New A99 and NEX-6 readers mail and links and unboxing roundup!


“BLOODY HELL 2” – Sony a99 Review – Does it Suck?

 

I am getting many emails from SAR readers getting their NEX-6 and A99 cameras. I wish you all a nice unboxing experience :) Here is a roundup of links I got from them:

A99:
Our friend Dulaney sent us this text: “The cover article in November’s issue of Popular Photography is titled, on the cover: “The Future of Camera Tech?: Hands-On Report: Sony’s New Alpha 99.” It is entirely unusual for a “hands-on report,” as opposed to a full review, to get cover treatment like this–especially when an important camera like the Canon 1DX is fully reviewed in the same issue. And Po Photo writes about the A99: “We think it is going to change the landscape for mid-priced camera bodies.” Some image samples can be seen at popphoto.com. A99 unboxing by Davide on Flickr and by Roderick at Rodkar. You even get a free T-shirt with the A99 (see facebook). In Stock now at Jessops.

NEX-6 and lenses:
A first surprise was that for a short moment Sonystore Canada had the NEX-6 with ancake zoom kit lens in Stock. NEX-6 image samples on Flickr. Unpacking in Amsterdam. NEX-5 vs NEX-6 AF comparison on youtube. Sony E 10-18mm f / 4 OSS, E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E 35mm f/1.8 OSS & E 30mm f/3.5 Macro – sample photos at Fotopolis. In Stock in UK at [shoplink 14970 ebay]Cardiffcenter eBay[/shoplink] (and [shoplink 14971 ebay]here with kit lens[/shoplink] -> via Slidoo.com).

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A99 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
A99 with kit lens links Alphacameradeals.
RX1 Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 body Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK, Wex Germany Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
NEX-6 with kit lens Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex Uk ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.

51% of the readers would buy a Full Frame mirrorless camera. Share the features you wish.

Two weeks ago I asked SAR readers what kind of camera Sony should do as next. With an overwhelming 51% (and 4,055 Votes) most of you chose the Full Frame NEX alike mirrorless camera. On second place (30%) we had the  sub $2000 A95 FF SLT and on third place the NEX-7n (Full results can be seen here). As I told you a couple of times before Sony is indeed working on a FF NEX-7 alike camera (hope to get some more details soon).

But now we have to talk about the features of such a FF mirrorless camera. I would like to hear from you the exact specs that such a camera should have to be bought by you. In a few days I will read all your comments and start a new poll where SAR readers can vote the single features.

I am going to put here my short wish-list:
Zeiss Ikon alike design and quality material ([shoplink 14898 ebay]You can see them here on eBay[/shoplink])
Body price 2400-2600 Euro
E-mount with native FF E-mount designed lenses.
Built-in EVF
In Body stabilization > I know this is almost impossible to do but hey…it’s a wish-list! I have the right to dream :)
24 Megapixel sensor
DNG RAW
Weather sealed body
Shutter and ISO controls like the Fuji X-E1.

 

P.S: I am out for work now. Don’t worry if your comments will land on the moderation queue. I will allow them all as soon as I am back!

Sony Tidbits…

Sony NEX-5R review

Time for me to catch up with some news I didn’t post last week. Here is the roundup:
New 1/1.7 inch sensor press text at Sony.
Photoscala (translation here) met the Italian designer that made the Hasselblad Lunar.
Engagdet posted a short review of the new Action camera.
Sony Action Cam HD Slow Mo test: Shirtless dude gets hit with paintballs (Sony Blog).
A99 at Ctec.
What to do with an “old” broken A900 camera (Sonolta).
Matteo: “Sony NEX video with the  SmartSlider Pro 560 on youtube.”
New A77 test at stealthmodephoto.
Best Underwater Compact Camera roundup at Backscatter (There is the RX100)

NEX-5R Reminder:
The Sony NEX-5R body and different bundles are in Stock at Adorama (Click here). Also Amazon US (Click here) is shipping the first preorders although they are not in Stock if you buy it now. And the camera is now in the top 10 of the most sold mirrorless camera (click here to see the ranking). Plenty of cameras are also in Stock on eBay at [shoplink 14846 ebay]ElectroElectro[/shoplink] and [shoplink 14847 ebay]Beachcamera[/shoplink].
The camera is in Stock at Amazon Germany and on top of the mirrorless ranking (Click here to see). Also in Stock at Amazon UK, Jessops and Amazon FR but not selling as well as in Germany for now.

 

Sony closes DSLR lens factory!

Engadget reports that “Sony will close its Minokamo site, which currently produces camera lenses for DSLRs and smartphones, with production being moved to factories in Kohida and Kisarazu, 840 staff will lose their jobs.”

What I don’t know yet is if this will influence and reduce the lens production capability. The latest I heard from my trusted sources was that Sony was trying to find third party companies capable of producing more of their E-mount lenses. An example: Sony still has some issues to produce more of the superb Zeiss 24mm lenses. Amazon, the largest online store of the world has only two of them in Stock (Click here).

Summary: All the new camera and lens firmware update links list…

Here you can find all the link to the new firmwares:

NEX-7 Firmware v1.01
Windows OS  Download 
Mac OS  Download

SLT-a77V Firmware v1.06
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

SLT-a65V Firmware v1.06
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

ST-a57 Firmware v1.03
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

SLT-a37 Firmware v1.03
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

NEX-5R/NEX-6 (lens firmware for SEL24F18Z)
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

NEX-5R/NEX-6 (lens firmware for SEL1855)
Windows OS Download
 Mac OS Download

NEX-5R/NEX-6 (lens firmware for SEL18200)
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download

NEX-5R/NEX-6 (lens firmware for SEL55210)
Windows OS Download
Mac OS Download