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!

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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].

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.

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).

The well known Dyxum forum user “ijsvogel” wrote that the new super tele 500mm f/4.0 could finally be announced in April 2012. That lens is floating around different shows since years! I am wondering what’s the reason behind all these delays.

This lens will cost a lot! The Canon 500mm costs $6,799.00 at Amazon (Click here) and the Nikon 500mm costs even more (Click here to check at Amazon). I am certainly not on the waiting list for that lens but I hope there will be other lenses coming along that one.

P.S.: My personal bet. it’s not coming in April…but at Photokina :)

Sometimes I have small info-rumors that I don’t know how to….place on SonyAlphaRumors. Here is a short list of info-rumors:

1) The HVL-MT24AM Macro Twin Flash has been discontinued (See at Bh). A replacement should be announced this year.

2) I got this rumor about an upcoming new video technology: “Sony is working on an interesting project. It’s a software that uses two different exposed 1080p video files out of an 3D Camcorder to get a stunning high dynamic range picturestyle.” This sounds pretty interesting! Thanks anonymous source!

3) Don’t know how this is possible but the first 50mm f/1.8 lens for NEX can be found [shoplink 11003 ebay]here at eBay Germany[/shoplink]. The lens is still not for sale in any store so I am wondering how that guy got the lens! The lens shipment is supposed to start in February or even March only! Check the lens preorder options at [shopcountry 8448] (Those are search links, you may will NOT find the lens at all).

That said I am working on a bunch of important rumors. There is one bad news I will post soon and a couple of good news. Just give me the time to double check everything with other sources. Be patient!

Sony NEX-5N Users Guide Video

The Verge (Click here) selected the Sony NEX-5n as camera of the year 2011! Here is the motivation: “The door that Sony cracked open with the NEX-5 has been blown wide open by the NEX-5N. Besides making the body marginally thinner and adding a touchscreen, Sony endowed the NEX-5N with a truly supreme image sensor. Its 16-megapixel CMOS sensor competes with the Nikon D7000 and Canon 60D (each company’s latest and greatest midrange DSLR) for noise performance, while delivering image quality that leaves other mirrorless cameras in the dust. If the NEX-5N had a universal microphone input and a more generous battery, it’d be a formidable DSLR replacement for professionals as well. As it stands, it’s the top choice for any hobbyist looking for the best image-quality-to-camera-size ratio.”

I have to say that even If I love the NEX-7 I am testing in these days the Sony NEX-5n has still the edge when in terms of price-quality balance. While the A77 and NEX-7 are definitely more “spectacular” cameras the Sony NEX-5n simply does almost all the other two big cameras do, but for a far cheaper price and smaller package :)

P.S.: Dcresource (Click here) started a new NEX-5n gallery

The Sony NEX-5n is selling well in almost all countries. For months now you can find the different kit options under the top 20 of the most mirrorless stuff at Amazon US (Click hee to see ranking) at Amazon Germany (here for the ranking), Amazon France (here).

Here are some NEX-5n shop search links: [shopcountry 8452]. While the camera is relatively cheap the external viewfinder is a bit too expensive: [shopcountry 9110].

P.S.: So why did I buy the NEX-7 to replace my NEX-5n (which is now owned by my girlfriend)? Easy answer, because of the Trinavi navigation. Good usability allows me to work more precisely and faster.