Sony A7 and A79 cameras rumored to be ready for prime time

Sony A7 / ILCE-7 and the A79 cameras are rumored to be officially introduced in the near future boasting very similar specifications sheets.

There are a couple of Sony camera names which are unknown to the general public. One of them refers to the A79, which depicts the A77 replacement, an A-mount shooter that should become available soon.

The other one is the Sony A7 also known as ILCE-7. According to the rumor mill, these tags are the name and the codename of an upcoming device that will pack a moving image sensor and the ability to support lenses from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax.

The SLT-A77 is rumored to be replaced by the so-called A79, which will feature a 32-megapixel sensor. A similar sensor, but which is capable of moving, will also be found in the A7. Both shooters are rumored to be announced soon and during the same event.

Sony A7 and A79 coming soon with similar specs

It appears that the A7 and A79 will be unveiled during the same launch event. Furthermore, they will feature almost identical specs with only a few deviations.

Both will sport a 32-megapixel Exmor HD sensor, 4GB buffer, 480-point AF system, 400K-dot built-in electronic viewfinder, and a continuous burst mode between 8 and 14 frames per second.

Sony A7 / ILC-E supports E-mount and has moving sensor, A79 is an A-mount shooter with fixed sensor

The first disparity consists of the mount. The A79 is an A-mount shooter, while the A7 / ILCE-7 is an E-mount one, though it remains unclear whether it will be marketed as an NEX camera or not.

Another major distinction is represented by the sensor. Although both will capture 32MP photos, the one in the A7 will sport a moving plate. The Sony ILCE-7 will boast a mechanism allowing users to change the position of the sensor, so that all lenses from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax will be supported.

A special mount adapter will still be required for each lens type, but light will get through the optics unharmed. This means that Nikon, Canon, and Pentax owners can sell their cameras, but keep their lenses and make the switch to the Sony A7.

Enough innovation for now or are these devices really coming soon?

For the time being, Sony has not made any official announcements. There are no planned devices for the neighboring future, as the company has just launched several products at IFA Berlin 2013.

The moving sensor in the A7 would be another innovation, following the QX10 and QX100 lens-style cameras. However, since it is a rumor, take it with a grain of salt.

Meanwhile, the Sony A77 is available at both Amazon and B&H Photo Video for the price of $898.