I had quite busy talks with sources in these days about the long term strategy from Sony. And I also got some bits about the Sony-Zeiss collaboration. First of all it is confirmed that the next three Zeiss primes (2.8/12, 1.8/32 and 2.8/50 macro) for the NEX system will cover APS-C only.  But at the same time Sony and Zeiss made an agreement on FF E-mount lenses. And it works like that: Zeiss will now design at least three new E-mount Full Frame prime lenses. They will have to possibility to test the lenses on a non final prototype. Zeiss has scheduled the official release of the lenses for June 2014! Sources didn’t unveil me the detailed lens specs yet also because nothing is final yet. But one thing they told me…the lenses will be expensive to buy! And certainly more expensive than their [shoplink 15174 ebay]current FF ZM series[/shoplink] :(

Anyway, this rumor comes via top top and top sources. So it’s marked as SR5 but of course it’s a long way to go and the June date may change depending on how things will work out. Meantime feel free to share your expectation. I may do a poll with your suggested Zeiss FF NEX lenses to show Zeiss what it’s needed according to our SAR fellowship. Of course be aware that everything will come at a high cost. So dream the lens you can actually afford :)

Take some inspiration from the superb Zeiss ZM list:
[shoplink 10875 ebay]Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9803 ebay]Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9805 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9806 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM  (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].

As you remember Sony announced new NEX camcorders at Photokina. And they came with a new version for the 18-200mm E-mount lens that features Powerzoom (See image on top of the Sony NEX-VG30 with that lens). This is not really a big news but Sony will soon offer the lens as standalone products you can buy to use on your NEX-3/5-6/7 camera. Exciting? Of course not but some filmmakers may be happy to grab a lens like that :)

So let’s start this week with the forecast about the next Sony camera releases. I am getting many mails about the soon to come new Sony stuff. While I am not sure about the announcement date I am almost sure this is what you can expect to come soon:

The new Sony NEX-3n, the new Sony A38 and after that the new Sony A58. All three come with the “new” standard ISO Hot Shoe. And at least the A58 has a very new sensor too!

As I have told you before Sony will go from bottom to top within the next 12-16 months. First the entry level NEX and SLT, than the more advanced NEX (7n?) and A78(?), and than by end of this year or early next year the new Full Frame mirrorless and maybe another “Flagship” camera I heard about for the first time last week.