New Sony NEC-C3, NEX flash and 30mm macro announced!

This page gets continually updated! Keep checking for news (latest added news on top of each category).

You can already preorder the new stuff!

Sony NEX-C3 BLACK at Amazon (Click here).
Sony NEX-C3 SILVER at Amazon (Click here).
Sony NEX-C3 PINK at Amazon (Click here).
Sony 30mm macro at Amazon (Click here).

Previews

Sony NEX-C3: toma de contacto (Quesabesde).
NEX-C3 First look at Amateur Photgrapher.
Full NEX-C3 review at Focus Numerique (Click here ot read the google english translation).
First look on Photoreview.
HOT: Sony NEX-C3 preview at DPreview.

Image samples

NEX-C3 image samples at Dpreview, Focus Numerique (ISO comparison with the Panasonic G3 and Olympus E-PL2), Imaging Resource (Studio test).

Highlights

HOT: Sony officially announced that the new NEX-3/5 firmware will come on June 20th!
“A firmware upgrade (Version 4) adds the new ‘Picture Effect’ function to existing NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras. It also adds a Peaking function to assist with more precise manual focusing. This upgrade will be available June 20thand can be downloaded from: (www.esupport.sony.com). “
See the picture effects at Dpreview.
NEX-C3 ships in late July or August, and will be offered with those familiar 18-55mm and 16mm kit lenses for $649 and $599, respectively. Bodies paired with the zoom will be available in black, pink, and silver, while the camera in the fixed-lens kit will only ship in black.
There’s also a new 30mm f/3.5 macro lens ($249, October) and a larger external flash ($149, August) for the NEX series
Sony says the new NEX-C3 cam is designed to fill the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and is the smallest body to pack an APS-C sensor.
Price in Europe: NEX-C3 + 16mm for 580 €. With 18-55 mm for 630 €. Double kit for 730 €
The flash costs 150 Euro.

Links to Press release

NEX-C3, A35 and macro lens at Photoscala.
Sony NEX-C3, 30mm Macro Lens & F20S Flash Announced (Photographybay).
NEX-C3 article on Amateur Photographer.
Article on Engadget.
Sony NEX-C3 at Imaging Resource.
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 : fiche technique (Alpha Numerique).
HVL-F20S pour NEX : et le flash devient accessoire pour 150 euros (Focus Numerique)

Youtube-Vimeo

Japanese NEX-C3 commercial (Youtube).
Hands-on video on CNET.
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Hands-On Preview (Youtube).
Sony Nex C3 Alfa 35 primi scatti test (Youtube).

Samsung NX20, NX200 and 85mm f/1.4 to be released in July (BH has the lens for $999)


Our sources confirmed that Samsung will announce the new NX20 and NX200 cameras plus the new 85mm f/1.4 lens in July. We hope to get the exact release date as soon as possible. Meanwhile a korean photographer posted that image on the SLRgear forum. It shows the upcoming 85mm f/1.4 lens. The photographer spoke with the person you can see on the image. The tester said the ultrasonic AF is very fast and the lens has no chromatic aberration. That’s not a lot of info but I am sure the lens will deliver a very high image quality. It’s certainly one of those key lenses that other mirrorless systems like m43 and NEX cannot offer yet. Panasonic, Olympus and Sony, are you listening?

UPDATE: The lens will cost $999. You can already see it at BHphoto (Click here).

UPDATE: More info via dpreview forum:
1. It seems to have SSA motor and the AF is very fast. The speed is similar with Olympus E-3 + 14-54mm under daylight. It seems to be slightly slower then 12-60mm lens.
2. I couldn’t see any chromatic aberration in the display with max. magnification.
3. The price of the lens is TBD. It will be released around July or August. He came to the show for the final test.
4. He said he is a Canon user, but he will move to NX because he likes 85mm/f1.4 results.
5. NX 60mm macro seems to be simply Olympus 50mm Macro + SSA motor. NX 60mm macro IQ looks similar with 50mm Macro on main display with max. magnification.

Double leak: Panasonic GF3 and Sony 30mm macro for NEX!

It looks like companies deliberately wants to create leaks to get some free publicity! A Panasonic commercial posted on youtube shows the new Panasonic GF3 which will be announced on June 13th. Sony is even more clamorous. They are already officially accepting preorders of the new 30mm macro lens for NEX before the official announcement! Check here: https://shop.sony.fr/shop/Reflex-numerique/Macro/SEL30M35.AE. The new macro lens and the NEX-C3 should be announced on Wednesday June 8th.

Now let’s hope we can soon see some Olympus and Samsung leaks too!

Holga mirrorless system Open Source project (We like it!).

Saikat Biswas designed that nice Holga D mirrorless system camera. it’s just a concept not a REAL camera. Saikat says: “The biggest ‘feature’ of the Holga D is lack of features! It has absolute bare minimum feature set that you need for unobtrusive photography.“

And the cool thing is that Saikat plans to realize that camera by creating an open source platform! Find out more detail about the proposal of Open-source camera platform here. To realize the project you must it would be great if you could spread the word and pull in people who you think would be able to contribute to the development of Holga D!!!

I really think the idea is amazing. That is something big companies should have done before, create an open source camera! Thanks Saikat for that project! We will keep an eye on you! :)

New Mirrorless camera roadmap (based on rumors)

Here is the updated rumors roadmap. Unlike previous rumors the Sony NEX-C3 will not be announced today but instead it will come next Wednesday (June 8). Our sources confirmed a the Panasonic press release for June 13 and the Olympus press release for June 30. There is still no confirmation for the Sony NEX-7 announcement in July. I hope there will be no other delay from Sony! Confirmed is the NX20 and NX200 announcement for July. There is no fixed date yet! New entry is the Pentax Q for August and the Panasonic pro GF camera for end of August/early September. We don’t know when Nikon will announce their CoolPix Pro system. No rumor at all is coming from Canon (what are they doing???).

Will keep you updated if there is any chance. Bye!

Pentax Q mirrorless camera to be launched in August?

Photorumors posted the specs of the Pentax Q mirrorless camera. Unlike the NC mirrorless system which is supposed to use a small sensor the Q system will be based on APS-C sensors. The rumored specs are:
12MP backlit sensor
HD movie recording (720p)
RAW capabilities
Available in tow color: black and white
Vary small and compact in size
Price around 700 EUR
Several lenses will be announced including a fisheye lens