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The [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] will soon be replaced by the A57

For the source: A new source sent us some info about the A57. I want to thank him for that and also add a private message. Sorry for not posting this earlier but I always try to double check info before to post a rumor. Want to avoid to post false rumors. As you can imagine sometimes I get “fake rumors”. One more question…when is the A57 coming?

For the readers: The new A57 will use a 16 megapixel sensor and has the 12fps function of the A77. It also uses the same battery as the A77. Menu structure is again the same of the A77… same focusing modes as A77. The EVF looks similar to the A77 (might not be but very good) and the response time an manual mode very fast with no lag on settings. It has a swivel screen that looks very much like the same as the A77 and an ISO button on top.

UPDATE: Trusted sources confirmed the specs (with only a small correction). The A57 Specs are right! No articulated LCD screen but swivable. A77 Vertical Grip fits on the A57. No Top LCD.NO GPS. Finally exciting times are ahead of us. I also heard about a new NEX camera but don’t know if it will be announced yet and be available in April. Or if it will be announced in April and available in April.

UPDATE_2: No magnesium alloy!

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Sony A77 in stock status check: [shopcountry 8461].

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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!

One of the FALSE rumors that were spreading around the web was that the new Fuji X PRo 1 would have an organic sensor (see picture on top). It turned out to be false. But…

…now one of my best(!) sources has informed me me that Sony already has working prototypes of organic sensors! They will not hit the market this year, but they will in 2013. In general, Sony plans to bring major advances and more deeply expressed “sensor paradigm shifts” from the end of 2013 forwards with new Foveon-like sensors and organic materials allowing them to go well beyond the 100 megapixel barrier on a full-frame sensor. Sony has already officially announced that they will display a 100 megapixel sensor this year. The current (medium) format camera with the highest pixel resolution is the “Mamiya DM-Series 80Mp DSLR Camera Kit with 80mm LS Lens”. Price: $34,495.00 at Bhphoto (Click here).

I haven’t been told which camera will use this new generation sensor first. But let me dream for a moment. Imagine a full-frame NEX-9 camera with that sensor. I bet it would kick Fuji new Amazon hotseller (clcik to see ranking) in the butt ;)

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 french magazine Chasseur Magazine unveiled the future Nikon D800 specs and as I told you over 6 months ago it uses the new Sony 36 Megapixel Full Frame sensor!

Here are the specs of the sensor:
CMOS Full Frame with 36-megapixel
This Exmor sensor provides high dynamic range and low noise images.
Expect grain free images, printed in A2 up to ISO 1600.
The D800 will range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (extended modes ISO 50, 12800 and 25600).
Full HD 1080p in 30p, 25p and 24 p. There will be a PCM recorder.
Like the D4, the Nikon D800 will be able to output uncompressed video on its HDMI port.

Of course Nikon is using their own Expeed engine to elaborate JPEG images and Video stream. As a filmmaker I like the uncompressed clean HDMI output and hope Sony will take notice of that :)

What matters for you to know is that the next Sony Full Frame camera will NOT use that sensor. It will have a newly designed 24 Megapixel sensor and I honestly welcome that news. Don’t like that Megapixel race and 24 megapixel should allow more per pixel sharpness and much higher ISO. Anyway, I expect one more Sony Full Frame camera to be unveiled in early 2013 having the same 36 Megapixel sensor.

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I am sure that we will soon see a new [shoplink 3617]A55[/shoplink] successor. But today I also got a rumor about a second SLT camera. A new source told me that there is a new [shoplink 7419]A35[/shoplink] successor named “A38”. It has a new sensor and comes with a tilting LCD. That’s all he knows for now. The biggest Japanese photo show starts in 10 days at Yokohama. I guess that this could be the right time to see both new SLT cameras. There will be no new NEX camera or SLT fullframe at the event but of course Sony could decide to display some mockup or prototype. I expect some new (real) NEX cameras and lenses in April.

My two cent:
Don’t you think four SLT cameras priced between $600 and $1400 are too many? Three models are more than enough I think.

A77 and Zeiss 24mm for NEX in Stock:
The A77 with 16-50mm lens is back in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon FR (Click here).
The Zeiss for NEX will be in Stock on Feb 5th at Amazon (Click here).

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I have been told by some sources that the next SLT camera to be announced is the [shoplink 3617]A55[/shoplink] successor. It should arrive within the next few months and certainly before the fullframe A99 (which will be announced in late August/early September). I am very curious to see what kind of sensor it will use. I have been told it is a “new” sensor (with less than 20 Megapixels). it will not have the super high resolution of the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink], nor the top body quality, nor the same fast fps and advanced viewfinder. But this may become a real High ISO King camera!

As usual, if you have some rumor to share contact me at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or send me an anonymous message by using the contact form you see here on the right sidebar. Thanks!

A77 in Stock status:
The A77 body is now in Stock at BHphoto (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
The A77+16-50mm lens is now in Stock at BHphoto (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here), Amazon France (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).

Image on top shows the “OLD” Sony prototypes. Expect a completely new lens roadmap for 2012 :)

The past weeks months Sony changed the product for 2012. So it hasn’t been easy to get reliable info about their camera and lens release. Finally I got a more reliable overview of Sony’s strategy. There will be three new NEX cameras within the next 8 months. Sony will announce the first camera in April, another camera in Summer and another one at Photokina. As I wrote many times what we really need is new lenses rather than new NEX cameras. But the good news here is that at least 5-6 lenses will be announced within 2012. I am right now collecting the specs of every single product.

It’s clear that Sony will push the new NEX camera and lenses but I have been told that you should expect A-mount lenses and SLT cameras too. Soon it will get pretty busy here on SAR :)

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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!