The new mirrorless Sony cam may use Alpha mount lenses

The May 2010 issue of Popular Photography magazine (p14) speculates that since the new Sony mirrorless camera will bear the "Alpha" name it will be compatible with Alpha mount lenses. If this is true, it will be wonderful to be able to use the same lenses on either a standard Sony DSLR (such as the A700 replacement???), or when shooting at quiet events like plays or symphonies, to have the option of switching to a silent mirrorless body.

The magazine also said (p6) that the mirrorless camera will use a new APS sensor that's optimized for full 1080p video and will launch with 3 new specially designed lenses -- a pancake and 2 zooms.

I've been frustrated, as many of you have also, with Sony's slowness in coming out with an A700 replacement, but if they can swing it so that our Alpha mount lenses will work on both the DSLRs and the new mirrorless ILCs (interchangeable lens compacts), I will be very happy.

George

We'll know soon as there's a rumor of a press conference about these cameras onApril the 18th or early May.

The native mount of the camera is a new mount, the E mount. It has a different standard distance to the sensor than A mount, much shorter. Since it's shorter the A mount lenses can be adapted. But this is a much smaller and lighter camera than the A mount lenses were designed for. E mount lenses will be much smaller and lighter.

The real attraction of this camera in the marketplace will be it's size. An A mount lens on it negates that turning it into a bulky and almost certainly unbalanced camera. The E mount lenses will be the appropriate lenses to balance on the camera. I figure should Sony manage to get it all together that's the only way I'd use it.

I do not expect it to share much with my a700 system. if anything. It would be a replacement for my bridge camera. And definitely not a DSLR replacement for me.

Walt

WaltKnapp said:

The real attraction of this camera in the marketplace will be it's size. ...

I do not expect it to share much with my a700 system. if anything. It would be a replacement for my bridge camera. And definitely not a DSLR replacement for me.

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I like to do street photography where the subject is not necessarily aware they're being photographed, so for me the attraction will be exactly the features I miss from my beloved Sony R1: (1) no annoying mirror-slap noise, and (2) live view with an articulating LCD which will allow shooting unobtrusively form the hip. These features are also beneficial when shooting at plays and symphony performances.

George

I would hope for compatible electronics so that you can set aperture. AF would be unlikely, except possibly for SSM lenses (which might drain small batteries). Either way, it's better than nothing, especially since a new system is unlikely to offer a lot of lenses you want right away.

Regarding Walts point ... I agree that big lenses with these little cameras makes little sense, but if the rumors of a GH1/2 competitor (a NEX 7 according to the older sonyalpharumors.com tidbits) are true, I can see people wanting to use a camera like that with other Alpha lenses for video and/or quiet (mirrorless) operation.

But even with the smaller camera, I can see using a Tamron 17-50/2.8 or a 50/1.4 via an adapter, particularly if it's a "now and then" kind of thing, and you bought the thing for use with a pancake or other compact E-mount lens.

• Dennis

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Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com

I've found the mirrorless concept intriguing since Oly and Pani came out wih them. I like to hike, and the idea of a small camera with DSLR features and IQ to be attractive. I know perhaps they are intended to appeal to entry level folks, but I hope at least one of the models would have some reasonable level of DSLR controls and functionality.

I would like to match up my cz16-80 to it, but I'd agree with Walt that standard A-mount lenses might negate some of the benefits. My 70-300G would probably just be too ungainly, so might not have a good telephoto option with it.

Anyway, I am interested.

use the Alpha mount, it will have an adapter available though.

Carl
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http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com

It's interesting to see that some people are beginning to come to terms with the concept of a compact mirrorless Sony camera. This idea is now old to me.

It is essential that it has the capacity to accept Alpha mount lenses or it is dead in water. The micro Four Thirds cameras , now approaching a third generation, are becoming increasingly popular & there are many reasons why this is so. They appeal to P&S & Bridge camera users who want more versatility & better IQ but they also appeal to current DSLR users ,who want a more portable ,high IQ compact to compliment their DSLRs. In this latter group there will be a significant minority who want it to replace their unwieldy DSLRs.

The ability to accept current Alpha mount lenses is essential if this camera is to gain acceptance amongst current users otherwise there is no reason for them to choose Sony unless the camera is an irresistibly compelling purchase for some reason which makes it much better than current offerings from Olympus, Panasonic & Samsung.

There is no reason why adapters cannot be made to accept these older lenses & if these are sufficiently sophisticated to the point of being able to contain a motor for the screw drive then AF & full electronic functions would be possible - where there is a Will there is a Way ! Remember they have to compete with an already competent alternative from the mFT camp.

The mFT users have already shown that the ability to fit legacy lenses from a wide variety of camera makers is an appealing concept to many experienced users as well as those on a budget & some of these legacy lenses from the likes of Leica are of very high quality. Sure they need adapters & only focus manually but if the use of instant high magnification viewing is possible then this is not an insurmountable obstacle.

Many of the smaller Minolta lenses are eminently suitable for a micro APS-C format. The 20,28, 35,50 & 100mm primes for example as well as the 35-70. 35-105 & 100-200mm Minolta zooms. Hold on to these lenses as they are going to go up in price ! The larger Sony lenses can also be used although they will not be so well balanced but used as a second body to keep an alternative lens ready for action they have a place.
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Keith-C

The problem that I see is that if you don't have an existing Alpha camera and buy an EVIL, do you really want to use an adapter, if the adapter doesn't allow full functionality of the lens?

And since you won't be able to use the EVIL lenses with an A-mount camera, if you decide to move up to a DSLR, you have to start over in buying lenses.

Sony is painting themselves into a corner, as I see it.

Just like the mirrorless cameras of the other brands has Sony to comply to the laws of fysics.

There is less distance between the lens and the sensor, this makes the camera smaller, so there has to be an adaptor or new lenses. This is the only way to go for Sony. It is pointless to make a totaly new camera consept like this and don't use a new mount. It had been nice when Sony coaperated with the other manufacturers to come up with an univeral mount for ILC. But I know this is wishfull thinking!

The Sony ILC will have an new mount and an adapter. The "problem" with switching from ILC to DSLR will be that you have some lenses that you have to sell with your ILC or you use the ILC together with your DSLR. And then you can use DSLR lenses on you ILC with an adapter.

KEITH-C said:

It is essential that it has the capacity to accept Alpha mount lenses or it is dead in water.

The ability to accept current Alpha mount lenses is essential if this camera is to gain acceptance amongst current users otherwise there is no reason for them to choose Sony unless the camera is an irresistibly compelling purchase for some reason which makes it much better than current offerings from Olympus, Panasonic & Samsung.

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I don't think Sony is targeting existing Alpha users. (They aren't targeting us with their DSLRs !!!)

But I don't think it's necessarily difficult to offer something compelling. Samsung isn't very compelling; Oly isn't due to poor AF; Panasonic due to lack of IBIS. And for all the micro 4/3 lenses out there, Panny & Oly are both basically offering the same lenses, so there's limited selection. Finally, here in the US anyway, Sony can still get the product onto shelves before many consumers have seen the competition.

KEITH-C said:

Sure they need adapters & only focus manually but if the use of instant high magnification viewing is possible then this is not an insurmountable obstacle.

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The willing-to-focus-manually-and-do-stop-down-metering crowd doesn't appear to be the same crowd Sony is after these days. The camera may be disspointing to 'us' but successful nonetheless.

Still, the fact that they're putting the Alpha logo on the mockups suggests that they are going to provide an adapter of some sort; we'll have to see what kind of compatibility it provides.

• Dennis

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Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com

The new mirrorless sony will have touch screen. i do not like the idea of a touchscreen.
what do you think ?

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/leaked-shots-show-sony-mirrorless-touch-camera-interface/

I think a touchscreen would offer great benefits to a camera interface. Imagine having direct access to virtual buttons and controls -- without having any actual mechanical buttons and controls (and not having these functions buried in cryptic hard-to-navigate menus).

I've been using a touchscreen on the Palm Pre Plus smartphone for several months now. The interface is very intuitive and elegant. So, when done right, it can work well and easily replaces the need for buttons and/or stylus input. If for no other reason, I'd rather have the touchscreen interface than menus.

George

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peter42y said:

The new mirrorless sony will have touch screen. i do not like the idea of a touchscreen. what do you think ?

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/leaked-shots-show-sony-mirrorless-touch-camera-interface/

Click to expand...

I'm not thrilled with the idea, but wouldn't let it keep me from buying a camera, either. I'd want to know more about the interface than just the fact that it uses touchscreen - how easy is it to access key features ? I'd be content with touch screen if I were sufficiently impressed by the camera otherwise; my concern with touch screen isn't touch screen itself so much as the idea that it's an indicator of a point & shoot design, dumbed down & lacking features. I hope I'm wrong.

• Dennis

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Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com

It's old news really... Sony has came out to say that in mid-09

(Scroll to the last line of the interview)

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/06/12/sony-video-recording-will-be-a-necessity-in-dslrs/

Hi, my first post on DPR.
I find this a very important issue so I signed up.

When Sony brings this new mirrorless camera to the market, I hope they make available a universal adapter for ALL Alpha lenses. Not just the SAM, the screw-driven lenses too. I like my CZ 85, 135 and Minolta 200 HS and want to use these lenses on the mirrorless mount and keep them as versatile as possible.

We'll have to wait and see what Sony brings us in the future. I just want to make clear that there are millions of Alpha lenses out there that can provide a large user base for the new mount. Some of these lenses are SAM, a lot of them are screw-driven. I understand an adapter that can accommodate the screw-driven lenses will be more complicated and heavier because a motor needs to be build in. This would probably make it more expensive too, but for me it will be worth it because I could use all my Alpha lenses, SAM and screw-driven.

Will I buy the new small wide to medium angle lenses for the new mount? Sure I will. Just let me use the lenses I already own with an adapter.

I am both an a900 and a Panasonic GF-1 micro four-thirds user. I have found that the GF-1 works best with smaller lenses; many SLR lenses (with adapter) are too heavy and big for a compact camera, and create a weird "glow" with wide (think f 1.4) apertures. The physical opening size of a wide SLR aperture just overwhelms the sensor.

Imagine new Sony will be same. If it is the size of the GF-1, I don't have a single lens that would work adequately or pleasingly on it, even with adapter, mainly for size/weight reasons.

If Sony wanted to attract current alpha users, they could still offer an adapter. It IS fun to play with oddball lenses on the micro four-thirds, but IQ is better with lenses matched to the camera design.

Touchscreen - as a "serious" photographer, I prefer controls that I can adjust without taking the camera down from my eye. I wonder if I could do that with a touchscreen. I'm assuming there will be a viewfinder, otherwise it's a no-go for me from the beginning. Sony probably needs to appeal to the mass markets of P&S photographers - when I am out with the GF-1 those are the people that ask me about the camera most frequently. Probably those of us who really want a "cheap Leica" with a lot of manual control are in the minority.