Sony CES 2012 Press Conference Photos (Sonyrumors). Surprise Will Smith was there!
Images of the 500mm prototype lens at Clubic.
Sony CES booth at Photorumors.
ePhotozine unveils that Sony is working on 24 Megapixel compact cameras.
Sony Brings New Prototypes to CES 2012 (Blog.Sony , no camera stuff)

Time for a short recap of what’s happening at the CES show in Las Vegas. There is not a lot for us NEX and SLT users:

1) The image on top shows you the official images of the two new Sigma E-mount lenses. One is the 19mm f/2.8 (here on Sigma website) and the other one is the 30mm f/2.8 (here on Sigma website). There is no  info yet about price and availability.

2) There is again that 500mm f/4.0 lens prototype for display (here is the image)

3) In general Sony is “using” the event to show their new compact cameras, bloggies, televisions (55 inch OLED!) and so on. You can find a list of the new products at Sony.blog (Click here). Sony booth images are available here at dpreview.

Rumors: While I had to give you that bad news about the A99 delay I will now soon post all the other rumors I got in these weeks. And there are many good things to tell you. You will not have to wait a lot to see new NEX and SLT stuff…promise!

The probably most popular Sony camera of the moment, the NEX-7 got a serious contender which is the Fuji X PRO 1. I share you some of my quick thoughts about the two cameras and you let me know if you agree or disagree with my short comparison:

Body quality (Fuji more solid, Nex lighter):
Top body quality is a characteristic I liked a lot back in the film camera age. Now on digital cameras this is becoming a tiny bit less important as your camera will not last for generation like film cameras. Highly electronic stuff will last for a couple of years or not survive your buyer instinct to buy a new much better camera after some time. While the Fuji X PRO 1 has a more solid feeling body the NX-7 is absolutely well made for being so much more lighter.

Usability (NEX wins):
I am surprised to say that, the Fuji X PRO 1 has absolutely beautiful looking controls but I think Sony TRI NAVI solution is far more faster and useful. You can customize it, it’s faster to use (I shot a while on the digital [shoplink 11073 ebay]Leica MP[/shoplink] and know how to use the dials that Fuji “copied”).

Viewfinder (Fuji wins, but not sure yet):
It looks like Fuji’s hybrid viewfinder is a real winner. You can have both, optical and electronic view of the scene. But the NEX-7 electronic viewfinder is surprisingly good and looking at the specs also better than the Fuji electronic viewfinder. I really have to test the Fuji to see if it is really a good solution.

Minor Features (NEX wins):
I like the Fuji film modes, but guys, the NEX-7 can do almost everything! Panorama mode, 3D and other stuff like that.

Image Quality (Fuj wins):
On paper it looks like Fuji made a step forward but I have to check a real photo comparison to be sure of it. My guess is that the difference between S PRO 1 and NEX-7 will be small with an edge for Fuji.

Video Quality (NEX wins):
There is no discussion, NEX-7 wins. Much better and advanced Codec!

Lens choice (Fuji wins if you look for prime lenses, but future is NEX):
It all depends from what you need. If you like me are a prime lens shooter than Fuji clearly made it right. I wish I could see those three lenses for NEX too:
Fuji 18mm f/2.0 lens.
Fuji 35mm f/1.4 lens.
Fuji 60mm f/2.4 macro lens.
But I think in long term Sony could have the edge when it comes to video dedicated lenses and when you will see the new NEX roadmap :)

Price (NEX wins):
NEX-7 costs $1199 at Adorama (Click here).
Fuji X PRO 1 costs $1699 (price was dipslayed here at Amazon).
UPDATE: Is there a price change? Expansys USA (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here to see the preorder page)

Overall….NEX wins:
I am not a fanboy, and I am saying here that Fuji made a superb camera! But when it comes to balance price, features and usability the NEX-7 has still an edge. But that’s just my opinion based on the reviews I read and not on real world experience. And that is what counts at the end. So I am looking forward to get my hands on the Fuji.

P.S.: This is the NEX-7 full in Stock status check:
[shoplist 8454]

It’s my obligation to inform you about new Sony camera stuff even if it’s not that really interesting :)
Sony announced the new Cyber-shot DSC-W630- W620- W610 – S5000 (Press release at Photographyblog). Probably cooler than any new compact camera is the just announced Sony Bloggie Sport (Press release at Photographyblog). It’s Water-, shock- and dustproof!

The two new Sigma NEX lenses are also official (Press release at ThePhoBlographer).

A few SAR reader sent me a link to Xitek images (Click here) that should “proof” that the new Fuji X PRO 1 camera is using a Sony fabricated sensor. To me this images do not prof anything and I highly doubt Sony is involved in that sensor technology.

P.S.: Our reader Leszek informed me that the A77 is in Stock in UK at Jacobs (Click here). It’s also in Stock at Amazon Japan (Click here).

I know this is not the kind of news you particularly like but it’s just a proof that you should not expect new NEX and SLT stuff. The images on top do show the three new Sony compact camera that are going to be announced at the CES show on Monday. The W610, W620, W650.

The reason for Sony not announcing any new “serious” camera stuff is the production delay because of the Thai flood. First they have to go back to full production capability. As I already told you now even the NEX-5n is facing some serious stock shortage. From all new cameras the A65 is the only one in Stock at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) and if I am not wrong the NEX-7 is in Stock at Fotomundus.

A bit of free Advertising: Probably the “Only” real new interesting camera announcement is coming form Fuji. neither Canon nor Nikon (a part of the D4) nor Panasonic really have to show somethign new. You can follow the announcement live on Monday at MirrorlessRumors (Click here) at 9pm London time.

In Stock status check:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
A65 at [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

Here is a collection of news and mails I got from SAR readers:

Kelly: “Hello! I just wanted to let you know that DxO v7 is now available for purchase. A very important note for current DxO v6 users – if they log into their dxo.com account and look for an upgrade link, it will save them a lot of money. Instead of paying 200 euros to upgrade, I only had to pay 50 euros. (Thanks Kelly!).”

A.: “I´m a Video-sub Diver from Spain and a writer about underwater filming at www.forobuceo.com. I´m  testing the faboulous Sony NEX VG 20:
Videos about the NEX 20:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCrIhYCetzA&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkpV0FdKScY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPMVxji3vs&feature=player_embedded”

Anonymous: “The local paper here in Melbourne, Australia, and probably syndicated to/from the Sydney Morning Herald, has a curious little article on sensor size which strangely turns into a brief review of the A77. http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/cameras/the-difference-sensor-size-makes-to-a-camera-20111123-1ntds.html“

Jermey: “I’ve made a new video test about the noise management between the Sony A77 and the Sony NEX 5N: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVBJ5bVRabo. My next video test will be about the noise management and aliasing between the Canon 5D and the Sony A77.”

A77 review from David Tayor-Hughes at Soundimagesplus.

Henrik: “I made a video on Kyoto using the Sony a65 alongside the Canon 5dii, which I think really shows off the video capabilities of the a65. About half the cuts are from each camera, with the handheld shots done using the a65 due to its in-body stabilization, and the “flying” shots done using the 5dii mounted on a glidecam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgDyTK0Rz6w”

Mike Kobal: “portraits link
http://www.mikekobal.com/blog/?p=3288
travel snaps with Nex 5n and A77
http://www.mikekobal.com/blog/?p=3254
and fashion shoot with A77
http://www.mikekobal.com/blog/?p=3242
that is so cool you shot a documentary in kibera, no video for me :(”

OZ: “A77 & A65 Gallery from 1000 flickr user http://www.flickr.com/groups/a77/discuss/72157627947591387/”

Sony LA-EA2 test at DC.watch.

2012 Sony World Photography Awards Will Be Held In London (ePhotozine).

NEX E30 Macro Prime Vs E18-55 Kit Zoom Shootout (RiceHigh).

Sony A35 review at macworld.

Erfahrungen mit der Sony NEX-FS100 at Slashcam.de.

Sony A65 review at Whatdigitalcamera (Click here). The camera gets the “Gold Award”! The reviewer writes: “There’s no doubt that the A65 faces some stiff, established competition, but it’s the A65 that delivers the best all-round blend of features, performance and image quality. It’s a great camera that deserves real consideration.”

Kiril: “I wrote a short article how to use off camera flash with NEX 3 and 5 series. http://karaatanasov.info/index.php?entry=entry111229-221046“