(SR4) Sony 500mm f/4.0 and other new A-mount lenses coming with the next A9x in Spring. POLL suggestions.

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Finally the new Sony 500mm f/4.0 lens will be announced in Spring the same day of the A9x announcement. That’s what our trusted sources reported to us. And they are also “sure” that there will be other new A-mount lenses. I have no 100% reliable details about the “other” lenses but I am working on it right now so let’s hope I can post something about these lenses soon. Early this year I told you that there would be 4-5 new full frame lenses. But the Japanese Tsunami disaster changed the roadmap. Plus, Sony decided to wait until the new A9x release to announce the new lenses.

The main features of the 500mm lens are already known because Sony unveiled them a year ago:
1) The lens will have a Direct Manual Focus (DMF) control. When you press the DMF button you will get a 15x magnified view of the scene. It works only with cameras with electronic viewfinders!
2) There is also a control panel on the ens with on-of AF confirmation bleep.
3) dual focus distance limiters (standard choice between a full range and a limited range of 0.6m to infinity)

P:S.: Should we do a new poll to check what kind of new full frame lenses you want? Any suggestions?

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All new Sony cameras and lenses links:
A77 at [shopcountry 8461]
A65 at [shopcountry 8459].
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

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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Sony NEX-7 review by Steve Huff (and 100 Euro price drop at Sony France!?!?)

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Sony Nex-7 HD Video Samples – AZ State Fair 2011 (Steve Huff).

Steve Huff (Click here) posted his full NEX-7 review. It is a very long, detailed and personal view on the NEX-7. There is a lot to read, analyze and see. And I couldn’t agree more with Steve when he says: “all in all, this is a killer camera system and the NEX line has now matured into a camera that most of us have been asking for over the past 2-3 years. This will be a big one for Sony. Mark my words!“. The NEX-7 is indeed the hottest camera announced this year. Let’s hope the Thai flood will not delay the release for a very long time. George Boyd, a spokesman for Sony, told the BBC: “However, we are taking measures to move production to our third factory in Thailand which is operational and also to other sites“.

A couple of more NEX-7 related news:
Focus Numerique (Click here) posted a NEX-7 image gallery. New NEX-7 Photocomment poadcast (Click here). One more thing: For unkown reasons we noticed a huge price drop on the NEX-7 at Sony France (Click here). -100 Euro!!! A bit weird if you think that it is not even in Stock!

The NEX-7 can be preordered at [shopcountry 8454]. ALong that two amazing new NEX lenses, the 50mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 8448] and the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 8450].

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First pictures of the submerged Sony thai factories! Four months production stop?

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This is the very first picture of the flood that hit the Sony factory in Thailand (Source: Bangkokpost). And the mayor of the Bankadi municipality said that: “It will take about a month for the floodwaters to recede and then at least three months to rehabilitate the park“. Sony didn’t officially release a statement about the current situation in Thailand. What I heard from my sources is that the [shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink] production will be moved to other factories. But also that will not be a quick process.

P.S.: You can read some general details about the Sony factory at Wesleynet.

 

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Something else: The Sony 18mm-252mm T/3.8 lens for the F3.

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While we are still waiting for our new A-mount lenses Sony made a new PL-mount lens with terrific specs! It is a 14x High power zoom for high-end production!
“The SCL-Z18X140 is a new zoom lens for the PMW-F3 Super 35mm CineAlta compact camcorder. It is a 14x high-power zoom lens from 18mm-252mm at T3.8 (Wide). The SCL-Z18X140 has been specifically designed to fit to the PMW-F3 via the camcorder’s own FZ mount, expanding the operational flexibility of the PMW-F3 so it can be used for almost any application. The SCL-Z18X140 is the first zoom lens which you can operate with the zoom rocker of the [shoplink 9726 ebay]PMW-F3[/shoplink].”
Now, I want to see that kind of professional approach on future A-mount cameras and lenses too! Can’t wait to here more about the upcoming A9x!

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Sony TidBits (NEX-7 control overview video)

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[shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink] control overview by Steve Huff

Sony Alpha A35 review at ePhotozine (Click here): “Image quality is excellent, and the camera feels great, working as expected with a good number of controls and buttons giving quick access to settings“. The camera gets higly recommended!

35mm versus Arri Alexa, Red MX, EOS 1D und Sony F3 at Johnbrawley.

Sony NEX-C3 review at T3 (Click here): “The NEX-C3 is a very capable camera for anyone trading up from a pocket point and shoot, wanting better pictures and who is not put off by the rather utilitarian body design and the (by comparison) overly large kit zoom threaded onto the front. Though more refinement than revolution, this is a camera that is easy to admire with its steely competency“.

SLR Magic + Sony NEX 5 review at digital-photography-school.

Sony NEX-C3: análisis (Quesbesde).

Arca-Swiss Announces Their “NEX Kit” (Echenique).

Sony World Photography Awards 2012 Honorary Jury Announced (Photoxels).

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NEX-7 shipment date now 30/11 at Sonystyle Canada (A77 will be back in Stock in 3-4 weeks!)

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Our reader “Alper” noticed that Sonystyle Canada displays a new shipment date for the NEX-7. It now says it will ship on November 30 (before it was mid November) and that “this item is backorderable“. Check your Sony store if they will change the shipment date.

A source contacted me to say that “the [shoplink 8461]Sony A77[/shoplink] bodies and kits will be arriving in stock in 3-4 weeks. I clarified that the cameras arriving were not to fill pre-orders and they confirmed this.“. That’s good news! Thanks source ;)

These are the NEX-7 Sonystore links for every country. I didn’t notice any new shipment date changes on all countries but Canada:
[shoplist 8454]

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New Sony NEX-7 ISO tests (some video color banding too?).

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I bet many of you already preordered the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink] (like I did) and you are certainly not happy to hear that you will have to wait a couple of months more before to get your hands on the camera. But there are many lucky reviewers out there having the NEX-7 for testing. You might ask them if they sell you the testing model? :)

Justin Nystrom posted that vimeo video you see on top (Click here to visit his site). And he says: “Not great art, but more of an equipment test. At a very cool event sponsored by Mike’s camera in Denver on October 15, I had about a half an hour to test out a prototype model [shoplink 8454]Sony NEX-7[/shoplink]. My impression is that this is an interesting little camera. All of this was shot in 24p mode because the event only had class 6 cards for sale. As you can see, the autofocus is a little slow. I used the [shoplink 8450]Zeiss 24/1.8[/shoplink] lens on this, no color correction, and this is exported out of FCP7. Sorry now that I didn’t wait to test the A77, but I cannot stand zoos. The color banding that appears in this showed up in one other clip as I panned across the sandy-brown cement and rocks. Ideas?”

First we have the guys from Focus Numerique (Click here) that just posted a new NEX-7 noise test (JPG not RAW!). As you can see the [shoplink 8452]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink] is much better at High ISO. At low ISO the NEX-7 does a pretty good job. And anyway, the reviewer said that “the sensor of the NEX-7 does wonders at 6400 ISO sensitivity” suggesting that for a camera with that resolution the NEX-7 actually does a decent job at high ISO!

There is a second short ISO test posted by the Chinese website Zol (Click here).

New NEX-7 image samples have been posted by DCresource and Steve Huff (Full review from Steve is coming soon).

Fashion photographer Nathan Lee Bush (found via Noisycamera) tested the NEX-7: “the NEX-7 is a revolutionary leap forward in the race to put compact interchangeable lens cameras in the hands of serious photographers. It is the first uncompromised alternative to enthusiast and semi-pro DSLRs whose price point it shares, and could conceivably be a first camera for serious enthusiasts and pros, rather than a second, carry-everywhere addition to their existing system“.

Editor’s note: Sony may will take the chance and use the 1-2 months production delay to fix some early “issues” of the NEX-7. So….please improve the JPEG engine and no banding issue on my NEX-7…ok? Thanks! :)

And here are the preorder links. As I told you yesterday, there are plenty of NEX-5n in Stock and the amazing Zeiss 24mm and Sony 50mm lenses will be soon in Stock!
Sony NEX-7 [shopcountry 8454].
Sony NEX-5n [shopcountry 8452].
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8450].
Sony 50mm f/1.8 [shopcountry 8448].
Sony 55-210mm [shopcountry 8444].
NEX-5n viewfinder [shopcountry 9110].

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