We had a pretty much severe issue. The disk of SAR was actually full and it caused a sever damage to the database. There were also two other issues with the backups and combine all that and the result is a very bad day :)

Anyway, I am no re inserting the articles I posted on SAR. I have to do it manually. But your comments form the last months will be lost. Really sorry, but this now convinced me one more time that SAR has to become a stable and standalone website.

This means that for the next 24 hours I may not post any news as I really have to use every free time for this. Meantime sources may send me some rumors baout the A88 and A99 to cheer me up :)

Reuters (via Nikkei) reports that “Olympus is in final talks with Sony to get a roughly 50 billion yen capital injection in return for a stake“. Sony’s main interest is the medical business but of course this could also have an influence on Olympus mirrorless camera strategy. Anyway, those kind of rumors are floating around for months now and we still haven’t anything official…yet.

For a short moment the Sony Service website listed new codes for new Alpha mount lenses. They quickly removed the codes but Matthias from the German Minolta Forum was able to copy the text.

There are two new lenses:
SAL55-300 (yes: -300)
And a new version of the current SAL300-2.8G (here at Amazon).

Other already available lenses got a new “UC” suffix which probably means “Ultra Clean” (Click on name to see the current lens at Amazon):
SAL-50F14 UC
SAL-85F14Z UC
SAL-100M28 UC
SAL-135F28 UC
SAL-1870 UC
SAL-18200 UC
SAL-70200G UC
SAL-75300 UC

From the past experience that those kind of leaks are very reliable. I heard of an updated SAL-70200G coming at Photokina so there is a fair chance Sony may update all the other mentioned lenses too!

The past months I got different rumors about a new 50mm prime. Some sources said it’s a Zeiss, some a Sony, some said it’s f/1.2 and some said it’s f/1.4. I was puzzling a lot until I got it why the rumors were not matching. These are actually two different lenses! One is the already mentioned (on SAR) 50mm f/1.2 Zeiss SSM lens that should arrive along the A99. Another is the updated version of the current 50mm f/1.4 SAL lens. I don’t know when the last one is goint to be announced. I am still waiting before to upgrade this rumor to the “SR5″ level. I want to get some feedback from my very top sources. So be patient until I can give you some further details.

P.S.: What’s SR5 is that there will be more than one new Full Frame Alpha Lens in September (about time!).

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!

Top sources told us that it is the High Quality G zoom lens that is coming along the new NEX-F5. It has a focal length of 16-50mm, an aperture of f/3,5-5,6 and comes with OSS (Image stabilization). I have no info about the possible price yet. I also don’t know if there will be a second lens too.

Anyway, this will be definitely a better lens on my NEX-7 than the current 18-55mm kit lens. Let’s cross the fingers that the price isn’t much higher! Oh, almost forgot it…I want it in Black 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!

What you see here on top is the just announced NEX-F3. And according to top sources also the upcoming new Sony NEX-F5 will share the same 180 degree flip screen and 16 Megapixel sensor. One of the main differences between the two cameras will be the integrated WiFi feature of the NEX-F5! As you may know Samsung was the first to announce mirrorless cameras with integrated WiFi (like the just released Samsung NX210). I think WiFi is a must have feature. But so are new lenses, and these are also coming along the NEX-F5. Stay tuned on SAR as usual!

—
Preorders reminder:
A37 is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
NEX-F3 is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
Sony 18-200mm NEX lens preorder at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony 18-135mm A mount lens preorder at BHphoto (Click here).

The (superexpensive) Leica X2 is the last of the APS-C model with fixed lens. Is Sony coming as next?

I am getting first reports about a possible new Sony product announcement in June! I have been told that “something is going on“. I hope trusted sources can read this post and send me some more info soon. As you know the NEX-F5, new NEX lenses and the APS-C compact camera with fixed lens are rumored to arrive sometimes this summer. The A99 is scheduled for a late August early September announcement but I hope Sony will show us the prototype earlier.

I am right now collecting rumors about the NEX-F5 which promises to be a pretty good camera. And I have been told the new NEX lens(es) will be “great”. I haven’t heard anything about the fixed lens [shoplink 11547 ebay]DSC-R1 alike (here on eBay)[/shoplink] camera. Let’s hope that’s coming too :)

Stay tuned on SAR! And if you know “something” feel free to contact me at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use the anonymous contact form you see on the right sidebar! Thanks!

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!