Sony medium format camera is in the works and coming soon

Sony is rumored to announce a new camera which will feature a medium format image sensor, identical to the one found in the the Hasselblad H5D-50c and Phase One IQ250 cameras.

At the beginning of the year, Hasselblad has made the headlines with the world’s first medium format camera with a CMOS image sensor. Unfortunately, the announcement has been only about the camera’s “development”, as the actual device has remained hidden from public view.

In the meantime, Phase One has decided to move ahead with its plans and it has actually introduced the IQ250 as the first medium format camera in the world with a CMOS sensor. Nevertheless, Hasselblad has eventually taken the wraps off the H5D-50c and it can pre-ordered at B&H PhotoVideo for $27,500.

Moving away from the CCD-based sensors is not easy, but it pays off to have a supplier such as Sony. It appears that both Hasselblad and Phase One are using Sony’s 50-megapixel CMOS sensor in their medium format cameras.

Furthermore, the rumored Pentax 645D II will also feature a 50MP CMOS medium format sensor manufactured by the PlayStation company.  This has left many people wondering how come everybody is using Sony’s technology but Sony itself? Well, the rumor mill is now claiming that the manufacturer is aiming to change this aspect.

Sony working on a medium format with a 50-megapixel CMOS image sensor

The size of the Sony 50-megapixel sensor when compared to a Sony 35mm sensor for full frame cameras.

The new Sony medium format camera does not have a specifications list other than the medium format sensor which measures 44 x 33mm. However, sources are claiming that it will be “different” from the aforementioned trio.

For the time being, it is unclear what this means, but the most important thing is that it will definitely be cheaper than the Hasselblad H5D-50c.

New Sony medium format camera could be a fixed-lens RX or a new ILC

If it is actually unlike the others, then we may be looking at an RX-series camera with a fixed zoom lens. A replacement for the Sony RX1 has been mentioned before, so it may well be a version with a bigger-than-full-frame sensor.

On the other hand, we cannot rule out the possibility of a Sony camera with a new lens mount aimed at professional photographers.

Still, we have to remember that this is just a rumor and that the information may not be entirely accurate. A pinch of salt is helpful in this situation so we should wait for more details.