Digital Cameras

Sony to Announce New Alpha and NEX Lenses?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 7, 2012 | 11 comments

Just yesterday, we reported on Sony’s now confirmed March 15th camera event where the electronic giant is expected to officially unveil the Alpha A57, their latest 16-megapixel, 12fps DSLR camera. Rumors have pointed towards a surprise announcements at the event as well, though we’ve yet to be able to confirm if it will be a camera or additional lenses. A new report from our friends at SonyAlphaRumors point towards an impending announcement of Alpha and NEX lenses from Sony. The report doesn’t go as far as to detail any specs or mention any dates but with Sony’s camera announcement a week away, it’s hard to imagine them not announcing the new lenses at such an event. Are you looking forward to new Alpha and NEX lenses? If so, share you thoughts with us after the jump.

Sony March 15th Camera Event Confirmed

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 6, 2012 | 22 comments

Just over two weeks ago, we ran a story about a then unconfirmed Sony camera event which would be held on March 13th. Though details were sketchy, we were almost certain that Sony would be announcing the rumored 16-megapixel Alpha A57 while some even believe that there will be an addition to the NEX line: perhaps an NEX-6? As I’ve said before, I’m doubtful of a surprise camera from Sony though it would be a nice change, seeing how most of their products are leaked months in advance. Still, the possibility of additional lenses is also rumored but we’ve yet to be able to nail down any concrete details.

Now we’ve learned that the March 13th date is in fact wrong but only by two days. Sony will instead be hosting a March 15th event in the UK where the A57 is expected to be officially announced. My personal hopes include the announcement of the NEX-6 which would close the gap between the NEX-5 and NEX-7 (line the audio input which is all I need from the NEX-7!). After jump, share with us some of your hopes for this announcement.

Sony Camera Announcement on March 13?

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 22, 2012 | 17 comments

It’s only been a few months since Sony has been able to get their manufacturing plants up and running to begin production on the company’s NEX-7, A65, and A77. After the disasterous flooding that took place in Thailand , Sony was unable to produce much of their announced 2011 cameras which were set to ship in the later part of last year. Despite this, the company seems to not have changed their camera roadmap and timeline with a rumored March 13 announcement that is aimed at announcing a new DSLR. Many speculations have pointed towards the rumored 16-megapixel Alpha A57 while some even believe that there will be an addition to the NEX line: perhaps an NEX-6?

I’m doubtful of a surprise camera from Sony, seeing how they are not the best at keeping secrets but, if the date holds true, the A57 seems to be a no brainer, seeing how we know most of the specs for the camera, which can be found after the jump. However, it might not be so farfetched for Sony to announce some new lenses for the growing E-mount segment. With the rumored Sony camera announcement less then 3 weeks away, we’ll know soon enough.

Sony Cybershot W610 and W630 Leaked Prior to CES

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 3, 2012 | 11 comments

For most companies, leaks tend to come from employees and insiders who are invested in the company, for better or worse. In Sony’s case, the company tends to be the one who accidentally leaks their own product, due to the numerous websites that they operate in different countries. Just yesterday we had discussed the possibility of a refresh to the entire Cybershot line of cameras and today, we have two new models to report to you.

The Cybershot W series which is Sony’s entry compact camera line will be gaining two new models, the Cybershot W610 and W630. Both cameras will come with a 2.7-inch LCD screen while the W610 will house a 14.1 megapixel sensor and the W630 a 16.2 megapixel sensor. The W610 will also receive a 4X optical zoom where the W630 will get a 5X optical zoom with 720p recording. Expect more leaks in the week as we get closer and closer to CES 2012.

More pictures and your chance to weigh in, after the jump.

NEX-7 Orders Start to Ship in the USA

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 13, 2011 | 20 comments

The delays behind Sony’s NEX-7 model have been well documented but we finally have some good news for those who pre-ordered the mind blowing camera in the US. Sony has begun fulfilling orders and shipping out the NEX-7 with many, expecting to land on doorsteps today. This will be the perfect way to capture your holiday moments, seeing how the NEX-7 sports a 24-megapixel sensor or your loved one will need a minute to capture their breath when they unwrap one on December 25th.

Sony Asia Releases Firmware 1.04 for Alpha A65 and A77

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 29, 2011 | 7 comments

Sony Asia has just released firmware 1.04 for the Alpha A65 and A77. Though both units have been hard to find on store shelves, due to the massive floorings in Thailand, it still hasn’t stopped Sony from improving the cameras’ functions. The list of improvements includes:

Added support for auto-correction lens: Vario-Sonnar T * DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA (SAL1680Z) and DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 (SAL16105)
Improved usability
Improved Quality
Improvement Response

No word yet on when Sony Europe and Sony USA will release firmware 1.04, though the Asian firmware will work for both cameras, no matter your territory.

Sony Confirms Production Has Started Again on Alpha A77 and NEX-7

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 22, 2011 | 0 comments

Just last week, we reported that Sony had decided to move its production line for the Alpha A77 and NEX-7 to Chonburi, Thailand. This new location housed an exisiting Sony plant that was modified in order to accomedate the new camera line, after their existing factory was flooded, due to the massive flooding in Thailand. Now, Sony has confirmed that instead of waiting potentially months before their current factory is operation again, that they have indeed moved camera operations to the Chonburi factory. Sony isn’t get making promises on the factories capacity and production time frame, though they believe the next two weeks will be crucial in determining that information. Hopefully this means that Sony will be able to have some quantity of units shipped prior to the holiday rush, though they will be cutting it dangerously close. However, even if they are able to get some shipments in at the last minute, they can still count on the post Holiday shopping where many tend to use up their gift cards and exchange gifts they’ve received, thus giving Sony one more chance to catch consumers.

“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“

Apple Adds RAW Support for Sony NEX-5N, A65 and A77

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 17, 2011 | 1 comment

Apple has just released a new optional software update for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and 10.7 Lion which brings RAW support for a host of new cameras for Aperture 3 and iPhoto 11. The list of cameras include:

Canon PowerShot S100
Nikon 1 J1
Nikon 1 V1
Nikon COOLPIX P7100
Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Olympus PEN E-PL3
Olympus PEN E-PM1
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ150
Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Sony Alpha SLT-A65
Sony Alpha SLT-A77

Obviously, most prevalent to this site is the edition of RAW support for the Sony NEX-5N, Alpha A65, and Alpha A77. The update weights in at under 8MB is recommended for all Mac users who happen to own one of the mentioned cameras.

Sony Moves Camera Factory, Starts Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7 Production

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 16, 2011 | 4 comments

It’s no secret that Sony’s camera ambitions have been hurting the past few months. After the company was to set to launch their highly anticipated Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7, Thailand was hit with massive floods, the same location where Sony was manufacturing their next generation cameras. This caused Sony to delay all three camera models till March, though the company was able to get some shipments out the door, prior to the flooding. Now, there is some good news for both Sony shareholders and camera enthusiasts. Sony has been able to begin production of the Alpha A65, A77 and NEX-7 by using an existing factory in Chonburi, Thailand. The factory which previously produced other Sony cameras has been transformed to accommodate the new flagship cameras from Sony. No date has been given for production output but you can bet that Sony is working on it around the clock.

Sony Will Ship NEX-7 Pre-Orders on November 11th

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 8, 2011 | 23 comments

Just yesterday, we ran a story about the inevitable delay that was coming to the NEX-7’s launch due to the massive floods in Thailand. We reported that the NEX-7 launch would instead be pushed back to March while Sony moved operations to another factory for the time being. However, there seems to be some good news for those who pre-ordered the NEX-7. Sony was able to produce an unknown quantity of NEX-7 cameras and ship them to their storage centers prior to the floods in Thailand, and for those who pre-ordered a unit, Sony will be fulfilling their order on November 11th.

After the jump, Sony’s response.

Meet Sony’s 0.7-inch OLED Microdisplay With 720p Resolution

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 8, 2011 | 8 comments

When Sony released their unconventional Personal 3D Viewer (HMZ-T1), we knew that Sony had some ground breaking technology on their hand, though we didn’t quite understand the market segment that the product was aimed at. However, from the futuristic design, down to the component, we knew that Sony had really brought something different to the table and invested a lot of their next generation technology. The star of the personal 3D viewer is the image quality, both 2D and 3D which are powered by a dual 720p OLED screen.

What makes this even more impressive is that in just a 0.7-inch OLED microdisplay (ECX332A), Sony was able to squeeze a resolution of 720p. With a resolution of 1280 x 720, we can’t help but wonder which device Sony will incorporate this impressive screen in next. Some specifics include:

97% NSTC color gamut, 0.01ms response time and 200 cd/m2 brightness

With the entire Alpha and NEX line going or have already gone to EVF (electronic view finder) versus an OVF (optical view finder), there seems to be plenty of capable devices from Sony which could really benefit from this new OLED screen like the NEX-7.

Sony NEX-7 Delayed Till March

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 7, 2011 | 19 comments

We’ve already reported on the delayed shipments of the Sony NEX-7, A65 and A77, due to the massive flooding in Thailand that has forced Sony to shut down its Alpha factories. Flood waters are expected to hang around for another month before any receding takes place, meaning that the factories cannot be inspected, let alone become operational for a few more months. In the midst of all these setbacks was some good news for those who pre-ordered the Alpha A77. Prior the flooding, Sony was able to export an unknown quantity of units and will begin fulfilling pre-ordered units.

Sony is also said to be moving the NEX-7 line to another existing factory though details on that are currently light. What he have learned though is that Sony is expecting to begin fulfilling orders for the NEX-7, once March 2012 rolls around. This, however, marks another great setback for Sony, after seeing their PS Vita miss the critical holiday shopping season, due to the earthquakes that struck Japan last spring. Now, the NEX-7 will also be missing the holiday shopping season and all the potential sales that come with it.

“Warehouse express UK say they will not be filling the pre-order list and have been told by Sony they will not be getting NEX-7 until begining March 2012. I spoke to Sony UK today and politley pushed for any information they could tell me. What I got was that there are no NEX-7′s in the UK. Sony hoping to make a statement ‘at some point soon’ and customers on their pre-order list are to be contacted and offered a refund.
It appears that companies differ some take the money upfront some do not until item ships. Does not really clear up the information some people in the USA are being given that early pre-orders are still likely to be shipped soon??”

Sony Alpha A77 Now in Stock

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 3, 2011 | 18 comments

After Sony’s Q2 loss of nearly $350 million, it shows just how important the camera business is to Sony. A big part of the loss was contributed to the recent flooding that has taken place in Thailand, causing Sony and others to close all manufacturing plants in the area. The Thailand factories were to be the home of the newly-announced and much-anticipated NEX-7, Alpha A65, and Alpha A77. Due to the flooding, Sony is now looking at other locations and factories for its Alpha camera production as it could take months before the flood waters recede in Thailand.

Due to the recent events in Thailand, Sony was forced to delay shipments of the NEX-7, A65, and A77. However, there is some good news for those who were looking to purchase the Alpha A77. Prior to the flooding, Sony had already begun production on these units as was able to ship an undisclosed amount of units to its retail partners. Now online shops like BH and Amazon are reporting the Alpha A77 in stock. For those interested, I would recommend purchasing a unit sooner than later as at the time of this article, Amazon is reporting 9 units in stock with more arriving. However, the when and quantity, we have no idea about, so I wouldn’t base my purchasing plans based on that last nugget.

[Buy Now Via Amazon]

First Image of Flooded Sony Camera Plant in Thailand. Could Take Four Months to Recover

by Sohrab Osati | Oct 25, 2011 | 4 comments

As we reported yesterday, due to the ongoing flooding in Thailand, Sony and other manufacturers like Toshiba (a total of 47 companies actually) who have their factories located in Bangkadi Industrial Park in Pathum Thani’s Muang district have been forced to close down operations until the water begins to recede. The timing couldn’t have been worse for Sony, who was set for a global launch of their highly anticipated NEX-7 and Alpha A65 and A77. It could be months before the factories are able to be operational again.

“The initial damage is estimated at 30 billion baht. It will take about a month for the floodwaters to recede and then at least three months to rehabilitate the park,” said Thawatchai Ung-ampornpilai, the mayor of Bangkadi municipality.

According to teams on the ground there, floodwaters are almost 4 metres deep in certain parts of the site, making it impassible to all vehicles. With the Prapa Canal now fully breached, all authorities can do is wait till the water begins to withdraw from the area before any further action can be taken. This leaves Sony’s operations crippled, as they cannot even begin to assess the damage, let alone begin any form of repair. Flooded streets, however, will not be Sony’s only obstacle as they will need permission to re-enter the area after all flood water has been receded and authorities deem it safe to return.

Sony NEX-7, A65, and A77 Shipments Will Be Delayed

by Sohrab Osati | Oct 24, 2011 | 3 comments

Fall 2011, leading to the holiday shopping season, and well into early 2012, was supposed to be when Sony would take the digital camera world by storm. Speculations and many months of leaks led to Sony’s reveal of the NEX-3C, NEX-5N, A65 and A77. The earliest of these launches was the Alpha NEX-C3, which Sony was able to do without a hitch, and nearly two months ago, the NEX-5N was released, which has also been available in stores though with some problems. However, manufacturing or firmware glitches aside, Sony has been able to produce these models in sufficient quantities and have them available on store shelves.

The NEX-7, which was originally targeting an early November release date and the A65 and A77, which were looking for a mid-October release date, have now all but stalled out. This is due to the massive flooding that has taken place in Thailand, the location of Sony’s Alpha factories. The good news is that an unknown amount of A65 and A77 units have been produced and already shipped to retailers. However, with such a highly anticipated camera and a global launch, its hard to imagine being able to easily find these models on store shelves. The fate of the NEX-7 is currently unknown, seeing how it was originally set to launch in mid November, putting in question how many may have been produced prior to the Thailand flooding, which started over two weeks ago, if any at all have been produced for widespread retailer distribution.