New Sony and Sigma lens rebates. Sony HX9V beats the D800 in sales number!

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After one month the Nikon D800 got dethroned from the most sold digital camera ranking at Amazon (Click here). And surprise…the merit goes to the Sony HX9V :)

But now let’s talk about lenses. While Sony increased the prices of their Alpha mount lenses Sigma now started a new price drop on three lenses. You can check the list and deals at BHphoto (Click here). And there is also a new $100 off on A77/65 and lens bundle options at Amazon (Click here).

P.S.: SLR Magic Bokehmorphic test at ThePhoBlographer (Click here).

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Sony A57 and FS700 news and reviews roundup…

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Before Sony introduces the new NEX-F3 and A37 camera let’s talk about the just announced A57 and FS700!

Whatdigitalcamera (Click here) is the first website posting a full A57 review. The camera earns a great Gold Award with the following motivation: “Anyone looking for a camera which marries entry-level simplicity with enthusiast control should, without question, add it to their shortlist along with the similarly-priced Nikon D5100 and Canon EOS 600D.

Another test has been published by the dutch guys from Focusmedia (Click here). They say it has a “combination of excellent image quality, powerful camera specifications and an attractive price.”

Den Lennie (Click here) posted a report about the Sony NEX FS700 on Location.

I searched for some NEX-FS700 video samples but didn’t find anything on the web. Sony marketing should release some video to promote their camera instead of leaving us in the dark :(

One more thing: On the NEX-FS700 official product page you can find the NEX lens picture including some of the new upcoming lenses. It says “Sony has big plans for the E-mount lens lineup“. Great, but the problem is that we are already waiting a long time for new high quality NEX lenses. It’s taking a  it too long and big words want make it good.

P.S.: And where is our 50mm f/1.8 for NEX lens? Search here: [shopcountry 8448] :(

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New Sony NEX-7 reviews (Fuji main competitor now for sale)

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Sony NEX-7_behind the scene from post production on Vimeo.

Quesabesde (Click here for the translation) posted a new NEX-7 review. He easily recommends the camera as long as you are willing to pay a lot of money for top optics like the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens.

Sony NEX-7 in Vegas with the Leica 35 Summilux ASPH and Zeiss 24 1.8 by Steve Huff (Click here).

A pretty “unfair” comparison between a new Canon 5DmarkIII fullframe camera and the APS-C NEX-7 by Mike Kobal (Click here).

By the way, the NEX-7 main competitor the Fuji X PRO 1 is now in Stock at Amazon and back on the top of the most sold mirrorless cameras (Click here to see the ranking). I think there is plenty of room above the NEX-7 for a NEX-9 with advanced new sensor technology. Hope Sony managers are thinking on the same wave like me :)

NEX-7 in Stock status link check: [shopcountry 8454].

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The lens price increase in USA is real :(

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Two months ago our friends over at Photorumors got the news that on April 1st Sony will increase the price on all Sony lenses. Sadly this wasn’t an April joke. And the bad news is that i have been told more price increases will arrive soon in other countries too :(

This is the price change list in USA:

Model Effective 9/1/11 Effective 4/1/12 Price Diff
SAL1635Z $1,899.99 $1,999.99 $100.00
SAL1680Z $849.99 $999.99 $150.00
SAL2470Z $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL24F20Z $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL85F14Z $1,499.99 $1,699.99 $200.00
SAL135F18Z $1,599.99 $1,799.99 $200.00
SAL70300G $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL70400G $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL35F14G $1,399.99 $1,499.99 $100.00
SAL300F28G $6,299.99 $6,999.99 $700.00
SAL100M28 $749.99 $799.99 $50.00
SAL1118 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL135F28 $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL14TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL16105 $649.99 $699.99 $50.00
SAL1650 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL16F28 $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL18250 $599.99 $649.99 $50.00
SAL1855/BQ $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL20F28 $649.99 $749.99 $100.00
SAL20TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL2875 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SAL35F18 $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL50F14 $399.99 $449.99 $50.00
SAL50F18 $149.99 $169.99 $20.00
SAL50M28 $529.99 $599.99 $70.00
SAL85F28 $249.99 $299.99 $50.00
SEL18200 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SEL24F18Z $999.99 $1,099.99 $100.00
SEL30M35 $249.99 $279.99 $30.00
no price increase:
SAL18200 $549.99 $549.99 $0.00
SAL1870 $179.99 $179.99 discontinued
SAL30M28 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL55200/2 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL70200G $1,999.99 $1,999.99 $0.00
SAL75300 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL16F28 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL1855 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL50F18 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL55210 $349.99 $349.99 $0.00

Yeah I know, some rumors should never become truth!

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Official: Sony makes offer for a partnership with Olympus.

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The worse financial results and fee scandal forced Olympus to seek for a new partnership. And according to the new Olympus president Sasa Sony (along other) made an official offer (Source Der Spiegel).

My guess is that Sony is interested in the medical business from Olympus, which is very healthy and profitable. What I don’t know if it’s good for Sony to join another new business. Sony is already facing a hard time in many sectors (like for example the TV business).

From a digital camera strategy point of view Sony could force Olympus to jump out of the Micro Four Thirds ship and join the NEX system. I don’t know if that is just a forced speculation or a real plan. Would be good for the NEX system, bad for Panasonic. I think it would be a good new for NEX users havng Olympus on board!

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New Madoka and Hyperprime lenses +16mm conversion lens test.

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SonyAlphaLab (Click here) tested the 16mm conversion lenses.


The japanese website DC.watch (Click here) tested the new Madoka 180 degrees lens for NEX. Once clicked on the link scroll down to see the image samples (Click on them to enlarge).

Where is my bike? from Peter Prevec on Vimeo.

New Cine HYperprime 50mm f/0.95 lens test on the NEX-FS100 at Domisljije (Click here) and a rolling review at 3Dkraft (Click here).

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Why I think the Nikon D800 uses a Sony sensor…

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Sony 36 megapixel sensor got a lot of praise from reviewers and the Nikon D800 is the most sold digital camera for over three weeks now (Click here)!

I am surprised how many (Nikon?) readers sent me (not so nice) messages to say that the Nikon D800 doesn’t use a Sony 36 Megapixel sensor. As you know Nikon itself always claims that they are using their own sensor technology and this lead someone to believe I am talking bullxxxx :) While I certainly think Nikon is putting some of his own tech knowledge on the sensor development I am pretty convinced the basic sensor technology has been developed and fabricated by Sony. Here I am writing a post to tell you why I “think” it is so:

First story: It is proven that Nikon is using Sony sensors in some cameras. The D7000 sensor for example has a big “Sony” stamp. The guys from Chipworks dismantled the Nikon camera and here is the picture: http://www.chipworks.com/media/wpmu/uploads/blogs.dir/4/files/2011/01/IMX071_diemrk.jpg.

Second story: It’s actually pretty ease to see that Nikon and Sony are almost always sharing the same resolution on APS-C and FF cameras:
24 Megapixel Full Frame sensor on the Nikon D3X and Sony A900
16 Megapixel APS-C sensor on Nikon D7000 and Sony A55
14 Megapixel APS-C sensor on Nikon D3100 and Sony A560
12 Megapixel APS-C sensor on Nikon D300 and Sony A500
10 Megapixel APS-C sensor on Nikon D3000 and Sony A330

Third story: So why do I “believe” the Nikon D800 uses a Sony sensor? The same trusted sources that shared to me the correct [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] sensor info also sent me the 36 Megapixel Full Frame info back in June 2011 (Click here to read the original post). They also told me the sensor would be used first in a Nikon camera. So was is just luck that Nikon came out with the D800 having a 36 Megapixel Full frame sensor? :)

In summary: Of course this is a rumors site and you absolutely have to take the news I write for what they are…just rumors. Sometimes I can be wrong, no question! But it’s common use to share technologies between companies even if it looks like they are strong enemies (see Samsung Apple patent battle story). I strongly “believe” Sony is behind that 36 Megapixel sensor and that’s why I will post some D800 test hee on SAR. I “suspect” Sony will come out with a Full Frame camera with exactly the same sensor and with at least a 99% similar RAW performance. Now let’s hope Sony will not wait too long before to release the new FF cameras!

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