Sony plans to discontinue its full-frame Alpha 850 DSLR this summer and has already stopped making its Alpha 290 and 390 DSLRs, less than a year since they were announced.

Amateur Photographer (AP) has learnt that the Alpha 850, a full-frame DSLR announced in August 2009, will be ?slowly phased out?.

AP understands that Sony plans to halt production of the Alpha 850 (pictured) in July or August because the 24.6MP camera is too similar in specification and price to the flagship Alpha 900 model.

The Alpha 850 carries an advertised price of £2,239 on Sony?s website, while the Alpha 900 costs £2,549.

Meanwhile, Sony has confirmed that the 14.2-million-pixel Alpha 290 and 390 – entry-level DSLRs announced last June – will be ?phased out? and are no longer being made.

The news comes as Sony today unveils its new NEX-C3 and Alpha 35 cameras.

Sony Alpha 850