Just a short notice about the new A58 sensor. As I told you it has  20 Megapixels. I’ve now been told by one source that this sensor should have a “greatly improved Dynamic Range” compared to previous generation sensors. I really hope this is a real measurable difference and not just a marketing slogan :)

Message to that source: Can you tell me what you like and not like on the new A58? And can you confirm the February 20th as announcement date? Uh, and the final price of the Zeiss?   Thanks :=)

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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!

A new source  just shared some new info about the upcoming A58. He confirms the rumor that the A38 might have been taken off the table in the very last minute.  He also shared some specs:

– The A58 will have a 20 megapixel sensor capable of shooting at 8fps (frames per second).
– The body has the same size as the current A57.
– It will have a brand new focusing system that he said is “very cool” (you may tell us more about it?)
– you will be able to control the camera from a computer (like all the Canons) but it wont have Wi-Fi.
– Price is $599

Announcement is expected on February 20th (although there is also a rumor about a second Sony announcement on February 24th). The source also said that the new 50mm f/1.4 SSM Zeiss will be announced too.

Thanks anonymous source!You may use a nickname so that I can recognize you in future and eventually mark you as “reliable”? ;)

Soon to come on SAR is a NEX rumors. So stay tuned! Don’t miss any rumor and subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here)!

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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!

Short update about the Sony Full Frame Mirrorless development. I had some chat with sources and they all do confirm that the final decision about the specs hasn’t been taken. The main challenge is to understand how big the market for such a camera could be and what features are requested to make a breakthrough. I have been told there are some prototypes being tested now and they have some very new tech not seen in any of the current NEX or SLT yet. Most of the source believe Sony is going to use an updated 24 FF megapixel sensor. Updated means that it has faster Phase Detection AF (thanks to new Phase Detection Pixels) and an increased dynamic range.

Sony now scheduled the release on market for mid 2014 while announcement should be made in very early 2014. Zeiss is definitely on board and as I told you weeks ago they will make three primes for June 2014. I will let you know when Sony decided the final camera details. So stay tuned!

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Zeiss alreayd made some nice Full Frame lenses for the “Full Frame” ZM analog camera:
[shoplink 10875 ebay]Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9803 ebay]Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9805 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9806 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].

Soon the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens will hit the market (in late Spring) but for many of us this lens will be too expensive (rumored price is $1600-$1700). If you can wait 12 months more than you might can get a cheaper and still high quality alternative from Samyang! Fotogears (official Samyang Asia partner) worte on their facebook page that a new Samyang 50mm f/1.2 A-mount lens is on the Samyang roadmap and could come in 2014.

Sounds great!!!

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I like Rokinon/Samyang lenses a lot and I recommend you the following two lenses for Alpha mount:
1) The 35mm f/1.4: In US you can find it as Rokinon at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and on [shoplink 7453 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. In Europe the name is Samyang and you can find it on [shoplink 7380 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and with the name Wallimex again on [shoplink 7831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
2) The 85mm f/1.4: You can get for $274 on Amazon (Click here), branded with the name Rokinon on [shoplink 7456 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded with the name Samyang on [shoplink 7454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

And here are the links to the newly announced Samyang/Rokinon lenses:
8mm f/3.5 fisheye at Amazon, BHphoto,
14mm f/2.8 at Amazon, BHphoto,
24mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,
35mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,
85mm f/1.4 at Amazon, BHphoto,

I got a short message from two different (good) sources hinting about a possible NEX-7 successor coming very soon! I ask my trusted big sources if they can confirm the rumors. I also have no specs yet but I have been told that the camera has a new sensor and very likely the same sensor that will be sued on the A77 successor too!

If I got the message right than Sony will first intorduce the NEX-3n next week and the NEX-7 successor in two months. Stay tuned on SAR! Lot of news and rumros to come soon…

P.S.: Sony NEX-7 price check at [shopcountry 8454]

Sony Manager Mark Weir has been interviewed by Imaging Resource (full article here). There is no talk about the future products and just some minor info like:

– RX1 Demand has been very strong.
– To create a universal RAW file that all sensor manufacturers would adhere to may limit the opportunities of what we can be achieved.
– Sony has received requests to be able to set JPEG compression while shooting RAW plus JPEG and they are aware of that request.
– “The decision to use optical-shift instead of sensor-shift in NEX cameras was based on the intention to miniaturize the camera body. And if you look at the size of NEX, particularly from in the depth dimension, you can see that with 18 mm from flange to sensor and then there’s very little room from the sensor to the back of the camera, yes, there just wasn’t room.”

it was obvious NEX would never have n sensor stabilization but know you hear it officially from a Sony manager.

Sources from SAR and Digicaminfo got the same info about the upcoming release:

In very last moment it looks like Sony decided to drop the A38 and just release the A58! And this is what Sony will announce soon:

• SLT-A58 with a new 20MP sensor (actually it’s 20,xx and almost close to 21 Megapixels). Priced around 600-700 dollars/euro.
• NEX-3N, 16Megapixel sensor (same as F3) priced at 500-600 dollars/euro
• Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 for 1600-1700 dollars/euro
• 18-55mm II  for A mount at around 200-300 dollars/euro
• 70-400G F4.5-5.6 II 2400-2500 dollars/euro (to ship in April!)

And a smart SAR reader found the evidence for the new 70-400mm in the latest firmware: “Looks like SAL-70400G2 is ready for release, fw for a99 contains the lens correction profile for that lens. This profile is identical to the profile for the known SAL-70400G, so no changes in optical formula. LensID is 69, “old” one has LensID 53. No such lens profiles for rumored SAL-70200G2 or announced SAL-50F14Z yet.”

Stay tuned on SAR!