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Eclipse 2012, Queensland Australia. from kwon, o chul on Vimeo (shot on the A99)

Many SAR readers are having fun with their brand new A99. And here is a short roundup of their tests and findings:

Sony A99 test at the German website Sonyalphamag (Translation here).

Baron Abas shot a gourmet video (on vimeo).

Sunday Boredom: Ask Us Anything About the Sony A99 (ThePhoBlographer).

Sony A99 preview by Spymit. Sony Alpha A99 video stabilization review at Portreti (translation here).

Thodoris: “couple of concerts shot with the Sony A99 during the past weekend:
http://thodorismarkou.com/blog/2012/11/jumping-fish-festival-the-heavy/
http://thodorismarkou.com/blog/2012/11/jumping-fish-festival-macy-gray/
Most photos in both concerts were shot at ISO 3200-4000. A handful of them have different ISO ratings, and I singled them out by changing their titles – just hover over the photos to see examples of ISO 2000, 5000, 6400, 8000, 10000. Also, the crowd-only shots have been pushed 1-2 stops in both concerts. The Sony A99 RAW files have a lot of headroom in the highlights and the shadows. All photos were processed with the latest Adobe Camera RAW software.
The tilting screen is incredibly useful, I found myself using it a lot in shots where I needed a higher vantage point. The AF system continues to amaze me. I used the camera with the CZ 24-70mm/f2.8, the Sigma HSM 70-200mm/f2.8 and the CZ 135mm/f1.8 – in all cases the autofocus was fast and accurate. The metering system also responds very good to concert stage lighting. By the end of the second concert I was only using Aperture/Shutter priority because, well, with clean 3200-6400 ISO (which allow for high shutter speeds) and a good metering system, no need to use Manual mode.”

A99 store links: Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.

Good news! Sony extended the Cyber Monday deals action till December 1st. So you have three more days!

And we have two new small deals: on Cybershot cameras (including the RX100) where you get a free SD card on Amazon. You also get a $50 gift card on the NEX-5n purchase at BHphoto (Click here).

One more thing before you check all the deals. Amazon informed some of our  SAR readers that the Sony RX1 will ship on December 18. And here are all deals:

SLT cameras:
Free 32inch HDTV on any A99 purchase via AlphaCameraDeals.
$300 off A77 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$300 off A77 with 18-135mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$300 off A77 with 16-50mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$200 off A65 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$200 off A65 with 18-135mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$200 off A65 with 18-55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$150 off A57 body only at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$150 off A57 with 18-135mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$150 off A57 with 18-55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.

A-mount lenses
Save up to $100 on Qualifying Sony Alpha Lenses (here at Amazon).
$50 off on the 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 16-35mm f/2.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$50 off on the 16-50mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$50 off on the 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 DT at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$25 off on the 18-135mm f/ 3.5-5.6 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24mm f/2.0 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24-70mm f/2.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$50 off on the 100mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 135mm f/1.8 Zeiss at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 135mm f/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.

NEX cameras/lenses:
$500 off on the NEX-VG20 at Amazon, BHphoto.
NEX-5R and Get a Pogoplug Backup Device, a Camera Bag, and 16 GB Memory Card (here at Amazon).
NEX-5R a $100 rebate but there is also an additional $50 gift card offered by BHphoto.
Save $340 on the Sony NEX-F3K Camera, Lens, Card and Bag Bundle (here at Amazon).
$50 off on the Sigma NEX lenses at Amazon, Adorama and Bhphoto.

Compact Cameras/Accessories/Software:
Sony Cyber-shot Digital Cameras Starting at $79 (here at Amazon).
Plenty of rebates at Adobe.
Save up to $55 Instantly on Select Sony Camera Accessories at Amazon.

Working on rumors never has been easy. But now it’s getting even more difficult to predict Sony’s roadmap. As I have learned from my sources Sony is on the verge of major changes in their camera business strategy. The financial crisis forces them to re-think the products roadmap (and as I will tell you later this is actually a good news). Usually companies do plan 2-3 years in advance. But from what I am hearing Sony is about to decide to speed up the transition to a “full mirrorless roadmap“. In concrete this means that some of the cameras and lenses that have been planed for a 2013 release may will NOT introduced. And some that have been planed for a 2014 release may come earlier.

Confused? Don’t worry. This is just to say that it will be difficult for us to be reliable on rumors about cameras coming in 6-12 months because the management is currently discussing the release (or not release) of some of these products.

I am now working (and waiting) to get some reliable details about the changing roadmap. But one thing I can tell. This is a good news! Sony definitely wants to challenge Nikon and Canon…that’s their plan! But to do so they have to clearly focus on producing unique products that are unmatched or not even available in the Canon and Nikon palette. And do not make any mistake, both E and A mount lines will be developed and reinforced. But if the roadmap change will come the reinforcement will be more “revolutionary” than “evolutionary”.

Stay tuned on SAR! Meantime join out Facebook SAR comunity and Twitter stream.

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P.S.: Sorry for my English. It’s difficult to express sensible information in a non native language. Would love to explain such difficult stuff in German
P.S.: Would like if you would join our little new Slidoo.com project. it’s a fats eBay search and notification tool. Still in Beta but we are improving it daily. And we will add Amazon products within the next 3-4 weeks. Thanks

Sony NEX-VG900 Sample Movie from soul_vid on Vimeo.

EosHD posted that shootout comparing many cameras cameras including the Sony NEX VG-900. But he is very harsh about the Sony: “The reason people like full frame sensors is for the image quality not the spec sheet. I really do feel it is full frame for the sake of it here with no real advantages for video especially when the image from the 5D Mark III, Nikon D800 and much cheaper D600 is so much better. What is bizarre is that the Nikon’s have Sony sensors and yet do better video than Sony’s own cameras.”

And SAR reader Francesco shows in a video the difference between the two LA-EA2 and LA-EA3 adapters (here on youtube). The LA-EA2 gives you full electronic support but doesn’t cover the full 35mm image circle. The LA-EA3 covers the full Full frame area but it doesn’t support autofocus with SIGMA lenses (and face detection also doesn’t work of course).

Guys…what do you think about these findings?

Luminous Landscape tested the new Sony 10-18mm E-mount lens. And the usually very critical reviewer ends the review with that short sentence: “It is the best of the four super wide-angle zooms I’ve tried, and I consider it a keeper.”

Also a SAR readers tested the lens and sent me this email: “NEW images from the Sony 10-18mm f4 lens / NEX 7 at image shack album: http://imageshack.us/g/1/9887931/. Feel free to share the link on SAR. (The Watermark copyright is my own company). Initial impression of the lens are:
Excellent build quality, great balance on the NEX 7, surprisingly sharp corners even wide open, incredible depth of field, mild distortion at 10mm but easily correctable, excellent color and contrast.  Bottom line, the is my new favorite lens for my NEX 7! (Even better than my 24mm CZ 1.8).”

Sounds good!

The new 10-18mm E-mount lens is in Stock at Amazon and Adorama and on eBay (via Slidoo).