Finally the A77 with 16-50mm kit lens is in Stock at Sonystore USA (Click here). The A77 is probably the most discussed camera of the moment. Many like it a lot, some do not like it at all. I guess this happens because it’s a real game changer and changes need time to be accepted by most. I own the NEX-7 and I have to say I love the OLED viewfinder but I miss the fast phase detection AF (while recording video) from the A77. I will definitely save my money for the A99. But that camera will arrive in stores late 2012 only. So grab the A77 if you need it!
My colleague Mike Kobal (Click here) is using the A77 for his professional work and made the video on top to compare the 5dMarkII and A77 quality. Also Philip Nash (Click here) made such a comparison on vimeo.
Before to talk about the new NEX-7 reviews I have two things to say: 1) This weekend, I was very busy, but I can say with confidence that in short order, I will finally be able to organise third party NEX lens reviews. 2) As you may know, there are a load of new rumours thanks to Sony shifting their product release schedule forward. Get ready for a new wave of tempting morsels stating next week!
NEX-7 gets tons of appraisal. Luminous Landscape (Click here) first posted a review about the NEX-7 video capabilities: “The scaling that Sony uses to go from 24MP down to about 2MP for video does produce some artifacts, but in many ways is better than the line skipping that Canon uses. There is definitely visible rolling shutter (you can see some examples in the above video), but it’s no worse really than some other video DSLRs.” And again LL (Click here) finalized their long rolling review with that simple sentence: “The NEX-7 is the most exciting camera that I’ve had the pleasure of using in the past five years.”
As SAR editor I wanna thank our LL friends for their well done NEX-7 review!
Also Imaging Resource (Click here) conclusion has the same tone from LL: “The bottom line: Sony NEX-7 is one of the most exciting cameras of 2011, and a real breakthrough product in a number of key areas.”
One more thing: First picture of the NEX-7 Nauticam housing (Click here).
Tamron 18-200mm
As you know Tamron released the first lens for the NEX system and Mike Kobal (Click here) tested the 18-200mm lens. Not that such a lens was really neede as we already have the Sony 18-200mm lens :(
Anyway, Mike also had that Sony lens but the Tamron is “a little smaller, lighter and has two additional lens elements. The built quality of both lenses is excellent“. Soem more image samples have been posted here on Flickr (Click here).
30mm macro
And the 30mm macro lens for NEX has been reviewed at SLRgear (Click here): “With good results for sharpness, corner shading and distortion, the only hesitation might be higher-than-desired results for chromatic aberration, but even that is treatable with post-processing.“. SonyAlphaLab (Click here) tested the lens on the NEX-7:”The contrast and color are also decent from what I’ve taken so far. The lens Bokeh is not the prettiest I’ve seen, but it is nice and smooth which is still very pleasing to the eye. Based on these initial test shots only, I would have to highly recommend this lens.”
Click those links to check if the lens is in Stock: [shopcountry 10041].
As I told you a week ago Sony delayed the A99 fullframe camera release to September in order to have enough time to evaluate the A77 customer reaction. On the video on top Caleb Pike is highlighting some of the “limits” of the A77 the A99 should try to solve. I hope Sony will take notice of these because I really want my A99 to be as close to perfection as possible :)
I am one of those guys waiting for the 50mm f/1.8 E-mount lens and finally Sony is giving is a clue about the possible release date. Sony Japan (Click here) writes:
NEX-5n with 18-55 and 55-200mm lens release on May 12
50mm f/1.8 release on March 9
NEX-C3 with 18-55 and 55-200mm (production stop!)
NEX-C3 with 16mm and 18-55 lens release in June
NEX-C3 with 18-55 (production stop!)
My guess is that soon all [shoplink 7207]Sony NEX-C3[/shoplink] kits will be disocntinued pretty much like the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink]. I guess you know what will happen soon :)
SLR magic manager asked me if I could post a POLL for you. They want to know which kind of wide angle lens you would like them to make for your NEX camera. There are four options. It’s important to know that the price and size of the lens will increase with the wideness of the angle. That means that the 10mm f/2.0 lens will be bigger and cost more than the 12mm f/1.8. Price will be somewhere between 600-800 Euro. This would be completely new designed lenses for the NEX system!
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SLR magic already made three lenses for the NEX system:
[shoplink 11186 ebay]The 28mm f/2.8 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 11187 ebay]The 35mm f/1.7 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 11185 ebay]The 50mm f/0.95 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]