New EMount Camera With Contax AX Like Autofocus

[bwcolor]

SR-5 Rumor

Of course with sensor movement comes the problems and the advantages, such as auto-focus with your manual focus lenses.

 

[sevo]

Sounds highly unlikely. Why would a maker incorporate a dual focusing mechanism? It would raise production cost and sales price considerably, and works against lens sales. Besides, the flyer for the first FF E-mount Zeiss has already leaked, and that one has in-lens focus.

If any, they might add similar features to a model at the upper end of the video E-mount camera range, to roll up the lower end of the digital cine market. Where Sony however are well-represented - while they face some competition from below, I rather doubt that the cine market already is in a state were they consider cannibalizing part of their pro product range.

 

[YYV_146]

Sounds highly unlikely. Why would a maker incorporate a dual focusing mechanism? It would raise production cost and sales price considerably, and works against lens sales. Besides, the flyer for the first FF E-mount Zeiss has already leaked, and that one has in-lens focus.

If any, they might add similar features to a model at the upper end of the video E-mount camera range, to roll up the lower end of the digital cine market. Where Sony however are well-represented - while they face some competition from below, I rather doubt that the cine market already is in a state were they consider cannibalizing part of their pro product range.

I can think of a few reasons. First of all the implementation of such a system can truly combine Sony's two camera mounts - Shift the sensor forward for E-mount, back for Alpha SLR mount.

The technique also provides Sony bodies with consistent AF performances over a wide range of lenses, including those made by Canon and Nikon. They can escape the current (tedious) process of reverse-engineering AF drive chips and simply deliver adapters w/ aperture control.

Of course Sony is well-aware that because the NEX system lacks high-performance optics, many users see them as universal digital backs. Having a shifting sensor means AF for ALL lens, regardless of mount, design or vintage. Imagine have AF on a Noctilux or 21 1.4, that would be the single greatest technical achievement in camera bodies in the past decade.

Sony doesn't have to make every body this way, but if they somehow deliver an FF NEX with sensor shift, I'd gladly pay $4,000 for it.

 

[DNG]

We'll see if this takes off this time around...with the Sony Digital Version...

Having PFAF on a moving senor should be much faster than the Contax AX method. BTW, eBay has a few Contax AX for under $500, for those who might want a very unique Contax Film Camera...

 

[bwcolor]

Also, they don't need to move a mirror assembly. Over the last two years rumor has suggested that Sony was testing a few strategies for allowing a camera body to accept both 'A' and "E" mount lenses. Also, it has been suggested that they were thinking "outside of the box" in order to capture market share from Nikon and Canon. Future lenses would be smaller/lighter and cheaper in that you don't need to purchase the autofocus mechanics with each lens. Sony and Fujifilm have a recent track record as innovators. Now, how about making the sensor unit modular so that it could be upgraded.

 

[pvdhaar]

Whatever the purpose of this contraption, it's most likely not intended to allow AF on Nikon/Canon lenses. Doesn't make sense for Canon lenses, which use built-in electronics to run the aperture and AF. You can't do without the aperture electronics, and once you have that, running the lens built-in AF is a no-brainer.. much simpler than moving a sensor around. A similar argument can be made for Nikon, especially for the AF-S/G-mount lenses of which there are more and more. A combination of electronics and a mechanical actuator are required to control aperture; once that's on board, driving the AF-S directly is easier than doing the sensor dance.

 

[sevo]

I can think of a few reasons. First of all the implementation of such a system can truly combine Sony's two camera mounts - Shift the sensor forward for E-mount, back for Alpha SLR mount.

If they want to focus Alpha lenses on top of that, it would need a huge control range, much bigger than that which Contax offered. The weaknesses of the Contax were its bulk and low focusing speed - either would become even worse (or require a more expensive design) if you were to build something with twice the range...

They can escape the current (tedious) process of reverse-engineering AF drive chips and simply deliver adapters w/ aperture control.

Well, "they" so far are only some obscure Chinese makers offering third party AF mounts, so that particular tediousness will be unknown to Sony's engineering.

Of course Sony is well-aware that because the NEX system lacks high-performance optics, many users see them as universal digital backs.

The only cameras where Sony have stated that they consider that desirable are their HD video ones (which are in a market where camera and lens makers traditionally were entirely separate entities).

It is rather odd that Sony should introduce a high end ultrasonic motor focusing lens for a new format along with the matching body, which however comes with another focusing system.