(SR5) future Sony compact camera specs and images leaked.

I wish I could found such leaks for SLT and NEX cameras. A belgium online store leaked the new Sony compact cameras that should be in Stock by June only! Here are the links:

Sony DSC-HX10 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-hx10-digitale-compact-superzoom-dschx10-p-6828.html
Sony DSC-HX20 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-hx20-digitale-compact-superzoom-dschx20-p-6829.html
Sony DSC-HX200 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-hx200-digitale-superzoom-camera-dschx200-p-6830.html
Sony DSC- H90 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-h90-digitale-compact-camera-dsch90-p-6827.html
Sony DSC-TX20 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-tx20-digitale-waterproof-camera-dsctx20-p-6834.html
Sony DSC-WX50 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-wx50-digitale-compact-camera-dscwx50-p-6831.html
Sony DSC-WX100 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-wx100-digitale-compact-camera-dscwx100-p-6832.html
Sony DSC-W690 : http://www.fvdshop.be/dsc-w690-digitale-compact-dscw690-p-6833.html

New battery grip for the NEX-7? NEX-7 in Stock in Canada and soon in UK (both body and kit version!!!).

[shoplink 8454][/shoplink]

For the (worldwide!) first time the NEX-7 with black 18-55mm kit lens is in Stock at Sony Canada (Click here). And also the body only is in Stock at Sony Canada (Click here). And in Europe both NEX-7 versions will be available within 10 days at Jessops UK (Click here). And in USA you can get a 300 mail in rebate on Epson printer when pre ordering the NEX-7 body at Adorama (Click here).

I just got a news saying that the Taiwanese company Ownuser (Click here) will soon announce a new battery grip for the NEX-7! It is a modular design that would also allow the use of [shoplink 11134 ebay]LA-EA2[/shoplink] without obstruction. The same company already made battery grips for SLT and NEX cameras:
[shoplink 6128 ebay]Click here to see the A33/A55 battery grip auctions on eBay[/shoplink].
[shoplink 6129 ebay]Click here to see the NEX-5 battery grip auctions on eBay[/shoplink].

Full NEX-7 preorder search links:
[shoplist 8454]

UPDATED: Sony price increases in Hong Kong from February 1 (but for Hong Kong only!!!=

Our reader NSHK sent me the “official bad news”:
The following is the new official listed price in sony Hong Kong.
Effective from Feb 1
>30% up!!!
USD 1 = HKD 7.8
SAL1680Z HKD 5390 > HKD 7390 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 5586])
SAL1635Z HKD11990 > HKD 15990 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9773])
SAL2470Z HKD 12590 > HKD 15990 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9776])
SAL85F14Z HKD 9990 > HKD 12590 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9786])
SAL135F18 HKD 10990 > HKD 13880 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9771])
SAL70300G HKD 5980 > HKD 7790 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9783])
SAL70400G HKD 10990 > HKD 15990 (Check in other stores: [shopcountry 9784])

UPDATE: Good news folks. The price increases will happen in Hong Kong only!!! The rest of thw world is save :)

(SR3) Up to 30% price increases on Sony camera and lenses? (NEX-7 in Stock in Germany and Holland)

I am still not sure if the rumor is true but I heard from one of my sources that Sony may will increase the prices of camera and lenses up to 30% starting from February! The reason is simple. The Stock are now almost empty and 100% full production will be reached in March only. Even the NEX-5n is getting out of Stock. There are only a few left at Amazon (Click here). Sonystore (Click here) says the NEX-7 will ship in early April only. And the 50mm for NEX is still desaparecido! I really hope that rumor is wrong!

The only small good news I can share is that the Zeiss 24mm for NEX is back in Stock at Adorama (Click here). And the Sony NEX-7 body is in Stock in Europe at Fotomundus DE (Click here), Sony Netherland (Click here) and with only 2-3 weeks shipping at Sony Italy (Click here), [shoplink 11106 ebay]Atirahome ebay (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 11107 ebay]foto-woehrstein ebay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

(SR5) A minimum of six NEX lenses will be announced this year!

After posting that bad news about the A99 delay I will now cheer you up with a series of good news rumors :)

The first news is that unlike the original NEX roadmap where Sony showed three NEX lenses coming for 2012 there will be at least six new lenses this year! Sony NEX system success has been bigger than expected (by Sony managers) and they are aware that while the cameras are amazing the lens range is still lacking. That’s why the lens engineers are right now developing many new NEX lenses. You will not only see a new High Quality G standard zoom, wide angle zoom and telephoto lens. There will be pancake and other Zeiss lenses too! I am still collecting the details about the lens specifications. I hope to be able to post them soon.  if you can help me with some info drop me a message by using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar. Every little piece of rumor helps me to avoid mistakes when publishing rumors. Thanks!

By the way, the new Zeiss 24mm 1.8 is now in Stock at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) in Europe at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Sony Sweden (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here) and in Asia at Amazon JP (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

It’s still impossible to find the NEX-7 in other place than on [shoplink 8454 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

(Boring) lenses coming from Sigma for NEX. And a new Alpha mount lens.


Sigma is about to launch two new unspectacular lenses for the NEX system. The 19mm f/2.8 lens which at least from the size point of view is less interesting than the [shoplink 2998 ebay]Sony 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens[/shoplink]. And the 30mm macro lens which isn’t really a lens we needed since we already have the [shoplink 10041 ebay]Sony 30mm f/3.5 lens[/shoplink]. Damn Sigma, you should have done it better! You alreayd amke some awesome lens for Alpha mount! Like that nice 50mm f/1.5 for example. Next time ask SAR readers what they want ;)

Here is the press release text:

Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN: Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN has the effective FOV of a 38mm lens on a full-frame DSLR, which should appeal to street photographers and photojournalists.  Regardless of your choice of camera, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN features eight elements in six groups that include three aspheric lens surfaces to correct optical distortions, color aberration and unwanted field curvature. The new lens also sports an internal focusing system and Super Multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting while maintaining high contrast levels even when set at wider apertures. Other features include a new linear AF motor that eliminates mechanical gears or drives for quicker, near-silent focusing, seven rounded diaphragm blades for an attractive blur in out-of-focus areas, a 46mm filter thread, and a minimum focusing distance of 7.9″ (20cm).

Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN: Extending a mere 1.5″ (38.6mm) from the front of the camera is Sigma’s new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN. This lens has a full-frame equivalent FOV of a 60mm lens when used on a NEX format mirrorless camera. The new Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN features seven elements in five groups including dual aspheric lenses and a double-sided aspheric lens that help control edge sharpness and chromatic aberration. As with Sigma’s new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens, the new 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens includes Sigma’s newly developed linear AF system for smoother and quieter operation, Super Multi-Layer coating for optimized contrast levels and reduced flare, a 46mm filter thread, internal focusing and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8″ (30cm).

 

And than there is that new Sigma’s APO Macro 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens. It is the fastest 180mm macro lens on the market today, by about a half a stop. But the specialness of Sigma’s new high-speed macro goes beyond its f/2.8 maximum aperture.

Press release:

Shooting close-ups can be tricky, most notably when trying to capture life-size close-ups of skittish animals and insects without spooking them, or close-ups of small objects without casting your shadow on your subject. The longer focal length of Sigma’s 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM does away with many of these issues by allowing you to step back from your subject. The longer focal length also reduces optical distortions, which can be problematic when shooting close-ups, and also allows you isolate your subject from distracting foreground and background details, especially when used at its closest focusing points at wider apertures.

In addition to highly detailed life-size (1:1) image capture, Sigma’s 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM features three FLD glass elements, a floating internal focusing system, Super Multi-Layer coating, Sigma’s OS image stabilizing system, which enables the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops less than usually possible when shooting handheld, Hyper-Sonic AF focusing motors and a rounded nine-blade diaphragm for attractive bokeh.

(SR5) Sony delays the A99 launch :(

I have many new rumors I am working on but one of them is actually a bad news. That’s why I start with this. I learned from my TOP sources that Sony delayed the A99 launch. Reason for the delay is the (again) Thai flood. Sony needs time to evaluate the A77 customer response and the A77 production delay will not allow them to launch the A99 in Spring as originally planned. Instead the A99 will be launched in September at the Photokina show in Cologne. To make it worse the whole Sony FF roadmap has been shifted forward, this means the second FF camera (with integrated vertical grip) will probably hit the market in early 2013 only.
The A77 will be 100% available eveywhere in March. Right now you can find few cameras only at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here), with shipment in USA in March only (Click here), and overpriced on [shoplink 8461 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Now guys, like you I am also in a bad mood because of this news. I understand that Sony has a very good reason for delaying the A99, and sincerely they really cannot afford to repeat some of the early A77 bugs experience on a camera that is supposed to appeal the pro market. But Nikon (with the D4) and Canon (with the 5DmarkIII coming in February) are pushing forward and Sony really has to come BIG at Photokina otherwise they will miss the train. In general Sony should decide first if they want to be a serious contender in the FF market and than develop a clear and reliable product strategy. I believe Sony has the technical knowledge to challenge Nikon and Canon. But they should really start to make us “feel” they are serious with FF.

A couple of suggestions:
– New sensor technology with quantum leap forward is needed. That would allow to create a massive advantage over current Canon-Nikon cameras. See what’s going to happen with the new Fuji sensor technology tonight to see how this will create a huge buzz.
– Push super video quality on FF cameras. it’s something that will hurt Nikon.
– More top quality FF lenses. A top lens system matters!
– The camera specs should not only look good on paper but work for real from the very first day
– Make a fullframe mirrorless system. Again, create an advantage over Nikon and Canon like they did with the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink].

In sum Sony, make it right at Photokina…create a historical event! It’s the only way to win credibility! And one more message to my readers. To cheer you up I can share you right now that other rumors I will post soon are very positive :)

P.S.: The A900 which was marked as “discontinued” is now “in Stock” at Amazon (Click here) and Bhphoto (Click here).