Sony a850 - when

dear god, there we go again

well I already mentioned the A852 17mp FF in the 800-1000 post

cheap FF plx cheap FF plx cheap FF plz

samskpun wrote: cheap FF plx cheap FF plx cheap FF plz

Not cheap FF plx not cheap FF plx not cheap FF plz

Everyone has his own dream... I don't want the A850 to be a cheap FF. I want it to be a camera, just as A900, only with different specs.

A500, A550, A850 all future models are there in the list. Looks like we'll hear something exiting or very depressing pretty soon :)

OK I'll go first


some new features

Sensor    : brand new backlit CMOS 16.2 mp
AF        : Totally new AF system which is going to make Sony proud
FPS       : up to 5 with SSS up to 10 without
ISO       :50-25600
Image P   :Boinz III
Shutter   :30-1/8000
Video     :yes
W. Sealed :yes
battery   : will have new battery for grip around 3000 shots

yes and the jpgs will look exactly the same as raws if you like

I'm less concerned with "when" and more concerned with "what".

Starting a series with the high res model is a new one.

I honestly don't think this will be FF.   I don't know why folks keep talking of a "cheap full frame", we have that, it's the A900. You can't go much cheaper without a lot of compromise. Not only is it about the cheapest FF body out there, it's also very nice. Unless you desire video, or LV, or GPS. It's hard to beat.

But A850 is darn curious. Since that implies it's the high res model. Why woudl there be an A850 and no A800?   

I'd think this could be the A700 replacement, something that competes with the D300, but just don't know. Sony's got there numbers a bit funny.   A500/A550 makes sense.   A A730/A780 would make "sense". And A800/A850 would make sense in APS, of course that leaves the 7 series empty.

I suppose it could just be the mythical lower resolution A900. But that would be a waste of an effort. Call it an 8 series just to not conflict with the logic of the other bodies? A body should not be the same across series (2 and 3 series are similar but different).

Sitting here, best I think I can think up is there. (total pulling this out of my bum)

Sony will bring an A730 and A780 in time, these are APS models, 12MP and 14-16MP respectively. Built up to be something like a D300s/"D400".   On the near term, they launch an A850, the 8 series is just like the 7series, but FF (not to off from the A700/A900 relation ship). Sony brings the A850 out, it is much like the A900, same sensor and such, but has the next gen body, LV/Video, etc. Re-uses current sensor. So that comes out first. Then sometime next year (PMA), the "A730/A780" come out, which are the APS versions of the new semi-pro body. And then in time they bring a A830/A880 which re-uses the 24MP sensor for the low end, and brings a new ~30MP sensor for an A880.   Maybe something like that? Then the 9 series becomes pro bodies again?

Really not sure at all. But anything with more cameras is good.

Maybe it is as simple as a A900 with a smaller view finder and some other things. But just doesn't feel right.