back in December I told you that Sony changed the product roadmap to focus their efforts on the development of a new Full Frame NEX-7 alike camera. To be the first to make a “cheaper Leica M” camera would have been a huge advantage for Sony. But it looks like Samsung is going to ruin the party and they may introduce the new NX-R Full Frame mirrorless in March (Source: MirrorlessRumors). After all this may be a good news for us. Sony may have to aggressively price the camera to compete against the Samsung and maybe even add some extra killer feature. Again, that’s just my dream but my imaginary NEX-FF should have the new 3 layer sensor :)

Reminder: This is what we know for now about the NEX-FF:
1) These last two weeks I contacted all my best sources and they now all(!) confirmed that the next Sony Full Frame camera will not be a new SLT camera. It will be a Full Frame mirrorless camera!
2) Plan of a FF SLT release in 2013 have been dropped to fully focus the development resources on that FF mirrorless camera. Sony’s main priority is to create a real High End camera. A camera that can have all the functions and capabilities of a DSLR (that means for example fast AF). Sony sees that camera as the one that should bring back some significant interests on Sony FF system.
3) The camera is still in the final stage of development. We can expect the release of the cameras by end 2013 at earliest but early 2014 sounds more likely for now.
4) The camera has some key tech not seen on any Sony camera yet. I am still working on this rumor to get some detailed info. So stay tuned!
5) The camera is a bit bigger than the current [shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink] and not that much different in terms of the design.
6) The camera has a native E-mount and both E-mount and A-mount lenses will be fully supported.
7) One of the trusted sources said that Sony is right now testing two different prototypes. One features a 24 megapixel and the other camera features a new 30-32 Megapixel sensor.

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While Sony does’t plan to release any new FF SLT this year they will introduce 2-3 new APS-C SLT cameras. And three of my sources told me that it is Sony’s goal to launch a new A77 successor the second half of the year. I have no info about the exact specs now but while I am working to find them you may express your wishes by commenting this post. Let’s see if at least some of them may come true!n

The A77 current cheapest price I found is $919 at [shoplink 16484 ebay]Bigeasycamera (Click here)[/shoplink]. And a Reminder: Sony extended the SLT APS-C deals you can grab at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here).

Image on top shows the current NEX-F3

According to one source the next new NEX camera will be the NEX-F3 replacement. And it will be named NEX-3N. There is no info yet about the specs. If other sources can confirm and add some more bits on the rumors feel free to contact me at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com (or use the anonymous contact form that is on the right border of the website).

One more thing: The big CP+ show starts on January 31st. I expect some new Sony stuff to be announced by than!

P.S.: Curently you save up to $100 on Select Sony NEX Compact System Cameras at Amazon (Click here). You can get a free 16mm pancake lens on the purchase of a selected list of NEX cameras at Adorama (Click here). In Europe you can find the NEX-F3 for 260 only on FotoMundus (via Slidoo).

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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!