Sony A7 and A7r Hands On at PhotoPlus Expo

Sony A7r with a Voigtlander 12mm Lens and Viewfinder

It was a very crowded Sony booth at PhotoPlus. The great thing was the Sony representatives were very accommodating to anyone who wanted to play with the new Sony A7 and A7r. We had our bag of lenses and was able to mount them all on the A7 and A7r - check out the 12mm viewfinder on the A7r above. The lenses include the following:

• Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 Leica Thread Mount on a helicoid adapter.
• Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron LTM.
• Minolta 24mm f/2.8 Rokkor MD.
• Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon.
• Contax Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar with the Metabones Speedbooster and the standard C/Y adapter.
• Zeiss 12mm f/2.8 Touit Distagon.

The cameras were pre-production and the use of memory cards to record the images was prohibited. We wanted to see if I could see immediate problems on the rear tilting lcd but none were glaring.  The only noticeable issue was color shift with the Contax G 28mm Biogon.  We're hoping that this can be remedied with the production models.

Sony A7r and a Contax G Lens

Below is the Contax 85mm Planar on a Metabones Speedbooster. As you can see it cannot cover the whole sensor but with APS-C mode on the A7 cameras the Speedbooster is still useable.

Sony A7r and a Contax 85mm Planar Lens via Speedbooster

The Voigtlander 35mm Ultron LTM was a nice surprise.  This lens gives the NEX-7 some problems with color shift but on the A7 this was not the case.  The few snaps that we took looked great on the rear lcd.

Sony A7r and a Voigtlander 35mm Ultron

The Minolta 24mm f/2.8 MD provide a nice wide angle image on the Sony A7.  It felt nice and balance on the slightly larger frame of the Sony A7.

Sony A7r and a Contax 85mm Planar Lens via Speedbooster

We were very excited to mount the Zeiss 12mm f/2.8 Touit on the new Sony A7.  We had the A7's APS-C lens detection off to see how much the Touit can cover the full frame sensor.  The lens has a plastic shroud to protect the rear element and this showed up in the shot below.  The Touit works perfectly fine in APS-C mode.

Sony A7r and a Zeiss 12mm Distagon Touit

The images above were from a smartphone.

Sony A7r Jpeg Samples from Gustav

Jpeg from Sony A7r, 100% Crop

Gustav had a chance to play with the Sony A7r, 35mm Sonnar, and the LA-EA4 lens adapter. He posted some samples which are straight out of the camera's jpeg engine with +1 contrast and +1 sharpness via the camera menu.

From Gustav:

i have dicided to keep the camera , and not give it back to sony i`m not theoretical technical , but this camera feels superb ,build is very good , i like the sound of the shutter (its not softly)the menu is also easy , and almost the same as alpha-menu

Samples by Gustav on Dyxum using the Sony A7r and the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar lens, LA-EA4 lens adapter, and the new Sony 70-200mm SSM G lens.

Dowload Sony Alpha A7 A7r Product Guide

Sony Alpha 7 and 7r Product Guide

Here's a nice brochure from Sony about the new A7 and A7r. It provides a lot of information on the technology used for the camera, the new lenses, and the compatible accessories. Download the Sony Alpha A7 and A7r via DropBox.

Sony A7r and A7 Focus Speeds

Sony A7r with Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar

One of the major differences between the Sony Alpha 7r (A7r) and the Alpha 7 (A7) is their focusing systems. Both cameras have contrast-detection autofocus but the Sony A7 incorporates phase-detection autofocus for a hybrid system which adds speed and accuracy to locking focus. The videos show a slight difference in locking focus for both cameras. More information below.

Sony A7 Focus Speed with Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar

Sony A7r Focus Speed with Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 Sonnar

	Sony Alpha 7r	Sony Alpha 7
Focus system Type	Contrast-detection AF	Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection AF/contrast-detection AF)
Focus point	25 points	35mm full-frame:      117 points (phase-detection AF) APS-C:      99 points (phase-detection AF)      25 points (contrast-detection AF)

Sony A7r vs A7 Focusing System Comparison

Contrast Detect Autofocus of the Sony A7 and A7r

The Sony A7r's autofocus system as explained by Sony:

Fast Intelligent AF

Fast Intelligent AF provides extremely fast AF performance despite the employment of a full-frame sensor. In fact, it achieves top-level AF speed in the full-frame category through the support of various advances including new lightning-fast BIONZ X, high-speed full-frame image sensor output, and a newly developed Spatial Object Detection AF algorithm that conducts focusing analysis in real-time using spatial frequency information to optimally control the lens drive.

Phases Detect Autofocus of the Sony A7

The Sony A7's autofocus system as explained by Sony:

Enhanced Fast Hybrid AF

Enhanced Fast Hybrid AF combines speedy phase-detection AF with highly accurate contrast-detection AF, which has been accelerated through a new Spatial Object Detection algorithm, to achieve among the fastest autofocusing performance of any full-frame camera. First, phase-detection AF with 117 densely placed phase-detection AF points* swiftly and efficiently moves the lens to bring the subject nearly into focus. Then contrast-detection AF (Fast Intelligent AF) with wide AF coverage fine-tunes the focusing in the blink of an eye. Performance is dramatically improved beyond that of previous Fast Hybrid AF systems through a number of major advances in high-speed contrast-detection AF, including faster communication with the lens made possible by the advanced Spatial Object Detection algorithm. Other advances include optimized image-sensor data read-out, swifter processing of AF-related data by the new BIONZ X image processing engine, and a more efficient lens drive that reduces back-and-forth lens movement.

* 99 points when an APS-C lens compatible with Fast Hybrid AF is mounted.

Sony A7r with Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 Sonnar

Sony A7 vs Leica Zeiss Voigtlander Rangefinder Lenses

TechTalk on the Sony A7

TechTalk with Ron Scheffler is currently posting its Sony A7 torture test. The A7 was a pre-production unit so the results may differ from the final product. The number of lenses tested in 1.5 hrs is staggering. The big question for those looking to get the new full frame Sony A7 is, "Does it play well with rangefinder lenses?" Ron tested the heavyweight of the RF lens world from Leica, Carl Zeiss, Voigtlander. Here is the list of lenses tested.

1. Voigtlander Ultra Wide-Heliar 12mm f5.6 Aspherical (LTM version which is identical to the current M mount version) (referred to as CV12)
2. Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f4.5 Aspherical M (referred to as CV15)
3. Leica Summilux-M 21mm f1.4 ASPH. (referred to as 21 Lux)
4. Zeiss Biogon T* 21mm f2.8 ZM (referred to as ZM21)
5. Leica Super-Elmar-M 21mm f3.4 ASPH. (referred to as 21 SEM)
6. Leica Summicron-M 28mm f2 ASPH. (referred to as 28 Cron)
7. Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 Aspherical VM II (referred to as CV35)
8. Canon 35mm f2.0 LTM (a lens from the late 50s-early 60s)
9. Zeiss C Biogon T* 35mm f2.8 ZM (referred to as ZM35C)
10. Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f2.8 (newly announced with the a7/a7R)
11. Voigtlander Nokton classic 40mm f1.4 (referred to as CV40)
12. Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH. (referred to as 50 Lux ASPH)
13. Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM (a lens from the late 50s-early 60s)
14. Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.5 Aspherical LTM (optically identical to the current M mount model, though apparently there may be some coating differences) (referred to as CV50)
15. Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f1.5 ZM (referred to as ZM50C)
16. Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f2 ZM (referred to as ZM50P)
17. Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 55mm f1.8 (newly announced with the a7/a7R)
18. Sony 28-70mm f3.5–5.6 OSS (newly announced with the a7/a7R)
19. Leica Summarit-M 90mm f2.5 (referred to as 90 Summarit)

Head over to TechTalk to see Ron's verdict and download sample files to play with.

Thanks Ron!

Sony A7r with Contax G 28mm Biogon

Some glamour shots of the new Sony A7r with a Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon lens from xitek.com forum contributors dabpes, robsiqi, and 四核八线程. The Carl Zeiss Contax G lenses are mounted using an E-mount lens adapter.

Pre-order your Sony Alpha A7r here.

How Big is the Sony A7r?

Sony A7 vs NEX-6 Size Comparison

Or should we say, how small are the new full frame mirrorless cameras from Sony?

Sony A99 vs A7 Size Comparison

Sony A7 Kit with 28-70mm lens

Sony A7R with Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar

Sony A7r Shutter Sound

Sony Alpha 7r Continuous Shooting Shutter Sound

What the Sony A7r sounds like at 4 frames per second.

Sony NEX E-mount Lens Roadmap 2013-2015

Sony NEX Lens Roadmap for 2013 and Beyond

Along with the introduction of the new full frame e-mount cameras, A7 and A7r, Sony updated the lens roadmap for 2013 and beyond. There are at least 15 full frame e-mount lenses coming by 2015. The first five lenses announced are

• Sont FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS SEL2870
• Kit Lens for the Sony A7 Bundle
• EFOV of 42-105mm on NEX APS-C cameras
  
• Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 FE Sonnar ZA SEL35F28Z $798
• EFOV of 52mm on NEX APS-C cameras
• Carl Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 FE Sonnar ZA SEL55F18Z $998
• EFOV of 82mm on NEX APS-C cameras
• Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f/4 FE Vario-Tessar ZA OSS SEL2470FZ $1198
• EFOV of 36-105mm on NEX APS-C cameras. As a NEX-7 user this is the most appealing one.
• Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS SEL70200G
• EFOV of 105-300mm on NEX APS-C cameras

The first four will be available this year, they are pictured below. The Sony G zoom will be the 1st of six for 2014 and at least five more lenses will be released in 2015. These lenses are compatible with all E-mount cameras include the NEX, VG Camcorders, and FS Camcorder which means Autofocus, auto-aperture, and image stabilization (lens dependent).

Sony A7r with the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar For Size Reference

Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar SEL35F28Z

Carl Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 Sonnar SEL55F18Z

Carl Zeiss FE 24-70mm f/4 Vario Tessar ZA OSS

Available E-mount Lenses from Sony and Zeiss

Sony ILCE-a7R Available for Pre-order

Sony Alpha 7 and 7r Official Video Release

Sony's new flagship camera for the E-mount system is now available for pre-order. The Sony Alpha ILCE-a7R is slated to ship on December 1st with a price tag of $2298. The a7r boasts a 24x36 mm senson able to produce 36.3 megapixel images. Similar to the Sony DSC-RX1R and the Leica M 240, the NEX-a7R lacks an anti-aliasing filter to provide a crisper image.

Follow the pre-order link and get your spot in line for the Sony ILCE-a7R.

We'll have more details to follow.

Full Frame Sony NEX-A7 and NEX-A7r?

Sony NEX-A7R with a Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar

Sony NEX-A7 with a Zeiss 24-70mm FE Lens

Sony RX1R and RX100 Mark II Q&A

RX1R vs RX100M II Size Comparison

Sony RX1R and RX100 Mark II Question and Answer Session

Sony and Amazon teamed up to gather question from google+, twitter, amazon, and the rest of the social media world to coincide with the release of the Sony RX1R and the RX100M II. Both can be pre-ordered from Amazon by clicking on their images below. Set aside an hour and learn more about the RX1R and RX100M II.

Sony RX1R Full Frame Compact Anti-Alias Filter Removed Camera

Sony RX100M II PocketSized Zoom NFC Enabled Camera

Fotodiox Vizelex RhinoCam for NEX Cameras

Sony NEX-5N with a Hasselblad 50mm Distagon via RhinoCam
Photo by PCMag"

The RhinoCam allows us to use NEX E-mount cameras with medium format lenses. The RhinoCam has lens adapters for Pentax 645, Mamiya 645, or Hasselblad V lenses. The NEX is mounted on a shift mount while the lens is fixed. The NEX is then shifted to cover the image circle projected by the medium format lens. Each image is then stitched by an imaging software.

Here's an in-depth video walk through of the RhinoCam.

Vizelex RhinoCam Quick Start Guide

Check out PCMag's review of the RhinoCam.

Click here for more information on the Vizelex RhinoCam at Fotodiox.com.

Sony RX1R Removes Anti-Alias Filter

Sony Cybershot RX1R Full Frame Sensor

Sony RX1R Hands On with Olivia

The Sony Cybershot RX1R, R = resolution, takes away the Sony RX1's optical low pass (anti-alias) filter to improve resolution. Other cameras that offer AA less cameras are Leica, Nikon, and Ricoh. The RX1R and RX1 will co-exist and share the same accessories.

Here is the Sony RX1R press release.

A new sister version of Sony’s acclaimed Cyber-shot™ RX1 full-frame compact camera satisfies the most critical photographer’s hunger for sharper, more detailed pictures.

Building on the awesome imaging power of the RX1, the RX1R takes pixel-perfect picture quality to new heights. The model’s ‘R’ suffix denotes a further improvement in the pocket-sized camera’s already spectacular resolution.

In common with many DSLR cameras, the original Cyber-shot™ RX1 features an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) in front of the sensor to suppress unwanted moiré and colour artefacts. The enthusiast-oriented RX1R removes this low-pass filter, guaranteeing flawless capture of fine details without any blurring or dispersion. To compensate for the OLPF’s removal, the camera’s processing functions have been optimised to maintain image sharpness without compromising lens/sensor performance*.

Bringing new levels of realism to landscapes and other finely-detailed subjects, the modified edition RX1R lets photo enthusiasts express their creativity with unprecedented clarity. While weight and dimensions remain the same as the ground-breaking RX1, the special edition RX1R adds other refinements to suit discerning photographers.

In addition, compatibility with TRILUMINOS Colour technology ensures even richer, more natural colours when viewing stills and video on the new generation of BRAVIA televisions featuring TRILUMINOS Display. Videographers can also add an optional stereo microphone, allowing Full HD movie soundtracks to be captured with even greater clarity.

Introduced in September 2012, the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX1 is world’s first compact fixed-lens camera with a 35mm full-frame 24.3 effective megapixel sensor. It’s already won several prestigious European accolades, including ‘Best Premium Camera’ in the 2013 Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) Awards. Read the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX1 press release (12 September 2012) here.

* Moire and/or colour artifacts may be visible in some photographic situations. Colour reproduction performance is the same as the RX1.

Sony RX1R and its fixed Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Sonnar

The Sony Cybershot RX1R is available for pre-order for $2798 and will be available on July 26.

NEX-7 with Contax 28mm Distagon via Speedbooster

Here are some sample shots from the NEX-7 and the Contax Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Distagon using the Metabones Speedbooster. It was great shooting the 28mm at close to its natural focal length. The lens was always set wide open at f/2.8 and the NEX-7 was at ISO 100. We are very pleased with the Speed Booster.

Sony DSC-RX100 II with Viewfinder Announced

Sony RX100 II with Accessory Tilting Viewfinder

The Sony DSC-RX100 II is an upgrade to the very popular RX100. The RX100 II gets more NEX like with an add on viewfinder and tilting rear lcd. Sony addressed the main complaints about the RX100 and added more features:

• Enhances the hugely popular RX100 with improved picture quality and convenient new features
• New 20.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R 1.0-type CMOS sensor boosts sensitivity for better low-light images
• Wi-Fi and easy One-touch smartphone connection with NFC
• Add accessories with Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal
• 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD tilts up or down
• Full HD 24p/25p movie for rich, cinematic video footage
• TRILUMINOS™ Colour for richer, more natural colours

The Sony DSC-RX100 II will be available next month with an MSRP of $750.

Sony DSC-RX100 II Specifications

Key specifications

Model	RX100 II
Image Sensor	1.0-type (13.2 x 8.8mm) Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with back illumination technology (Effective resolution) Approx. 20.2 megapixels (Gross resolution) Approx. 20.9 megapixels
Lens	Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*, with 7 elements in 6 groups (4 aspheric elements including AA lens); F1.8 (Wide) - 4.9 (Tele); focal length = 10.4-37.1mm; 35mm effective focal length (Still Image 3:2) = 28-100mm
Zoom range	Optical: 3.6x; Clear Image Zoom 7.2x
Screen	7.5cm (3.0-type) (4:3) / 1,229,000 dots / Xtra Fine TFT LCD; adjusts up 84° / down 45° (approx.)
Image stabilisation	(Still image) Optical SteadyShot (Movie) Optical SteadyShot Active Mode with electronic compensation (anti-rolling)
Focus modes	Single-shot AF (AF-S) / Continuous AF (AF-C) / Direct Manual Focus (DMF) / Manual Focus
Focus area	Multi point AF (25 points) / Centre weighted AF / Flexible spot / Flexible spot (tracking focus) / Flexible spot (face tracking)
Sensitivity (still image)	Auto (ISO160-12800, selectable with upper/lower limit), 160/200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800 (Expandable to ISO 100/125) Multi Frame NR: Auto(ISO160-25600),200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800/25600 NB: ISO25600 is achieved by using overlay burst shooting
Continuous shooting	Speed Priority Continuous Mode: Approx.10 fps Continuous mode: 2.5 fps (AF-S)
Shooting modes	Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, Program Auto (Program shift available), Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene Selection, Movie, Sweep shooting
Picture Effect modes	Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Posterisation, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Colour, High Contrast Monochrome, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolour, Illustration
Other Shooting functions	Face Detection, Face Registration, Smile Shutter, Dual Rec, Grid Line, Digital Level Gauge (pitch and roll), MR (memory recall), Exposure Bracketing, White Balance Bracketing, Peaking, MF Assist, Auto Framing, Photo Creativity, Shooting Tips
Movie record	AVCHD: 28M PS (1920x1080, 50p/60p) / 24M FX (1920x1080, 50i/60i, 24p/25p) / 17M FH (1920x1080, 50i/60i, 24p/25p) MP4: 12M (1440x1080, 25p/30p) / 3M VGA (640x480 25p/30p) *NTSC formats selectable as Setup menu option
Battery life	(Still Image) Approx. 350 / Approx. 175 min. (CIPA standard) (Movie) Approx. 80 min.( AVCHD, MP4, shooting in factory preset mode)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	Approx. 101.6 x 58.1 x 38.3mm (CIPA compliant)
Accessory terminals	Multi Terminal, Multi Interface Shoe
Weight	Approx. 254g (body only) Approx. 281g (with battery and Memory Stick Duo)
Supplied accessories	Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-BX1, Micro USB cable, Wrist Strap, Shoulder Strap Adaptor, Instruction Manual

Sony DSC-RX100 II Tilting Rear LCD Screen

Here's the Sony Press Release for the new DSC-RX100 II.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II from Sony puts even more shooting power in your pocket. Sleekly styled in strong, light aluminium, it’s a perfect travel partner for quality-conscious photographers who want DSLR-style images from a pocket camera with generous control options.

Building on the superb picture quality of the multi-award winning RX100, the new camera now delivers even better results if you’re shooting indoors or at dusk without a flash. The newly developed back-illuminated Exmor R™ 1.0-type CMOS sensor increases sensitivity while reducing picture noise in tricky low-light scenes. Combined with the exceptional f1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, you’ll see the difference with exceptionally crisp, natural stills and Full HD video in any shooting situation – from parties to night-time landscapes.

Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect the camera wirelessly with your smartphone and transfer photos or videos for easy sharing. It’s also the first ever camera from Sony with NFC (Near Field Communication), giving the extra convenience of One-touch connection with Android smartphones and tablets. There’s no set-up needed – simply touch your mobile device against the RX100 II and a wireless connection is made instantly. One-touch Remote even lets you trigger shutter release from your smartphone — great for group shots when you don’t want to be left out of the action.

The camera’s enthusiast appeal is further enhanced by a new Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal. Expand your photographic possibilities by attaching optional accessories – including an electronic viewfinder, powerful external flash and stereo microphone – via the versatile Multi Interface Shoe. The Multi Terminal also allows the addition of other options such as a shutter-release remote controller.

The bright, detail-packed 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD now tilts up and down[i], giving greater freedom to compose shots in comfort. Hold the camera high up to reach over crowds, or get down low and see things from the perspective of pets and children.

Compatibility with TRILUMINOS™ Colour technology ensures even richer, more natural colour reproduction with the new generation of BRAVIA televisions featuring TRILUMINOS™ Display.

Full HD video modes are expanded with the addition of 24p/25p shooting for smooth, cinematic movies. Other refinements include a step zoom function that’s accessible via the camera’s customisation menu. Instantly choose from five popular focal lengths using the control ring – 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm or 100mm: it’s an intuitive alternative to zooming in and out when you’re in a hurry.

The PlayMemories Mobile app has been updated to enable the one-touch capabilities of the RX100 II, and also now features an enhanced user interface. It is available now for free from the Google Play store for all Android smartphones.

Introduced in June 2012, the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX100 is world’s first compact fixed-lens camera with a 1.0-type 20.2 effective megapixel sensor. Read the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX100 press release (6 June, 2012) here.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II digital compact camera from Sony is available to pre-order from sony.co.uk/RX from today and is generally available in Europe from mid-July, 2013.

Sony DSC-RX100 II Review by Imaging Resource