Lenstip (Click here) tested the Sony 18-55mm E-mount lens for NEX cameras: “There are categories in which the Sony E 18–55 f/3.5–5.6 OSS fares really well – very good resolution in the frame centre, a decent stabilization level or good control of the coma. An accurate autofocus is hardly the advantage of a lens used on cameras with contrast detection system but nevertheless it is a valuable merit of the system as a whole. The list of the tested lens’s flaws is regrettably quite long too. In some categories its results can be only called a spectacular slip-up. We think here mainly about the weak work against bright light and the high level of chromatic aberration. Also the frame edge resolution leaves a lot to be desired, especially if we intend to use the maximum relative aperture at both ends of focal lengths range. The distortion might be quite bothersome and also you must mention the level of vignetting at wide angle.”
Click those links to check the 18-55mm lens price at [shopcountry 2996].

Photozone.de (Click here) tested the new Sony 85mm f/2.8 fullframe lens. They tested the lens on the Sony A700: “The Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM ( SAL-85F28 ) is an impressive lens when used on APS-C DSLRs – at least with respect to its optical capabilities. The lens is extremely sharp across the frame from f/2.8 to f/8. Diffraction is a limiting factor beyond. Lateral CAs are quite low which adds to the subjective quality perception. The lens produces only a very slight amount of pincushion distortion. Thanks to its full-format design there’s almost no vignetting to speak of on APS-C DSLRs even at max. aperture. The quality of the bokeh is good. LoCAs/Bokeh fringing can be visible at f/2.8 and the issues dissolves gradually when stopping down. A weakness is a tendency towards purple fringing at max. aperture.”
Click those links to check the 85mm lens price at [shopcountry 5979].

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Photozone is a well known lens review website but from time to time he tests camera too. Today they published their 9 page long Sony A33 review (Click here). The camera gets recommended by the reviewers: “The 14.2 megapixel sensor delivers a remarkable image quality at lower ISO sensitivities and the articulating display leaves nothing to be desired – the same applies of course to the good electronic viewfinder. Apart from the more conventional feature set the Sony SLT-A33 offers lot’s of more or less useful options from smile detection over panorama to a HDR functionality. Despite its very small size the camera handling is excellent. Subjectively we didn’t really like the camera’s finish due to the amount of plastics but objectively it did the job during the tests and that’s where it counts after all.”

You can check price and availability of the A33 clicking those direct links: [shopcountry 3620].

Image courtesy: Kurtmunger.com

Kurtmunger (Click here) tested the Tamron SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens on the Sony A700 and A900: “Build quality is not great like the Sony, and the slot/screw drive focusing system is slow, but pretty accurate.  Unfortunately, there are no focus hold or focus limiter buttons to help out, that’s the down side.  On the up side, the lens performs very well optically, with relatively low distortion, good control of both axial and lateral color fringing, although color fringing is noticeable along the sides at the short end to about 135mm.”

For comparison: You can also read the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 review at Kurtmunger and Photozone.

The Tamron lens costs $769 at BHphoto (Click here)
The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 SSM Lens is just a little bit more expensive….$1,799.00 (!) at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

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Sigma recently introduced a new [shoplink 5600]85mm f/1.4 HSM lens[/shoplink] for Sony. The question now is: How does the Sigma compare with the $450 more expensive [shoplink 5601]Sony Zeiss 85mm f/1.4[/shoplink]? You can find the very first comparison at Dpreview forum here and here. So what do you think?

You can preorder the Sigma lens at [shopcountry 5600]
Check the price and availability of the Sony/Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 at [shopcountry 5601]

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Our friend Kurt Munger just posted the new Sony Zeiss 24mm f/2.0 review (Click here to read the full review): “The Sony Carl Zeiss 24mm F/2 lens is expensive, but is it worth the price? As I explained above, it has some really good qualities, and a few flaws for a very expensive lens, it all depends on what’s important to you. Based on some preliminary tests, I’d say if you own the [shoplink 3034]CZ 16-35mm[/shoplink] and/or [shoplink 4835]CZ 24-70mm[/shoplink], and won’t need F/2, then you probably won’t benefit from the CZ 24mm[/shoplink]. However, F/2 is a whole stop faster than F/2.8, that’s a big part of the additional expense, and very important when doing hand-held shooting in low light.”

Check the current Zeiss 24mm price at [shopcountry 3037] (Click shopnames to visit the direct product page).

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I can imagine that some of our readers do own Canon lenses they would love to use on their NEX cameras. Until today you had no way to control the aperture of the Canon lenses using the currently available adapters. Kipon now provides a solution for your problem. they made an [shoplink 5561]EOS to NEX adapter[/shoplink] with built-in aperture control! You can find a review including image samples at the japanese website DC.watch (Click here). They tested the 50mm f/1.4 USM and 24-70mm f/2.8 Canon lenses.
If you have “Canon-friends” you might mention them the adapter to help them to buy a into the NEX system ;)

Check out current Kipon adapter auctions at [shoplink 5559]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].