The best lenses for your NEX7 according to DxOmark.

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After the A99 DxOmark (Click here) also published the list of best lenses for the Sony NEX-7. The best prime is the 50mm f/1.8 (it beats the Zeiss lenses too!) and the best zoom is the 10-18mm wide angle zoom. It’s interesting to read that conclusion from DxO:

“Designing lenses smaller than their retro-focus equivalents remains a challenging prospect, however, Sony has introduced a couple of ‘pancake’ type primes and compact zooms that perform well. The range also includes several high-performance primes, although image quality assessment based on the 24-Mpix Sony NEX-7 means that sharpness scores aren’t quite as expected. Whether that’s due to the limitations of current lens designs only time will tell.”

I hope more quality lenses will be announced along the next NEX-7 successor coming in late August!

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Zeiss 50mm in Stock at Adorama (and first owners feedback). Bower TS also in Stock.

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The new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens is right now in Stock and shipping at Adorama (Click here) and on their [shoplink 19371 ebay]eBay store (Click here)[/shoplink]. Another new lens is in Stock, the Bower Tilt Shift lens at BHphoto (Click here).

And here is the first feedback from SAR readers:

Anonymous: “There are many samples at the topic here http://sony-club.ru/showthread.php?t=63681&page=43“.

Joel: “Received the new Sony Zeiss SAL50F14Z today.  It did not come with the usual premium lens case.  No lens case at all.  That was quite a big disappointment for such a lens with a premium price.  Is this how Sony hopes to shore up their digital imaging business?”

Jonathan: “Just received my SAL5014Z.  The AF-D focus option is not available when using the new Zeiss 50mm on the a99 body.  I suspect it’s because each lens, in order to work with that feature, requires firmware specific to that lens.  It’s hard to imagine Sony releasing this premium lens without a plan to upgrade the firmware on the a99, to make it fully functional with the new 50mm.  So, let’s keep our eyes out for that new a99 firmware update.”
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All Sony deals of the day at DealsRunner.com.

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DxOmark test: The best primes and zoom for your Sony A99.

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DxOmark (Click here) tells you which lens is the best for your Sony A99. I guess none here will be surprised to see the Zeiss lenses on top:

Primes:
The Sony Planar 85mm lens wins easily. It will be curious to see if the new Zeiss 50mm lens (in Stock now at Adorama) can match or even surpass the Planar.

Zooms:
The Zeiss 24-70mm lens wins. But the other zooms are pretty close (see table on the bottom of this post)

Note:
Too bad DxO had no time to test Samyang lenses. I suspect they are pretty close to the Zeiss lenses.

Price check:
Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 at [shopcountry 19367]
Zeiss 24-70mm at [shopcountry 6050]

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Sony manager repeats it: Full Frame NEX photocamera is possible!

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Watch the video on top from minute 31:10 (once you click on play you have to wait a few seconds before it starts). The Sony US manager basically he says he cannot confirm that a Full Frame NEX photocameras is coming but he believes in rumors :)  I know this is just my personal wish but I hope to see a sort of digital version of the [shoplink 19360 ebay]Zeiss Ikon ZM (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. Solid build quality and hybrid EVF. That’s it  for me :)

I was a bit on hold with NEX rumors because I worked a lot on the brand new A-mount roadmap. But soon I will come back to the NEX and FF NEX rumors. Don’t worry. All I can say is that 2014 will be a ver Full…Full Frame year :)

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Full Honami leaks roundup…

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This is the first Sony smartphone that shoots Cybershot quality photos too. And the specs and images are leaked on many websites. Xperiablog (Click here) published pictures of the UI and Justamp (Click here) has pics of the real camera.

What could be interesting for us A-E mount camera owners is the new JPG engine that will come along the Honami announcement. It may comes for our cameras too (via firmware update).

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Catching up with Sony US deals (Tamron-Sigma-A99-RX100 and more).

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[shoplink 19340 ebay][/shoplink]
I have to catchup with a long list of new Sony deals for US readers. To be always up to date and if you have some deals to share be sure to use DealsRunner.com. Here is the deals list:

1) Sony A99 for $2.327 at [shoplink 19340 ebay]Big Value (Click here)[/shoplink].
2) $50 off Sony A65 with the (NEW!) DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM II Lens at BHphoto (Click here).
3) Save up to $200 on Sigma lenses for Sony at BHphoto (Click here).
4) Save up to $100 on Tamron lenses for Sony at BHphoto (Click here).
5) $100 off on the Sony NEX-3N with 16-50mm Lens at BuyDig (Click here).
6) And here are the ongoing four Amazon deals:
– Save up to $200 on Qualifying Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras
– Buy a Qualifying Sony Alpha NEX Compact System Camera and Save $100 on the Sony E 55-210mm Lens
– Save up to $40 on Select Sony Cyber-shot Digital Cameras
– Save up to $100 on Select Sony Handycam Camcorders

Done! Now back to rumor work :)

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Canon’s new 70D has Dual Pixel AF sensor. Challenges Sony next generation sensor.

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As you know Sony will get rid of the SLT tech on all future A-mount cameras. And that will be possible thanks to a new generation of Sony sensors with much improved Phase Detection system. But it looks like the whole world is now moving towards on Sensor Phase Detection autofocus. Today Canon announced their new 70D camera (specs and price at Amazon) having a Dual Pixel AF sensor. On paper this sounds like an incredible piece of tech. Basically every pixel on sensor can fulfill two tasks: Capture the light information for the actual image and be used at the same time to elaborate the phase detection signal. The main advantage of the tech is that you don’t have pixels that get waste for doing one job only. I am curious to see if Sony will have a similar solution or go a completely different route. One thing is sure, on sensor PDAF is what we will see on most future DSLR or Mirrorless cameras.

More about the new Canon AF tech at Dpreview.

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