This is just a short and simply message to wish you a quite and nice Christmas with your family and the people you love.

See you soon :)

SAR reader James (Thanks!) just found that the Time-lapse and Cinematic Photo Apps are now available on the PlayMemories Store.
https://www.playmemoriescameraapps.com/portal/
Time-Lapse is $9.99 and Cinematic Photo is $4.99.

Sony A99 – full hands on review by PhotoNewsReviews

DxO Optics Pro 8.1.1 supports Sony SLT-A99. At the same time they added a new tool to measure the “perceived resolution” which should be an easier to comprehend alternative to MTF graphs. You can check out the article at DxOmark.com.

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Cheapest eBay acutions in Europe of the A99 (Click here) and RX1 (Click here).

How to get 3.5mm microphone audio-in on the Sony NEX-5

Sony news and reviews roundup:
Sony shows off new Sony 4K cameras & more 4K content is on the way (Sony Blog).
Sony SEL 1018 f4 OSS + Sony NEX 7 Rolling Review Part I (VeryBigLobo).
RX100 test at Gizmag.
Sony A99 test at DC.watch (translation here).
Fotodiox WonderBurst NEX and WonderBurst HSS8000 (Photographyblog).

SAR readers mails and work:
Ian: “I have been using a Sony Nex-5N and Sony Nex-7 to capture landscape images in Sydney, Australia. Check out my gallery on Flickriver. Most shots were taken using Canon 10-22mm and 17-55mm lenses using a Metabones adapter: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/9253227@N02/sets/72157631772202717/”
Michael: “Sony action cam test at http://michalno.blogspot.com/2012/12/sony-action-cam-2.html”
Eric: “Gopro hero3 BLACK vs sony action cam on Youtube.”
Andreas: “I tried a year ago various old Nikon F lenses on the Nex 5N, Olympus E-P3 and Canon 5D2. Maybe the results are interesting for your site.
I prefer to use the old lenses to the new ones, as some errors of the optics can be used creatively.
http://aisen.ch/index.php/artikel/foto/40-spiegellos?start=2
The peaking-function of the Nex is best in Evils to focus manually. I tried children’s basketball with the Nex and it worked:
http://aisen.ch/index.php/artikel/foto/40-spiegellos?start=7
I felt never happy with the operation of the Nex 5n, opposite to the image results, the Nex-6 was just right. The Nex-7 was due to their problems with the wide angles as well as 24MP never an option. For professional jobs I have a Canon system, for family, hiking and mountain biking tours the E-P3 and E-M5 and for gimmicks with adapted lenses the Nex-6.
From the old Nikkor-lenses remained the “Berg&Tal” lenses. Here is a comparison with the Olympus E-M5 and mft fixed focal lengths (as well as some comparison with the Sony RX100):
http://aisen.ch/index.php/artikel/foto/55-spiegellos-kreativ-zwei?start=5
Here are some of the Nex-images collected together, mixed with some of the 5D Mark 2:
http://www.pbase.com/isenegger/test_nikkor_an_nex_und_eos_5d ”
Juang: “I wrote some technical materials relative to alpha camera and post those on Sony-DSLR-Family Taiwan.
The first topic discussed the dynamic range performance introduced by iso-control vs. analog-front-end design of DSLR and post it here: http://www.sonysdf.com/alpha/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=74681
The 2nd one discuss the OVF vs EVF on resolution issue and post it here : http://www.sonysdf.com/alpha/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=75416
I am sorry the materials were written in Chinese and it is not convenient to the reader of the other country even thru Google translation. But it still can give the reader some clear idea on the designi concept of DSLR.”
Stefan: “Microsoft released an update for the Camera Code Pack for Windows 8 and Windows RT: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2779444 New supported models are: Sony: Alpha NEX-7, Alpha NEX-C3, Alpha SLT-A33, Alpha SLT-A35, Alpha SLT-A57, Alpha SLT-A65V, Alpha SLT-A77V”
Dan: “I”ve been following Sony Alpha Rumors for about a year now and it was instrumental in helping me choose a Sony NEX 5N as my first “real” camera.  I’ve been posting images, my daily 365 project and thoughts on gear on my personal site danhawk.com ever since. Would love it you stopped by to take a look.”
Troy: “Music video shot last night on the Sony A99 in a dim garage, no special lighting … powerful little camera …http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcD0fKg5hFY”
Ian: “Some on facebook…also some 4×5 here https://www.facebook.com/IanWhiteheadSouthwestPhotoWorkshops Everything here is Sony dig. a700 a850
www.southwest-architectural-photography.com I am going to update my arch site this weekend”
Darren: “I used my A99 to shoot A99 and made some funny photos here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/79627215@N07/ I will choose 2 of the photos to make New Year’s cards and send those to Mr. Suzuki Tomoyuki. Just for fun. Because I promised him to buy 2 set if he can develop FF DSLT.”

Thanks for all the work you share on SAR!

It’s Sunday and I show you some of the links to work done by our SAR reader with their Sony cameras. enjoy!

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Rob: “Just wondered if you’d be able to share my work alongside some of your other readers work? Im a 17 year old music photographer based in Leeds, UK, and shoot nothing but Sony! I was lucky enough to get runner up in the NME music photography awards, and, with me being such a genius, started showing off my lovely A77 to a small Asian man at the awards ceremony, only then to realise he was the MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NIKON! oops :’)
500px.com/robellis
facebook.com/robellisphotography”

Ryan: “Here’s a little video I did using a Sony A77, all hand-held, manual focus. From the Global Rallycross Final, Las Vegas. Thought your readers may be interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ecOUsQxAM”

Roderick: “just like to share with you and your readers some food photos i shot tonight in hong kong using the a99v with my favourite little 50mm macro. i am really impressed with the combinations’ low light performance. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodkar/sets/72157632127985391/with/8229368333/”

Khristopher: “all videos shot on the Sony α580 by: http://www.youtube.com/rampegfilm”

Lee: “Work done with Sony cameras: www.mrleephotos.blogspot.com”

Andrew: “I have just added a bunch of NEX6 and 10-18mm images on my blog. Feel free to post the link if you think it is worthwhile. And thanks for the great work! http://planetwidephoto.wordpress.com/sony-10-18mm-e-mount-lens-test/”

Baron: “”We rented a gym and engaged 2 professional kick boxers to explore the capabilities of the FS700. Watch how our fighters muscle bulge and ripple as they throw punches and kicks at each other. Here is the link to our film: Kickboxing fight in Slow Motion Here is the link to our blog with review and write-up of the FS700:Kickboxing in slow motion with Sony NEX-FS700”

Steffen: “Ich hätte hier vielleicht etwas für Deine Website – es ist nicht wirklich ein Rumor, aber es passt total ins Konzept. Hab einen Drehbericht geschrieben zur Sony FS-700, mit der ich mit Sony Carl-Zeiss Alpha-Optiken im Guerilla Stil den Anfang für einen Feature Film gedreht habe, ist sicher für die Zielgruppe interessant, auch wenn keine brandneue Kamera drin vorkommt. Hier er Link zu Vimeo https://vimeo.com/54848186 und zum Bericht (auf englisch, für alle verständlich): http://www.hackermovies.com/shooting-indie-film-intro-sony-fs-700-bangkok“

Omari: “After having a NEX-6 revelation Saturday night, I wrote the following piece yesterday and posted it this morning, called “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the NEX-6”:
http://blog.doppler-photo.net/2012/12/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love.html  I fully expect to sell prints of work that I’ve shot with the NEX-6, so I’m happy to have it in my bag of photographic tools.”

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Something else: Hugo: “Hello that is not a rumor but an info the A99 Availibility in DXOptics is announcend to 01/13“

Translucent mirror technology vs. mirror technology by Sony Artisan Andy Katz

Let me catch up with some news I collected during the last week:
Sunpak 522 working very well with Sony NEX-6 (Nex-tips).
SLR Magic 35mm T1.4 rolling review part 1 (Lenspron).v
The Sony Alpha NEX-7: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide (via PB).
More on the Sony 16-50mm – Comparison with Sigma 30mm f/2.8 (Soundimagesplus).
Stunning photos from the Sony World Photography Awards (Phototips).
For those interested in a compact dolly for video, check out: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iflow/iflow-a-portable-dolly-for-filmmakers
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Preview Samples (Dpreview).
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Review at Photographyblog.
Sony NEX-7 Voigtlander SLR lenses at Soundimagesplus.
NEX-6, NEX-7, OM-D ISO Comparison at Soundimagesplus.

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SAR reminder: Presentation of our little new eBay search and notification project: Slidoo.com article on SAR.

I linked to the Slidoo website a couple of times but it’s about time to explain you why I am doing it…it’s actually a new SAR and 43rumors creation.

Eight months ago we rumors guys decided to develop a new website that might be useful for you. It’s an easy eBay search and notification service named Slidoo.com. I guess most SAR readers do use eBay to search and find stuff. Slidoo is an eBay approved application that has full and fast access to their database.

The reason why we did Slidoo are:
1) With the sliders it’s much easier to set price and condition of the search. And results do change live while you slide! No need to wait until page gets reloaded.
2) The use of real time sliders helps you to compare different kind of searches (for example by switching from “used” to “new” you easily get an idea of the price difference).
3) Once you have set you search parameters you can save the search and get notified when a new product pop ups within the settings.
4) Also eBay offers a saved search service but a) it’s difficult to manage (to have to click through two times before to see the list) b) you cannot set the notification parameters. On Slidoo you can chose to get notified in different ways (email-facebook-twitter-or nothing) and with different frequency (once per day, multiple times per day and never).

Example of some Sony searches I stored:
Sony RX1 (Click here). I did set a minimum price of $910 to cut off all that cheap Asian accessories I don’t need. Once an auction breaks the $910 barrier I will get notified. Easy! Recently I found some RX100 cameras for less than $600 and I saved the search with “new” and “buy it now” conditions.

Login and set your country:
Of course you can set a different country for your basic search. Just login to change it for example to UK or Germany in the notification settings page. If you set Germany than the Location slider will adapt and you will have the “Germany-Europe-Worldwide” options while as USA you have “USA-North America-Worldwide”.

It’s Beta! What’s coming next:
The service is still in beta testing and I would invite you to join and test it. You can quickly become member using your same facebook or twitter account. So you will not have to keep in mind new login and password data.

This is a fast changing site and a Slidoo Amazon version is coming too! Tablet and Phone version will follow in Spring. Feedback is welcome and you can send it to contact.slidoo@gmail.com. You don’t know how many nights we spent to think on this. I really hope you will find it practical and useful for a daily use! Link to the webiste: Slidoo.com.

Thanks!
Andrea and the other guys and ladies that worked on this (Ale, Melle, Elena, Mate and Richard).