Sony Alpha NEX Cameras and E Mount Lenses

Here are first two videos showing us the NEX autofocusing a Sony Alpha 30mm f/2.8 Macro DT with SAM , Sony Alpha 18-55 DT SAM and a Sony Alpha 35mm f/1.8 DT with SAM via the LA-EA1 lens adapter . This is now possible with the new NEX Firmware Version 03 . The first video, with the SAL35F18, shows that it's not the fastest at locking focus but it's acceptable. The 2nd video shows the SAL1855 focusing at an acceptable speed. The 3rd video, with the SAL35F28 Macro, shows the worst of it hunting to lock focus. It may be because of the aperture and the available light but we can't be certain. Check out our post with manual focus samples with the DT SAL30F28 Macro. NEX-3 with LA-EA1 and Sony 35mm f/1.8 SAM Autofocus NEX-5 with LA-EA1 and Sony 18-55 SAM Autofocus NEX-5 with LA-EA1 and Sony 35mm f/2.8 Macro SAM Autofocus Thanks hkdcfever , 78podoryand , and gocchin2009 !

Vadim wrote us an email letting us know that the Sony NEX Firmware Version 03 is official through Sony Asia. The other regions should follow soon. The links below inlcude instructions for upgrading the firmware of your Sony NEX. Read them carefully. NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422174/product/nex-5k/modelfirst NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422203/product/nex-5k/modelfirst NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422175/productcategory/dslr+e+mount+camera/modelfirst NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422177/productcategory/dslr+e+mount+camera/modelfirst Thanks Vadim! ***Update*** here are the firmware ver 03 links and instructions from Sony Europe: NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&f=FW_NEX5_V03_WIN&m=NEX-5 NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 F

Here are the official NEX firmware version 03 download links . Izhar is your new best friend if you own a Mac. Here are the Mac firmwares - use at your own risk. The links are dead. Let's wait for the official Sony announcement. Sony NEX-3 Firmware Version 03 for Mac OSX http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-3V3_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na Sony NEX-5 Firmware Version 03 for Mac OSX http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-5V3_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na Sony LA-EA1 Lens Adapter Firmware Version 02 for Mac OSX http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/LA-EA1V2_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na Thanks Izhar!

Sony NEX Firmware Version 03 in Action Fotoingo emailed us that the unofficial firmware version 03 for the Sony NEX is now available through the Sony website. These are unofficial and found by manipulating the Version 02 firmware's url. Use at your own risk. Here are the official NEX firmware version 03 download links . The links are dead. Let's wait for the official Sony announcement. Unofficial Sony NEX-5 Firmware Version 03 http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-5V3_Update1010a.exe?fm=na Unofficial Sony NEX-3 Firmware Version 03 http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-3V3_Update1010a.exe?fm=na Unofficial Sony LA-EA1 Firmware Version 02 http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/LA-EA1V2_Update1010a.exe?fm=na Fotoingo is a brave soul and updated his NEX via the links above he states "I updated my Nex5 and everything is allright ! :-)" We are not so brave so we will wait until it is officially announced and with proper instruction.

Here's the video from Ant where he used the Sony NEX-5 in the Dicapac WP-H10 Waterproof Case while snorkling. Check out the size of the WP-H10 compared to the NEX in our previous post .

icie sent us an email sharing his images from his recent trip with the Sony NEX-5 and a Leica 28 f/2.8 Elmarit-R via a Kipon tilt adapter, which we posted about previously . Here is a quick review from icie on his experience using the NEX and a manual focus lens. While the lens is not the best ever, most notably due to its chromatic aberration, it is pretty sharp wide open, and also the manual control over the aperture meant I could use the NEX-5’s handheld twilight mode stopped down at aperture values like f/8 (with the electronic lenses, the mode automatically sets it to the widest possible aperture, with no option to change it). Overall, it was quite interesting to shoot a week with manual focus, and of course I missed a lot of shots since I was not used to it. However, it is a truly useful skill to develop, and i did enjoy the tactile control over the lens functions. Here are some of his images: Sony NEX-5 Kipon Tilt Adapter Leica 28mm Elmarit-R You can see larger images at Pixels

Here is another Nokton on the Sony NEX. This time it's the Cosina Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (Leica M) mounted on the Sony E-mount. The lens seems almost designed for the NEX with it's compact body (1.12" / 28.5 mm), 35mm focal length (52mm equivalent), and large aperture at 1.4. Here was our post on the CV 50mm f/1.1 Nokton on the NEX. from latteblue from chiif from 808 Thanks latteblue, chiif, and 808!

Sony NEX-5 with a Cosina Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 Ultra Wide-Heliar and matching Viewfinder We learned a nice trick today from AONO2009 about the Sony NEX FDA-SV1 Optical Viewfinder - the eyepiece can be separated from the base. Now we have a cold shoe that we can mount any 3rd party viewfinders on. Make sure to account for the 1.5x crop factor when buying one, a 24mm lens means you will need a 36mm viewfinder. Sony NEX FDA-SV1 Viewfinder Separated

Here is the Sony NEX-5 with the 18-55mm OSS and the mikrokopter octocopter we posted about earlier and this time it's in South Africa. Benny Rebel took his NEX UAV to capture images from a very different angle, straight down from the sky. The NEX UAV footage begins at 1:51 and it looks like the wild animals are as interested in the NEX as we are.

Sony NEX Reverse Lens Adapter Screwed on Filter Ring Here's a very inexpensive way to get great Macro shots on you Sony NEX. E-mount reverse lens adapters are now available. The adapter allows us to use any lens reversed by using the lens filter thread. Make sure to use a lens with a manual aperture ring to conrtol depth of field. They come in 49mm, 52mm, 58mm filter ring sizes. They are available on eBay . Sony NEX with µ4/3 Lens Adapted in Reverse for Macro Here are some real world shots from Hot using the reverse lens adapter on the NEX-5.

Sony NEX-5 vs Fuji Finepix X100 Size Comparison Combatants Sony Alpha NEX-5 Fuji FinePix X100 Number of effective pixels 14.2 million pixels 12.3 million pixels CCD Sensor APS-C CMOS Sensor APS-C CMOS Sensor ISO Range 200 - 12800 100-12800 Lens Sony E-mount with Interchangeable lenses Fixed 23mm FUJINON lens (35mm equiv) f/2 to f/16 Image Stabilization In Lens Unknown Shutter Speed 30s to 1/4000 with Bulb Mode 1/4 to 1/4000 with B and T modes Continuous Shooting Speed 7 frames per sec. 5 frames per sec. LCD Tiltable 3" Diagonal 921,600 Pixels 2.8" Diagonal 460,000 Pixels Electronic Viewfinder Not yet, come on Sony! Hybrid Optical viewfinder with Electronic Overlays Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 / 60i 1280 x 720 Dimensions 4.4 x 2.4 x 1.6 in. (111 x 60 x 40 mm) 5.0 x 2.9 x 2.1 in. (126.5 x 74.4 x 53.9 mm) including lens Price $699 with 18-55 OSS Lens Available Now $1200 Available Now

albnok was at Sony Power of Digital Imaging launch in Malaysia and got a glimpse at an interesting widget. Here is the FA-EX1S flash extender which comes with the NEX-5H kit, NEX-5 + 18-200mm OSS lens. This widget, FA-EX1S, works with the standard flash and moves it up so that the 18-200mm does not cast a shadow in flash photos. see more at glaringnotebook.com .

fujihide took his NEX-5 and 18-200mm OSS Zoom Lens to the Ueno Zoo and captured the images below. Check out the rest at flickr .

Rebotnix Technologies needed a lightweight, high resolution camera for their Falcon8+ unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) - a perfect job for the Sony NEX-5. Rebotnix provides the complete solution, if you want to build your own UAV check out our post with the mikrokopter oktokopter . about Rebotnix Technologies: rebnotnix creates HighEnd components that make a difference in the world. From flying inside our office with the first UAV Asctec Hummingbird we are constantly working towards delivering the best possible flying plattforms for our customers. The rebotnix Falcon8+ is based on Asctec Falcon8. Founded in 2010 by Gerd Hilgemann and with strong collaboration with Ascending Technologies the Falcon8+ was originally designed to be an easy-to-fly, low-maintenance UAV which evolved into a camera platform and was then refined into the professional videography apparatus it is today. rebotnix flying plattforms are extremely sophisticated, high performance easy-to-fly machines. Check out the Reb

Sony NEX-5 with Leica TRI-ELMAR-M 28-35-50mm f/4.0 ASPH Volker found a great solution for those using the Sony NEX extensively on tripods. Standard quick release plates are too big and heavy for the NEX but this Really Right Stuff Mini Plate ( RRS Part Number: BPnS-S ) is a perfect fit and can stay on the body all day. Thanks V.H.!

Seb sent us an email with a video to the new Sony PlayMemories application for the Sony PlayStation 3 . PlayMemories allows PS3 owners to view Sony NEX 3D Sweep Panorama photos on a 3D television. Check out the end of the video for the multi angle views of 3D photos, similar to the one's you can make with SeteroPhotoMaker . from Sony EU : PlayMemories is a new application for PS3™ that lets you organize and view 3D still images captured with the growing range of 3D-compatible cameras by Sony. Available for free download from PlayStation®Store, PlayMemories offers a whole new experience for PS3™ users to view their collection of 2D and 3D photos. Select a picture and zoom in or out using your DUALSHOCK®3 or SIXAXIS™ wireless controller: it’s easy, intuitive and fun. There’s a growing choice of 3D-capable digital cameras from Sony. 3D Sweep Panorama captures extra-wide 3D scenes: just press the shutter button and sweep the camera from side to side. Cameras offering 3D Sweep Panoram