I confess, I couldn’t resist and I didn’t manage to wait for the NEX-7. I just bought the NEX-5n. Why should that be a sin? Because I wanted the NEX-7, and I still want it! But I couldn’t resist to try out the superb NEX-5n.  So I may will end this year with two NEX cameras in my hands. I need some excuse to justify that in front of my girlfriend. Suggestions are appreciated :)

Something curious about the Sony store: 30minutes after having it purchased at the European Sony online store they (Sony) called me to confirm if the address where correct. I said yes and they told me they will now(!) ship the camera. Cool! That’s a service!

I don’t like the current NEX lenses, I don’t need zooms and the only pancake (the [shoplink 2998]16mm f/2.8[/shoplink]) is not as fast as I need. That’s why I bought a [shoplink 7984 ebay]Leica M to NEX adapter[/shoplink] to use my [shoplink 8725 ebay]Nokton 35mm f/1.4[/shoplink]. I still don’t know if I will buy the external viewfinder which is very expensive here in Europe. I am not going to write a technical review, but I will try to make some real world comparisons with other mirrorless cameras. And I will use the cam for my next documentary work of a dying city in Belgium (I will be there from September 16 to 25). Anyway, I confess, the NEX-7 is still on my dream list. Cannot wait to see the first reviews of that camera soon!

The NEX-5n is available at (Click on store names):
USA&Canada: Amazon (in Stock!), Sonystore US (in Stock!), Sonystore Canada (in Stock!) and [shoplink 8452 ebay]eBay (in Stock!)[/shoplink].
Europe: SonyStore DE (in Stock), SonyStore FR (in Stock), SonyStore IT (in Stock), Amazon DE (preorder), Amazon UK (preorder) and [shoplink 8452 ebay]eBay (in Stock!)[/shoplink].
Asia: Digitalrev (in Stock), [shoplink 8452 ebay]eBay (in Stock!)[/shoplink].

All other camera preorder links:
Sony NEX-7 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony NEX-7 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon, BHphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.
Sony A77 with 16-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A77 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A65 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only), Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A65 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only), Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony 50mm f/1.8 at BHphoto (notification only), Adorama and Sonystore.
Sony 55-210mm E-mount at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.

Dear readers!

Yasuyuki Nagata (Sony Imaging Division Deputy Senior General Manager) said that Sony is “seriously considering a professional-level SLT camera“, however, “the company will listen to what its customers demand” before it can reveal its next step (Source Techradar). And now it’s time to collect your ideas about the next fullframe camera features. Please comment this post to suggest your features/idea list. After a couple of days I will write a poll adding all your options.

I will show you an example by disclosing my idea/features list for the next FF cameras:
– FF NEX (I want that!)
– removable sensor (to have the freedom to use different sensors like it works for [shoplink 8776 ebay]medium format digital backs[/shoplink]).
– Capability to move up the semitransparent mirror to avoid the small light loss.
– APP store for Sony cameras. let users create applications for Sony cameras (See the amazing list of iPhone-iPad applications!)
– B&W sensor with extremely high dynamic range.
– Hybrid viewfinder system a la [shoplink 8775 ebay]Contax G2 (Click here to see tha camera)[/shoplink]. The Contax viewfinder zooms as you change lenses! By the way, Contax is from Zeiss :)

Your idea matters! Let’s start!!!

P.S.: Please do not suggest lenses for now. I will write a new post soon to ask you for you fullframe lens suggestions.

This is not an Alpha camera news but it’s nice to hear what Sony releases for the professional market. It gives you an idea of where the technology is going. Sony just announced that the new Cine Alta F65 will be launched in January 2012. Let’s look at the terrific specs. It has a 8K CMOS sensor that shoots 4K2K video. Now what really makes me crazy is that it has a 16-bit Linear RAW File output capability!!! RAW video recording is something that I would love ot see on professional fullframe SLT cameras! Below you can read the full press release. One more thing, the F65 costs $65,000 USD.

PRESS RELEASE:

Sony announces a monstrous Cine Alta camera

Sony Electronics officially raised the curtain on its F65 CineAlta™ digital motion picture camera system, ushering in a new era of digital cinematography. Before a select audience of American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) members, press and high-profile industry professionals, Sony screened new F65 footage shot by leading DPs, demonstrated new features and announced its roll-out plan for the revolutionary camera, including availability and a surprisingly accessible price of just $65,000 (with viewfinder).

Announced here only days before the F65 will be shown to a worldwide audience at the IBC conference in Amsterdam, the new camera clearly signals Sony’s commitment to the Hollywood community and to developing the production technologies content creators need.
The F65 derives true 4K resolution – and beyond – at the point of image capture. “4K” resolution is 4096 x 2160, which is more than four times greater than the full HD (1920×1080) spec. Its unique 8K image sensor, with approximately 20 total megapixels, offers higher image fidelity than any other digital cinema production camera. With 16-bit Linear RAW File output capability, the F65 creates the gateway to an end-to-end 4K file-based mastering workflow.
“This is the camera Hollywood has asked for, designed specifically for filmmakers,” said Alec Shapiro, senior vice president of Sony’s Professional Solutions of America group. “The ability to shoot content in true native 4K resolution lets filmmakers capture more of what they’re seeing through the lens to fully realize their vision. The F65′s incredible imager captures more data, which translates to more information that can be put up on the screen. And access to an open and inclusive platform enables the integration of an F65 file-based workflow into other systems, creating truly exciting, and limitless, production opportunities.”

You can download the full presentation at Sony.net (Click here). You can also click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the image. So what are the key info?
– Sony is already the number one producer of CCD image sensors and want’s to become number one in the CMOS market too.
– The biggest market for image sensors is the cellular market (Example: The iPhone 4 uses a Sony sensor)
– Sony is working to increase, both image quality and frame rate.

But here is the real big news: Sony wants to create a “Super Reality” sensor that surpasses Human Vision. That’s why they created a new filter layout which includes “W” pixels (no color) to increase the dynamic range. At first look this will come at cost of the color information but I guess Sony has some kind of “secret” weapon to avoid that. Can’t wait to see such a senor in use in a “real” camera.

Personal note: Would love if Sony sensors could come close to the B&W image quality of [shoplink 8756 ebay]medium format cameras[/shoplink].