Image on top shows the “OLD” Sony prototypes. Expect a completely new lens roadmap for 2012 :)

The past weeks months Sony changed the product for 2012. So it hasn’t been easy to get reliable info about their camera and lens release. Finally I got a more reliable overview of Sony’s strategy. There will be three new NEX cameras within the next 8 months. Sony will announce the first camera in April, another camera in Summer and another one at Photokina. As I wrote many times what we really need is new lenses rather than new NEX cameras. But the good news here is that at least 5-6 lenses will be announced within 2012. I am right now collecting the specs of every single product.

It’s clear that Sony will push the new NEX camera and lenses but I have been told that you should expect A-mount lenses and SLT cameras too. Soon it will get pretty busy here on SAR :)

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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!

Samyang/Rokinon announced via facebook that they new 8mm f/2.8 for NEX will arrive in March. It should be about as small as the [shoplink 11233 ebay]7.5mm f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds[/shoplink] version (that I heard from my sources). As you already I am not a big fisheye fan but I like Samyang lenses that usually deliver a pretty decent quality considering the low price of their lenses.

Be aware that if you live in USA than you will find their lenses under the Rokinon brand (here on Amazon), in Europe they are branded as Samyang ([shoplink 11234 ebay]here on eBay[/shoplink]), in UK you can find them with the name Wallimex (here on Amazon UK). Quite confusing :)

Anyway, Sigma and Samyang really shoudl make some fast primes. We need them!

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

[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].

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

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 :)

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].

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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!

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].