Preorder the new Samyang/Rokinon/Wallimex 35mm f/1.4 manual lens for Alpha Mount.

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I was wondering why I couldn’t find any preorder option of the new Samyang 35mm f/1.4 manual lens. Finally I discovered that in US and Europe the lens has a different “name”. It’s called Rokinon in US and sometimes called Wallimex in Europe (why?). You can preorder the lens for $499 at Amazon (Click here). Didn’t found the lens in european stores.

P.S.: The real bargain is the 85mm f/1.4 you can get for $274 on Amazon (Click here).

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(SR5) The full official A35 specs

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So here we are with the full A35 specifications. The camera will be announced on Friday June 3! Don’t forget to follow SonyAlphaRumors on that day!!!

Sony A35

Full-time Continuous AF
Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting
15-point AF system with 3 cross sensors
Quick AF Full HD movies (AVCHD: 1920 x 1080)
Quick AF Live View （with the main image sensor)
Tru-Finder with 100% frame coverage
High-quality, Xtra Fine LCD monitor （TruBlack）
Newly developed 16.2 MP, Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
Fast, high-quality BIONZ image processing engine
Wide ISO range： ISO 100 –12800
Multi Frame NR (equivalent to max. ISO 25600）
Auto HDR
D-Range Optimizer
Hand-held Twilight
1200-zone evaluative metering
Compact and 433 g (TBD) lightweight
Face detection AF
Built-in SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization
Grid display
Built-in anti dust system
11 Picture Effect types
2D / 3D Sweep Panorama
AUTO+ (AUTO Advanced) mode
Creative Style settings

Price: $699!!

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Detailed Sony digital camera financial report (increase of interchangeable single lens cameras sales)

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Sony published the detailed financial report. There are couple of info regarding the digital camera segment:
1) The expected operating income increase is partially offset by the negative impact of the Earthquake, which is anticipated to primarily affect components and compact digital cameras.
2) In the CPD segment, sales decreased due to lower sales of products such as components and compact digital cameras. This decrease was partially offset by higher sales of interchangeable single lens cameras.

My guess is that Sony NEX cameras were much more successful than they had expected. At least in Japan were we can see the exact sales (See BCNranking) we can notice that Sony NEX cameras are selling more than Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras. That’s a huge surprise if you do consider the lack of lenses for the E-mount system.

Source: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/index.html

 

P.S.: You can see on Amazon that most cameras in the TOP 20 are compacts:
Amazon US rankings (Click here)
Amazon DE rankings (Click here)
Amazon UK rankings (Click here)
Amazon FR rankings (Click here)
Amazon IT rankings (Click here)

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Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DG Macro tested (better than the Zeiss 24mm f/2.0 lens???)

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[shoplink 7067][/shoplink]
Two days ago Photoscala tested the Zeiss 24mm f/2.0 lens and was pretty disappointed. They compared the lens with the Nikon and Canon 24mm f/1.4 lenses. The Nikon an Canon lenses were both sharper than the Zeiss. But whcih is the best 24mm lens? Surprise, it’s the cheapest of all of them, the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DG Macro!!! (Click here to read the full test at Photoscala). The user reviews on Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) are quite positive. And also SLRgear (Click here) gave the lens a high rating! You can also take a look at a set of image samples on Flickr (Click here). So is the Sigma $549 lens really better than the Zeiss $1,249 lens? What do you think?

Check the Sigma 24mm availability and price by clicking those direct links: [shopcountry 7067].
And here are the links to the Zeiss 24mm f/2.0: [shopcountry 3037].

 

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Sony US deals (Only one A850 left at Amazon, new Sony Flash discounted).

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Soon the A850 will be impossible to find in other places than eBay. The biggest online US online stores like Adorama and Bhphoto already don’t have the camera in Stock anymore. You can find one single unit only at Amazon (Click here). As you see it’s cold via Samy’s camera. The same reseller is offering the Sony A55 in bundle with the 18-250mm lens (Click here).

If you are in business for a Flash you might take a look at the new Sony HVL-F43AM which saw a consistent price drop at Amazon (Click here). It is in Stock for $279.90.

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(SR5) Noktor 50mm f/0.95 for NEX coming soon!

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SLRmagic announced that the Noktor 50mm f/0.95 will be available for E-mount soon! Read the message on Twitter (Click here). The lens will be made in Japan (and with a new design). So we should expect a higher quality version compared to the Micro Four Thirds version. Do not confuse the Noktor with the [shoplink 6619 ebay]Nokton f/0.95[/shoplink] lens. The Nokton is made by Voigtländer!

P.S.: SLRmagic already made the [shoplink 3514 ebay]35mm f/1.7 lens for NEX on (Click here to see it on eBay)[/shoplink].

The website: http://www.noktor.com/

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Zeiss 24mm tested at Photoscala (terrible lens or bad copy?) +Sigma 30mm test.

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[shoplink 3037][/shoplink]

We love measurebation or not? Than take a seat and read the full detailed and überwissenschaftliche review made by the from Photoscala (or click here to read the google english translation). Those german guys used three different software to analyze the lens: DxO Analyzer, IE Analyzer and Imatest! And now let’s drop the bomb. Photoscala says the lens is a not as good as they have expected from a Zeiss lens. The resolution of the other tested lenses, the [shoplink 7046]Canon 24mm f/1.4[/shoplink] and [shoplink 7047]Nikkor 24mm f/1.4[/shoplink] is much higher even wide open…at f/1.4! Only at medium apertures you get good results. There are also bigger issues with color aberrations. I have to say that I am very surprised to see such bad results. They might got a lens with production issues because the conclusion are quite the opposite we have seen at Photozone (Click here) where the lens gets Highly Recommended!!!
Check the lens price and availability at [shopcountry 3037].

There is also a new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC review at Jhpvideotutorials (Click here). He used the lens on the Sony a55: “As you might have guessed this Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC lens is a little bit soft wide open at f/1.4, but still totally usable. The edges suffer the most from the softness, but the center of the frame is not to bad.”
Check the lens price and availability at [shopcountry 7044].

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