Japanese electronics giant Sony is reportedly planning to launch a NEX-style full-frame mirrorless camera in late 2013 or late 2014, according to new reports.

Back in September, Sony made some waves in the photography market when it announced a full-frame compact digital model - the Cyber-shot RX1. On the same day, the company also announced its first full-frame HD video camera, the NEX-VG900, marking its third imaging product line packing the 35mm chip.

The Cyber-shot RX1, however, has two notable drawbacks: a hefty $2,800 price tag and its 35mm fixed lens. With the purported new camera, Sony seems to be working on solving the latter issue.

According to Sony Alpha Rumors, Sony's NEX-style interchangeable lens camera has already reached the "final stage of development" in the company's labs, and could see the light of day within one year or so.

Citing unnamed sources, the site claims that Sony's upcoming camera would sport a slightly larger form factor than the NEX-7. The company reportedly has two prototypes currently in testing: one model with a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, and another in the 30/ 32-megapixel range. Sony Alpha Rumors also notes that it expects the camera to be of the E-mount type, but says that it will also support A-mount lenses.

The site further points out that Sony's purported camera will mark the third revolution the company makes in the digital camera industry. The first two revolutions are, obviously, the revival of the Single Lens Translucent (SLT) camera and the introduction of the NEX mirrorless camera.

Sony's NEX cameras have so far been leaders in the sensor-size category, packing APS-C-sized sensors. Meanwhile, Fujifilm seems poised to dive into the full frame mirrorless camera arena as well, throwing in its X-Series line.

According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the company's plans for future full-frame SLT cameras DSLR-style have been put on hold for now. Instead, Sony is focusing its efforts on shaking the camera industry with an FF mirrorless camera that offers all the functions and capabilities of a high-end DSLR.

It remains to be seen whether Sony will actually launch a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera in one year, but the idea doesn't seem so far-fetched. After all, what better manufacturer could take on such a challenge?