Many Sony products got awraded by the iF product design award 2013 (Click here). Here you can read the winners and the reason why the designers liked them:

Sony A99:
High-end DSLR featuring a 35 mm full-frame sensor. To offer the exceptional control that shooters demand, the designers focused closely on the grip shape, front-to-back shape and button layout. Taut-looking surfaces seem stretched over each element, from the body to the grip to the pentaprism, giving the camera body an aura of high performance and a sculptural, well-integrated appearance.

DSC-RX1:
Proofing that good things can come in small packages, this camera packs a 35 mm full-frame sensor and large f/2.0 lens into a compact, spartan body of magnesium alloy. For satisfying control and pride of ownership, the smooth, luxurious lens barrel and buttons were refined by repeatedly fine-tuning a universal layout. Subtly rounded ends support both form and function, creating a nicely squarish body that is easier to hold.
And there is also a special Jury-Statement on the RX1:
I love the quality of this camera lens. There are so many details and textures. It also has a very modern feel to it. Here Sony has imagined how to do things differently than anyone else. It is wonderfully designed. Every detail is appropriate. This is a mechanical piece with pleasantly surprising high-quality details.

DSC-RX100
The DSC-RX100 is small and light, but features a 1” image sensor. High-quality aluminum is used for the body, ensuring optimal rigidity and texture. The main controls are metal and the styling emphasizes the edges, giving users a sense of the camera’s reliability. The centrally positioned lens tube, with a diameter nearly equal to the height of the body, allows the camera to be held securely and makes the control ring easy to operate. The solid feel of the body – not seen before in this class – and the premium simple shape make this camera a joy to own, inspiring users to give free reign to their creativity.

NEX-5R
Innovative interchangeable-lens camera housing a large image sensor in a body as small as it can be – barely tall enough to accommodate the mount. Though compact, the camera offers welcome features, such as an LCD screen that tilts to include the shooter and enable high- and low-angle shots, expanding shooting options. A generous grip maintains usability even with larger lenses. Also designed for fast shootings, because a rapid settings adjustment is possible via a dial on the back.

DSC-HX30V:
Although a pop-up flash suppresses vignetting in shots applying the optical 20x zoom, the flash sits higher than the mode dial across from it. Fortunately, gently slanted surfaces provide a graceful transition and elegant design accent. Inside, the reassuring grip is a high-capacity capacitor for bright flash in zoomed shots. Subtly contrasting body and lens finishes, a nicely finished band around the body, a perfectly positioned power button and other details make this a highly polished camera.

—

via TalkNex.

As you know Nikon uses also Aptina sensors in order to become more independent from Sony. So it is interesting to read the latest news (Source: Engadget) about the Aptina-Sony agreement:

Here is the text:

Aptina Enters into Patent License Agreement with Sony

SAN JOSE, Calif.–Aptina today announced that it has signed a patent cross-license agreement with Sony, which provides each company with access to the other’s patent portfolio.
Aptina and Sony have built industry leading patent portfolios that include seminal image sensor patents covering image capture and processing methods. These technologies are fundamental to the world’s growing image sensor industry, with sales of over two billion units annually, and found in almost every consumer electronics device including smart phones, automobiles, tablets, televisions, gaming platforms, medical equipment and digital cameras.
This cross-license agreement enables these two innovation leaders to operate freely and use each other’s patented inventions to advance the pace of development for cameras and other imaging applications. The cooperation fostered by the cross-license reinforces the ability of both companies to provide compelling imaging solutions to their customers.
“Patents and innovation are a critical component of Aptina’s strategy, and Aptina’s patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the image sensor industry,” said Bob Gove, President and CTO of Aptina. “We believe that this powerful blend will advance technology to realize our goal of enabling consumers to capture beautiful images and visual information.”
Aptina, the foundational CMOS imaging company, began within Micron Technology in 2001 with acquisitions of early CMOS imaging companies Photobit and then Avago Technologies’ image sensor business. Aptina became an independent company in 2009. Aptina delivers advanced CMOS imaging solutions to all major imaging markets and is the leading supplier in many markets including the rapidly growing automotive market.

P.S:: Sony also announced the sale of their huge Sony building in Osaki (Source: Engadget).

A99 Handheld with Carl Zeis 16 to 35 F2.8, Steadyshot On from The Lightshapers Studios on Vimeo.

Sigma 35mm f1.4 review at CameraLabs and Photozone.
Informal Lens Comparison: Sony 35mm f1.8 (NEX) vs Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 (X Mount) at ThePhoBlographer.
Sony DSC-RX100 review by Admiringlight.
A superb Vario-Sonnar T* 2,8/16-35 ZA tets report by Paul James on Zeiss Blog.
Sony NEX-3n image gallery at Whatdigitalcamera.
Sony’s moment of truth (The New Yorker).
sony 500mm f8+sigma tc 1.4x ex DG+vivitar tc 2x mc4 DGII on the sony nex 5n. A 2100mm test(!) on Flickr.
Replacing the NEX-6 LCD at Hellyeahpictures.
German NEX-5r review at Heise.

Tomorrow (Feb 28th) at 7pm Thursday GMT (that’s 19:00 London time) there will be special Sony live show at CameraDiner.com. It’s a unique chance to get in direct touch with Sony UK manager Joe Asai. You can follow the live session and ask whatever question you want. Or if you prefer  you can also write your questions here by commenting this post. Paul Genge is reading us and will collect your question list!

Really do it! It doens’t happen often you can talk with Sony managers!

P.S: Don’t ask them questions about non existent products like the NEX-9…he will not answer you :)

UPDATE: HireAcamera.com are offering Sony bodies and lenses when hired in combination at half price for month of march, including 2x a99 and 3x a77 and e-mount nex6 and nex7. UK delivery only, no overseas.

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Adobe just announced the new Lightroom 4.4 RC and it supports a camera that is not on market yet…the Hasselblad Lunar. Usually Adobe adds a support of a camera weeks if not months after the camera release. So I was actually surprised to see the new support message. So when is the Hassleblad Lunar actually coming?

The video on top shows the new camera preview posted by sonyelectronics. There is also a new NEX-3n image gallery at Dpreview and the full MTF graph form the new Zeiss lens at Sony US.

Whenever Sony launches new products I have the habitude to check the amazon rankings to see how big (or low) the preorders requests are. I checked the mirrorless (Click here), the DSRL (Click here) and the Lens (Click here) rankings and there is no sign at all from the new Sony stuff! The ranking isn’t a scientific tool but it may be a rough indication that these new cameras and lenses aren’t really what people was waiting for. Anyway it’s too early to make any reasonable analysis.

Meantime I re propose the preorder links with the new update Adorama links. Feel free to comment this post to add more links!!!:

US preorders:
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM A-mount lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via AlphaCameraDeals).
Sony SLT-A58 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Black Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Silver Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
DT 18-55mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sony 70-400mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Sony HVL-F20 Flash at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony HX300 at Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Black at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Orange at Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Pink at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 Black at Adorama (White!), BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 RED at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 White at BHphoto (Click here).

And here are the European preorder links:
The Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM can now be preordered at Wex UK.
The NEX-3n can now be preordered at Sony DE, Amazon DE, Sony UK, Wex DE, Wex UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony SE.
The A58 can now be preordered at Amazon DE, Wex DE, Wex UK.

Hands-on Sony NEX 3N review by Digitalcameraworld.

The new A58, NEX-3N and the three new A-mount lenses (including the Zeiss) will be officially announced tomorrow at 8am New York Time. And at about the same time we will have the first preorder options. Be sure to be online on SAR to see all preorder links and price info.

Reminder: Only one month to go until the next Sony announcement. There will be not only a new NEX-7 successor but liekly also new camcorders and maybe E-mount lenses. I hope I can give you SR5 news soon about the NEX7 successor specs. Stay tuned!

US deal reminder:
Deal 1) Save up to $300 on Qualifying Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras (Click here to see the Amazon page). The same deal is now running on BHphoto and Adorama too.
Deal 2) Save up to $200 on Select Sony NEX Compact System Cameras (Click here to see the Amazon page). The same deal is now running on BHphoto and Adorama too.
Deal 3) Save up to $100 on Select Sony Lenses (Click here to see the Amazon page).
Deal 4) Sony Cyber-shot Digital Cameras Starting at $79 (Click here to see the Amazon page).