Sony says: We will keep surprising you in 2014!

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Sony manager MR. Kimio has been interviewed at Dc.watch (google translation here).

1) The first part of the interview is about the current stagnation on the camera market. And he talks about the Xperia Z1 and the QX cameras to be one of Sony’s way to win young people and balance the losses in the compact camera business.
2) Sony will focus on more high-end photographic products.
3) Sony will keep focusing on creating something new and they will “surprise” us.
4) We will definitely NOT stop to produce A-mount cameras.
5) The Sony manager literally says that next year quite some people will say: “What the heck is this?” as soon as they see some of the very innovative new Sony cameras :)

As you know here on SAR we talked a lot about some crazy tech developed by Sony: The new Non-Bayer sensor, the Z-shift sensor cameras, liquid lens tech and so on. What would really surprise you?

Found via Mirrorlessrumors.

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Samyang officially releases the five E-mount Full Frame lenses.

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Samyang Europe officially announced the release of five Full Frame E-mount lenses for your A7-A7r camera. These are great lenses but you have to know that these have been designed for DSRL cameras. It means they are bigger than they could be of Samyang would have designed them specifically for the FF E-mount. So nothing has changed between that E-mount version and the other Canon/Nikon Sony A-mount versions. They only made it fit to E-mount by making a longer tube :)

These are the lenses (no preorder links available yet):

• Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC
• Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC
• Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC
• Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC
• Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC

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Zeiss 55mm FE for the first time in Stock in USA via BHphoto!

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The Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 FE lens is right now in Stock at BHphoto (Click here). This is the first time the lens is in Stock in USA! On the other side Amazon (Click here) removed the preorder option for unkown reasons.

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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.

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Sony press conference on January 6, 2014 (But don’t expect A-mount camera news yet).

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There will be three big shows the first months of 2014. The CES show in January, the CP+ show in February and the NAB Las Vegas show in April. Androidauthority reports that Sony has scheduled a press conference on January 6. But I think the chances are extremely low that Sony will announce any new A-mount camera on that day. From what I heard the timeframe for the next A and E-mount camera announcement is February-April (with 4K A-mount to be shown at NAB in April).

As I told you before we can expect new APS-C and FF A-mount cameras to be released. And so new APS-C E-mount cameras (including the NEX-7 successor). What Sony could announce on January 6 are a couple of compact cameras.

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(part three) Sony A7-A7r legacy lens test from SAR readers (Josselin, Stefan, Ai, Marcus, Tamrong, Teh, Pedro, Kevin, Dierk, Edgar, Phil)

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Sony A7/A7r Making from soulstory on Vimeo.

 

This is the next SAR readers legacy lens roundup. I hope you will find it very useful! Again thanks to all readers for sending their links to their tests. A fourth roundup will be posted soon. Keep sending your tests at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

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Stefan: I tested a bunch of 50mm lenses on my a7r, have a look: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjN5kr12
I shoot mainly food, so this setup is a test for most problems I encounter in my work. I had to use a metabones mk1, because my mk3 stopped working, therefore the EF lenses vignette

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Josselin Cornou:

I had my A7r almost two week ago with Zeiss 35mm f2.8. Models tested so far (By preference):
1. Zeiss 35mm f2.8 (here on Amazon): Sharp at f2.8, autofocus. I have notice that the Zeiss is almost on par with a Sigma 35mm f1.4 @f2.8.
2. [shoplink 23449 ebay]Canon FD 50mm f1.8 (here on eBay)[/shoplink].: Big surprise. Big pros is the resolution (I am impressed to see such achievement for a 40 year old lens ! it easily beats the Minolta 50mm f1.7 wide open). Cons is chromatic aberration. While I noticed it a lot on a x2 crop factor sensor (GH3). On the A7r it’s only noticeable on really bright environment.
3. Samyang 85mm f1.4 (here on Amazon): Sharp, @1.4 actually sharper than the Canon 50mm @1.8. BUT the focus is way too hard to move. I would need to try the cine lens version. I love the image, but focusing make things really slow….
4. [shoplink 23461 ebay]Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Amazing piece of glass for the size (really small wide angle)… It’s a really good glass for travellers. From previous reviews I was expecting a lot of color shifting…. This is not really the case (and you can correct it easily ) ! Cons : it’s soft at f4.5 (way softer than a Samyang 14mm T3.1).
5. [shoplink 23462 ebay]Minolta 50mm f1.7 on LA-EA4 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Focuses quite fast… but the image is really soft wide angle. I used a lot the the Voigtlander 25mm f.95 (GH3) and I found this lens softer wide open (compared to the Voigtlander @f0.95).
Also : [shoplink 21602 ebay]Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Not sharp at f1.2… This lens is not for pixel peepers (Sorry I am used to the Sigma 35mm f1.4)…
This is a first overview.

On the cameras:

Pros :
– Light,
– Sharp image… Legacy lenses react surprisingly well !
– Focuses fast in good light (not as fast as a GH3 with 17mm f1.. I do not do a lot of flash photography but I didn’t noticed a lot of lag with the Canon 430 EX 2
– Haven’t notice any shutter lag.

Cons :
– Using manual lenses of the LA-EA4 I cannot always magnify the files (right after taking a picture (i.e in the next 5-10mins) I may receive a message “cannot magnify”. Not sure if this is due to the fact that this camera is taking time to proxy raw images. Please Sony, fix this !
-(on LA-EA4) : Tamron 28-300mm didn’t focus. I am not sure if this is a defect on the lens.
-(on LA-EA4) : Selection of lenses (at a reasonable price) available is not big. For the price of a Sony-Zeiss lens, it might be better to use a Leica-Zeiss-Voigtlander (leica mount).
I don’t usually use flickr, but I have uploaded a set of RAWs for you : http://www.flickr.com/photos/64670832@N03/sets/72157638313070485/

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Ai: “I know A7R tests are old news now but in case you are planning another roundup I had a go with the A7R and the [shoplink 23463 ebay]Zuiko 24mm f2.8 OM (one Bay)[/shoplink] here: http://xexets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-test-for-cold-a7r-with-zuiko-om-24mm.html”

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Marcus: “Here is my feed with some pictures from the A7 with different Contax lenses.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrosth/with/11233707966”

Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on [shoplink 16235 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16236 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16237 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16238 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16240 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on [shoplink 16241 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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Tamrong:
A7R + [shoplink 21603 ebay]Leica 21mm (one Bay)[/shoplink] super angulon results: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q71/s720x720/1456762_10200205535139324_269880900_n.jpg
picture posted on FullFrame Mirrorless Camera Thailand: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200205535139324&set=gm.457530824357457&type=1&theater

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Teh: “You may want to share with SAR some photos taken with Sony A7 with Konica [shoplink 23464 ebay]Hexanon AR 40/f1.8 (one Bay)[/shoplink] pancake lens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vibranze/tags/sonyilce7/”

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Pedro: “I have posted new Sony A7r tests with Leica 50mm summicron, 35mm Elmarit and 90mm Elmarit vs Nikon D800e with Nikon 50mm f1.8G, 35mm f2D and Nikon 85mm f1.4D on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastingimages/sets”

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Sony A7r + Voigtlander 20mm f/3.5 Color Skopar SL II (Soundimagesplus).

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Kevin:

I’ve got my A7r 4 weeks ago, and I’ve done a thorough Contax G lens test. G21 and G28 has heavy color shift and vignette, even worse than my nex-6 and 5n, so basically useless. G35, G45, G90 are perfect on A7r, except a very minor vignette when wide open. I also tested 2 Voigtlander for Leica M lenses (CV 15 4.5 II and CV 35 1.2 II). Same as above G lenses, CV 15 II has heavy color shift and vignette, useless for A7r. CV 35 1.2 II has minor vignette below F2.0.

I also three old DKL lenses, all perfect on A7r – Schneider 50 F1.9, Schneider 28 F4, and Voigtlander 134 F4. I think DKL lenses are really good cheap manual lenses perfect for A7r, and they are all genuine German lenses with great color and image quality.

Please find all tests at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51092680@N04/sets/72157638081323126/

Best regards,

Kevin Town

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Canon 17mm TS-E tilt/shift, Nikon Macro 85mm tilt/shift, Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm by Dierk Topp.
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Edgar: Not a rumor but a post, using the a7r in the desert with the Canon 24-70 II (edgarcardenas.tumblr.com)

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Review with A7r and ZM C Sonnar 50mm at Jkspepper.

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Phil: Here is the Link to my gallery of HongKong pictures trying out my new Sony A7R with Leica M lenses (Summicron 35, CV 21 f1.8, Summicron 50)…
I love this camera and it works great with my Leica lenses. Pictures processed in LR5.3RC to correct minor color casting and vignetting when required. I use Flat Field DNG plug-in external corrections after creating a generic profile for those lenses (an easy process even forme;-D)

http://philbreyne.smugmug.com/Place/Places

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Part four of the legacy lens test roundup will be posted in a couple of days!

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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.

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