SAR readers mails: Bart: “Since today I am the happy owner of the NEX-6 with 16-50 powerzoom. I love the combination, the Phase-AF really speeds things up. One thing I did find out is that like Olympus and Panasonic, Sony also decided to let distortion correction in the lens go and just apply software corrections to fix it. When you take pictures at 16 mm you don’t see the distortion in the viewfinder or afterwards on the camera. But when you import the RAW files into Lightroom you see a huge distortion and high vignetting. Some examples of the difference between the RAW and JPEG files can be found here:http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_message/39181572#39181572 It’s in Dutch but I don’t think that’s a big problem.” Michael: “My blog focuses on the areas where Photography meets Cinematography and it’s called PhotoCine News. I wrote an article about my just finished Sony NEX-7 Video Rig and thought you might be interested in it for your readers. Check it out at: http://photocinenews.com/2012/10/21/the-definitive-sony-nex-7-video-rig/“ Freddy: “I love my Alpha 57 !!! https://vimeo.com/groups/154861/videos/51938444” Vedran: “I would like to share my FB page to Sony users. Text on page is on Croatian, but only thing important on that page are pictures.:) Most of them are taken with Sony A77. Link to FB page: https://www.facebook.com/VedranTolicPhotography. My website is www.vedrantolic.com as you know, but FB page is great because there is a lot interaction.” Aleksey: “Hello! I am a long time constant reader. This summer, I’m using the Sony A77V and Minolta Dimage Z3 filmed timelaps our small town of Penza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYHM_B2xTLI&hd=1” Mattia: “Super Drift Pro Challenge 2012 shot on the NEX with M-mount lenses on youtube.”
Markus: “Just wanted to share some pictures from my Nex-7 and SLR Magic Hyperprime F0.95.I just love this lens and its growing on me every day I shoot:D http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrosth/“
You keep sending me your links to unboxing videos, reviews and stores having the A99 or NEX-6 in Stock. And here is the roundup of all I got the lats few hours:
A99:
I missed tonight’s first in Stock warning at BHphoto -> I was kindly sleeping and dreaming after a long day of work :) In Europe the A99 is right now in Stock at [shoplink 14986 ebay]APS Germany[/shoplink], [shoplink 14987 ebay]Heidi Germany[/shoplink], [shoplink 14988 ebay]Foto Erre Italy[/shoplink], [shoplink 14989 ebay]CameraCentre UK[/shoplink] and Jessops UK. European Sonystores ship the cameras in 2-3 weeks time: DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH (Click on country id to see the A99 page).
A900 vs A99 vs A77 image quality comparison at Sonysdf (translation here). Unboxing the A99 (vimeo). Unboxing the Sony HVL-F60M Flash (youtube).
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).
Chipworks (Click here) published a must read article with the title: “Nikon vs Sony“. They analyzed the sensor-relationship between the two camera makers. I hope people will now believe me when I say the Nikon D800 uses a Sony sensor. Of course Nikon may have tweaked the image quality with their Expeed processor and other tech details. But the RAW sensor is from Sony. As I told you before a new Sony FF SLT camera is expected to be launched in 2013. There are two prototypes now. One with 36MP (same D800s ensor) and one with 50+ MP sensor.
More A99 versus Nikon FF comparisons:
A99 versus Nikon D800 on dpreview forum. Another Nikon vs A99 comparison in China (actually very interesting). And Quesabesde updated their Nikon D600 and A99 comparison. The Nikon D600 still is a tiny bit sharper.
If you want to see a great work shot on the new Sony A99 than watch this! And there are two more backstage videos: First a video portrait of David McLain on Vimeo and than a Back Stage video again on Vimeo. Really a great work that shows you the huge potential of this camera. I don’t see any banding or any other issue on this videoclip. Colors and Dynamic Range are great. Of course we are looking at a compressed video on Vimeo and this doens’t show the maximum potential of the camera. On paper this camera beats any other FF camera when it comes to video quality and features. What do you think of the quality of this video?
[/shoplink]
You can now find first A99 camera for sale on [shoplink 14165 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. And to be more precise four are now for sale on [shoplink 14934 ebay]Cameracenter eBay UK (Click here)[/shoplink]. And first SAR and Dyxum readers are receiving their preorders from the European Sony store. Click on the country id to visit the A99 page: Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH. Our US readers will probably get the camera soon too. According ot BHphoto (Click here) the camera will ship from tomorrow!
And here are some more new tidbits about the new Sony cameras:
The Chinese website ZOL (translation here) posted a 14 page long A99 review.
A new wedding vidoe also shot on the A99 (vimeo).
A dutch NEX-6 preview on youtube.
NEX-5R test on Mobile01.