JBCameraDesigns announced the new RX1 Wood Grip. You can already buy it at Amazon US (Click here).
Reminder: The RX1 metal quick release plate is sold by a Hong Kong company on [shoplink 17977 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Next week Sony will announce the new HX50 and no new E-mount or A-mount camera or lens will be announced yet. The A78 is off the roadmap while the NEX-7 successor is coming within the next few months.
But we will have new E-mount stuff soon from two other comapnies. Hasselblad will announce the new Lunar and Zeiss the two lenses:
Hasselblad:
Leo Edwards (Click here) wrote a harsh critique against the Lunar: “Will Hasselblad become to Sony what AMG is to Mercedes or Alpina to BMW? lets compare. A top of the line AMG conversion essentially doubles the price of a stock mercedes – what do you get for your 100% premium? A completely re-mapped, engineered and tuned engine, a massive brake, wheel and suspension overhaul, custom interior leather, wood and carbon fibre, exclusive paint – oh and a body kit. What do you get with the Hasselblad / Sony combo at a 600% premium, errrmm, a body kit…….! Suddenly an AMG Mercedes seems like the best value on the planet with considerably more wood, leather and carbon fibre thrown in for good measure!”
Zeiss:
I have been told by a source that the Zeiss Planar 32mm f/1.8 and the Distagon 12mm f/2.8 will ship from June. If you want to learn more about the tech and philosphy behind the “Pana” and “Distagon” deifnition you may read the two pdf files found by our read BIll (Thanks!):
Planar: http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/en_CLB_40_Nasse_Lens_Names_Planar.pdf
Distagon: http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/en_CLB41_Nasse_LensNames_Distagon.pdf
DxOmark (Click here) tested both, the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 and Sony E 10-18mm f/4.0 lens. Both lenses perform very well compared to the compatition!
ePhotozine (Click here) tested the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens and they do write: “This lens delivers performance worthy of the Carl Zeiss name, especially in the centre of the frame, where sharpness is excellent, or even outstanding when stopped down. It is a premium piece of glass, and so it carries a premium price tag. Those willing to stump up the £760 for this lens will not be disappointed.”
ePhotozine (Click here) also tested the 10-18mm lens: “So long as the limitations of this lens are known, and understood, then this lens is certainly capable of producing high quality images. However, it is a shame that the performance at maximum aperture between 14mm and 18mm isn’t up to the same high standard as when the lens is stopped down a little.”
Price check links to the tested E-mount lenses:
Zeiss 24mm at [shopcountry 8450].
10-18mm at [shopcountry 14170].
35mm prime at [shopcountry 14169].
No guys, this isn’t a joke! Starting from April 26 Sony will sell the AKA-DM1 cameras for dogs! You can already preorder it at Sony Japans website. The AKA-DM1’s harness is adjustable, but is only designed for dogs over 15 kilograms (33 pounds) with a belly circumference of between 50 to 80 centimeters (Source: The Verge).
I am very curious to see if there is realyl a market for this!
As posted last week on SAR there will be a Sony announcement within the next few days. But we can be 99% sure that the only camera we will see is the new DSC-HX50V Cybershot. No new Alpha and no new NEX camera yet. There may be a second announcement in may bringing some NEX news. But that is ranked as “SR2” only for now. The Sony Vietnam website already leaked the HX50 image at http://zoom.sony.com.vn/
These are the Cybershots specs I already posted last week:
20 Megapixel cmos
30 X Optical Zoom
FullHD Movie-50p
MI Shoe & EV Dial
WIFI
Optical Steady Shot (New)
GPS
Lens with ED Glass & ER Glass
Shutter and Iris Diaphragm
New Algorithm Optimised Stabilisation 2X bigger effect for the Steady
Shot
Estimated Retail Price 420€
I may ask the source to tell me if there is some A and E-mount camera or lens coming too? Thanks!
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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.
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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!
UPDATE: Sigma announced a terrific new 18-35mm f/1.8 lens! This is the fastest zoom for DSLR systems ever made! The only similar lenses are the Olympus 14-35mm f/2.0 [shoplink 17943 ebay](here on eBay)[/shoplink] and the Olympus 35-100 f/2.0 [shoplink 17944 ebay](here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Both priced well over $2,000!
Sigma didn’t release any official info about the price and the mount. All other details can be read at Sigma Photo website. This is an APS-C lens and I really hope it will come for A-mount too!
Sony may be missing the train if they don’t come out with the RX10 soon! After Fuji, Canon, Pentax and Nikon also Ricoh announced a new high end compact and fixed lens ASP-C camera. It’s the new GR and it is an extremely compact and relatively cheap camera. Specs and price can be read at Bhphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Ricoh released that image comparison on top and of course the RX100 is a different kind of camera that cannot compete in that segment whie the FF RX1 plays again in a much higher (and way more expensive) league.
Sony will have an announcement soon….and while I didn’t get any hint about a possible RX10 release I hope Sony is aware they should come with it soon!
