Now available: The new Meike A7 grip at Amazon US.

The last 24 hours we had many A7 related news! So here they are:

1) Sony launched a new PRO service in USA. more about it at Sony.com/PROServices
2) There is a first review of the Fotodiox Though E-mount replacement at Photoclubalpha. You can buy the mount at Amazon US.
3) There is a new A7/s/r vertical grip by Meike you can buy now at Alibabaexpress (Click here) and Amazon US (Click here).
4) Minor A7-A7r firmware update (SAR).
5) And a fake (but very nice) rumor: Zeiss Ikon E-mount at SonyAlpharumors.

Like you see Sony is really pushing hard on the FE system!

The Fuji interview video

Dpreview posted a great set of video interviews with Camera Company managers:

Interview with Fujifilm’s Justin Stailey
Interview with Canon’s Chuck Westfall
Interview with Nikon’s Steve Heiner
Interview with Olympus’s Ray Acevedo
Interview with Panasonic’s Matt Frazer
Interview Ricoh’s John Carlson (Pentax)
Interview Samsung’s Jay Kelbley
Interview Sigma’s Jared Ivy
Interview Sony’s Kenta Honjo
Interview with Lytro’s Ariel Braunstein

Your really can feel that Mirrorlesss is the great word on the mouth of those companies. I think 2015 will be far more exciting than 2014. And probably Nikon and Canon will finally “get serious” on mirrorless too!

DSLRmagazine (google translation here) posted an interesting Interview with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. Those are some of the interesting answers:

– We are checking the cine lens market and if there is a place for us there.
– We are studying to possibility to make a Full Frame f/1.8 zoom just like the 18-35mm f/1.8 APS-C lens. The issue here is to keep the size reasonable
– We are sure mirrorless will growth and we will expand our presence there
– I’ts a bit more difficult to make ART lenses for the Sony FE system because of the not so large diameter of the mount. We don’t know why Sony did this. Likely because the E-mount was meant for APS-C first and only after that they did use it for FF too.
– We are aware that Canon and Sony are working on a similar “foveon” technology
– Our current APS-C sensor match the medium format sensor quality. And it would not be a problem for us to make even larger (medium format) Foveon sensors. But the medium format market is shrinking…
– If we do a mirrorless system camera than we have to be sure to be able to support that system in future
– yes we have other companies interested in using our Foveon sensor.
– we expect companies to announce PRO stuff at CP+ in February

Very interesting as usual. Sigma and CEO Kazuto Yamaki are really a nice small family company and I wish them to keep having success in future!!!

ZY Optics announced that thee new Mitakon 42.5mm f/1.2 & 24mm f/1.7 Micro Four Thirds lenses will ship from next week. They also said that:

Due to the production issue, ZY optics decides to postpone the release the Sony E mount & Fuji X mount for ZY Optics 42.5mm f/1.2.

Guess what kind of camera Beckham is using at the end of this (boring) ad :)

Review: Samsung NX3000 (ThePhoBlographer).
The story behind the LX100 by Panasonic.
Canon G7x review at CameraLabs.
Is the Samsung NX1 is the camera that will change the company’s fortunes? (Techradar).
24 hours in Alaska with the Sony A7s (Vimeo).
Green GM5 hands-on pics at DC.watch.
Panasonic LX100 : nos conclusions (Focus Numerique).
4K Shootout: Sony A7S vs. Panasonic GH4 at Cameras.Reviewed.

Fotodiox launched a new products which will make many E-mount camera owners very happy! It replaces the current hybrid metal-plastic mount ring with a full metal ring! That way you get rid of the “wiggling” you get on longer lenses. You can buy it for $39 at Amazon US (Click here).

Here is the full press text and a video which explains it:

Sony’s line of E-Mount (previously called “NEX”) cameras are amazingly powerful little cameras, but they have one flaw. The lens mount is a two part construction, with the critical component that holds the lens in place made of plastic. This is why any lens you attach to an E mount camera is prone to wiggling, especially longer pro lenses.

Fotodiox has created the solution – ‘The TOUGH E-Mount’ modification kit. Anyone can replace the original 2 piece NEX mount on their camera with an all-metal one in about five minutes. All you need is a jewelers screwdriver (phillips) to remove and replace four little screws. We’ve created a video to show you how easy it is:

Once you’ve installed the Fotodiox The TOUGH E-Mount, you can mount practically any sized pro lens on your Sony E-mount camera using one our full line of E-Mount lens adapters. With the powerful combination of our TOUGH E-Mount modification and our lens adapters, you can be confident of a solid and professional fit.

Cool!