Carl Garrard got an update about the A600 rumor. In very last moment Sony opted for the 16.2 Megapixel sensor instead of the rumor 18.4 Megapixel sensor. This happens because of the high demand of the 16.2mp sensor from other manufacturers so that the 18.4mp sensor wasn’t put to production. The good news is that the 16.2mp sensor was upgraded!

Please keep in mind that the rumor is coming via Carl’s source. So I cannot tell you if the rumor is correct or not. Anyway, I am sure the A57 and probably the NEX-F3 are coming soon (March 13th). I also heard about unknown other camera coming soon. This may or may not include that A600 model.

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!

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The current last announced model with optical viewfinder: The [shoplink 5509]Sony A580[/shoplink]
My friend Carl Garrard (Click here) got some interesting tidbits from an “old” source with good reputation. According to him there will be a new [shoplink 5509]A580 DSLR[/shoplink] successor. The real big news here is that Sony didn’t give up the Optical Viewfinder cameras: “I was told that for now Sony’s reaction to gathered marketplace demand is to keep traditional and non traditional DSLRS in the fold, but that only two OVF DSLRS would stay in the lineup. Priority is now given to SLT but that OVF are not yet out of the lineup. At least not yet. Apparently this is a pretty sudden switch in strategy, according to him.”

I know the A57 is coming and a source also told me there is one more camera coming too but I don’t know the specs yet. I hope my soruces can confirm soon if that rumor is true or not. I would certainly be happy if it would be correct! Here are the specs Carl got from his source.

• -New body design, similar to [shoplink 8459]A65[/shoplink] in size
• -Larger brighter OVF than the A580 (still penta-mirror, cost savings) at .92x magnification “w/data overlay” @ 97% coverage
• -Similar live view system as the A450 (away goes the second sensor and mechanisms that cost extra money), more traditional  main sensor live view with faster contrast detect AF than previous Sony DSLRS, this time for all lenses
• -updated 18.4 mp APS-C CMOS sensor
• -up to 8fps capture with full metering and af capabilities (A580 could do only 5fps with metering/af)
• -same battery as A580, A65, A77
• -new “wide coverage” 15 point AF system (new type with 5 cross type sensors)
• -full 1080p HD video will be included (no specifics on this)
• -Dual card slots (no specifics on type)
• -New pop up flash (not sure how this will work, assume bounce and regular?)
• -Silver and Black model (depending on territory)
• -New quieter mirror box mechanism and shutter
• -First curtain electronic shutter mode
• -Moisture/dust preventive measures (but not moisture or dust resistant)
• -3 custom function buttons
• -Updated Quick Navi Menu interface (assume like A65’s which isn’t true quick navi like A900/etc.)
• -Dual control wheels, rear is scroll and click type
• -Due this year before fall

Let’s cross the fingers!

P.S.: Don’t forget there is a huge Sony announcement day o March 13! The A57 is coming (and maybe NEX stuff too!).

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!

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The A57 will look 99% like the current [shoplink 8459]Sony A65[/shoplink]

I just got more rumors about the A57 which will be announced on March 13. The most important news is that it has almost the same body of the [shoplink 8459]Sony A65[/shoplink]. And here are some updated specs:
Sony ExmorHD 16 megapixel sensor (guess it’s the same of the [shoplink 7207]Sony NEX-C3[/shoplink]).
ISO 100 up to 16.000 (with 25.600 multishot)
12 frames per second
It has FullHD 60p AVCHD 2.0 recording
Compared to the A77 the A57 has less good electronic viewfinder (but sources told us it’s still very good and difference is minimal). No weather sealed body.  There is also a new battery grip for the A57 (yep, it isn’t compatible with the A77 grip). It has a swivel screen. No top LCD and no GPS.

And as I told you a couple of days ago a new NEX-F3 and a new NEX camcorder are also coming soon (don’t know if they will be announced the same day of the A57). I am still struggling to get more reliable info about the lenses. Hope you sources can send me more about that soon!
—

P.S.: The A77 body only is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here). And so the kit version (Click here).

I really don’t know what to think about this. A readers sent me that image showing an all silver NEX-7. I have no info yet if that is just a Photoshop work or a true camera. And I don’t know if it would make sense or not to offer a silver edition.

Here is the NEX-7 search links status check:
[shoplist 8454]

Our friends over at Photorumors got the news that on April 1st Sony will increase the price on all Sony lenses.I hope this is really an April joke! This is the price change list they got from their sources:

Some sources told me about possible future price increases because of the current weak dollar (or strong yen). There will be definitely no new price changes in Europe and Asia.

Tha A99 will be based on the same SLT technology of the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink]
The Nikon D800 (Click here) is out and the Canon 5DmarkIII is also coming soon. And yes, we Sony users are suffering while waiting to get our hands on the A99. As I told you months ago the full-frame roadmap has been postponed and the A99 which was due for this Spring will now be announced in September and the other full-frame cameras will follow in 2013. I really hope that “he who laughs last, laughs best.” :)

Sony is currently evaluating the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] success and limits. They really want to get a step forward in quality and usability of the A99. And finally I got first bits of news about the full frame camera. I have been told that photographers are already busy testing the A99 in the field. It has a new 24 Megapixel sensor based on the same technology of the A77 Exmor HD sensor (Note: It’s not the same [shoplink 3032]A900[/shoplink] sensor). And of course it is an SLT camera with  (improved) electronic viewfinder. I got the exact ISO range of the camera. It goes from ISO 100 up to ISO 25.600. The sources told me that the final version will very likely have an extendable range down to ISO 50 and up to 102500. They haven’t compared the images yet but they are pretty sure it will beat the Nikon D800 at high ISO and per pixel sharpness. There were long discussions inside Sony if they should use a 24 or 28 megapixel sensor. Sony choose the 24 megapixel sensor to have less noise and greater fps speed.

In general sources told me that SAR readers should not expect a revolutionary camera but rather a great evolution of what you saw on the A77. I am now trying to get more specs about the camera but please keep in mind that we are talking about specs from a prototype! So there could be small changes and that’s why I posted this with SR4 and not SR5 value (see the rumor ranking explanation at the bottom of the post if you don’t know what this means).

One more thing: The Nikon D800 sells like hotcakes ( See rankings at Amazon USA (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here)) and is using a Sony produced 36 megapixels sensor. The same sensor can be used by Sony in 2013 only (yeah Nikon has an exclusivity on it).

P.S.: Don’t forget there is a huge Sony announcement day o March 13! The A57 is coming (and maybe NEX stuff too!).

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!

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Image on top: The [shoplink 7207 ebay]NEX-C3[/shoplink] that could soon be replaced by the NEX-F3

As I told you last week Sony is going to have a big announcement day on March 13th! We know that the A57 is coming for sure but what about other cameras and lenses? Trusted sources now told me that a [shoplink 7207 ebay]Sony NEX-C3[/shoplink] successor is coming soon (NEX-F3?) and a new NEX camcorder will also come right before the NAB show in April. I have no final specs right now but this is going to be a very busy time here on SAR…so stay tuned!Oh, and I really hope Sony will announce the new NEX lenses too! We alreayd have plenty of NEX cameras but so few NEX lenses :(

Message for Sony fullframe developers and marketing guys: The Nikon D800 is an incredible hotseller at Amazon USA (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here). Who said you can’t make money with FF? Just do it right :)