If the amazing Sony A7S III doesn't pack quite enough power for you, then you'll be excited to hear that a Sony A9S with Canon EOS R5-trumping 8K powers is potentially in the works, according to the latest rumors.
The rumors started with a post from Photo Rumors, which claimed that a "top of the line" camera that can shoot 8K video thanks to a newly developed sensor could be launching in the first quarter of 2021.
But now the usually reliable Sony Alpha Rumors has given the rumors further credence, thanks to a source which it says also provided correct Sony A7S III specs in the run-up to that camera's launch. According to the site, Sony is preparing to launch a "new high-end camera in Q1 2021" that will shoot 8K/30p video "with no overheating".
The rumors' source has also claimed that the incoming powerhouse will have a 50MP sensor and offer similar specs to the A7S III, including the same electronic viewfinder and autofocus system.
- Read our in-depth Sony A7S III review
- These are the best cameras in the world right now
- Or check out our comprehensive Sony Alpha A9 II review
Naturally, the rumored flagship is likely to be a Sony A9-series camera, possibly called either the Sony A9S, according to the speculation. This apparently means the price tag will be around $1,500 north of the Canon EOS R5, putting it somewhere in the $4,999-$5,499 bracket (around £4,300 / AU$7,800). Although the Photo Rumors source thinks it will be even higher at around $5,999 (around £4,715 / AU$8,530).
Even with a heat dissipation system like the one seen in the Sony A7S III, though, the rumored Sony A9S will apparently still have some 8K limitations. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, it will be an "infant 8K mode" that won't offer 8K/60p and will have some quality restrictions when recording internally, rather than to an external recorder.
Magic 8K ball
So what can we take from these rumors? While they're certainly very early and should be treated with caution, they do apparently come from a reliable source, according to Sony Alpha Rumors. And the concept could certainly make sense with the Tokyo Olympics (tentatively) scheduled for July 2021.
Of course, the Sony A9 II already exists for sports shooters and only came out in October 2019, so it's hard to see how the rumored camera would be a Sony A9 III.
Instead, it'd make more sense for a video-focused A9S flagship to sit alongside the Sony A9 II as an extremely high-end option for filmmakers and videographers. The Sony A7S III is the best 4K camera around right now, but the Olympic games often see the arrival of landmark camera tech, so it's not impossible that Sony could be preparing an 8K mirrorless model to arrive in early 2021.
Despite its lofty 8K video specs, the Canon EOS R5 remains one of our favorite mirrorless cameras for stills photography. But we're certainly excited to hear more about a possible Sony A9S, particularly if it does indeed include improved next-gen heat dissipation and autofocus powers.
- These are the best full-frame cameras in the world right now
