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Sony Zeiss 24mm for NEX review

Andrew Reid posted his final NEX-7 video quality review at EosHD (Click here): “Faced with the 5D Mark II and Panasonic GH2, the NEX 7 is a better stills camera than the GH2, ergonomically superior to both for video, has great colour and tonality in the standard picture profiles, but is not up there in terms of resolution and compression.”

NEX-7 and Zeiss lens test at SonyAlphaLab (Click here):”next to my Canon L Glass it’s the best lens I’ve used on the Sony Nex cameras.  Corner to corner sharpness is very well maintained considering the engineering challenges of the E-mount 18mm flange distance to the sensor.”

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Check the availability of the NEX-7 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.
Check the availability of the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.

Carl Garrard got an update about the A600 rumor. In very last moment Sony opted for the 16.2 Megapixel sensor instead of the rumor 18.4 Megapixel sensor. This happens because of the high demand of the 16.2mp sensor from other manufacturers so that the 18.4mp sensor wasn’t put to production. The good news is that the 16.2mp sensor was upgraded!

Please keep in mind that the rumor is coming via Carl’s source. So I cannot tell you if the rumor is correct or not. Anyway, I am sure the A57 and probably the NEX-F3 are coming soon (March 13th). I also heard about unknown other camera coming soon. This may or may not include that A600 model.

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Sony didn’t please us with any new NEX lens so we can be glad that Sigma announced two new lenses. One of them (the 30mm f/2.8) is now available for preorder at BHphoto (Click here) and Amazon Germany (Click here). The lens has no spectacular specs but it doesn’t cost a lot (199 Euro). A far more appealing lens is the new 50mm for NEX which is (now was) in Stock at Amazon Germany (Click here). And it will be in Stock next week at Sonystore US (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here). Announced back in late August 2011 that lens is finally being shipped to worldwide stores.

One more thing: The A77 is now almost regularly in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here). I hope all that means that the SOny factory in Thailand is now back to 100% full production. Time to announce new stuff Sony!

The current last announced model with optical viewfinder: The Sony A580
My friend Carl Garrard (Click here) got some interesting tidbits from an “old” source with good reputation. According to him there will be a new A580 DSLR successor. The real big news here is that Sony didn’t give up the Optical Viewfinder cameras: “I was told that for now Sony’s reaction to gathered marketplace demand is to keep traditional and non traditional DSLRS in the fold, but that only two OVF DSLRS would stay in the lineup. Priority is now given to SLT but that OVF are not yet out of the lineup. At least not yet. Apparently this is a pretty sudden switch in strategy, according to him.”

I know the A57 is coming and a source also told me there is one more camera coming too but I don’t know the specs yet. I hope my soruces can confirm soon if that rumor is true or not. I would certainly be happy if it would be correct! Here are the specs Carl got from his source.

• -New body design, similar to A65 in size
• -Larger brighter OVF than the A580 (still penta-mirror, cost savings) at .92x magnification “w/data overlay” @ 97% coverage
• -Similar live view system as the A450 (away goes the second sensor and mechanisms that cost extra money), more traditional  main sensor live view with faster contrast detect AF than previous Sony DSLRS, this time for all lenses
• -updated 18.4 mp APS-C CMOS sensor
• -up to 8fps capture with full metering and af capabilities (A580 could do only 5fps with metering/af)
• -same battery as A580, A65, A77
• -new “wide coverage” 15 point AF system (new type with 5 cross type sensors)
• -full 1080p HD video will be included (no specifics on this)
• -Dual card slots (no specifics on type)
• -New pop up flash (not sure how this will work, assume bounce and regular?)
• -Silver and Black model (depending on territory)
• -New quieter mirror box mechanism and shutter
• -First curtain electronic shutter mode
• -Moisture/dust preventive measures (but not moisture or dust resistant)
• -3 custom function buttons
• -Updated Quick Navi Menu interface (assume like A65′s which isn’t true quick navi like A900/etc.)
• -Dual control wheels, rear is scroll and click type
• -Due this year before fall

Let’s cross the fingers!

P.S.: Don’t forget there is a huge Sony announcement day o March 13! The A57 is coming (and maybe NEX stuff too!).

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

The A57 will look 99% like the current Sony A65

I just got more rumors about the A57 which will be announced on March 13. The most important news is that it has almost the same body of the Sony A65. And here are some updated specs:
Sony ExmorHD 16 megapixel sensor (guess it’s the same of the Sony NEX-C3).
ISO 100 up to 16.000 (with 25.600 multishot)
12 frames per second
It has FullHD 60p AVCHD 2.0 recording
Compared to the A77 the A57 has less good electronic viewfinder (but sources told us it’s still very good and difference is minimal). No weather sealed body.  There is also a new battery grip for the A57 (yep, it isn’t compatible with the A77 grip). It has a swivel screen. No top LCD and no GPS.

And as I told you a couple of days ago a new NEX-F3 and a new NEX camcorder are also coming soon (don’t know if they will be announced the same day of the A57). I am still struggling to get more reliable info about the lenses. Hope you sources can send me more about that soon!
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P.S.: The A77 body only is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here). And so the kit version (Click here).