Sony a7 Mark III speculation time :)

[bruceallen]

So we have a7rII which has a S35 4K mode (downsampled from a 6K crop). And now the a7sII which still does 4K FF 1:1, just now with internal recording. Both of which have sensors pretty much hitting the limit of the current processing pipeline. And the odd-one-out a7 Mark II with no 4K.

This all kinda makes me think that in 2016 we'll see:

Sony a7 Mark III
Revised 3rd-generation body
25MP resolution (6144x4096 or so)
Even better phase-detect AF
FF35 video mode: 6K downsampled to 4K (same processing as a7rII does in its S35 mode)
S35 video mode: 4K window (1:1 crop)
Next-generation processor (minimum 10bit 4:2:2 pipeline)
S-Log3 & S-Gamut3.Cine
4K 4:2:2 10bit HDMI 2.0 output
For bonus points, S35 4K60p mode and a higher-than-XGA EVF

Remember to dig this thread up next year when they announce it... or in Dec 2016 if I'm wrong, of course!

Bruce Allen
www.twitter.com/bruce_allen

 

[Samuel H]

Very similar to what I was thinking: a7 II renders a7S obsolete by offering all that an a7S III could, but with 24 Mpix and phase-detect AF as in the a7R II. The difference is that I would expect it to stay at 8-bit 420, with internal 10-bit 422 maybe being what keeps the a7S III as a viable option (same as a7 II but with 10-bit 422, for $1000 more because they're getting greedy).

 

[bruceallen]

Makes sense! Thanks, Samuel!

PS interested in what you find on a7s MkII rolling shutter. The fact that it can do 120fps HD downsampled from a full 4K readout should mean better figures in 4K mode as well but we'll see!

But yeah. I will compromise: a7 MkIII - 30p and 8 bit internal recording (maybe 10bit out, maybe not). Then a7s MkIII brings 60p 4K and 10bit internal. Maybe even higher fps modes? Makes sense to make the high ISO, least-pixel-count cam the high speed cam.

Of course if Sony keeps up their current release pace we don't have long to wait!

Bruce Allen
www.twitter.com/bruce_allen