When using Canon to NEX adapter the EOS lens is set at minimum aperture and there is no way to control the aperture…oh no wait, Conurus just found a new way :)
As you can see from the video above it really works but unfortunately that is not a real solution for now. But I guess they will soon be able to make an adapter that allows the electronic control of EOS lenses. That would be a much better solution compared to the EOS to NEX adapter with built-in aperture control made by Kipon (Click here to read that article on SAR)!

Check out current Kipon adapter auctions at [shoplink 5559 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
See the list of all current EOS to NEX manual adpaters on [shoplink 5932 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

The Sony NXcam

According to Engadget Kaz Hirai will very likely become the new CEO of Sony when Howard Stringer will step down in 2013.

Sony NEX DSLR via Leica Visoflex (Sonyalphanex).

Sony CLM-V55 tested at DC.watch (Google english translation).

A700 vs A55 vs A77 size comparison (Dpreview forum)

Transparent Sony A77 Hands-On (Photographyblog).

A SAR reader sent me this with a final question you might can answer:
“The Genoa Municipality Digital city project uses for its multimedia contents Sony gears only (see THE GENOA MUNICIPALITY CHANNEL on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/Genoamunicipality and the webmagazine about the city VIVERE GENOVA, http://www.viveregenova.comune.genova.it). We have two NEX 5 to be used both as photocameras and as videocameras for full HD videos by our young publiscers who learn to become really multimedia journalist, we have two NEX VG10 to be used for more complex videos by our videomakers as the SONY X1R reserved for high quality video productions. The idea of using NEX products allow us to have interchargable lens and accessories as well as to use light but powerfull video instruments with cinematografic capabilities.
Question: We are looking for a solution to allow us to use professional microphones with the NEX 5. is someone able to help us in finding a soloution that “works”? The standard built in microphone represents a limit in the professional use of the NEX as videocamera“

[shoplink 5827 ebay][/shoplink]

The taiwanese company Ownuser (Click here) made a new battery grip for the A33/A55 and the Sony NEX-5 cameras. The grip does offer:
External Shutter release input
External AC power input
Camera shutter release output
tripod mount
use of two Lithium batteries and AA Battery (6A/8A)
IR output (!)

It sound slike a very powerful tool! The IR control looks like an amazing feature! I couldn’t find any price indication. Those are the links you should check:
The battery grip for the A33/A55: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_sa55.html
The battery grip for the Sony NEX: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_snx5.html
You can find battery grips from Ownuser on [shoplink 5827 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. They already are offering battery grips for other Sony cameras.

I am really shocked by what is happening in Japan. I wish things are less worse than the images on TV are showing us. All Japanese readers do have my solidarity.

A Sony related news (via Bloomberg):
“Sony halted and evacuated six factories in northeastern Japan, said Yasuhiro Okada, a spokesman at the Tokyo-based company. He said the company was assessing the impact of power outages and damage to its facilities in the region, which make Blu-ray discs, magnetic heads and batteries.“

A SonyAlphaRumors reader sent me a link to the latest book announcement of Gary Friedman: “The Complete Guide to Sony’s Alpha 33 and 55 SLT Cameras“. I checked all Amazon stores to see if there are other interesting books about the translucent cameras:

Amazon US:
Sony Alpha 55 by Lambert M. Tennoe, Mariam T. Henssonow, Susan F. Surhone (Click here)
David Busch’s Sony Alpha SLT-A55/A33 Guide to Digital Photography (Click here).

Amazon Canada:
Sony Alpha 55 by Lambert M. Tennoe, Mariam T. Henssonow, Susan F. Surhone (Click here)
David Busch’s Sony Alpha SLT-A55/A33 Guide to Digital Photography (Click here).

Amazon UK:
Sony Alpha 55 by Lambert M. Tennoe, Mariam T. Henssonow, Susan F. Surhone (Click here)
David Busch’s Sony Alpha SLT-A55/A33 Guide to Digital Photography (Click here).

Amazon Germany:
Sony Alpha 55 by Lambert M. Tennoe, Mariam T. Henssonow, Susan F. Surhone (Click here)
Digital ProLine: Praxisbuch Sony Alpha DSLRs (Click here)

Amazon Italy:
Sony Alpha 55 by Lambert M. Tennoe, Mariam T. Henssonow, Susan F. Surhone (Click here)

A SonyAlphaRumors reader sent me an interesting question:

“With all these different RAW formats. Would it not be nice to have a standard. I was wondering if Alpha Rumors could put a vote or start a campaign to get Sony to switch to Adobe’s DNG format. It would be nice to see what others think about making a standard RAW format.“. Hmmm, let us know what you think and if you really care about DNG. Before you vote you should read the following info (Source: Wikipedia):

1) Objectives of the DNG format
* Digital image preservation (sometimes known as “archiving”): to be suitable for the purpose of preserving digital images as an authentic resource for future generations.
* Easy and/or comprehensive exploitation by software developers: to enable software to be developed without the need for reverse engineering; and to avoid the need for frequent software upgrades and re-releases to cater for new cameras.
* In-camera use by camera manufacturers: to be suitable for many camera manufacturers to use as a native or optional raw image format in many cameras.
* Multi-vendor interoperability: to be suitable for workflows where different hardware and software components share raw image files and/or transmit and receive them.

2) Characteristics
* Freely-available specification
* Format based on open specifications and/or standards: DNG is compatible with TIFF/EP, and various open formats and/or standards are used, including Exif metadata, XMP metadata, IPTC metadata, CIE XYZ coordinates, ICC profiles, and JPEG.
* Self-contained file format: a DNG file contains the data (raw image data and metadata) needed to render an image without needing additional knowledge of the characteristics of the camera.
* It has a version scheme built into it that allows the DNG specification, DNG writers, and DNG readers, to evolve at their own paces.
* Freely-available source-code-based software development kit (SDK).
* Documented to have no known intellectual property encumbrances or license requirements: there is both a “Digital Negative (DNG) Specification Patent License” which says that anyone can exploit DNG, and a statement that there are no known intellectual property encumbrances or license requirements for DNG.

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Samyang announced a new 35mm f/1.4 manual lens that will also be available for Alpha-mount. The lens should be available this month for 389 Euro. The lens is very interesting because 1) it is a full frame lens 2) because Samyang is known for his high quality lenses!

You don’t believe the Samyang is a good lens? Photozone tested two lenses on a Canon full frame camera. The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED (Click here to read the review) and the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical (Click here to read the review). The only thing you miss on those lenses is autofocus. If you don’t want to spend $1,369.00 for the Sony 35mm f/1.4 (Click here to see that lens on Amazon) the Samyang could be an interesting alternative.

All Samyang lenses can be found on eBay  under seven different brand names (Click on it to see all lenses from the specific brand):