Image courtesy: http://www.hkmug.org/

Sony Europe just announced the new firmware. You can download it here: http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/DSLR/dslr.aspx.

Let me know if you are happy with the new improvements! Thanks!

UPDATE: Japanese firmware version:
For the A850
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/DSLR/UUnXMtUM/DSLRA850v20.exe?fm=jp
For the A900
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/DSLR/UUnXMtUM/DSLRA900v20.exe?fm=jp

PRESS RELEASE:

Companies Jointly Develop New Specifications to Meet Needs of Professional Photography and Video Markets

Milpitas, Calif., November 29, 2010-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), Nikon Corporation and Sony Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)1, the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.

Professional photography and High Definition (HD)2 video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.

The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec)3 (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express4 interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA)5 interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.

The new specifications’ faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.

In addition to industry-leading performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new specifications have the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond two terabytes (TB)6, making them especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size to a CompactFlash® card, the new specifications’ access control function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models.

“This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,” said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon, chairman of the board, CFA. “This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs.”

“The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment,” said Mr. Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, vice president and general manager, development headquarters, imaging company, Nikon Corporation.

Superdrift Challenge 2010 Final Show: Varano from Mattia Santino Merli on Vimeo.

Distagon T* 24mm F2 SSM review at DCfever.

Sony F3 has 4 times light gathering ability of 5D Mark II (EosHD)

Sony A580 review at Chip.de

Sony NEX3/5 review at Neutralday

Building a wireless USB Link for wireless tethered shoot on Sony Alpha A900 (theAlphaFactor)

Sony sees RED with PMW-F3 camera, we go hands-on with the $16k “indie” (Engadget)

Sony will show a 23.11 A 17.7Mpixel 120fps CMOS Image Sensor with 34.8Gb/s Readout at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference.

New [shoplink 3058]Sony NEX-VG10[/shoplink] firmware update adds autofocus with Alpha lenses (Click here to download the firmware). A new test has been published by Focus Numerique.

Sony 50mm f/1.8 DT ( SAL-50F18 ) on Sony NEX (Photozone)

New weekly japanese system camera sales ranking (BCNranking). Two NEX cameras into the top 10.

compulsion – teaser from Jason Wingrove on Vimeo.

Finally we have the very frist Sony F3 video sample. This is of interest for us Alpha/NEX users becuase the F3 uses the same sensor of the E-mount NXcam. The main difference is the codec. The F3 uses ExmorHD at 34Mbit/s and the NXcam AVCHD at 24Mbit/s.

“This is a teaser for a short shot entirely with the Sony PMW-F3. It will form part of Sea Pool. vimeo.com/​channels/​seapool A documentary currently in production on the Australian ocean pool culture in Sydney and shot early morning at North Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Lenses were [shoplink 4596]Zeiss 40mm UltraPrime[/shoplink], Super Speeds, & 135mm prime.
I’ve done a subtle preliminary grade using Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Looks but we can already see the footage has great possibilities in the grade.
For more on the shoot & our experiences with the camera go to fxguide.com and listen to our podcast, Red Centre. fxguide.com/​redcentre
The full version can be seen at Sony live events in Australia & NZ very soon, go to sony.com.au/​pmwf3 to register. Thanks for dropping by.
Director/Cinematographer: Jason Wingrove
Cinematographer: Tom Gleeson gleeson.net.au/
Talent: Bel Delia deliafilms.com.au/
Sound: Mario Pellegrino
Music: Jozef Vilk

Jason Wingrove
Freelance TVC /Film Director, Cinematographer.
jasonwingrove.com
twitter.com/​wingrove “

We told you that Sony would announced a few new camcorders and that they would become very interesting even for Alpha-NEX camera owners ;)

After the PL mount Super-35mm camera Sony announced the E-mount Super-35mm camcorder. Now you can use your [shoplink 3003]NEX lenses[/shoplink] on a professional camcorder! The Super-35mm sensor has 2k sensor with large 12 microns. It can capture 4 times more light than the [shoplink 3028]Sony A850/A900[/shoplink] cameras. Imagine what you can do in very dim light!

“Sony Corporation announced today that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. This new addition to Sony’s professional “NXCAM” line will be available in the middle of 2011.” (Source: Sony.net)

Full press release:

Sony to expand 35mm large format sensor camcorder lineup
“NXCAM” HD camcorder under development, featuring E-mount lens system Sony Corporation announced today that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. This new addition to Sony’s professional “NXCAM” line will be available in the middle of 2011.

Already a key player in the 35mm digital cinematography business with the highly acclaimed “CineAlta” F35 and SRW-9000PL for high-end digital cinema production, Sony has just strengthened its lineup in this category with the recent PMW-F3 announcement. In addition to this, with this new “NXCAM” HD camcorder now (still under development), Sony looks to further strengthen its position in the entry-level segment by providing an affordable yet highly capable professional solution for many applications including independent film, music video and corporate communications all looking for the cinematic look.

This “NXCAM” HD camcorder under development will be equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent sensor, a widely used film stock size in the film industry that is perfectly designed for capturing motion picture. This new sensor will have extraordinary performance in terms of picture quality and sensitivity, and is able to create rich “Bokeh” effect (beautifully defocused image) that is perfect for artistic story-telling in motion picture.

Thanks to the adoption of the E-mount interchangeable lens system that is identical to the “α” series NEX-5, 3 and “Handycam” NEX-VG10, the E-mount lenses will be compatible with this new professional camcorder. In addition, a very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) let various “α” A-mount lenses be mounted via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). Furthermore, it is also possible to attach many other lenses using third-party mount adaptors*1. With such flexibility, users will be able to experiment with various creative expressions by exploiting the characteristics of different optics.

*1: Not all types of adaptors and lenses are guaranteed.

The recording format for this new HD camcorder will be AVCHD, a widely supported format by many non liner editing software vendors and the same format as HXR-NX5 “NXCAM” camcorder.
There is also a plan to implement 1080p (60p / 30p / 24p*2 or 50p / 25p) recording modes.
(MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression will be used for these modes.)

Calm down guys, the title is a joke ;)
But what you can’t deny is that Sony started a second (or new) life. According to BCNranking the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] was the third most sold system camera in October (Japan only). And the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] is on place 8th! And let’s go further with the next world domination facts: The Time magazine selected the 50 Best Inventions of 2010 and look….there is the Sony A55! And finally the german magazine Chip.de placed four Sony cameras under the best entry-level DSLR!

Sony…let’s continue: Realease the NEX-7, A77 and A950 ;)