(SR5) A first for Sony: 14bit RAW files on the A99!

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Finally! The Sony A99 FF camera will be the first Sony camera to have full 14bit RAW file recording! It is something Nikon cameras (like the D800) have since a long time now so it was about time fro Sony to use it too. But will it really bring some noticeable improvement?

The administrator of Cambridgeincolour wrote: “It is usually image noise — not the 12/14-bit A/D dynamic range — that ultimately limits the photo’s visible dynamic range. A 14-bit linear A/D converter has a dynamic range of 14 f-stops, for example, but this is far beyond what is visible because of image noise (5-10 f-stops at the very most).
Further, A/D converters and CCD/CMOS sensors are not always linear; in which case the image bit precision/depth does not necessarily correlate with A/D dynamic range. Take a look at the last two sections on bit depth and tonal curve in the dynamic range tutorial. There’s a lot more on this there, although be warned that this concept can be quite confusing.
At present the only tangible use I can think of for the extended 14-bit precision is more shadow tonality in a RAW photo which has undergone extreme shadow recovery. If this is true, then 14-bit is worth it in exchange for the marginally larger file sizes. However, I have no evidence of this in practice.

More 12 vs 14 bit tests: here and here.

I have been told the JPEG engine has been improved too. But we have to wait for real test to see if Sony’s wake point has been finally straight out too!

Stay tuned on SAR: Here is our RSS feed and Twitter stream and the Facebook comunity!

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(SR5) All three new NEX lenses with OSS!

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Three new lenses with OSS:
One of the SAR readers main question was if the new lenses would have OSS (in lens stabilization). The answer is the best I can give you…all three lenses will have OSS! So we will get a 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS pancake (retractable) powerzoom. A 10-18mm f/4.0 OSS (non pancake). And a 35mm 1.8 OSS prime lens.
What I don’t know yet is the price of the lenses and if they are going to be announced this week along the NEX-5R or in September along the NEX-6. For now the announcement of the NEX-5R is scheduled for this Wednesday (European time). There may be some changes in last minute.

Current NEX lenses with OSS:
18-200mm at [shopcountry 3060].
50mm at [shopcountry 8448] (my favorite NEX lens!)
18-55mm at [shopcountry 2996].
55-210mm at [shopcountry 8444].
at [shopcountry 3060].

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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short notice for readers…

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Good Morning!

Before to start the new news and rumor week I have to admit that in these days I have zero time left to answer all your mails. I am very busy at work and during my pauses and free time I have a lot of work on SAR. I will catch up with the mail correspondence as soon as I can.

Thanks for your understanding!

Andrea

P.S.: Messages and rumors can be sent at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or through the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

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$100 price drop on the NEX-5N (Reminder: NEX-5R coming this week)

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Three days only before the new Sony NEX-5R announcement and multiple stores are now selling the NEX-5N with a nice $100 discount at Amazon (Click here). Same price drop on the Body only (Click here) and on the Silver kit (Click here).

The NEX-5R will very likely be priced at $699 (with kit lens) and compared to the current NEX-5N it will have a faster AF, Wifi and APP support. Coming on Wednesday. The NEX-6 will be announced in September while I don’t know when Sony will announce the new NEX lenses.

 

P.S.: Amazon camera ranking here.

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New Sony reviews roundup…

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BIRTV 2012 – Sony NEX EA50 large sensor video camera from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

The exact opposite of a good deal is the price of that Cybershot on [shoplink 13460 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. Wondering if there is really some people buying this!
The German Digitalkamera (Translation here) posted the full 18-200mm and 50mm NEX lens reviews. Full test must be paid to be viewed.
Nikkor on NEX-7 at Matthewdurrphotography.
Gentled IR Trigger for the Sony NEX 5n reviewed at Cameradojo.
Full NEX-7 review at PDNonline.
ony FS700 Dynamic Range Presentation at ProVideocoalition.
Something else: Post-Processing Images with Lightroom 4 at Outbackphoto and Using other Raw Converters as Lightroom Pre-Processor at Outbackphoto.
30mm macro review at SonyAlphaLab.
NEX-F3 review at ePhotozine.
Camcorder Design “Where do they get their ideas from” (HdWarrior).
Third part of the Zacuto shootout.

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(SR5) Hot: Real sketch of the Sony A99 back.

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Sometimes I really find crazy stuff in my mailbox. A trusted source sent me a real(!) sketch of the Sony A99 back designed by him. What you see is what you will get with the A99!Basically the almost exactly same back of the Sony A77 (image here). I don’t know how much work he put on this but we all would be glad to receive the sketches from the top and front too…Thanks :)

Stay tuned on SAR: Here is our RSS feed and Twitter stream and the Facebook comunity!

 

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