We have plenty of good news today :) Here is an update about the new Tamron lens and NEX-7 shipment (Thanks to all readers for collecting these news!): 1) The new Tamron lens costs 80,000 Yen without tax (>$1,000) in Japan and will start to ship on Dec 15! As soon as I know where you can preorder I will share the links. The optical performance graph of the lens is available at DC.watch (Click here). 2) A couple of SAR readers got an email from Sony Store saying that their NEX-7 preorder will ship next week! And the new Sony Body Case and Lens Jacket for the NEX-7 is already in Stock at BHphoto (Click here). 3) The new Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens for NEX is in Stock (or soon in Stock) in many stores: [shopcountry 8450].
Here are all the links to the NEX-7 to see who is accepting preorders:
[shoplist 8454]
But there is one more good news. Early Sony US preorders will be shipped this months! Here is the official text from Sony USA: “Sony USA is happy to announce that limited quantities of the new NEX-7 camera will begin shipping to pre-order customers this month. Overall production capacity remains restrained as a result of the recent floods in Thailand, but we’ve made significant progress recovering our manufacturing capabilities and supply chain. We’re continuing to aggressively pursue all efforts to restore full production capability of the NEX-7 and other affected models.”
Sony Japan also announced new NEX-7 accessories you can see as screenshot here on top!
Good news guys or not? We can wait 6 weeks or not?
The spanish DSLRmagazine (Click here) just posted a super news! Tamron launched the first E-mount lens, the 18-200 mm f/3,5-6,3 Di III VC. Yeah there is already an [shoplink 10533 ebay]Alpha lens version[/shoplink] of it but this lens has been specifically designed for NEX and the main feature is the “step-motor” which is designed to align 100% with the contrast AF system of the NEX, particularly good for video! In addition, the “DMF” (Direct Manual Focus) allows focusing by hand if necessary, even in AF mode.
There is no info about the price and availabiliy yet. Here are the specs:
Popular photography magazine named the [shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink] camera of the year in their January 2012 issue. And they posted the full review online at Popphoto (Click here): “Sony’s NEX-7 is currently our pick for the best ILC on the market. It combines outstanding image quality with solid ergonomics and, in addition to the normal array of preset shooting modes, plenty of useful options. When we tested Sony’s first NEX cameras, we weren’t very impressed. Now, we definitely are, and we’re eagerly awaiting whatever Sony has up its sleeve next.”
The french website Clubic (Click here to read the google translation) tested the NEX-7. The NEX-7 is a superb cameras but the reviewer would have preferred the same NEX-5n sensor inside the camera. The real weakness is the kit lens that is not good enough for the high resolution 24 Megapxiel sensor.
Luminous Landscape (Click here) posted a new Legacy Wide Angle Lenses NEX-7 / NEX-5n Comparison: “There is significant lens cast visible with the NEX-7 and some legacy lenses, and it isn’t minor. The reason for it is that the 24 Megapixel sensor has smaller photo sites, and oblique light rays, especially those from wide angle lens (more on this in a moment), show a magenta colour shift. The 5n has larger sensels and also a different microlens layout than the 7, making it much less problematic with some legacy lenses.”
They tested three lenses:
1) Voigtländer Ultra Wide-Heliar 12mm f/5.6 ([shoplink 10507 ebay]Click here to see the lens specs and price on eBay[/shoplink]).
2) Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5–f/5.6 DC HSM ([shoplink 10508 ebay]Click here to see the lens specs and price on eBay[/shoplink]).
3) Leica Wide Tri-Elmar 16-18-21mm ([shoplink 10509 ebay]Click here to see the lens specs and price on eBay[/shoplink]).
There is still no official news about when the camera will be in Stock. The last info I got said it’s coming in February. You can look for NEX-7 preorders at [shopcountry 8454]. What is in Stock (or will be this week) is the amazing Zeiss 24mm lens: [shopcountry 8450].
The video on top is part of the full A77 review from David Dugdale (Click here to read it). He tested the camera with the old 1.03 firmware! So some of the issues he found have been fixed (like responsiveness and lagging). He likes the Canon more than the Sony, and I am curious to hear what you reader think about the review. I bet there will be a huge discussion! :)
David Kilpatrick from Photoclubalpha (Click here) says about the new 1.04 firmware: “No significant improvement can be detected so far in image quality despite the claims, at least with the 100 or so test shots we’ve taken at different ISOs using a Color Checker, and other spot checks for Low/Normal/High NR. But there are so many modes on the A77 including panoramas, multishot, DRO, that the improvement may well be specific functions which Sony will explain in more detail.”
There is a new spanish A77 review at pixel-depot (Click here to read the translation): “The image quality is, after upgrading the firmware of the camera, excellent, superior to that offered by other APS sensor DSLR models, but Sony can still improve the response to high ISO as ISO 4000 from the noise signal is appreciable.”
In Stock status:
There is not a lot to say. The A77 is out of Stock almost everywhere. You can still find som cameras on eBay. In USA at [shoplink 10487 ebay]Willoughbyscamera (but you pay $400 extra)[/shoplink], In Europe at Amazon Germany, [shoplink 10485 ebay]Foto Neuber Germany[/shoplink], in Italy at [shoplink 10486 ebay]Aggiudicato[/shoplink] and at Digitalrev (PAL version!). Check for more (pre-)orders at [shopcountry 8461].
SAR reader mails: Tony: “Hi Andrea: I have just don a long 3-part review of the 5n vs. A77 vs. NEX 7 on my website. You can access it here: http://www.thistonybridge.com/newsletter” Matt: “just wanted to share this video I made with the A77 w/ stock lens… I’m using it to film college basketball (VCU Rams) and this video really shows off its autofocus capabilities, which I think a lot of sports photographers are curious about… share if you wish! http://www.vcuramnation.com/2011/12/video-vcu-defeats-south-florida/” Ricky: “Hello Andrea, I took a lot of shots a couple of weeks ago at the Edgewood Texas Heritage Festival with my A77 and Tamron 18-250 and they came out great. Thought you might put a link to the page where I have them. There are three boxes on the page. The top box is from 2010 and was taken with my now sold SLT-A33 and 18-55 kit lens. The next two lower boxes are slideshows from two weeks ago with the A77. It was cloudy a lot of the day and many are shot with the ISO multishot feature that shoots up to six shot and puts them into one to reduce noise. All were shot JPEG and I reduced them down in FastStone Photo Resizer: http://razzledazzleart.com/EdgewoodFestival2010.aspx“
A new week started and I am glad that I can share two good news:
1) The first batch of A77 cameras produced in Japan arrived in Asia. You can see a picture of the package (Click here) and a picture of the camera (Click here). It says “Made in Japan” and no more “Made in Thailand“. Now let’s hope Sony will also send them soon in Europa and USA too. Amazon Japan (Click here) now says the A77 will be back in Stock in two weeks. Check the A77 in Stock status at [shopcountry 8461]. 2) Henrik sent me the screenshot you see on top to proof that Sony Denmark shipped his Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 for NEX lens! If you preordered the lens than you will might get it that week. Otherwise check the preorder info at [shopcountry 8450].
The video on top shows you the latest A65 video review form Digitalrev. But there is one good news I have to share. The Sony A65 will be back in Stock on December 9 at Amazon US (Click here). The camera has been stock for two weeks now and I don’t know if that is part of a new Stock of cameras coming out from the new Chomburi factory in Thailand.
P.S: Also the new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).
