Sigma:
Sigma (Click here) just posted a set of image samples taken with the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens. The image samples have been taken on the Sigma SD1 camera but as you know the lens comes with A-mount too. Don’t know what you think but I think this lens delivers a great performance! Consider also that it costs $600 less than the Sony 35mm f/1.4 lens (here at Amazon). And this lens is now available for preorder at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (click here).

NEX lenses:
Sony China (translation here) just posted posted the info about new firmware version 02 for the SEL1855 / SEL18200 / SEL55210 / SEL24F18Z NEX lenses. It’s a firmware upgrade for the NEX-5R or NEX-6 only! It enables the phase difference AF using the pixel function “Fast hybrid AF”.

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In Stock status of the Zeiss 24mm lens on eBay via Slidoo.

A99 A77 A57 Autofocus “hack” to get around the F/3.5 limitation for autofocus. Use at your own risk! from Shawn C. on Vimeo.

Shawn (Click here) made this video to proof how the aperture limitation removal trick from Portreti is working. There are some limitations with the hack:
1. Your lens will be wide open all the time. You cannot stop down at all. If your lens is soft wide open, you might be better off manually focusing.
2. Leaving the spring stretched out could damage your lens over time.
3. Be careful when you do this.

Thanks Shawn and Portreti!

If you read the latest Financial report analysis on Bloomberg you really get the idea what a tough time Sony is facing right now. Particularly that sentence gives you an idea of the recent company history: “Sony, worth more than $120 billion in 2000, is now valued at about $11 billion. Apple Inc. (AAPL) is valued at $511 billion and Samsung Electronics Co. is at $184 billion.”

The good news is that Sony will increase the investment in the digital imaging business: “Sony will use 60 billion yen of the proceeds to invest in CMOS image sensors”

TheVerge writes: “In recent years the imaging division has been one of Sony’s top performers, and was identified by CEO Kazuo Hirai as one of the company’s pillars for future growth when hetook the reins in April. The proliferation of camera phones and corresponding drop in point and shoot sales have hurt Sony’s Cyber-shot line, but it remains a strong competitor in other arenas with its NEX line of mirrorless cameras, its more DSLR-like Alpha line, its professional cinema gear, and its expanding medical imaging business. During the Q&A following Sony’s recent Q2 earnings call, CEO Hirai reinforced the benefits of the division’s diversified nature, pointing out that the company makes money both from the cameras it manufacturers and the sensors it produces for competitors’ products, including smartphone cameras.”

At least that part of the story sounds good!

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via Photorumors.

As you know the photographic world is mostly dominated by Nikon and Canon. But Engadget latest gift guide  is all about Sony cameras. The RX100 and A99 cameras are their favorites but they also NEX-6. And there is one more news related to the NEX-6 Samys is offering a free $50 gift card on the purchase of the A77 (Click here), A65 (Click here) and the mentioned NEX-6 (Click here).

Back to the A99. It is in Stock at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany. And the camera is mentioned shortly within the last BHphtoo HDSLR video introduction you can watch on vimeo.

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RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

[shoplink 15341 ebay]

[/shoplink]
Metabones announced that it will add autofocus support on [shoplink 15341 ebay]EF to NEX Smart Adapter II (they are here on eBay)[/shoplink]. What follows is the official press release:

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Vancouver, Canada, November 7, 2012 – Metabones adds autofocus support for select Canon lenses to its Smart Adapter II (for mounting EF and EF-S mount lenses on Sony NEX cameras).
To ensure the best possible accuracy, autofocus is enabled only for late-model Canon-brand lenses (introduced circa 2006 or later).
Significant effort has been put into focus accuracy research and we conclude that only lenses capable of the most precise control in their autofocus mechanisms could reliably deliver pixel-accurate results when adapted to Sony NEX cameras. Autofocus is disabled for most older Canon lenses and most third-party lenses, but aperture control, image stabilization (if applicable), EXIF and other features will continue to work just like before.
Autofocus speed is significantly slower than on a DSLR camera. Phase detection feature of NEX-5R/6 is not used at this time. As a result, autofocus speed of a Canon EF/EF-S lens on Sony NEX is usually slower than on the new Canon EOS M. Compared with Sony’s own A-mount lens adapters, Metabones Smart Adapter II is faster than LA-EA1 but slower than the translucent-mirror-equipped LA-EA2.
Smart Adapter II with autofocus support is available right now at the same price (US$399+applicable tax/duty) from Metabones’ distributors in many countries all over the world and the Metabones online shop. Existing Smart Adapter II customers may send their units back for an upgrade for a nominal shipping/handling charge of $50.

via DPreview.

Sony Australia created that amazing video to explain why “Bigger is not necessarily better”. A video made to support the new mirrorless camera philosophy. Really a great work guys! I hope Sony Japan will support you in making even more videos like that! Thanks!!!

And don’t forget to subscribe their DSLRgearnoidea channel!

UPDATE: Bhphoto listed five new E-mount lenses from Rokinon Samyang! These are all Cine lenses (smooth aperture control). Someone raised the question that this may be a BH mistake. But their text clearly says it’s for NEX.

8mm T/3.8 Fisheye Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
14mm T3.1 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
24mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
35mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).

Don’t forget that there is also an upcoming Rokinon 8mm T/3.8 Fisheye Cine Lens for Sony A-mount (BHphoto), the 24mm t/1.5 A-mount (Amazon) and the 35mm t/1.5 for A-mount (Amazon).

As usual be aware that Samyang has mane different brand names. Click on these Slidoo eBay links to see a list.
USA: Rokinon, Samyang, Opteka, Bower and in Europe: Samyang, Rokinon, Walimex, Falcon, Vivitar.

Note: Slidoo is a SAR developed official eBay App (in Beta phase). Subscribe to change country and help me testing this project. Thanks!

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Samyang also sent us the press release text of the 85mm t/1.5 lens:

Press release:

Kraków, 9th of November, 2012 – Samyang Europe proudly informs about releasing at the turn of November and December brand new video lens Samyang T 1.5 85mm AS IF UMC.
The lens will join Samyang’s VDSLR family and will be available with following mounts: Nikon, Canon, or Sony. Optical construction, similarly as in case of classical version, comprises of 9 lenses  divided into 7 optical groups and provides internal focusing function. It should be also noted that one of the lenses is aspherical. Iris diaphragm allows one to produce aesthetic bokeh. All lenses were covered with multilayered, anti-reflective coatings, which add to the very high level of light transmission. As in the case of the rest VDSLR lenses, the aperture and focus rings are featured with gears, allowing to control work of the lens with follow focus system.
Samyang T 1.5 85mm AS IF UMC will be available on sales at the turn of November and December, but for those, who would like to have it earlier, Samyang Europe prepared a special contest. The prize is the brand new 85mm VDSLR itself. To win the lens a short video needs to be made. All necessary information is at distributor’s offical site: www.samyang.pl and its Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/samyangpl
Welcome to the fun!
Samyang Europe

via Cheesycam.