(SR5) New A-mount Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM coming with the A9x!

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After a long pause I can finally share a new SR5 (top rumor) with you! According to trusted sources Sony will release a new A-mount Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens in 2012. I am not sure yet about the exact month but it could be announced along the new A9x in Spring. I have also no idea yet about the price. Easy to guess it will be more expensive than the [shoplink 7134 ebay]Sony 50mm f/1.4 lens ($399)[/shoplink]. It should be more in the price league of the manual [shoplink 10196 ebay]Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 lens ($700)[/shoplink].

A couple of months ago the Japanese blog Egami found a new Sony patent that describes the characteristics for two new standard lenses. A new 50mm f/1.2 and a new 50mm f/1.4 fullframe lens. You see the lens specs on top of this post.

One more info: Sony postponed all Sony fullframe lens releases from 2011 to 2012. They will all come with the new FF cameras. So expect a nice bunch of new lenses! Stay tuned on SonyAlphaRumors! And don’t forget to join us on facebook (Click here).

Poll:

What's the camera that would be able to steal the spotlight from Canon/Nikon?

  • new FF E-mount camera with larger body, new menu design, with great weather sealing and ergonomy (18%, 1,338 Votes)
  • Sony A9r 60+ Megapixel camera (17%, 1,271 Votes)
  • Camera with curved sensor (14%, 1,054 Votes)
  • Classic design and Rangefinder styled FF E-mount camera (13%, 980 Votes)
  • Camera with 3 layer RGB sensor (aka Foveon) (12%, 888 Votes)
  • something else not mentioned here (write your idea down in comment system) (7%, 546 Votes)
  • Medium format RX (7%, 519 Votes)
  • new 645 medium format system mirrorless camera (6%, 447 Votes)
  • camera with the first 100MP sensor. (4%, 298 Votes)

Total Voters: 7,341

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Links:
Sony 50mm f/1.4 lens at [shopcountry 7134]
Zeiss Planar 50mm lens [shopcountry 10196]

Current Zeiss fullframe lenses for Sony:
SAL-1635Z 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* AF SLR Lens [shopcountry 9773]
Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM Wide Angle Lens [shopcountry 9769]
SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9776]
SAL-85F14Z Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9782]
SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9771]
SAL-135F28 135mm f/2.8 Manual Focus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9772]

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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(SR4) UPDATE: Sony A77/65 firmware updated 1.04 finally coming next week???

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UPDATE: The administrator from Digicam-info contacted me to say that he got a news form a trusted sources to say that Sony originally planed to release the firmware tomorrow (Nov 24) but they postponed the release to next week! It’s form one of his trusted sources and I upgraded the rumor value from SR3 to SR4.

As I told you last week this will be a major upgrade because we expect improvements in JPEG image quality too! Here is the list of new features/improvements:

1) expanded the number of automatic compensation of compliant lenses
2) Improvement of Responses
3) Improvement of IQ
4) Improvement of Usability

And here are the links to check the price and availability of the two cameras:
Sony A77: [shopcountry 8461]
Sony A65: [shopcountry 8459]

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POLL results analysis: Here are the fullframe lenses you want!

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Two weeks ago I posted that fullframe poll (Click here) to ask you what kind of lens you need for the full frame Alpha mount system. We had 3.900 voters from all over the worls. The poll gives us a general idea of what our readers want from Sony. I ask you to share your evaluation about the results. These are mine:

1) The most requested lens is actually a surprise because I would have never expected to see so many votes for it. The 12-24mm f/2.8 got a 28% share (1,094 Votes).
2) The most requested focal length is the 50mm standard prime. The 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss (24%, 927 Votes), the 50mm f/1.0 Zeiss (19%, 734 Votes) and the 50mm f/1.2 (13%, 503 Votes). Close behind we find the 35mm wide angle prime lens. The 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss collected 25% of your votes (978 Votes). And the more compact 35mm f/2.0 had 461 votes (12%). Very close behind the 35mm lenses we find the 85mm lenses.
3) There is no surprise when it comes to standard zoom lenses. The 24-105mm f/4.0 (25%, 974 Votes) is the third most requested lens. The 70-200mm f/2.8 Zeiss (23%, 882 Votes) is the fifth most requested lens.
4) Another surprise has been the high request for Tilt shift lenses. The 24mm TS earned a 16% share (641 Votes).
Overall It’s obvious that readers ask for classic good quality prime and zoom lenses. It’s a call for Sony to complete the “backbone” of the lens system. And I am sure Sony is already working on it.

Here are the detailed results of the poll and feel free to add your analysis of the results! Thanks!

Select the three lenses that hope will be announced in 2018

View Results

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These are the links to the current Sony Full Frame lenses (without the older Minolta lenses). You can check the price to get an idea of how much the suggested poll lenses could cost!
SAL-16F28 Fisheye 16mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9774]
SAL-1635Z 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* AF SLR Lens [shopcountry 9773]
SAL-20F28 20mm f/2.8 AF Lens for Alpha & Minolta Maxxum Series [shopcountry 9775]
Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM Wide Angle Lens [shopcountry 9769]
SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9776]
SAL-2875 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM Constant Aperture Zoom Lens [shopcountry 9777]
SAL-35F14G Wide Angle 35mm f/1.4G Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9779]
SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9780]
SAL-50M28 Normal AF D 50mm f/2.8 Macro Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9781]
SAL-85F14Z Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9782]
85mm f/2.8 SAM Mid-range Telephoto Lens [shopcountry 9768]
SAL-100M28 100mm f/2.8 AF Macro Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9770]
SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Autofocus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9771]
SAL-135F28 135mm f/2.8 Manual Focus SLR Lens [shopcountry 9772]
SAL-70200G Zoom AF 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G(D) SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9782]
SAL-70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9783]
SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9784]
SAL-75300 AF D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9785]
SAL-300F28G 300mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Autofocus Lens [shopcountry 9778]

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New Sony press release confirms A77/Nex-7 production has started.

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A dozen of our USA readers sent us the same message received via Sonystore US. Thanks! Here is the original text sent by Sony:

“We would like to update you that Sony has restarted production of NEX7 in our Chonburi Thailand factory which was not impacted by the flooding.
Since we are just beginning to ramp up production in these new lines, we have just begun restart of production at this early stage; however this is positive news that Sony is getting back on track and recovering from flood impact. Although there are no details to share on production schedule today, we expect within the next 2 weeks to have a clearer idea for you.
Again, thank you very much for your continued patience.
Sincerely,
Sony Customer Care“

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Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 for NEX tested at SLRgear.

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Andrew Alexander from SLRgear (Click here) tested what should be the best available NEX lens to date. I invite you to read his full review that includes some graphs to show the lens performance. As expected this is a wonderful lens! Andrew says: “Considering the price, you would hope that the Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 Sonnar T* ZA didn’t disappoint – and happily, it doesn’t. Sharpness is excellent even wide open, and other factors such as chromatic aberration, distortion and corner shading are well-controlled. The 24mm ƒ/1.8 proves to be an able companion to the NEX camera.”
What can I say? Well done Sony! Now we want more of this kind of lenses!

Reminder: The lens will be in Stock early/mid December. There are only a few stores accepting preorders right now:
US: Sony, Adorama.
UK: Amazon.co.uk, Jessops, Sony.
Germany: Sony.
France: Amazon.fr, Sony.
Italy: Sony.
Netherland: Sony.

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Time for Sony deals in USA. And A65 back in Stock!

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We are getting closer to the Christmas time and camera manufacturers are now offering the first deals. It’s easy to get an overview about those deals in USA, and far more complicated in Europe where I live. But first let’s say that the Sony A65 is back in Stock via Cameta at Amazon (Click here). And here are the US deals:

You can get the NEX-3 with double lens kit (18-55mm and 16mm) for $483 at Amazon (Click here).

There is a Sony A900 superkit for $2699 at Amazon via Cameta (Click here). The body alone usually costs $2699!

The Sony VG-10 is available (with lens) for $1300 at Adorama (Click here). You have to login to see the discounted price!

The A77 is almost sold out in USA. But you can still find A77 kits via Brooklyn camera and Yibum on [shoplink 8461 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. You can also buy that Superkit on Amazon (Click here) and than sell the huge Monitor :)

Curiosity: You know which is the most sold Sony camera at Amazon? It is the super cheap Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 compact camera (Click here to see the full Amazon ranking).

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Canon shooter likes the A77: “the best video camera I’ve used in years.”

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A nice video made with the A77: “Light and Wind” by Sony.

Jefferson Graham from USAtoday (Click here) tested the A77. He is a known Canon shooter but I guess he will become soon a Sony user: “If you’re serious about photography and video, spend what it takes. I know I will. I liked the camera so much, I plan on buying it once it is back in stock.” :)
There is one more review at Digital-photography-school (Click here) tested the Sony A77: “If you can afford the top glass available for it, this is a phenomenal camera. Deserves to do well in the market. Good news Sony!”

The A77 is almost sold out everywhere. It’s so bad for Sony will have nothing to offer for the big Christmas sales time!
In USA you can find the A77 as part of mega-kits only. Via Brooklyn camera and Yibum on [shoplink 8461 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. And as super-kit on Amazon (Click here) -> sell the huge Monitor :) UDPARE: The Sony A65 is back in Stock via Cameta at Amazon (Click here).
In Europe there are only a few in Stock at Jessops, Warehousexpress, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, and of course on eBay (Click here).

P.S.: More A77 tests:
Test à hauts ISO des Raw de l’Alpha 77 développés avec Lightroom 3 (Alpha-numerique).
Sony A77 test at Itmedia.

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