The NEX-7 has been an interesting camera in Sony’s lineup. That is, it’s a camera that does not exist, yet there have been plenty of rumors regarding it and a strong demand for it. Sony currently has the NEX-3 (which is being refreshed shortly) and NEX-5 which is a beefed up NEX-3 with a better body and better sensor with gives the camera 1080 recording over the NEX-3’s 720p. It seems that consumers still want more, a beefier NEX which would be more for the professional. Whether I want this camera aside, this tends to baffle me a tad as the entire point of the NEX lineup has been to offer pro features, yet target the audience who is intimidated by DSLR. If people want something more professional then the NEX-5, why won’t they just consider the Alpha lineup?  Despite that, rumors now have it that the engineers at Sony are basing the NEX-7 on an old Konica Minolta. Those not familiar with the electronics world will note that Sony bought Konica Minolta over 5 years ago.

 When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body. 

Although I firmly believe that there is a NEX-7 somewhere in the labs at Sony, I don’t believe we are close to a public release as Sony is famously horrible at containing leaks and we have yet to see anything, other then rumors on this device. As always, take these rumors with a hint of salt and I personally don’t believe that the form factor will change much from the current NEX lineup. Hit the jump for one more shot of the Konica Minolta A2.

[Via Electronista]