I read your comments on yesterdays article about the A-mount future. It’s correct to say that A-mount strategy will mainly focus on the High End market while E-mount will focus mainly on the entry level market. But I have to add one more info. The Sony digital camera world will not be that Manichaeist. It’s not all Black or White. Sony will also make two steps in a sort of “grey zone”:

1) There will be E-mount FF cameras

2) There will be hybrid A-E mount cameras

Both camera projects are quite innovative and it could be that Sony launch them just to see how the market reacts (like they did with the RX series). If there is a success they will expand the concepts. Situation is very fluid and like they did with the NEX,SLT and RX cameras they are willing to risk and release some innovative concepts. And for that we have to be grateful. Other companies keep being very conservative on the innovation side…h the

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STay tuned on SAR! RX camera announcement on June 27!

As you know the new Sony CEO Hirai forced a complete revamp of the A-mount strategy. The planed release of the A78, and FF SLT cameras has been deleted in order to focus resources and push the development of the new generation A-mount mirrorless cameras. So here are some general info I got form very high trusted sources:
1) I have been told that 2014 will be THE YEAR for A-mount. It means that Sony is aware that they have to succeed in the High End camera market to make profit. And Sony does believe that the DSLR form factor and the A-mount are the key success to achieve this gold (and not small E-mount cameras).
2) First A-mount mirrorless FF and APS-C cameras to hit the market in early 2014. They will be all mirrorless but maintain the current DSLR form factor.
3) AF, EVF and other key aspects have been considerably improved. The sensor is definitely 30+ megapixel and with phase detection pixels on sensor.
4) The cameras are not cheap. So I have been told :(  Anyway, if they are really good than this aspect can be not so important anymore.
5) As I told you before Sony expects a great increase in A-mount lens sales for 2014 due of the impact of the new A-mount cameras.

Now let’s hope this become true! Meantime stay tuned on SAR on June 27. Big RX camera announcement day coming!

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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.

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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!

By June 27 Sony will announce the new RX cameras. But those of you waiting for NEX news don’t worry, your showdown is shceduled for end of August-early September!

For now this is what we can expectt o be announced:

1) SR5: After some delay Sony finaally has set the shipping period for the new NEX-7 successor. The camera is set to ship in worldwide stores by mid October. Announcement of course will be made earlier. I still have no confirmed specs but now that Sony has finally set the date it will be only a matter of (short) time until I get them ;)
2) SR4: The 85mm f/1.4 lens will be announced too.
3) SR4: A high quality zoom is coming too.
4) SR3: NEX-5 successor and more lenses.

The big new A-mount mirrorless cameras will ship in early 2014. I still don’t know if Sony will unveil some of their new A-mount strategy info in autumn. Let’s see…

For now stay tuned on SAR. On June 27 at 6-7am London time we will follow live the RX announcement!

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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!

It has been a busy weekend and in case you missed the many rumors here is a short roundup. First of all a news:  If you can read Japanese than download the RX100MII manual here: http://ux.getuploader.com/nokishita/download/1/44659720M-JP.pdf

The RX showdown:
The RX1R and the RX100MII will be announced on Jun 27. I guess the news will be official at 6-7 am London time. As usual you are invited to be online at SonyAlphaRumors where I will update you live with all hot links to reviews, image samples and tests. I am still not sure but It could be that Sony also announce a sort of “Mobile Cybershot” camera. And that is rumored to feature the new Sony JPEG engine that could find his way in A and E mount cameras with the next coming firmware updated (in July). And here are in short the new features of both RX cameras:
The Sony RX1R: It’s exactly the same camera as the current RX1 but it misses the Anti Aliasing filter. That’s why Sony will present it as the “High Reoslution” RX1 version. Don’t know what the price will be. But I guess they will charge you a bit extra for removing the Filter :)
The Sony RX100MKII: It has an “updated” 20 megapixel sensor with Exmor R technology. The same Zeiss lens as the RX100. But there are plenty of other changes: new tilt screen, longer battery life, ISO 100, Built-in Wifi, 24p recording and Hot Shoe.

One more thing: I am working on many new NEX and A-mount rumors. So if you don’t care abotu RX camera news don’t worry. Your time is coming soon ;)

The difference between the RX1 and the new RX1R is just that the R version has no Anti Aliasing filter. But the differences between the RX100 and the RX100M2 are a bit more…”consistent”. The sensor is Exmor R (20mp) but the lens is exactly the same from the current RX100. And these are the other new RX100MKII features:
1. it has wifi module 802.11b/g/n
2. it has NFC module
3. Multi interface shoe
4. mini-HDMI move from bottom next to Micro-USB
5. battery life get a little boost from 330 to 350
6. ISO start from 100
7. support EVF
8. zoom ring can be set to smooth or click
9. can choose to disable movie button
10. WB bracket
11. battery recharge time is significantly longer (0.5a vs 1.5a)
12. weight increase from 240g to 281g(w/card and battery)
13. Tilt screen

Thanks “privater” for the translation :)

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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]

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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!

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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!

I got feedback from trusted sources (and also via colleagues from photo rumors) that the only difference between the actual RX1 and the RX1R is that the RX1R has no Anti Aliasing filter. I have no info about the price of the RX1R but I really do hope they do not charge extra $$$ for that. The new RX1R will be introduced as “High Resolution” version. Like the Nikon D800E is the “high Resolution” version fo the D800.  That’s why the manual is the same of the current RX1!

Reminder: The Rx100MKII and RX1R will be announced on June 27. There may be a “Mobile Cybershot” smartphone camera too.

The screenshots on top has been sent to me by a source. It proves that the RX1R is coming soon too. It will be announced along the RX100MKII on June 27! Stay tuned on SonyAlphaRumors.

UPDATE: Here you can find the full new RX1/RX1R manual: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/470170/Sony-Dsc-Rx1-Instruction-Operation-Manual.html?page=2

Guess what’s the difference between the two cameras :)