The NEX-7 is shipping to our US readers :)

Luminous Landscape (Click here) posted a new post within their NEX-7 rolling review. They compared the NEX with the expensive Leica M9 fullframe camera ([shoplink 5502 ebay]Click here to check price on eBay[/shoplink]). To compare the two camera image quality they used the same [shoplink 10680 ebay]50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH lens[/shoplink] on both cameras. Conclusion: “There is no question (to my eyes at least) that the Sony sensor out-resolves the Leica using the same lens.”

What do you think? Amazing or not? Imagine what a fullframe NEX-9 or A99 will do. Leica really has to invent something on their sensor strategy to keep up with Sony.

One more news: SonyAlphaRumors reader “Brad” just sent me these pictures showing the very first stock of NEX-7 that has been shipped via SonyStore USA. As you see he uses the super [shoplink 10681 ebay]Minolta 50mm f/1.2 lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink] on it! Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the image.
P.S.: Sony NEX-7 preorder search(!) links [shopcountry 8454]. You might don’t find NEX-7 preorder at all :(

[shoplink 8454][/shoplink]

Believe me, you don’t see that very often at Dpreview (Click here). the NEX-7 just won the Gold Award! The full NEX-7 review is online and they have big word of praise for Sony: “The NEX-7 is, without doubt, something of a technological triumph for Sony.”

The only minor limit is the “cobbled-together” firmware. But I am sure the next firmware will fix the minor issues. And the rest of the review contains positive statements only: “In the flesh, it lives up to almost all of that initial promise. The EVF is excellent, stills image and video quality both superb, and the handling is remarkably good for such a small camera“.

Yeah guys, that’s really my next camera ;) And as you know it’s coming soon now, in one month!

Here is the full preorder list:
[shoplist 8454]

One of my favorite websites Photographyblog (Click here) tested the Sony A77. And the verdict is that the camera is “Essential“!!! If I am not wrong the last camera to get the highest verdict was the Nikon D3s which costs quite a bit more!

According to the reviewers the A77 “out-performs the direct competition” and “At a time when compact system cameras are the centre of attention, it’s great to see some real innovation in the DSLR world, and for that innovation to result in a truly exceptional camera like the new Sony A77.”

I 100% agree that Sony is really innovating the digital camera market. And while some things have to be worked out (see lag issues or the not 100% perfect JPG quality) Sony is leading us to a new future where electronic viewfinders and photo+still hybrid systems will become the mainstream technology. It will be hard for Canon and Nikon to fight against that!
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The A77 is out of Stock in almost any worldwide online store I checked. There are still some auctions on [shoplink 8461 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] but most of the times you have to pay a couple of hundreds dollars/Euro extra. The A77 should be in Stock again by mid January. Click these linsk to search for A77 preorders: [shopcountry 8461].

[shoplink 8454][/shoplink]

There is a new article at Luminous Landscape at their NEX-7 rolling review (Click here). They talk about the Creative Styles, EVF and Live View Display. First they show you a “trick” to control the contrast of the EVF (because in bright light the EVF contrast can be too high). And they also found a small bug related to histogram feature. I hope Sony will fix that minor issue with the new firmware. There is another small NEX-7 review at karaatanasov (Click here): “I had never seen so much details from an APS-C. Colors are astonishing. It seems the Dynamic Range in RAW is amazing too (I do not have RAW software.). Again on colors this is the first Sony camera to remenice of the Minolta days”
As you have read yesterday the NEX-7 is now shipping at Sonystore in USA. It should be available by mid January in Europe and Asia. Check these search links if the stores are accepting preorders: [shopcountry 8454].

Cameralabs (Click here) just posted the full NEX-5n review: “Sony has pulled it off and produced one of the most compelling mirrorless ILC models on the market and one we have no hesitation in granting our Highly recommended award.“.

Techradar (Click here) published a full A65 review: “The Alpha 65 is very well-specified in comparison to its rivals, matching or exceeding the competition’s feature-sets in many respects. It’s pricier, but we feel the impressive stack of high-end features that this camera has to offer more than outweigh its cost“.

In Stock status check:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
A65 at [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

Low Budget Filming – Sony Alpha 77 & Movcam Rig

AF in manual video movie mode workaround Sony SLT A77 (Mikekobal). And contact sheets with A77 and NEX-5n (Mikekobal).

Sony A77 review by SonyAlphaLab (Click here): “I can pick apart a feature here and there and say the Nikon X is better in High ISO and the Canon Y has better AF, but as a whole the A77 is a phenomenal camera for a great price in my humble opinion.”

A77 test at Expertreview (Click here): “Packed with features and impressive strengths including a superb kit lens, but high noise levels and lethargic controls aren’t acceptable at this price“.

The A77 is in Stock at Amazon Germany (Click here), [shoplink 10586 ebay]Heidfoto (crazy name!)[/shoplink], [shoplink 10587 ebay]Foto Neuber (Click here)[/shoplink], in US at [shoplink 10585 ebay]willoughbyscamera (with $400 extra to pay)[/shoplink], almost in Stock at Digitalrev (two weeks). There is a £50 discount at Amazon UK but the camera is not in Stock yet.

[shoplink 8448][/shoplink]

Steve Huff (Click here) posted his final 50mm f/1.8 for NEX review: “Basically this lens is a must have for any NEX shooter who wants a medium telephoto with a fast aperture. The lens has great color, has a fast aperture for shallow depth of field or when the lights get low and the lens pumps out great color with rich saturated tones. The lens is sharp but not clinically sharp. On the NEX-7 it is a fantastic performer.”

Yes that lens is a real winner. It only has a couple of drawbacks. It’s a bit too big, and it doesn’t come in black for my future NEX-7. I hope Sony will soon introduce a black version.

The lens is in Stock in Asia at Digitalrev (Click here). You can get it within 6-10 days at Amazon Japan (Click here). You will only get in January-February in Europe and US although SonyStore US (Click here) says it’s coming next week. I heard this isn’t true yet. Let’s see who is right…

Meanwhile good news for all those of you who preordered the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens at Amazon (but you cannot make a new preorder yet).

Full new NEX and lens rpeorder links:
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

While we are all anxiously waiting for the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] reviewers keep torturing us with excellent reviews and hands-on. And now we even have the very first unboxing video. So… enjoy and suffer! :=)
And Digitalcamerareview (Click here) posted a new NEX-7 review. And of course it got an Editor’s choice award! And Peter Sills (Click here) traveled for six days to Cuba with the NEX-7 and enjoyed the camera lot: “I am now totally convinced that the future of digital photography will incorporate high-quality EVF in almost all cameras“.
The NEX-7 is hardly available for preorder yet: [shopcountry 8454]

P.S.: You can win a new NEX-5n at Pocket-Lint (Click here).