Two great news reported by Imaging Resource. They had a talk with Sigma and this is what they learned:

1) It’s confirmed: “Sony Alpha mount version of this lens will be available.”

2) “But the most impressive information we gleaned? When discussing their goals of image quality and sharpness for the lens, Sigma mentioned they’re confident they’ll surpass competitive products from Canon and Nikon and are instead gunning for Zeiss’s new 55mm Otus lens. It’s a serious claim. The Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus lens — with its $4000 price tag.”

The lens price still hasn’t been set but the previous model was priced at $399 (here at BHphoto). I think this one will cost more like the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART lens ($899 at BHphoto). Have to say Sigma is doing an incredible job with their new ART lenses.

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IR link found via Photorumors.

Hasselblad launched a new Hasselblad Lunar variation made of titanium and red leather. They will make a limited edition of 200 pieces and each will cost 7200 Euro without taxes. Why the red and yellow colors? Because they represent the chinese colors for fortune. I guess Hasselblad needs exactly “fortune” to sell all 200 of them ;)

Hasselblad Lunar and Stellars on eBay auction:
[shoplink 22672 ebay]Hasselblad Lunar on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 22673 ebay]Hasselblad Stellar on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Official Full Pree Release:

Hasselblad has announced the launch of a brand new camera – but only 200 people in the world will ever get to own one.

The Hasselblad Lunar Limited Edition, bristling with latest capture technology and crafted in lightweight titanium, boasts a sumptuous, unique red Tuscan leather grip; a black leather shoulder strap accented with red stitching and an exclusive PVD matte gold-treated top plate – and comes with a  ‘before tax’ price tag of €7,200.

Hasselblad has timed the launch of the latest edition in its highly popular Lunar range to coincide with Chinese New Year (Jan 31st).

Said Hasselblad CEO Ian Rawcliffe: “We wanted to celebrate what, coincidentally, is also known as The Lunar New Year, with a unique and iconic limited edition camera which we believe will be revered as a true example of camera art by photo-connoisseurs and collectors across the world. Only two hundred have been developed in our Italy-based design centre and the exclusive red and gold colours on the grip and body underpin the traditional Chinese belief that these shades represent good fortune and joy.

“Our Lunar mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera range embraces all the advanced technology found in top DSLR models and each unit in this latest Limited Edition version is offered sequentially numbered.”

He added: “This is a unique opportunity for a very small number of discerning photographers who want high-spec shooting capability linked with matchless Italian craftsmanship in a point and shoot camera, to invest in a photo-capture icon.”

The feature-rich 24 megapixel Hasselblad Lunar Limited Edition camera incorporates Full HD Video capability and bundles with a black E-mount 18-55mm lens. The camera’s wide range ISO sensitivity allows the user to shoot in almost any light. The unit’s special PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) finish provides hardness that is second only to diamond.

Hasselblad’s Lunar range, first launched last year, was inspired by the company’s first camera in space – the now legendary Hasselblad 500C.

For more information please visit www.hasselblad-lunar.com/limited-edition

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Found via Quesabesde.

Funny image created by Imaging Resource.

In an Interview with Imaging Resource Sony manager Mark Weir tried to explain why they got rid of the “NEX” name:

“The model name prefix started to segregate our E-mount cameras from our A-mount cameras,” responded Weir, “and that was never our intention.

I am wondering why did they start the NEX brand in first place :) He also says:

“and there was concern that consumers could easily misunderstand there to be a lack of compatibility between the two.”

Well there is a lack of compatibility between the two! Or can you use the FE lenses bought for the A7-A7r on the A77-A99? Nope :)

And when asked about the A-mount future he says:

We remain committed to the A-mount system, and I’m sure that that commitment will be very clear.

Well, I guess we will find it out very soon! Z-focus, Mirrorless A-mount, Hybrid A-E mounts and other major features like that. Let’s see if they will find their way in an A-mount cameras this year!

We have the Japanese market share data based on camera sales of 2013 (Source: BCNranking). As you can see Sony made a+6% jump in the mirrorless segment. The less good news is that Sony lost market share in the DSLR-SLT category. Sony also lost a tiny 1% share in the compact camera business.

Note that in Japan the mirrorless sales numbers are as big as DSLR. Would love to see worldwide results too but unlike Japanese other countries do not provide such detailed data. At leats in US you can make a very rough idea of what sells through Amazon US ranking (Click here to see). And as usual Compact Cameras and DSLR from Canon are on top.

I am collecting links for my next Sony Alpha Rumors readers work roundup! You can also post your best shots and work on the SAR facebook wall (Click here). Hope to see a wave of great shots posted there the next couple of hours :)

Nauticam announced the new underwater housing for the Sony A7-A7r cameras. Here is the full press text (click on link):

We have two new A-mount lenses from Sigma:

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens specs at Sigma Photo. (Note: Sigma missed to add A-mount as an option on the link I gave you. But it’s just an error. Press releases do confirm there will be an A-mount. source: Sigma Japan, ePhotozine or Dpreview)
Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM at Sigma Photo.

Particularly the 50mm f/1.4 Full Frame lens sounds intriguing. It has a completely new design (retro focus with 13 elements and 8 groups) and if this lens performs as good as expected it could get surprisingly close to the [shoplink 23842 ebay]Zeiss Otus 50mm f/1.4[/shoplink] performance. There are no pricing info and no image samples yet. So we will have to wait a bit to see if this lens can fulfill our hopes!