Thom Hogan about the NEX-5: best sensor but bad usability

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Thom Hogan tested the four most popular compact mirrorless cameras (The Olympus E-PL1, Panasonic GF1, Samsung NX100 and the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink]). The Sony has the best sensor of the four but because of the lack of lenses and a bad handling he cannot recommend the camera: “I can’t really recommend the Sony NEX-5 directly. It’s actually quite good in image quality, especially if you need higher ISO values, and the 16mm f/2.8 lens makes for a very compact wide angle walkaround camera. Sony’s problem is three-fold. First, like Samsung, the lenses just aren’t there yet. Second, many of the lenses just absolutely drawf the camera body, and that starts to make the camera less desirable as a “compact.” Finally, the non-standard user interface and simplified control system is either going to get you swearing at the camera or you’re going to learn to like it. But I can’t predict that last bit, so don’t buy the Sony without actually trying it at a store first.

Read the full review at bythom.com

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New Aquatica AN-5 underwater housing for the Sony NEX-5.

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In October 2010 Aquatica announced the new [shoplink 4815]Sony-NEX-5 underwater housing[/shoplink]. The housing shell is anodized and powder coated to a smooth finish that will resist years of extensive use, all controls are double sealed in order to face the 300ft/90 meter depth rating assign to this housing, every shaft and push button is manufactured to a mirror smooth surface and is made of the finest grade stainless steel. Given the absence of a regular view finder our design staff integrated a 15 degree of angle to the rear LCD screen; this was done to give the user a much more comfortable position for viewing in diving conditions. To accommodate the Sony Nex-5 lenses a series of compact port were designed for its range of optics as well as an adapter that will allow the mounting of our current line of ports, this will be appreciated in light of the extended range lenses now available via the various camera mount adapters available for this already popular camera.

[shoplink 4815]The AN-5 underwater housing is now available on eBay (Click here)[shoplink 4815]!

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UPDATED: Sony US instante rebates still ongoing

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I wanted to remind you that the Sony US instante rebates are still ongoing! I don’t know how long it will last but the some of the price drops are very appealing. Like the -$200 on the A900 and the -$100 on the A850.

Click the direct shop links to buy the camera:

Sony NEX $50.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony A580 $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A33 $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A850 $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A900 $200.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.

And here the detailed discount (Click on store name):

Sony 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT Lens $50.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens $50.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DT $50.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 $50.00 Instant Savings Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM Lens $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 30mm f/2.8 DT Lens $25.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 35mm f/1.4G Lens $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 35mm f/1.8 SAM Lens $25.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 50mm f/1.8 DT AF Lens $25.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO SSM $150.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM Lens $50.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM Lens $25.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 135mm f/2.8 Lens $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 300mm f/2.8 SSM Lens $100.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto.

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Sony announces the DSLR-A900/A850 firmware upgrade…Download it!

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Image courtesy: http://www.hkmug.org/

Sony Europe just announced the new firmware. You can download it here: http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/DSLR/dslr.aspx.

Let me know if you are happy with the new improvements! Thanks!

UPDATE: Japanese firmware version:
For the A850
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/DSLR/UUnXMtUM/DSLRA850v20.exe?fm=jp
For the A900
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/DSLR/UUnXMtUM/DSLRA900v20.exe?fm=jp

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SanDisk, Sony and Nikon proposed Industry Standards for Next-Generation High-Speed Memory Card Format

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PRESS RELEASE:

Companies Jointly Develop New Specifications to Meet Needs of Professional Photography and Video Markets

Milpitas, Calif., November 29, 2010-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), Nikon Corporation and Sony Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)1, the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.

Professional photography and High Definition (HD)2 video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.

The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec)3 (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express4 interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA)5 interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.

The new specifications’ faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.

In addition to industry-leading performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new specifications have the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond two terabytes (TB)6, making them especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size to a CompactFlash® card, the new specifications’ access control function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models.

This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,” said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon, chairman of the board, CFA. “This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs.”

The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment,” said Mr. Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, vice president and general manager, development headquarters, imaging company, Nikon Corporation.

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New Sony 85mm F/2.8 SAM review by Kurtmunger.com!

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Kurt Munger posted a new interesting Sony 85mm F/2.8 SAM review. After long detailed testing he says: “Sony comes up with another winner in their high performance, low cost easy choice lens series“.

That’s a perfect lens if you want to carry a light lens. If you need a faster lens you have to get the much more expensive Sony/Zeiss 85mm f/1.4.

We also found a comaprison between the Sony 85mm and the Tamron 90mm lens at Sonyuserforum.de.

Check out price and availability clicking the direct shop links:
Amazon, BHphoto, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Pixmania DE, Pixmania BE, Pixmania AT, Pixmania UK, Pixmania NL, Pixmania PL, Pixmania IT, Pixmania FR

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(SR5) Exclusive on SonyAlphaRumors: the Sony A850/900 firmware upgrade press release and powerpoint presentation!!!

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SonyAlphaRumors is pelased to inform you that Sony will release a new Sony A850/A900 firmware on December 2th. According to our sources Sonys goal is to contribute current users to stay in the Sony system, by showing Sony is supporting and caring them and to push the Christmas year-end sales. That’s why they are offering the $100.00 Instant Savings on the A850 (Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto) and the $200 Instant Savings on the A900 (Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto). An anonymous source sent us the full press release + powerpoint presentation (Click here to see the presentation at docshare.com). Here is the official press release with the new firmware enhancements:

Press Release (2nd December 2010)

Sony announces free DSLR-A900/A850 firmware upgrade
Creative shooting enhancements for full-frame α cameras

A free firmware upgrade refines shooting responses and creative options with the α900 and α850 35mm full-frame DSLR cameras by Sony.
All new and existing customers are advised to install the upgrade that’s available for download from the ‘Support’ area of the Sony web site.
Autofocus is quicker and more responsive than ever, thanks to improved AF motor control and smarter distance detection of out-of-focus objects.

Creative options are extended by a broadened range of exposure value (EV) compensation settings, now increased from ±3EV to ±5EV. Selected compensation value is displayed in the navigation display on the main LCD screen of both cameras. This boosted EV compensation range gives extra
headroom when composing extremely high- or low-key images.

Exposure bracketing range has also been increased from a maximum of 4.0EV (three shots at -2EV, 0EV, +2EV) to a maximum of 6.0EV (-3EV, 0EV, +3EV). This wider range gives added flexibility when capturing multiple frames at different exposure values – for example when acquiring images for the creation of powerful post-shooting HDR effects.

As a further refinement, a new menu option allows shutter release to be enabled, even when the camera body doesn’t detect an attached lens. It’s useful for specialist applications such as astrophotography when the camera is attached to a telescope.

The latest firmware upgrade by Sony for registered α900 and α850 DSLR customers is available free of charge from http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/DSLR/dslr.aspx.

– Ends –

Thanks to all our sources!

P.S.: Click here to see all Sony camera and lens Instante Rebates!

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