Sony has announced their full frame mirrorless cameras

[Throckmorton]

One is 24 megapixel with on-sensor phase detect autofocus. The other is 36 megapixel with only contrast detect and no low pass filter.

They don't use alpha mount lenses, but E-mount lenses like the NEX cameras. Sony is releasing a set of new full frame E-mount lenses. Major bummer though-- no more sensor shift stabilization. So while you can use the old A-mount lenses with an adapter, you get no stabilization.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/1...-full-frame-mirrorless-ilc-cameras-a7-and-a7r

 

[Anteaus]

Interesting. I don't see myself going mirrorless anytime soon but with phase detection auto focus should be alot faster.

I have a question for anyone who uses mirrorless. Assuming you are shooting raw and in manual, is what appears on the LCD "what you see is what you get" or does the display "chase" exposure like some other camera's that lack an optical viewfinder?

 

[iGas]

I read the announcement a few days ago, but wasn't too excited, because it is pre production.

1. The camera must work flawlessly when it come out to the market, other wise it will be just a lemon that no one want.
2. Mirror less may not bode well with pros/enthusiast at that price point.
3. Lack of lens, and is not fully backward compatible with current lenses.
4. Lack of accessories, and perhaps flashes.

Those negative points are not going to be over look just because it sport an awesome sensor. Hence, if sensor is the uttermost important requirement I would buy a Nikon over that of Sony just for the larger pool of accessories and lenses.

However, this indicated there is a full frame war that the manufactures are waging and it will be great for the consumer. It would be great if full frame bodies from Canikon MSRP price at launch come down to around $1000~1500.

 

[Throckmorton]

According to DPReview though, Sony is committed to the A mount. Hopefully they switch those over to mirrorless too though, because the translucent mirror wastes 1/3 the incoming light and is really fragile.

 

[Throckmorton]

Interesting. I don't see myself going mirrorless anytime soon but with phase detection auto focus should be alot faster.

I have a question for anyone who uses mirrorless. Assuming you are shooting raw and in manual, is what appears on the LCD "what you see is what you get" or does the display "chase" exposure like some other camera's that lack an optical viewfinder?

What you see isn't exactly what you get unless you press the preview button to set the aperture. Normally the aperture is wide open and the camera tries to estimate brightness at your settings.

 

[iGas]

Looking back, Sony didn't do well in the market with the A900 or the A850 even those they were full frame.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra850/4

At a street price of currently $1930 the Sony DSLR-A850 is by far the cheapest full-frame DSLR on the market. Canon's EOS 5D Mark II comes with a similarly high nominal resolution, live view and a HD video-mode (no in-body stabilization though) but is almost $600 more expensive. If you're happy to frame your images through the viewfinder and can live without the ability to shoot movies this makes the Sony A850 look like a really good deal (it also makes the A900 at currently $2600 appear a little overpriced)

[add]
It is going to be a tough sell for Sony, because at the present Canon 6D street price is $1697, and Nikon D600 street price is $1649. And, I can only imagine that both Canon and Nikon full frame bodies can be had for less than $1600 by the time Sony A7 & A7R are out on the store shelf.

 

[Throckmorton]

Looking back, Sony didn't do well in the market with the A900 or the A850 even those they were full frame.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra850/4

[add]
It is going to be a tough sell for Sony, because at the present Canon 6D street price is $1697, and Nikon D600 street price is $1649. And, I can only imagine that both Canon and Nikon full frame bodies can be had for less than $1600 by the time Sony A7 & A7R are out on the store shelf.

I think they're trying to target casual users like they do with the NEX cameras. The problem is I don't see that many casual users buying $1600+ full frame cameras. I think Sony should have prioritized the A mounts. If they don't announce something soon, I'm going to abandon Sony and switch to Nikon, even though I'd miss the EVF. I'm at the limit of my cheap lenses, but I don't want to spend $800 on a Sony 16-50mm f2.8 only to have the A mount abandoned by Sony or neglected to the point that it's obsolete.


Looks like other Sony users are thinking about jumping ship too http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/new-a7-a7r-impact-on-amount_topic101980_page6.html

 

[elitejp]

Thats interesting because many canon users are thrilled by this announcement. Keeping canon glass and putting it in front of a sensor that works.

 

[Throckmorton]

Thats interesting because many canon users are thrilled by this announcement. Keeping canon glass and putting it in front of a sensor that works.

Without autofocus though

 

[elitejp]

Autofocus works...but it will be slower than if you were using it on a canon camera. So from what im reading as long as your not shooting sports etc you will be fine.

 

[Throckmorton]

Autofocus works...but it will be slower than if you were using it on a canon camera. So from what im reading as long as your not shooting sports etc you will be fine.

Are you sure? I've never heard of an adapter that supports AF

 

[Throckmorton]

Ah I see, Metabones makes one. But they'll have to make a new one for full frame I think

 

[blastingcap]

If you are an interchangeable-parts camera vendor and have more CAMERAS than LENSES, you have a problem. Sony has a problem. Sony's lens lineup is still not complete, and if you are happy with just a kit-level kind of range and quality and aperture, then why bother? Just get a high-end point and shoot like the RX100 which is actually pocketable, to boot. Yes it has a smaller sensor, but faster glass too, so it evens out.

Adapters are imperfect, and steal image quality away, so using non-Sony lenses on Sony cameras is not a real solution, either, not to mention that you probably lose autofocus abilities and other such things as well:

http://www.lensrentals.com/bl
og/2013/09/th
ere-is-no-free-lunch-episode-763-lens-adapters

Piece the above into one line; not sure why the forum spazzed when I tried to link to the entire URL at once

 

[ElFenix]

Adapters are imperfect, and steal image quality away, so using non-Sony lenses on Sony cameras is not a real solution, either, not to mention that you probably lose autofocus abilities and other such things as well:

there shouldn't be any need for IQ-robbing optics in a canon EOS to sony E 35mm adapter. the lens is already its native angle of view.

 

[iGas]

there shouldn't be any need for IQ-robbing optics in a canon EOS to sony E 35mm adapter. the lens is already its native angle of view.

There will be a slight lost in IQ if the Speed Booster/Smart Adapter is use due to the added condensing element, however it is insignificant to warrant any concern for APSC or micro 4/3 sensors. I'm not sure if Metabones will ever have an adapter for Full frame Sony, and a major caveat is that AF of EF lenses will be slower than the slow as molasses EF lenses on EOS M body.

 

[blastingcap]

there shouldn't be any need for IQ-robbing optics in a canon EOS to sony E 35mm adapter. the lens is already its native angle of view.

Please read that article. It's not about angles though that was a problem with some lenses and NEX7, but rather the additional surfaces. You still lose autofocus and possibly more. I'm sitting out this uncertain time in interchangeable-lens cameras by using my RX100M2 almost exclusively unless I really need telephoto.

 

[iGas]

Sony A7 & A7R Hands-On Field Test also mentioned and shot with Metabones full frame adapter & EF lens. However there are no side by side comparison to Canikon full frame cameras.

 

[Tom]

Interesting. I don't see myself going mirrorless anytime soon but with phase detection auto focus should be alot faster.

I have a question for anyone who uses mirrorless. Assuming you are shooting raw and in manual, is what appears on the LCD "what you see is what you get" or does the display "chase" exposure like some other camera's that lack an optical viewfinder?

Sony's history with on-sensor phase detection AF is not too good. See Nex-5r for details.

But maybe this will be better.