Here will be the new Alpha 500/550/850 soon...

[alexramos7]

They still are in SonyStye USA website.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2246/a500.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5989/a850.jpg

[KevinBarrett]

The low resolution FF 850 is almost here! How close will it be to A1000's $2000 price point prediction?

Don, I can't believe you suggested a validation of Tom's wild speculation! I think I'll hang back from speculation at this point. I find it hard to believe Sony would "backpedal" in resolution for FF, or that they could slot in a full-frame camera with fewer features than the already sparsely featured a900.

Okay, I'll speculate, but it isn't pretty:
-full frame
-quick AF live view with a sub-100% pentamirror viewfinder
-pop-up flash
-articulated LCD
-the camera that nobody asked for
-that's right, I'm not very optimistic

[KevinBarrett]

I certainly hope you're right, Don.

[adakshi]

16MP FF would be nice, Sony will see a lot of A700/A350 upgrader, probably including me

[PhotoTraveler]

I'm fine with 24MP.

I just want to see GPS support in A900/A700 replacements. Lack of GPS support is pretty much the only thing that causes me not to buy the A900. Way to much money for something lacking a feature so important and so simple to be put in there.

16MP FF would be nice, Sony will see a lot of A700/A350 upgrader, probably including me

[bfitzgerald]

16mp FF sounds just great..at a reduced price. 24mp, few really need that.

I have seen some big prints from a D3, and nobody around here would be unhappy, let's just hope sony work out how to not underexpose at high ISO, and not be worst of the bunch

A500, I don't hold out much hope for..I bet we get a pumped up A350..with that LV

[fastson]

If Sony is serious about this business they need a low resolution FF camera in the lineup to compete with the D3/D700 series cameras...so sooner or later they will need to bring it.

Oh yes please, my dream camera. A D700 equivalent.

[KevinBarrett]

Someone has dug up some parts lists including pricing for "penta units" for the upcoming a850



http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=32457318

They use the same electronic board the AM-015

A850 MOUNTED C.BOARD,AM-015 $229.58
A900 AM-015 COMPL (SERVICE) $320.84
A700 MOUNTED C.BOARD AM-012 SERV $571.64

A700 rebate: This price includes a refundable core charge of $230.00. If you return the faulty part within 60 days you will receive a $230.00 credit.

As for the viewfinders:
A100 PENTA UNIT $169.88
A200 PENTA UNIT 627 $150.93
A350 VTN PENTA BLOCK ASSY $161.86
A700 PENTA UNIT $192.34
A850 VO PENTA UNIT $233.20
A900 VO PENTA UNIT $371.03
MAXXUM9 PENTA-PRISM ASSY $354.18

The boards seems much more interesting than the viewfinders, as they use the same description as the A900 on the board. It should signal about the same features.

The viewfinder prize seems to indicate a great APS-C viewfinder more than a FF one.

I have to agree with this user's conclusion, but it's too bad they didn't provide the rest of the URL in their address bar! Could the a850 could be the a700's uber big brother? If the viewfinder is any less fantastic than the a900's I'd rather it be in an APS-C model. The OVF in the a900 is too good a feature to retreat from in the FF market.

[alphaomega]

KevinBarrett quoted

Could the a850 could be the a700's uber big brother?

I wonder why Sony would give what then must be the A700 successor the A850 designation. Why not then call it A730 or A750? Cannot see an A850 with APS-C and then a successor to the A700 with A500/550 below and then these A300 series newbies. Looks like a lot of clutter. The A850 as a lesser FF camera makes a lot more sense. What would they call a FF DSLR below the A900 if not A8XX?

[KevinBarrett]

Found the link:

https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx

Just type in "DSLRA" in the parts search, adding a series number at the end, "2" "3" "8" or "9" or whatever. Nothing shows up for "5".

[bakubo]

Could the a850 could be the a700's uber big brother? If the viewfinder is any less fantastic than the a900's I'd rather it be in an APS-C model. The OVF in the a900 is too good a feature to retreat from in the FF market.

The Minolta Maxxum 7, Nikon D700, etc. all have great viewfinders. Not 100%, but close and much larger than the A700. The choice isn't just between an APS-C-like small VF and 100% FF VF.