Small surprise: $100 off on the three weeks old A5000!

Share

 


–
I have never seen this before: A price drop on camera that has been announced just three weeks ago! Today the A5000 got $100 off at SonyStore US (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Those of you that already preordered the camera should check if they will get the $100 discount too without having to first delete the current preorder.

Reminder:
Sony RX100 for $399 at [shoplink 24234 ebay]6ave on eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink]!
Super discounted NEX-3n with 16-50mm lens sells as good as the new Fuji X-T1 according to Amazon US mirrorless ranking (Click here).

 

Share

Update on Sony EU sites. Working on new rumors…

Share

Yesterday I reported how Sony EU sites like Sony Germany (Click here) and Sony UK (Click here), where claiming Sony E-mount cameras would have built-in on sensor stabilization. One trusted source confirmed that Sony EU sites are currently undergoing big changes on all levels (text, links and images). So the errors you see on the pages right now are being fixed (very slowly).

That said it’s still interesting to note that the on sensor stabilization image has been created from scratch. So something is going on, maybe this image is meant for a future new E-mount APS-C camera?

—-

Note on the rumors I am working on. It’s harder to usual to grab reliable rumors. Sony is spreading conflicting information to hide the truth. That’s why I prefer to be careful and wait for final proves before to posts specs about the next High End NEX-7 and A77 successor cameras. But they are coming…don’t worry ;)

Share

Sony launches new firmware update for the QX10 and QX100.

Share

Sony announced the new firmware for the QX10 and QX100. Download links: Firmware for Mac (Click here) and for Windows (Click here).

Improvements after firmware upgrade

  • ISO Setting added
  • Movie Recording size changed: MP4 1440 x 1080(30p) to MP4 1920 x 1080(30p)
  • Shutter Speed Priority Shooting mode added (DSC-QX100 only)

Here are all direct links to QX in USA/Canada:
QX100: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
Soft Carrying Case for DSC-QX100 at Amazon (Click here).
Black QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
White QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Soft Carrying Case for DSC-QX10 Amazon (Click here).
Xperia Z case with QX mount on Amazon (Click here).

Here are all direct links to the QX in Europe:
Black QX100 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
Black QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
White QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
Xperia Z1 at SonyDE, SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.

Share

Zeiss officially launches the 50mm f/2.8 Touit macro lens ($999 at BHphoto).

Share

Today Zeiss launched the new 50mm f/2.8 macro Touit lens for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras. You can already preorder the lens for $999 at BHphoto (Click here).

This is the official Press Text:

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 30.01.2014 – More and more photographers are taking advantage of the growing possibilities afforded by compact system cameras with APS-C sensors. With the Touit 2.8/12 and Touit 1.8/32, ZEISS already offers two lenses with E- and X-mount that suffice in meeting the demands of ambitious photographers. Now, the new ZEISS Touit 2.8/50M expands the Touit family to include longer focal lengths as well as close-up coverage. 

The Touit 2.8/50M offers a magnification power of 1:1. As a result, the photographed object appears on the camera sensor in its original size. Details that cannot be seen with the naked eye become impressively visible at short shooting distances. This new Touit is therefore following in very large footsteps: ZEISS macro lenses with a magnification power of 1:2, such as the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 and Makro-Planar T* 2/50, have already established themselves as top macro lenses among SLR lenses.

Thanks to its moderate telephoto focal length, the Touit 2.8/50M is also perfect as a portrait lens. When allowing for a crop factor of 1.5, the angular field corresponds to a full-frame-equivalent focal length of 75 mm. Here, too, the lens’s enormous versatility pays off. The lens covers distances from infinity to a magnification power of 1:1. The Touit 2.8/50M is a versatile lens that harmonizes very well with the flexible application of compact APS-C system cameras. Its imaging power makes it an ideal choice for close-ups and portraits.

The Touit 2.8/50M also employs the floating elements design from ZEISS. This enables the lens to achieve a consistently high imaging performance, including up to the minimum object distance (MOD). The exceptional image quality remains consistent, independent of the focus setting. Two aspheres – lens elements number three and four – deliver an important contribution to the high image quality. Two additional lens elements with low dispersion – lens elements number two and nine – help ensure that the lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberrations are kept to a minimum.

A round iris with a total of nine blades gives areas of the motif outside the focus a soft and very natural-looking character. Focused objects before a blurry background are clearly accentuated, creating a harmonious and balanced bokeh. Excellent sharpness along all f-stops rounds off the performance spectrum of the Touit 2.8/50M.

“The new Touit 2.8/50M is for photographers who already use our other two Touit lenses; it’s the ideal complement to their portfolio. Owners of APS-C system cameras with Sony E- or Fujifilm X-mounts who are looking for a new high-end lens will also want to use the Touit 2.8/50M. Whether a photographer has an eye for the smallest details or likes sharp portraits and pleasing bokeh, our new all-around Touit will definitely be at the top of their wish list,” says Dr. Michael Pollmann, Product and Program Manager from ZEISS Camera Lenses.

The Touit 2.8/50M with E and X mount will be available worldwide in March 2014. The recommended sales price will be about EUR 755 (excl. VAT.)* or US$ 999 (excl. VAT)*.

Share

(SR3) Soon to be announced new E-mount cameras have on sensor stabilization?

Share

Right before the CP+ show Sony will announce the new NEX-6/7 successor (price 800 Euro). And well, there is some hope the new E-Mount camera(s) will have on sensor stabilization! And actually it’s quite funny to notice that the info comes straight from Sony: Just see the update page on the APS-C non OSS lenses like the Zeiss 24mm at Sony Germany (Click here), Sony UK (Click here), Sony France (Click here), Sony Italy (Click here), Sony Holland (Click here). All non OSS E-mount lenses added the info that E-mount cameras now have on sensor stabilization!

UPDATE: You will notice that the Sony EU sites contain errors and this is likely because they are working on it in these days. Still, what doesn’t look like an error is that design of a E-mount camera with on sensor stabilization. So take everything with a grain of salt for now, but to me the image is pretty clear. They will likely change the text and specs. But the image? Hmmm…

A couple of months ago sources told me that Sony was working with Olympus to implement their world class leading(!) image stabilization. What I dont’ know yet is if the soon t be announced new generation of E-mount cameras will feature the three axis stabilization of the E-M10 (announced yesterday and specs here at Amazon) or the superb 5 axis stabilization of the E-M1 (specs here).

P.S.: I had a dream. 5axis stabilization the next generation of Full Frame E-mount cameras. That would make my day!

P.P.S.: It’s hard to rate a rumor based on Sony pages itself. That’s why it has the average SR3 ranking :)

—
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!

.

Share

A7r teardwon at Lensrentals. Canon glass test by Fred Miranda. Pulitzer Winner Brian Smith writes Lens mount adapters overview.

Share

Image courtesy: Lensrentals

Roger Cicala and Aaron Closz from Lensrentals (Click here) had some fun tearing in pieces the A7r and discovered how that is one hell of an engineering work!

This is rather amazing. The completely disassembled Sony A7R consists of about a dozen major pieces, held together with 29 screws of just three different sizes. A typical DSLR has around 120 screws of 11 different sizes. You might not care less about that, but do you know what I thought about? How much easier it will be to fix this camera when it breaks. How much simpler it must be to perform all the calibration that must be done during assembly. And how much simpler it must be to assemble the A7R in the first place. In other words, how much cheaper it must be to make this camera, than to make a DSLR.

Fredmiranda.com (Click here) posted the full Sony A7r review with a focus on the Canon glass used on the camera:

Even if Canon comes up with a high-megapixel body, and even if resolution and dynamic range are equaled, it’s tough to deny the benefits of Sony’s lightweight A7R. Especially, if you’re hoofin’ it to a remote location.
After a few days below sea-level in Death Valley, it’s always nice to come back home to capture a sunset by the pier in San Clemente. Watching the sky turn my favorite shade through the golden light, I still can’t believe the images churning out of this Sony A7R. Don’t let its size fool you, this baby packs a punch. For Canon photographers interested in landscape or studio photography, it’s a non-brainer. Combining this body with your arsenal of high quality Canon glass, makes for an unstoppable team.

Pulitzer Winner Brian Smith (Click here) gives you an overview of the Len mount adapters for your A7-A7r.

The.me (Click here) had the chance to play with the Zeiss 24-70mm FE lens.

Kirk Tuck (Click here) reviewed the Sony RX10.

Zeiss 55mm FE review by Daniele Cuccia (Click here).

—————————————————

Specs and Store Links 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 Store Links 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.

Share