Well, we expected Canon and Nikon to launch good but not extraordinary cameras. After all they are historically conservative players in the market doing just the necessary to defend their current market share. Sony has played conservative too by holding back the A7sIII launch until some serious competition appears. Well folks this is “status quo” is going to change soon!

99,999% reliable sources from 43rumors.com report this:

– Panasonic will launch a new Full Frame system camera on September 25 (will be on market by march 2019)
– It will probably use the Leica SL mount and be compatible with their six lenses (those are expensive but also very good lenses)
– Panasonic will both offer superb video quality with 4k60p and a new very high-resolution sensor (around 50MP and sensor designed by Panasonic)
– The camera is aimed to compete with the best High End cameras from Sony, Nikon and Canon but with a much lower price rumored to be around $3,000

As you can see in one strike Panasonic will offer the top video performance of the A7sII (and future A7sIII), the speed of the Sony A9 and a higher resolution than the Sony A7rIII. All that for just around $3,000!!!

This news matters for us because it could have a cascade effect on Sony! If Panasonic is indeed going to launch this beast on September 25 Sony will have to launch the A7sIII very soon too. Plus it will have to be priced at a decent price.

And than there is a more philosophical question: If the Panasonic can do both super video and super high-resolution stills….time may come for Sony to announce one single camera that can do it all? Something like a Sony A9r with 4k60p, 60+ megapixels and the speed of the A9…ok I am dreaming…wake me up now by trolling me in the comment system :)

Just a reminder for those who have missed to read the past rumors on SAR. This is the 90% reliable recap of what’s coming next from Sony and Zeiss:

• Sony announcement on Sept 14 at 9.30am CET time. They will likely announce new camcorder gear only. There is only 10% chance to see the A7sIII :(
• UPDATED: Sony announcement around September 20 (could be +/- 1 day). It’s confirmed there will be new E-mount lenses. Most certainly a 24mm f/1.4 GM. And maybe new 135mm f/1.8 GM too
• Sony press conference on September 25. Unclear what’s going to be announced (if anything at all)
• Zeiss press conference on September 27. Batis 40mm f/2.0 and the new fixed lens FF camera from Zeiss will be announced
• One more Sony press conference and product announcement in mid-October
• We know for sure Sony has two cameras ready: The new High End APS-C E-mount camera (not a direct A6500 successor) and the new A7sIII. But we have no SR5 confirmation about when they will be announced.

There should be a video livestream for all these events on SAR. Be sure to not miss them!
Subscribe our RSS feed (Click here).
Join us on Facebook (Click here).
Follow us on Twitter (Click here).

 Loading ...

Zeiss will have a major announcement on September 27. And that’s when they will show us the new Full Frame fixed lens camera and the new Batis 40mm f/2.0 CF FE lens. Nokishita spilled out some additional info on the lens:

“ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF” announced soon will weigh 361 g. The lens composition is 8 groups 9 pieces, the shortest shooting distance is 24 cm, the filter diameter is 67 mm, optical vibration reduction is not installed.

I know it’s a bit hard to believe the announcement will take place in the midts of Photokina but here is the official Zeiss invitation to prove it: