Moody’s cuts Sony’s credit rating to junk (BBC)

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BBC reports that “Sony, has had its credit rating cut to junk status by ratings agency Moody’s.“. The current critical financial situation has little to do with the camera business. Their weak point is the TV and PC business. And:

The ratings agency said that while Sony had taken steps to cut costs and improve profitability, the benefits of those steps were emerging “slowly” and its key segments “seem unlikely to soon regain the robust profit levels seen historically”.

As usual with rating systems, take them with a grain of salt. Sony’s difficult situation is not a real news yet and I am pretty confident they will recover from that situation. Just to say that I am not worried at all :)

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More job cuts at Sony (including one camera factory)

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A rumored possible FE mount roadmap.

AP reports that Sony will cut jobs in five Japanese factories. One of them makes compact cameras and some interchangeable lenses.

I read some comments on forums saying that this could affect or reduce the interchangeable lens production. I can tell you what I heard from my trusted sources is quite the opposite! Sony is trying to increase their lens production capability. The job cut news has nothing to do with their future lens strategy.

I hope Sony can find a way to increase their lens production without compromising the production quality. We really need so many lenses for the new FE system and obviously also the A-mount system lacks of some important lenses (primes for example). I am pretty sure Sony doesn’t make a lot of money on the cameras itself. They make more money on lenses and accessories. Less cameras and more lenses…that should be their motto :)

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Sony A7-A7r reviews roundup…(Camera of the year at PB. Timelaps APP support added).

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Sony A7R from Cutting Edge on Vimeo.

One months ago I posted the A7r video you see here on top. Well, in the meantime it became pretty viral and I repost it because some of you may didn’t watch it :)

And here are the many new A7-A7r tests and news:
The A7r is camera of the year at Photographyblog.
The Sony Timelaps APP now added support for the A7-A7r!
Sony Alpha 7R (A7R) Review at WhatdigitalCamera.
A73 Landscape Photography review by James Grant.
A73 review at RonMartBlog.
Test Sony A7 : optique 28-70 mm, raw et balance des blancs (Focus Numerique).
A7r review at Cnet.
English A7r review by SLRclub.
A7 first impressions at Bestmirrorlesscamerareviews.
German A7r review at Die Welt.
Next German A7-A7r test at Colorfoto.

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Specs and Store Links in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Store Links in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,  WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony  DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.

Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.

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Sony A5000 tests and first review (and gets announced in Japan)

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α5000 from Sony: Official Video Release (Feature)

With a couple of weeks of delay the A5000 has now be officially announced in Japan too (Source: Sony Japan). In the meantime reviewers already tested the camera:

First imrpessions at Trustedreviews.
Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Hands-On Preview (ePhotozine).
Sony A5000 Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog).
A5000 first impressions at Polish Optyczne.
Polish A5000 test at Fotopolis (google translated).

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$180 off on the great Rokinon 35mm f/1.4. Zeiss FE 24-70mm will ship in late February in USA.

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Super US deal of the day: $180 off on the great Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 A-mount lens at [shoplink 24175 ebay]BuyDig on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Short note on the Zeiss FE 24-70mm shipment in USA. While the lens is already shipping in Asian stores US readers will have to wait til end February to get their lens (Source: BHphoto and Sony Store US). Today Amazon US (Click here) removed the February 2 shipment estimation and now it simply says “Currently unavailable”. To get the lens now you can let them ship from Asia to US or Europe [shoplink 24172 ebay]via eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. but you pay some $$$ extra for this privilege.

P.S.: Save up to $470 on NEX bundles at SonyStore (Click here).

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Sigma 24-70mm Sony mount lens review at DxOmark.

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DxOmark tested the 24-70mm Sigma lens for Sony and writes:

Over image quality is good and both sharpness and uniformity are good when stopped down a little but the Sigma has high levels of chromatic aberration, particularly at the shorter focal lengths. Given the performance and the inclusion of an ultrasonic type AF motor, it’s fairly priced at $899, but still somewhat overshadowed by the better corrected and more accessibly priced Tamron.

 

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