What’s so special in the image shown above? There is no optical viewfinder and no mirror at all! Sony fulfilled a patent for a camera that has a new sensor which contains pairs of phase detection pixels. (Click here to see the original patent on freepatentsonline). There is no need for any mirror (translucent or classic mirror) that reflects light on a dedicated AF sensor. The advantage of such technology is that you can have phase detection on mirrorless systems and unlike the translucent technology you have no light loss because of the semitransparent mirror. Phase detection autofocus is much faster than contrast autofocus. See the image below to see how Sony includes the AF pixels on the sensor:

The only “problem” with the described solution is that you need more pixels on a sensor and you will probably have to use less or smaller RGB pixels compared to classic RGB Bayer sensors.

Fuji is already using it on the [shoplink 6047]Finepix Z800EXR[/shoplink]! See the Fuji camera specs at [shopcountry 6047]. There is also a nice article on Dpreview (Click here) that describes the Fuji technology.

My two cent on that. It will not take very long to see the technology to be used on real Sony cameras. Simply because that IS the right technology for all mirrorless cameras that want to focus as fast as professional DSLR cameras.

Our friend Colamango (Click here) was present at the Sony convention in Malaysia. For a short while we questioned if the image above could refer to the translucent A9x fullframe camera. Our sources told us that this should be a mistake because there will be no A9x in 2011. Finally we got an update from a few participant at that event. Sony Malaysia only said that they were able to increase their sales by “9x” in About Half a Year. SO there were no talk about the “A9X” fullframe camera! Buh, what a hoax :)

[shoplink 6005 ebay][/shoplink]

A Photorumors source said that: “When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the [shoplink 6005 ebay]Minolta Dimage A2[/shoplink] – a really small nice pro body.”. According to Photorumos that camera should be releeased very soon.

You know what I think on that. We will see a NEX-3 replacement in April, so no NEX-7 yet! The professional NEX-7 camera will be announced a few months later and share the same A77 sensor!

[shoplink 5995][/shoplink]
Image on top: The current Sony [shoplink 5995]HVL-F42am[/shoplink] flash.

It sounds like Sony will not only announce new cameras and lenses but also a new external flash. I got this from a source: “The new flash that is going to be released this year replaces the [shoplink 5995]HVL-F42am[/shoplink] and instead of a guide number of 42, it is 43. I’m pretty sure the product would be called hvl-f43am. Its not huge news but at least we know the guide number of the new flash.”
UPDATE: The flash should be announced in April. You can see a current prototype picture at Dyxum (Click here). Check out the current Sony HVL-F42am price and specs at [shopcountry 5995].

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!

Our very reliable sources just confirmed that a new Sony A35 translucent camera will be announced in April! And voilà, even Sonystyle confirmed that the [shoplink 3620]Sony A3[/shoplink]3 sales are ended! Check out Sonystyle Japan: http://www1.jp.sonystyle.com/Qnavi/Main/dslr_000019/

Our sources told us the new A35 will bring some minor improvements and fixes. And what is going to happen with the A55?
UPDATE: The A77 is not the successor of the A55, the A55 will be replaced by another model sometimes within 2011! P.S.: The A77 will be announced in a few months!
Sony is going to announce a huge ammount of new products on early April. Don’t miss any rumor! Join us at Facebook, Twitter and follow our RSS-feed!

Sony A55 at [shopcountry 3617].
Sony A33 at [shopcountry 3620].

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!

I’m receiving rumors after rumors from many new and trusted sources. The latest rumor is a bit…surprising!

An important dealer (can’t reveal the name here) contacted me to say that Sony told them they will not sell anymore A290,A390,nex3 and the A33! He is not surprised about the first three cameras but “I don’t really understand why they stop so quickly the “production” or just the selling life (of the A33).”
We know the A33 price dropped in US (Check here: Amazon, Adorama, B&H). Another new source told me weeks ago that Sony would introduce a new Alpha, the Sony A35 in April!I confess that I am a bit confused as it doesn’t make any sense to me to release such a camera. What do you think?!?!?

I ask my trusted sources if they can confirm or deny the rumor! Thanks!

In Summary: It sounds like Sony will announce an incredible amount of new cameras (and hopefully lenses) on April 4th right before the NAB show in Las Vegas. We do expect the new NEX-C3 (That’s SR5), a more advanced VG-10 model (SR3, with XLR, no name yet), the NXcam modular videocamera (SR5), the fullframe camcorder and 2-3 more new camcorders (SR5). If the A35 rumor turns out to be correct than we will have another translucent camera too! There should be new E-mount lenses too but I don’t have a 99% sure confirmation about that…yet!

In the meanwhile check if some store has officially announced the following cameras:
Sony A33 at [shopcountry 3620].
Sony A290 at [shopcountry 5949].
Sony A390 at [shopcountry 5950].

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!

Pictured: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V which is in Stock at Amazon (Click here). You will get a $30 Amazon.com Gift Card.

According to gdgt‘s sources SOny is working on a new CyberShot digital camera with integrated 3G. Sony will also allow a free limited data bandwidth with the purchase of the camera. You will be able to upload a “a couple of dozen photos per month”. Beyond that limit you have to pay an extra fee. You will not be able to make any call…it’s not a Sony Ericsson!
I guess this is a must-have future for most compact cameras. But what about Alpha and NEX cameras?

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Links: Current Cybershot cameras on Amazon (Click here).