What would you guys want in a new version of the Sony a77?

Well, I’d personally prefer if the a78 retained the iISO hot shoe of a77. The MIS shoe on the a99, NEX6, RX series is a complete failure. Sony just lost all third party support for accessory speedlights and smart radio slaves. The new shoe is not a standard interface and no third parties are stepping up. Sony killed the Minolta flash system. Current offerings are a joke. New shoe creates ½ second delay for wireless IR triggering. The only slaves that fit are dumb slaves with tech from 1980. It’s ridiculous what they’ve done.

The a78 will probably be completely mirrorless, without SLT like a77. Or at least I expect it to have a removable mirror. Surely it will have improved EVF. But Sony should take full advantage of EVF and provide for much longer nose and eye relief. No need to make these new cams look like traditional SLRs. The viewfinder should be huge, like medium format size. EVF can do that. And it would be readily apparent advantage to any prospective customer who viewed through.

I’m sure the a78 will leverage a higher MP version of the current a58 sensor, which is quite nice. We should expect improvements. But the current camera is quite capable with current sensor. People pixel peep on monitors too much. They’d find that the noise ghost is just a myth when it comes to actually printing photos.

I’d like to see option for multiple RAW format resolutions. Don’t always need highest MP. And that would greatly speed editing time for client needs. Would also like to see classic formats offered for native 4×5, 8×10, 20×30 sizing… like M4/3’rds. EVF could handle that nicely, cropping in viewfinder.

The 7 series is a professional unit. It should have tethering solution like the a700 does. A shame that a77 never got it. Pros need tethering. Otherwise how will I mount cam into birdhouse or car bumper and control it? We’ve been asking Sony for years. No answer.

The biggest thing I’d like for any new Sony is for them to fire their entire design staff and rehire the geniuses who made up The Mind of Minolta. Sony is primarily concerned with videographers. Minolta was the most innovative company for stills togs.