Sony Japan officially launches the PRO support service.

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Sony Japan officially launched the Sony PRO support. The admission fee is 5,000 YEN ($50) and the annual fee 100 Yen ($1). This is what you will receive in exchange:

  • 50% discounts on repairs
  • discount on Image sensor cleaning
  • you will receive rented equipment while your gets repaired
  • discount on product purchase
  • extra information (?)
  • dedicated support

Let me know if you can find the PRO support advertised in other countries! Thanks!

UPDATE: The same service is offered via Sony Hong Kong.

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First feedback on the A7-A7r firmware update improvements.

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A first menu and on/off speed test after the upgrade

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The A7 and A7r firmware update is finally available. Startup time, autofocus and the quality of high ISO JPG images improved. I would greatly appreciate if someone can share an image quality comparison to see the difference. I am at work now and have no time to do a proper testing yet. Anyway, here are a couple of feedbacks from SAR readers:

UPDATE: Here is a video from Jason Perry (Instagram) showing an increased AF performance.

Rowland: “I just updated my a7, it looks like sony did a great job this time. The camera do turn on quicker(not much but quicker is better :P ), and it seems the autofoucs speed is also incresed. And for the image quality, I think the greatest change is high ISO performance, especially form 1600 to 6400, the noise is reduced and maintain more details, and the false color is reduced dramatically.”

Minipixels: “Awesome! Definitely some improvements to AF and start up time but I’m still uncertain where the “image quality improvements” are….has anybody done any in-depth comparisons??”

Roy: “A7r: Startup is now 1 sec..Much faster. AF seems faster now as i tested it with the same lens on the NEX6 and it used to be slower now it’s faster!
NEX6: my 2470Z and 55Z are both now supported byt he camera with OSS (2470) and PDAF. Previously wasn’t.. Overall, it’s an update that actually improved something..Let’s hope Sony keeps this up.”

Arne “Startup time reduced from about 4 seconds to 1. AF in challenging low contrast against backlight seems to be improved too.”

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Firmware download links:

A7R
Mac – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
A7
Mac – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
NEX5R
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia
NEX5T
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia
NEX6
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia

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Sony A7-A7r, NEX-5T/R and NEX-6 firmware announced!!!!

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It’s here! The new Sony firmware has been announced and I kindly ask you to check the most important of the new additions: The Image quality improvement of the A7-A7r cameras. Let’s see if it’s a “real” noticeable improvement! Here are the download links:

A7R
Mac – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia

A7
Mac – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Spain, Sony Italy, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Finland, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Portugal, Sony Australia

NEX5R
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia

NEX5T
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia

NEX6
Mac – Sony US, Sony Australia
Windows – Sony US, Sony Australia

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Thanks Puggs for the links!

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(SR5) Samyang announcement on March 21. Likely first AF lenses to come!

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Samyang launched that teaser image on their Facebook page. A couple of weeks ago I told you that Samyang is ready to launch their first autofocus lenses. And this is likely what athey will announce now! It will be exciting news for Sony too because Samyang is currently the only third party lenses offering APS-C and Full Frame lenses for the A and E-mount cameras (including FE lenses for the new A7-A7r series).

P.S.: Currently Samyang sells their lenses under different brands:
[shoplink 5759 ebay]Samyang[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5755 ebay]Walimex[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5756 ebay]Rokinon[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5757 ebay]Opteka[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5758 ebay]Falcon[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5760 ebay]Vivitar[/shoplink]
[shoplink 5761 ebay]Bower[/shoplink]

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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.
For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!
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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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New A9 design sketches from Robert Russell (Just an imagination).

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Industrial Designer Robert Russell designed a possible A7 successor camera with a different and more “rounded” design. This is pure imagination and not based on any real or rumored camera. Here is his text:

Sketches for a new design direction for the SONY A7/A7R (by Robert Russell)

I feel a camera of this importance should reflect that in its physical appearance as well as its revolutionary concept. my primary effort was to eliminate the “boxy” look and feel to the camera. I kept the functions/controls in their existing locations and tried to only effect the styling of the body. I have also improved the grip and finger placement for comfort as well as for access to controls. Also I placed a thumb rest on the left side of the body for additional stability, particularly when using prime lenses.
I have not physically held an A7, but I own and love my NEX-7! The A7 is such an exciting camera I hope some day to own one. I follow all rumor sites (Sony Alpha Rumors) and press releases from SONY and have a great admiration for its products and overall design philosophy.

Please let me know your thoughts on my ideas.

Please do not use/publish these images without the permission from Robert Russell (russell.design@comcast.net).

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