NEX-7: “the new benchmark to beat” and “best mirrorless camera today”

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[shoplink 8454][/shoplink]

I feel so good after yesterdays news that Sony restarted the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] production. I know my expectations are high but I have some hope that I will might get my NEX-7 camera before Christmas. And after reading the next bunch of reviews I am posting here you might understand why I am eagerly awaiting that camera.

Here is the first Spanish NEX-7 hands-on at Quesabesde (Click here): “As we continue delving into the innards of this camera with a magnifying glass and reviewing performance, it is clear that we are facing one of the most notable models of the season.” and “The Sony NEX-7 is undoubtedly the new benchmark to beat“.

And DCresource (Click here) posted a full ENX-7 review: “Overall, the Sony Alpha NEX-7 is a pricey, yet excellent mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Whether we’re talking performance, photo quality, or features, the NEX-7 does just about everything right. The one thing that may bother some folks is the user interface, so you’ll definitely want to try the camera out in person if you can. Even with the complex interface, the NEX-7 is still a camera that I can highly recommend.”

And Amateur Photographer latest magazine contains a full NEX-7 review: “They call it the best ILC camera available today”

More bits:
Imaging Resources posted new NEX-7 image samples taken in New York City and Disneyland.
More Sony NEX-7 images at ThePictureDesk (Click here). He also posted a test with the Zeiss F-mount 35mm lens (Click here) and Sony Alpha lenses (Click here).

Most stores are not accpeting NEX-7 preorders yet. Check for yourself: [shopcountry 8454].

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More about the A77/65 firmware update (+ Apple RAW support)

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I got the translation from Asia about the upcoming firmware upgrade changes. It doesn’t get into the detail but I expect this to bring some major improvements. Here is the list (remember it’s translated by an Asian source):

1) expanded the number of automatic compensation of compliant lenses
2) Improvement of Responses
3) Improvement of IQ
4) Improvement of Usability

The firmware 1.04 will be released this week!

And one more news: Apple updated the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility (to version 3.9) http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1473. This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’11: Sony Alpha NEX-5N, Sony Alpha SLT-A65, Sony Alpha SLT-A77.

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Sony SLT-A65 review at Dpreview

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Dpreview (Click here) posted the full A65 review. It gets an overall score of 78% while the A77 had an overall score of 81%. In short DPreview says that: “Overall then the Sony SLT-A65 is an exceptionally well specified camera not only considering its class, but the consumer-level DSLR field as a whole.”

Reminder: The full A77 review is here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyslta77/

The real advantage of the A65 over the A77 is that the A65 can be found in Stock almost everywhere. Check at [shopcountry 8459].

The A77 is much harder to find: [shopcountry 8461].

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And here it is the first NEX-7 competitor: The Fuji X leaked.

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That is going to be a tuff competitor for Sony! The first Fuji X pictures surfaced at Xitek. Like the NEX-7 it has a built-in viewfinder but Fuji is using the same optical and electronic hybrid viewfinder they use on the [shoplink 6075 ebay]Fuji X100 (Click here to see that cam)[/shoplink]. I expect the Fuji X to cost much more than the NEX-7 but I admit that the viewfinder technology is a real hit. I have no info about the sensor size yet but I guess it’s APS-C. Anyway, I think Sony has a much more advanced sensor and OLED viewfinder technology (compared to the Fuji X100). And I don’t think the Fuji X will be good at video.

Maybe it’s just me, but I would like a NEX-7 version with hybrid viewfinder. And you?

...what do you think about the new 18-135mm?

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(SR3) A77/65 firmware update coming within hours?

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[shoplink 8459][/shoplink]
A new source just sent me this: “Sony has just released FW 1.04 a few hours ago. expect it to be available for download in a few hours…improve IQ, response time, usability.. and others…”

If that turns out to be true than this would be the second good news within 12 hours :) The first good news is that Sony restarted the A77/65 and NEX-7/5n production!

UPDATE: The source told me that Sony Japan notified that the firmware will be out that week.

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All new Sony cameras and lenses links:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
A65 at [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

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UPDATE: Miracle! Sony just restarted the A77 and NEX-7 production!

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Image on top: The Sony Chonburi factory

Sankei.jp (Click here) reports that the camera production restarted at the end of last week! Sony is using the Chonburi factory in Thailand which usually produces car radio. Now they “transformed” it into a fully operable A77/65 and NEX-7/5n production factory. Sankei also reports that Sony will move the compact camera production in China.

Some of our japanese readers can confirm the news? If it is true than dear Sony managers and workers…Chapeau!

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POLL: Will you wait for the NEX-7?

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The Sony NEX-7 was very likely the camera that would have made join the NEX systems many current Nikon or Canon shooters. It has been perceived as a very usable and professional tool for street photography (along that amazing Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens). Now that the factory has been flooded we have to wait 3-4 months before the camera gets in Stock. And serious competition might is coming in the meanwhile. Fuji will announce a professional interchangeable system based on the popular [shoplink 6075 ebay]Fuji X100[/shoplink] camera. Olympus might will come with a sort of [shoplink 10069]rangefinder styled SP camera[/shoplink]. Canon has no hurry yet, but I am sure they will do something more “professional” than what Nikon did with the [shoplink 10068]”One” system[/shoplink] which is targeted for the consumer market.

Would you like to get this A5 kind of camera?

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New NEX lens and camera preorders:
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

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