(SR5) First image of the new 18-135mm SAM lens!

The Sony Europe Press center just leaked the image of the new 18-135mm SAM lens! They now removed the image from the page but our japanese friends from DigicamInfo copied the image. A trusted source confirmed that the image is real.

As I told you weeks ago Sony is splitting up their new product announcements. New SLT and NEX stuff is coming in a series of small announcements! I think that’s a nice move from Sony and keeps me busy at SAR ;)  The A37, new NEX-F3 and new lenses are coming!

For US readers: Keep on eye on the NEX-7 at Amazon (Click here). It keeps comign and going in Stock for the normal price.

Also Adorama is shipping the NEX-7 and 50mm lenses (NEX-7 on top of all rankings).

Sony is back to full camera and lens production and as you can see from the screenshot here on top both the NEX-7 kits and the 50mm lens are being shipped by Adorama. Sonystore says they will ship the 50mm lens on March 26th. And the Zeiss 24mm for NEX is in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

That’s all good news because Sony had to delay some of the product announcements to focus on the current camera and lens production. More in detail the A99 for example was originally scheduled for Spring release but will now arrive in September.

P.S.: The NEX-7 still remains the hottest mirrorless camera of the moment being on top of all Amazon US (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon France (Click here) mirrorless rankings.

(SR4) After the A37 two higher SLT models are on roadmap! (a900 deals)

It’s not a big secret that the next SLT camera is the A37. We told you some bits about it yesterday. But what is coming after the A37? A trusted sources confirmed that the next two SLT cameras are all positioned on top of the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink]! One is almost certainly the 24 Megapixel FF camera. I don’t know yet if the second model the source refers too is the FF camera with 36 megapixel or another higher end APS-C model.

UPDATE: All two higher end mdoels will arrive within 1 year!

I hope trusted sources can share me some more info as soon as they read the post :)  Thanks!

A900:
The A900 has been discontinued (as marked here by BH). The A900 has a superb viewfinder and buidl quaility and if you want it you can find them for a good price (new!) on eBay: For $2,100.00 at [shoplink 11861 ebay]Cammers (Click here)[/shoplink] or a total of 10 cameras for $2,351.61 each at [shoplink 11862 ebay]800photovideo (Click here)[/shoplink].

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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!

(SR4) Small A35 rumor and Wi-Fi coming on NEX and SLT

So, the A57 is out and we are already epecting a new SLT model to be announced soon. The A37! A source just sent me that little info: “The A37 is not compatible with Minolta lenses, only with SAM and SSM lenses!“. Yeah I know, very disappointing :(

The same source also told me that Sony will in future implement Wi-Fi in NEX and SLT cameras. About time!

Reminder: New camcorders and a new NEX are also coming within the next 1-2 months! Full Frame is due for September.

 

 

(SR4) NEX-7 firmware udpate is on his way (NEX-7 EVF better than the X PRO 1 hybrid VF)

Image courtesy: Andrew Reid.

NEX-7 firmware
A trusted sources just told me that after the NX100 and A77 firmware also the new NEX-7 firmware upgrade is almost ready to be released. He didn’t share any details yet but I hope to get them soon. I hope Sony did read the NEX-7 firmware suggestion list from Björn Utpott (Click here). If only half of them would really be fulfilled I would be extremely happy!

Electronic versus Hybrid viewfinder
And while the DSLR versus SLT debate is still ongoing on SAR but also on many other forums you might read the following article written by Andrew Reid (Click here). He is right now testing the Fuji X PRO 1 and his sentences are quite radically in favour of the main competitor, the Sony NEX-7: “In my opinion, the optical viewfinder is superseded by the OLED EVF and no amount of hybrid niceness can save it. 5 years ago, it was preferable to have an optical viewfinder because EVFs were rubbish. Now, it is the opposite. The hybrid viewfinder in the X-Pro 1 is barely any different from the X100 and doesn’t particularly suit the interchangeable lens format it is now paired with. The larger lenses get in the way for a start, as does your hand.”

NEX-7 terrific sales:
The NEX-7 body is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here). And even if you have to pay a $100 extra for it the camera sells like hotcakes! It is on top of the Amazon US mirrorless ranking (Click here). And it is also on top at Amazon UK (Click here) and on second place at Amazon Deutschland (Click here) and Amazon France (Click here).

This could soon become the most sold camera of Sony’s history!
Check more order options at [shopcountry 8454] (Those are search links! Sometimes stores sold out or do not list the camera anymore).

 

New NEX-FS100 firmware on March 22th

[shoplink 11763 ebay][/shoplink]

DSLRnewsshooter reports that on March 22th Sony will announce a new [shoplink 11763 ebay]NEX-FS100[/shoplink] firmware update. It will bring the following new features:

1. Added 50Hz recording system (PAL): 1920×1080 50p, 50i, 25p and 1280×720 50p.
2. Camera Profile (camera settings can be saved to and loaded from a memory card).
3. Additional 4x and 8x Expanded Focus magnification: (with user selectable focus area).
4. Selectable ISO or GAIN sensitivity display.
5. Selectable Focus indication in FEET or METERS (E-mount lens only).
6. Selectable Shutter indication as EXPOSURE TIME or SHUTTER ANGLE.
7. Added the following Aspect-Ratio markers: 2.35:1, 1.85:1 and 1.66:1.
8. Display ON/OFF button enables Zebra and/or Histogram overlay onto video output.
9. Compatible with the new A-Mount to E-Mount adaptor, model LA-EA2. One push Auto-IRIS and continuous 15-point, Phase-Detection Auto-Focus operation with most Alpha A-Mount lenses is available. Lens metadata is displayed onscreen and stored real-time to image file.

 

In Summary: On March 22th the new FS100 firmware and on March 29th the new A77/A65 firmware.

Paul Genge again: “New DSLR introduction is highly unlikely.” -> Wait for the A99!!!

We already heard this a couple of days ago at Techradar (Click here). Now Paul Genge from Sony UK released another similar statement at Amateur Photographer (Click here). He confirmed that “Given the level of investment Sony is putting into SLT, it is highly unlikely we will ever introduce another DSLR…”

And David Kilpatrick (Click here) reminded us the content of the last conversation he had with Paul Genge: “Paul Genge had a short exchange of information with me when I was considering selling my Alpha 900 and all my frame Alpha lenses (after starting to use the A77). He said I’d regret selling my good full frame lenses when I replaced my Alpha 900 with a full frame model I would just not believe. His message was ‘you wait – you’ll not regret it’.”

Yes, Paul, we are waiting and waiting and waiting…but don’t let us wait to much! The Nikon D800 and Canon 5DmarkII are a big temptaton for many people out there!