Sony launched a new generation of flash cards called “XQD”! The same day as the first camera that will support those cards, the Nikon D4 (Click here). When using those cards the D4 can record approximately up to 100 frames in RAW format in continuous shooting mode. The cards are abviousely much faster than any current [shoplink 11034]Compact Flash card[/shoplink]. You can read specs and watch the rpesentation video at Sony.net (Click here).
A short SR5 rumor I got from my soruces. Not the NEX but the Sony A99 fullframe will be the first camera to support those cards. w it next week (
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 :)
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!
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 :)
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.
Gary Firedmann contacted me to talk about his latest Sony related books:
“Hi, Andrea! I’ve been a regular reader of your blog for quite sometime. (I even mention your work prominently in my books!) Since you seem keen on letting people know about books for Sony cameras, I thought it would be fair to mention mine as well – I’m writing one about the A65 / A77 (which is on track to be finished by the end of January), and one for the NEX 7 (which will start just as soon as the one I ordered back in October ever arrives. :-) ). They’re available as full-color, instantly-downloadable .pdf files with no DRM (and also as printed books for those who like printed books.) You can read about my other Sony books and register your interest in the soon-to-be-released ones by visiting my website: www.FriedmanArchives.com/ebooks Many thanks, and please keep doing what you’re doing! Sincerely, Gary Friedman”
Sony will soon announce a bunch of new compact cameras. There will be no new NEX or SLT cameras (or lenses). A leak at Sony unveiled that a new W610 and W630 are going to be introduced.
The compact camera market is still the biggest camera market in terms of unit sales but the profit margin is very low (Click here to see the Amazon photo camera ranking). Plus this market is going to shrink because of the phone cameras that do bring two advantages: When you have a phone that can take pictures why bother to bring a second camera with you? And the second more important reason is the APP world. It’s nice to know that you can upgrade your photo-creativity by using new tools like Hipstamatic. There is where Sony has to work. Create an APP friendly network for NEX and SLT cameras. Hope they will do that!
One more thing: join us here: https://www.facebook.com/sonyalpharumors
— 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!
While talking with my sources about the upcoming year it clearly came out how Sony’s NEX system success has been greater than expected. Sony didn’t think the NEX-7 and NEX-5n would sell that well. For the first time since their entrance in the digital camera market Sony feels like they finally got the attention from the mass market. The NEX system is also the most profitable of all interchangeable system (better than APS-C SLT and better than the future fullframe SLT cameras). To maximize the momentum Sony decided to redo the whole 2012 NEX roadmap. As I already told you there will be more NEX lenses than originally planed. There will be also many new NEX cameras and I have been told there will be also a “surprise”…a sort of “different” NEX (And I am not talking about the AE hybrid NEX-7 alike camera!).
In concrete, I have been told that we will see many new NEX stuff soon, starting from early Spring 2012. I am working to get the full details of the new roadmap. If you want or can help me send me your rumor at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Or use the anonymous contact form you see here on the right sidebar. Every little help…helps! Thanks!
One more thing: You SAR readers choose the NEX-7 as camera of the year 2011 with 2,494 votes (44% of all voters). And the most expected camera of 2012 is the A99 (38%) and the NEX-7 (35%) alike fullframe camera. Keep me updated if you find the NEX-7 to be in Stock somewhere. Would liek you SAR readers to get the camera before other guys ;) UPDATE: In Stock in Denmark at kamerahuset.
In Stock status check:
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].
