Sony Japan confirmed that there will be a new NEX-5/3/C3/VG10 firmware in mid-december. It will bring the support for the new LA-EA2 adapter. But I do hope there will be also other major new features and improvements coming along the update.
Asian sources told me today that the new 1.04 firmware update has been released to Sony related photographers and reviewers. They are now currently testing it to check for issues. The firmware is not going to be published this week. Sorry, there has been a communication mistake between the sources. They first told me that Sony would release the firmware this week but only now they understood that it is just an “internal” release.
Please understand that this is a rumors website, it’s hard to get every time 100% reliable and super correct info. Anyway, the update should be very soon available for us normal customers too!
The A77 body only is in Stock at Bedfords (Click here) and with 16-50mm again at Bedfords (Click here). But I guess it will be sold out soon. And if you cannot wait until…January? than you have to pay than you have to take the chance and pay the extra $200:
The A77 body is in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and Cameta (Click here).
The A77 with 16-50mm is also in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and Cameta (Click here).
Quick look at the Sony SLT A65 and SLT A77 by Mike Kobal
While we are all waiting to see if the A77 firmware update rumors coming from Asia are true you can enjoy the nest Sony A77 review from Techradar (Click here): “superb level of image quality when shooting in most conditions, great handling, good build quality, industry-leading EVF, quick full-time phase detection AF system and a comprehensive set of exposure modes, we have little trouble with recommending this excellent camera.”
And Photographic Central (Click here) posted the full A65 review: “Compared to the A55 and A33, the A65 is simply in another class in most respects- especially when it comes to the viewfinder and handling characteristics. While I prefer the A55’s image output overall to the A65’s it doesn’t have enough features otherwise that impress me. Therefore when I compare the A65 to every other SLT Sony has made, I conclude it to be the best value for the buck- and a camera that A-Mount shooters ought to really have a look at if they are considering an SLT model.”
More small A77/A65 news:
SonyAlphaLab (Click here) compared the High ISO results of the A77 with the Canon 5dMarkII and Sony A580.
There is also a new A65 review at DC.watch (japanese).
In Stock status:
Sony A77 [shopcountry 8461].
Sony A65 [shopcountry 8459].
And now also the A65 is out of Stock in most stores. At least there is an useful news posted by Amazon (Click here). It says that the camera will be back in stock on December 31 only. But this date may be important for the availability of the A77 and NEX-7 too. Let’s take a note of it!
Only a few cameras are still in Stock at Adorama and B&H. Availability is a bit higher in Europe at Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Sony.it, Jessops, Amazon.co.uk and Warehouseexpress.
P.S.: The Sony VG-C77AM Vertical Grip for the A77 is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
There are a couple of interesting news about the Sony sensor and camera relocation. First, the flooded factory in Ayutthaya (Thailand) will be closed until January 2012. (Source: AP).
To solve the production problem Sony moved the sensor production to its Japanese semiconductor factory in Kumamoto, Kyushu island. Another factory in Chonburi (Thailand) will than assemble the Sony NEX-5/C3/7 and A77/A65. Sony should soon release a press information to communicate the new NEX-7 A77 availability info (Via Photoscala). I hope there will be Stocks of cameras ready for the Christmas sales!
One more news: Image Sensor World reports that “Sony will boost its image sensor production capacity by 50 percent within two to three years starting next spring.“
DC.view (Click here) tested many Pentax 110 lenses on the NEX. I am a ig fan of Pentax and I think some of these lenses could be very interesting to use on my and your NEX camera. These lenses are relatively cheap and sometimes offer a very decent quality. My preferred lens is the 18mm f/2.8 which is really tiny! Watch the image smaples on DC.view to make your own opinion about the lenses.
The list of tested lenses with links on eBay:
Pentax-110 50mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 10121 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Pentax-110 70mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 10122 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Pentax-110 24mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 10123 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Pentax-110 18mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 10124 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
Pentax-110 20-40mm f/2.8 on [shoplink 10125 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
