QX100 tear down and David Pogue’s take on The new York Times.

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Sonyelectornics posted that video of a QX100 Lens Style Camera Teardown.

There is an interesting new review written by David Pogue on the New York Times site:

Sony’s concept for the new QX100 is among the most brilliant in its history. But the QX cameras’ execution just doesn’t live up to the ingenious idea behind them.

He lists many issues but most fo them can be solved via APP upgrade or with the next generation modules:

But listen: let’s not mope. Let’s celebrate the spirit of that spectacular central idea, the master engineers who brought it to life and even the executives who greenlighted this crazy, offbeat product. Let’s hope that spirit survives long enough for us to see a QX 2.0 next year.

In short…please SOny work on a decent APP update! This will solve half of the mentioned issues and tunr a half camera in a…decent camera :)

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Here are all direct links to preorders 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 preorders 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.

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(UPDATED) $75 mail in rebate on three Rokinon 24mm lenses. $449 for NEX-5R with lens.

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Rokinon launched a $75 mail in rebate on three different 24mm lenses:

24mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony A-mount at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.
Same lens but for Sony E-mount at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.
Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Sony Alpha at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.
Rokinon Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC Lens for Sony Alpha at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.

UPDATE: The best price ever for the NEX-5r with lens: $449 at Amazon via Samys (Click here).

P.S.: Don’t forget, the QX cameras are now in Stock at Amazon US (Click here).

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(SR5) Sony 28-70mm FE (f/4.0?) lens will be the NEX-FF kit lens!

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The Sony 28-70mm f/4.0 FE lens design.

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Trusted sources confirmed that the new Sony NEX-FF (NEX-9?) will have the Sony 28-70mm as “cheap” kit lens alternative of the also to be announced Zeiss 24-70mm FE lens. The sources didn’t specify the aperture of the lens but I am pretty sure the specs do match with the patent describing exactly such a lens (Source: Freepatentsonline). The patent describes an 28-70mm f/4.0 (constant aperture lens) designed for mirrorless cameras. Sony lens design goal is the following:

“Digital camera systems with interchangeable lenses in recent years are capable of shooting video. Therefore, a zoom lens favorable not only for shooting still images but also for shooting video is desired. It is necessary to move a focusing lens group at high speed in shooting video so as to follow quick movement of a subject. To achieve this, it is necessary to reduce weight of the focusing lens groups while maintaining favorable optical performance.”

This will be the lens most of us are likely going to buy along then NEX-9. Light, cheap and not as big as the Zeiss 24-70mm FE lens. In short, this is the “SR5” confirmed Full Frame E-mount lens list that will be announced in mid October along the new NEX-FF (liekly named NEX-9):

24-70mm Zeiss FE /aperture not know yet).
28-70mm Sony G FE f/4.0
35mm f/2.8 Zeiss FE
55mm f/1.8 Zeiss FE
Yet not confirmed by trusted sources but likely to happen: 85mm f/1.8

What about NEX-9 specs?
As I told you my trusted sources cannot unveil the specs for now because only few know them. But within the next 7-10 days I should get full specs from other sources! At least that is what they promised to me :)

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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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Smart Remote Control for the NEX 5R, 5T, and 6 gets updated

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Sony just released an update for the Smart Remote Control APP (it’s an in NEX camera APP update!). There are many improvements:

•Added the following setting capabilities and made the app more useful for macro and portrait shooting.
•Added touch AF capability from smartphones and tablets for more intuitive operation.
•Able to change values for EV compensation as well as for the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. Perfect for people who are particular about their shots.
•Supports MF Assist,*1 a useful function when focusing manually. The larger monitor on a tablet or smartphone makes it easier to fine-tune the focus than on the camera’s monitor, which is a great help for macro and portrait shots.
• You can check the focus of your shot immediately on your smartphone or tablet by magnifying the recorded image.

Sounds great if you own one of the supported NEX cameras!

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QX10 in Stock and selling well. But engadet says it’s fantastic and impractical :)

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The QX10 is in Stock and the QX100 will ship on October 15 according to Amazon US (Click here). And the QX10 is selling quite fine if you look at Amazon’s overall ranking (here). But does the gadget actually do the job? Engadget posted the full QX review and they say it’s both a fnatastic and impractical tool:

“It’s possible that the new technique will feel natural over time, but why bother? Serious photographers need a serious camera, and the QX100, as much as we wanted to like it, is not a serious camera.”

Time will tell if the QX LensCameras are succesful or not. For now I can say that I am happy to see Sony bringing some kind of excitement ont he camera market…not only with the QX, but also with the NEX-FF.

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QX100 (the RX100MII clone) at Amazon (Click here) and on many stores on [shoplink 21395 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
QX10 (black and white) at Amazon (Click here) and on many stores on [shoplink 21394 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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(SR4) Sony will launch a new service program for “PRO” photographers and camera owners.

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There are many new High End A and E-mount cameras that will be announced from now on. And trusted sources confirmed that Sony will also launch a new “PRO Service” for photographers and Sony camera owners. The details of the program are not known yet but it could include a hotline phone number, a fast repair service, and so on. One of my sources told me that one of the goal is to make it easy for Canon and Nikon Pro’s to switch over to Sony.

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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!

—

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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Sony answers about A-mount future.

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I always told you that A-mount would continue and that there is likely a lot of exciting stuff coming in early 2014. But it’s great to get a direct feedback from Sony on that matter. SAR reader Brad got the following mail from Sony:

Thank you for contacting Sony Support. I understand that your concern is regarding the A-mount being replaced by the E-mount system. The A-mount units have always been the flagship ever since the release of the very first Sony Alpha camera. Much like the Single Lens Translucent (SLT) technology, the E-mount system is an innovation, introduced to further expand our interchangeable lens line, and in no way a replacement for the A-mount system. Rest assured that we will further develop the A-mount system together with the E-mount, introducing new technology and upgrading features. We will continue to expand our lens and accessory selection, as well as better the functions of the cameras to adapt to our customers growing needs and wants. We currently do not have advanced information on the release of cameras, lenses and accessories, as well as software and firmware updates. Sony Electronics only releases full product and support information at the same time it is officially released to the marketplace by our Marketing Department. However, some limited advanced information is often published in various magazine articles. You may also check the Sony Support and Sony Store website below for news and updates in the future.

That’s really THE answer we needed from Sony. Thanks!

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