Sony CES 2012 Press Conference Photos (Sonyrumors). Surprise Will Smith was there!
Images of the 500mm prototype lens at Clubic.
Sony CES booth at Photorumors.
ePhotozine unveils that Sony is working on 24 Megapixel compact cameras.
Sony Brings New Prototypes to CES 2012 (Blog.Sony , no camera stuff)
After posting that bad news about the A99 delay I will now cheer you up with a series of good news rumors :)
The first news is that unlike the original NEX roadmap where Sony showed three NEX lenses coming for 2012 there will be at least six new lenses this year! Sony NEX system success has been bigger than expected (by Sony managers) and they are aware that while the cameras are amazing the lens range is still lacking. That’s why the lens engineers are right now developing many new NEX lenses. You will not only see a new High Quality G standard zoom, wide angle zoom and telephoto lens. There will be pancake and other Zeiss lenses too! I am still collecting the details about the lens specifications. I hope to be able to post them soon. if you can help me with some info drop me a message by using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar. Every little piece of rumor helps me to avoid mistakes when publishing rumors. Thanks!
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By the way, the new Zeiss 24mm 1.8 is now in Stock at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) in Europe at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Sony Sweden (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here) and in Asia at Amazon JP (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
It’s still impossible to find the NEX-7 in other place than on [shoplink 8454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
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A pre-warning for you. A new Stock of NEX-7 bodies should arrive next week at BHphoto (Click here to preorder the camera). Again, order the NEX-7 body only if you need the camera now. the kit version will be available later. And the Zeiss lens is alreayd in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
There is another good news. The NEX-5n is back in Stock in small ammounts at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Time for a short recap of what’s happening at the CES show in Las Vegas. There is not a lot for us NEX and SLT users:
1) The image on top shows you the official images of the two new Sigma E-mount lenses. One is the 19mm f/2.8 (here on Sigma website) and the other one is the 30mm f/2.8 (here on Sigma website). There is no info yet about price and availability.
2) There is again that 500mm f/4.0 lens prototype for display (here is the image)
3) In general Sony is “using” the event to show their new compact cameras, bloggies, televisions (55 inch OLED!) and so on. You can find a list of the new products at Sony.blog (Click here). Sony booth images are available here at dpreview.
Rumors: While I had to give you that bad news about the A99 delay I will now soon post all the other rumors I got in these weeks. And there are many good things to tell you. You will not have to wait a lot to see new NEX and SLT stuff…promise!
The probably most popular Sony camera of the moment, the NEX-7 got a serious contender which is the Fuji X PRO 1. I share you some of my quick thoughts about the two cameras and you let me know if you agree or disagree with my short comparison:
Body quality (Fuji more solid, Nex lighter):
Top body quality is a characteristic I liked a lot back in the film camera age. Now on digital cameras this is becoming a tiny bit less important as your camera will not last for generation like film cameras. Highly electronic stuff will last for a couple of years or not survive your buyer instinct to buy a new much better camera after some time. While the Fuji X PRO 1 has a more solid feeling body the NX-7 is absolutely well made for being so much more lighter.
Usability (NEX wins):
I am surprised to say that, the Fuji X PRO 1 has absolutely beautiful looking controls but I think Sony TRI NAVI solution is far more faster and useful. You can customize it, it’s faster to use (I shot a while on the digital [shoplink 11073 ebay]Leica MP[/shoplink] and know how to use the dials that Fuji “copied”).
Viewfinder (Fuji wins, but not sure yet):
It looks like Fuji’s hybrid viewfinder is a real winner. You can have both, optical and electronic view of the scene. But the NEX-7 electronic viewfinder is surprisingly good and looking at the specs also better than the Fuji electronic viewfinder. I really have to test the Fuji to see if it is really a good solution.
Minor Features (NEX wins):
I like the Fuji film modes, but guys, the NEX-7 can do almost everything! Panorama mode, 3D and other stuff like that.
Image Quality (Fuj wins):
On paper it looks like Fuji made a step forward but I have to check a real photo comparison to be sure of it. My guess is that the difference between S PRO 1 and NEX-7 will be small with an edge for Fuji.
Video Quality (NEX wins):
There is no discussion, NEX-7 wins. Much better and advanced Codec!
Lens choice (Fuji wins if you look for prime lenses, but future is NEX):
It all depends from what you need. If you like me are a prime lens shooter than Fuji clearly made it right. I wish I could see those three lenses for NEX too:
Fuji 18mm f/2.0 lens.
Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens.
Fuji 60mm f/2.4 macro lens.
But I think in long term Sony could have the edge when it comes to video dedicated lenses and when you will see the new NEX roadmap :)
Price (NEX wins):
NEX-7 costs $1199 at Adorama (Click here).
Fuji X PRO 1 costs $1699 (price was dipslayed here at Amazon).
UPDATE: Is there a price change? Expansys USA (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here to see the preorder page)
Overall….NEX wins:
I am not a fanboy, and I am saying here that Fuji made a superb camera! But when it comes to balance price, features and usability the NEX-7 has still an edge. But that’s just my opinion based on the reviews I read and not on real world experience. And that is what counts at the end. So I am looking forward to get my hands on the Fuji.
P.S.: This is the NEX-7 full in Stock status check:
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It’s my obligation to inform you about new Sony camera stuff even if it’s not that really interesting :)
Sony announced the new Cyber-shot DSC-W630- W620- W610 – S5000 (Press release at Photographyblog). Probably cooler than any new compact camera is the just announced Sony Bloggie Sport (Press release at Photographyblog). It’s Water-, shock- and dustproof!
The two new Sigma NEX lenses are also official (Press release at ThePhoBlographer).
A few SAR reader sent me a link to Xitek images (Click here) that should “proof” that the new Fuji X PRO 1 camera is using a Sony fabricated sensor. To me this images do not prof anything and I highly doubt Sony is involved in that sensor technology.
P.S.: Our reader Leszek informed me that the A77 is in Stock in UK at Jacobs (Click here). It’s also in Stock at Amazon Japan (Click here).
Sigma is about to launch two new unspectacular lenses for the NEX system. The 19mm f/2.8 lens which at least from the size point of view is less interesting than the [shoplink 2998 ebay]Sony 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens[/shoplink]. And the 30mm macro lens which isn’t really a lens we needed since we already have the [shoplink 10041 ebay]Sony 30mm f/3.5 lens[/shoplink]. Damn Sigma, you should have done it better! You alreayd amke some awesome lens for Alpha mount! Like that nice 50mm f/1.5 for example. Next time ask SAR readers what they want ;)
Here is the press release text:
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN: Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN has the effective FOV of a 38mm lens on a full-frame DSLR, which should appeal to street photographers and photojournalists. Regardless of your choice of camera, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN features eight elements in six groups that include three aspheric lens surfaces to correct optical distortions, color aberration and unwanted field curvature. The new lens also sports an internal focusing system and Super Multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting while maintaining high contrast levels even when set at wider apertures. Other features include a new linear AF motor that eliminates mechanical gears or drives for quicker, near-silent focusing, seven rounded diaphragm blades for an attractive blur in out-of-focus areas, a 46mm filter thread, and a minimum focusing distance of 7.9″ (20cm).
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN: Extending a mere 1.5″ (38.6mm) from the front of the camera is Sigma’s new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN. This lens has a full-frame equivalent FOV of a 60mm lens when used on a NEX format mirrorless camera. The new Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN features seven elements in five groups including dual aspheric lenses and a double-sided aspheric lens that help control edge sharpness and chromatic aberration. As with Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens, the new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens includes Sigma’s newly developed linear AF system for smoother and quieter operation, Super Multi-Layer coating for optimized contrast levels and reduced flare, a 46mm filter thread, internal focusing and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8″ (30cm).
And than there is that new Sigma’s APO Macro 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens. It is the fastest 180mm macro lens on the market today, by about a half a stop. But the specialness of Sigma’s new high-speed macro goes beyond its f/2.8 maximum aperture.
Press release:
Shooting close-ups can be tricky, most notably when trying to capture life-size close-ups of skittish animals and insects without spooking them, or close-ups of small objects without casting your shadow on your subject. The longer focal length of Sigma’s 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM does away with many of these issues by allowing you to step back from your subject. The longer focal length also reduces optical distortions, which can be problematic when shooting close-ups, and also allows you isolate your subject from distracting foreground and background details, especially when used at its closest focusing points at wider apertures.
In addition to highly detailed life-size (1:1) image capture, Sigma’s 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM features three FLD glass elements, a floating internal focusing system, Super Multi-Layer coating, Sigma’s OS image stabilizing system, which enables the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops less than usually possible when shooting handheld, Hyper-Sonic AF focusing motors and a rounded nine-blade diaphragm for attractive bokeh.
