The NYC (Click here) interviewed Howard Stringer CEO of Sony: “Two of the company’s sites in that area, a Blu-ray disc factory and a research and development lab, were badly damaged by flooding; about 1,100 employees were trapped on upper floors. Eight more factories, dedicated to making things like lithium-ion batteries and semiconductor lasers, were also thrown off line, in some cases because of direct damage from the natural disasters, in most cases because of electric failures.”

In an official press release Sony Japan announced that they are slowly reopening their plants. The major problem right now is the power supply which has to be reestablished in a few plants.

Press release:

“JTec announces the introduction of three precision machined components for the Sony NEX-5.

First, and foremost, is a cold shoe adapter for mounting an optical viewfinder of your choice. Now, you can use your favorite prime lens (with appropriate adapter) and an optical viewfinder, allowing the quick framing required in capturing event or street scenes. No longer do you have to hold the camera at arms length to frame a scene. The camera is at your eye, promoting a steadier and more accurately framed shot. The phrase “f8 and be there” is now a reality with our cold shoe adapter.

In order to take best advantage of the capabilities of the [shoplink 3003]NEX-5[/shoplink], especially the Sweep Panorama mode, JTec is also introducing two ways to to attach the camera to a tripod: a simple camera plate and an L-bracket.

The plate and L-bracket allow the camera to be mounted to any Arca Swiss style tripod head, and makes convenient landscape panoramas possible.

The L-bracket also allows the panorama to be taken in portrait orientation, and gives you the option to tripod mount your camera for taking high quality portraits. Enclosed is a Product Sheet. Full details are available at http://jtec-online.com/.

JTec is dedicated to producing high quality components to enhance your picture-taking experience. Our background in both photography and machining means we can translate real-world needs into superior parts for your use.”

We just learned (via fotointern.ch) that the Tsunami hit the Sony factory in Tagajyo. All 1.200 Sony employees (+100 refugees) managed it to escape on the roof of the building. All people have been saved by Helicopters and nobody was injured.

Tagajyo currenlty produces Blue ray discs. Sony had to close seven factories (none of them is producing cameras or lenses).

As you know Sony halted and evacuated six factories in northeastern Japan: “The company is assessing the impact of power outages and damage to its facilities in the region, which make Blu-ray discs, magnetic heads and batteries.”  A first consequence of the earthquake is that Sony postpone indefinitely the launch of MotorStorm 3 in Japan (Source: Akihabara). Will Sony delay the announcement of the new NEX and camcorders on April4 too? Probably not because those products will be shown at the NAB show Las Vegas on April 4th and they can’t miss that. More likely the production and shipment of the new products will be delayed. If you can find some news about possible delays or productions stops drop me a line at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

What’s more important. We added a donation bar on the top of our website. Feel free to help using that bar ot by donating to any other organization. Thanks!

When using Canon to NEX adapter the EOS lens is set at minimum aperture and there is no way to control the aperture…oh no wait, Conurus just found a new way :)
As you can see from the video above it really works but unfortunately that is not a real solution for now. But I guess they will soon be able to make an adapter that allows the electronic control of EOS lenses. That would be a much better solution compared to the EOS to NEX adapter with built-in aperture control made by Kipon (Click here to read that article on SAR)!

Check out current Kipon adapter auctions at [shoplink 5559 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
See the list of all current EOS to NEX manual adpaters on [shoplink 5932 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The Sony NXcam

According to Engadget Kaz Hirai will very likely become the new CEO of Sony when Howard Stringer will step down in 2013.

Sony NEX DSLR via Leica Visoflex (Sonyalphanex).

Sony CLM-V55 tested at DC.watch (Google english translation).

A700 vs A55 vs A77 size comparison (Dpreview forum)

Transparent Sony A77 Hands-On (Photographyblog).

A SAR reader sent me this with a final question you might can answer:
“The Genoa Municipality Digital city project uses for its multimedia contents Sony gears only (see THE GENOA MUNICIPALITY CHANNEL on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/Genoamunicipality and the webmagazine about the city VIVERE GENOVA, http://www.viveregenova.comune.genova.it). We have two NEX 5 to be used both as photocameras and as videocameras for full HD videos by our young publiscers who learn to become really multimedia journalist, we have two NEX VG10 to be used for more complex videos by our videomakers as the SONY X1R reserved for high quality video productions. The idea of using NEX products allow us to have interchargable lens and accessories as well as to use light but powerfull video instruments with cinematografic capabilities.
Question: We are looking for a solution to allow us to use professional microphones with the NEX 5. is someone able to help us in finding a soloution that “works”? The standard built in microphone represents a limit in the professional use of the NEX as videocamera“

[shoplink 5827 ebay][/shoplink]

The taiwanese company Ownuser (Click here) made a new battery grip for the A33/A55 and the Sony NEX-5 cameras. The grip does offer:
External Shutter release input
External AC power input
Camera shutter release output
tripod mount
use of two Lithium batteries and AA Battery (6A/8A)
IR output (!)

It sound slike a very powerful tool! The IR control looks like an amazing feature! I couldn’t find any price indication. Those are the links you should check:
The battery grip for the A33/A55: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_sa55.html
The battery grip for the Sony NEX: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_snx5.html
You can find battery grips from Ownuser on [shoplink 5827 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. They already are offering battery grips for other Sony cameras.