(UPDATED) New A77II tests show clear improvement over the previous A77 camera.

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SAR reader ED shared this Sony A77II AF Point Demo video. If you are (or will be) a A77II owner you might be interested to learn the new AF features.

Meantime Imaging Resource added the A77II test images to their comparometer. And this is the improvement over the previous A77 camera:

You can clearly see how the new Bionz X processor handles the noise in a better way.

UPDATE: WhatDigitalCamera (Click here) posted the full A77II review and the camera earned the Gold Award:

On the whole, with the Alpha 77 Mark II Sony has brought a host of advanced functionality to a consumer DSLT and as such is well worthy of consideration.

The camera will ship in 4 days from now according to Amazon US. Here are the full preorder links:

Sony A77 body in USA at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Sony Store (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sony A77 with 16-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Sony Store (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sony A77 body in Europe at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, PT, NO, SE, FI and Wex UK.
Sony A77 in Asia at Digitalrev and Sony Australia.

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Photokina agency debunks some myths: Premium Digital Camera Msrket is increasing.

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The last couple of years we heard a lot about the digital camera market being in crisis and the new mirrorless system cameras not taking off. Well, the Photokina partner agency GFK shared some unexpected data (Source: MirrorlessRumors):

1) Revenue increasing:
While it’s true that in terms of numbers the companies are selling less cameras it’s also true that companies are selling more high profit margin premium cameras! This means the last couple of years average price of the cameras increased (and therefore also the profit margins increased).


2) Mirrorless is taking off (slowly).
While Mirrorless keeps being not popular in US it’s taking off in all the rest of the world.

3) Premium fixed lens camera is growing fast
Sony certainly did the right thing with the RX line. They offered a premium and class leading range of fixed lens camera that are to-day unmatched by other companies.

The current trend in the market goes in favour of Sony that leads the probably two fastest growing segments in the digital camera market: Mirrorless and premium compacts. And as an addendum watch this nice graph that explains why smartphone users actually buy a larger sensor camera:

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New low price for the Sony A7r in Europe!

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You remember the time one year ago when you were dreaming to get a 36 Megapixel camera for less than 2000 Euro? Well this is a reality by now. And as you can see from the graph on top the price for the Sony A7r in Germany (and generally in Europe) fell quite a lot recently! The A7r sells for 1739 Euro only at Redcoon Germany (Click here). and 1599£ at WexUK (Click here). You can find even cheaper A7r sold by UK sellers like [shoplink 27073 ebay]here (1576 Euro)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 27072 ebay]here (1694 Euro)[/shoplink].

For that price it’s a real bargain!

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Up to $200 off on Sigma A and E-mount lenses.

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You get up to $200 off on Sigma A and E-mount lenses at Amazon (Click here to see the full list). There are some great lenses included in the rebates like the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO you see here on top. Too bad the list doens’t include the superb new 50mm ART lens. But that would be asking too much :)

These are the other great Sony/Zeiss deals:

Touit crazy deals:
S$800 off(!!!) on the Sony E-mount double Touit lens kit at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
The 12mm f/2.8 Touit now sells for $799 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
The 32mm f/1.8 Touit now sells for $520 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

A6000 and other mirrorless cameras:
$50 off on all Sony A6000 kits at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sony US store.
$50 off on all Sony A3000 kits at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sony US store.
$50 off on all Sony A5000 kits at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sony US store.
Buy the Sony A7R Interchangeable Lens Camera and Save on Select Lenses and Accessories at Amazon US.
Save up to $200 on Sony A7 Interchangeable Lens Cameras at Amazon US.
Save up to $300 on Select Sony Lenses with a Qualifying Sony Compact System Camera Purchase at Amazon US.

E-mount lenses:
$200 off on the 24mm Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$100 off on the 18-200mm OSS at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$100 off on the 18-200mm OSS PZ at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$100 off on the 10-18mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$50 off on the 16-50mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$50 off on the 35mm f/1.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.
$25 off Sony 30mm f/3.5 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Sonystore.

A-mount lenses:
$50 off on the 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 16-35mm f/2.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$50 off on the 16-50mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$50 off on the 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 DT at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 24mm f/2.0 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 24-70mm f/2.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$25 off on the 30mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 35mm f/1.4 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$25 off on the 35mm f/1.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$25 off on the 50mm f/2.8 macro at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G II at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$25 off on the 85mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$50 off on the 100mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 135mm f/1.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 135mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.
$100 off on the 300mm f/2.8 G II at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and SonyStore.

A-mount cameras:
Save up to $500 on Sony Alpha A99 Digital SLR Bundled Purchase at Amazon US.
Buy a Qualifying Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera and Save up to $250 on Select Sony lenses at Amazon US.
Save up to $300 on Select Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras at Amazon US.

RX100/m2 and compact cameras:
Free 32 GB Memory Card with Sony RX100M2 Digital Camera Purchase at Amazon US.
Save up to $100 on Select Sony Digital Cameras at Amazon US.

QX and Action cameras:
Free Case and Memory Card with Sony QX Lens-Style Cameras at Amazon US.
Save up to $50 on Select Sony Action Video Cameras at Amazon US.
Save $50 on the Sony RMLVR1 WiFi Remote with Sony Action Video Camera Purchase at Amazon US.

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(SR5) There is no plan to make an FZ mount DLSR looking 4K camera yet.

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This will not be a surprise for anyone here: I got word from a highly trusted source that the FZ-mount 4K camera prototype we saw at NABshow 2013 will definitely not be realized. 4K is going to be added on more future cameras of the E and (likely) A-mount line.

P.S.: The rumor is ranked as SR5 as this is the same source that unveiled me 1 month ago an A7 with 4K camera was in the works (I didn’t post the rumor at that time because it was a new source and I didn’t manage to double-check the rumor at that time).

Note: Also on that Interview with Sony they confirm this FZ mount 4K camera has been made only to get some feedback:

NAB 2014: News Shooter – Sony A7s from Teradek on Vimeo.

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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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Europe: Sony A7s and RX100M3 preorder links now back working

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A couple of SAR readers told me that for a day or so some of the Sony Europe store preorder links for the A7s didn’t work. Well now they are again back and working! Here are the full links (Just click on the country code):

Sony A7s EU pages: Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PL. And Wex UK.
RX100M3 preorders in Eu at Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PT. And Wex UK,

 

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