Nat Geo shooter Ben Horton compares Canon glass to Zeiss glass (Zeiss rules!)

Ben Horton finally gave us an answer to the BIG question: Are Zeiss lenses better than Canon lenses? Oh yes! The National geographic shooter tested the Zeiss ZE lens series for Canon and published the results on Photocinenews. He tested those lenses and said the Zeiss lenses can outresolve the 22 Megapixel sensor of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

When presented with an opportunity to take a good photo, I chose the Zeiss lens over my Canon lens every time. I didn’t even have to think about it. The contrast, the clarity, and the feel of the lenses was so much better from the very beginning that I had ceased to use them just for the review, I was using them so I would get the best image that I possibly could.

Why is the test so important? It shows the potential of the future High-resolution APS-C and FF Sony sensors when combined with Zeiss lenses. The A77 will feature a new 24 megapixel sensor and the FF sensor is expected to have more than 30 Megapixels! To have good lenses is crucial because otherwise the Megapixel race doesn’t make any sense.

Those are the current fullframe Zeiss lenses for Sony (Click on store name to check price and availability):
– Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens (Amazon / Adorama / BHphoto)
– Sony 24mm f/2.0 Distagon T* lens (Amazon / Adorama / BHphoto)
– Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens (Amazon / Adorama / BHphoto)
– Sony 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Coated Telephoto Lens (Amazon / Adorama / BHphoto)
– Sony 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Telephoto Lens (Amazon / Adorama / BHphoto)

Worldwide press likes the new Sony cameras (NEX, SLT, VG10, and A580)

The top mirrorless camera comparison

The graph above shows the google search trend of current mirrorlesss cameras. The [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] is the most popular camera. But Sony is not popular because of the NEX system. Last few days many different reviewers tested different Sony cameras and they liked the tested products!

Kamerabilde.se says the Sony A580 ist the best APS-C camera to date.
Stev Huff preferrs the Sony A33/55 over the Nikon D3100.
PCworld (Click here) rated the [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink] as 6th on the list of the best tech product in 2010
Akihabaranews said the VG-10 is definitively the best “Hybrid Camcorder” ever made.
Luminous Landscape said The future of the photographic industry belongs to Sony and Panasonic.”

These are all opinions from independent websites. Now let’s hope Sony will continue the taken path!

Steve Huff reviews the Nikon D3100 and says he prefers the Sony A33/55 :)

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Steve Huff is a very known camera reviewer. He is not a Sony freak and doesn’t get paid by anyone to write reviews. He just posted a long Nikon D3100 review. If you click on that link to read the review scroll down until you reach the very end of the page. He ends the conclusion with: “(The Nikon D3100) just did not blow me away. I prefer the Sony A33 and A55” :)

Reminder: The A55 is in Stock at Amazon US, Sonystyle, Pixmania Deutschland, Pixmania Belgium, Pixmania Austria, Pixmania UK, Pixmania Holland, Pixmania Poland, Pixmania Italia, Pixmania Suisse, Pixmania Spain, Pixmania France.

Some other news:
Gary wrote his initial A55 impressions at dpreview. Fotopolis tested the A580. Neutralday tested the Sony A290. Some 85mm 2.8 image samples have been posted here and here at Sonyuserforum.de.

Sony A33 preview at Cameralabs and review at Fotopolis


Cameralabs tested the new Sony A33 camera:”for now can assure you the movie experience is the closest we’ve found to a consumer camcorder yet“. The final review will be posted soon but you can already see some interetsing tests.

Meanwhile Fotopolis posted a complete A33 review. Those are the pros and cons:
+ Pivotally mounted LCD
+ AVCHD 1080i HD movie with a fast AF
+ 7 shooting fps
+ Interesting exposure modes, including 3D panoramas and HDR
+ Image stabilization inside the body
+ Low noise for high ISO
+ Excellent reproduction of detail
+ Natural color reproduction
+ Quite good ergonomics
+ SDXC + card support, and MS Pro Duo

– Semi-transparent mirror, limits the access of light to the sensor
– At the expense of optical electronic viewfinder
– Body made of average quality plastics
– Cannot record movies in Single AF mode
– Relatively high price

Support our website by using those links to buy the A33 or any other products you want to buy. We will earn a small commission that helps us to cover all the cost. Thanks!
Amazon, BHphoto, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Pixmania DE, Pixmania BE, Pixmania AT, Pixmania UK, Pixmania NL, Pixmania PL, Pixmania IT

Sony Distagon T* 24mm F2 SSM review(Dpreview)

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Dpreview just posted the new Sony/Zeiss Distagon 24mm f/2.0 review: http://dpreview.com/lensreviews/sony_24_2_m15/.

The conlcusion? No surprise here. The Distagon delivers a superb image quality with fast silent and accurate autofocus. The only minor issue is the flare under direct sunlight.

You can preorder or order the lens at (Click on store name to visit the product page):
US: Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and [shoplink 4419]eBay[/shoplink].
EUROPE: Amazon Deutschland, Amazon UK, Amazon France and [shoplink 4419]eBay[/shoplink].

New Sony reviews

The chinese website Tech.sina posted a Sony 85mm f/2.8 review.

Sonyalphanex: Sony NEX with a Voigtlander 35mm Nokton f/1.4 ([shoplink 3717]Click here to see current lens auctions on eBay[/shoplink]).

NEX-VG10 Studio Portrait on Flickr!

Sony Alpha NEX-5 vs Olympus PEN E-P1 at Dkamera.

Sony 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 E – OSS test at Optyczne.

First user reactions and video about the NEX firmware update


Sony 24-70CZ on NEX-5

People all over the world is right now testing the new firmware. SOme of them are uplaoding first testvideos I collected here:
Sony NEX-3 / NEX-5 Movie Aperture Control Demo (DOF) Aperture f/4.5 video Youtube.
Sony NEX-3 / NEX-5 Movie Aperture Control Demo (DOF) Aperture f/11 video on Youtube.
Sony DT3.5-5.6 18-55 on NEX extension tube AF test on Youtube.
Sony DT3.5-5.6 18-55 on NEX extension tube AF test on with extension tube on Youtube.
Sony NEX-3 / NEX-5 with LA-EA1 adapter test (with DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM) on Youtube.

P.S.: Dpreview updated their NEX review: http://dpreview.com/reviews/SonyNex5Nex3/

Let us know if you find interesting user reviews and/or new videos! Thanks!