Ok ok, we all read the positive reviews written by the usual big photogrpahy websites. But what do real photographers think about the camera? Here are three links you have to check out:

Duncan Davidson (Click here) posted a superb review of the Sony RX1: “Put another way, there has not a single time that I’ve been out and about with only my RX1 and regretted not having my big SLR with me. That’s pretty much a first for me. Even though the X100 came close, it never quite met that standard. I can tell you that my RX1 going to spend a lot of time in my bag or on a strap while I continue to travel around the world in 2013.”

Magnum Photographer John Vink (Click here) is using the RX1 too. His only comment for now is: “The AF definitely needs to be much more snappier.” LOL :)  But you can see some great pics from John on his webesite here (monochrome) and here (color).

Peter Adam (Click here) posted a very detailed review and says about the RX1: “The lens surprised me–I thought it would be more of a limiting factor than it was, but came to appreciate its versatility. Would I love it if this camera had removable/changeable lenses? Of course, I would. However, I have to admit, the 35mm f/2 worked great for 90% of the photos I wanted to take.”

Two more great reviews can be read at Minimallyminimal and in German at Digitalkamera.

Take your time to read them all because these are very good articles. The RX1 rocks and it is hard to resist the temptation to buy it when you have to wait at least one year until we can grab the interchangeable NEX version :(

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RX1 links roundup:
RX1 at [shopcountry 15824].
RX1 Gariz accessories:
1) They made a new half leather case in Black and Brown ([shoplink 16437 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
2) The new lens cap ([shoplink 16439 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
3) The new entry is the anti loose button(!) ([shoplink 16438 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). Don’t know if that will be really useful for you RX1 owners. Someone has it and call it how it works? Thanks!
4) And this is the really first time I see that. A special Leather skin hood! ([shoplink 16441 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).

Some of you still think SAR is a place for fanboys but it isn’t. It old you two days ago that the new Sony announced stuff didn’t get any sensible amount of preorders at Amazon US. None of the newly announced cameras or lens made it into the top 100 of the Amazon mirrorless (Click here), DSRL (Click here) and Lens (Click here) rankings. SO let’s take a look at two critics I found on the web that may explain what may be the problem:

ThePhoBlographer tested the new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens and writes: “So far, I was pretty impressed with that the lens had to offer, but not for the $1,498.00 asking price. Then again, I have yet to test it out on a camera. I absolutely loved the A99 when we reviewed it, and this 50mm should be able to take full advantage of its 24MP sensor.”

Carl Garrard shared his thoughts about the A58 at Alphamountworld: “Sure the A58 is a perfectly decent camera, and I’m sure for its price it’s quite a bargain. There’s no denying that. However I think Sony should have called the A58 a different name, because it is not a true upgrade overall for the A57. Sony had a really good thing going with that camera at that level. And instead of capitalizing on it by improving it, they let another fish go back to the sea gambling on a lower cost cut down model to supersede it. Unless there’s an A60 coming this year (doubtful) as a real successor and overall improvement to the A57 at that price point, I think Sony have made a grave error here which begs the question: Who is making these decisions at Sony?”

I want to hear your opinion in that. Is the Zeiss overpriced? Is the A58 wrongfully placed within the SLT range?

Something else: One of our readers spotted the new Pink(!) NEX-3n in Hong Kong. As you know pink camera sell pretty well in Asia.

US preorders:
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM A-mount lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via AlphaCameraDeals).
Sony SLT-A58 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Black Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Silver Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
DT 18-55mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sony 70-400mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Sony HVL-F20 Flash at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony HX300 at Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Black at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Orange at Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Pink at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 Black at Adorama (White!), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 RED at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 White at BHphoto (Click here).

And here are the European preorder links:
The Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM can now be preordered at Wex UK.
The NEX-3n can now be preordered at Sony DE, Amazon DE, Sony UK, Wex DE, Wex UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony SE.
The A58 can now be preordered at Amazon DE, Wex DE, Wex UK.

There is a new RX1 review at Imaging Resource and once again the reviewer is amazed by the camera: “an almost-pocketable camera that delivers stellar hi-res images. The RX1 is the ultimate everyday street shooter or second camera for serious enthusiasts, pros (and trendsetters) alike, but its high price means it’s not for everybody.”

More RX1 bits: Test at Invisiblephotographer and Cnet Asia. Can a Sony RX1 Truly Replace Your DSLR? (Digitalcamerainfo). RX1 and RX100 thoughts at Engadget. RX1 GRIP video on youtube.

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RX1 links roundup:
RX1 at [shopcountry 15824].
RX1 Gariz accessories:
1) They made a new half leather case in Black and Brown ([shoplink 16437 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
2) The new lens cap ([shoplink 16439 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
3) The new entry is the anti loose button(!) ([shoplink 16438 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). Don’t know if that will be really useful for you RX1 owners. Someone has it and call it how it works? Thanks!
4) And this is the really first time I see that. A special Leather skin hood! ([shoplink 16441 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).

A58 vs A57 and A37 size comparison by AlphaCorner (Thanks!).

If you want to see more images about the A58:

SLRclub published a new A58 vs A57 image comparison. Another comaprison using the same 100mm Sigma macro lens (Click here).

They also published the first 18-55 SAM vs 18-55 SAM2 comaprison (Click here). The author said that there is no big difference between the two lenses and that he only found a small image qaulity improvement on the mid range (around 35mm).

As a reminder, tomorrow at 8am New York Time all mjor online stores will accept preorders on the new Sony stuff!

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DxOmark (Click here) published the RX1 Zeiss lens performance test. And they write: ” Its optical performance is outstanding, and particularly noteworthy for its consistent sharpness and homogenous imaging across the frame. With excellent image quality at maximum aperture becoming outstanding at f/2.8 and on, the Zeiss Sonnar T* 2/35 is likely to become a classic, against which all others are judged. Of course the lens can only be obtained with the purchase of the RX1, a camera that is not entirely without its own quirks and shortcomings. In spite of this, if you have the money to invest, then close to perfect imagery is assured.”

And for all these people that do think the RX1 is too expensive read this: “With a high overall DxOMark score of 33, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* is a superb performer optically. That score puts it comfortably ahead of the $1,850 manual focus Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1.4/35 (35mm f/1.4) on a Nikon D3X, which achieved a DxOMark score of 30.””

Now, I want that lens to be made for the future NEX FF system. I know it will be a tiny bit bigger and not have that nice leaf shutter. But I want it anyway :)

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RX1 links roundup:
RX1 at [shopcountry 15824].
RX1 Gariz accessories:
1) They made a new half leather case in Black and Brown ([shoplink 16437 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
2) The new lens cap ([shoplink 16439 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
3) The new entry is the anti loose button(!) ([shoplink 16438 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). Don’t know if that will be really useful for you RX1 owners. Someone has it and call it how it works? Thanks!
4) And this is the really first time I see that. A special Leather skin hood! ([shoplink 16441 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).

This is the very first time we see image samples of the new A58. SLRclub (Click here) posted a comparison between the A58 and the A57 and I have to say results are indeed impressive! The A58 has more resolution, more sharpness and less noise than the A57. Again check these images and see for yourself: http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?id=newproduct_sony&no=9099.

And David K. from Photoclubalpha (Click here) posted his thoughts about the new A58. He explains in easy words what one of the new A58 features is, the “TriLuminos colour gamut“. Nice article!

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Image via DSLRmagazine

Short break from the news coverage on the new cameras to share you the link to the latest Sony RX1 review at Dpreview (Click here). The camera earns the Gold Award and an overalls core of 79%. The main negative is the poor video quality but this camera isn’t made for filmmakers anyway :)

Dpreview writes: “There are plenty of photographers who are likely to appreciate a camera with a fixed prime lens, precisely because it offers something that interchangeable lens cameras don’t – in terms of size and dedication of purpose. So, if what you want or need is a fixed 35mm full frame camera, then the RX1 not only offers you that – it also offers a camera you can really love. And its combination of image quality and size make it one that will allow you to get photos you wouldn’t get with any other camera.”

Photographer and SAR reader Wataru used the RX1 to shot some of his latest portraits and the first nude pics ever taken with the RX1. You can see them at 500px.com (please click only if you are an adult!).

P.S.: I will soon post a new roundup with new RX1 and RX100 reviews and test. Just give me some time to sort out all links and rumors I got in these days! Thanks!

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RX1 links roundup:
RX1 at [shopcountry 15824].
RX1 Gariz accessories:
1) They made a new half leather case in Black and Brown ([shoplink 16437 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
2) The new lens cap ([shoplink 16439 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).
3) The new entry is the anti loose button(!) ([shoplink 16438 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]). Don’t know if that will be really useful for you RX1 owners. Someone has it and call it how it works? Thanks!
4) And this is the really first time I see that. A special Leather skin hood! ([shoplink 16441 ebay]Click here to see them on eBay[/shoplink]).

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]