(SR4) Sony A99 has 100-25.600 ISO (extended to 50 and 102500)

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Tha A99 will be based on the same SLT technology of the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink]

The Nikon D800 (Click here) is out and the Canon 5DmarkIII is also coming soon. And yes, we Sony users are suffering while waiting to get our hands on the A99. As I told you months ago the full-frame roadmap has been postponed and the A99 which was due for this Spring will now be announced in September and the other full-frame cameras will follow in 2013. I really hope that “he who laughs last, laughs best.” :)

Sony is currently evaluating the [shoplink 8461]A77[/shoplink] success and limits. They really want to get a step forward in quality and usability of the A99. And finally I got first bits of news about the full frame camera. I have been told that photographers are already busy testing the A99 in the field. It has a new 24 Megapixel sensor based on the same technology of the A77 Exmor HD sensor (Note: It’s not the same [shoplink 3032]A900[/shoplink] sensor). And of course it is an SLT camera with  (improved) electronic viewfinder. I got the exact ISO range of the camera. It goes from ISO 100 up to ISO 25.600. The sources told me that the final version will very likely have an extendable range down to ISO 50 and up to 102500. They haven’t compared the images yet but they are pretty sure it will beat the Nikon D800 at high ISO and per pixel sharpness. There were long discussions inside Sony if they should use a 24 or 28 megapixel sensor. Sony choose the 24 megapixel sensor to have less noise and greater fps speed.

In general sources told me that SAR readers should not expect a revolutionary camera but rather a great evolution of what you saw on the A77. I am now trying to get more specs about the camera but please keep in mind that we are talking about specs from a prototype! So there could be small changes and that’s why I posted this with SR4 and not SR5 value (see the rumor ranking explanation at the bottom of the post if you don’t know what this means).

One more thing: The Nikon D800 sells like hotcakes ( See rankings at Amazon USA (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here)) and is using a Sony produced 36 megapixels sensor. The same sensor can be used by Sony in 2013 only (yeah Nikon has an exclusivity on it).

P.S.: Don’t forget there is a huge Sony announcement day o March 13! The A57 is coming (and maybe NEX stuff too!).

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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New Sony NEX-7 news and reviews roundup….

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The grip designed by Mike Kobal.

Last week I posted hee the news about the new Ownuser NEX-7 battery grip (Click here to read the article and see the pictures). But the Sony Nex 7 Concept grip by Mike Kobal (Click here) looks much more sexy. Too bad it is just a concept for now :(

Venetian Carnival 2012 in Hamburg at 3Dkraft (Click here).

New NEX-7 review at Outbackphoto (Click here).

NEX-7 hands on with silver 18-55mm lens on youtube (Click here).

Sony NEX-7 in Stock search at [shopcountry 8454].

P.S.: Rokinon (Samyang) 8mm review by ThePhoBlographer (Click here): “Though fisheye lenses are generally specialized lenses, this one was such a joy to use that I would keep it on all day and all night.“

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New Sony Alpha Lens rebates in US.

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Sony US just launched a new Alpha lens rebate:

$50 off on Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$50 off on Zeiss 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$50 off on Sony DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.5 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$25 off on Sony 30mm f/2.8 DT AF at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$25 off on Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$25 off on Sony 50mm f/1.4 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$25 off on Sony 50mm f/1.8 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$25 off on Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$50 off on Sony 70-300mm f/2.8 macro at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
$50 off on Sony 100mm f/2.8 macro at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).

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Sony A77 with 16-50mm lens in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). The 50mm f/1.8 for NEX will ship on Feb 25 at BHphoto (Click here) and one week later the NEX-7+Black 18-55mm kit lens (Click here).

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(SR4) NEX-F3 and new NEX camcorder coming soon?

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[shoplink 7207 ebay][/shoplink]

Image on top: The [shoplink 7207 ebay]NEX-C3[/shoplink] that could soon be replaced by the NEX-F3

As I told you last week Sony is going to have a big announcement day on March 13th! We know that the A57 is coming for sure but what about other cameras and lenses? Trusted sources now told me that a [shoplink 7207 ebay]Sony NEX-C3[/shoplink] successor is coming soon (NEX-F3?) and a new NEX camcorder will also come right before the NAB show in April. I have no final specs right now but this is going to be a very busy time here on SAR…so stay tuned!Oh, and I really hope Sony will announce the new NEX lenses too! We alreayd have plenty of NEX cameras but so few NEX lenses :(

 

Message for Sony fullframe developers and marketing guys: The Nikon D800 is an incredible hotseller at Amazon USA (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here). Who said you can’t make money with FF? Just do it right :)

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Sony NEX-7 and NEX-5n reviews roundup (tested with ZM lenses).

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The documentary on top has been shot with the [shoplink 8452]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink] and [shoplink 11449 ebay]SLRmagic Sony lenses (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink].

ThePhoBlographer (Click here) tested the NEX-5n: “So is the NEX 5N worth its weight in gold? In my honest opinion, yes it sure is. The image quality combined with overall size, excellent high ISOs, extreme good video, and simple to use menu along with a touch screen makes this a winner in my book.”

You can see a [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] with Zeiss ZM lens test at Steve Huff (Click here): “there is the magenta color shift. I can’t deny that it’s there. It is. Sometimes. Very rarely in my use. And only with the Biogon. With large aperture. But even then not always, or not noticeable.“. Here is the list of all ZM lenses:
[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].

Sony NEX-7 review at TheVerge (Click here): “I’d buy the NEX-7 over any Micro Four Thirds or mirrorless camera currently on the market. The APS-C sensor is a big advantage for the NEX-7, as is its speed and manual control. For most users, especially those who have never used a DSLR and are looking to step up in quality and control, the NEX-7 should absolutely be on the short list for your next camera. It’s certainly on mine“.

Japanese NEX-7 review at DC.watch (Click here).

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Sony NEX-5n in Stock status check at [shopcountry 8452].
Sony NEX-7 in Stock status check at [shopcountry 8454].

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500mm lens hands-on by Engadget.

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Engadget (Click here) visited the CP+ show in Japan and played with the new Sony 500mm f/4.0 lens: “The lens focused surprisingly quickly, especially given its massive 500mm fixed focal length. Moving from subject to subject at varying distances, we were typically able to achieve focus in a fraction of a second. Long lenses have traditionally been tricky on the focus front, but this guy handled it like a champ”

The lens costs 13.000 Euro (no preorders yet) and is the most expensive Sony lens ever made. It beats the 300mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Autofocus Lens which costs $3200 at Bhphoto (Click here).

Curiosity: The most expensive lenses are from leica. Look at that Prototype 50 Summicron which sells for more than $35000 on [shoplink 11445 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]!!!

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USA: Finally some news about the 50mm and NEX-7 kits! (Nikon D800 sells well, NEX-7 in Germany)

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You still remember that nice 50mm f/1.8 NEX lens? Yeah, it has been announced six months ago and is still not in Stock anywhere! But at least in USA you can preorder the lens at BHphoto (Click here) and it will ship from February 25th! And they are now also accepting preorders on the NEX-7+Black 18-55mm kit lens (Click here). That will ship on March 1st. The NEX-7 is already in Stock in Germany at Amazon (Click here).

Meanwhile Amazon (Click here) had to remove the preorder option from the Sony sensor powered Nikon D800. The reason? Too many preorders!!!
Sony…why not start to seriously compete against the big ones? Instead of giving Nikon the exclusivity on the sensor they should release such a camera first and than give it to Nikon a couple of months after. I do not need a 36 megapixel sensor but it sounds a bit pity that Sony will have to wait at least one year before they can use the same D800 sensor inside their own camera :(

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