Sony DSLR and David Bittner
Nikonos underwater lens adapter for Sony NEX ([shoplink 4931]eBay[/shoplink]).
Using the Sony NEX-5 with Leica Lenses by Paul Barclay (Steve Huff).
Sony DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM Interchangeable Lens Review (ePhotozine).
Nikon D3100 vs Sony NEX-5 at Dpreview.
Sony just filed a new patent which discloses a new translucent camera design. It looks like Sony wants to create a sort of [shoplink 3003]NEX[/shoplink]-Translucent hybrid camera ;)
UPDATE: The patent clearly shows a A-mount camera (not a NEX E-mount).
Sony wants to get rid of the electronic viewfinder to reduce the size of the new SLT camera. The new camera looks like a NEX camera although it will be certainly be much thicker because of the semitransparent mirror.
Let’s read the official patent description:
“In recent single-lens reflex digital cameras, a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is disposed on the back of a camera body such that an image inputted to an image pickup device can be viewed using the display. For example, there has been proposed a single-lens reflex digital camera, having no optical viewfinder, that allows a user to take photographs while the user checks an image using a display disposed on the back of a camera body. In such a structure, an autofocus detecting device is disposed at an upper position in the camera body and light reflected by a light-beam splitting mirror can be guided to the autofocus detecting device. However, when light-beam splitting mirrors disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are used, the light quantity of transmitted light guided to an image sensor is increased compared with that of reflected light to improve the quality of photographed images. As a result, the light quantity of photographing light guided to an autofocus detecting device becomes insufficient.“….”The present invention can provide a light-weight small-size digital camera.”
And there is one more interesting news. Depending on the light wavelength the mirror reflects more or less light: “A sufficient quantity of subject light can be guided to an autofocus detecting device by adjusting the reflectivity to light with a wavelength to which the autofocus detecting device has high sensitivity to 25% or more and 35% or less, which can solve a problem in that light quantity becomes insufficient for autofocus detecting“…”When autofocus auxiliary light is used to perform photographing on a subject having a low contrast or in a dark place, the returned light out of the autofocus auxiliary light can be reflected at a reflectivity higher than that of light having a different wavelength and guided to the autofocus detecting device“.
As usual keep in mind that patents are not real products (for now)!
Cgarrard from Alphamountworld published the second part of the Sony A580 review: “Sony’s A580 is the most fun to use DSLR that Sony has produced to date. I’ve used every Sony DSLR they have manufactured, owned most of them, but this one has yet to leave my side.” And how does the A580 compare with the Translucent A55? “In comparison to the SLT series I believe that less video and a couple other mentionables, the A580 is a superior value to an Alpha photographer.”
As you know Cgarrard lately critized Sony products strategy. So the fact he likes the A580 a lot is good news for us and for Sony ;)
And the good news is that unlike the A55 the A580 is in Stock almost everywhere:
Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Pixmania DE, Pixmania BE, Pixmania AT, Pixmania UK, Pixmania NL, Pixmania PL, Pixmania IT.
Image courtesy: Quesabesde
One of the most popular cameras on the world wide web is the Fuji X100 prototype (yes it’s not on market now!). And I just read an interesting Interview on Quesabesde where Hiroshi Kawahara, Operations Manager at Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Products Division talks about the FinePix X100:
“Question: It has been said that the sensor used is similar to that seen in some Nikon SLR cameras, and therefore manufactured by Sony. Can this information be confirmed?
Answer: The sensor of the FinePixX100 is customized to match its lens. We should point out that the most important thing is not who produces the technology but the technology in itself, and in this sense Fujifilm optimizes its technologies depending on the photographic result being pursued at any given time.”
So after Nikon and Pentax now even Fuji is using Sony sensors? It would be nice if Fuji could give us something back, would love to see a NEX camera with that cool Hybrid Viewfinder!
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 SSM review at Photozone: “The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 SSM G can give you very good results on a full format DSLR but it is not a lens without issues.”
DSLRmagazine tested the [shoplink 2998]Sony 16mm E-mount lens[/shoplink]. Interesting, they compared the pre-production 16mm lens with the final production version. Good news, the lens we buy is much better!
[shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] Digiscoping with Kowa TSN-884 (SonyAlphaNex).
Carl Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 Biogon tested on the Sony NEX-5 (SLRgear)
Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: Digital cameras.
NEX-5 vs Leica M8 vs Canon 5d Mark II (SonyAlphaNex)
The Sony A55 is out of Stock since a long time (at least in US). So teh fact that Amazon has it in Stock right now might be a useful news for our US readers ;)
Click here: Sony A55 in Stock at Amazon.
Image courtesy: Photozone
Today I read the article where Ken Rockwell criticizes the Sony lenses. But maybe he should took a look at the following two tested by Photozone! Both lenses do deliver a very good and in case of the Zeiss an impressive image quality!
The Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM may not be as fast as its Canon and Nikon counterparts but it’s capable of delivering a better image quality at comparable aperture settings. Click here to read the review at Photozone. And don’t forget that there is a $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon
The Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM G impressed during our APS-C format test and it is capable of delivering high quality results within the full format scope as well. The build quality of the lens is very good and a step above than the mainstream. Click hee to read the review at Photozone. And also in that case you have a $50.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto!
And visit our full US Instante Rebates page (Click here)!!!
