So here is the latest - latest A77 rumour on sonyalpharumors.com Andrea is pretty sure the pictures are genuine from a trusted source as he is giving the rumour a SR5 rating. 24Mp at more than 10 images/second. Will probably still not be good enough for Walter Knapp. If these specs are realised in practical shooting situations long term NIK/CAN must worry about their market shares if Sony can also produce some decent professional lenses at the long end. Imagine a $1,000 camera outperforming an 1D IV or D4 with better Mp, ISO, AF and instantaneous EVF as well as If these are light weights like A55 I may buy one of these next year instead of an improved NEX, particularly if the E-mount lens offering does not improve quickly. I could do with a light moderate wide angle zoom from say 12-18mm (18-27mm) F4-F5.6 and a light 18-150mm (27-225mm) F4-5.6mm in E-mount. I have totally gone off the idea of buying the Sony 18-200mm E-mount "giant". I am certain now that it was really designed for the VG10 rather than NEX-3/5 series.

Impressive, if true, AND if Sony ever gets it out the door! We've been promised the a700 replacement for what - 3 years now?

Dusty

I believe it was September 2007 when the A700 was announced so that will make it around 4 years that's if the A77 is available to buy at that time.
Can't see enough of the bodies to work out if they have added WB and ISO buttons I don't really care for the design and styling I've seen on previous pictures of the A77 more than purely looks, handling is also a consideration.

Let's just say my film 7 has nothing to fear going on these shots

Have said that before - good that two systems share the same mount, but lens requirements are different. And a video cam certainly needs a looong zoom.

Can't wait to see your film iso 3200 shot at 10 fps compared to the A77. But then, it's not about facts, you won't like the A77 anyway.

It seems ideal to fit between my A900 and NEX-5

I think you missed the point. It's not about "high ISO" it's about handling and design. Of course I won't like it..it's an EVF camera..leaving that aside I think we've moved backwards on ergo and handling with Sony. That's a real shame I guess time moves on or rather less buttons and dials saves production time.

Few users really need 10fps anyway that's not going to sell it on it's own. For the record I never liked the xi Minolta cameras either this was a period when the company had lost direction on body and design (IMO of course)

Don't put me down as all negative though The camera will be impressive on paper..

I can’t believe that Sony will offer a 7 class camera that doesn’t have some kind of mirror lift capability, if it had that it would almost make up for it having an EVF and a shutter that wears out twice as fast. Mirror lift is even more important in the SLT design than ever for serious work, a 7 class camera is not something that will always be used to take happy snaps, I can think of a few uses right away that people will want mirror lift for. Astronomical, Commercial, Architectural, Macro and even in the studio, it’s in those kind of uses photographers will want to eliminate any kind of influence the sloped mirror has on the result.
And another thing, who needs 24MP in APS-C format, what is 24MP going to do to most of the lenses that are in use right now that are built to deliver a circle of confusion that is most likely larger than a sensel on such a sensor. I see that the proposed price of the body is $1000 US (looks like you were right Barry), but there is supposed to be a new kit lens for it too made by CZ, (probably necessary to have any chance of using that micro resolution) and what’s that going to cost? It’s all very well having a body made cheaply with missing features and controls but with a sensor that pointlessly fills up the memory card at a huge rate for no benefit unless you are using a $2000 CZ lens.
Greg

So I guess Greg's not buying one then

I might lash out on another Dynax 60 soon!
Agree 24mp is overkill but they're just trying to ride the consumer appeal waves..10fps niche market for that not terribly useful for portrait and landscape shooters. But yes the big one is mirror in place and that will on it's own dampen the appeal to some.

Looks like DK was right the era of lots of buttons/switches and dials is over. I'd put a drive mode dial under the main PASM dial great thing to have all those little touches..are never there on a modern Sony body. I'd rate the sunken flash mode dial on the film 7 as one of my personal fav design moves.

I'm sure Sony will do well with this but their market is moving away to a new type of buyer which isn't necessarily the same as enthusiast DSLR's have been. This strategy has been apparent for some time now.

Greg, I guess Sony are reasoning that in most cases the problem was to eliminate mirror shake. The combination of built in SSS and the ability to ramp up ISO to achieve a higher shutter speed may eliminate this problem without the need for mirror lift. With regard to shutter speed at 10fps it is good to have the odd occasion when fast action has to be photographed. The shutter need not have half lift as a result as most pictures will be taken as single shot. For prof. sports photographers it might be just the camera if the AF can keep up with the action and more lenses become available. I am also concerned about my current lenses and 24Mp APS-C. For me 16Mp in my A580 will do. Need to wait for release and then tests and user reviews. In any event I will not buy any new camera until it is supported in LR as I always use RAW and Sony's software is sub standard.

Very thoughtful comments here. Thanks.

I think you might have misunderstood my intent with the mirror lift capability alphaomega, I’m not for a moment suggesting that the mirror should be able to respond shot to shot, what I mean is that you should be able to press a button and the mirror slides gently up out of the way. Put it this way, your working off a tripod at whatever the current circumstances prescribe, be it Commercial, Architectural etc. and you have the focus set, you have exposure and composure set and then just before the shot you press the button for mirror lift; you then take the shot (after confirmation that the mirror is in the locked up position), which cancels the mirror lift and it then returns gracefully to it’s normal position, no need for any rapid or violent movement, it’s just a facility that should be there in a 7 SLT as far as I’m concerned.
Greg
ps. So far Barry and artington, the A77 isn't looking like something high on my desire list, mores the pity, it could have been such a great camera (at 18MP max) if the focus had been to make a top class still camera first and foremost and have video (if you must) as a secondary feature only if it doesn't interfere with any still camera function, but it seems that line of thought is alien in todays camera design, but we'll know more clearly how usefull it is as a semipro still camera when it's out and it gets reviewed in depth.

Sorry if I misunderstood you Greg. What you describe sounds to me like a pro using a Hasselblad with 60Mp sensor. I am not defending Sony, but trying to understand what they are doing. Not even sure I would want to own the A77 when released. I have been in business for over 40 years and one rule says not to try to beat dominnant competitors at their own game. Sony have gradually moved away from OVF towards more electronic based cameras with lower weight/volume and cheaper solutions (EVF being cheaper than OFV as example). The smaller size has apparently eliminated the internal space required for a lifting semi transparent mirror. All design decisions involve choices.
So Sony now have world class sensors (also used by Nikon and Pentax). They are bringing out a smaller and lighter camera with a shutter that can outperform 1D and D4 and if the AF is improved sufficiently over A55 they may have a 24Mp SLT with features exceeding those found in most expensive CAN/NIK cameras as well as 1080 HD video. All that at a rumoured $1000. Given more quality lenses, particularly at the longer end, and Sony may be on to something. Add the ISO going above 100,000 and you may get real quality even at 12,800 setting.
As said, I am not sure I need such a camera and it may not suit you or Barry or even Walt, but it may give Sony more market penetration than trying to beat CAN/NIK at their chosen game. Just an opinion. Look at Apple's success and Nokia's lament based on changing the game through innovation.

mmm
I think Apple had been doing better than Nokia not because innovation, but because they placed their product as "objects of desire" -Same goes with the Fuji X100
From my perspective (until now), the A900/A850/A9XX is a desirable camera, but the A77 is not.
The best I can get from all the technology on the A77 is having the same sensor and EVF on a NEX7.

Regards

pakodominguez
Nokia ditched their operating system a few months ago and went for Windows 7 and it will be the autumn before they have an iphone competitor. That is Apple innovation in action. Proper Innovation creates new "objects of desire". Apple is far ahead of any competitor through innovation in both technology and marketing of their technological products. There may be equally good competitive products but they are not being marketed innovatively.
Time will show how the A77 (and A65) are received and how Sony promote them. In the UK Canon's 1D IV sells for £3500 and Nikon D3s for £3600. If the A77 comes out at £1000 (usually same £ as $ price) there is £2500 for lenses before you hit competitor body prices. That is assuming that the A77 will AF better than the A55. So there you have 24Mp, 10fps and top class video. Lenses? Buy a 300mm F2.8. That will be equivalent to 450mm on D3s or 900mm if only 12Mp size of image is used. The 24Mp combined with high ISO settings will give sports photographers endless possibilities with just one lens because of the sensor size. The same reasoning could be applied to the excellent Sony 70-400mm (if AF can keep up). The higher ISO capability would enable high shutter speeds even with this lens.