As you know two weeks ago RED told Sony that they have to stop the further sale of the Sony’s F65, F55 and F5 cameras and have them destroyed…yes they literally the word “destroyed“. Sony finally answered RED and said: “Sony has now had an opportunity to study Red’s complaint and the asserted patents, and categorically denies Red’s allegations. Sony intends to defend itself vigorously in the Red lawsuit. Sony looks forward to prevailing in court, thus vindicating the Sony engineers who developed Sony’s quality digital cinema cameras.” (Source: Filmmakermagazine).

And at the same time the first batch of the new F55 (here at BH) and the F5 (here at BH) shipped out. And there is even a new firmware update (1.03). Just to say how relaxed Sony is about this RED danger :)

USA Deal reminder:
Sigma lens:
Sigma launched a series of new rebates on their A-mount lenses at BHphoto (Click here). The same deal is advertised on Amazon Gold Box page too (Click here). But for some weird reason their link doesn’t seem to work!
NEX-6 superkit deals:
There is a super “Ultimate Bundle” deal for $919 at [shoplink 17231 ebay]Beachcamera (official Sony reseller)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 17232 ebay]BuyDig (via eBay)[/shoplink].
A57 beats the rest:
Curious but the “old” A57 is selling better than the new A58 accoridng to the Amazon ranking (Click here).

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The new Contax G to E-mount adapter with full electronic aperture and autofocus control is now available for sale at www.deo-tech.com. Original price is US$299 but pre-orders will get 20% off and there is a 1 year international warranty. Shipping…now!
Some early tests can be read on the Chinese Xitek forum.

May not all know that Contax lenses are actually made from Zeiss :) Superb quality for a great price!
Here is the list of great G lenses with links to eBay price:
Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on [shoplink 16235 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] -> (will not work on the DEO TECHART adapter).
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16236 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] -> (will not work on the DEO TECHART adapter).
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16237 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16238 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16240 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on [shoplink 16241 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

In case you missed it on top you can watch the full CameraDiner Interview with Sony UK manager Joe Asai. Some of the SonyAlphaRumors readers question have been answered during the show!

Many Sony products got awraded by the iF product design award 2013 (Click here). Here you can read the winners and the reason why the designers liked them:

Sony A99:
High-end DSLR featuring a 35 mm full-frame sensor. To offer the exceptional control that shooters demand, the designers focused closely on the grip shape, front-to-back shape and button layout. Taut-looking surfaces seem stretched over each element, from the body to the grip to the pentaprism, giving the camera body an aura of high performance and a sculptural, well-integrated appearance.

DSC-RX1:
Proofing that good things can come in small packages, this camera packs a 35 mm full-frame sensor and large f/2.0 lens into a compact, spartan body of magnesium alloy. For satisfying control and pride of ownership, the smooth, luxurious lens barrel and buttons were refined by repeatedly fine-tuning a universal layout. Subtly rounded ends support both form and function, creating a nicely squarish body that is easier to hold.
And there is also a special Jury-Statement on the RX1:
I love the quality of this camera lens. There are so many details and textures. It also has a very modern feel to it. Here Sony has imagined how to do things differently than anyone else. It is wonderfully designed. Every detail is appropriate. This is a mechanical piece with pleasantly surprising high-quality details.

DSC-RX100
The DSC-RX100 is small and light, but features a 1” image sensor. High-quality aluminum is used for the body, ensuring optimal rigidity and texture. The main controls are metal and the styling emphasizes the edges, giving users a sense of the camera’s reliability. The centrally positioned lens tube, with a diameter nearly equal to the height of the body, allows the camera to be held securely and makes the control ring easy to operate. The solid feel of the body – not seen before in this class – and the premium simple shape make this camera a joy to own, inspiring users to give free reign to their creativity.

NEX-5R
Innovative interchangeable-lens camera housing a large image sensor in a body as small as it can be – barely tall enough to accommodate the mount. Though compact, the camera offers welcome features, such as an LCD screen that tilts to include the shooter and enable high- and low-angle shots, expanding shooting options. A generous grip maintains usability even with larger lenses. Also designed for fast shootings, because a rapid settings adjustment is possible via a dial on the back.

DSC-HX30V:
Although a pop-up flash suppresses vignetting in shots applying the optical 20x zoom, the flash sits higher than the mode dial across from it. Fortunately, gently slanted surfaces provide a graceful transition and elegant design accent. Inside, the reassuring grip is a high-capacity capacitor for bright flash in zoomed shots. Subtly contrasting body and lens finishes, a nicely finished band around the body, a perfectly positioned power button and other details make this a highly polished camera.

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via TalkNex.