Sony’s new virtual tour of the PDN show stand. Zeiss says no plan to make an FE mount Otus 55mm.

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If you (like me) cannot attend the PDNshow in New York just click over at Sony’s newly launched virtual tour. And you can also watch some “real” videos from the Sony stand: RX10 on Vimeo. A7r On Vimeo.

Steve Huff was also at the PDNshow and reported that there may be a chance to see the Otus 55mm Zeiss for E-mount. But Zeiss answered on Twitter that this will not happen.

And a SAR reader reports from the PDNshow:

I have to say that the 35mm 2.8 feels really tempting now! It is small and also the fastest focusing lens there was to test (55mm, 28-70 and 35mm). It was really snappy, and image quality is great. I also liked the 55mm 1.8. Focusing speed isn’t super compared to the best MFT cameras, but good enough. However, I think it is the best normal lens image qualitywise that I have tested. Good contrast and sharpness, and bokeh is pleasing.  Otus could be good too but I don’t count that. Ridiculously big lens.I tested Otus with metabones adapter, and it was quite easy to focus using the focus peaking. They also had a canon 24-105mm lens there to test with the metabones adapter, and it was really usable, I was surprised. For some reason auto WB produced a lot yellower results with metabones than the native lenses, though.

Feel free to share your PDN pictures and hands-on reports at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

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Support SonyAlphaRumors: After months of FF mirrorless rumor work I would be glad if you can support my work by making your A7-A7r purchase by using these links below. I will earn a small commission and you don’t pay one single penny more! Thanks!

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
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, PTWexUK, 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

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

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A7-A7r-RX10 preorders and tech page added at Sony Germany, Netherland, Italy and Sweden (cameras will ship mid November)

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Good news for European readers. Sony now added the tech page for the A7-A7r cameras in many European Sony Stores. Still missing are France, Spain, and some nordic country store info. Here are the updated links:

Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PTWexUK, 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

I would be immensely grateful if you could preorder the new Sony stuff by clicking these links on top. I will earn a small commission though it and you will support my work on SAR without having to pay on single cent for it! Thanks!

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Leica Lenses on the Sony A7-A7r by Mike Evans and LLoyd Chambers

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Mike Evans posted an exhaustive article for current M-mount lens owners on Macfilos.com. For the first time Leica lens owners can buy a FF digital camera that is not a $8000 Leica M. Thes are some short thoughts:
– On the A7-A7r: “In my view any problems with lenses longer than 28mm will be minimal.
– Why buy M-mount lenses for the A7-A7r: “Because M lenses are purely mechanical, they last and last and last. The second advantage lies in the short-travel and ultra precise focus ring. Most M lenses have a maximum travel of about 40 degrees. Those who invest in mechanical M-mount lenses have none of these worries. Their lenses sail on serenely across the seas of time, appreciating in value all the while, and can be bolted on to a wide range of systems, present and future.

Also Lloyd Chambers is explaining some bsics about the use of M-mount lenses on the new Sony FF cameras: “my guess is that the A7R will fare much better than the A7 due to its microlens design which is absent from the A7

SAR note: I bought the new Voigtlander VM-E adapter and the fantastic [shoplink 21602 ebay]Voigtländer Ultron 21mm f/1,8 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. I will test it ont he A7r and share the review on SAE. Hope this is one of the wide angle lenses that works fine on the A7r! If you also have some M-mount lens +A7r test to share drop me a message! Thanks!

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Support SonyAlphaRumors: After months of FF mirrorless rumor work I would be glad if you can support my work by making your A7-A7r purchase by using these links below. I will earn a small commission and you don’t pay one single penny more! Thanks!

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
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, PTWexUK, 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

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

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A7r AF faster than the NIkon D800E? the “Buddha” 55mm Bokeh test.

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The image on top has been sent to me by a SAR reader. it has been taken with the Sony A7r and the superb 55mm Zeiss. You like the “Buddha” bokeh? I like it a lot :)

Today a couple of friends attended different Sony events:

Mike Kobal (Click here) had the chance to test the A7r camera displayed at the PDN show in New York City. And he writes:

AF speed with the new 55mm 1.8 Zeiss lens is VERY fast, FASTER then my Nikkor 50mm 1.4 on the D800E. If you happen to have a Nex 7 and the orig 16mm pancake, the FF 55mm Zeiss will focus just as fast, which, frankly, is quite amazing. As you probably know a 55mm requires a much higher level of accuracy and has a longer focus throw. I am impressed. This at regular indoor light levels. One has to wait and see how it performs in low light.

And Andrew from EosHD (Click here) had a hands-on in Berlin:

The A7R is Sony’s best handling camera to date. Excellent physical control layout and a unique rear card slot with angled door. Both headphone and mic jacks, unusual to find on a small camera like this.
The sensor is the best in the stills world, and second best in the video world just behind the 5D Mark III. If you’re shooting raw video with the Magic Lantern firmware on the 5D Mark III of course the A7R won’t improve on that for image quality, but if you need the convenience of a compressed codec and don’t mind a bit of occasional moire and aliasing then the A7R does a great job.

And a third report from a SAR reader that attended another Asian Sony hands-on event writes:

1. SEL1018 can be used at Focal Length 13-15mm but at it is optimal at 14mm with very subtle vignette at all aperture. At 10-12mm & 16-18mm you will need to crop the very heavy vignette off (actually it requires the crop or turn on the auto crop)
2. AWB for underwater (not sure if you already have this info)
3. A7 + FE lens, AF is very good comparable to DSLR
4. A7R AF is like NEX-7 a bit faster but still hunt
5. At low light, all lens with A7R hunts while A7 is ok
6. NTSC/PAL switchable so you can just buy from a cheaper place even though the TV system is not the same as your country with NTSC you get 24p/60p/60i, with PAL 25p/50p/50i (AVCHD 2.0 specs)
7. Pre-AF is quite battery intensive
8. B&W rendering is so nice

Support SonyAlphaRumors: After months of FF mirrorless rumor work I would be glad if you can support my work by making your A7-A7r purchase by using these links below. I will earn a small commission and you don’t pay one single penny more! Thanks!

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
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, FI, SE, PTWexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FRSE, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, 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.

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

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20% off on all Touit lenses. And Sony eBay deals on many current Alpha and NEX cameras!

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We have tow new great deals today:

1) 20% off on all Zeiss Touit ASP-C E-mount lenses:
The 12mm f/2.8 Touit now sells for $999 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
The 32mm f/1.8 Touit now sells for $720 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

2) Today eBay launched a special Sony deals page (Click here). And these are the best NEX and Alpha deals:
Sony NEX-F3 Kit w/ 18-55mm / 55-210mm Lenses Black for $539.00 on [shoplink 22257 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony NEX-5R White w/16-50mm Lens 16GB Package for $608.00 on [shoplink 22258 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony NEX-7 w/ 18-55mm Lens Black 2 Batteries, UV Filter for $955.00 on [shoplink 22264 ebay]eBay(Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony SLT-A58 w/18-135mm Lens, 32GB & More for $711.00 on [shoplink 22260 ebay]eBay(Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony NEXVG900 (Black) for $3,018.00 on [shoplink 22261 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony RX100 Digital Camera (Black) + 16GB, 2 Batteries + More for $543.00 on [shoplink 22262 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony DSC-RX100 II Digital Camera + 2 Batteries, 16GB & More for $671.00 on [shoplink 22263 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony E-Mount 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS Zoom Lens for $234.00 on [shoplink 22265 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony NEX-VG30H Camcorder w/18-200mm + 2 Batteries, 32GB + More for $2,210.00 on [shoplink 22266 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Sony SLT-A99 Black (Body) + 2 Batteries, 32GB, Flash + More for $2,361.00 on [shoplink 22267 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

Two more deals info:
Don’t forget to claim the 2% back in reward on the A7r-A7 at Amazon (Click here).
Sony FDR-AX1 Digital 4K Video Camera Recorder is in Stock for the first time in USA at BHphoto (Click here).

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(SR5) Sony has an impressive camera roadmap for 2014

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First of all: Those of you that know me well will remember that in Spring I told you that there would be likely no more A-mount cameras this year. And I also told you that 2013 would be a year of relative calm (with the exception of the great A7-A7r launch). This is just to say that I am not a guy that likes to create fake hypes or expectations.

Amazing 2014: Well, with absolute no hype intentions and with certainties based on what I got in these days from my sources I can tell you that 2014 will be many times more exciting than 2013! There are also some unexpected camera to come (with unexpected I mean cameras that not even have been “rumored” until today). As usual I am working to triple check all info I get but this is what we can expect to be released in 2014:

– New APS-C E-mount cameras (branded as Alpha). This includes the NEX-7 successor and new entry level APS-C E-mount cameras
– New A-mount FF camera
– New E-mount FF cameras (yes guys….I intentionally used the plural!)
– With 80% reliability also a hybrid A-E mount high end camera to come.
UPDATE: I am still not sure if there will be an APS-C A-mount camera. I know there are prototypes of such cameras. Don’t know if and when they will release them.

It will be the goal of the coming weeks to grab details about these cameras. Sources are welcome to share info by contacting me anonymously through he contact form you see on the right border of this site or by sending me an email at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

One more thing: I know there is also a super brand new sensor tech. I still don’t know yet if it will make it in a production camera in late 2014 already or if we have to wait early 2015.

Support SonyAlphaRumors: After months of FF mirrorless rumor work I would be glad if you can support my work by making your A7-A7r purchase by using these links below. I will earn a small commission and you don’t pay one single penny more! Thanks!

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
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, FI, SE, PTWexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FRSE, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, 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,

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!

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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