Sony has shared a teaser and launch date for a new Alpha mirrorless camera – and while the launch page doesn’t give any details away, recent rumors have revealed some possible contenders for the announcement.
The teaser, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter – you can see it below) and YouTube, simply states that “a new camera is coming” on August 29 at 7am PDT / 10am EDT / 3pm BST (which works out as 12am AEST on August 30).
Other than the fact that it’ll be an Alpha camera (which covers almost all of Sony’s entire camera range) and will seemingly be just one model, we don’t have any more official hints to go on. But recent leaks about a Sony A7C II suggest that camera is a hot favorite for the launch next week.
Mark your calendars. A new camera is coming in one week… 👀 #SonyAlpha pic.twitter.com/Dvc6uqR7vhAugust 22, 2023
The current Sony A7C, which launched last year, is one of the smallest full-frame cameras we’ve ever seen, and has become popular with street and travel photographers.
But those A7C II leaks, which were shared by Sony Alpha Rumors and the Chinese YouTuber Alex NG on August 10, suggest the imminent successor could fix some of the original model’s flaws. Those rumored A7C II specs include a higher-resolution 33MP sensor (compared to the 24.2MP one on the A7C) and some boosted video performance, including support for 10-bit 4K/60p shooting and the S-Cinetone profile for color graders.
Despite the suggestion from Sony’s teaser that we’ll only see a single new camera, the rumors have also hinted at the announcement of a potential companion model called the A7C R (with the ‘R’ typically standing for Resolution on Sony cameras). This could include the same 61MP sensor as the Sony A7R V, but otherwise we don’t know too much about it.
According to Sony Alpha Rumors, we could also see the announcement of a new 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens, which is expected to be a smaller version of the current wide-angle zoom (one of the best Sony lenses around).
Analysis: the best compact full-frame cameras?
If the rumors are true, and the Sony A7C II and A7CR are both announced at Sony’s event on August 29, they would be new contenders for the titles of best mirrorless cameras and best travel cameras.
The current Sony A7C already packs a lot into its 509g body, and the suggestion that it may add a new 33MP sensor, 4K/60p video, and better autofocus than the Sony A7 IV (among other treats) will excite anyone who’s been looking for a tiny, discrete camera with a full-frame sensor.
That said, it’s also a camera that divides opinion – with our Sony A7C review calling it “tiny full-frame with compromises” and criticizing its small viewfinder, lack of a grip, and high price tag. According to the latest leaks, Sony may not have fixed all of those gripes with its sequel, particularly the EVF (which we found to be “too small for a full-frame camera”).
But the A7C II, and the possible A7CR, are certainly still both worth looking out for, and it seems that we’ll learn all of the official specs in just a week’s time.
