New Sony lens reviews (NEX-7 in Stock at Adorama)

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Image courtesy: Photozone.

Before to start…the NEX-7 body is now in Stock at Adorama too (Click here). And the kit version will be in Stock on March 31 at Amazon (Click here). And now let’s talk about the new lens tests:

Carl Garrard (Click here) tested the Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM lens: “You probably won’t fall in love with its looks or build, or even it’s max aperture which is “average” for a prime lens in this focal length. Instead, you’ll probably like it’s optical performance which is above the expectations I had set for this lens. Contrast is excellent wide open, one of the better lenses I’ve seen of late, and sharpness is very high too. Color is neutral and accurate, very much like how Sony G lenses have an effect on color.” Check the lens price at [shopcountry 5979].

Photozone (Click here) keeps posting new Sony lens reviews. He just tested the Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT SSM G on the NEX-7: “The setup with the EA-LA2 is vastly superior to the NEX kit lens but there is a price to pay for this, of course. The lens itself is actually surprisingly affordable compared to similar offerings from Nikon and Canon but the Alpha adapter doesn’t come for free and size- and weight-wise it is also a bit of a monster on a dwarfish NEX. However, if you want to make the most of your system the Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT SSM is certainly a viable option.” Check the lens price at [shopcountry 8457].

Sony 55-2100mm hands on review by SonyAlphaLab (Click here).

SLR Magic HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 lens tested on the NEX-7 at 3Dkraft (Click here).

One more thing: Our reader Björn Utpott (Click here) keeps posting nice image samples taken with the NEX-7 and many different lenses. Check it out from time to time!

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(SR5) Big Sony event in early April! New NEX, SLT and camcorder stuff!

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According to multiple sources Sony is preparing a big product announcement event for early April. I don’t have the exact date yet but my sources told me is that there will be multiple new products for NEX and SLT (photo cameras, camcorders and lenses).There are so many new products I have heard of, the NEX-F3 a new NEX camcorder, the new 18-135mm SAM lens, the A37 and so on. But I don’t know yet if all are coming now. I also don’t know if there is room for some surprise, the biggest one would be a preview of the upcoming new A99 fullframe camera (or whatever the final name will be).

If you have some “insider” info about the huge Sony product announcement feel free to help me out by sending an anonymous message through the contact form. Or contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!

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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 Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai makes the first step to strengthen the imaging division.

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As Imaging Resource reports the new CEO Kazuo Hirai’s intention is “to make digital imaging one of three core pillars of Sony’s business.” And today Sony issued a statement saying that “Sony is positioning digital imaging, game and mobile as the three core pillars of its electronics business, and going forward aims to concentrate its resources in these areas to further reinforce the businesses.”

In simple words, the digital imaging department has been elevated to an independent and strong arm of Sony’s strategy. I hope this step will simplify and accelerate the development process of new camera and lens products. With the new NEX and SLT systems Sony created a unique Chance to grow in a market that until a two years ago was merely dominated by Canon and Nikon. Good Luck!

P.S.: Talking about rumors…there is something in the air… ;)

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NEX-7 in Stock at Amazon. New NEX lens test by Photozone and Kurtmunger.

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The USA readers are having the biggest difficulty to find a NEX-7 in Stock. So it will may help you to know that at the NEX-7 body with 18-55mm lens is in Stock for the normal price at Amazon (Click here) and the body only at Cameta (Click here). In Europe you can find plenty of cameras at Amazon Germany (Click here), Amazon France (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Amazon Italy (Click here), Redcoon Poland (Click here) and Redcoon Spain (Click here). In Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

But now let’s go back to the NEX-7 theme of the moment. Photozone (Click here) now published the 55-210mm NEX lens test and once again it proves that the NEX-7 demands top lenses to get superb results. Anyway, the lens isn’t as bad as the other NEX lenses: “The lens is surely not remotely capable of exploiting the potential of this sensor but the results are generally decent – at least from a real world perspective.”
Kurt Munger (Click here) tested the 30mm macro lens on the NEX-C3: “Unfortunately, Sony’s hot streak has come to an abrupt end with the new 30mm F/3.5 macro lens.  It’s not that it’s a bad lens, it just isn’t very impressive.”

In Short, if you like me want the best quality on the NEX-7 than go for the superb Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 (Here at [shopcountry 8450]) or the cheap and still good 50mm f/1.8 (preorder at [shopcountry 8448]).

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Is more Megapixel better? D800 Sony sensor test…and a secret weapon for Sony.

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Image credit: Lensrentals (Click here)

As I told you Sony is working on two new FF models, one with 24 and one with 36 Megapixel sensor. With the recent release Canon opted for a “low” resolution 22 Megapixel sensor while Nikon opted for the Sony 36 Megapixel sensor. Question is, how much difference will it make in the real world? Roger from Lensrentals (Click here) made a comparison by testing the same Zeiss 25mm f/2.0 and 100mm f/2.0 lenses on both cameras. There are some interesting findings:
1) The difference becomes clearly visible when using the best performing lens aperture. At full wide aperture the difference is almost zero.
2) You need super quality glass to get out the most from the D800. Interesting, the Zeiss lenses are slightly superior to the tested Nikon lenses.

Sony’s strategy to offer two different FF models is welcome but there is also a secret weapon Sony has to push. The Zeiss lenses. It seems they can give the A-mount camera the edge in terms of resolution over Nikon and Canon lenses. I hope the rumored A mount 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss SSM lens will arrive along the next FF camera!

P.S.: Nikon D800 rules the DSLR ranking (Click here) while Sony rules the mirrorless ranking (Click here). Looks liek Sony sensor and camera business is doing great!

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Domain name change on hold. Thanks for your support.

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Dear readers!

I have to thank you for the support you are giving me on SonyAlphaRumors. As you know I have to consider to change the domain name because of some “pressure” on my work here on SAR. I am still on hold to see if there is a chance to keep things how they are. I received more than 400 mails with domain name suggestion and support messages. Please understand that I cannot answer you all and I am writing this post to let you know that I read every single mail I got and it really helped me to get back some energy. Thanks again!

I want to make clear that I think so many people at Sony are doing a great work. It’s just pity “someone I don’t know” is trying to make my work on SAR a bit more diffcult. But I think in one way or another things will be solved soon.

And now let’s go back to work on Sony enws and rumors ;)

 

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Sony A57 news roundup (shipping April 22)

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THe US store BHphoto (Click here) expects to ship the new A57 on April 22. Meantime new tests have been published: ISO test at DCfever (Click here). A57 image samples at Lenstip (Click here). First impressions at DxOmark (Click here). Sony Alpha A57 at each ISO setting at ThePictureDesk (Click here).

The next new SLT camera should be the A37. And than the A99…

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P.S.: Zeiss for NEX is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here).

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