Now it’s getting really interesting. I aks my trusted source if the following info I got now could be correct:

“Concerning Honami/i1, there’s a few more things I would like you to confirm with your sources if you don’t mind. As you already know, SONY is working on a new JPEG algorithm for this particular phone, which is suppose to be from the imaging department of SONY. Based on current rumors so far, this new algorithm is also, “supposedly”, developed for their Alpha, NEX, and other cameras because their JPEG processing is horrible(base on user feedbacks). Can you confirm how true is that, and are we getting a new JPEG processing algorithm for NEX, Alpha, etc lineups?”

I will give you some feedback as soon as my trusted sources contact me. Anyway, if true this is a greta news. The JPEG image quality is not on par with the best in it’s class (Canon-Nikon-Fuji). I hope this will change soon!

P.S.: As noticed by SAR readers the new Sony “honami” would be the second smart phone having a large sized sensor. The first has been the Nokia PureView Smartphone (here at Amazon).

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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

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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!

We usually don’t talk about Sony smartphones. But as you know, the digital compact camera is considerably shrinking because more and more people uses their smartphones for daily photography.

And now there are rumors about a new Sony Xperia flagship phone with the codename “Honami”. It should be the first smartphone using a large 1/1.6 – 1/1.5″ sensor! It features a Sony G lens. a mobile Bionz chip and either a xenon or plasma flash with a dual LED as well. Lens might be f2.0 and it should have a new JPEG algorithm to ensure things are far better than current Xperia phones.

I thank the source sending me this. He also asked me if my “usual” trusted sources can confirm this! The 1/1,5 inch sensor sounds huge. Almost unbelievable they can do it. UPDATE: Nokia did it with the PureView Smartphone (so it’s possible!) That said Sony is right on the track working on smartphones with high image quality. The “Normal” digital compact camera market is death anyway.

The Sony RX100 price history in Germany (Source: Idealo).

For the first time I found new RX100 cameras priced under 500 Euro in Europe -> [shoplink 18236 ebay]Photodirect (eBay Germany)[/shoplink]. And in US you can find them for less than $600 on eBay (here on Slidoo). Does it mean the successor is going to be announced soon?

Rumors is floating around a web created by the Chinese Forum XITEK. It says the RX200 is going to be announced the first week of June. It will have a 28-140mm f/1.4-2.2 zoom lens. The body is more or less the same of the RX100 but it includes a pop-up viewfinder.

I hope my sources can tell me more about it soon but to me this sounds like a fake rumor. A 28-140mm with that bright lens and having the same large 1 inch sensor would require a huge lens! It’s almost impossible to maintain the current RX100 size!

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]