Sony Alpha NEX Cameras and E Mount Lenses

Sony NEX-7 Firmware v1.00 vs v1.01 Matthew D. uploaded a video of his Sony NEX-7 before and after the Firmware v1.01 update. The video shows the great improvement in the Auto-Review time with v1.01 - it's almost instantaneous. Sony NEX-7 Exposure Bracketing Improved The exposure bracketing of the NEX-7 has also been improved. The limit at v1.00 was +/- 0.7 EV but with v1.01 the NEX-7 is now capable of +/- 3.0 EV. This feature will benefit HDR (high dynamic range) photos. Sony NEX-7 Movie Button Disabled The NEX-7's movie button can now be disabled by going to MENU > SETUP > MOVIE BUTTON > ON / OFF. We are still waiting to see what the "wide angle lens image improvement" did. Here was our post about the NEX-7 V1.01 Firmware release .

Sony NEX-7 Updated to Firmware v1.01 Sony addresses some user requests with the new NEX-7 v1.01 update. We are most interested in the bracketing improvement and the wide angle lens image quality. Let us know how v1.01 works for you. This utility upgrades the NEX-7 firmware to version 1.01, and provides the following benefits: Addition of capability to enable or disable the MOVIE button Addition of exposure settings of bracket shooting (three frames /1.0EV,2.0EV, 3.0EV) Improvement of response for showing auto review image. Improvement of image quality when using a wide angle lens. Improvement of indication when setting “Flexible Spot”. Download the Sony NEX-7 Firmware Version 1.01 Mac OS Version, Windows Version. Read the installation procedure twice before attempting to install as a precaution.

NEX-7 with Voigtlander 15mm, Sigma 30mm, and Fujinon 50mm lens Here is a set of pictures by Emmanuel C. taken in Turkey with his Sony NEX-7. He brought along a pair of adapted manual focus lenses: Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 Super Wide Heliar and the Fujinon 50mm f/1.9 lens. He also used the native E-mount autofocus the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 DN lens. This provides a nice set covering 22.5mm, 45mm, and 75mm equivalent field of view. Check out Emmanuel's website at EmmanuelChampagne.fr .

32mm f/1.8 Zeiss Planar Autofocus Lens on the Sony NEX-7 (rendered) Here is more good news from Photokina 2012. Zeiss will expand their line of E-mount autofocus lenses from 1 to 4 by summer of 2013. Here is what we know so far about the new Zeiss lenses: Optimized for APS-C sensors and made in E-mount. Focal lenghts to be offered: 12mm f/2.8 Distagon (18mm efov) ø67mm filter 32mm f/1.8 Planar (48mm efov) ø52mm filter 50mm f/2.8 macro (75mm efov) Zoom lenses are being considered. Autofocus with manual override. High quality and lightness are driving factors. Each lens will be comparable in price to the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 ZA E lens , around £1000. Made in Japan. We were off by a few mms on the focal lengths when we posted about this a ten days ago. The prototype lenses will be on display at the Zeiss booth at Photokina. Here is the interview with Carl Zeiss' Dr. Pollman with respect to the new Zeiss lenses for Sony NEX cameras. Video from Zeiss booth at Photokina

The new Leica M This is the new Leica M camera and this is where the NEX system should be headed. The Leica M has technologies proven in NEX cameras such as focus peaking, detachable and tiltable electronic viewfinder, accepting other lenses via adapters, and a movie mode. The Leica M adds the following to the NEX system: a full frame sensor, rangefinder focusing system, a weather proof body, and a GPS accessory. The Leica M will be around $7000, around 6x the cost of the Sony NEX-7 . Kudos to Leica.

Panorama Photos by Keijo Karvonen Here are some beautiful panoramas from Keijo Karvonen. Keijo used his Sony NEX-7 in sweep panorama mode to create these expansive images, no stitching necessary. The NEX-7 can produce up to a 12,416 x 1,856 (23M) file, which equates to a 41.4" by 6.1" print at 300 dpi. The Sony 18-200mm OSS lens was mostly used and a few were with a Canon 35mm tilt / shift lens in FD mount. NEX-7 Panoramas of Namibia and Botswana Here is Keijo's full panorama gallery . Here is the Sony NEX-7 with the 18-200mm OSS lens attached. This provides an equivalent field of view of 27mm to 300mm on the APS-C sensor. NEX-7 with 18-200mm OSS Lens from maa1

Canon 50mm EOS Lens on Sony NEX-7 with Autofocus Here is a second video showing a NEX camera controlling the autofocus drive of a Canon EOS / EF lens. The lens used was the Nifty Fifty, Canon 50mm f/1.8 on a Sony NEX-5 and a NEX-7. The new NEX-5R with a hybrid autofocus system (Phase Detection and Contrast Detection designed for speed and accuracy) should improve the autofocus speed shown in the video. Canon's EOS-M mirrorless compact camera uses the same hybrid autofocus system. Our assumption was wrong - the Canon stepper motor (STM) lens is not necessary for the NEX to control the Canon autofocus drive. The Canon EOS to NEX adapter with AF drive shown can control a standard EOS lens. The Canon EOS-M requires an EOS M Mount adapter to drive the same lens. If you have Canon EOS lenses and want a light, compact camera to use them on - this seems to be the best option so far. Canon 50mm EOS Lens on Sony NEX Autofocus Drive from MX Camera It's only a matter of time when

Sony RX1 with Zeiss 35mm f/2 Sonnar Lens Sony has set the digital camera world abuzz with leaks of the Sony RX1 . The RX1 uses the full frame, 24 x 34 mm, 24 megapixel sensor from the soon to be released Sony SLT-A99 camera. The pictures show that Zeiss developed an autofocus 35mm f/2 Sonnar lens for the RX1. Is it a fixed lens camera? Zeiss will display three new prime autofocus CSC lenses later this month at Photokina. Could they be for the RX1? A 35mm, shown above? a 50mm standard? and a 90mm macro? The speculated price for the RX1 with the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar is $2799. This is line with Sony's pricing since the NEX-7 with the Zeiss 24mm Sonnar is $2300. RX1 with Built-in Pop-up Flash RX1 showing Video Button Below is a quick mock-up of the Sony NEX-7 with the Zeiss 24mm ZA ($2300), a Leica M9 with a 35mm Summicron ($9700), and the Sony RX1 with the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar ($2799). Sony NEX-7 with 24mm Sonnar, Leica M9 with 35mm Summicron, Sony RX1 with 35mm Sonnar What do

Nauticam NA-NEX7 Underwater Housing Here is the Nauticam underwater housing for the Sony Alpha NEX-7. The model number for the housing is NA-NEX7. The NA-NEX7 is an hard annodized aluminum and abrasion resistant polycarbonate armor for your NEX-7 . It is rated for 100 meters deep and features a moisture alarm just in case. The NA-NEX7 takes advantage of the TTL hotshoe on the NEX-7 as well as the EVF. It provides access to all controls including the Tri-Navi dials. NA-NEX7 Zoom Knob (top right) works with 18-55mm Lens NA-NEX7 Rear Control Panel NEX-7 with Nikonos Underwater Lens NA-NEX7 Housing with 45 Degree Viewfinder Nauticam NEX-7 Underwater Photo Samples Here is a smugmug gallery of underwater shots from the NEX-7 with a Nikonos 15mm lens and the Sony 30mm Macro Lens. Size Comparison from Deepshots.Co.UK Here's deepshots.co.uk says conclusion on their NA-NEX7 underwater housing review : Conclusion: The Sony NEX-7 with the Nauticam NA-NEX7 housing is the ultimate compact

NEX-7 Video Record via Infrared Remote by Lucky Luke One thing missing from the Sony NEX remote is the ability to trigger video recording on the camera. Well a few people have found solutions. Below is eglijeg's solution using a Harmony Remote . He outlines the steps and they have been confirmed to work by other people. We do not have a Harmony Remote to test it, maybe someone can find a solution for a Comcast Remote. I got this to work fantasically with a Harmony 890 though. Some of you have figured out, there is already the NEX-5 as a device in the Harmony programming software. It is under VCR. This has all of the standard remote buttons programmed in it. Add this device to your remote in the harmony software program (don't update your remote yet though if you want the record feature to work) Next, in order to get the video record button log into http://members.harmonyremote.com first, then go to http://members.harmonyremote.com/EasyZapper/Infrared/ManualInfrared.asp?Re

If you have not read our NEX-7 vs OM-D EM-5 comparison read it first before watching the two videos below. Grab your popcorn and watch the APS-C vs Micro 4/3 heavyweights do battle. Sony NEX-7 vs Olumpus OM-D EM-5 We prefer all the advantages of the APS-C's sensor over the Micro 4/3 and that's why we shoot with the NEX-7.

Sony NEX-7 with Schneider Kreuznach 14mm Super Angulon Mockup Another lens manufacturer is joining the Sony NEX E-mount family. The 99 year old Schneider Kreuznach lensmaking firm from Germany is creating a 14mm Super Angulon with a maximum aperture of f/2.0 for the Sony NEX system. The lens will have an effective focal length of 21mm on the NEX's APS-C sensor. Early news states that the lens will be autofocus and will be the first of a range of lenses from Schneider for the E-mount. The rest of the range will be announced this September at Photokina. Above is a mockup of the Schneider Super Angulon on the Sony NEX-7. This is a very preliminary image and the Schneider final product may be totally different. Schneider Kreuznach 14mm f/2 Super Angulon Schneider Kreuznach will join Tamron and Sigma as a 3rd party manufacturer of Sony NEX E-mount autofocus lenses.

Sony NEX-7 Images by Ken Lee As news of the Leica M Monochrom spread the internet, we received an email from Ken Lee sharing his photos from Paris. The monochrome images were produced with the Sony NEX-7 and the 18-55mm OSS kit lens. The images were taken in color in RAW format, then converted to black and white via photoshop. Ken is a large format photographer and found relief in using such a light, pocketable camera. Great detail, tonality, and clarity show off Ken's skills and the NEX-7's capability. You can see more samples at Ken Lee's Paris Gallery . Sony NEX-7 18-55mm Kit Thanks Ken, we hope to see more in the future.

Here are a few shots from the Sony NEX-7 and a tilt lens adapter with a Contax Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Distagon. The 28mm lens provides an effective focal length of 42mm, very close to the human eye's fov. The tilt adapter provides fun images, we posted about the tilt adapter in August 2010 . It's great on the NEX system with focus peaking as you can see focus band as you "tilt" the lens. We have not shot much using tilt and were wondering if it can make it in our travel bag where space and weight is a premium. Do you have any tips for new users of tilt lenses?

NEX-7 3.55:1 Ratio Video via Sankor 16D Anamorphic Lens Check out this footage shot by Dave Dueck with his NEX-7, Fujinon 55mm Lens, and a Sankor 16D anamorphic lens. The NEX-7 was set to shoot video at 1080p/24p and converted to 720p for vimeo. For complete details go to Dave's vimeo page . shot by Dave Dueck

R.C. at LensRentals.com performed a test on several lenses on the NEX-7. The lenses comprised of the native E-mount lenses from Sony and Sigma. A Leica Summilux was also thrown into the mix since it's done well in previous Imatest challenges. The numbers below represent MTF-50 at aperture f/4. The NEX-7 was set at ISO 400 and each lens was manually focused and bracketed so that focus errors were eliminated. from Imatest. Device or system sharpness is measured as a Spatial Frequency Response (SFR), also called Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). MTF is the contrast at a given spatial frequency (measured in cycles or line pairs per distance) relative to low frequencies. The 50% MTF frequency correlates well with perceived sharpness— much better than the old vanishing resolution measurement, which indicated where the detail wasn’t. Now let's look at the test results at aperture f/4. Lens Max Avg Sony 16mm f/4 915 646 Sigma 19mm f/4 920 765 Sony 24mm f/4 1000

Space Shuttle Enterprise with Lady Liberty Here's a few photos from the New York City flyover of the space shuttle Enterprise piggybacked on a Boeing 747. We had longer lenses available but the widest end of the Contax 35-70mm MMJ worked out best. The 747 flew above 1500 feet and a 50mm fov, Contax 35-70 @35mm, was great for the shot above. The images below are at the long end,70mm, which gave a 105mm fov. The NEX-7 was initially set on the tripod but the pilot and NASA did not want to cooperate with my framing - hand held shots worked better.

Sony NEX-F3 16.1 Megapixel Camera bibogue at dpreview posted a sneak peak at the upcoming Sony NEX-F3.  It looks like the 16.1 megapixel APS-C sensor from the NEX-5N will make it's way into the NEX-F3. F stands for flash? We're not sure but the new F3 comes with the same pop up flash button found on the Sony NEX-7 , seen below. Sony NEX-7 Built In Flash Guide Number=6 We are not sure whether an accessory evf will be compatible with the NEX-F3. Here are the specs of the Sony NEX-7 flash which most likely will be the same for the NEX-F3. Flash Type : Built-in, Pop-up Auto Guide Number : 6 (in meters at ISO100) Recycling Time : Approx. 4 sec. The NEX-F3 replaces the NEX-C3 and the NEX-3 before that. The NEX-C3 and NEX-3 came with the HVL-F7S flash which was attached atop the body via the smart accessory terminal.

Sony NEX-7 Wired Shutter Release by Trunk at GetHypoxic.com Trunk contacted us again with his new mod. This time it's a wired shutter release for the Sony NEX-7. It was about a year ago that we posted Trunk's wired shutter release for the Sony NEX-5 . If you are using the NEX-7 in modes other than P,S,A, or M the wireless Sony NEX Remote will not work and the Self-Timer is also inaccessible.  Trunk has the solution for the NEX-7.  He goes through a step by step procedure on modding the NEX-7 for a wired shutter release.  The process is very complex and will void your warranty.  Do it at your own risk or contact Trunk as he may offer the modification service.  Check out gethypoxic.com for Trunk's NEX-7 wired shutter release.  Here are some pictures by Trunk showing the insides of the NEX-7 and the finished product. Images by Trunk at GetHypoxic.com Thanks Trunk!

Let's see how the Sony NEX-7 's APS-C (23.5x15.6mm) sensor does against the latest generation of full frame (24x36mm) sensors. DxOMark rates the NEX-7's sensor at 81 and the new Canon 5d Mark III garnered the same score. The Nikon D800 's sensor, made by Sony, gets a score of 95 - the highest on DxOMark for a full frame camera. The NEX-7 provides a slight advantage in dynamic range against the 5d MkIII at low ISOs - 320 and under. Color depth is a push between the two cameras and the 5d MkIII's larger sensor and larger pixel pitch gives it the edge at high ISO shots. Take a closer look at the DxOMark comparison for yourself. Overall the NEX-7 is still one of the best APS-C sensors. It provides a great sensor in a neat versatile little package.