DSLR-A330, A330L, and A330Y

[KevinBarrett]

I hate grasping at rumors, but this just popped up on Sony's UK support site, and at least it's something. Go find your Alpha in the lists, and in the mix you'll find these DSLR and DSLR kit designations.

http://www.sony.co.uk/section/support

Unfortunately, no pictures are provided upon scrolling over them, and if you follow the links it suggests you might have made the model numbers up.

[stroberaver]

Yeah just seen David's blog post on this and the thread at Dyxum.

As an A700 owner I'm not too involved with additions or changes to the A3xx line, but talk of the A800 has pricked my ears. I wonder what it will involve? Instinct says it should be FF, but then I think about how much I take for granted the extra reach of my tele lenses, and how much I'd have to spend on glass to achieve an equivalent reach on FF without extensive cropping!

Nice to see that, at long last, a 50/1.8 is back on the menu as an affordable alternative to the 50/1.4.

[REAlpha]

A leading Dutch Photomagazine (Focus, May edition) has named some specifics in its May editorial about their visit to the Sony factory in Osaka, Japan. First, they were required to sign an NDA that expires 18 May 2009. Hence, around this date we will see some announcements made by Sony. Also, some remarks were made in the editiorial about 'very exiting new products' that were coming this spring. Their test results are published in 1 June 2009 in their June edition. It ties in very neatly with the leaks reported earlier. And they clearly have seen (some of) the products.

[Javelin]

if the NDA's run out on May 18 then we will get a lot of news wether Sony is ready or not. You think these companies get more/better press from an intentional release of information or from a leak?

[Dr. Harout]

A leading Dutch Photomagazine (Focus, May edition) has named some specifics in its May editorial about their visit to the Sony factory in Osaka, Japan. First, they were required to sign an NDA that expires 18 May 2009. Hence, around this date we will see some announcements made by Sony. Also, some remarks were made in the editiorial about 'very exiting new products' that were coming this spring. Their test results are published in 1 June 2009 in their June edition. It ties in very neatly with the leaks reported earlier. And they clearly have seen (some of) the products.

Wow, REAlpha, that's wonderful, and what an entrance from your side. So a big big welcome to you.

[David Kilpatrick]

Nice to see that, at long last, a 50/1.8 is back on the menu as an affordable alternative to the 50/1.4.

Remember, this is the APS-C only lens - like Nikon's 35mm f1.8

David

[stroberaver]

Nice to see that, at long last, a 50/1.8 is back on the menu as an affordable alternative to the 50/1.4.

Remember, this is the APS-C only lens - like Nikon's 35mm f1.8

David

Oh well, won't be wasting any money on that then!

*pats his trusty full-frame Minolta 50/1.7*

[UrsaMajor]

A leading Dutch Photomagazine (Focus, May edition) has named some specifics in its May editorial about their visit to the Sony factory in Osaka, Japan. First, they were required to sign an NDA that expires 18 May 2009. Hence, around this date we will see some announcements made by Sony. Also, some remarks were made in the editiorial about 'very exiting new products' that were coming this spring. Their test results are published in 1 June 2009 in their June edition. It ties in very neatly with the leaks reported earlier. And they clearly have seen (some of) the products.

The timing on this is interesting to me. It may just be a coincidence, but when Mike Johnston of "The Online Photographer" was doing a series of posts last month on "T.O.P. Ten Recommended Cameras", on 23 April he left open his #2 recommendation with the following post:

"This is awkward, but I'm going to have to hold off with #2 until about this time next month. Still collecting data. What can I say—this slot was solid ten days ago, but the world changes."

Note that Mike has previously raved about the A900, included it on his list of recommended cameras, and mentioned that he considers the A900 among his five favorite cameras of all time. He is clearly enthusiastic about some camera that he has seen under some type of NDA that expires about end of the third week of May - very similar to the timing mentioned above.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[Javelin]

that would be nice if the camera had a rave review the day it was released. Looking at the pictures Sony canada has up it looks like the grip onthe new camera is a lot diferent than what wera re used to. and they moved a bunch of stuff like the control dial too so the whole top of the camera look diferent. if they do that with all of them I hope I can still get my 3 lower fingers on the grip. that was most of my problem with a lot of other cameras in the past.

[KevinBarrett]

Oh, BTW, pictures are here.

[KevinBarrett]

Sorta looks like a Maxxum 3 doesn't it? Where's the mode selector?

[bfitzgerald]

Exposure mode dials??

Film 5 style grips.

Boy am I glad I got the A200! I HATE with a passion the film 5 grip, I have one, it sucks!
Not sure what sony are up to..I told you they do the exact reverse of what I like, in an effort to stop me using sony!

[David Kilpatrick]

But I have a big box of soft suede cases for the Dynax 5... unsold... looks as if they will be a lovely fit for this new camera. At last!

David

[KevinBarrett]

There is something that looks like a P&S zoom-switch on the new entry-level bodies. Perhaps there is a digital zoom? Might be helpful for video, no less.

[ianmiddy]

But I have a big box of soft suede cases for the Dynax 5... unsold... looks as if they will be a lovely fit for this new camera.

...and an excellent quality case they are - will even take the 24-105 (with reversed hood) on the 5 body, so the new lenses should fit in as well !

IDM