Zeiss Biogon 28mm and 35mm lenses tested on the NEX-5 (Photozone)

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[shoplink 7983 ebay][/shoplink]

Image courtesy: Photozone.

Let’s have some break from rumors! Klaus from Photozone (Click here) tested the Zeiss Biogon 28mm manual lens on the NEX-5: “The Zeiss Biogon T* 28mm f/2.8 may be a star on Leica M film cameras but it struggles somewhat with the Sony sensor in the NEX-5. The image quality is pretty much breathtaking in the image center but the border performance is actually much less impressive and in fact quite soft at large aperture settings. The border quality improves to very good levels (just) when stopping down though.

The Zeiss Biogon is an M-mount lens and you will need an M to E mount adapter to use it on a NEX ([shoplink 7984 ebay]Click here to see these adapters on eBay[/shoplink]). The lens itself costs around 800-1000 Euro/Dollars ([shoplink 7983 ebay]Click here to see the lenses on eBay[/shoplink]).

UPDATE: And today Photozone (Click here) tested the 35mm Biogon: “The Zeiss C Biogon T* 35mm f/2.8 is supposed to deliver great images on film but it doesn’t really harmonize well with the Sony sensor of the NEX-5. The center image quality is simply great even at max. aperture but the border resolution is somewhat disappointing especially considering the moderate base aperture. The borders are still good (just) at f/2.8 and increase steadily till f/8 towards very good (just) results.” The lens has the same price as the before mentioned 28mm biogon ([shoplink 7990 ebay]Click here to see the 35mm BIogon auctions on eBay[/shoplink]).

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(SR5) NEX-7 and A77 will be available in Japan on September 16 (announcement on August 24 confirmed).

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Our Japanese friends over at Digitcaminfo (Click here) said the Nex-7 and A77 will start to ship in Japan on September 16. It will ship in the rest of the world by early October (A77) and late October (NEX-7).

In the meanwhile our sources confirmed the announcement will take place on August 24 in Tokyo (Should be at around 6-7am London time). As you know you can follow the announcement on this website as we will cover you live with all first news, reviews, image samples and so on. On the same day also Nikon will announce their new stuff. My guess is the new FF cameras will be based on the “old” Sony 24 Megapixels sensor as I have heard the new Sony sensor (and camera) will be ready in early 2012 only. And Nikon will also announce a mirrorless system.

So don’t miss to be here on SAR on August 24 (6-7 am London time). Keep following us on Facebook, Twitter and follow our RSS-feed! And be sure to be here at SAR on August 24th!

Support this site: I am having a lot of fun to work on SAR. I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks :)

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DxOmark shows the Sony A35 sensor results (is as good as the A55)

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Image source: DxOmark.

You can read the latest A35 sensor review at DxOmark (Click here). As you can see from the overalls core the [shoplink 7419]A35[/shoplink] performs as well as the more expensive [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] but not as good as the last of all Sony DSRL cameras with OVF, the [shoplink 5509]A580[/shoplink]! This will bring some flame in the never ending Optica versus Electronic viewfinder rebate!
See the full detailed A35 vs A580 vs A55 comparison (Click here).

And check the mentioned camera availability and price:
A35 should be in Stock soon at [shopcountry 7419] (Click on shop names)
A55 recently saw some nice price drop at [shopcountry 3617] (Click on shop names)
A580 for all OVF lovers at [shopcountry 5509] (Click on shop names)

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(SR5) The Full A77, A65, NEX-7 and NEX-5N specs

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A77
24.3 MP Exmor HD CMOS sensor
19 points AF sensor with 11 cross sensors
ISO 100-16000, with expandeable ISO 50 option
1920 x 1080 60p/24p AVCHD 2.0
P/A/S/M manual controls while recording video
1200 zone metering
Completely new developed Bionz processor
12 fps
1/8000 shutter speed
TrueBlack 921k 3-way tilt LCD
3 million dot OLED viewfinder
Smart teleconverter function with 1.4x and 2.0x option
Built-in flash
Built-in GPS
Battery life with over over 500 shots
Magnesium alloy body
Dust and Moisture proof
Multi Frame NR
SD card (no CF!)

A65 (differences with the A77)
A77 has 19 point AF system with 11 cross sensors while the A65 has only 3 cross sensors.
A77 can do 12 fps while the A65 can do 10fps.
A77 has new 3 way tilting LCD, A65 has “classic” tilting LCD
A77 can do 50 ISO while A65 can not.
The A77 has a magnesium body while the A65 has not.
The A77 has 1/8000 shutter while A65 has a 1/4000 shutter
The A77 has a top LCD screen while the A65 has it not.
The A77 is Dust and Moisture proof while the A65 is not

NEX-7
24,3 Exmor HD sensor
100-16.000 ISO
1200 zone metering
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 (28Mbit/s) video recording
3 million dot XGA OLED viewfinder
3inch 921k TruBlack LCD display (touchscreen)
10 fps
20ms startup time
Built-in flash
New universal hot shoe
Battery life for over 400 shots
Magnesium alloy body

NEX-5N
16.1 MP Exmor sensor (Same us [shoplink 7207]Sony NEX-C3[/shoplink])
ISO 100-25600
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording
Shutter 1/4000
10 fps
Can take over 430 shots with one battery
Same AF speed as the GH2

VG-20
16 MPX Exmor sensor
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording
Can record stills in RAW
3 inch touchscreen (swifel)
audio level control
IR AVR remote

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(SR3) A NEX-7 one minute hands-on report…(Zeiss with leaf shutter?)

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I got a hands-on report made by one of my new sources. He saw the NEX-7 and Zeiss prototypes. The rumor is ranked with SR3 only because what he tested where prorotypes and might be a little bit different. For example I don’t knwo if what he saw was the final Zeiss version. My guess is that he tested a different version of the lens. Anyway, this is his text:

I can tell you though that the NEX-7 feels good in the hand. I only got to use the camera for about a minute but the EVF is superb. It reminds me of what it’s like looking at an iPhone retina display. You simply can’t see the pixels because they are so small. I didn’t see any rainbow effects and the refresh rate was super fast. There is still a tiny bit of lag when panning but it’s much improved. I tested it inside a somewhat dark restaurant, performance may be better in good lighting. Autofocus with the 24mm is very fast. It seems its almost as fast as the m43rd’s cameras. Maybe just a tiny bit slower but the important thing is that for single autofocus is as fast as anybody would practically need it to be.

About the Zeiss lens: I’m told Sony spent a lot of time and effort trying to not make the lens too big without compromising quality. I haven’t seen image quality first hand but I’m told its typical zeiss quality. Beautiful colors and a high amount of natural contrast.

The Nex-7 is also going to be expensive because it has a customized sensor. Sony, I’m told, has struggled a bit with getting good corners because of the short registration distance. Sony originally planned for the NEX to be marketed at consumers and didn’t realize it would be a hit with enthusiast too. To combat the short registration distance, they put in some micro offset lenses. All lenses will benefit from this, including legacy glass so people will see improved performance with their rangefinder lenses.

The one real surprising news I can share with you is that the 24mm zeiss has a leaf shutter! I was very surprised to find this out but Sony is going to market this as the modern day rangefinder for street photography. I was told they are filming a commercial showing the evolution of the rangefinder into the NEX-7. It will be posted online in the coming months. It won’t be on tv because Sony doesn’t expect the average consumer to buy this camera, they believe the 3 and 5 series is for them.
I was told that the 3million dot evf will make manual focusing a bit better as well.

I had my [shoplink 6075 ebay]X100[/shoplink] with me and I can tell you that the X100 vs NEX-7+24mm Zeiss is going to be a tremendous fight. The NEX is quieter than the X100 because you can hear the servo motor on the X100 while the Zeiss motor is dead silent.

You should tell your readers to hold off on buying the X100. I’m seriously contemplating selling my X100. I still prefer the OVF to the NEX EVF but overallt he NEX seems super impressive. The NEX-7 still has the same tilt screen which is useful for shooting from the hip.

 

Support this site: I am having a lot of fun to work on SAR. I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks :)

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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(SR5) A77 with ISO 50 to 16.000. A65 can do almost the same as the A77.

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I now have been told the A77 can go from 100 to 16.000 ISO and has the ability to shot even at 50 ISO if you need it. As you know the new sensor will feature a 24,3 Megapixel sensor. If you wonder about the A77 and A65 differences than I can tell you that:
1) A77 has 19 point AF system with 11 cross sensors while the A65 has only 3 cross sensors.
2) A77 can do 12 fps while the A65 can do 10fps.
3) A77 has new 3 way tilting LCD, A65 has “classic” tilting LCD
4) A77 can do 50 ISO while A65 can not.
5) The A77 has a magnesium body while the A65 has not.
6) The A77 has 1/8000 shutter while A65 has a 1/4000 shutter
7) The A77 has a top LCD screen while the A65 has it not.
8 ) The A77 is Dust and Moisture proof while the A65 is not

There are also other small differences but those are the most important ones. As you already know the A77 and A65 (and the NEX-7) do share the same 24 Megapixel sensor, same 3 million dot OLED viewfinder. Price is:

  • Sony Alpha 77 + 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM = 1800€
  • Sony Alpha 77 body only = 1050€
  • Sony Alpha 65 + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM = 1000€
  • Sony Alpha 65 body only = 900€

And that’s the competition price:
Check Canon 7D price at [shopcountry 6954].
Check Nikon D7000 price at price at [shopcountry 6952].

If Sony would make a 28mm f/1.4 FE lens

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Support this site: I am having a lot of fun to work on SAR. I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks :)

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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Samyang 8mm f/3.5 fisheye for NEX tested at Photozone.

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[shoplink 6821 ebay][/shoplink]

Image courtesy: Photozone.

Klaus Schroiff from Photozone (Click here) reviewed the new [shoplink 6821 ebay]Samyang 8mm f/3.5[/shoplink] fisheye for NEX, or better for the VG-10 (as this lens has been optimized for that camera). He tested the lens on the NEX-5. By the way he is an avid SonyAlhaRumors reader so feel free to make him the questions you need by commenting this post! In short: “The near-stereographic projection doesn’t look quite as extreme as in conventional fisheye lenses despite the similar field-of-view so its applications are in fact broader. It is also a pretty sharp lens if you stop down a little. Lateral CA can be a little high at times but this aberration is correctable during image post-processing.” He recommends that lens to all ultra-wide enthusiasts!

You can buy that lens on [shoplink 6821 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

 

A reminder. There are also two amazing Samyang lenses for A-mount

1) The 35mm f/1.4: In US you can find it as Rokinon at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and on [shoplink 7453 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. In Europe the name is Samyang and you can find it on [shoplink 7380 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and with the name Wallimex again on [shoplink 7831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

2) The 85mm f/1.4: You can get for $274 on Amazon (Click here), branded with the name Rokinon on [shoplink 7456 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded with the name Samyang on [shoplink 7454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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