Here are the specs of the sensor:
CMOS Full Frame with 36-megapixel
This Exmor sensor provides high dynamic range and low noise images.
Expect grain free images, printed in A2 up to ISO 1600.
The D800 will range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (extended modes ISO 50, 12800 and 25600).
Full HD 1080p in 30p, 25p and 24 p. There will be a PCM recorder.
Like the D4, the Nikon D800 will be able to output uncompressed video on its HDMI port.

Of course Nikon is using their own Expeed engine to elaborate JPEG images and Video stream. As a filmmaker I like the uncompressed clean HDMI output and hope Sony will take notice of that

What matters for you to know is that the next Sony Full Frame camera will NOT use that sensor. It will have a newly designed 24 Megapixel sensor and I honestly welcome that news. Don’t like that Megapixel race and 24 megapixel should allow more per pixel sharpness and much higher ISO. Anyway, I expect one more Sony Full Frame camera to be unveiled in early 2013 having the same 36 Megapixel sensor.

Our friend Gary Friedmann just released his Sony A77 guide! You can purchase it here: http://www.friedmanarchives.com/alpha77/index.htm. He is quite popular within the Alpha community and his books are always appreciated. It has 576 pages! Sample pages and table of content can be read here: http://www.friedmanarchives.com/alpha77/book_page_samples.htm. It’s a must have books for all current and future A77 camera owner. I will buy the NEX-7 guide as soon as he finishes it! For US readers: A77 body only is now available at Amazon (Click here) and so the A77+16-50 (Click here).

More A77 books:
“Profibuch Sony SLT alpha 65 & alpha 77” at Amazon Germany (Click here)
“Sony Alpha SLT-A65/A77 For Dummies” at Amazon US (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).
“David Busch’s Sony Alpha SLT-A77 Guide to Digital Photography” at Amazon US (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).

Kenko (Click here) announced the new 400mm E-mount lens price. It’s 22.000 YEN ($290). As you can see from the image it looks like a module of the space station

Mansurovs (Click here) reviewed the Sony A77: “Overall, I am very impressed by the Sony SLT-A77 and I highly recommend it to our readers. I mostly used the Sony A77 for photographing landscapes and I can honestly say that I would not hesitate to use it professionally for my work.”

Which One is Which? Sony NEX 5N vs Canon 5D Mk II at ThePhoBlographer (Click here).

Sony A65 review at DigitalPhotographySchool (Click here): “with the A65 I captured stunning, sharp, brilliantly colour-saturated images.”

Sony A77 search order links Amazon, Sonystore, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Sony A65 search order links Amazon, Sonystore, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Sony NEX-5n search order links: Amazon, Sonystore, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.

While we are still waiting to see the new A35 and A55 successors Ricoh-Pentax (now they are the same company) announced two new cameras with Sony sensor inside. The A12 module (here at MR) and the ugliest camera I have ever seen…the K-01 (here at MR). I have to say our Sony designers are much better

NEX-7 vs. GH2 side-by-side video comparison (FullHD 1080p25 version) from Hacky on Vimeo.

Came back from a day of work and just found a dozen email from USA readers. Sonystore (Click here) is now shipping preorders from December and early January. So be prepared to get a package

There are also some new NEX-7 tests:
A NEX-7 vs. GH2 side-by-side video comparison by 3Dkraft (Click here). A new review has been posted by Expertreviews (Click here). A test with the huge 18-200mm lens has been posted on SonyAlphaLab (Click here). And here are the new 400mm E-mount Kenko lens specs at Kenko Japan (Click here).Huge lens!

As I told you I epxect soem major SLT news soon and new NEX products by April. The CP+ show in Japan starts in mid February and maybe Sony will show some prototypes too….but don’t hope too much for the A99

More Sony NEX-7 preorder links: Amazon, Sonystore, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.

Triple E-mount lens test at Provideocoalition (Click here).

Dcresource (Click here) posted a new NEX-5n review: “If you find that you can live with its interface, then you’ll find a camera that’s capable of taking excellent photos and videos, with the added bonus of the HDR and Anti Motion Blur features, for taking great photos in challenging lighting conditions. Even with its quirks, the NEX-5N does the fundamentals very well, which is why it earns my recommendation.”

Tamron for NEX image samples at Focus Numerique (Click here).

Using Pentax FA Lenses on the Sony NEX-5n at Steve Huff (Click here).

A77 is Worlds Fastest Camera says Pixiq (Click here).

Quick in staus check: NEX-7 is now in Stock at Amazon Germany (Click here), Fotomundus (Click here).

As you know Canons first attempt to compete against the growing mirrorless market is the release of the Canon G1X which has a 4/3 sized sensor which is slightly smaller than Sony’s APS-C. If you were wondering how close the sensor quality could go to the best Sony NEX cameras than see those DxOmark results (Click here). It’s nowhere near the Sony NEX-7! Speaking of the NEX-7. The only real competitor the Fuji X PRO 1 got (finally) a price. It’s available for preorder at Amazon (Click here)…for $1699. That yes will be a strong fight between Sony and Fuji!

P.S.: Today Canon reported big loss and slow camera sales. So kings can be dethroned?

NEX-7 preorder search links: Amazon, Sonystore, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.

I am sure that we will soon see a new A55 successor. But today I also got a rumor about a second SLT camera. A new source told me that there is a new A35 successor named “A38″. It has a new sensor and comes with a tilting LCD. That’s all he knows for now. The biggest Japanese photo show starts in 10 days at Yokohama. I guess that this could be the right time to see both new SLT cameras. There will be no new NEX camera or SLT fullframe at the event but of course Sony could decide to display some mockup or prototype. I expect some new (real) NEX cameras and lenses in April.

My two cent:
Don’t you think four SLT cameras priced between $600 and $1400 are too many? Three models are more than enough I think.

A77 and Zeiss 24mm for NEX in Stock:
The A77 with 16-50mm lens is back in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon FR (Click here).
The Zeiss for NEX will be in Stock on Feb 5th at Amazon (Click here).

One of the lenses I am considering to buy right now is the Zeiss ZM 18mm f/4.0 lens (here on eBay). Our reader Pascal tested the lens and posted his findings at DearSusans (Click here): “Contrary to my (FABULOUS) Zeiss ZM Biogon 25mm/2.8, this is not a symmetrical lens and should work much better on the NEX-7. The NEX-7′s smaller pixels make it much more adverse to symmetrical designs such as the Biogons and some early Leicas. But no such problem with this lens“. He tested the lens on the NEX-5n and these are his findings:
- warm colors
- It has the classic Zeiss 3D look
- damn sharp!
- not the best bokeh but as the tester said, bokeh doesn’t matter with that lens.
- focus ring not tight enough
- it’s a bit too big for such a slow lens.

Read the full test and watch the images samples at DearSusans (Click here)! To see some image samples of the lens on the NEX-7 check out Rob Skeoch (Click here) website. Reviews on M-mount cameras have been made by Ken Rockwell and SLRlensreview.

There are a few good reasons why I would buy the lens:
1) Versatility: I will be able to use this lens on a future fullframe Sony mirrorless system or any other mirrorless system. It’s an investment for the future.
2) Build quality and manual focusing and aperture ring.
3) You can have it in Silver or Black (perfect for my NEX-7!).
4) Image quality is top

I am looking forward to find a good deal on used lenses on eBay
The Silver Zeiss 18mm ZM lens is in Stock at Adorama (Click here), eBay (Click here).
The Black Zeiss 18mm ZM lens is in Stock at Amazon UK (Click here), eBay (Click here).