Picture on top: The 180 degree LCD from the Samsung MV800.

First NEX-F3 info from trusted sources are coming in! The new NEX-F3 is coming soon and it will replace the current NEX-C3. Some NEX-C3 kits have been already marked as discontinued at BHphoto (Click here), Digitalrev (Click here) and very low in Stock at Amazon (Click here). P.S.: Thanks to the anonymous sources for sending me this.

One of the big new features coming with the new NEX-F3 is a special 180 degree LCD that works almost exactly like the current Samsung MV800 (image on top). Perfect for taking self portraits. I have no image of the camera yet but I hope sources can send me some pics soon. Or maybe you reader can help me to find some leaked image on Sony’s websites? Search for “Sony NEX-F3” images! Thanks for the help! :)

Image on top: The currently discontinued Sony A850 (via BH).

The last week I got multiple hints about the Sony FF strategy. And now I can start to share some bits of SR5 ranked rumors! :)

First, the FF buzz from these weeks happened because Sony now officially choose the final A99 specs. And it is already showing the camera to managers and some important photographers and dealers. The first thing to know is that Sony decided to announce the A99 (or whatever the final name will be) in late August! There will be on Full Frame camera only and the next FF camera is coming in 2013. So what will happen from now? Sony plans to show the camera to photographers and important dealers in May/June. We “normal” user may see some official teaser this summer. But if I will have some luck I may be able to show you the camera earlier :)

As I told you many times this is an SLT camera with improved Electronic Viewfinder. I am still waiting to get the final confirmation from my top sources but I know that one FF prototype had 24 Megapixel, 101 cross AF points, same articulating screen as the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink]. De facto it looks like the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] but is just a bit larger. Price should be below the Nikon D800 (which costs $2999). But as I said, this was my latest info about the prototype version. I hope to get some news about the final approved version soon!

My personal two cent about that: I am no marketing expert but my “feeling” is that the camera could sell well if the price will be around $2500-$2600 (like the currently discontinued Sony A900). A new improved EVF, a Full Frame 24 Megapixel sensor with clean ISO and super speed AF and burst rate could be very tempting. Combine this with the new coming Zeiss lenses and I am in :)   The Nikon D800 (Click here) would remain tempting for customers in need for Optical Viewfinder or massive Megapixels. While the Canon 5DmarkIII (Click here) is priced too high for what it does (that’s again just my personal opinion backed by Amazon ranking sales you can see here). And now show Sony your A99 buying intentions:

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P.S.: That said, stay tuned on SonyAlphaRumors, there is a lot I have to share with you! And don’t forget to follow the community on Facebook and news on Twitter!

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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!

Soon Sony will have a major product announcement day but it will not be particularly interesting when it comes to the new lenses. There will be two new zooms. One is the already leaked 18-135mm SAM lens and another zoom I don’t have the exact specs yet. So no primes and no fast lenses. Overall I got the “impression” Sony is facing some production issues. They still cannot produce enough 24mm Zeisss and 50mm (both for NEX) lenses. This may be one of the reasons for that unspectacular new announcement :(

Check the availability of the mentioned lenses by clicking these search links:
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 8448]

According to top sources the upcoming next Sony full frame cameras “main feature” will be the low price. What does it mean? There will be no new big special feature compared to the actual [shoplink 8461]A77 camera[/shoplink] (a part of course the bigger full frame sensor and improved EVF). Sony learned from the A77 customer reaction and improved many details. To me that sounds good! I don’t need new marketing bla bla features. The A99 should “just work”. The A99 will very likely feature a new 24 Megapixel full frame sensor. My suggestions? Improve the JPG engine, release the camera with a mature firmware (no more blackouts).

The Nikon D800 is priced at $2999 at Amazon and the new Canon 5DmarkIII at $3499 at Amazon. I think the Sony A99 should be priced at $2499 to compete against them! What do you think?

Zeiss announced some wonderful (and damn expensive) new Cine lenses you can use on your E-Mount camera. The lenses will be shipped in August 2012. The recommended retail price for the Compact Prime CP.2 35/T1.5 Super Speed is €3,700 or US$4,900 (excluding VAT)*. The recommended retail price for the Compact Prime CP.2 50/T1.5 Super Speed and Compact Prime CP.2 85/T1.5 Super Speed is €3,300 or US$4,500 (excluding VAT)*. The Compact Zoom CZ.2 70-200/T2.9 will start shipping in the fourth quarter of 2012 at a recommended retail price of €14,900 or US$19,900 (excluding VAT)*. Press release at Dpreview.

The zoom is really monstrously! On [shoplink 12143 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] you can find many CP.2 lenses. And here below you can see an example video shot on the Sony F3:

[shoplink 3032][/shoplink] Sont expect any FF with optical viewfinder anymore! Bye bye A900 :(

In these days many “sources” contacted me to tell me that Sony has already “selected” the final A99 camera specs. Some A99 prototypes are being shown to managers, dealers and photographers. All sources confirmed that there is no plan to launch the A99 now and that all we can hope is that Sony will give us an official look on the prototype model by end of this month or early May! It is Sony’s plan to launch the A99 in late August/early September like they did last year with the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink].

P.S:: I hope Paul Genge statement will turn out to be truth when he told to David Kilpatrick (Click here):  “wait for the FF SLT– you’ll not regret it’. So don’t buy the Nikon D800 and Canon 5DmarkIII  :)

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Here are the search links to the last FF DSLR cameras with optical viewfinder:
Sony A900 [shopcountry 3032].
Sony A850 [shopcountry 3028].

Good Morning and welcome to the new week :)

Guys, the tension is beginning to grow! According to top sources Sony is about to make a new product announcement within the coming weeks. I am pretty sure there will be a new NEX-C3 successor and I have been told that the NEX-C3 will get massive price drops this week (Check at [shopcountry 7207]). And than there is the new A37. I have no exact announcement date yet but I will know it soon ;)

I am still not 100% sure but there is a fair chance Sony will show “something Full Frame” too. My guess for now is that they will display a new FF SLT prototype like they did with the A77 months before the real announcement.

If you have some info to share drop me an anonymous message by using the contact form on the right sidebar. You can avoid to send me your real name and email address and no IP data gets stored. Would be nice if you use some kind of fake name I can track to see if you are (or will become) a trusted source or not. 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!