padam

It wasn't randomized but the box is an easier indication that it is an earlier pair with possibly the better construction (less parts, better seal in the housing) Although some of those are the later version with the older box, the switch already happened during that period, for instance 705xx and above already have the later housing, I am pretty sure of that. So unfortunately changing the stickers without the older box might not be enough to push up the value Whether that makes a big difference to the sound is another story...I guess people who like the SR007Mk1 sound would be happy with any version, in the end I sold them all (only realizing later, that one was better than the rest).

Sony A7 + kit lens

The Jap retail price has been around the 125k yen mark. And it is not markedly different in bulid to a Denon D2000 so i doubt it is as expensive to produce as a Stax for instance, even at that price there is a fair amount of profit on it, maybe more so than on an SR009.

the Chinese KSA5 on ebay has the option for 110V (I guess it cost a bit more)

I like the Genelecs as well but they need to be set up the right way with the appropriate angle and distance from the walls. Wall reflections in a small room can present problems and using bigger ones cures it somewhat because they are more directional than the small ones. And of course they can sound quite different depending on the DAC used.

Yes, you wrote the issues yourself, you can just stay where you are especially for lower volumes where the differences are less apparent. Upgraditis is a disease, but a BHSE should cure it reasonably well. Or you can also try a 717/modified 727 for a slightly different flavor.

Happy Birthday!

Just a few shots from today with the Konica M-Hexanon 28/2.8 + Hawk's v3 adapter

Sony RX100 for 399$

It will have a sturdier lens mount and full metal construction from the A7R so I expect a similar (if not slightly higher, like 2500$) pricetag. A sensor like this at appr. 1/3 price of a 1DX/D4s would be a bit too good to be true. Still, it is quite a lot less than the 5D Mark III and it will own it for video quality (no need to use a heavy AA filter to counter moire and aliasing) and also has tilt LCD and EVF. Sample footage here

Unfortunately it is in now way similar to the A6000 because it is still contrast AF only (I think the reason for that is adding phase detect AF pixels onto the sensor does increase the signal chain's noise a bit and have to be interpolated) but at least it will actually find focus even in low light. And it will cost quite a bit, despite being "unfinished" in terms of video recording features, but a sensor like that does not come cheap.

Can you post any pictures? In what ways it is an improvement? Thanks.

Thanks all. Just got back from Germany, so (further) celebrations will follow soon

Happy Birthday!

Zeiss Sonnar 55mm f1.8 FE lens

Yes, it might not be the most elegant solution but it works fine. I used a similar method on the Qualia which has its headband on an almost fully fixed position and I use the Lambda on the lowest setting as well. If the padding material is 'black enough', it might not even be noticeable visually.

All three have very good EVFs, the Fuji X-T1 has the most advanced tech and highest magnification and the EM1 is a little better than the A7® for visibility at the edges and the Sony has the best contrast and color (it is a FF sensor after all). But generally all three are very good and a big step up compared to the previous ones. The Alpha6000 looks to have very good AF as well (phase detect on almost all of the sensor area) although they saved up on the EVF which was a mistake.

It is 999$ at the moment and I expect to drop that as the domestic price is only 82000 yen right now, which does not look bad at all, considering it is probably one of the best-performing fast standard primes out there. Sharpness, colors, bokeh, it just seem to has it all. And it does built much better than those (etc. 9-bladed aperture, weather-sealed as well) The only problem is that it is the only lens at the moment which really seems to stand out. There will likely to be a 85/1.8 announcement in March, but it will not be cheap. The A7 has the better flash sync AF etc. so it looks to be the better of the two, more MP just means less useful range to exploit it because of diffraction.

Nikon already has fast sensor-based AF in the 1-series and Canon also has dual pixel AF. So I guess they can move to EVF-equipped cameras if they want to (keeping the current mount and maybe introduce another one like E-mount and A-mount) but they will try to continue the DSLR line as long as they can, Sony will be crippled with the lens range for a while anyway, A7R has its issues with the AF and shutter vibration as well, etc.

I used it a few times and I also had the 50/1.2 which sharper but does not have the same bokeh. But I still have quite a few other fast 50s so I'm currently advertising it at the ekv. of 300$ (I do have OM bodies with quite a few other parts like focusing screens, etc. as well which I never used) It is a very nice lens if you care more about character rather than outright sharpness (which should be even more apparent on FF), it is the supposedly better earlier thorium variant so it has a slight yellowish cast wide open. Yes the 50/1.4 is supposed to be very nice as well, although the last & best version is not that easy to find.

NEX-5N

OM 55/1.2

Apart from maybe video the D700 is better in almost every way because it is not as 'consumer-oriented'...

There are much more elements and also more exotic glass in the new one so I think it will be more expensive to manufacture so close to the 35/1.4 in price. Like most of the brands in the car industry, they are trying to go more upmarket. The best performing m43 lens the 75/1.8 is also designed by Sigma but it ain't no bargain.

They copied the shape (and headband design) of the beautiful SR-Omega, shame on them.