Hands-On Camera Test: New Glass for the Sony Alpha 7 and 7R; Preview of the Sony RX10

November 4, 2013

By Laura Brauer

We recently posted John Rettie’s in-depth preview of Sony’s Alpha 7 and Alpha 7R cameras, which are getting a lot of hype as the new face of DSLR: Mirrorless cameras with full-frame sensors.

PDN, our sister publication, also posted an excellent preview of the cameras outfitted with new lenses. Theano Nikitas (our Tech Tuesday contributor) gives us her take on three new lenses available for the mirrorless cameras: the Zeiss E-mount, FE 55mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/2.8 primes; and the prototype Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 (via the LA-EA3 adapter). She says of the two prime lenses: “They are small and light, so they fit well on the A7 and A7R. I really liked both lenses, although the 35mm seems to be a little sharper than the 55mm. However, that 55mm is no slouch when it comes to sharpness, even with images examined on the computer at 100%.”

Nikitas also presents the new Sony RX10, “the 20-megapixel RX10 superzoom ‘bridge’ camera,” which she recently tested on a trip with Sony to Nashville. Says Nikitas, “[Sony rx10] is outfitted with a solid range of features and impressive under-the hood specs including the same 1-inch sensor as the well-reviewed RX100 II compact camera. The RX10’s 24-200mm Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens isn’t the longest megazoom on the market but that’s almost secondary because it boasts an impressive f/2.8 constant aperture.” Read the rest of her in-depth preview here.

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