While we are still waiting for our new A-mount lenses Sony made a new PL-mount lens with terrific specs! It is a 14x High power zoom for high-end production!
“The SCL-Z18X140 is a new zoom lens for the PMW-F3 Super 35mm CineAlta compact camcorder. It is a 14x high-power zoom lens from 18mm-252mm at T3.8 (Wide). The SCL-Z18X140 has been specifically designed to fit to the PMW-F3 via the camcorder’s own FZ mount, expanding the operational flexibility of the PMW-F3 so it can be used for almost any application. The SCL-Z18X140 is the first zoom lens which you can operate with the zoom rocker of the [shoplink 9726 ebay]PMW-F3[/shoplink].”
Now, I want to see that kind of professional approach on future A-mount cameras and lenses too! Can’t wait to here more about the upcoming A9x!

[shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink] control overview by Steve Huff

Sony Alpha A35 review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Image quality is excellent, and the camera feels great, working as expected with a good number of controls and buttons giving quick access to settings“. The camera gets higly recommended!

35mm versus Arri Alexa, Red MX, EOS 1D und Sony F3 at Johnbrawley.

Sony NEX-C3 review at T3 (Click here): “The NEX-C3 is a very capable camera for anyone trading up from a pocket point and shoot, wanting better pictures and who is not put off by the rather utilitarian body design and the (by comparison) overly large kit zoom threaded onto the front. Though more refinement than revolution, this is a camera that is easy to admire with its steely competency“.

SLR Magic + Sony NEX 5 review at digital-photography-school.

Sony NEX-C3: análisis (Quesbesde).

Arca-Swiss Announces Their “NEX Kit” (Echenique).

Sony World Photography Awards 2012 Honorary Jury Announced (Photoxels).

Our reader “Alper” noticed that Sonystyle Canada displays a new shipment date for the NEX-7. It now says it will ship on November 30 (before it was mid November) and that “this item is backorderable“. Check your Sony store if they will change the shipment date.

A source contacted me to say that “the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink] bodies and kits will be arriving in stock in 3-4 weeks. I clarified that the cameras arriving were not to fill pre-orders and they confirmed this.“. That’s good news! Thanks source ;)

These are the NEX-7 Sonystore links for every country. I didn’t notice any new shipment date changes on all countries but Canada:
[shoplist 8454]

Image Source: Nationalmultimedia

Sony Japan (Click here) latest press release confirms that the flood in Thailand caused the full camera production stop. The NEX-7, the A65 and the new NEX-C3 and NEX-5n double kit packages will no more released on November 11. Sony could not say at this time when the mentioned cameras will be start shipping. The good news here is that that Sony has already plenty of [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink] and [shoplink 8452]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink] stocks. And the lens production is also not affected by the flood.

Here are the links of the new products that will be on sale without any delay:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

After the Tsunami in Japan now we even had the immense flood in Thailand. It is still difficult to get some info about the effects on the Sony camera production but the bad news today is a unique message from Amazon US (Click here to read it on their website). They removed the NEX-7 preorder option and said that: “Due to manufacturing concerns, availability of select Sony products are currently constrained. Some products may be temporarily unavailable from Amazon.com. We’re working hard to offer our customers the product selection they expect, but in the event we don’t have the camera you’re looking for in stock, feel free to check out products from Panasonic, Olympus and Nikon. These sleek new cameras with lens versatility are available today from Amazon.com. See all products“.

As you see not only due they remove the preorder option, they also invite you to buy Micro Four Thirds or Nikon cameras instead! I have a much better suggestion. Get the amazing NEX-5n instead! Click these search links to check the price at [shopcountry 8452]. As you see it is in Stock everywhere! No need to get the Nikon instead ;)

Anyway, I hope to get some reliable news about the NEX-7 shipment delay. But honestly, I fear the worst…which means no NEX-7 for Christmas!

Rob Galbraith got “A note from Sony Canada sent to Canadian dealers today indicates that delivery of the NEX-7, SLT-A77 and SLT-A65 will be delayed because of recent flooding at Sony’s Thailand factories“.

The good news is that we have been told that Sony alredy produced a large amount of A77 and A65 stocks. If you preordere the camera the weeks after the announcement you will very likely receive it with little delay. The A77 is in Stock at  Jessops UK, Pixmania FR, Digitalrev HK, Kameraexpress NL and of course [shoplink 8461 ebay]eBay[/shoplink]. Regarding the NEX-7, Sonystore US (Click here) still says the camera will be “Available on or about 11/09/2011“.

All new Sony cameras and lenses links:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
A65 at [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

[shoplink 8454][/shoplink]

The huge flood that devasted some regions in Thailand caused the production stop of the Sony factory in Ayutthaya. The japanese magazine Pen (via Amateur Photographer) today reports: “The factory has stopped operation since 6 Oct and the company said it will stop operation until 14.” and that “Operation may resume on Oct 17 depending on the situation“.

Reminder: On October 10th Bloomberg said that “Sony Corp.’s factory in Ayutthaya, which produces digital cameras and lenses, hasn’t suffered major damage from flooding and is operating as normal, Yasuhiro Okada, a Tokyo-based spokesman for the electronics maker, said earlier this week.”

Acccoring to info I got from my sources there are still some Stocks of [shoplink 8452]NEX-5n[/shoplink], [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] and [shoplink 8459]A65[/shoplink] cameras that have already been shipped to worldwide dealers. But it’s very likely that the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] shipment will be delayed. I repeat this is an unofficial news based on rumors. I hope to get real “facts” soon.