.

The famous magazine “Time” selected the Sony RX100 as one of the fifty best inventions of the year! They write: “Digital cameras have been getting smaller and more capable every year, but that trend took a huge leap forward in 2012 with the Sony RX100, which bridges the gap between point-and-shoots and pro-quality digital SLRs. Sony’s innovative design and 1-in. (2.5 cm) sensor allow the camera to take flawless photos even though it’s 20% slimmer than your average digital SLR—small enough to fit in your pocket.”

Yep, that’s exactly the reason why it is the best selling Sony camera for months now (popularity ranking here). Today Gariz also announced new RX100 letherette skins you can alreayd buy on eBay in [shoplink 15141 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 15140 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink]. A new review has just been posted by Photographybay.

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]

For the first time the A99 is in Stock and shipping via Amazon itself (Click here). Now let’s see if this will finally push the A99 on top of the popularity ranking. The A99 is already for sale in Europe at Jessops, Wex UK, Wex Germany and Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and massively on eBay worldwide stores (here on Slidoo).

Readers keep sending me their unboxing videos and first tests: Stealthmode, Bridal, Giveaway at SLRlounge, A900vs A99 comparison on Flickr. Thanks for sharing these links!

Sony NEX-6 is in Stock at [shoplink 15131 ebay]Bigvalue (with lens)[/shoplink], [shoplink 15132 ebay]Bigvalue (body only)[/shoplink], Wex Germany, Amazon DE, Jessops UK, Amazon FR and in many European eBay stores (here on slidoo).

[shoplink 15112 ebay][/shoplink]
Imagine that camera…in E-mount :)  Image courtesy: Wikipedia.

Have a little dream, and I want to share it:
As I told you I have no doubt anymore that Sony will sooner (or later) release a new Full Frame E-mount camera. But not only the specs and tech inside the camera will be important also the design has to be perfect. And knowing that some Minolta engineers are still involved in Sony camera development and design I really hope they are going to take some inspiration from the [shoplink 15112 ebay]Minolta CLE[/shoplink] you see here on top! More nice body images can be found within [shoplink 15110 ebay]that camera auction (Click here)[/shoplink].

I owned one for quite some time (sold it after in favour of the [shoplink 15111 ebay]Mamiya 7[/shoplink] a plastic camera but medum format). At the time of the presentation the CLE was the best M-mount camera. But what I like most is the compact size philosophy (it is the most compact M-mount camera), the zero compromise in body quality, the easy design and easy handling. Now imagine a FF NEX camera having the same simplicity. That would be a killer. And probably you would not have to dream the new Leica M anymore. Don’t you think?

The CLE still sells used on [shoplink 15112 ebay]eBay (Click here to see all auctions)[/shoplink]. There were even some Gold editions (here on slidoo ebay). History about the camera can be found on Cameraquest and Camerapedia. MIntola acutions on eBay here on slidoo.

Sony launched a dedicated Ozawa Chukyo page that shows his work with the new Sony RX1: http://www.sony.jp/cyber-shot/1hand-fullsize/photographer.html. A poor automatic translation can be found here via google. Mr. Ozawa talks a lot about his experience with the RX1. And of course he liked the camera. We will still have to wait over a month before first cameras will be shipped. Meantime I can’t wait to see some real RX1 test soon.

The RX1 can be pre ordered at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.

Our friend Mike Kobal shot this video about the Sansy Hurricane with the Sony RX100.

RX1:
First news of today. Our reader Mike (Thanks!) just sent us the links to the RX1 manual download links:
Various languages but not English listed as yet: http://sony.co.uk/support/en/product/DSC-RX1/manuals
And here is a working link to the English manual: http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/4443124111.pdf
The RX1 will ship in December and preorders are up at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.

More little Sony news:
A99 test at MyNavi (translation here).
Sony Chathistory about the new F55 and F5 cameras on Facebook.
Introducing the PMW-F55 (Sony website).
Damn it…even Ken Rockwell likes the Sony NEX-5R!

Live show:
Paul Genge will have CameraDiner LIVE show today. They will talk about e-mount with Yamamoto san from Sony PSE

Readers work:
Jonas: “With my recent NEX-7 purchase i started getting interested in shooting video along with my photography. I’ve made a little sample movie of what you can do with a nex-7, tripod, sony 24-70 cz and a circular polarizer. No extra effects have been added other than a slight adjustment in curves to correct dynamic range slightly. The video is on youtube =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xhXlnP6duc&feature=plcp
Not sure if it’ll have any impact on nex-7 opinions but perhaps it’ll spark an interest in someone as other nex-7 videos did for me =)“

Egami (translation here) spotted the next Sony sensor patent describing a Foveon alike sensor. With Foveon alike I mean a RGB 3-layer image sensor that in case of the Sony patent also includes tilted(!) pixels. As you know the advantage of such a 3 layer sensor is the color accuracy, sharpness and larger pixels (or possibility to have more pixels on the same sensor size). Now, it’s hard to understand from the google translation why these pixels have been titled. But if you saw some test of the latest generation Sigma Foveon sensor cameras than you will easily notice that at Low ISO the sensor really rocks! (while there are still massive noise problems on High ISO images).
Here are some test to check out:  DP2 ISO test at Focus Numerique. A full camera review has been posted at Photographyblog, Luminous Landscape and ePhotozine.

I hope Sony will be able to overcome some of the Sigma Foveon technology limits and release a camera with a 3 layer sensor. Would push the image quality to a new level!

P.S.: There are two 46 Megapixel Merrill compact cameras from Sigma:
DP1 with 28mm lens at Amazon, BHphoto and of course on [shoplink 15083 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
DP2 with 45mm lens at BHphoto and on [shoplink 15084 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].

More info: Foveon X3 sensor (Source: Wikipedia)

Peter Crithary from Sony twitted the info about the new F55 and F5 Cine Alte cameras. While these are not A or E mount cameras they have some very intriguing feature that we have to talk about. The full specs can be seen at ProSony. And the pdf files are here:
F5 http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/show/highend/pdf/F5_Camera.pdf
F55 http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/show/highend/pdf/F55_Camera.pdf
(Thanks OneGuy for finding the links).

Here are the key features:
1) These are modular cameras
2) The F55 has a Global shutter
3) Super wide color gamut that surpass printed film(!)
4) Super long choice of recording formats
5) Long-life Olivine Battery
6) 16 bit 4K RAW recording and 180 fps in 2K without line skipping or sensor windowing
7) 14 stop dynamic range (film has 16)

Imagine if some of these features would be implemented in future High End A or E mount cameras! For example global shutter on an photo camera would allow to take instant pictures with no lag (there is no mechanical shutter) and with no “click clack” noise. Modularity is also an aspect Sony could bring in a sort of hybrid A and E-mount cameras. And of course having a super wide color gamut and 14 stop dynamic range would be appreciated too! Today’s announcement shows us how far Sony sensor and camera technology can go today. And what we more “mass-camera” oriented camera can expect from the near future.

P.S.: Andrew from EosHD analyzed the single specs.

And here are the images of the color performance and the new f/2.0 PL mount lenses (damn would I have loved to see them in A-mount!):