NEX Canon Lens Autofocus Adapters Coming?

Canon 50mm EOS Lens on Sony NEX-7 with Autofocus

Here is a second video showing a NEX camera controlling the autofocus drive of a Canon EOS / EF lens. The lens used was the Nifty Fifty, Canon 50mm f/1.8 on a Sony NEX-5 and a NEX-7.

The new NEX-5R with a hybrid autofocus system (Phase Detection and Contrast Detection designed for speed and accuracy) should improve the autofocus speed shown in the video. Canon's EOS-M mirrorless compact camera uses the same hybrid autofocus system.

Our assumption was wrong - the Canon stepper motor (STM) lens is not necessary for the NEX to control the Canon autofocus drive. The Canon EOS to NEX adapter with AF drive shown can control a standard EOS lens. The Canon EOS-M requires an EOS M Mount adapter to drive the same lens.

If you have Canon EOS lenses and want a light, compact camera to use them on - this seems to be the best option so far.

Canon 50mm EOS Lens on Sony NEX Autofocus Drive from MX Camera

It's only a matter of time when these Canon EOS to NEX E-mount AF Drive adapters show up for sale online. Thanks MX Camera!

Here is the first video.

Sony RX1 with Zeiss 35mm Sonnar - a NEX?

Sony RX1 with Zeiss 35mm f/2 Sonnar Lens

Sony has set the digital camera world abuzz with leaks of the Sony RX1. The RX1 uses the full frame, 24 x 34 mm, 24 megapixel sensor from the soon to be released Sony SLT-A99 camera. The pictures show that Zeiss developed an autofocus 35mm f/2 Sonnar lens for the RX1.

Is it a fixed lens camera? Zeiss will display three new prime autofocus CSC lenses later this month at Photokina. Could they be for the RX1? A 35mm, shown above? a 50mm standard? and a 90mm macro?

The speculated price for the RX1 with the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar is $2799. This is line with Sony's pricing since the NEX-7 with the Zeiss 24mm Sonnar is $2300.

RX1 with Built-in Pop-up Flash

RX1 showing Video Button

Below is a quick mock-up of the Sony NEX-7 with the Zeiss 24mm ZA ($2300), a Leica M9 with a 35mm Summicron ($9700), and the Sony RX1 with the Zeiss 35mm Sonnar ($2799).

Sony NEX-7 with 24mm Sonnar, Leica M9 with 35mm Summicron, Sony RX1 with 35mm Sonnar

What do you think about the Sony DSC-RX1? Would you buy a 35mm fixed lens full frame camera? Would you wait for the eventual Interchangeable Lens version?

Canon EOS Autofocus on Sony NEX?

Canon 40mm STM Activates NEX Autofocus Points

Here is a video from Muk Camera Service showing a Canon EOS 40mm STM lens on the NEX-5. The EOS to NEX E-mount adapter seems to allow for autofocus, which is a first.

The previous EOS to Nex smart adapter by Conurus can only control the aperture on EOS lenses. The EOS lenses must be focused manually.

Could the stepper motor, STM, in the Canon 40mm lens aid in allowing NEX cameras control autofocus? We do not have any details except for the video below.

Canon 40mm STM autofocus on NEX-5

Three New Zeiss E-mount Lenses by Next Year?

Carl Zeiss Photokina Booth 2012

It looks to be an exciting time at Photokina in Cologne, Germany this year. Carl Zeiss may be exhibiting three new E-mount lenses which will be available next year. The new prime lenses will be autofocus similar to first Zeiss lens for the Sony E-mount, 24mm f/1.8 ZA E. Zeiss will exhibit a wide angle lens (16mm), a standard lens (35mm), and a macro lens (60mm); the focal lengths are our guesses.

Here is the excerpt from the Carl Zeiss blog that has everyone excited.

Another highlight will be the presentation of a design study, with which Carl Zeiss will offer a sneak preview of a new family of autofocus lenses for mirrorless system cameras (CSC) that will most likely be available in mid-2013. Due to their performance and high speed, these new lenses will be ideal for deliberate photo composition, making them perfect for more sophisticated photographers as well. Carl Zeiss plans to initially offer fixed focal lengths in the wide angle and standard range as well as a macro. "The trend toward mirrorless system cameras has accelerated since 2010 and we notice growing interest for them among ambitious photographers. We are convinced that as a result of the new and very high-quality cameras and lenses that are coming onto the scene, this market will become even more important. We see lots of potential, which is why we will offer more products for this target group in the future,” said Dr. Winfried Scherle, Senior Vice President of the Camera Lens Division of Carl Zeiss AG.

First Carl Zeiss E-mount Lens, the Fast Perfectionist.

Sony NEX-5R vs Fujifilm X-E1

Sony NEX-5R vs Fujifilm X-E1 (front view)

Fujifilm announced their new X sersies camera dubbed the X-E1. It shares the same 16.3 mp sensor with the Fujifilm X-Pro1. The X-E1 is a smaller, lighter X-Pro1 without the hybrid viewfinder. The X-E1 only uses the electronic viewfinder from Sony.

Let's see how the Fujifilm X-E1 compares to Sony's new WIFI wonder, the NEX-5R.

Combatants	Sony Alpha NEX-5R	Fujifilm X-E1
Number of effective pixels	16.1 million pixels	16.3 million pixels
CCD Sensor	APS-C CMOS Sensor 23.5 x 15.6 mm	APS-C X-Trans CMOS Sensor 23.6 x 15.6 mm
Crop Factor	1.5x (50mm lens = 75mm FOV)	1.5x
ISO Range	100 - 25600	200-25600
Lens Mount	Sony NEX E-mount	Fujifilm X Mount
Flange Focal Distance	18 mm	17.7 mm
Focusing	25 Point Contrast Detect AF 99 Point Phase Detect AF and Manual Focus	49 Point Contrast Detect AF and Manual Focus
Image Stabilization	In Lens - OSS (Optical Steady Shot)	In Lens - OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
Shutter Speed	30s to 1/4000 with Bulb Mode	30s to 1/4000 with Bulb Mode
Continuous Shooting Speed	10 frames per sec.	6 fps
LCD	Tiltable 3" Diagonal 921,600 Pixels Touchscreen	Fixed 2.8" Diagonal 460,000 Pixels
Viewfinder	Accessory Electronic OLED 2.4M dot	Electronic Viewfinder 2.36M dot (from Sony)
Video Capability	1920 x 1080 / 60p-24p AVCHD and MPEG4	1920 x 1080 / 24p H.264
Dimensions	4 3/8x 2 3/8 x 1 9/16 in. (110.8 x 58.8 x 38.9 mm)	5.08 x 2.95 x 1.5 in. (129 x 75 x 38 mm)
Weight	9.7 oz (276 g)	12.35 oz (350 g)
Battery Life (CIPA)	330 Shots per charge	350
Price	$748.00 with 18-55 OSS Lens	$1399.95 with 18-55mm Lens

Sony NEX-5R vs Fujifilm X-E1 (rear view)

Sony NEX-5R with Titltable Touchscreen

NEX-5R Smart Remote Control App in Action

NEX-5R Smart Remote Control App in Action from IDG

Use your tablet or phone as a viewfinder.

Here is a better look at the Smart Remote Control App for the new Sony NEX-5R. The app is available via the PlayMemories App store for the NEX-5R. The matching app will be available on iTunes and the Android Market for your phone or tablet.

NEX-5R PlayMemories Camera Apps Demo Video

NEX-5R PlayMemories Interface

PlayMemories Camera Apps Demo Video

So how does the PlayMemories Apps work on the Sony NEX-5R? Here is a video from Sony Australia showing the whole procedure from connecting to the PlayMemories store via WiFi, selecting a new PM App, downloading wirelessly, and installing the PM App on the NEX-5R.

Installing PlayMemories App on NEX-5R

Here are the PlayMemories Apps that we already need:

• Time Lapse - no need for an intervalometer, separate units from Canon and Nikon are over $100.
• Smart Remote Control - view what the camera sees from your phone or tablet and control the shutter.
• Bracket Pro - for the HDR (high dynamic range) junkies. Let's hope it allows for +3 / -3 EV range in multiple steps.

We hope that all the apps are available in all shooting modes. I can already see all the HDR time lapse movies coming from the NEX-5R with PlayMemories Apps.

NEX-5R Time Lapse Mode via PlayMemories App

Smart Remote Control for Wireless External Display

Check out the PlayMemories Camera Apps teaser site at www.sony.net/pmca.

The camera app is nothing new. Here are Minolta Expansion Cards first introduced in 1989 with the release of the Minolta Maxxum / Dynax / Alpha 5000i.

Camera Apps by Minolta from Grooved Ware People, on Flickr.

Pre order the NEX-5R at Amazon.