New Lens reviews roundup!

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[shoplink 7568 ebay][/shoplink]
Jhpvideotutorials posted a new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC review: “this Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC lens is a little bit soft wide open at f/1.4, but still totally usable. The edges suffer the most from the softness, but the center of the frame is not to bad.  The softness slowly goes away as you approach f/2.8, and then it’s nice and sharp across the whole frame.”
Click those direct search links to check price and availability of the lens at [shopcountry 7567].

And again Jhpvideotutorials posted a Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G(D) SSM Lens Hands on Review: “it’s very sharp across at all aperture’s, but tack sharp from f/4-f/8. The Bokeh is also very nice and the optical flaws such as chromatic aberrations and vignetting are minimal and any raw processing program can fix it with ease. The only negative to this lens in my opinion is the price”
Click those direct search links to check price and availability of the lens at [shopcountry 7568].

Focus Numerique tested the Tamron SP 60 mm f/2 Macro Di II which is also available for Alpha Mount.
Click those direct search links to check price and availability of the lens at [shopcountry 7569].

Fotasy 35mm f/1.7 lens tested on a Sony NEX-3 at Seriouscompacts: “No doubt that this setup is not the end all in the quest for small camera/high IQ/low cost, but for now, it has won a spot near the top of my camera bag and I highly recommend it to anyone who is either looking for a low cost solution or who would like to take a step back from pixel peeping and enjoy a care free, creative shooting experience.”
P.S.: I don’t knwo where to find that lens ut usually you can find that stuff on [shoplink 7576 ebay]eBay only[/shoplink].

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(SR2) More mistery rumors: A V3 “NEX-styled” Alpha camera.

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[shoplink 7546 ebay][/shoplink]
As you know I am getting a couple of these “crazy” rumors about a NEX PRO camera with A-mount (yeah at first glance this is a nonsense). I can feed the mystery story with a new piece of information I received from a new mysterious source. That’s what I got last night: “A pro “nex style” with A mount is in the works. It has a DSC-V3 style to it.” I posted the picture of the camera on top and you can find that camera on [shoplink 7546 ebay]eBay only (Click here)[/shoplink]. One of the key info here is that the source said it’s a “NEX style” camera! So probably we are talking about an A-mount camera without viewfinder! That starts to makes a sense now! Could that be the third Alpha camera that will be announced along the A77 and A65?

Reminder: That is what another source told me two days ago: “The “nex pro” will indeed use the A-mount. Sony is marketing towards professionals who want it as a main camera and even as a 2nd camera. It may also have the standard Sony SLR/TLR shoe mount.”

One more thing: Be sure to follow SAR daily….I am working on many rumors!!! And thanks to all source for sending me info. I hope you understand that i usually try to doublecheck the info before to post the info you send to me :)

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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Sony market share in Japan (slowly getting closer to Nikon and Canon!)

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The Japanese website BCNranking displayed the latest data about the Japanese camera market. There are a couple of interesting points:

Most sold cameras with interchangeable lenses (May 2011):
The first two position are held by the two entry level cameras from Nikon and Canon. The best placed Sony camera is the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] on Pos. 7 with 5.3% volume share. In Japan NEX cameras are more popular than the Sony SLT and DSRL cameras. Take into consideration that in Japan one third of all sold system cameras are mirrorless!

Mirrorless Market Share (January to May 2011):
Olympus volume share is 37.95% of the whole mirrorless camera. Right behind you find Sony (32.02%) and than Panasonic (30.03%). The year 2010 ended with following shares Panasonic (38.7%), Sony (32.2%), Olympus (29.1%). As you see Sony didn’t gain any market share. I guess one of the main reason could be the lack of new NEX lenses :(

Market share for all interchangeable cameras:
If you count the all interchangeable cameras (Mirrorless and DSLR) than Canon leads with 29.3%, followed by Nikon (27.4%), Sony (15.0%), Olympus (12.7%) and Panasonic (9.7%). Canon and Nikon both loosed market share during the last months. Sony made small steps forward but I guess the upcoming new A77 A65 and NEX-7 can give them a new sales boost.

You can’t have those detailed sales details in other countries. The only very unreliable and partial measurement for non japanese countries are the Amazon TOP sold camera rankings:
Amazon US rankings (Click here)
Amazon DE rankings (Click here)
Amazon UK rankings (Click here)
Amazon FR rankings (Click here)
Amazon IT rankings (Click here)

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(SR2) A Nex Pro with A-mount???

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Sometimes I get rumors from new sources that are very difficult to “believe”. I hope my trusted sources can confirm or deny the following rumor:

“The “nex pro” will indeed use the A-mount. Sony is marketing towards professionals who want it as a main camera and even as a 2nd camera. It may also have the standard Sony SLR/TLR shoe mount.”

It’s not the first time I get rumors about an A-mount NEX camera. To me that doesn’t make sense at all. And for you? I hope the new soruce that sent me this is not offended by the low rumor rating but I wasn’t able to confirm it with my trusted sources. Anyway, I hope you are right because I like the other rumors you sent me too!!! :) Thanks!

 

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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POLL: Should Sony re-establish the “Rokkor” brand on Sony lenses?

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[shoplink 7518 ebay][/shoplink]
Some “higher forces” asked me to publsih this poll to ask the community if they would like Sony to re introduce the “Rokkor” brand on future lenses. This would help to get away from those boring names like “SAL-30M28” or “DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM Lens” and anchor the future lenses on a glorious past. You can read a bit of history at Camerapedia, Alphatracks, and Minolta.rokkor.de.

You can still get [shoplink 7518 ebay]Rokkor lenses on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and use them on your NEX cameras!

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P.S.: Don’t ask me who those “higher forces” are :)

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(SR4) Nikon D4 uses a new Sony sensor!

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A couple of days ago I asked my sources if the future Nikon FF cameras will still use Sony sensors. They gave me all the same answer…YES! The upcoming new D4 will indeed use a new Sony sensor which will be “tweaked” by Nikon engineers. The same sensor will be used by the future Sony FF translucent camera that will be announced in 2012! I am not sure yet about the D4 sensor specs, I know for certain that Sony developed two sensors (probably a 24MPX and a 36MPX FF sensor). The current Nikon D3X ([shoplink 7512]Click here ot see that camera[/shoplink]) has a Sony 24 megapixel sensor which is "almost" the same as the one used for the Sony A900 ([shoplink 3032 ebay]Click here ot see that camera[/shoplink]). I hope to learn more about the new FF Sony sensors soon!

One more thing: I am working on new NEX-7 and A77 rumors. Stay tuned this week. There will be some cool news!!!

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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(SR4) Two sources confirm the launch of the NEX-7 in late August (same A77 sensor)

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This is not a new rumor but just a confirmation! Some of you (and me too) were worried that the NEX-7 announcement might would have been delayed for a very long time. Todaye my sources confirmed the NEX-7 will be announced along the A77 in late August.  SO we don’t have to wait that much! The only reliable info I have about the camera is that it will use the same amazing 24 Megapixel sensor of the A77. There were also rumors about the NEX-7 having a [shoplink 6005 ebay]Minolta Dimage A2 look (Click here to see that camera on eBay)[/shoplink]. But I have no confirmation about that.

One more thing: I am still in touch with some A77 and full frame camera testers. Should get some more exciting news soon!

Stay tuned on SAR!
Andrea

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