Our friends over at Nikonrumors leaked the first picture of the Nikon D800. And why should we care about it? Because it uses the new 36 megapixel Sony sensor that we first reported here on SAR almost a year ago. The leaked picture confirm that the rumor is 99% true. Before to talk about the megapixel madness(?) I want to remind you that unlike Nikon Sony will first release a 24 megapixel FF camera in early Spring and a couple of months later the much more expensive 36 Megapixel FF camera which will probably have a built-in vertical grip. Both camera will be SLT (no optical viewfinder).

The good news here is that unlike Nikon Sony will offer us both, a low resolution and high resolution choice. But the question is, do we really need so many megapixels? Carl Garrard writes on Photographic Central: “I think the average consumer is starting to realize that megapixels isn’t all that important anymore, and the term itself at least in the US is becoming increasingly less popular in conversations I have with everyone. In other words, most people don’t give a crap about megapixels as much as they used too.”

I believe there is no problem if Sony is going to release a camera with 36 megapixels as long as we they also offer the low resolution option (24 Megapixels). Carl also hopes that Sony will offer an optical viewfinder version. But I already know that this is not going to happen. There will be a new generation of OLED viewfinders which is even better than the currently very good [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink] viewfinder.

Now let’s hope Sony will release the Sony A9x sooner than expected. I know many are pushing to announce the camera before the planned Spring release!

Asian sources told me today that the new 1.04 firmware update has been released to Sony related photographers and reviewers. They are now currently testing it to check for issues. The firmware is not going to be published this week. Sorry, there has been a communication mistake between the sources. They first told me that Sony would release the firmware this week but only now they understood that it is just an “internal” release.

Please understand that this is a rumors website, it’s hard to get every time 100% reliable and super correct info. Anyway, the update should be very soon available for us normal customers too!

That is going to be a tuff competitor for Sony! The first Fuji X pictures surfaced at Xitek. Like the NEX-7 it has a built-in viewfinder but Fuji is using the same optical and electronic hybrid viewfinder they use on the [shoplink 6075 ebay]Fuji X100 (Click here to see that cam)[/shoplink]. I expect the Fuji X to cost much more than the NEX-7 but I admit that the viewfinder technology is a real hit. I have no info about the sensor size yet but I guess it’s APS-C. Anyway, I think Sony has a much more advanced sensor and OLED viewfinder technology (compared to the Fuji X100). And I don’t think the Fuji X will be good at video.

Maybe it’s just me, but I would like a NEX-7 version with hybrid viewfinder. And you?

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Click on the image to enlarge the size

UPDATE: Weeks ago I received the image of the 30mm f/2.0 lens for NEX. I am still not sure if that is just a well made PS job. What’s interesting is that a good source said that there is really a 30mm NEX prototype lens. Could the sender of the picture tell me more about this picture?

Free advertising for Sony. Sony is facing a hard challenge in Thailand. And I know from my sources they are working day and night to rebuild a new factory. The NEX-7 will not be available this year but feel free to get that amazing little and extremely powerful NEX-5n. It’s a way to help Sony and a perfect camera for shooting your Christmas time. Get it here at [shopcountry 8452] or in other stores you like. And if you need a nice cheap lens, get the Sony 50mm f/1.8 lens too at [shopcountry 8448]. I can highly recommend that amazing combo! I do own the NEX-5n and you get many mroe times what you pay for!

One more thing: Don’t forget to vote your future fullframe lens wishlist: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/poll-vote-the-future-fullframe-lenses/

All new Sony cameras and lenses links:
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].

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!

The chinese website ZOL says the upcoming A99 could use a new viewfinder with 720p, ultra-fast response time (less than 0.01ms) and super brightness (greater than 200 cd/m2).

Here are two more screenshot with the new viewfinder specs:

The Japanese blog Egami (Click here) found a new Sony patent about a new sensor with high dynamic range. It’s actually a “Photochromic Image Sensor“. The google translation tool as usual makes a terrible job and it’s not easy to understand how the new technology works. For what I understood the new sensor has a much increased dynamic range in both shadow and highlight!

Just a reminder. Sony is patenting many “cool” sensor technologies. Like foveon sensors or these photochromic sensors. Can’t wait to see them in use in a real camera. By the way Sony, why not make a modular camera where we can sue a ll these different sensors?

More info about Photochromism on Wikipedia (Click here).