UPDATE: Sony China removed the A77/65 firmware upgrade 1.04 page! But the download links still work. Be aware that this upgrade firmware has yet not been officially released. Download and install at your own risk! And we don’t know if you can replace that firmware with the firmware that Sony will possibly release next week. So do NOT install if you don’t know what you are doing!!!

Windows:
A77: http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/rourmNHbYZ/Update_SLTA77V104.exe
A65: http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/rourmNHbYZ/Update_SLTA65V104.exe

Mac:
A77: http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/rourmNHbYZ/Update_SLTA77V104.dmg
A65: http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/rourmNHbYZ/Update_SLTA65V104.dmg

I guess the rumor we posted yesterday is true. Sony planed the release for today but than postponed it to next week. Sony China made a mistake an posted it today and than removed it after a couple of hours. Read our readers comments to check out what has been improved!

UPDATE: The administrator from Digicam-info contacted me to say that he got a news form a trusted sources to say that Sony originally planed to release the firmware tomorrow (Nov 24) but they postponed the release to next week! It’s form one of his trusted sources and I upgraded the rumor value from SR3 to SR4.

As I told you last week this will be a major upgrade because we expect improvements in JPEG image quality too! Here is the list of new features/improvements:

1) expanded the number of automatic compensation of compliant lenses
2) Improvement of Responses
3) Improvement of IQ
4) Improvement of Usability

And here are the links to check the price and availability of the two cameras:
Sony A77: [shopcountry 8461]
Sony A65: [shopcountry 8459]

Two weeks ago I posted that fullframe poll (Click here) to ask you what kind of lens you need for the full frame Alpha mount system. We had 3.900 voters from all over the worls. The poll gives us a general idea of what our readers want from Sony. I ask you to share your evaluation about the results. These are mine:

1) The most requested lens is actually a surprise because I would have never expected to see so many votes for it. The 12-24mm f/2.8 got a 28% share (1,094 Votes).
2) The most requested focal length is the 50mm standard prime. The 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss (24%, 927 Votes), the 50mm f/1.0 Zeiss (19%, 734 Votes) and the 50mm f/1.2 (13%, 503 Votes). Close behind we find the 35mm wide angle prime lens. The 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss collected 25% of your votes (978 Votes). And the more compact 35mm f/2.0 had 461 votes (12%). Very close behind the 35mm lenses we find the 85mm lenses.
3) There is no surprise when it comes to standard zoom lenses. The 24-105mm f/4.0 (25%, 974 Votes) is the third most requested lens. The 70-200mm f/2.8 Zeiss (23%, 882 Votes) is the fifth most requested lens.
4) Another surprise has been the high request for Tilt shift lenses. The 24mm TS earned a 16% share (641 Votes).
Overall It’s obvious that readers ask for classic good quality prime and zoom lenses. It’s a call for Sony to complete the “backbone” of the lens system. And I am sure Sony is already working on it.

Here are the detailed results of the poll and feel free to add your analysis of the results! Thanks!

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These are the links to the current Sony Full Frame lenses (without the older Minolta lenses). You can check the price to get an idea of how much the suggested poll lenses could cost!
SAL-16F28 Fisheye 16mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9774]
SAL-1635Z 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* AF SLR Lens [shopcountry 9773]
SAL-20F28 20mm f/2.8 AF Lens for Alpha & Minolta Maxxum Series [shopcountry 9775]
Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM Wide Angle Lens [shopcountry 9769]
SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9776]
SAL-2875 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM Constant Aperture Zoom Lens [shopcountry 9777]
SAL-35F14G Wide Angle 35mm f/1.4G Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9779]
SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9780]
SAL-50M28 Normal AF D 50mm f/2.8 Macro Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9781]
SAL-85F14Z Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9782]
85mm f/2.8 SAM Mid-range Telephoto Lens [shopcountry 9768]
SAL-100M28 100mm f/2.8 AF Macro Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9770]
SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9771]
SAL-135F28 135mm f/2.8 Manual Focus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9772]
SAL-70200G Zoom AF 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G(D) SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9782]
SAL-70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9783]
SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9784]
SAL-75300 AF D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9785]
SAL-300F28G 300mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9778]

A dozen of our USA readers sent us the same message received via Sonystore US. Thanks! Here is the original text sent by Sony:

“We would like to update you that Sony has restarted production of NEX7 in our Chonburi Thailand factory which was not impacted by the flooding.
Since we are just beginning to ramp up production in these new lines, we have just begun restart of production at this early stage; however this is positive news that Sony is getting back on track and recovering from flood impact. Although there are no details to share on production schedule today, we expect within the next 2 weeks to have a clearer idea for you.
Again, thank you very much for your continued patience.
Sincerely,
Sony Customer Care“

Phottix (Click here) announced the Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Flash Trigger for Sony. Here is the press release:

—————————————————————

Quick Overview

Making a classic trigger better! The Phottix Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Trigger System gives photographers incredible control over their flashes and studio lights. Four channels and four groups provide unparalleled control in the studio or on location.

Product Description

Making a classic trigger better! The Phottix Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Trigger System gives
photographers incredible control over their flashes and studio lights. Four channels and four groups
provide unparalleled control in the studio or on location. The Strato II Multi can be used as a wired or
wireless shutter release. The 2.4 GHz. transmitter and receivers offer ranges of more than 150 meters
and sync at speeds of 1/250 second .*
Transmitters feature an innovative TTL pass-through hot shoe – allowing full TTL mode to be used with a
camera mounted flash. Receivers offer flash wake-up functions.*
It’s fast, sexy, and powerful – perfect for your studio or location work.

Features:

– 4 groups: A,B,C,D
– 4 Channels
– 150+ m range
– 1/250 sec. sync speed*
– Flash wake-up functions*
– Hot shoe / PC Flash triggering
– Studio strobe triggering
– Wired and wireless shutter release functions
– Pass-through hot shoe on transmitter allows on camera flash to use TTL functions
– 2.4 GHz. frequency
– uses AAA batteries
– Compatible with Phottix Strato 4-in-1 Wireless Triggers

Sony Version includes shutter cables for:
S6: α900/ α700/ α580/ α560/ α550/ α500/ α450/ α350/ α300/ α200/ α100/ α55/ α35

* On compatible flashes and cameras

—————————————————————

I don’t know yet when the product (and where) will be available. Some Phottix first generation remote controllers for Sony are avaialble on [shoplink 10160 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Foggy And Hazy – Sony a77 Extreme Low Light from Heikki Kivijärvi on Vimeo.

There is a new A77 review at DC.watch (google translated), at Slashcam.de (google translated) and at Colorfoto.de (google translated).
Sony A700 versus Sony A77 at jimmartinphotoblog (Click here)
Sony Alpha 77, test complet #2 : bruit numérique et erreurs de protocole (Alpha Numerique).
A new A77 Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/alpha77/pool/with/6223530148/
My new A77 with my old Minolta 75-300mm lens (dpreview forum)
Popular Photography magazine wrote a full A77 review (you can buy it here).
Sony A77 RAW samples thoughts (SonyAlphaLab).
One more A65 test at Colorfoto (german).

USA:
A77 body with 18-55mm lens and 29 accessories at [shoplink 2097 ebay]Arphotovideo (Click here)[/shoplink]
A77 body with 18-55mm and 75-300mm and 36 accessories at [shoplink 2098 ebay]Arphotovideo (Click here)[/shoplink]
A77 body with Secret Handshake Minolta 28-135mm [shoplink 2099 ebay]Yibum (Click here)[/shoplink]
A77 body with 16-105mm lens at [shoplink 2100 ebay]Yibum (Click here)[/shoplink]
A77 body with Carl Zeiss 16-80mm[shoplink 2101 ebay]Yibum (Click here)[/shoplink]
A77 body with 8 lenses(!) for $5999 at [shoplink 2102 ebay]Yibum (Click here)[/shoplink]

Europe:
A77 body at [shoplink 2103 ebay]fotoheibel (Click here)[/shoplink] – Germany
A77 body at [shoplink 2104 ebay]qf-foto (Click here)[/shoplink] – Germany
A77 body at [shoplink 2105 ebay]cameracentre1315 (Click here)[/shoplink] – UK
A77 body at [shoplink 2106 ebay]0123aggiudicato (Click here)[/shoplink] – Italy
A77 body at [shoplink 2106 ebay]0123aggiudicato (Click here)[/shoplink] – Italy
A77 body with 18-55mm lens at [shoplink 2107 ebay]badblock_group (Click here)[/shoplink] – Estland

Sony Japan confirmed that there will be a new NEX-5/3/C3/VG10 firmware in mid-december. It will bring the support for the new LA-EA2 adapter. But I do hope there will be also other major new features and improvements coming along the update.