Sony teases January 26th &#39;Alpha&#39; launch event

Fuji has an event tomorrow. Hmmm - no notice on this WS for it. Curious.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

My first assumption was it couldn't be an Rx series due to the Alpha Symbol however the RX1RM II 35mm digital camera is an Rx Series camera which cost over 3 Grand an hasn't be updated since 2016. So that's on the table regardless if anyone wants or need it. I refuse to believe it's some10 grand camera as now being suggest by some on YouTube. A possible slip of the tongue by one Major YouTube suggest the a7iv.

Again, I hope it isn't the a9iii. The quandary which Sony faces, what Camera to release and how that will affect the sales on recent releases like the a7siii and the bogus a7c some thinks is all that. To me, it's a watered down version of the a7iii with software upgrades.

Then there whether or not we see a Global Shutter and or a curved sensor. Less than an hour to find out. It was fun playing the guessing game.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

If it is curved sensor - then it will likely be a fixed lens camera. A curved lens would not work well on an interchangeable lens camera. First because there is no lens system for it yet. And second because the curve would be hard to deal with optically in designing zoom lenses.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

That's exactly what Tony Northup suggested.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

FriendofLight

"The one never seen = meaning hidden from view??

I suspect a very small, compact or stealthy camera (eyewear, watch, pocket pen, bracelet, etc.).

Jan 26, 2021permalink

Sony A1. $5,999.00. E-mount. Crazy high ISO. Zzzzzz.

Give the people what they want!!!! Update the dang A6xxx bodies to a modern sensor and a SLR style body with lots of control points.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

marc petzold

"[...] and a SLR style body with lots of control points."
This is being called Fujifilm X-T1/2/3 & 4, or X-T10/20/30 Series. Sony would never produce a SLR-like Design with the same kind of Controls like Fuji on their X-T Series. Especially not for the Brikett-esque A6xxx Series, they're fine with that Style. Fuji itself looked somehow like a Pentax/Contax Body Design.

Sorry, but it's proven fact. And Fujifilm does have the most complete X-Mount APS-C LineUp into the Business, even some Lenses are more expensive, but made out of metal, with Aperture Rings, WR, etc...vs. the ordinary plastic-build Quality DX/APS-C Lenses.

Feb 6, 2021permalink

Wiel

It will be the A1 with a curved sensor, maybe.....

Jan 26, 2021permalink

zxaar

8K FF mirrorless with proper heat management could be also the one never seen.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

justmeMN

Years ago Nikon did "the one never seen". It was called DL.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

tonyC1994

Nikon was pretty honest on that. DL had been never seen on the market since then.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

Oh man - the one compact camera I would have thrown money at - the UWA DL.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

Rooru S

My first guess is a larger A9 with built-in grip, 24Mpx with the usual a9II performance but higher ISO performance.

My second guess is no compromises raw 4K120p from a 6K sensor. raw 6K60p or 30p.

My third guess would be a global shutter like the almost decade old Sony F55. Given how fast the a9II is able to read the sensor with minimal rolling shutter, I might say they're getting closer to global shutter on lower tier cameras below 6,000USD.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

BrexitDefCom3

Alpha, hmm, 1st letter of greek alphabet, hmmm. 1st 35mm format camera? Ah!!! AT LAST someone is going in there to rival the M Leica with their own digital rangefinder.

There are so many Leica lens mount usera on Sony A bodies (or so I have heard) that this august and innovative company have decided that the a7C does not go far enough and so its a 60MP sensor with a coupled rangefinder in addition to the EVF.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

nk4002r

There are lots of interesting ideas in here, but I think it is an Infra-Red camera - part of a light spectrum one never seen. Hopefully with some built in way to also make it useful for regular visible light photography. 36MP would be the sweet-spot resolution for me.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

RubberDials

'The one never seen' sounds like it's a pun to me.

The camera is called the Alpha One.

Pinching Canon's nomenclature and releasing a 1 series mirrorless before they do is just the sort of thing Sony would do.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

I do believe one of the influencers slipped up today, If I am correct and the person didn't just misspoke/misspeak, it's 100% the Sony a7iv. If so, then it should be great for future buyers of their earlier versions. Price Drops.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

BillE999

Seems too early but given the Canon R5 I am hoping for an A9 III with similar sensor and speed. Maybe animal eye detect as good as R5. And they can have 8K video without overheating

Jan 25, 2021permalink

beespeckled

A mirrorless native a-mount full frame or apsc? Fun to speculate. I guess will find out tomorrow.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

justmeMN

"The one never seen".

A drone or very small FF camera?

Jan 25, 2021*permalink

whtchocla7e

It's gonna be another nail in Pentax's coffin, how's that

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Tibor1

I use both systems (Pentax K-1 and Sony A7riv). I see unique advantages in both cameras and systems.

Pentax is just about to launch a new, highly advanced apsc camera... They do NOT produce coffins, neither nails.

Regards,

Tibor

Jan 25, 2021permalink

btnapa

@whtchocla7e, talk about random thoughts!!

@Tibor1, as K1and Fuji X (for video) user myself, I agree, there are advantages to both systems. However for pure image quality and value K1 is still kicking. All the 46-50 MP cameras are marginally better than K1. The only camera that beats it decisively is the GFX 100.

I shot the GFX 100 at WPPI last year and brought back the files to my office to view more closely. The files crashed my Macbook Pro (16GB RAM, i7 processor) several times. I tried Photoshop, Lightroom, Luminar and Capture One. They all froze and crashed.

K1 files, no crashes!!

As expensive as this new A1 camera might be ($6K I hear), if it is in the 50MP range and has high -spec video, I can get rid of my two system set up and finally have one camera do it all!!

Jan 26, 2021permalink

Eugene A

Some wild speculations here - makes it difficult to even guess what will not be announced :)

Jan 25, 2021permalink

StoneJack

Sony is leaving smartphones and camera business and will concentrate on gaming machines.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Yxa

Maybe they will have the same poor supply management for the camera as on the PS5
That would answer the never seen bit

Jan 26, 2021permalink

I don't care what it is - I just hope is a mark V or a mark VIII or a mark IV - something obsoleting the previous model so all the sweet, barely used units start showing up on ebay.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

TheOwl360

You are so right lol

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Could "the one" be a reference to a 1-inch sensor? maybe the RX100 becoming an alpha?

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Full Stop

Or a drone with alpha-branded 1" sensor cam inside?
From the SONY page:
"Sony will continue to post project-related information and obtain feedback from drone users through co-creation activities to prepare for the launch of the project in the spring of 2021."

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Or maybe an massive update to the Sony RX1R II Professional Compact Camera with 35 mm Sensor which was introduced in 2016. That Camera retails now for around $3,300. An update of that camera with a curved sensor and or Global Shutter. However, The most popular pick, it's an a9iii due to the Alpha sign thus indication there of.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

@Full Stop, that makes more sense, "never seen" can be a creepy reference to a drone.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

@BackToNature1, I wish it would be an a6600 successor with different ergonomics.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

@mina_88
Totally agree on that point. For what the a6600 costs, they should have done far more. I highly doubt it will be an a6600 successor unfortunately.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

NCLPhotograph

I would think it has something to do with the a9iii as it has been rumoured to be released at the beginning of this year by reliable sources.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

whtchocla7e

First FF global shutter sensor camera

Jan 24, 2021permalink

MILC man

that's my guess as well... but if not this particular camera, it'll happen within the next couple of years

Jan 24, 2021*permalink

photographytragic

I know what Global shutters do, but I can't find out how they are actually achieved. (e.g. Blackmagic Production Camera).
Every time I search, it tells me what they do, not how!

Jan 24, 2021permalink

whtchocla7e

The 'how' is the secret sauce

Jan 24, 2021permalink

Alphaville

Will a7Siii owners be p**ed off?

Jan 24, 2021permalink

photographytragic

My money is on rolling shutter, or maybe a huge leap forward in readout speed.
Or are they the same thing?

(As b00mer says, they could be saying that fast FPS captures the moment never seen)

Jan 24, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

A true global shutter, and no mechanical shutter, would really be something not seen in system cameras before. Would be great - silent, no led light banding, flash without HSS at all shutter speeds, etc.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

photographytragic

Yes, BTW, I typed that wrong
My money is on a Global shutter or maybe a huge leap in readout speed.
Does an extremely fast readout give most of the advantages of a global shutter?

Jan 24, 2021permalink

RvEL

My second guess ; A camera you can use as a phone. ;-)

Jan 24, 2021permalink

RvEL

Maybe a new DSLR?

More hoping for an A7IV with solid video specs and a good OOC color accuracy. Let's see. 2 days left.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

mais51

The best camera is the one allowing your mediocre lens produces beautiful photograph - yet to be invented.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

We have been there all the time sine 1826 or 1827.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

idahodoc

I think we have to consider that the Maybe-It-Will-Happen Tokyo Olympics are in 6 months. Now is the time to release the Kraken, as it were!. With that in mind, it might be a clean sweep, all the main segments, a7iv, a9iii, and a7rv. Fill in the blank with features. Maybe 80-100 mp a7rv? Global shutter a9iii? Both? Who knows? But I think they are positioning for the Olympics, and it will/should be big. And considering lag time, ramp up, etc., this IS the time to do it. Can't be too close to the event for many reasons. Now and February are they marketing sweet spots, I think.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Iuri Cezar

A new episode of Friends!

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Alpha series with a curved sensor.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Thoughts R Us

If it were a curved sensor we would know about it by now. That would be a true breakthrough.

Here's what someone wrote on in a comment on another site:
"Interestingly, what most people fail to realize is that a curved sensor would likely need to vary its degree of curvature to accommodate different focal lengths. This is truly next gen stuff!"

Jan 23, 2021permalink

onlyfreeman

Why would a curved sensor be a true breakthrough?

Didn't some company recently just make one, and it seemed kinda boring because it's only useful for certain situations?

Jan 25, 2021permalink

nk4002r

That would be clever - it would obsolete all existing e-mount lenses and we'd have to buy a completely new set of designed for curved lenses.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

Richard Murdey

That's an intriguing byline though. "The one never seen". It's got alpha branding so it would appear to be a new alpha camera of some sort, yet that's a really odd wording to choose to use to tease a camera.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Welsh

Far more likely that it is a poor translation of ‘unprecedented’.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

Most likely it is a new Hasselblad mirrorless HV, based on Lunar or Stellar design, and cloned from a Sony camera! Can't wait to see the wooden grip. 😂

Jan 23, 2021*permalink

Yxa

It will be Smileshutter 2.0

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Why do we think this is anything other than an A7IV? It is an older camera that we know needs an update (even though it is still competitive). But a few years is a long time to not update it.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

The Scandinavian Snoopy

Sony Alpha Rumors states it's an A9x with 50 MP and 8 K video

Jan 23, 2021*permalink

Oh - so another camera for pros only.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

BTW - the a9ii dropped just over a year ago with all the latest tech. Sony has lots of updating to do in the A6xxx series. Why not that first?

Jan 23, 2021permalink

teejayk

A global shutter camera?

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Tester_v

I think it is a camera made of wood, with a built-in motorized tripod that will walk by you and can shoot pictures when asked - like Alexa. It'll be called Sonika

Jan 23, 2021permalink

jorge elguera

i would love a camera with more attitude..Soniqua??

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Piliener

We've done it folks we've broken the physics boundary. This is our new perfectly ergonomical, medium format, pocketable, holds the lens inside, adjustable from f/0.01 to f/1000, 1mm to 900,000mm lens.

Never before seen obviously not that, but it should be interesting to get some new alpha line stuff.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

nordilux

As soon as this A9iii ships, Canon will release a firmware update to the R5 to make it better and more competitive.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

No Outlet

The rumor is this camera will range between $4900 and $6000.
So in most people’s minds the R5 will be better day one no matter what. A $5000 or $6000 isn’t a consideration for them (about 99% of camera buyers)

Jan 22, 2021*permalink

Handsome90

Why does Canon have to wait for Sony before they can release a firmware update? Why can’t they release it when it’s ready?

Jan 23, 2021permalink

nordilux

Why did Canon not build in heat management or hamper the camera with artificial limits from the launch? The R5 still has a lot more potential in it, Canon will release updates when they see fit or they are forced to because of market pressure, which would be the case with the advent of a Sony A9iii.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Anulu

R5 doesn't have proper cooling on the CPU. Doesn't matter Canon crippled it intentionally, that can't be fixed via firmware. https://petapixel.com/2020/08/11/teardown-of-the-canon-eos-r5-reveals-odd-thermal-design-raises-concerns/

Jan 23, 2021*permalink

nordilux

Correct. I certainly didn't apply that any and all issues can be fixed with firmware updates, but I will still argue that the R5 has more potential in it and software upgrades will continue to make it a good photographic tool.

Jan 26, 2021permalink

StevenN

It's going to be their first Micro 4/3 camera. Believe me. Micro. Nobody does micro like Sony.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Full Stop

Or a new 30MP 1" sensor in a cam with FE-mount.
For max. reach in wildlife and resolution in macro.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

Dylthedog

Computational photography in a mirrorless camera?

Or voice control... you never see that ;-)

Jan 22, 2021permalink

trungtran

Never seen? A smaller camera FF camera. Yes please. A5?

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Malling

Sony already have that in the line up

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Andrew Donenko

MFT !!!?

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Haha zero chance of that.

Jan 25, 2021permalink

It's kind of funny how quiet all of the usual YouTubers are right now. I can just picture them all with their fresh NDA's, scrambling to put together their "full review", ready to launch the minute the NDA ends. Personally, I've grown fond of Gerald Undone's content; No b-roll, comedy act, over the top statements and drama. Just a good clean feed of in depth info. I think I'll watch his first...

Jan 22, 2021*permalink

TheOwl360

Are you him?

Jan 23, 2021permalink

haha I am not. I have tried the YouTube thing though, but I couldn't get there. I'm Jamieson Dean of The Eastcore in Toronto. I used to be XeroJay here

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Handsome90

Philip Bloom left some comments in the SAR article discussing this potential release. Apparently Sony is being very secretive and no one has a review unit.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

I believe that Philip Bloom doesn't have a pre-pro unit, but I don't believe that nobody does. If there were no NDA's out there then all the regular YouTubers would have had their speculation videos out already. Instead, there's an eerie silence.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Handsome90

True but SAR wasn’t able to get a leaked photo of it yet. If the review units are out there, someone would have leaked it by now.

I’m not saying I’m right or PB is right. You could be right as well. You made a good point too.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

That's all part of the fun of the lead up!

Jan 23, 2021permalink

Frezeiss

Eastcore, you guys did allrite. just needs more content and perseverance!

Jan 23, 2021permalink