Sony NEX-5N, NEX-7, A65 and A77 officially announced, pricing and details confirmed

Sip by sip, information about Sony’s new cameras has been leaking over the past few months. Today Sony has finally made official four new digital cameras. Two new mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILCs), the NEX-5N and NEX-7, and two single-lens translucent (SLT) cameras the Aplha A65 and Aplha A77.

The Sony Alpha A77 resides at the top of today’s food chain with a brand new 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor and 2359k dot (XGA) OLED electronic viewfinder packed into a DSLR-type body. The worthy successor to Sony’s A700 boasts a 19-point autofocus system and 12 frames per second burst shooting speed taking advantage of a claimed world’s fastest continuous autofocus using full-time phase-detection. The A77 can shoot all the way down at ISO 50 and up to 16,000. The back of the A77 is dominated by a three-way tilting 921k LCD screen. The camera can capture full 1080p HD video at 60p and 24p frame rates. The Alpha A77 will arrive in October for $1,400 or as a kit with Sony’s new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens for $2,000.

The Alpha A65 features much of the same specs as the A77, 24.3-megapixel sensor and XGA OLED viewfinder, but cuts down to a 15-point autofocus system, 10fps shooting, ISO down to 100 (but still up to 16,000) and no three-way tilting screen while sliming by 4-ounces. Despite otherwise having similar capabilities in terms of image quality as the A77, an A65 body will cost you $900 in October (or as 18-55mm lens kit for $1000) which we consider much better value if you don’t need those four high-end features, plus you will be carrying a more lightweight body.

We are most intrigued however by Sony’s high end compact mirrorless shooter, the NEX-7. The NEX-7 manages to pack an identical 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, an XGA OLED viewfinder and a tilting 3-inch screen in a body weighing just 10.3 ounces (291g). It’s by far the most highly specced, highest resolution, biggest sensor, interchangeable lens compact camera out there. It also features an undeniably sexy no-nonsense magnesium alloy black boxy body. The NEX-7 also features an ISO range of 100 to 16,000 and 1080/60p AVCHD video shooting. Unfortunately it will not come cheap, the NEX-7 with a 18-55mm zoom lens kit will sell for about $1350, or as a body-only for about $1200 in November.

Sony has also refreshed its mid-specced NEX-5 shooter, bumping the model to NEX-5N. The camera has a new 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, with sensitivy boosted to ISO 25,600 and an improved autofocus algorithm. The NEX-5N manages to be 15mm thinner (staying only 23.3mm thick at its slimmest point) than its predecessor and boasts a shutter lag of only 20ms. The NEX-5N can also shoot full 1080p AVCHD video at 60fps. It will begin selling this September for a much more palatable $700 together with a 18-55mm kit lens (body-only for about $600) in black and silver. Those who enjoy an electronic viewfinder will also be able to purchase an external OLED EVF for $350.

Finally Sony is addressing one of the key shortcomings of the NEX line, that is lack of a broad range of lenses, with three new E-mount lenses. A telephoto zoom 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 optically stabilized lens will be available this October for about $350. A new fast Carl Zeiss Sonnar 24mm F1.8 for $1000 and an E 50mm F1.8 optically stabilized lens for $300 in December. Sony is also introducing a NEX-to-Alpha lens mount adapter with a built-in translucent mirror for $400.

UPDATE: The cameras and lenses are available for pre-order and probably will sell-out fast.