Alphatracks

May 10, 2010 If you’ve been caught up in the excitement of the imminent Nex-3 and Nex-5 EVIL cameras from Sony, you may have overlooked the bells tolling for the A900.

Several rumor sites are claiming that Sony’s Hong Kong site is listing the A900 as discontinued.

Curious, I checked the site myself. I couldn’t find anything expressly saying  the A900 was discontinued, but significantly, the A900 was not listed among the Alpha dSLRs offered for sale. The site lists the top model as the A850.

It could be a simple error, but I am inclined the rumors have at least some truth to them, I don’t have access to sales figures, but I would guess that A900 sales have flatlined since the introduction of the Sony A850. The cameras are nearly identical, but the A850 can save you several hundred dollars. Unless you really, really need the faster frame rate of the A900, the A850 is a much better bargain.

Does this mean the A850 is the new flagship? I doubt it. I would assume that there is a new flagship on the launching ways, and Sony will replace the A900 with something better. At least I hope that is the case.

Some of the rumor sites are expecting an A900 replacement to be announced along side the new Sony EVIL twins.

I’m not so sure about that. I think a brand new top-of-the-line dSLR deserves it’s own special day. At the same time, a completely new camera system should have it’s own special day.

I could be wrong, but I would expect we will see the Sony Nex models first, with a new full-frame dSLR (if there is one coming soon) following some time afterward.

We may know as soon as tomorrow, as Sony has apparently chosen May 11 to announce the Nex system.

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April 28, 2010: Website SonyAlphaRumors has posted photos they say they received from an anonymous reader. The source claims to have snapped the images in a bar in Asia. While the story sounds a bit like the recent Gizmoto-Apple iPhone dustup, apparently the Nex3 was not left at the bar and no one tried to sell the prototype to anyone.

Like any prototype/rumor story, there is no way to confirm that the camera in the photos will resemble the final product, but I would guess it is pretty close. The word is that Sony will introduce the new cameras on May 11, so it would seem that any real-world testing would involve prototypes that are very close to the real deal.

SonyAlphaRumors expects there will be two models at launch, the Nex3 and Nex5. The principle difference between the two will be the video capabilities, with the Nex5 shooting at 1080p, and the Nex3 limited to 720p. Both cameras will use a APS-C size, 14mp ExmorHD sensor.

SAR is also claiming that unlike the Sony Alpha dSLRs, the Nex models will not have image stabilization in the body. They claim the 16mm 2.8 lens shown in the photos has image stabilization built in to it. SAR theorizes that this will make it easier to add stabilization for video recording.

While most commentators are obsessed with the lens, I was much more intrigued by the flash unit. I had assumed that the new cameras would have some sort of pop-up flash, but the camera in the bar shots is using what appears to be a small, detachable external flash. The flash doesn’t resemble any current Sony Alpha flash, so it will apparently be a new design. Since the mockups at the PMA show did not have a hot shoe, I’m not sure how the flash attaches to the Nex3 and Nex5.

There may still be a small pop-up flash on the cameras, with the external flash providing better flash range. On the other hand, it is possible that there is no popup flash and you will need an external flash for any auxiliary illumination. If so, I hope Sony offers an off-camera cord so users can move the flash away from the camera.

Finally, I am really hoping Sony will offer an external viewfinder, similar to the one Olympus sells for their micro four-thirds models. I was able to play with one of these recently and the extra-cost viewfinder made a real difference when shooting in direct sunlight.

Time will tell, as May 11 is less than two weeks away. Bring it!

Visit the Nex3 and Nex5 pages at SonyAlphaRumors.

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Probably the most controversial Sony PMA offering is the “mirroless” interchangeable lens camera. Many people are really excited about the mockups, while others are less than enthusiastic about them. Me?  I am squarely in the middle.

I am a huge SLR enthusiast, and I have yet to look through a electronic view finder (EVF) that approached the quality of a typical optical viewfinder. So, right off the bat, I am not a part of the target market for these new cameras, which many people have nick-named EVIL, after the EVF.

On the other hand, I am sure Sony must have done sufficient studies to justify creating this new line. If creating a new line of cameras helps drive bigger and better things from Sony’s photographic division, then I am all for it. There has been an incredible amount of interest in the EVF mock-ups, so if Sony brings them to market at the right price and feature set, they could be a true game changer.

It has been widely reported that the EVF models will have a APS-C size sensor. This is the same size as most of the Alpha dSLRs, and should yield very good image quality.

I am still concerned that the EVF cameras will apparently bear the Alpha brand. If the new cameras accept Alpha lenses, then this is a no brainer. If in fact, the new mini Alphas use a different lens mount, I think that is a problem.

Currently, with a few rare exceptions, all Sony Alphas can use the same lenses and accessories. The DT (APS-C coverage) lenses are not designed to cover the full-frame sensor on the premier A900 and A850. But Sony has made a provision so users can use these lenses on the full-frame models; you won’t get full frame coverage or the entire megapixel count, but the lenses are usable.

If the new cameras use an entirely different mount, then Sony will be developing two separate interchangeable lens lines. Again, if that drives the Alpha brand forward, then well and good. I worry however, that resources needed to expand the Sony dSLR line will be diverted to the new electronic viewfinder models.

In addition, a separate lens line creates a barrier wall between the two camera lines. If the new EVF cameras use the A-mount, then this is a excellent buyer retention strategy. New users may start with the EVF model. When they are ready to move up to a camera with more features, they will look for a dSLR. If the lenses and accessories carry over, this is a great way to encourage users to choose a Sony Alpha.

If the lens mounts differ, however, there is a barrier wall in place. If some one has a large selection of Sony Alpha EVF lenses, moving to the dSLR model is problematic. Do you simply expand your EVF system or dump everything and start from scratch?

If you do start from scratch, then there is no need to stick with the Sony Alpha. Since nothing carries over, you are free to choose any dSLR system you want. There might be some brand loyalty that keeps users in the Alpha camp, but unlike owning a quiver of A-mount lenses, there is no physical reason to remain with Sony.

The barrier wall works both ways. I have no interest in adding another system to my existing A-mount collection. It is difficult enough to stay current on the entire Alpha dSLR system without adding a whole new collection of cameras, lenses and accessories.

If however, I could leverage my current lens line with one of these EVF cams, I might consider it. I could keep one in the glove compartment so I would always have a quality camera handy. I could pack a small bag with some of my existing lenses for nature hikes. This is only mildly attractive for me me, however, if my current lenses work with the new cameras. If the A-Mount lenses don’t fit, there is no compelling reason for me to consider one of these cameras. I could achieve most of the benefits from a smaller point and shoot. No, I wouldn’t have the option of using interchangeable lenses, but if I want lens variety I will just haul out one of my Alpha dSLRs. Case closed.

If you look at the mockup photo, the lens mount doesn’t appear to be an Alpha mount. It is possible, since this is a mockup, that the actual camera might sport a different mount. But I’m not sure there is enough physical room to attach a typical A-mount lens to that mount. In addition, the sensor is probably to close to rear element for an A-mount lens to focus correctly. So I am guessing that the best we can hope for is a lens adapter that will allow A-mount optics to work on the EVF cameras.

Interestingly enough, there are no electrical contacts visible in the photos. To offer the auto focus and auto exposure capabilities that we have come to expect in a digital camera, there has to be a way for the camera to talk to the lens. So either the mount is unfinished on the mockups or Sony has a new way to pass information from camera to lens.

I have some other concerns about the EVF cameras. For one, I don’t see a hot shoe or a PC sync port. Hopefully, because these are just concepts, Sony will rectify this omission before the real things ship.

There is a large rectangular cover on the top of the camera, which I assume houses a popup flash. Without a hot shoe or sync port, however, there is no way to use off camera flash. After preaching about the benefits of off camera flash for years, I’m not ready to buy into a system that forces you to use the popup flash or nothing.

Frankly I am more than a little puzzled by the lack of a hot shoe. I have to believe there is a need for a flash that can be bounced, swiveled or located away from the camera. By including an Alpha style hot shoe, Sony could expand the market for their current flash units and flash accessories. They wouldn’t have to develop a new flash unit, as the current Alpha flash system would work on the EVF models. If and when these buyers move up to a dSLR, these flash components could create buyer retention.

“Hmm. I already have a flash and remote cord that fits the Sony Alpha. If I buy some other brand I will need to buy a new flash unit. Guess I’ll stick with Sony.”

So to me, an Alpha hot shoe is a no brainer. I did notice there are two dimples on either side of the alleged popup flash. I have no clue what purpose they serve. Perhaps Sony intends to develop some sort of clip-on external flash shoe that attaches to these openings?

I am also concerned about the lack of external controls on the mockups. If this is the final design, that will mean all controls are accessed by LCD menus. I could live with that, provided the LCD can be viewed in bright sunlight. Most LCDs are useless in full sun, although some manufacturers claim to have eliminated this problem. If the EVF models need to be controlled almost entirely by menu, then we Sony needs to include a screen that can be read at noon on a hot July day.

I not trying to pan the EVF Alphas or suggest that Sony should abandon the idea of a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. I’m sure they will sell well.

As shown, however, they are not a real replacement for a dSLR. Give us a proper A-mount, an Alpha hot shoe and a LCD menu that can be read in bright sunlight and then we’ll talk. Otherwise, they might just be EVIL at that.

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Okay, here we go again. A site called PhotoRumors says that they have “received information” that Sony is prepping a dSLR model to be called the A800. We’ve heard rumors of an A800 before. In fact, so many sites confidently predicted Sony would announce the A800 at PMA last March, that Sony reps went on record saying there would be no new Sony dSLRs announced until sometime after the show. As months have passed with no announcement, the A800 rumors faded.

Now they are back again — with a vengeance. You can read the short A800 post at PhotoRumors yourself, but the high points are: 16.2MP, full-frame, 100-25400 ISO (!), A900 type optical view system with popup flash and the Sony Quick live-View System (!!), HD Video, 3.5 inch LCD (!), 1/500 flash sync, aluminum-magnesium body with dust and moisture seals, built-in GPS, built-in WiFi and more.

“…and if you order now, they will throw in the Brooklyn Bridge as well…”

Call me skeptical, but this has all the makings of a vaporware pipe-dream.

A good rumor needs to sound plausible. Taken on an individual basis, every one of the rumored features of the phantom A800 is technically possible. All of the elements on the list can be found on various dLSRs from Sony or other camera manufacturers. Finding them all in a single camera is another story. There are some high-end dSLRs that incorporate most of the items on the list, but none I know of that retail for less than $2500.

Therein lies the rub. Many people have suggested that the A800 will be positioned as a replacement for the A700. If the Alpha A800 actually included most of these features, it is unlikely Sony will bring it to market anywhere close to the A700 price range. The specs on this super camera are much closer to the A900 than the A700, which currently sells for $999 in body-only trim.

True, the A900 has that incredible 24mp sensor. I also suspect that if Sony did create a dSLR of this nature, the optical viewfinder wouldn’t be as good as the one in the A900. Fitting the Quick Live View system into the A300 series cameras required Sony to make some compromises with the optical viewfinder. I would assume Sony would need the same sort of compromises in this camera.

Even so, the A800 would steal much of the A900’s thunder, especially if it was priced at the mid-range point.

A $4000 dSLR for less than $1500? I’ll take two!

Actually, the proposed specs on this dSLR are very similar to those of the very highly regarded Nikon D3. Similar, except the D3 lacks video and a flip-out LCD. The D3’s LCD screen “is only” 3 inches, a half inch smaller than the published specs for the phantom A800.

That wouldn’t be a huge deal, but the Nikon D3 sells for way over $4000.00. Does anyone really belive that Sony will bring a D3 caliber camera to market at a A700 price? Let’s not forget that such a camera would do a very good job of cannibalizing sales of the A900.

I don’t doubt that sooner or later Sony will offer an A800 model. But if it has these specs, it won’t sell in the A700’s price range. So, either Sony is prepping a high-priced companion to the A900, or the reports are completely bogus.

Either way, that doesn’t offer us a moderately-priced replacement for the current A700. Unless you believe that Sony intends to release an entire new fleet in 2009: new A230, A330, A380, A500, A550, A800 cameras and upgrade the A700 in their spare time.

Ain’t gonna happen. Not this year. Not in this economy.

I want to be wrong about this. I want be able to snap up that incredible A800 for less than $1500. However, my gut tells me Sony wouldn’t offer a camera of this caliber for under two grand. Quite possibly it would list for much more.

Anyone care to convince me that I am wrong?

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May 25, 2009 It appears the A230, A330 and A380 will not be the only new dSLRs in the Sony Alpha lineup. The website 1001 noisy cameras tipped me off to a screen-shot posted in the Dyxum forums. While registering their new camera at Sony-Style Canada, the poster noted that the drop down list for available cameras included choices for two mysterious models: A500 and A550.

This looks to be a genuine slip — there are no other details available. Naturally I am very curious to see what the A500 series will be like and when they will be available. At the same time, I don’t want to start rumors that could cause people to put off buying an Alpha dSLR because they are waiting “for something better.”

About ten years ago, I had a friend who wanted to buy an iMac. At the time, all iMacs had 15 inch screens. My fiend was ready to buy, but he heard rumors of a soon-to-be-released 17 inch iMac. So he waited. And waited. Every time he determined to go ahead a purchase the computer, he would hear a rumor about a new, better model. So he would put off his purchase. This indecision lasted over 18 months. I moved away and never heard from him again. I don’t know if he ever bought his computer.

The point is, rumors can cause people to hold off buying something while they wait for the “next best thing.” I hope my friend finally got the computer he wanted. Because he was always looking for something better, however, he went without the computer for a year and a half. He could have been enjoying the computer and expanding his skills during that time, but because he was always chasing rumors, he did without. The thing is, a computer with a 15 inch monitor trumps no computer at all.

This applies to cameras as well as computers, especially for someone wanting to move into their first dSLR. How many great pictures could you make in 18 months? How much sooner could you get up to speed on a digital SLR if you started 18 months sooner?

Of course there is no reason to think the A500 and A550 are 18 months away. The logical assumption is that someone at Sony Canada was readying the site for the release of the A500 series and made the changes live before the cameras were on the market. If that is true, we can assume the A500 and A500 will be announced very shortly.

There are another scenarios, however. Someone could have just made a mistake and typed 500 and 550 when it should have been another series of digits. Not likely, as they would have had to make same the mistake many times, because there are several versions listed with different kit lenses. Unlikely, but it has to be considered.

There is also a possibility that someone was simply experimenting with the database. I do quite a bit of web development work and I have seen database administrators make up fake data to fill in fields in the database. The fake info is just there to flesh out the database and see how it would work in actual production. It isn’t supposed appear in an actual live site, but sometimes these fake entries make into the wild.

That is exactly what happened several years ago when a computer science student was developing a database script for a class project. He must have been a photography enthusiast, because he made up some fake camera entries, including one for a 18 megapixel, Minolta Maxxum 9D dSLR.

It was just something the student created to flesh out the database, in order to test his script. It sounded logical. It was widely believed that Minolta would introduce a Maxxum 9D because that followed the usual naming convention for Minolta SLRs. They already had the 5D and 7D. History indicated the next camera in the series would be the 9D.

Minolta was undoubtedly working on a 9D model, but there is no reason to belive it would have had an 18mp sensor. The 5D and 7D were 6mp cameras and at the time anything over 10mp was unheard of.

The student published his code online so he could test his database script. Someone discovered the “evidence” of a 18mp Maxxum 9D. Word spread rapidly, and the Minolta faithful waited with baited breath for the official announcement of the 9D. It never came. Outside of Minolta’s laboratories, the Maxxum 9D never existed. Since Sony (who made sensors for Minolta) never released an 18mp sensor for dSLRs, it is highly unlikely Minolta was developing an 18mp Maxxum 9D. But there are those, who based on the imagination of a computer science student, still believe that Minolta was ready to unleash an 18mp super camera just before the company closed the doors on its photo operations.

Having said all that. I believe Sony does have A500 and A550 models in the works. I expect to see them announced very soon, yet I wouldn’t bet the farm they will be out this summer. When you will be able to actually order an A550 and what features it will have is anybodies guess. It won’t be real until Sony says its real.

If you are considering buying a current Sony Alpha, but are holding off because you are afraid of missing out on something better, I suggest you go ahead and buy now. It is possible the A500 series will be announced in the next few days. On the other hand, you could be like my friend, forever waiting for a new product announcement that never comes.

You will probably be much happier getting an actual dSLR you can use now, rather than waiting on a phantom camera whose features and shipping date are completely unknown. It’s awfully hard to take great pictures without a camera!

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Tom Bonner
Alphatracks

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May 9, 2009: The rumors of new dSLR’s from Sony continue to swirl about the internet. Many people expected something at the PMA show in February, but a Sony official was quoted as saying no dSLRs would be released until after PMA — fueling speculation that new models would be coming soon after that.

There are several sources speculating that new models would be known as the A230, A330 and A380. There is yet another rumor of an A800. I have heard talk of other models, but I don’t want encourage rumors of cameras that may not be available for months or even years from now — if at all.

It does appear, however, that new models in the A300 and A200 line may soon be introduced. David Kilpatrick of PhotoClub Alpha (in the UK) has some screen captures from a SonyStyle site that contain photos of some of future Alpha dSLRs. These appear to indeed be the A380, A330 and A230.

You can read David’s musing on the PhotoClub Alpha site.

So what can we expect from these new dSLRs? Until now, all the Sony Alpha dSLRS carried names that fit neatly into an even 100 digits: A100, A200, A300, A700, A900. The only exception is the A350, which is more or less an A300 with a denser, 14mp sensor.

Since the new models carry names like 330 and 380, it appears the new cameras may be variants of the existing A300 and A350. If the photos are accurate, however, the new models appear to have newer, smaller bodies.

So other than the bodies, what will the new dSLR’s offer?

Sony hasn’t yet revealed the specs on the new models, so everything said here is pure conjecture.

Several people have suggested that Sony may remove the AF motor from the new bodies. This is bolstered by the recently announced Sony lenses. The new lenses overlap existing glass in the Sony catalog. There doesn’t seem to be a need for the new lenses, unless they have internal motors. These motors could handle the autofocus duties on cameras that lack their own AF motor.

This could produce lighter, more compact camera bodies. That is all well an good, but it breaks compatibility with older glass. Until now, you could use almost any A-Mount lens on any Sony Alpha. Minolta A-Mount lenses. Aftermarket (Tamron, Sigma, etc.) A-Mount lenses. And of course all the existing Sony A-Mount glass.

If the rumor is true, most of these older lenses will not offer full compatibility with the new bodies. I assume you should be able to attach the lenses and shoot using manual focus. Only the handful of older lenses that include internal focusing motors will actually offer auto focus ability on the new cameras.

Which is more important: lens compatibility or overall weight?

If this is true, I will be a little disappointed with the new models. In the first place, I don’t really like overly-light cameras. Heavy cameras dampen vibration and feel more solid to me. My all time favorite film SLR was the incredible XK-Motor. The camera itself was as heavy as a tank, and that was before you bolted on the battery pack that held ten AA batteries. As heavy as it was, the XK-M was so well balanced that felt and handled beautifully.

I do have a lot of experience in backpacking, and I understand the importance of eliminating extra weight. But if I have the choice between maximum lens compatibility and a smaller, lighter body, I would choose lens compatibility every time.

Kilpatrick also speculates the new bodies may abandon Compact Flash cards. Once again, I hope this isn’t so. Sony has only recently started selling their own line of CF cards. I prefer having a single card type that I can exchange between cameras. If the new digi-SLRs don’t accept CF cards, it will break compatibility with many of the older models. If the new cameras use SD cards, there will be no memory card compatibility with any current Sony Alpha. This might not be a problem if you only shoot with one camera. If you use multiple bodies, however, it will be pain to keep different memory cards for different bodies.

Different strokes for different folks, and Sony may have found that there is a considerable market for smaller, lighter bodies. Considering the limited amount of available lenses, I wouldn’t think the lower weight and smaller size would be worth the trade off. In my opinion, one of the best features of the Alpha is the huge array of Minolta A-mount lenses. Take away the ability to use those lenses and what do you have?

When will Sony offer a dSLR with video capabilities?

The other question is whether any of the new dSLRs will offer video. I’m not all that hungry for video myself, but with both Canon and Nikon offering dSLRs that have video modes, I find it puzzling that Sony isn’t stepping up to compete in the video/dSLR segment.

After all, Sony is a huge player in the camcorder market. The last I heard Sony was a close second to Canon in camcorder sales. So I would expect Sony to enter into the fledgling dSLR with video market with both feet.

Rumors — and remember these are only rumors — say the new Alpha dSLRs will not contain a video mode.

If this is true, I won’t be heart broken, but I want the Alpha to be competitive on all fronts. If the market is moving to onboard video on dSLRs, I want Sony to offer a video dSLR. This has nothing to do with being a Sony “fan.” The stronger the Alpha line becomes, the more aftermarket support we will see. It will also encourage Sony to release new and improved Alpha products.

Then again, it wouldn’t put it past Sony to abruptly release a new model that no one is expecting. After the release of the A700, everyone was expecting the A900 to be the next Sony dSLR. Without warning, Sony suddenly replaced the A100 with the A200. Only about a month later, the A300 and A350 were announced.

So until Sony clarifies the situation, this is all speculation. There is also no indication of when the new cameras will be on the market. The important thing is the Sony Alpha market is continuing to grow. Even if I don’t want to see a video-free dSLR without onboard internal focus motors and no CF slot, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for such an animal.

I sure hope folks at Sony has done their homework.

So what is your take on the future the Sony Alpha? Is there room for SD cards and bodies stripped of AF motors? Should Sony add a video mode? What say you?

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Jan 6, 2009: Two great announcements for Mac using photographers today. Apple announced iPhoto 9, with a host of new features. At the same time, Google released the long awaited beta of Picasa for Macintosh.

I was really excited with the chance to use Picasa for the Mac. I’ve used the Windows version of Picasa and was very happy with it. The fact that Picasa can seek out and index all the images on your hard drives without being told is a “killer feature”. It works quietly in the background indexing every image it can find, while you concentrate on other stuff.

For a long time, I’ve hoped Google would develop a Mac version. Early last year, rumors surfaced that “Big G” was working on Picasa for the Mac. Today those rumors have proven true.

My excitement was short lived however. My Mac met the system requirements — but I don’t have the minimum hardware. Turns out Picasa for Mac (or least the initial beta) only runs on Intel processors. PPC Macs, such as my lowly dual processor G5, need not apply.

I’m disappointed, but not completely surprised. Intel Macs are the way forward, while the G5 machines are rooted in the past. Why should Google devote resources to developing for an out of production machine? In fact, the next OS X operating system to be released, “Snow Leopard,” is rumored to run only on Intel processors.

I don’t blame Google, but it is a shame. Even though the G5 towers are outclassed by the newer Mac Pro machines, they still offer solid, powerful performance. If they can run Lightroom and Aperture (they can), I can’t see any performance problems with running Picasa. I’m guessing it was simply a business decision on Google’s part. Developing for architecture that even Apple may soon stop supporting probably didn’t make too much sense..

Of course this is just the initial beta. There is a chance that at some point Google will invite PPC Mac users to the Picasa party. After all, most thinly staffed open source Mac projects manage to support both Intel and PPC chip sets. For the time being, however, if you use a PPC Mac, Google’s stance is “no Picasa for you.”

I was hoping to report on how well the beta ran on my G5. I also wanted to see if Google had included any support for Sony Alpha ARW files. The last time I tired Picasa for Windows, it offered support for certain RAW formats. The Alpha wasn’t one of them. I was hoping that with the influx of new Sony dSLRs (A200, A300, A350 and A900), Google would include Sony Alpha RAW support.

I guess that my testing will have to wait until I upgrade to a Mac Pro or Big G offers a PPC version of Picasa. Meanwhile, if anyone with a Intel Mac tries the beta, please let everyone know what you think in the comments.

Update:

Should post the beta download link here. You can download Picasa for Macintosh at http://picasa.google.com/mac/

System Requirements:

• Mac OS X 10.4+
• Intel CPU
• 256MB RAM
• 100MB available hard disk space

Picasa also runs on Windows XP and Linix.

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Last week, reader Tony Bombardo contacted me regarding Sony’s high-end electronic flash unit, the HVL-F56AM. Or should I say former high-end flash unit…as of this writing the HVL-F56AM is missing in action at the Sony Style website. Under flashes and lights, you find the HVL-F36AM and the new HVL-F42AM units, but the F56AM is no where to be found.

So what’s happening with the HVL-F56AM? I know it was listed on Sony Style a couple of days before, because I was ordering some accessories and it was there as big as life. Now it’s gone.

Well, almost gone.. I found that if your order a dSLR, the HVL-F56AM still shows up as an available accessory. I’m not sure if you can actually order the unit, but as of yesterday, if you were buying a camera it was still listed. I also found that if you click on the specs for the F42AM, you can find a sidebar link to the F56AM. That link indicates it is in stock for shipment. The HVL-56AM does not appear in the list under the flashes and lights category.

Sony hasn’t said the HVL-F56AM has been discontinued. So what happened to it? The brand new HVL-F42AM offers most of the features of the HVL-F56AM, and is priced at $299. The HVL-F56AM’s most recent list price was $449.

I don’t have any hard information from Sony, but if I had to guess there are two things going on here. First, the HVL-F42AM offers almost the same features at $150 less. Admittedly, the HVL-F56AM has a guide number of 56, while the HVL-F42AM has a lower guide number of 46. The HVL-F42AM is more or less equal to the HVL-F56AM in most other respects. I suppose that 14 guide units might be worth $150 is some cases, but for most people the HVL-F42AM will appear to a be a better value.

The second aspect is that Sony has indicated that there will be a flagship flash unit to accompany the new flagship dSLR. I don’t have specs on the yet to be announced Alpha flagship flash, but I have to believe a electronic flash unit billed s the flagship will have to be superior to all current Sony and Minolta electronic flash units.

At the same time, how much higher could Sony price the flagship flash? It would have to be considerably higher than the HVL-F56AM at $449, otherwise who would buy the HVL-F56AM at the expense of the flagship? On the other hand, if they reduced the ticket on the HVL-F56AM, it would cut into sales of the HVL-F42AM and the HVL-F36AM.

So Sony (apparently) chose to axe the HVL-F56AM. Maybe sales of the more expensive unit were flat. Or maybe Sony needed the production facilities to start building the flagship flash.

Does this mean the flagship will be coming sooner than this fall? Or will the new flash unit be released before flagship dSLR? Since the the upcoming dSLR will be full frame, its possible the new flash will cover a wider angle, since one of the reasons for shooting with a full frame dSLR is the opportunity to shoot with a full complement of wide angle lenses,

Of course, this could be a simple mix-up. Someone at Sony redesigned the web page and happened to leave the F56AM off the main flashes and lights order page. Maybe Sony just had a temporary shortage of HVL-F56AM units and the F56AM will appear on Sony Style in the future.

On the other hand, if I really wanted a HVL-F56AM, I mean I really wanted one, I would start looking around to find a merchant that still has a new HVL-F56AM in stock.

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Sony quickly ended speculation about whether the new 24mp sensor would show up in the yet to be officially named “flagship” dSLR. Soon after Sony announced the full frame sensor, several high-profile Sony doubters expressed their opinion that Sony would never use the sensor in their own cameras, because after all “Sony would never dare to challenge Nikon and Canon in the pro arena.”

Here is what technology site Gizmodo had to say when Sony took the wraps off the new sensor: “Sony isn’t about to pop it in one of its Alpha models, at least not as far as we can tell.” That idea was echoed by several other commentators.

That sound you hear is those same forecasters gnashing their teeth after Sony proclaimed that, yes indeed, the upcoming flagship will be equipped with the big full frame sensor. So much for the theory that Sony is afraid of competing in the professional category.

There is, however a minor mystery. The new full frame sensor is rated at 24.8 megapixels. The flagship, on the other hand, will boast 24.6mp. That unexplained 0.2mp difference has led to some interesting speculation.

Some have suggested it is a completely different sensor. Sony however has indicated that the flagship will use the recently announced full frame sensor.

If you’ve been reading Alphatracks for any length of time, you know we have discussed at length the ramifications of installing a full frame sensor with in-body stabilzation.

Could that 0.2mp difference represent the crop factor needed to use the sensor with Super Steady Shot? If so, it isn’t much of a crop. If my math is correct, the sensor would be roughly 99.193548387096774193548387096774 percent of a full frame. That would be something like a 1.008 crop factor. In other words, no crop at all.

Of course Sony hasn’t said the missing 0.2 megapixel is related to the Super Steady Shot. Perhaps there is some other reason Sony trimmed that portion of a mp from the sensor. Since the flagship will use a CMOS sensor, it should be possible to “shut off” any unneeded pixels.

Sony has said the flagship will ship this year. Many observers are suggesting a Photokina timeframe. (September) Sony hasn’t confirmed that — in fact Sony hasn’t said that the dSLR will be known as the A900, although many people have already started calling it that. Sony has firmly said the dSLR will ship in 2008.

To me, it really doesn’t matter where that 0.2mp went. The flagship will be full frame and pack more that 24mp.

All of a sudden those Sony haters have started to get rather quiet.

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Don’t look now, but photos of the Nikon D60 are starting to appear throughout the web. Why should A-Mount shooters care about Nikon’s latest offering? Aside from the fact that the D60 probably will use a Sony built sensor, rumors suggest that the D60 may replace the D40, which has been Nikon’s low end dSLR up until now. Before the introduction of the D40, Nikon lagged behind Canon in sales. Although I haven’t seen total world wide sales figures for dSLRs, shortly after the D40s introduction, Nikon began outselling Canon – at least in the Japanese market. There might have been other factors, but the D40 was a landmark camera for Nikon and undoubtedly helped Nikon regain its strength.

Of course the biggest reason the D40 has sold so well is price. The 6MP D40 carried a list price of $599. This was far less than most dSLRs and gave Nikon a real advantage in the dSLR marketplace,

A worthy competitor to the Sony A200?

If the rumors are accurate, the new Nikon will carry a 10.2mp sensor, making it a true competitor to the brand new Alpha A200. Here is where things get interesting. As I said, many rumor sites are indicating that the D60 will replace the D40. Which begs the question, if the D60 will replace the D40, will Nikon retain the $599 price for their introductory model?

If so, this is significant, because it will mean that the brand new Sony A200 will soon have to face a 10.2MP Nikon that will be priced about $100 less.

Of course the details of Nikon D60 are still cloudy, but it is believed that it will be a 10.2MP dSLR with an anti-dust system and similar internal processing as the upper level Nikons.

Nikon hasn’t acknowledged the price of the D60, but it is awfully hard to raise prices in the world of digital cameras. If the D40 is actually going away, I think both consumers and resellers would start howling if Nikon suddenly raised the list price of their introductory model above the D40’s $599 kit price.

If the D40 remains in the catalog, then Nikon is free to price the D60 however they wish. If the D40 has reached the end of the line, however, the D60 almost has to sell for a similar $599 price.

What does the D60 mean to Sony Alpha Users?

So where does that leave Sony and the Alpha lineup? The A200 has at price of $699. That wasn’t a big problem when facing the D40, which could only muster 6MP. Against a similar 10.2MP model, however, the A200 starts looking overpriced.

Alpha A200’s great advantage: Super Steady Shot

The one great advantage the A200 will continue to enjoy is in-body image stabilization. The D60 can’t match that, so the A200 can be considered a superior camera. In fact, unless Nikon were to offer an image stabilization lens as the kit lens (highly unlikely at $599), D60 users will have buy an expensive IS lens to enjoy the image stabilization Sony users get with all lenses. I’m not an expert on Nikon lenses, but most IS lenses I have seen would cost more than the D60 body.

So Sony probably could justify the higher price tag of the A200 on this single feature alone. Those who realize the value of in-body IS would probably feel it was worth it.

But many of the people moving from basic digital cameras don’t necessarily understand the value of Sony’s Super Steady Shot. (Great system, really dumb name.) For the bulk of first time dSLR users, the pixel count is still the determining factor. While some of the better camera shops may take the time to explain Anti-Shake to prospective users, Sony can’t expect the sales people at the big box stores to steer people into the A200.

So that $100 could be a real liability, unless Sony either drops the price of the A200 or introduces a lesser priced dSLR. If the D60 does list for less than $600, I expect Sony to react quickly.

What is your take?

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