Lots of Sony 50mm for NEX reviews!

Share

[shoplink 8448]

[/shoplink]I particularly like cheap and good quality lenses. And the [shoplink 8448]Sony 50mm f/1.8[/shoplink] for NEX is certainly one of them. Too bad it’s not available in black as the silver color really doesn’t look nice on my [shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink]. Anyway, here are a couple of test you have to read if you are currently considering to buy the lens:

Joseph Eckert (Click here) posted a new 5mm for NEX lens test: “The price is pretty good for a lens with this large an aperture, and combined with decent sharpness this can make a good portrait lens. But make sure you know exactly why you are buying this, otherwise it might end up sitting around in your bag.

Also 3D-Kraft (Click here) is busy testing the lens. And actually he compared the lens with the 10 times more expensive Leica Summilux: “you still see an advantage for the (10 times more expensive) Summilux, which has about half a stop wider aperture and is able to render a perfectly creamy bokeh. But the E 1.8/50 OSS can make some points with autofocus and optical stabilization which helps a lot in more agile situations.

And the Flemish website Nexblog (Click here to read the google translation) compared the 50mm F/1.8 E-mount vs. Minolta 50mm F/1.4 RS ([shoplink 11596 ebay]Click here to see the Minolta lens on eBay[/shoplink]).

One more thing: Readers from USA, Canada and Germany sent me emails to say that the lens is currently shipping in their countries. Here is the list of shops (click on names) I usually check to see when it’s in Stock. Good Luck!
[shoplist 8448]

 

Share

(SR5) Good news! A77/A65 firmware 1.05 coming on March 29!

Share


Here is the A77/A65 firmware info (Click on image to enlarge).

Finally some good news! The new A77/A65 firmware will arrive on March 29th. And here is the firmware update features list:

1) Expanded the number of automatic compensation compliant lenses (6 lens)
[shoplink 4419]24/2 ZA[/shoplink]  [shoplink 6052]85/1.4 ZA[/shoplink]  [shoplink 10337]135/1.8 ZA[/shoplink]
[shoplink 11583]70-300/4.5-5.6 G[/shoplink] [shoplink 6422]DT35/1.8[/shoplink] [shoplink 11584]DT50/1.8[/shoplink]

2) Improvement of response
・Improvement of response for Auto review
(Display of [Processing] will not appear)
・Shorten time lag between power SW operation and power off
・Improvement of response for front/rear dial and mode dial
・Improvement of response in play back mode

3) Improve AF response with 500mmF4 lens

4) Improvement of AF accuracy for low contrast objects

5) Improvement of compatibility of Minolta lens
[Konica Minolta] 1.4X TELE CONVERTER APO X [Konica Minolta] AF APO 300/2.8
[Konica Minolta] 2.0X TELE CONVERTER APO X [Konica Minolta] AF APO 300/2.8
[Konica Minolta] 1.4X TELE CONVERTER APO X [Konica Minolta] AF APO 600/4

The great news is the response improvement. There is no info about possible JPEG quality improvements.

Sony A77 at [shopcountry 8461].
Sony A65 at [shopcountry 8459].

Share

(SR2) A Sony camera roadmap for 2012-2013?

Share

Our Chinese readers shared a link to a XITEK post from a mysterious source. Our Chinese readers said he is a good source but I have no records about him so please take everything with a grain of salt. I repeat this is not a rumor from MY trusted sources!

Here is the camera roadmap from Sony according to the Chinese source:

SLR:
a600, 1830 megapixel, 2012 (March) -> The [shoplink 5509]A580 successor[/shoplink]
a950 (a1), 36 million pixels, 2013 (February) -> The [shoplink 3032]A900 successor[/shoplink]

SLT:
a37, 16 million pixels, 2012 (March) -> The [shoplink 7419]A580 successor[/shoplink]
a57, 16 million pixels, 2012 (May) -> The [shoplink 3617]A580 successor[/shoplink]
a99, 24 million pixels, 2012 (September)

NEX
NEX-F3 2012 (March) -> The [shoplink 3000]NEX-C3 successor[/shoplink]
NEX-5G, 18.3 million pixels, 2012 (September) -> The [shoplink 8452]NEX-5n successor[/shoplink]
Fullframe NEX in late 2013.

I would be really (positively) surprised if Sony would launch an optical viewfinder DSLR. I hope it’s true but I am very very sceptical! But just for fun, let’s do a poll to let Sony know what of the “rumored” cameras you would like to see for real:

Will you preorder the new Tamron FE lens?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

 

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!

Share

Worldwide Sony lens price increase coming in April :(

Share

First we had that price increase in Hong Kong, than the rumored price increase in USA. Now one of my trusted sources told me that Sony is going to increase the price almost EVRYEWHERE :( This means that also European and other Asian countries will see new price increases. I don’t have exact info about how much the prices will raise. I only know you will see them in April

For now our USA readers can enjoy an Instant Rebate action at Bhphoto (Click here). It last until March 3th. And from April 1 the party is over with the following price increase:

Model Effective 9/1/11 Effective 4/1/12 Price Diff
SAL1635Z $1,899.99 $1,999.99 $100.00
SAL1680Z $849.99 $999.99 $150.00
SAL2470Z $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL24F20Z $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL85F14Z $1,499.99 $1,699.99 $200.00
SAL135F18Z $1,599.99 $1,799.99 $200.00
SAL70300G $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL70400G $1,799.99 $1,999.99 $200.00
SAL35F14G $1,399.99 $1,499.99 $100.00
SAL300F28G $6,299.99 $6,999.99 $700.00
SAL100M28 $749.99 $799.99 $50.00
SAL1118 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL135F28 $1,299.99 $1,399.99 $100.00
SAL14TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL16105 $649.99 $699.99 $50.00
SAL1650 $699.99 $799.99 $100.00
SAL16F28 $899.99 $999.99 $100.00
SAL18250 $599.99 $649.99 $50.00
SAL1855/BQ $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL20F28 $649.99 $749.99 $100.00
SAL20TC $499.99 $549.99 $50.00
SAL2875 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SAL35F18 $199.99 $219.99 $20.00
SAL50F14 $399.99 $449.99 $50.00
SAL50F18 $149.99 $169.99 $20.00
SAL50M28 $529.99 $599.99 $70.00
SAL85F28 $249.99 $299.99 $50.00
SEL18200 $799.99 $899.99 $100.00
SEL24F18Z $999.99 $1,099.99 $100.00
SEL30M35 $249.99 $279.99 $30.00
no price increase:
SAL18200 $549.99 $549.99 $0.00
SAL1870 $179.99 $179.99 discontinued
SAL30M28 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL55200/2 $199.99 $199.99 $0.00
SAL70200G $1,999.99 $1,999.99 $0.00
SAL75300 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL16F28 $249.99 $249.99 $0.00
SEL1855 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL50F18 $299.99 $299.99 $0.00
SEL55210 $349.99 $349.99 $0.00
Share

Sony removes the A900 from their stores…

Share

[shoplink 3032][/shoplink]
Some of our readers noticed that Sony US (Click here) completely removed the A850 and A900 from their stores. A month ago we reported how Sony Japan announced the production stop of the current FF DSLR cameras. Now they are completely gone from the Sony website. A bit pity that we still have to wait until September to see the new Sony FF model. As you know this is an SLT camera with 24 Megapixel and 50-102.400 ISO. The camera is already being tested by photographers and I should get some more info soon.

A personal note: What I will miss form the [shoplink 3032]A900[/shoplink] is the superb 100% viewfinder. It was really the best!

Here are the search links to the last two FF cameras with optical viewfinder (you may will not find them anymore):
Sony A900 [shopcountry 3032].
Sony A850 [shopcountry 3028].

Share

Sony TidBits (A77, NEX-7, Tamron and more tests!)

Share

Cotton Coulson used the Sony A77 and NEX VG-20 to shot the video you see here on top: “Both of these cameras are wonderful to work with, each in their own way. For straight video shooting I prefer the ergonomics of the NEX VG-20, but if your primary mission is to shoot stills and at the same time shoot some video clips, the A77 is the way to go. In a perfect world you might own both. I have shot video with the SONY professional model EX-3, and these two cameras (along with the NEX-7) offer tremendous advantage, light, portable, and high quality for in the field documentary work, which is what we do.

Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC NEX Lens Review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Those looking for a convenient lens that covers a wide range of focal lengths for their Sony NEX camera should be pleased with the performance from this Tamron optic. Sharpness levels are good for a lens of this type and with a price set almost £100 less expensive than the Sony equivalent it represents pretty good value too.

Sony NEX-7 video samples with the new Tamron and Rokinon lenses at SonyAlphaLab (Click here).

Sample test crops from the Tamron NEX 18-200mm and Sony NEX 55-210mm (Photojottings).

Sony NEX-5n review at Trustedreviews (Click here).

What’s In the Bag? Sony Artisan Brian Smith at ThePhoBlographer (Click here).

Sony booth CP+ report at Ctec3 (Click here).

Share

New Madoka fisheye lens for NEX.

Share

Click on the image to see the full size version!

After Samyang, Sigma and Tamron also Yasuhara announced a new lens for the NEX system. It is the Madoka 180, a fisheye lens with 180 degrees. Yasuhara is a small japanese company that has a long history of making Leica clones ([shoplink 11556 ebay]click here to see the Yasuhara Type 1 M-mount camera[/shoplink]). What follows is the official press release text (via Yasuhara.eu)

Yasuhara announced a new fisheye lens for Mirrorless cameras Sony, Olympus and Panasonic with Sony NEX (E-mount) and micro 4/3 mount. It will be called “Madoka 180” (180 degrees). Links below direct to two image samples you can find on Yasuhara.eu page in full size version.
Madoka 180 image sample No. 1
Madoka 180 image sample No. 2

Here are the basic specs of the Sony E-mount version:

  • The lens will have f/4 aperture
  • Compact  size
  • Length: about 40mm
  • Diameter: about 60mm
  • Weight: about 200g

The first Yasuhara Madoka will be released for Sony E mount this spring. Madoka will be available for sale on Yasuhara.eu page at the end of March – begining of April 2012. The company is planning to release also a special software for the images taken with Madoka lenses.

Share