Tamron patents a new 35mm f/1.4 lens for the (NEX?) mirrorless system.

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The first Tamron lens for the Sony NEX system wasn’t the rather non so exciting 18-200mm Di III VC lens (can be found here at Amazon). But the latest patent found by Eagmi describes a much more “exciting” 35mm f/1.4 lens for mirrorless systems. It’s not clear yet if the lens has been designed for the NEX system too but I think that this is highly possible. This would be a faster alternative of the current Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens (and much cheaper than the Zeiss 32mm f/1.8). So please Tamron, use the patent to launch the real lens as soon as you can!

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First Zeiss Touit on NEX image samples…

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DCfever (translation here) is the first website showing image samples shot with the new Zeiss Touit lenses on a NEX camera (unlike previous image samples shot on Fuji X). Also Lloyd Chambers is testing the lenses on the NEX-7 but his findings can be read only by subscribers.

Zeiss preorder links:
12mm f/2.8 at BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Uniquephoto (Click here). In Europe at FotoMundus.
32mm f/1.8 at BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Uniquephoto (Click here). In Europe at FotoMundus.

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(SR4) New NEX-7 successor to ship in autumn and will not be named “NEX-7n”

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I am getting more and more feedback about the NEX-7 successor.

1) First of all many sources confirmed that this is the only interchangeable camera to come this year! As you know the new Sony CEO imposed a radical change in the roadmap. While this didn’t affect too much the A and E Lens roadmap it completely revamped the A-mount world. But it seems that also the NEX-7 successor went through some changes. First of all the small NEX-7n udpate expected to come in Spring had been delayed.

2) A trusted source told me that Sony decided to go change some more “things” on the next NEX-7 successor. First of all it will not be named “NEX-7n” anymore. It will have a new name.

3) A new source told me that this will be Sony’s first camera not having the Anti Aliasing filter. And let’s see if this will also be the first camera with the new JPEG engine we could see on the soon to be announced “Honami” Smartphone with large 1/1,5 inch sensor.

In summary, the NEX-7 successor is going ti be announced in Summer, it will ship from October and is expected to have some new features and a new name (no more NEX-7n). I am still uncertain about the final specs and I hope I can receive some reliable rumors soon. Thank you sources ;)

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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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No RX200 to come yet…

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[shoplink 18303 ebay][/shoplink]
 

Many SAR readers keep asking me about the possible new RX200. I got no info about a replacement coming in early June and I am 99% sure the Chinese RX200 info was a fake. As you know there was a post on  Xitek saying the RX200 would feature a 28-140mm f/1.4-2.2 zoom lens and a pop-up viewfinder. The only camera with pop-up viewfinder I saw was that picture of the [shoplink 18303 ebay]Kodak 35[/shoplink] sent to me by a SAR reader :)

So don’t wait for the RX200. If the RX100 fits your need just grab it. You can find it for very good prices like the $589 at [shoplink 18305 ebay]Sunset Electronics (Click here)[/shoplink] and in Europe for 480 Euro at [shoplink 18304 ebay]Photodirect (Click here)[/shoplink]. Both with free shipping an no extra tax to pay.

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

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Sony makes profit after 5 years! Sells less compacts and more system cameras. And expects to sell more High End cameras.

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The full financial report from Sony can be downloaded at http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/12q4_sony.pdf. The slides are available here: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/viewer/12q4/

The overall company results: The good news is that for the first time since 2008 Sony made a net profit of $458 million.

Imaging Division: Sales decreased 4.1% year-on-year (a 7% decrease on a constant currency basis) to 730.4 billion yen (7,770 million U.S. dollars). This decrease was primarily due to a significant decrease in unit sales of compact digital cameras reflecting a contraction of the low-end of the market as well as a significant decrease in unit sales of video cameras reflecting a contraction of the market, partially offset by significantly higher sales of interchangeable single-lens cameras and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates.

Outlook for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2014: For March 2014 Sony expects to increase the sales and operating revenue by a +10.3%. The Imaging division should grow to: “Overall segment sales are expected to increase due to a significant increase in sales of broadcast- and professional-use products and interchangeable single-lens cameras. Operating income is expected to increase significantly due to the impact of the increase in sales.

Management focus and topics: In the imaging division Sony has implemented investments for growth such as expanding production capacity for its cutting-edge and competitive CMOS image sensors.

 

SAR general summary: Sony knows well that to grow in the digital camera market they have to focus on the high end professional market. That is their goal. The NEX system is selling well and sales should increase in this year (thanks to the new NEX-7 successor and new NEX lenses). But it’s the future Full Frame Alpha and NEX strategy that will mark the success or fail of their goals. Can’t wait to see what kind of (game changing?) products they will announce in early 2014!!!

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Zeiss 50mm macro coming on October 1!

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The 12mm and 32mm Zeiss primes will ship in 6-8 weeks according to BHphoto (Click here). And for the first time they also list the new Zeiss 50mm macro with shipment expected on october 1 (Click here to see). Some image samples shot on on NEX cameras can be found at Digifotopro.nl. More images on Fuji cameras can be seen at SystemKameraForum and at FujiRumors.

Zeiss preorder links:
12mm f/2.8 at BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Uniquephoto (Click here). In Europe at FotoMundus.
32mm f/1.8 at BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and Uniquephoto (Click here). In Europe at FotoMundus.

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