UPDATE via trusted sources: The new 18-200mm from Sony will be All Black and be announced on May 17th along the new NEX-F3. I certainly welcome the idea to make black version of the current NEX lenses. Would love to see a 50mm Black lens too! It has the same optical desing of the current 18-200mm lens!
From time to time I post patents describing many new technologies like organic sensors and “foveon” alike vertical alligned pixels and so on. But as you know most of the time these patents just remain….patents. Now many top sources confirmed that there will be a new sensor design made for compact cameras. Sony will launch some compact cameras (with small sensor) by end of the year having a new RGBW sensor. It means it will have Red-Greeen-Blue and White sensible pixels. That new pattern will allow an increased dynamic range. I have no clue yet if that kind of sensor will sooner or later also find his way on larger APS-C an FF sensor. Certainly not within this year!
I am being asked by some SAR readers what’s the news on the fixed lens APS-C model and the Hybrid camera concept. The news I have says that the APS-C camera with fixed lens a là [shoplink 11547 ebay]DSC-R1 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] will arrive this summer and compete against the Canon G1 X ($799). Like the Canon it uses a very compact zoom lens and not a prime lens like the Sigma DP series the Fuji X100 and Leica X1.
The hybrid E-A or (A-E?) mount camera that will bring full support for both lens systems is still in being developed and will not come before 2013. At that stage I really don’t know how this camera will look and what exactly Sony wants to do in terms of design and features. How this will work remains a bit of a mystery. I only can think on a similar solution of the Zeiss Ikon Contax I, II and III that can still be found [shoplink 10295 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink].
After the May 17th NEX-F3 and Sony A37 announcement I will intensively work on the next A99 Full Frame camera release. I am crossing my finger that this will become a great camera!
The Sony NEX-5n has proven to be a very good camera and a real hotseller (right now on top at Amazon). But according to our top sources Sony is ready to launch an improved version this summer! It will be called Sony NEX-F5 (and as you know the NEX-F3 is coming on May 17th). I have no specs yet but I have been told there will be improvement in all aspects of the camera (image quality, video quality, screen, usability). As usual if you heard something about the NEX-F5 feel free to drop me a message :)
P.S.: There is a $50 instant rebate on the NEX-5n at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And the super 50mm f/1.8 lens is also in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
A personal message: For days now I am working in the middle of nowhere. There is a low speed Internet connection, and I have to write articles with my iPhone in order to save energy. That’s why you will see a huge amount of typos and why I am not answering your mails. I may post a picture of the place where I am later :)
Good Morning!
In case you forgot it, we are ten days away form the next big Sony announcement. Every image and spec of the new camera and lenses have been already leaked. The image on top shows the roadmap from Sony. As you can see it’s Sony’s goal to strengthen the Middle and High Alpha range within the year. I was hoping that Sony would show the A99 prototype too but it’s unlikely that this will happen.But let’s see…miracles can happen from time to time!
P.S.: The NEX-7 is marked as “new” because massive shipment started in March only :)
Rumors are getting stronger about the next Full Frame DDay announcement in late August. I am sure that there will be new Alpha lenses coming along the A99 (or whatever the final name will be). Question is which kind of lens should we expect? I am getting more and more “indications” that there will be a new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens. The rumor still hasn’t reached the SR5 value (which means that many trusted sources confirmed this) but I hope to get the definitive answer soon.
The current Sony 50mm f/1.4 is still based on the lens design typical of the 70s to 80s. It’s a decent performer but we absolutely need a high quality version too! I hope it will not be too expensive.The currently most expensive Full frame 50mm lens on the market is the [shoplink 12485 ebay]Zeiss Planar f/1.4 (Click here to see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink] which is available for Canon/Nikon/Pentax mount. That is the price I expect for the new Sony Zeiss!
Links to the current 50mm f/1.4 lens from Sony: [shopcountry 12486].
And here a short poll:
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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!
OK guys, this is neither an Alpha nor a NEX camera news but it’s interesting to know that under the most sold cameras you will find the GOPRO camera series. A new source just told me that Sony will enter that kind of market with GoPro “clones” by end of the year. It sounds like Sony will focus on NEX and on that kind of cameras in order to bring in some cash within the Digital Imaging business.
For those of you not knowing the GoPro camera here are some shop search links to check specs and price: [shopcountry 12474].
