What about Sony medium format. Any rumors?

[Diobono]

Last autumn there were some rumors about a new medium format Sony camera. A collaboration Sony/Mamiya, expected to result in two brand named cameras, with the same Sony sensor, probably using the same lens lineup( Mamiya?), but with different viewfinders. Any rumors about this? Is it for instance possible that the new A-mount is only an upgrade of the A99II, but not named as the new A9 as many are thinking? Could instead the new A9 be this earlier mentioned new medium format Sony? Any rumors or thoughts anyone?

[PCA]

When Sony started making a medium format sensor for Ricoh/Pentax and Hassy people started speculating about a MF Sony camera.  Sony has way too much work to do with the E/FE system and many of the A-mount lenses need to be updated with new AF motors to take advantage of the AF-D technology.  Given how long it is taking Sony to develop glass for the FE bodies, I don't think they have the resources to take on a 3rd system.  Sony must have 1/2 the resources dedicated to lens development that Fuji has. 

[Golem]

Format size has been shrinking ever since the introduction

of print paper fast enuf for projection printing. Yes it's true

that USERs evolve in the opposite direction, "stepping up" 

to larger format sizes as they become more skilled or as

they acquire higher value clientelle. 

 

But even the user step-up history reflects evolution toward

smaller and smaller formats. Latter day film shooters would

step up from 35 to 645. Earlier, they stepped up to 6x9 and

6x7. Before that, 6x6 was the "miniature" format, not 35mm.

You'd step up from a 120 camera to a sheet film format. No

point in more detail here. Thaz google's job.

  

Today's users step up their digital sensor size from 8mm to

"1/2 frame 35" and then to "full frame". If you wanna step up

from there you can spend megadough for barely MF digital,

which is actually smaller than 645. At the end of the film era

it was rather questionable if real 645 was worth it compared

to 35mm. 645 was 50% wider than 35mm, just like FF digital

is 50% wider than APS-c, and you know how THAT debate

goes. As sensors improve monthly, the main justification for

FF sensors is legacy lenses already on hand. Yes there are

OTHER justifications, but those become rationalizations as

sensor progress marches on. 

  

Canon and Nikon are entrenched, unlikely to fail out of the

industry. Everyone else hasta watch their step. Any other

brand offering no MF digital that foolishly chooses to build a

new MF system is a good brand for users to abandon, as it

shows that the brand's future is growing very short !

  

` 

[Diobono]

Great Zeiss releases today!! SAR admin made clear that the 50 ff will arrive this year as mirrorless (probably named A9). We may presume that the upgrade A-mount is going to be A99II and 36 mp?... and that there will be no MF. A9 will have app. same sensor as Pentax then...

[Diobono]

(The Pentax 645Z with Sony sensor)

[SAR_admin]

Maybe today?

[Chad Wadsworth]

Maybe not