slm
Formerly nextreme
Don't forget, those Zeiss lenses are AF, might account for the size...
Also, most (if not all ?) current Sony lenses are Minolta designs (which are fantastic imo). So don't let the branding deter them from your consideration.
Cheers
Steven
Disclaimer: I'm an avid Minolta Rokkor shooter (slr) + Minolta 7D/Sony A700 and Maxxum lenses for my digital side...
Also, most (if not all ?) current Sony lenses are Minolta designs (which are fantastic imo). So don't let the branding deter them from your consideration.
Cheers
Steven
Disclaimer: I'm an avid Minolta Rokkor shooter (slr) + Minolta 7D/Sony A700 and Maxxum lenses for my digital side...
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Photoshop. Wake me up when there's evidence of an actual camera.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Whole lotta goodness coming out of Japan this year. Good time to be a photo nerd.
Paddy C
Unused film collector
So are the Zeiss G lenses for the Contax. And they are small and light. Wonderful little things. Not as fast but, honestly, we don't need that fast on this camera. I see it purely as a selling/bragging point.
Let's wait to see the actual camera and lens in person before criticizing size. 
All we have is a rumor!
All we have is a rumor!
Phantomas
Well-known
Nonsense. Who is "we"? Au contraire, we need fast lenses (especially given the loss of shallow DOF with crop sensor) and having such lens has practical implication in my world, nothing to do with bragging.
And by the way, technology moves forward. Proper AF motors are much superior these days but unfortunatelly require more real estate. Yes, you can have compact AF motor and compromise on speed or you can use a top notch fast motor which are bigger, virtually silent. This particular lens looks to be aimed at higher end of the market, so they're doing right thing by not compromising on technology.
Notice that most lenses got substantially bigger in recent decenia. Do you think they make them like that coz it's fashionable?
And the Contax G lenses - once again, technology moved on. It would be even more scandalous if Zeiss put the same slow focusing motor that sound like a pig.
Last edited:
segedi
RFicianado
Haven't seen the camera yet, but most lenses look big on the NEX line, they are tiny!
And if all the rumours are true... this will be my NEXt purchase. And I'll be happy to have saved the $5000+ dollars compared to the M9.
Thardy
Veteran
How much will it cost? When available, and where do I find M mount adapters? I already know what to with this one especially if it has built in EVF!
efix
RF user by conviction
Wowzers! 3 million dot EVF? Holy cow! Makes my mouth wet ... Now if it can compete with the M8 in terms of IQ (i.e. sharpness, detail, colour rendition and dynamics) ...
Matthieu
Member
1. We don't know, rumors put the boday at 1200-1300$ or Euros.
2. Before the end of the year, but probably in limited supply (like the NEX-5 before it).
3. In stores or on eBay. I bought my Voigtländer-branded one in one of my local shop.
4. You're not alone in wanting that EVF!
The best news/rumour is that it will have much better performance with rangefinder lenses than the NEX-3 or 5. The C3 already show a great improvement, and the 7 may have micro offset lenses.
segedi
RFicianado
M-mount adapters. There are adapters aplenty, but you can always buy from the source of RFF (note the sticky in the NEX forum)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92721
I'm expecting it to compete with the X100, so $1400-$1700 seems about right. More than twice the NEX-5 price, but having the same sensor as the alpha line... If it's less, say $1000 now that would be great! And I'm hoping for better IQ than an M8/9 - one can dream. The video functionality will be a bonus.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92721
I'm expecting it to compete with the X100, so $1400-$1700 seems about right. More than twice the NEX-5 price, but having the same sensor as the alpha line... If it's less, say $1000 now that would be great! And I'm hoping for better IQ than an M8/9 - one can dream. The video functionality will be a bonus.
Jeez, imagine if they made a full frame version...
Matthieu
Member
Well, if the C3's performance is any indication, I would hardly be surprised if the M10 sports a Sony sensor.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Looks like it will be a NEX 7 vs Fuji X100. Having interchagable lenses makes it for me with the NEX 7. Here is an early hands on:
“I can tell you though that the NEX-7 feels good in the hand. I only got to use the camera for about a minute but the EVF is superb. It reminds me of what it’s like looking at an iPhone retina display. You simply can’t see the pixels because they are so small. I didn’t see any rainbow effects and the refresh rate was super fast. There is still a tiny bit of lag when panning but it’s much improved. I tested it inside a somewhat dark restaurant, performance may be better in good lighting. Autofocus with the 24mm is very fast. It seems its almost as fast as the m43rd’s cameras. Maybe just a tiny bit slower but the important thing is that for single autofocus is as fast as anybody would practically need it to be.
About the Zeiss lens: I’m told Sony spent a lot of time and effort trying to not make the lens too big without compromising quality. I haven’t seen image quality first hand but I’m told its typical zeiss quality. Beautiful colors and a high amount of natural contrast.
The Nex-7 is also going to be expensive because it has a customized sensor. Sony, I’m told, has struggled a bit with getting good corners because of the short registration distance. Sony originally planned for the NEX to be marketed at consumers and didn’t realize it would be a hit with enthusiast too. To combat the short registration distance, they put in some micro offset lenses. All lenses will benefit from this, including legacy glass so people will see improved performance with their rangefinder lenses.
The one real surprising news I can share with you is that the 24mm zeiss has a leaf shutter! I was very surprised to find this out but Sony is going to market this as the modern day rangefinder for street photography. I was told they are filming a commercial showing the evolution of the rangefinder into the NEX-7. It will be posted online in the coming months. It won’t be on tv because Sony doesn’t expect the average consumer to buy this camera, they believe the 3 and 5 series is for them.
I was told that the 3million dot evf will make manual focusing a bit better as well.
I had my X100 with me and I can tell you that the X100 vs NEX-7+24mm Zeiss is going to be a tremendous fight. The NEX is quieter than the X100 because you can hear the servo motor on the X100 while the Zeiss motor is dead silent.
You should tell your readers to hold off on buying the X100. I’m seriously contemplating selling my X100. I still prefer the OVF to the NEX EVF but overallt he NEX seems super impressive. The NEX-7 still has the same tilt screen which is useful for shooting from the hip.”
“I can tell you though that the NEX-7 feels good in the hand. I only got to use the camera for about a minute but the EVF is superb. It reminds me of what it’s like looking at an iPhone retina display. You simply can’t see the pixels because they are so small. I didn’t see any rainbow effects and the refresh rate was super fast. There is still a tiny bit of lag when panning but it’s much improved. I tested it inside a somewhat dark restaurant, performance may be better in good lighting. Autofocus with the 24mm is very fast. It seems its almost as fast as the m43rd’s cameras. Maybe just a tiny bit slower but the important thing is that for single autofocus is as fast as anybody would practically need it to be.
About the Zeiss lens: I’m told Sony spent a lot of time and effort trying to not make the lens too big without compromising quality. I haven’t seen image quality first hand but I’m told its typical zeiss quality. Beautiful colors and a high amount of natural contrast.
The Nex-7 is also going to be expensive because it has a customized sensor. Sony, I’m told, has struggled a bit with getting good corners because of the short registration distance. Sony originally planned for the NEX to be marketed at consumers and didn’t realize it would be a hit with enthusiast too. To combat the short registration distance, they put in some micro offset lenses. All lenses will benefit from this, including legacy glass so people will see improved performance with their rangefinder lenses.
The one real surprising news I can share with you is that the 24mm zeiss has a leaf shutter! I was very surprised to find this out but Sony is going to market this as the modern day rangefinder for street photography. I was told they are filming a commercial showing the evolution of the rangefinder into the NEX-7. It will be posted online in the coming months. It won’t be on tv because Sony doesn’t expect the average consumer to buy this camera, they believe the 3 and 5 series is for them.
I was told that the 3million dot evf will make manual focusing a bit better as well.
I had my X100 with me and I can tell you that the X100 vs NEX-7+24mm Zeiss is going to be a tremendous fight. The NEX is quieter than the X100 because you can hear the servo motor on the X100 while the Zeiss motor is dead silent.
You should tell your readers to hold off on buying the X100. I’m seriously contemplating selling my X100. I still prefer the OVF to the NEX EVF but overallt he NEX seems super impressive. The NEX-7 still has the same tilt screen which is useful for shooting from the hip.”
Paddy C
Unused film collector
This is interesting. My guess when I saw the first Nex image samples in reviews was that the registration distance might be an obstacle. I actually wondered whether it would be possible to overcome it. I'm truly surprised that Sony has taken this route. Didn't think they had it in them. Might be tempting.
Dr Gaspar
Established
I'm exited about it, really exited actually.
But even tho I'm loving all this new stuff that the NEX-7 is bringing to the table, I just fear that the price might be a little too high.
I mean you can buy a NEX-3 or NEX-5, with no lens, for around 400 dollars (I've seen a brand new nex-3 with no lens go for 250$). That's an amazing price for a really nice camera. But going over the 1200... it's just a little too much, at least for me.
I know most people don't care and will still pay for it, but I was looking for an improved model, and a modest price.
But even tho I'm loving all this new stuff that the NEX-7 is bringing to the table, I just fear that the price might be a little too high.
I mean you can buy a NEX-3 or NEX-5, with no lens, for around 400 dollars (I've seen a brand new nex-3 with no lens go for 250$). That's an amazing price for a really nice camera. But going over the 1200... it's just a little too much, at least for me.
I know most people don't care and will still pay for it, but I was looking for an improved model, and a modest price.
Charlie
Established
I'm liking my Oly EP-2, but a built-in viewfinder could make me me jump to Sony.
slm
Formerly nextreme
I'm thinking I won't have a choice but to buy one of these:
My nickname on RFF looks like a play on the name (but it actually refers to NeXT)
My nickname on RFF looks like a play on the name (but it actually refers to NeXT)
Paddy C
Unused film collector
There is a new version of the Nex 5 coming with with the ability to add an EVF using the hot shoe (similar to 4/3rds).
I think with the Nex 7, Sony has everyone interested in the system covered.
segedi
RFicianado
Hopefully they won't release a snazzy ad campaign months before it goes on the market and have massive delays with order fulfillment
And I'm really hoping the earth doesn't start shakin'