U7 *NEX 7 test footage* from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.

Andrew Reid (Click here) posted a first impression review of the NEX-7 video quality: “In video mode the same strengths that the NEX 5N had over the GH2 are apparent but more so…. Colour is richer and more accurate, gradation and tonality are smoother, dynamic range is greater, latitude (especially in the lows) is increased and a flatter image profile helps to give more flexibility when grading the footage.”

Meanwhile 3Dkraft (Click here) updated their NEX- versus GH2 test because of a severe misinterpretatation of the 1080p25 files by Premiere Pro. So re-read the test!

The super busy SonyalphaLab administrator tested the new 8mm Rokinon lens on the NEX-7 and posted many image samples. That lens takes super pictures. But you still cannot preorder it yet :(

And while Sony Europe is doing their job well Sonystyle US (Click here) is again making a mess with many NEX-7 preorders. Many of our readers got messages like this: “We would like to inform you we are experiencing a delay with your Sony order. The following item NEX7K/B has been rescheduled to ship on 02/17/2012.“.

P.S.: NEX-7 image samples at Outbackphoto.

Kenko (Click here) announced the new 400mm E-mount lens price. It’s 22.000 YEN ($290). As you can see from the image it looks like a module of the space station :)

Mansurovs (Click here) reviewed the Sony A77: “Overall, I am very impressed by the Sony SLT-A77 and I highly recommend it to our readers. I mostly used the Sony A77 for photographing landscapes and I can honestly say that I would not hesitate to use it professionally for my work.”

Which One is Which? Sony NEX 5N vs Canon 5D Mk II at ThePhoBlographer (Click here).

Sony A65 review at DigitalPhotographySchool (Click here): “with the A65 I captured stunning, sharp, brilliantly colour-saturated images.”

Sony A77 search order links [shopcountry 8461].
Sony A65 search order links [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-5n search order links: [shopcountry 8452].

Triple E-mount lens test at Provideocoalition (Click here).

Dcresource (Click here) posted a new NEX-5n review: “If you find that you can live with its interface, then you’ll find a camera that’s capable of taking excellent photos and videos, with the added bonus of the HDR and Anti Motion Blur features, for taking great photos in challenging lighting conditions. Even with its quirks, the NEX-5N does the fundamentals very well, which is why it earns my recommendation.”

Tamron for NEX image samples at Focus Numerique (Click here).

Using Pentax FA Lenses on the Sony NEX-5n at Steve Huff (Click here).

A77 is Worlds Fastest Camera says Pixiq (Click here).

Quick in staus check: NEX-7 is now in Stock at Amazon Germany (Click here), Fotomundus (Click here).

As you know Canons first attempt to compete against the growing mirrorless market is the release of the Canon G1X which has a 4/3 sized sensor which is slightly smaller than Sony’s APS-C. If you were wondering how close the sensor quality could go to the best Sony NEX cameras than see those DxOmark results (Click here). It’s nowhere near the Sony NEX-7! Speaking of the NEX-7. The only real competitor the Fuji X PRO 1 got (finally) a price. It’s available for preorder at Amazon (Click here)…for $1699. That yes will be a strong fight between Sony and Fuji!

P.S.: Today Canon reported big loss and slow camera sales. So kings can be dethroned?

NEX-7 preorder search links: [shopcountry 8454].

[shoplink 11326 ebay][/shoplink]

One of the lenses I am considering to buy right now is the [shoplink 11326 ebay]Zeiss ZM 18mm f/4.0 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Our reader Pascal tested the lens and posted his findings at DearSusans (Click here): “Contrary to my (FABULOUS) Zeiss ZM Biogon 25mm/2.8, this is not a symmetrical lens and should work much better on the NEX-7. The NEX-7′s smaller pixels make it much more adverse to symmetrical designs such as the Biogons and some early Leicas. But no such problem with this lens“. He tested the lens on the NEX-5n and these are his findings:
– warm colors
– It has the classic Zeiss 3D look
– damn sharp!
– not the best bokeh but as the tester said, bokeh doesn’t matter with that lens.
– focus ring not tight enough
– it’s a bit too big for such a slow lens.

Read the full test and watch the images samples at DearSusans (Click here)! To see some image samples of the lens on the NEX-7 check out Rob Skeoch (Click here) website. Reviews on M-mount cameras have been made by Ken Rockwell and SLRlensreview.

There are a few good reasons why I would buy the lens:
1) Versatility: I will be able to use this lens on a future fullframe Sony mirrorless system or any other mirrorless system. It’s an investment for the future.
2) Build quality and manual focusing and aperture ring.
3) You can have it in Silver or Black (perfect for my NEX-7!).
4) Image quality is top

I am looking forward to find a good deal on used lenses on eBay :)
The Silver Zeiss 18mm ZM lens is in Stock at Adorama (Click here), [shoplink 11326 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
The Black Zeiss 18mm ZM lens is in Stock at Amazon UK (Click here), [shoplink 11326 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Digital Photography School (Click here) posted a final NEX-7 review: “A significant camera that could shoot right up there with most DSLRs, but is as easy to use as a snapshot camera.”

Old School photography with Pentax 645 and NEX-7 at Soundimagesplus (Click here).

How to setup a lens adapter for the NEX-7 at SonyAlphaLab (Click here).

Nex-7 and the fotodiox lens adapter with aperture tested at SonyAlphaLab (Click here).

Our reader Kenter made that new NEX-7 case: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VKworkshop?ref=ss_profile

Our reader Björn Utpott (Click here) wrote a long list of NEX-7 firmware update suggestions. Read the list carefully, I completely agree with him :)

NEX-7 In/out of Stock status:
I have been told that NEX-7 bodies will arrive in stores next week in Europe and USA. Here are the links to the stores that will have them in Stock soon: BHphoto (Click here), Sonystore Germany (Click here), Sonystore France (Click here), Sonystore Netherland (Click here), Sonystore Italy (Click here), Sonystore Sweden (Click here), Sonystore Switzerland (Click here).
And the auction rpice on eBay for new NEX-7 is dramatically lower. A good sign that now many stores are shipping the NEX-7 bodies. The current lowest price is [shoplink 11315 ebay]$1750 (Click here to see the auction)[/shoplink]. That’s $400 less compared to the price four days ago!

ThePhoBlographer (Click here) is the first website posting a hands-on of the new lens. In short this is what they think about the lens:

– it’s super light and small and very well balanced with the Sony NEX 5n.
– you won’t be able to put a filter on it
– manual focusing works fairly well but still not the best from my initial tests.
– wide open at f2.8, the lens offers hexagonal bokeh balls.
– distortion levels are also relatively acceptable.
– it tends to render all images more towards the blue side

I like Rokinon/Samyang lenses a lot and I recommend you the following two lenses for Alpha mount:
1) The 35mm f/1.4: In US you can find it as Rokinon at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and on [shoplink 7453 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. In Europe the name is Samyang and you can find it on [shoplink 7380 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and with the name Wallimex again on [shoplink 7831 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
2) The 85mm f/1.4: You can get for $274 on Amazon (Click here), branded with the name Rokinon on [shoplink 7456 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and branded with the name Samyang on [shoplink 7454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].