to my mind:
1) The A-mount mirrorless cameras will have a classic DSLR body. E-mount will focus on compact size.
2) A-mount has on sensor stabilization while E-mount cameras has not.
3) A-mount mirrorless cameras have a large range of A-mount lenses at disposal. E-mount is still very limited in their lens offering.

The last few months have been very intriguing on the A-mount rumor front. As I told you before the A77 successor and the FF model planed for a summer release have been taken off the roadmap. And the SLT-A58 is probably the last APS-C model featuring the translucent tech mirror. So the question is…what’s going to happen now?

I am working on the details of the new roadmap and this is what I can share today:
1) The APS-C A-mount models will be mirrorless. I am not sure yet about the FF models.
2) Both FF and APS-C A-mount cameras will come in early 2014

I still have no reliable specs about the new cameras. But if sources are not playing me fool than these cameras will be a mayor step forward compared to previous generation cameras and not just small upgrades. I marked this rumor as SR4 (not SR5) because there is still almost a year to go and to be 99% sure of the rumor we have to hope Sony doesn’t change the roadmap in the meantime. Although, I think it’s pretty much safe to say that now the roadmap is very clear and approved.

Personal note: It’s a a very exciting time here in the hidden rumor world. I am giving my best to birng back some excitment on the A-mount world. The last two weeks have been the most busy A-mount rumor time I ever had on SAR. Thanks to all sources for helping me out!

—

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!

The first Tamron lens for the Sony NEX system wasn’t the rather non so exciting 18-200mm Di III VC lens (can be found here at Amazon). But the latest patent found by Eagmi describes a much more “exciting” 35mm f/1.4 lens for mirrorless systems. It’s not clear yet if the lens has been designed for the NEX system too but I think that this is highly possible. This would be a faster alternative of the current Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens (and much cheaper than the Zeiss 32mm f/1.8). So please Tamron, use the patent to launch the real lens as soon as you can!

I am getting more and more feedback about the NEX-7 successor.

1) First of all many sources confirmed that this is the only interchangeable camera to come this year! As you know the new Sony CEO imposed a radical change in the roadmap. While this didn’t affect too much the A and E Lens roadmap it completely revamped the A-mount world. But it seems that also the NEX-7 successor went through some changes. First of all the small NEX-7n udpate expected to come in Spring had been delayed.

2) A trusted source told me that Sony decided to go change some more “things” on the next NEX-7 successor. First of all it will not be named “NEX-7n” anymore. It will have a new name.

3) A new source told me that this will be Sony’s first camera not having the Anti Aliasing filter. And let’s see if this will also be the first camera with the new JPEG engine we could see on the soon to be announced “Honami” Smartphone with large 1/1,5 inch sensor.

In summary, the NEX-7 successor is going ti be announced in Summer, it will ship from October and is expected to have some new features and a new name (no more NEX-7n). I am still uncertain about the final specs and I hope I can receive some reliable rumors soon. Thank you sources ;)

——–

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!

[shoplink 18303 ebay][/shoplink]

Many SAR readers keep asking me about the possible new RX200. I got no info about a replacement coming in early June and I am 99% sure the Chinese RX200 info was a fake. As you know there was a post on  Xitek saying the RX200 would feature a 28-140mm f/1.4-2.2 zoom lens and a pop-up viewfinder. The only camera with pop-up viewfinder I saw was that picture of the [shoplink 18303 ebay]Kodak 35[/shoplink] sent to me by a SAR reader :)

So don’t wait for the RX200. If the RX100 fits your need just grab it. You can find it for very good prices like the $589 at [shoplink 18305 ebay]Sunset Electronics (Click here)[/shoplink] and in Europe for 480 Euro at [shoplink 18304 ebay]Photodirect (Click here)[/shoplink]. Both with free shipping an no extra tax to pay.

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

A new source sent me the following info:
1) Sony is working on a feasibility study right now for a full frame Zeiss Tilt Shift Lens for A-mount. This may be an autofocus lens!
2) Also up for debate are two aps-c mirror A-mount telephoto lenses: 350mm f5.6 AF SAM and a 500mm f8 AF SAM lens.
3) From what i’ve heard the 400 f2.8 will not happen, but the 400 f4 has been sent to design.

Don’t know yet of the info is correct. Also in that case I hope trusted sources can confirm or deny this. Thanks!

P.S: In these days I am working on the new A-mount roadmap. Sources can send me info anonymously through he contact form you see on the right border of the website. Thanks!

——–

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!