Nikon DF vs Sony A7r. Should Sony go “retro”?

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Image courtesy: Camerasize.com.

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With the introduction of the new Nikon DF (specs here at Amazon) one more company enters the “Retro” (hype?) momentum. Dpreview writes: “My worry about the Df is that Nikon might have gone too far backwards for the sake of cosmetic appeal, without really adding any practical benefit to the shooting experience.” That said cosmetics matters and it’s nice to buy and own a good-looking camera!

The question I would like you to answer now is. Would you like Sony to offer a retro alike A- or/and E-mount camera? Or would you prefer Sony to improve the current more modern design? They could take some inspiration from great Minolta camera slike the [shoplink 22551 ebay]X-700 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] or the [shoplink 22567 ebay]X-700 (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

Assuming that crazy rumor is true. Would you be interested to buy the A5?

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P.S.: I would be already happy if Sony would remove the orange paint from the mount ring :)

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Dpreview Interview with Kimio Maki from Sony (explains difference between E and A-mount

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Kimio Maki is Senior General Manager at Sony’s Digital Imaging and also considered the “father” of the RX and A7-A7r series. Dpreview (Click here) posted a long Interview with him and here are some interesting key info:

– The QX series has been designed for the younger generation: “The younger customers demand better pictures to get more positive feedback from their peers – more ‘likes’ on Facebook.”
– On the other hand, the kind of customer I had in mind for the RX100 and RX1 products was someone who wants to be able to carry the best image quality possible in their pocket or bag.
– The RX10 is different – that’s the camera I wanted for events, like sport, when my children are playing soccer and basketball.
– He explains the difference between E and A-mount: “We can make E mount cameras and lenses smaller than A-mount. But for A mount we can realize superior image quality with better new technologies“.
– Also interesting is the answer he gave about why no other company created something like the RX or A7 series: “Our company philosophy of creating new products, of course, plus a fighting spirit. We are a challenger. We are not kings in this industry. In professional broadcasting we’re one of the biggest companies, but in the still imaging industry we’re still challengers, so we have the freedom to experiment. ”
– He is sure Full Frame will become cheaper: “Sony is the number one manufacturer of imaging sensors, and if we can sell a lot of them, the price will come down!”

It’s a very interesting interview and Mr. Kimio Mati really appears like a very curious and innovative man. I can’t wait to see what his next creation will be!

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Competition fun: Nikon DF…ugly or not?

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Some said the A7 and A7r are ugly but Nikon made an even more crazy new camera design. UPDATE: The Nikon DF has just been announced (Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto).

After Fuji and Olympus also Nikon is trying to give some touch of “old” design to their digital cameras. Don’t know if it would be a wise move for Sony too. Let’s say, something like a [shoplink 22551 ebay]Minolta X-700 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] could be nice or not?

[shoplink 22551 ebay][/shoplink]

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(SR4) Next major Sony announcement in February. With new Full Frame cameras!

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In October we had that big A7-A7r announcement. But it won’t be long until we will get our next big Sony event:

A trusted sources already unveiled to me that Sony will launch new APS-C and Full Frame cameras in Q1 2014 already! He couldn’t unveil more details, he only added one hint: One of the new cameras will be very loved by the SAR community :)

Note: From February 13 to 16 there will be the big CP+ show in Japan. Sounds like the right time for such an announcement!

Will you buy the new Sigma 100-400mm FE lens?

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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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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!

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New A7r/A7 test roundup (Frank Doorhof, SLRclub, CameraLabs…)

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A nice set of M-mount lenses by SLRclub.

Again sorry if we keep talking about the A7-A7r but there are so many new tests and reviews every day! I will post new rumors very soon don’t worry. Here are the latest A7-A7r news:

Frank Doorhof posted the first part of the A7r review.

The Korean site SLRclub posted the full a7r review. There is no english translation avaialable but plenty of pictures to see! The Chinese a7/a7r operation manual is up at Sony Service.

Gordon Laing from Cameralabs put up ISO sets for both A7 and A7R cameras–
A7: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameralabs/sets/72157637073134235/with/10549750395/
A7R: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameralabs/sets/72157637074346453/with/10550136223/

David: “I have startet a group on Flickr for photos shot with a7r and a7. http://www.flickr.com/groups/2335287@N24/”

Stefano: “I want just to segnalate you a comparison in size between A7-A7R and Minolta 7000: http://stefanovisona.it/2013/11/sony-a7-a7r-vs-minolta-7000/”

Anders: “Not sure if you’re interested in a first impressions blog of A7r, written in Swedish, but here I go anyway :)
http://www.fotosidan.se/blogs/afe/vem-f-n-platar-tegelvaggar-jag.htm
The images (all jpg since LR won’t handle the A7r files yet) can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aferiksson/sets/72157629606327368/“

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
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 Preorders 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

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

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Sony A7 and A7r video roundup (Sony Australia, Korea, Japan, Steve Huff and SystemKamera)

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Video by Sony Australia

 

One post to tule them all. The Sony A7/A7r videos sent to me by SAR readers. Enjoy watching :)


Video by Sony Korea


Full Sony Japan event recording:


Hands-on by Steve Huff


German hands-on by Andreas from SystemKameraforum

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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
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 Preorders 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

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

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