NAB 2023 Rumors & Wishes

[NorBro]

The GFX100S for half the price was apparently a better seller the last 2 or so years, so discontinuing the older one doesn't really mean anything although I do think an 8K medium format camera will eventually arrive...in the $10K+ territory.

But I would be surprised to see an a7SIV already. They can really milk that III for another 6-12 months.

[Zack Birlew]

The only reason I can see them quickly popping out a new A7S is because everything is moving beyond 4K now and 5.7K/6K seems to be the minimum entry for next gen cameras which are in 8K+ territory at the high end and the FX3 is taking up the mid range 4K video end where the A7S 3 was so there's room to come out with a new stills model before they eventually add the FX version of the A7S 4 to replace the FX3. Also, they have the A1 and A7R with 8K so the A7S 3 is sitting well below those models so it may be time to move beyond 12 megapixel 4K to be the next large pixel low light specialty camera the A7S line has been known for. I'm not thrilled with the though of it not being 8K but if it were going 8K, perhaps it would be around 35 megapixels or so to meet 8K resolution and technically be the lowest resolution model compared to the A1 and A7RV and thus really being the next generation of the A7S line. Still, knowing Sony's past release schedule styles, I doubt that there would be that big of a leap from 12 megapixels to 35 megapixels in a single revised model release unless Sony's sensor tech can actually scale that quickly.

[Bassman2003]

Good point about the resolution and role of the Sony "S" model. If you up the resolution on the "S" model it becomes the A7IV+ We are obviously in the land of diminishing returns as the A7IV model does not need to ever go beyond 33MPX. Plenty of pixels and detail.

[DLD]

A7SIII has a Quad Bayer sensor. Sony can get 8K out of it right now, if they want to. They don't want to.

[DLD]

Sony Alpha Rumors is predicting a new videocentric Sony full frame model. It's supposed to be announced toward the end of the month and will be a bit of a mongrel with bloodlines of A7SIII (12 MPX sensor) and A7c (the body). No price has been revealed but it ought to be lower than the current A7SIII, which is still $3,500 at full retail. No word on whether A7SIII will be either discounted or discontinued at this time. Its replacement A7SIV was also rumored recently but maybe this new model is it.

The NAB is a month away and, with the hand-held "consumer" cameras used in professional broadcasts for the shallow depth-of-field shots, this could appear in Vegas too. Officially, it'll be presented as more of a vlogger/YouTube camera.

[Peter C.]

Sony Alpha Rumors is predicting a new videocentric Sony full frame model. It's supposed to be announced toward the end of the month and will be a bit of a mongrel with bloodlines of A7SIII (12 MPX sensor) and A7c (the body). No price has been revealed but it ought to be lower than the current A7SIII, which is still $3,500 at full retail. No word on whether A7SIII will be either discounted or discontinued at this time. Its replacement A7SIV was also rumored recently but maybe this new model is it.

Would make sense why they haven't released any firmware update people have been asking for if they plan to discontinue it and replace it with a new model.

[DLD]

There are also rumors of a Z8 announcement sometime in April, likely pre-NAB. The exact specs are unknown but supposedly it will have the same sensor as Z9 without all the features and, obviously, at a much lower price point. It should have 8K/60 and even a better auto focus than Z9. Price is around $4,000, which will pit it directly against R5 and A7RV.

Also, Nikon announced a nearly $3,000 85mm F 1.2 prime lens, which is claimed to be cat's meow for the professional photographers. With Z8 or Z9.

[Matt Gottshalk]

Okay, a few updates:



3. Fuji has discontinued the big medium format GFX100 and, as we all know, that is a big indicator of an updated model coming so perhaps we may see my predicted Fuji medium format camera with 8K video enter the ring?

The video side of the Fuji medium format cameras is a joke.

I wish they would just focus on the stills side.

[DLD]

Panasonic is claiming that it's finally coming out with an "organic CMOS" sensor. But is coy about its possible uses.

https://ymcinema.com/2023/03/20/pana...rganic-sensor/

[DLD]

An Ordinary Filmmaker on YouTube says that Panasonic S1H II will be announced shortly. It looks to have the same sensor as Nikon Z8, 8K and Apple ProRes Raw. Plus some other stuff. No pricing info yet available.

But that's two more models for the NAB. Or three in total if one counts the new Sony.

[DLD]

Sony's announcement is on the 29th. It's going to be billed as a "vlogger camera" at ~ $2,500, which means it's going to be missing some A7SIII features. Full specs will probably leak before the weekend.

[Zack Birlew]

Once again with Fuji, there is a new roadmap describing four new entries for 2023 that will be "disruptive". Could be new GFX camera, revised X-series models, or even new kinds of cameras, perhaps a video camera? Despite my fantastical hopes for a cinema Fuji GFX camera, I normally wouldn't truly expect Fuji to come out of the sidelines with a surprise but who knows? They have been doing very well with video, particularly with the 4K and 8K in the XH models, so if video is a clear priority with Fuji then perhaps we could see something interesting from them at NAB?