Joseph Eckert (Click here) posted a new 5mm for NEX lens test: “The price is pretty good for a lens with this large an aperture, and combined with decent sharpness this can make a good portrait lens. But make sure you know exactly why you are buying this, otherwise it might end up sitting around in your bag.”

Also 3D-Kraft (Click here) is busy testing the lens. And actually he compared the lens with the 10 times more expensive Leica Summilux: “you still see an advantage for the (10 times more expensive) Summilux, which has about half a stop wider aperture and is able to render a perfectly creamy bokeh. But the E 1.8/50 OSS can make some points with autofocus and optical stabilization which helps a lot in more agile situations.”

And the Flemish website Nexblog (Click here to read the google translation) compared the 50mm F/1.8 E-mount vs. Minolta 50mm F/1.4 RS ([shoplink 11596 ebay]Click here to see the Minolta lens on eBay[/shoplink]).

One more thing: Readers from USA, Canada and Germany sent me emails to say that the lens is currently shipping in their countries. Here is the list of shops (click on names) I usually check to see when it’s in Stock. Good Luck!
[shoplist 8448]

Sony Zeiss 24mm for NEX review

Andrew Reid posted his final NEX-7 video quality review at EosHD (Click here): “Faced with the 5D Mark II and Panasonic GH2, the NEX 7 is a better stills camera than the GH2, ergonomically superior to both for video, has great colour and tonality in the standard picture profiles, but is not up there in terms of resolution and compression.”

NEX-7 and Zeiss lens test at SonyAlphaLab (Click here):”next to my Canon L Glass it’s the best lens I’ve used on the Sony Nex cameras.  Corner to corner sharpness is very well maintained considering the engineering challenges of the E-mount 18mm flange distance to the sensor.”

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Check the availability of the NEX-7 at [shopcountry 8454].
Check the availability of the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 8450].

The Sony 50mm for NEX has been tested by ThePhoBlographer (Click here): “Of all the lenses I’ve tested so far, it by far has the best image quality for the system. The fact that I was able to use it for a professional product shoot also blew my mind away. Generally, I leave all of that to my 5D Mk II but the fact that I did it with this little camera makes me thrilled for the mirrorless future.”

In USA the lens will ship on Feb 25th at BHphoto (Click here). Check these links to see if other stores will ship it soon: [shopcountry 8448].

The grip designed by Mike Kobal.

Last week I posted hee the news about the new Ownuser NEX-7 battery grip (Click here to read the article and see the pictures). But the Sony Nex 7 Concept grip by Mike Kobal (Click here) looks much more sexy. Too bad it is just a concept for now :(

Venetian Carnival 2012 in Hamburg at 3Dkraft (Click here).

New NEX-7 review at Outbackphoto (Click here).

NEX-7 hands on with silver 18-55mm lens on youtube (Click here).

Sony NEX-7 in Stock search at [shopcountry 8454].

P.S.: Rokinon (Samyang) 8mm review by ThePhoBlographer (Click here): “Though fisheye lenses are generally specialized lenses, this one was such a joy to use that I would keep it on all day and all night.“

The documentary on top has been shot with the [shoplink 8452]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink] and [shoplink 11449 ebay]SLRmagic Sony lenses (Click here to see them on eBay)[/shoplink].

ThePhoBlographer (Click here) tested the NEX-5n: “So is the NEX 5N worth its weight in gold? In my honest opinion, yes it sure is. The image quality combined with overall size, excellent high ISOs, extreme good video, and simple to use menu along with a touch screen makes this a winner in my book.”

You can see a [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] with Zeiss ZM lens test at Steve Huff (Click here): “there is the magenta color shift. I can’t deny that it’s there. It is. Sometimes. Very rarely in my use. And only with the Biogon. With large aperture. But even then not always, or not noticeable.“. Here is the list of all ZM lenses:
[shoplink 10875 ebay]Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9803 ebay]Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9805 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9806 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].

Sony NEX-7 review at TheVerge (Click here): “I’d buy the NEX-7 over any Micro Four Thirds or mirrorless camera currently on the market. The APS-C sensor is a big advantage for the NEX-7, as is its speed and manual control. For most users, especially those who have never used a DSLR and are looking to step up in quality and control, the NEX-7 should absolutely be on the short list for your next camera. It’s certainly on mine“.

Japanese NEX-7 review at DC.watch (Click here).

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Sony NEX-5n in Stock status check at [shopcountry 8452].
Sony NEX-7 in Stock status check at [shopcountry 8454].

Engadget (Click here) visited the CP+ show in Japan and played with the new Sony 500mm f/4.0 lens: “The lens focused surprisingly quickly, especially given its massive 500mm fixed focal length. Moving from subject to subject at varying distances, we were typically able to achieve focus in a fraction of a second. Long lenses have traditionally been tricky on the focus front, but this guy handled it like a champ”

The lens costs 13.000 Euro (no preorders yet) and is the most expensive Sony lens ever made. It beats the 300mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Autofocus Lens which costs $3200 at Bhphoto (Click here).

Curiosity: The most expensive lenses are from leica. Look at that Prototype 50 Summicron which sells for more than $35000 on [shoplink 11445 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]!!!

Sony Alpha NEX-7 mirrorless camera review at Engadget (Click here): “As you may have gathered, we’re quite smitten with the Sony Alpha NEX-7. The camera offers many features previously only accessible to full-size DSLR owners, delivering excellent performance in a body size only nominally larger than the NEX-C3 and 5N.”

Full Sony A77 review at ePhotozine (Click here): “The Sony Alpha A77 is an enjoyable camera to use that is capable of producing some excellent photos, with great colour, detail and extremely solid exposure performance. Reds are extremely vibrant and colourful and the camera produces excellent JPEG output straight from the camera, even on default settings. Noise control is very good with low noise right up to high ISO settings.”

Sony NEX-5n tested at Digitalcamerainfo (Click here): “When you can pack this kind of performance in a body this small, it’s hard to not be impressed. While we’re not ready to label the NEX-5N as the best compact mirrorless camera we’ve seen, it’s pretty close and it has us very excited to see where the NEXseries goes next.”

Another NEX-5n review has been posted by Kent Photography (Click here): “After a few days of test and still testing now, the NEX-5N does really good with the different shooting situation that you throw at it. Apart from the distortion and one off WB issue, I can’t fault its performance much. It certainly was my go to camera during the trip instead of my DSLR. I didn’t even feel hesitated  to shoot in low light, knowing that it will produce decent images even at ISO 1600-3200.”

More small news: Sony NEX-7 handheld video by Outbackphoto on vimeo. Hdr Photography and the Sony Nex-7 explained in detail at SonyAlphaLab (Click here). Overcoming NEX 5N overheating. a cheap and real fix at DVXuser (Click here).

And here are the links to check the price and availability status of the three mentioned cameras:
A77 search at [shopcountry 8461].
NEX-7 search at [shopcountry 8454].
NEX-5n search at [shopcountry 8452].