As expected the name of the new NEX-3 successor is….A5000! Full US pricing and specs and preorder at Amazon US (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and at SonyStore US (Click here).
Sony also introduced the Black 55-210mm E-mount lens that can be preordered at Amazon US (Click here). P.S: HDR-AS100-V action camera (preorder here at Amazon).

Press text and hands on:
Engadget (hands-on pics), Dpreview (press text), ThePhoBlographer (hands-on), AlphaNumerique (French), DSLRmagazine (spanish).

OFFICIAL PRESS TEXT:

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 6, 2014 – The versatile new Sony a5000 camera (model ILCE-5000) is the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera to feature the convenience of Wi-Fi connectivity.1 Weighing in at less than 8oz., the new camera boasts a formidable amount of imaging power for its size.

“Packing DSLR imaging power into an incredibly small and light package, our new a5000 is the ultimate ‘everyday shooter’ that will appeal to a wide range of customers,” said Neal Manowitz, director of the alpha interchangeable lens camera division at Sony. “Its sleek, user-friendly design will attract point-and-shoot users looking to upgrade, while its impressive imaging credentials will appeal to photo enthusiasts looking for a compact camera that can deliver the performance, flexibility and results they crave.”

The new camera features a large 20.1 MP APS-C sized sensor that is paired with a new-generation BIONZ® X processor – the same processor in the award winning Sony a7 and a7R full-frame cameras. These key devices work together to deliver crisp, high-quality still images and full HD videos in all types of shooting conditions.

The BIONZ X processor uses detail reproduction, area-specific noise reduction and diffraction reducing technologies to ensure extremely fine color textures and low noise in images. Additionally, it allows for shooting at extremely high sensitivity – up to ISO 16000 – for impressive pictures in fading light.

On-board Wi-Fi capabilities give consumers one-touch connection with Xperia® or NFC-compatible Android™ smartphones or tablets for instant image transfer and sharing2. A single touch also activates Smart Remote Control, linking the camera with a smartphone or tablet to view shots, and fire the shutter from a distance.

For devices without NFC one-touch capabilities, users can wirelessly transfer images and videos and activate Smart Remote Control with the a5000 camera through Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile™ application, available for the iOS and Android platforms.

The new a5000 model has a comfortable new grip and intuitive tiltable LCD screen that can flip upwards up to 180 degrees for easy self-portraits. There’s also a conveniently placed lever on the camera body for fingertip adjustment of the camera’s optical zoom3, which is especially useful for shooting HD video with the supplied 16-50mm power zoom kit lens (model SELP1650).

The camera’s “Photo Creativity” mode will help less experienced photographers learn and experiment with creative settings. Unique to Sony, this mode replaces complex photographic settings with more easily understood phrases like “Background Defocus” and “Brightness,” giving users direct access to many common manual settings. It also offers quick and easy access to Picture Effects, which includes popular modes like Pop Color, Selective Color, Toy Camera and Miniature Mode.
Sony PlayMemories™ Camera Apps

The growing assortment of downloadable PlayMemories Camera Apps adds a range of exciting and powerful features to the a5000 camera. Shooters can pick from a variety of free to nominal cost apps to broaden creative options, experiment with new effects, learn new photography techniques and more.

There are 16 apps currently available, including an upgraded version of “Time Lapse 2.0,” which intelligently and automatically adjusts exposure for changing lighting conditions over of the course of a time lapse sequence. A new free “Sync to Smartphone” app automatically transfers shots to a pre-registered smartphone or tablet each time the camera is switched off.
New Sony Alpha Lenses and Accessories

The new camera is compatible with Sony’s ever-growing assortment of E-mount interchangeable lenses, which now includes a new version of the popular SEL55210 lens (55-210mm, F4.5-6.3). Identical in optics to the existing silver 55-210mm E-mount zoom lens, this new version has a black finish to match many of Sony’s latest E-mount cameras.

In total, 20 different lenses are now available for Sony’s E-mount system with several premium models from Carl Zeiss® and G Series Lenses.

Additionally, there is a new sleek designed body case – the LCS-EBB model – that serves as a perfect travel companion for the a5000 camera.
Pricing and Availability

The Sony a5000 compact interchangeable lens camera will be available in March 2014 in silver, black and white for about $600 in a kit with a compact, versatile 16-50mm motorized zoom lens (model SELP1650).

The new, black-finish E 55-210mm (SEL55210) zoom lens will be available in March for about $350.

The new camera and all compatible lenses and accessories will be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Please follow #SonyAlpha on twitter for the latest Alpha camera news.

Live streaming video by Ustream

Just hit play and watch live the Sony press conference! Let’s hope there will be some interesting stuff to see :)

One Week with Sony A7 and Bolex anamorphot from Seb Farges on Vimeo.

A young fashion photographer posted a great article at Mirrorlessrumors about how he used the RX1 for some fashion shooting. Great images, but Sony should do a RX2 with 50mm lens for portrait shots :)

Sony RX100 II final review at Imaging Resource.
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 Vs Sony Cyber-shot R1 Comparison Review at ePhotozine.
Tamron 150-600mm Canon mount lens review at Wzswig.
Finally a remote for the Nex-7 via Kickstarter
A SAR friend created a new APP that some of you coul find to be very useful: iOS App texBlend and it’s is available in the App Store (Click here). More info about it at Outbackphoto (Click here).

Neef: “Not a Rumor or news , just some interesting things http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20131223/-101-3148817/1.html Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Development Department Using a R.C.Helicopter to capture image for land survey , but the most interest things are…. the camera use for the survey is a NEX camera~ i’m not sure which model it is . but it seems to be NEX 6 or 7 , maybe you can identify it clearly? it’s not a new technology , but something interesting…”

Animalsbarry: Extreme z shift test. To determine the effect of z shift on internal focus lenses I did a quick test…numbers are approximate. I used a 50-500MM. Lens at 500MM. Min focos about 10′ and 1/5 magnification. I added a 60MM extension tube..now at 10′ the magnification increased to 1/3 and the new minimum focus was about 6′. This is a much more extreme improvement in close focus than would be expected with the same extension tube on a normal lens. The reason for this is internal focus lenses focus by changing the focal length rather than by moving the entire lens. The extensiion tube allows focusing at a longer focal length for any close focus distance and closer than expected minimum focus distance because mininimum focus occurs at a shorter focal length on this type of lens. This test simulates the impact that sensor shift focusing would have on close focusing if it became available.

James: “I have been follow Sony flash F60M overheat problem is not being fixed by SONY yet, but look like will be soon after a new ‘tech fail’ article is written by ‘major tech website’. thought you should know about this one. it will be newsworthy as F60M overheat shutdown plague so many user around world. plz share! http://community.sony.com/t5/Alpha-SLT-DSLR-Cameras/HVL-F60M-Flash-Overheating-Unusable/m-p/258689#M2721″

BCnranking reports that the Sony NEX-5r was the most sold mirrorless camera of the year in Japan. That’s a good result for Sony. Things are considerably worse when you look at the DSLR ranking:

As you can see only the Sony A65 managed to get into the top 20 and with a marginal 1,5% share. A99 and A77 probably didn’t sell as well as expected. Let’s hope this will change with the soon to be announced new A-mount cameras!

Wish You all a great new Year! As usual I try to express my wishlist for 2014 and this is what I plan to do:

SAR:
– Redo the full website and make it more community driven
– Just have again a fun time with you with all these great stuff Sony will launch in 2014

Personally:
– Have more free time for me an my family.
– Climb more mountains, swim more seas, drink more red wine at Sunset.
– Train my mind to not waste energy on minor problems.
– Read and study more (Physics and German Literature are high on my list).

Yep, that’s it. What do you plan to do? :)

I was used with Kai ranting against Sony products (he didn’t do it with the A7-A7r). But he now killed the Nikon DF myth with this video. Just watch it!

This is interesting because it also supports the SAR poll. Only 19% want Sony to make a “retro styled” SLT/DSLR camera (Source: SAR POLL). And as far as I know from my sources the soon to be announced new A-mount cameras will keep the modern design (with some smaller improvements).