Pentax announcemed the new K-5 (Click here) wich uses the same Sony A55 sensor. And that is a camera we would love to see from Sony!

Here the specs:
– New CMOS sensor with integrated A/D converter and 16.3 MP (4928 x 3264)
– Noise reduction configurable per ISO
– New prime II four channel processing (but I believe K-7 had prime II too)
– 7.0 fps
– New SAFOX IX+ 11 point autofocus with higher light sensitivity (larger light intake). “Complete rehaul and faster and more accurate”.
– ISO 80 to 51.200 (standard is 100 to 12.800)
– Sensor position is adjustable in order to tune to lens (whatever this means, I will clarify)
– Full HD video with 1920×1080 25fps.
– HDR with image alignment and adjustable equalizing parameter
– Golden rule grid and scale grid in LV
– 650g or 670g body only w/o batteries
– German list price body only €1.459,- which includes 19% VAT.

Sony hurry! You can’t sit down and see your competiton making money with cameras that are using your sensor (Like the Pentax K-5 (Click here) and Nikon D7000 (Click here)!)

German video about the new SLR Magic Lens 35mm f/1.7 for Sony NEX ([shoplink 3514]Click here to see current SLRMAGIC lens auctions on eBay[/shoplink])

The Sony A55 is claimbing the japanese DSLR sales rankings! Take a look here: http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0008.html

Sony A55: prueba de campo by Quesabesde (Click here to read the google english translation)

Pentax K-5 images and specs lekaed. It uses the same A55 sensor! (k-rumors)

Kevin Barret had the unique chance to interview the Sony SLT development team. You can read the post at Photoclubalpha (Click here)!

Some interesting notes:

– “It’s not impossible to include Manual Exposure control for video, however we chose not to include it in these models because of some basic limitations to Aperture and Shutter speed adjustment when any camera is recording video. Specifically, there is a limit to the range of shutter speeds that are appropriate for 30P capture – practically, it can’t be much longer than 1/60 sec or much shorter than 1/250 – so we chose not to include Shutter priority. There’s much more creative freedom in Aperture Priority, which the cameras do provide. However, Phase Detect AF has certain minimum aperture requirements (typically f/5.6), so Aperture Priority defaults to Manual AF to allow a wide range of aperture adjustment.”

– Because phase detect AF relies on a fairly wide max aperture (in all DSLRs), these cameras’ exposure control system defaults to the lens’ max aperture during video recording with AF. We understand that this might be a challenge when using very wide aperture lenses under very bright conditions, but the typical use of these models will be variable aperture zoom lenses.

-The sensor outputs 30P and the data is recorded in 1920×1080 60i so as to be compatible with the AVCHD codec. However, 30P recording in MP4 is available as well. The max data rate of 24Mbps (theoretical limit of AVCHD) is not offered, as these models are primarily still cameras.

Good and bad news folks! Schneider Kreuznach just announced two new Tilt-Shift-Lenses for Sony! The bad news is the price :(

• PC-TS Super-Angulon 2,8 / 50 mm HM
  with connections for Canon EOS, Nikon, Sony Alpha, Pentax K
  Price about € 2,800.00
• PC-TS Makro-Symmar 4,0/90 mm HM
  with connections for Canon EOS, Nikon, Sony Alpha, Pentax K
  Price about € 2,700.00

Source: Photoscala

The new Nikon D7000 (Click here) uses the same Sony A55 sensor! It would be nice to have an image comparison between the two cameras. Contact me a line if you find it somewhere!

UPDATE: That’s what dpreview wrote: “All of these pixels are packed onto a newly developed CMOS sensor, which is almost certainly the same or very similar to that in the Sony Alpha SLT-A55.”

Also the Pentax K-r (Click here) uses a Sony sensor. Pentax dropped the Samsung sensor in favour of Sony!

I can see a bright future for Sony sensors and you? Now let’s hope Sony will bring some new semi-pro and pro camera!

Sony A55 10 fps demonstration

Sony A55: A Further Evaluation by Luminous Landscape

Sony A390 Review at Photographyblog

Image samples taken new lenses: SAL 35mm 1.8 & 85mm f/2.8 look here: http://forum.sony.pl/viewtopic.php?p=145298#p145298 (Thanks “Kris” for the link)

Sony A33 image samples at Fotofm.ch