Sony Alpha NEX Cameras and E Mount Lenses

The unicorns have arrived at the Sony Style store. The Sony NEX Body Cap, part number ALC-B1EM, and the Rear Lens Cap, part number ALC-R1EM, are now available at Sony Style . These are necessary if you are using lens adapters since those do not come with any caps. Hopefully the Sony NEX-3, NEX-5, and NEX-VG10 kits will have both caps included in the box. Of course you can also search on eBay for third party Sony NEX E-mount caps.

Here is some footage that Steve N shot with his NEX-VG10 and the Sigma 50-500mm ultra zoom lens aka Bigma. The Bigma used is a Nikon mount so it does have an aperture ring but focusing is all done manually. Steve points out: ...Sony hasn't equipped the VG10 with focus confirmation or focus assist: there is no peaking or image enlargement which would help immensely when working with MF lenses...perhaps a firmware update can address this! Sony stated at Photokina that they will be working with third party lens makers so we can expect focus confirmation, and aperture control on adapted lenses. Sony NEX-VG10 with a Sigma 50-500mm Zoom aka Bigma Click here for more pictures of the combination above.

Here are Steve N's pictures of his Sony NEX-VG10 , a Nikon F mount to Sony E-mount lens adapter, and a Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO Ultra Telephoto, aka the Bigma . This would give an equivalent of 90mm to 900mm zoom lens on the NEX-VG10 with it's 1.8x crop factor. We'll post videos soon... Check out Steve N's work !

Davide C. emailed us to show how to use the Sony NEX-5 's 7 frames per second burst shooting mode. He set the Drive Mode of the NEX-5 to Speed Priority Continuous and used Photoshops "load into stack" function to finish the image. The lens used was the Sony E-mount 16mm f/2.8 pancake - a guess from the EXIF. He mentioned that the NEX-5 buffer fills up after 15 large JPEG shots, we were wondering if using a faster card like the Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX would be a remedy. The shots turned out very well even with this minor setback. This is what the shutter looks like at 7 frames per second burst . Check out more of Davide C.'s photos .

Sony NEX-VG10 Camcorder with LA-EA1 Lens Adapter and Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f/2.8 Sony released the Firmware Version 02 update for the NEX-VG10 Camcorder . This update allows the NEX-VG10 to autofocus Sony SSM and SAM lenses via the LA-EA1 lens adapter . The LA-EA1 lens adapter has to be updated to firmware version 02 as well. Use the links below to get the US versions of the firmware and instructions of how to perform the update. Please make sure you use the correct firmware and read the instructions carefully. Microsoft Windows NEX-VG10 Firmware Version 02 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=NEXVG10&upd_id=6231&os_id=45 Microsoft Windows LA-EA1 Firmware Version 02 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=LAEA1&upd_id=6248&os_id=7 Macintosh OS NEX-VG10 Firmware Version 02 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=NEXVG10&upd_id=6243&os_id=50 Macintosh OS LA-EA1 Firmware Version 02 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-dow

Sony NEX-5 Time Lapse Video using gentLED Auto Intervalometer by xironmonkyx Here is another intervalometer for the Sony NEX-5 for creating time lapse videos. It is a gentLED Auto infrared trigger. Here are the main features of the gentLED Auto: Variable delay from 2 seconds to 30 minutes Built-in on-off switch and battery (included with unit) RED LED indicator when the unit has triggered the camera Weighs only 0.6oz, 18g (including battery) Comes complete with velcro pads, and Operating Manual - all you need to take picture Here is the operating manual for the gentLED auto . Check out Gentles Limited for more info on the gentLED auto . Unfortunately the NEX-3 does not have an IR receiver.

The newest NEX in development is the NXCAM Camcorder. It uses the same E-mount as the NEX-3, NEX-5 cameras, and NEX-VG10 camcorder but it has a slightly larger sensor. The CMOS sensor in the NXCAM is a Super 35 format which is 0.980 x 0.735 in (24.89 x 18.66 mm). The current Sony NEX sensor dimension is 0.92 x 0.61 in. (23.4 x 15.6 mm). The NXCAM will shoot AVCHD at 1080p at 60p/30p/24p and 50p/25p. Since NXCAM uses the same lens mount as the other NEX cameras we can expect more lenses to be in development. Sony NXCAM Camcorder with E-mount Lenses Here is the official Sony NXCAM HD press release from Sony EU: NXCAM HD camcorder under development, featuring E-mount lens system 17 November 2010 Sony to expand 35mm large format sensor camcorder lineup Sony Corporation announced today that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. This new addition to Sony’s professiona

Sony NEX-5 with Hasselblad XPan 90mm f/4 lens If you are lucky enough to own a Hasselblad XPan or a Fuji TX system, you can now use those lenses on the NEX E-mount camera system with a new lens adapter . The XPan or TX lenses come in 30mm f/4, 45mm f/4, and 90mm f/4 focal lengths, which translated to 15mm, 24.5mm, and 45mm on the XPan / TX in panorama mode. These would be 45mm, 67.5mm, and 135mm equivalent on the Sony NEX 's APS-C sensor. Hasselblad XPan System Photo by By Matthew Joseph aka Fotodudenz

NEX-5 Auto-HDR Panorama with Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Check out the VR version . Check out these amazing panoramas by G. Kemp using a Sony NEX-5 and a Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 G ED Fisheye lens . He uses the NEX-5's Auto-HDR feature for each shot then stitches them together with editing software. A Nikon G to Sony E-mount lens adapter is used to the lens on the NEX-5. Check out more photos from G Kemp !

hel1x sent us info on his "do it yourself" intervalometer for the Sony NEX-5 using a generic wireless infrared remote . He was trying to decipher the switch-science intervalometer website but decided that he can build his own time lapse controller for the NEX-5. The circuit controls when the shutter button is depressed, by shorting the connection. The interval can be between 6-14 seconds. Here are some pictures of his device. This also works for other Sony Alpha cameras not just the NEX. Generic Remote for the NEX-5 Thanks hel1x! Maybe he can send us the wiring diagram? :D

Sony NEX-5 Dual Lens Kit Box You can now save some tax money by buying the Sony NEX-5 Dual Lens Kit from Amazon . The kit comes with the NEX-5, 16mm pancake lens, 18-55mm OSS lens, rear lens cap, lens hood, flash, battery, charger and strap. The total comes to $799 which comes with free shipping and since it's Amazon, sales tax will not be charged. That is $150 less than buying the single lens kit and the 2nd lens separately. Photo from NEX-5 unboxing by Alpha Mark .

Sony NEX-5 with Leica APO Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 If you want an easy to handle 600mm equivalent focal length camera setup try the Leica APO Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 with the Sony NEX-5 since the lens actually has a handle. A lens adapter is used from the Leica-R lens mount to the Sony's E-mount. Also to ensure you can hear the birds in the video try the ECM-SST1 Compact Stereo Microphone for the NEX. Thanks Khun K !

Sony NEX-5 with the Panasonic 14-45 micro 4/3 lens Here's a new adapter for the Sony NEX E-mount. It's the micro 4/3 lens adapter for the Sony NEX cameras . We are not sure if the image circle will cover the larger APS-C sensor found in the NEX. Unfortunately the eBay listing does not provide sample photos. Now lets imagine that it does provide a large enough image for the NEX - wouldn't you want to use the new Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 Nokton on the NEX for a low light 37.5mm equivalent lens? Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 Nokton micro 4/3 mount

Sony NEX-5 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Size Comparison Panasonic repackaged the old Lumix DMC-GF1 (µ) micro 4/3 sensor into a new smaller body and will sell it as the new Lumix DMC-GF2 in January 2011. Let's see how the GF2 stacks up against the Sony NEX-5 . Combatants Sony Alpha NEX-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Number of effective pixels 14.2 million pixels 12.1 million pixels CCD Sensor 23.6 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS Sensor 17.3 mm x 13 mm Panasonic N-Mos sensor ISO Range 200 - 12800 100-6400 Lens Sony E-mount with Interchangeable lenses (µ) micro 4/3 Lens Mount with Interchangeable Lenses Image Stabilization In Lens In Lens Shutter Speed 30s to 1/4000 with Bulb Mode 60s to 1/4000 with B and T modes Continuous Shooting Speed 7 frames per sec. 3.2 frames per sec. LCD Tiltable 3" Diagonal 921,600 Pixels 16:9 ratio 3" Diagonal with touch panel 460,000 Pixels 3:2 ratio Electronic Viewfinder Not yet, come on Sony! Optional EVF Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 / 60i 1920 x 1080 / 60i D

Most of these NEX E-mount lens adapters are available from Amazon . Thanks daviddkilpatrick !