Sony NEX LA-EA1 Alpha Lens Autofocus Videos

Here are first two videos showing us the NEX autofocusing a Sony Alpha 30mm f/2.8 Macro DT with SAM, Sony Alpha 18-55 DT SAM and a Sony Alpha 35mm f/1.8 DT with SAM via the LA-EA1 lens adapter. This is now possible with the new NEX Firmware Version 03.

The first video, with the SAL35F18, shows that it's not the fastest at locking focus but it's acceptable.

The 2nd video shows the SAL1855 focusing at an acceptable speed.

The 3rd video, with the SAL35F28 Macro, shows the worst of it hunting to lock focus. It may be because of the aperture and the available light but we can't be certain.

Check out our post with manual focus samples with the DT SAL30F28 Macro.

NEX-3 with LA-EA1 and Sony 35mm f/1.8 SAM Autofocus

NEX-5 with LA-EA1 and Sony 18-55 SAM Autofocus

NEX-5 with LA-EA1 and Sony 35mm f/2.8 Macro SAM Autofocus

Thanks hkdcfever, 78podoryand, and gocchin2009!

Official Sony NEX Firmware Version 03 Download

Vadim wrote us an email letting us know that the Sony NEX Firmware Version 03 is official through Sony Asia. The other regions should follow soon.

The links below inlcude instructions for upgrading the firmware of your Sony NEX. Read them carefully.

NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422174/product/nex-5k/modelfirst

NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422203/product/nex-5k/modelfirst

NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422175/productcategory/dslr+e+mount+camera/modelfirst

NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422177/productcategory/dslr+e+mount+camera/modelfirst

Thanks Vadim!

***Update*** here are the firmware ver 03 links and instructions from Sony Europe:
NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&f=FW_NEX5_V03_WIN&m=NEX-5

NEX-5 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&f=FW_NEX5_V03_MAC&m=NEX-5

NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Windows
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&f=FW_NEX3_V03_WIN&m=NEX-3

NEX-3 firmware Ver. 03 For Mac OSX
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&f=FW_NEX3_V03_MAC&m=NEX-3

LA-EA1 Lens Adapter firmware Ver. 02 For Windows
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_LAEA1_V02_WIN&site=odw_en_GB

LA-EA1 Lens Adapter firmware Ver. 02 For Mac OSX
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_LAEA1_V02_MAC&site=odw_en_GB

Here is a list of Sony SAM SSM lenses for the LA-EA1 Adapter.

Sony NEX Mac OSX Firmware Version 03

Here are the official NEX firmware version 03 download links.

Izhar is your new best friend if you own a Mac. Here are the Mac firmwares - use at your own risk.

The links are dead. Let's wait for the official Sony announcement.

Sony NEX-3 Firmware Version 03 for Mac OSX
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-3V3_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na

Sony NEX-5 Firmware Version 03 for Mac OSX
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-5V3_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na

Sony LA-EA1 Lens Adapter Firmware Version 02 for Mac OSX
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/LA-EA1V2_Update1010a.dmg?fm=na

Thanks Izhar!

Unofficial NEX Firmware Version 03 Available

Sony NEX Firmware Version 03 in Action

Fotoingo emailed us that the unofficial firmware version 03 for the Sony NEX is now available through the Sony website. These are unofficial and found by manipulating the Version 02 firmware's url. Use at your own risk.

Here are the official NEX firmware version 03 download links.

The links are dead. Let's wait for the official Sony announcement.

Unofficial Sony NEX-5 Firmware Version 03
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-5V3_Update1010a.exe?fm=na

Unofficial Sony NEX-3 Firmware Version 03
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/NEX-3V3_Update1010a.exe?fm=na

Unofficial Sony LA-EA1 Firmware Version 02
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/NEX/LA-EA1V2_Update1010a.exe?fm=na

Fotoingo is a brave soul and updated his NEX via the links above he states "I updated my Nex5 and everything is allright ! :-)"

We are not so brave so we will wait until it is officially announced and with proper instruction.

Thanks Fotoingo and SonyAlphaRumors!

Sony NEX-5 Underwater Video with Dicapac Case

Here's the video from Ant where he used the Sony NEX-5 in the Dicapac WP-H10 Waterproof Case while snorkling. Check out the size of the WP-H10 compared to the NEX in our previous post.

Sony NEX Leica 28mm Elmarit-R via Tilt Adapter

icie sent us an email sharing his images from his recent trip with the Sony NEX-5 and a Leica 28 f/2.8 Elmarit-R via a Kipon tilt adapter, which we posted about previously. Here is a quick review from icie on his experience using the NEX and a manual focus lens.

While the lens is not the best ever, most notably due to its chromatic aberration, it is pretty sharp wide open, and also the manual control over the aperture meant I could use the NEX-5’s handheld twilight mode stopped down at aperture values like f/8 (with the electronic lenses, the mode automatically sets it to the widest possible aperture, with no option to change it).

Overall, it was quite interesting to shoot a week with manual focus, and of course I missed a lot of shots since I was not used to it. However, it is a truly useful skill to develop, and i did enjoy the tactile control over the lens functions.

Here are some of his images:

Sony NEX-5 Kipon Tilt Adapter Leica 28mm Elmarit-R

You can see larger images at Pixels on Pireze.

Thanks icie!

Sony NEX with a Voigtlander 35mm Nokton

Here is another Nokton on the Sony NEX. This time it's the Cosina Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton (Leica M) mounted on the Sony E-mount. The lens seems almost designed for the NEX with it's compact body (1.12" / 28.5 mm), 35mm focal length (52mm equivalent), and large aperture at 1.4.

Here was our post on the CV 50mm f/1.1 Nokton on the NEX.

from latteblue



from chiif





from 808


Thanks latteblue, chiif, and 808!