Say goodby to the “old” CCD sensor tech. Sony now officially switched all their effort on CMOS sensor development and production only. The news comes via Allied Vision:

“Many in the industry had expected this to happen sooner or later. As you know, CMOS sensors have become more and more popular in the last couple of years. With greatly improved image quality, sensitivity, dynamic range and speeds, they have outpaced CCD technology of late. Sony’s decision is a logical step in that context to provide further capacity for CMOS growth.”

Found via Image Sensor World.

If you want to know how Sony describes the Sony QX concept you can read their full patent here: freepatentsonline.com/8947589.pdf. A small curiosity: They also have the idea to make a square QX camera (image on top).

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QX1-QX30 store links
E-mount QX1 in USA at Amazon (Click here), SonyStore US (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), FocusCamera (Click here).
E-mount QX1 in Europe at Sony DE, Sony UK, Sony FR, Sony ES, Sony IT, Sony NL, Sony NO, Sony BE, Sony PT, Sony SE, Sony FI.
E-mount QX1 in Asia at Digitalrev (Click here).
QX30 in USA at Amazon (Click here), SonyStore US (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), FocusCamera (Click here).
QX30 in Asia at Digitalrev (Click here).

QX10-QX100 store links
QX100: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
Black QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
White QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Black QX100 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
Black QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
White QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.

How can you make money by offering…nothing more than just a different name? Well it appears(?) the Germany company Meyer-Optik-Görlitz just did it. It really looks like they took the Chinese Zy Optics f/0.95 lenses added their logo on it and sells them for triple the price!

Their Nocturnus 35mm f/0.95 E-mount lens is priced at 1.999 Euro and has the exact specs of the 2-3 times cheaper Zy Optics 35mm f/0.95 lens you can find on eBay (Click here). The same lens also can be found under the Mitakon brand name (Click here).
Their Nocturnus 50mm f/0.95 E-mount lens is priced at 1.999 Euro and has the exact specs of the 2 times cheaper Zy Optics 35mm f/0.95 lens you can find on eBay (Click here). The same lens also can be found under the Mitakon brand name (Click here).

I hope I am mistaken here and the German company did some kind of “tweaks” or redesign. But so far I believe those are almost exact (or completely exact) copies from the ZY optics lenses . Same weight, same close focus distance, same diaphragm blades…don’t want to get sued by their lawyer so please correct me if I am wrong with my “Pure speculation”

Real-world test: the Sony a6000 goes surfing with Chris Burkard

Sexy: A7S + Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2 at SonyAlphaForum.
Best Sony E-Mount Lenses for Portraits, Landscapes, and Street Photography (SonyAlphaLab).
Tamron 15-30mm toma de contacto (DSLRmagazine).
Sony Aims at Automotive Cameras (Image Sensor World).
A7 MK II + lots of legacy lens (Pantip).
Voigtländer 40mm Nokton f1.4 test at SonyAlphaForum.
A Comparison of How Olympus and Sony’s 5 Axis Stabilization Work (ThePhoBlographer).
Subal Sony Alpha 7 Housing: First Look (DivePhotoGuide).
A Comprehensive Guide to Camera Lens Design and Zeiss Nomenclature (iLoveHatePhoto).

Luke: “Just thought that I share a short video I shot this weekend with new Zeiss 16-35 F4 on my A7s. All of the footage is handheld using Hondo Garage’s Pop and Lock (an invaluable tool that I can’t recommend enough http://www.hondogarage.com/index.php/product/landing/the-pop-and-lock-travel-rig. https://vimeo.com/119634534. I am quite pleased with the results and am happy with how sharp this lens is even completely wide open.”

Bernard: “A new test has been added for the Sony A6000 with a Rokinon 7.5mm lens. For over a year, people visit the site to compare different possible combinations of cameras and lenses for panoramic photography. The addition of the Sony A6000 complements the range presented on the site. A modification was done on the Sony A6000. Improve the standard Sony E-mount with the Fotodiox TOUGH E-Mount. This all-metal mount replaces the two-part mount that comes with most Sony E-mount cameras. Of those two parts, the actual mount that holds the lens is made of plastic, which is susceptible to wear and lens movement. By removing four screws, taking out the two mount parts, and inserting the TOUGH E-Mount, you give your camera a stronger and more durable lens connection. Of all sets that have been tested by quebecpanorama, the Sony A6000 with Rokinon 7.5mm lens is the one that offers the best value for money. The impressive quality, coupled with the ease of transportation, seduced us, so it became the official QuébecPanorama set. http://quebecpanorama.com/en/kits/view/rokinon-7.5mm-for-sony-sony-a6000“

Very surprising to see that. But eBay store Shenikon is already accepting preorders on the new Zeiss FE 35mm f/1.4 lens via their official eBay Store (Click here to see it).

Shenikon writes:

This is a brand new, unused and unopened Carl Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm F1.4 ZA Full-Frame Wide Angle Lens. It is made in Sony E Mount for all Sony mirrorless digital cameras. It comes with lens hood, tripod stand, lens case, front cap, rear cap and user manual and all original packaging.
This is a pre-order. Item will be shipped on or before 13th March 2015. If you have any question or want to combine shipments, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving you.

I would be surprised to hear that’s a mistake made by them. I really do hope this means all four new FE lenses will ship from March 13.