The VG-900. The first E-mount FF

Two trusted sources confirmed that Sony is working on a Full Frame NEX-7 alike system. And they said the camera prototype is almost “ready”. But the real issue is the lens system. They told me that Sony has not enough resources yet to design and produce lenses for a new Full Frame mirrorless system. Currently the priorities are those:
1) Develop and produce new E-mount lenses for the current cameras
2) Develop and produce (and redesign some of the existing) A-mount lenses

The sources said that for that reason we don’t have to expect a new FF mirrorless lens system to be ready before the very end of 2013! But nothing has been decided yet. The priority for the first half of 2013 are the new A and E-mount lenses plus the new NEX-7 update and new SLT cameras.

A litte more info: Expect these lenses to be larger than current known FF lenses like the [shoplink 15173 ebay]Leica M (here on eBay)[/shoplink] or [shoplink 15174 ebay]Zeiss ZM lenses (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Lens design for digital sensors requires a bit a different approach than the design for film cameras (for example AF parts have to be included).

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Just a note. Zeiss made many FF ZM lenses and quite some of them would be interesting for a new Sony FF mirrorless system:
[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].

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Reminder to all sources: You can send me anonymous messages through the use of the contact form you can find on top of the right sidebar. Or send me an email by using a fake gmail account at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

FF mirrorless: Currently only Sony and Leica are offering FF mirrorless systems. Sony has the VG900. While Leica has three new offerings, the Leica ME. Leica M and Leica Monochrome.

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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!

We all loved the NEX-7 but the time is close that it will find his way to a well deserved retirement. It stills ell well in US (see Amazon ranking) but according to our sources the NEX-7 is due for replacement the first half of the next year. We are still working on the rumored specs list and sources are welcome to send me the bits of info they have about the camera so that I can be as accurate as possible the day I will post them on SAR.

All I can say for now is that every aspect from EVF, sensor up to the AF will be changed (ok that was to be expected). I haven’t heard of any revolutionary new feature yet (like foveon sensor or whatever you imagine). While final prototypes are already out for testing you may share your wish list for the new NEX-7 successor while I am working on the real specs info. Contact me anonymously (with fake mail address) at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Or just drop a message on the contact form you see placed here on the right sidebar. Thanks!

The $100 NEX-7 rebates on Amazon:
Meantime there is a $100 rebate action on the NEX-7 (Click here). You save another additional $100 when purchasing it along the 55-210mm lens and another 2% on the overall total price. That deal is part of the many Golg Box deals launched three days ago (Click here to see them all / there will be a DSC-H90 deal starting soon).

There are also some good deals on eBay:
In USA: You can get them even cheaper at [shoplink 15102 ebay]Bigvalue ($1066 click here to check out the auction)[/shoplink]. And private sellers are also selling some new bodies for less than $1000 at [shoplink 15100 ebay]Bucsmom[/shoplink] and [shoplink 15101 ebay]Kirmell[/shoplink].
In Europe: Cheapest price at [shoplink 15103 ebay]Microprice Italy (topseller store)[/shoplink]. It’s about 60-70 Euro less than in other stores.
Full list of eBay NEX7 auction here at Slidoo.

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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!

The Sony mirrorless market share in Japan

Yesterday BCNranking (translation here) posted the market shares of the mirrorless market in Japan. As you see Sony is the second top player. But how is Sony doing financially? Today Sony released that pdf document (Click to download). In short: The company lost $198 million in Q2 but that’s much lass than they amount they lost in Q1 ($312). But forecast data looks good and Sony should go back to profit by end of 2013. What do we know about the digital camera business?

The imaging division that includes Digital Imaging Products and Professional Solutions categories. had a slightly revenue drop from ¥219.1 (Q1) to ¥182.6 (Q2) but there is still an operating income plus of ¥2.6 (numbers in millions). Sony writes that “This decrease was primarily due to a significant decrease in unit sales of compact digital cameras reflecting a contraction of the low-end of the market resulting from popularization of smartphones as well as a slowing economy.“. But the forecats prediction says that “Sales are expected to increase and operating income is expected to increase significantly year-on-year.”

What is Sony’s goal for the imaging business? Here it is:
“Although the market for compact digital cameras continues to contract, Sony is working to restore profitability through reinforcement of its high value added products such as those that are differentiated through the use of highly competitive image sensors developed by Sony. For interchangeable single lens cameras, which are enjoying a steady expansion of sales, Sony aims to contribute even further to profitability by enhancing product competitiveness through the integration of network functionality and services. Image sensors contributed to profitability this quarter and, with the aim of further expanding profitability, Sony is making additional investments in production capacity to meet the growing demand for high performance image sensors in the growing market for mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.”

P.S.: Unlike it is in Japan you can’t get real market shares data from Europe and US. To get a very basic and non scientific idea of the popularity you can still check the largest online store rankings:
US ranking (Click here), DE ranking (Click here), UK ranking (Click here), FR ranking (Click here).

As you know back in September Zeiss announced that they will release three new NEX lenses in mid 2013 (Source: Zeiss.)! All priced at around 1.000 Euro and with full electronic support (yep AF too!). And as you know the first three lenses are the 12mm f/2.8, 32mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/2.8. Zeiss also said that “Zoom lenses are an option that is still being considered“.

Now some of our sources had a talk with Zeiss representatives. And the unofficial goal for Zeiss is to launch these lenses in April 2013! Same rumor has been posted by Patrick from FujiRumors (the lenses will be available for the X system too). Finally some new high quality glass like the superb [shoplink 8450]Zeiss 24mm f/1.8[/shoplink]!

Back in September I asked you which lens you would buy. This were the results (If you haven’t voted yet than do it to see the results):

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P.S.: The lenses are designed to cover the APS-C circle and not the for FF NEX cameras like the [shoplink 14178]Sony NEX-VG900[/shoplink].

Sensor manufacturers are constantly working to increase the signal to noise performance, dynamic range and color reproduction quality. If you have more technical skills you may check out the two new Sony patents showing two ways to realign the single RGB pixels to increase the image quality: Patent one and patent two. In the past we saw other very “alternative” patents (like foveon alike pixel alignment and so on). From what I am hearing from my sources some of this paradigm changing sensors will see the light of day in a real camera by 2014.

Matt Ryan unveiled some details about the new Sony PL mount F55 camera:
“The New sony camera is the F5 ($22-$25,000 range)! They are skipping the 4 model number and going to 5…They are aiming for the C300/500/Scarlet market with this.
Compression Schemes:
50 Mbps XDCam @ 422
80 Mbps XAVCHD @ 422
120 Mbps iframe compressed not XD Cam
220 Mbps “SR” @ 422 (only on new “SxS Raw+” Memory cards…. these are new!)
You can only record the full 4k frame with the R5 SR Recorder, otherwise you will record windowed footage.
120 frames per second in HD (1080), codec: XAVCHD
No on board 4K. Must use R5 recorder using a NEW type of memory card to record 4K and/or RAW.
R5 Recorder Suggested Price at the moment is $19,000! Not to mention the recording media. May change before the release.
There is also an F55 4K camera coming too, and that is what Sony is calling the direct competitor to the Epic. They think the Epic is way behind the F65…Seriously…
They will also be announcing a new set of lenses much better than their previous ones and at a t2.0 (set of 6 made by a famous lens company exclusively for Sony)…
That’s all the info I have for now…”

Thanks Matt (and Oneguy for sending this)!

Click on the image to see the full size version.

We got three new NEX lenses from Sony. And it is time to repost the NEX lens roadmap to see what’s coming in 2013. There will be four new lenses but as you know the roadmap doesn’t include the three amazing Zeiss lenses, the 12mm f/2.8, 32mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/2.8 macro. And we don’t have to forget that also Sigma, SLRmagic and probably other companies will release new lenses. 2013 may be the year where the NEX system becomes “mature”. Let’s see if Sony will also have the necessary resources to develop some Full Frame E-mount lenses for the [shoplink 14178]Sony NEX-VG900[/shoplink] and any future FF NEX!

Links to the three new E-mount lenses:
Sony E-mount 16-50mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals .
Sony E-mount 35mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.
Sony E-mount 10-18mm Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH, and more links at Alphacameradeals.