We just got a confirmation that the 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM lens has 72mm filter size. But this post is more about an explanation I have to give you. Some of my trusted sources gave me slightly different specs (for example different filer size or SAM /SSM characteristics of the lens). The thing I may had to tell you more clearly is that usually Sony (like other companies) does develop a couple of slightly different prototypes. I know for example for SURE that there wee A77 camera with CF slot, A77 cameras with fixed LCD, and so on, but as you know the final A77 will have a tilting LCD and most likely no CF slot. What matters is that most of the core features are correct. I knew since almost nine months the A77 would have a 24 Megapixel sensor (and I have been the first to tell you that), since months I knew there is a 16-50mm kit lens, and so on. What changed in the meanwhile are the “minor” features (which are of course also very important).

I ask you to keep in mind that we are dealing with rumors here and not with official news. It’s not an easy job believe me, and I am learning more every day!

The trusted source that told me first about the 16-50mm lens performance wanted me to share you some updated info about the upcoming Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM lens:

He told me to reassure you that the 16-50mm lens is not a “reworked tamron”. ([shoplink 7824 ebay]Click here to see that lens on eBay[/shoplink]). Sony chose to start with 16mm (instead of the 17mm from the Tamron) to “prevent consumers from comparing to the existing tamron”. Yeah it is slightly vignetting at 16mm but don’t forget “The key word is “slightly”…not “extreme bad” vignetting!”. And what he tested “was a prototype. Not the final production model.”

Thanks “Source” for clarifying that! I am sure all our readers will appreciate it!

Now that is working fine! Yesterday we asked our sources if they can send us some more hands-on report about the new products and here we are with the very first short impressions shared by them:

1)  Translucent adapter
It delivers exactly the same autofocus performance as in the [shoplink 3617]A33/A55[/shoplink]

2) A77
The camera is soooooooooooo fast! The bad news is that [shoplink 7833 ebay]CF[/shoplink] was dropped at the last stage of design. The screen really is awesome. Another bad news is that price has gone up again likely retail at 1299$ body only.

3) NEX-7
Feels really nice in your hands and the built-in OLED viewfinder is a winner. It records video at 24p FX/PS 1080. The prototype photo is accurate! The controls do make a lot of sense when you know what all the buttons do.

4) 16-50mm SSM lens
It is SILENT! I didn’t notice any vignetting at 16mm but didn’t really look. And the lens is weather sealed (as is the a77+grip)

If you can add more info about the new products feel free to contact me by using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar. As you already know it doesn’t require your name and email address and it doesn’t store the IP-address neither!

And to all our readers, feel free to make questions and the sources might will send me the answers!

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Support this site: I am having a lot of fun to work on SAR. I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks :)

One of our sources was so kind (Thanks!) to send us his first impression about the upcoming new 16-50mm SSM lens! He tested a prototype which is close to production model. Apparently the 16-50mm lens is suffering from slightly corner vignetting and corner softness at f/2.8. It is not too bad at all but just not perfect. The very good news is that at 17mm the lens is is perfect!

As you know the lens is a Sony (not a Zeiss) and it will have a price of 750 Euro ($799 dollars).

Some other source did test the lens and can confirm the quality report made by that source?

UPDATE: The source also said that Sony was (or is?) considering to make it 17-50mm (instead to start with 16mm) to increase the image quality. But the problem could be the fact that there is alreayd an excellent [shoplink 7824]Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR[/shoplink] for Sony! P.S: Click those links to see the Tamron for Sony: [shopcountry 7824].

Finally I got some NEX-7 specs to share with you!
1) The NEX-7 has a metal body
2) A new super fast contrast autofocus
3) Built-in 3 million dot OLED viewfinder
4) 24 Megapixel
5) ISO 100-25.600
6) 24p HD-video
7) Pop-up flash

I hope my sources can confirm if the the camera really has no FullHD recording! That would b a huge surprise! I hope this is just a typo from the rumor sender!

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources (60-80% the rumor is correct)
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Support this site: I am having a lot of fun to work on SAR. I don’t use dozens of banners and I don’t get paid by any company to do what I do. All the work you see here is made by me during my free time. If you want to help me to cover the monthly server costs there is an easy way: Click on affiliate links you see on that website like [shopcountry 3028] to buy whatever product you want (it doesn’t have to be a camera) and I will earn a small commission from it. You don’t pay any penny more on the items you buy and at the same time you support SonyAlphaRumors without me having to put 100 banners on my website. Cool or not? Thanks :)

Before to go bed I can share a little rumor with you :)

After posting the 16-50mm lens rumor today I got some feedback from known and new sources. They all said the upcoming new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens will be SSM! And it is not a Zeiss lens!

Good Night folks!

Andreas (veeery tired)

As you know Sony will also announce a new 16-50mm f/2.8 kit lens along the Sony A77. A trusted source just told me that the 16-50 will have a new actuation motor designed for video use. It may carries the SAM tag but is a new design intended to be on par with SSM. Very likely that the filter diameter of the 16-50 will be 67, as with the [shoplink 7804]28-75[/shoplink]… 72 is a bit of a stretch for an APS model. Another new source told me that “it is definitely an SSM lens, but what’s up in the air is whether it is a G or ZA lens, or neither. Even the lens hood code declares it to be an SSM lens“. I hope to get a 100% confirmation from other sources if the lens will be SAM or SSM. Thanks!

Reminder: As you know the price should be around 750 Euro (or $800 Dollars). The lens itself costs much less than the counterpart lenses:
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS costs around around $300 more at [shopcountry 7556].
Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 $ is twice more expensive! Check at [shopcountry 7555].