The video on top shows an “S mode trick” to get the autofocus to work on video shutter priority mode for the Sony A77.

Here is a list of A77 news and reviews you readers sent me the last days:

Cephotography (Click here) posted an image comparison between the A77 firmware 1.03 and 1.04 images. Looks like there is a small quality improvement! Discussion at Dpreview forum.

Jimmartinphotoblog (Click here) madw RAW vs JPEG comparison with the now “old” 1.03 firmware.

1.04 versus 1.03 firmware at Lowyat.

Shutter speed priority mode at SonyAlphaLab.

Firmwar 1.04 image samples by Mike Kobal.

HDMI output test on the A77 and other cameras (Atomos). Interesting!

Jeremy sent me this: “I realized some video test between the Canon 5D and the Sony A77:
– Moire/Aliasing effect : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAAyO4JujTE
– Roller shutting effect : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxej4PaIxA
– Noise management : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziz764Vvkuc”

David sent me this: “I’ve also done a couple of comparisons between the a77 and NEX-5n in terms of noise.
http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/2011/12/noise-comparison-between-sony-a77-and.html
and http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/2011/12/noise-comparison-between-sony-a77-and_01.html”

John sent me this: “Here’s a video review that I did of the Sony a77. It’s also for a competition that if I win I get to go to CES in Las Vegas next year. Do you think you would be able to help me out with that? please please please! Heres the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlVZdtOrUdY&feature=feedu
And the link to the page where you can vote for me:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/10/experience-ces-in-las-vegas-report-for-gizmodo-australia/”
Of course all SAR reader will vote for our friend John or not? ;)

———

And where can you find the A77 in Stock? I will post my full shopping daily check list. But if you find the A77 in Stock in some other stores feel free to help other SAR readers by commenting this post with the link to the store! Thanks! And here are all A77 links:
[shoplist 8461]

[shoplink 10350 ebay][/shoplink]
Introduction:
Here is the next article about one of my possible future lens purchases. Generally what I am looking for are lenses with a high build quality (hate plastic lenses) and that are not too big. The NEX-5n isn’t exactly the ideal camera for big lenses. But what I also want is a lens that can cover a full frame sensor as I believe that we will not have to wait a long time until Sony releases a sort of full frame NEX camera. Unlike digital camera I feel very comfortable to spend my money on a good lens. Lenses do last forever and keep a reasonable value in time (sometimes they also gain value!). So after taking a look at the superb Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 ZM lens (Click here to read the article). I searched and collected some reviews about the Zeiss Biogon ZM 35mm f/2.0 lens ([shoplink 10350 ebay]Click here to see it on eBay[/shoplink]). Of course this lens will work on a NEX via M to NEX mount adapter ([shoplink 8850 ebay]again here on eBay[/shoplink]).

Lens reviews on the Leica fullframe camera:
The Zeiss Biogon is a M-mount lens and there are plenty of reviews on the Leica M camera.
Ken Rockwell writes: “This Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon ZM is optically superb“. Daniel Valente writes: “I am happy to say that the bokeh is neutral and pleasant“. Diglloyd says: “It’s a no-brainer for any M shooter.” And Steve Huff also likes the lens a lot: “The lens is sharp, it has gorgeous rich color…and if you are one of those who love the 3D qualities of Zeiss then the Biogon will be right up your alley“.

Lens reviews and tests on Sony NEX cameras:
The lens performs extremely well on full frame cameras but how good is it on the Sony APS-C sensor?
The most important review has been made by Photozone: “The Biogon produced impressive quality figures in our lab. The resolution is good+ to very good at f/2 and reaches very good to excellent result beyond till diffraction is limiting the quality from f/11 onwards. Lateral CAs are well controlled and not overly field relevant. The bokeh fringing (LoCAs) is typical for such a fast lens. Distortions are basically absent. The most obvious weakness of the lens is the amount of light fall-off at f/2 which is quite a bit higher than average for a full format lens. The build quality of the Zeiss lens is superb thanks to an all-metal body and super-smooth controls.”
Björn Utpott just purchased that lens: “I finally know what my daily NEX-5N kit will look like: the Zeiss Biogon as my main lens with the Sony 16mm pancake in my pocket for the odd time when I need something wider.”
Image samples can be found on flickr made by kriswashington and shigerus.
Video samples can be found on youtube made by dai3smile and unboxing video made by denrusso.
To see how the NEX-5+Biogon combo looks check that picture on flickr. Ad here is the NEX-3+silver Biogon on flickr.

Conclusion:
Super sharp, super build quality and you can use it on any NEX camera (APS-C or FF) that will be available in future. It even works o my old [shoplink 10351 ebay]Minolta CLE[/shoplink]! This lens looks like a real winner!

Links:
Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.0 ZM on [shoplink 10350 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. I is available in black and silver.
M to NEX mount adapter on [shoplink 8850 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

P.S.: Feel free to send me your lens suggestions!!! Thanks!

And here we are. The NEX-7 shares the same A77 sensor. But are the results the same? Is the semi transparent mirror taking away some bits of image quality? DxOmark (Click here) tested the NEX-7 image quality and the answer is that the NEX-7 is by a tiny bit better than the A77. De facto it is the Sony camera with the best results to date (even better than the A900 full frame camera).

As you can see form the screenshot on top the NEX-7 has a slightly higher dynamic range an color depth than the A77 (but the difference is negligible). But High ISO results are visible better thna the A77. Only the A900 can beat the High ISO results of the NEX-7. Now imagine what a NEX-9 full frame camera could do :)

P.S.: Check for NEX-7 preorders at: [shopcountry 8454].