Sony released a new QX camera firmware update. And a couple of nice things have been added. Just read the official press text:

New PlayMemories Mobile™ App Version 4.0 Adds Photo Browsing, Faster Connection Speeds; New Firmware Adds Full HD video shooting, Expanded ISO Range and more

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 18, 2013 – Sony Electronics has announced plans for a software and firmware update designed to improve the overall usability, speed and functionality of the Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 “Lens-style” Cameras.

SOFTWARE UPDATE

The software update for the PlayMemories Mobile™ application – Version 4.0 – will work with all Sony Wi-Fi enabled cameras in addition to the Cyber-shot QX series, and will be available immediately in both Google Play™ and App Store™. The updated application will feature:

• Embedded Photo Browser – A “Quick Viewer” photo browser has been added to the PlayMemories Mobile application, which will allow for seamless navigation between shooting images and viewing images in playback mode.
• Improved Speed and Functionality – The newest version of the application will have improved connectivity speed when linking to devices running the Apple iOS™ platform. More specifically, connection start up time will be approximately twice as fast compared to previous versions of the PlayMemories Mobile application.

Sony will be releasing another software update in Spring 2014 to improve connectivity speed with Android devices.

CAMERA FIRMWARE UPDATE

Additionally, there will be a firmware update for QX cameras in January which will add a variety of exciting capabilities including:

• Full HD Movie Recording (QX100 and QX10): Both of the Cyber-shot QX Series cameras will have the ability to shoot Full HD 1080p video (1920×1080@30p in MP4) after the firmware update.
• Shutter Priority (“S”) Mode (QX100 only): The Shutter Priority (“S”) mode will be added to the QX100 camera to allow direct access control to shutter speed.
• Expanded ISO Shooting Range (QX100 and QX10): Each of the cameras will be able to shoot at higher ISO settings for greater versatility in low-light conditions. The QX10 camera will be expanded from max ISO 1600 to max ISO 3200. The QX100 camera will be expanded from max ISO 3200 to max ISO 12800.

via Dpreview.

Phil Molyneux

BGR reports that Sony kicked top executive Phil Molyneux to the curb after terrible U.S. sales. This isn’t directly related to the digital camera business. But it’s one more sign of the difficult time almost all electronic giants are facing. Let’s hope Sony CEO Hirai will find the way out of this crisis. At least on the digital camera front Sony did quite many things right with in 2013. Let’s hope 2014 will be even better!

Samyang Europe officially announced the release of five Full Frame E-mount lenses for your A7-A7r camera. These are great lenses but you have to know that these have been designed for DSRL cameras. It means they are bigger than they could be of Samyang would have designed them specifically for the FF E-mount. So nothing has changed between that E-mount version and the other Canon/Nikon Sony A-mount versions. They only made it fit to E-mount by making a longer tube :)

These are the lenses (no preorder links available yet):

• Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC
• Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC
• Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC
• Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC
• Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC

Kipon and Ibe announced the new Baveyes 0.7x adpater for Sony E-mount cameras. It’s basically the next Speed Booster alike adapter that sells for $300. STarting from January 10 there will be Nikon F, Canon EF and Leica R mount lens adapters. More details here:

via Mirrorlessrumors.

The new HXR-NX3 camcorder

RX10 review at German Slashcam.
Sony A3000 gallery photos posted: Can this low-cost champ deliver high-end DSLR results? (Imaging Resource).
Sony A3000 review: Entry-level body, high-performance sensor (DxOmark).
Let me tell you about my dream camera (itsnotthecamera)
2013 With the Sony RX1…by John Vink.
Sony Reportedly in Talks to Buy Renesas Fab to Expand Image Sensor Production Capacity (ImageSensorWorlds).
falken shoots with a850 and and Zeiss 24-70 f/2.8 (Fstoppers).
Polish Sony Action Cam 3 review at Sonyactioncam2.blogspot.com.

Aloha: “I created a Sony ALPHA – TALK group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SonyAlphaTalk/ Which I hope eventually will be a FB place ALPHA shooters can share there Sony Alpha TIPS and TRICKS. and photos.“

All Speed Fans can open their champagne bottle: Today Kipon officially released the world’s fastest lens for digital mirrorless system: The 40mm f/0.85 Ibelux! It will come with native E-mount and cost around $2,000. This is the worlds fastest native mirrorless system lens. You can only get faster with strange lenses like the [shoplink 23379 ebay]Leica Leitz 65mm f/0.75 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] or some [shoplink 23378 ebay]large format 0.75 XR lens (also to find here on eBay)[/shoplink]

The full press text and image samples can be read here (via MirrorlessRumors):