A critic of the Sony strategy by Photojottings.

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Sony is active on three fornts, the NEX system, the APS-C system and the Full Frame system. But despite all the (well deserved) merit for launching new tehcnologies (like SLT or mirrorless) there are still many things that we are missing. Sony is still very slow in releaseing new NEX lenses while they are (too?) fast in releaseing new NEX cameras. All current FUll Frame models are disocntinued but there is no new A99 camera yet, we still need more lenses (primes and zooms) for the SLT system and so on.

Photojottings (Click here) analyzed the past and present Sony camera/lens strategy and came out with a very provocative statement: “My hope is that Sony abandons the full frame market, (too heavy, too expensive, totally unnecessary now for good images) and concentrates its resources on bringing out more inexpensive, but excellent quality lenses for its APS-C market, and making the NEX cameras capable of phase detect focusing without the adapter, with the addition of more great lenses like the [shoplink 8448]CZ 24/1.8[/shoplink], and a high quality zoom or two.”

What’s your opinion on that???

P.S:: Good Luck in finding the “old” FF DSLR:
Sony A900 [shopcountry 3032].
Sony A850 [shopcountry 3028].

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(SR5) New Sony RGBW sensor coming in compact camera by end of the year!

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From time to time I post patents describing many new technologies like organic sensors and “foveon” alike vertical alligned pixels and so on. But as you know most of the time these patents just remain….patents. Now many top sources confirmed that there will be a new sensor design made for compact cameras. Sony will launch some compact cameras (with small sensor) by end of the year having a new RGBW sensor. It means it will have Red-Greeen-Blue and White sensible pixels. That new pattern will allow an increased dynamic range. I have no clue yet if that kind of sensor will sooner or later also find his way on larger APS-C an FF sensor. Certainly not within this year!

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Rumor roundup: Fixed lens APS-C camera to be announced in Summer. Hybrid E-A mount cam in 2013.

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I am being asked by some SAR readers what’s the news on the fixed lens APS-C model and the Hybrid camera concept. The news I have says that the APS-C camera with fixed lens a là [shoplink 11547 ebay]DSC-R1 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] will arrive this summer and compete against the Canon G1 X ($799). Like the Canon it uses a very compact zoom lens and not a prime lens like the Sigma DP series the Fuji X100 and Leica X1.

The hybrid E-A or (A-E?) mount camera that will bring full support for both lens systems is still in being developed and will not come before 2013. At that stage I really don’t know how this camera will look and what exactly Sony wants to do in terms of design and features. How this will work remains a bit of a mystery. I only can think on a similar solution of the Zeiss Ikon Contax I, II and III that can still be found [shoplink 10295 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink].

After the May 17th NEX-F3 and Sony A37 announcement I will intensively work on the next A99 Full Frame camera release. I am crossing my finger that this will become a great camera!

 

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New A77 versus K5 torture test (and a Nikon D800 review).

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ThePhoBlographer (Click here) compared the ISO results of the A77 with the Pentax K5. As you may know also the (in my opinion very good) K5 uses a Sony sensor. The reviewer writes: “The A77 has two things working against it in these tests, I believe. First is the fact that the sensor has a significantly higher megapixel count than the Pentax K-5, and cramming more pixels onto an APS-C sensor will generally add to the noise. The other issue I noticed though, is the inability to be able to turn off noise reduction.”
Do you agree?

Speaking of Sony sensors used by other brands Dpreview (Click here) just published the full Nikon D800 review which they say uses a Nikon designed sensor. As I told you many times this sensor is basically a Sony sensor with Nikon engineered tweaks. Let’s see if Sony will release a similar high reoslution camera in 2013!

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(SR5) A Sony NEX-F5 is also coming this summer!

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The Sony NEX-5n has proven to be a very good camera and a real hotseller (right now on top at Amazon). But according to our top sources Sony is ready to launch an improved version this summer! It will be called Sony NEX-F5 (and as you know the NEX-F3 is coming on May 17th). I have no specs yet but I have been told there will be improvement in all aspects of the camera (image quality, video quality, screen, usability). As usual if you heard something about the NEX-F5 feel free to drop me a message :)

P.S.: There is a $50 instant rebate on the NEX-5n at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And the super 50mm f/1.8 lens is also in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

A personal message: For days now I am working in the middle of nowhere. There is a low speed Internet connection, and I have to write articles with my iPhone in order to save energy. That’s why you will see a huge amount of typos and why I am not answering your mails. I may post a picture of the place where I am later :)

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Voigtlander 75mm f/1.8 tested on the NEX-7

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Image courtesy: Photozone.

Klaus from Photozone is really doing an amazing job by testing lenses on his new Sony NEX-7. He just published the next lens review (Click here). As you know the NEX-7 requires tp quality lenses to get out the most from the super resolution 24 Megapixel sensor. Klaus tried the new Voigtlander Heliar 75mm f/1.8, a $759.95 M-mount lens (here at Amazon). Good to hear that this is a lens that does a good job: “On Sony NEX (APS-C) the full format lens delivers pretty good results from a user perspective. At large apertures the center performance is fine, and that’s where it counts here, whereas the border performance is rather soft.”

Klaus still has to test the Zeiss 24mm lens which I expect to be best overall performer on the NEX-7. Too bad it’s still hard to find in some countries (like USA). Here are some search links. Good Luck!
Zeiss for NEX at [shopcountry 8450].
NEX-7 at [shopcountry 8454].
Voigtlander 75mm on [shoplink 12505 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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