Seems like there is no livestream…just a bogus test video

There is no live-stream going to happen today. The Sony live video I spotted yesterday was just a void test run. This also seems to confirm that today we will only get the new 20mm f/1.8 FE G lens.

Note: The bogus video can be found at Alphauniverse when clicking on the button over “Event Posts”:

You will see 6 minutes of simple audio test :(

Something else:
Fuji just had to delay the market release of the new X-T200. While Fuji doesn’t mention the cause I am sure it has to do with the Coronavirus outbreak. And this might be also the reason why Sony will NOT announce their already registered compact camera today?

Press text: Sony and ZEISS to expand strategic collaboration to Xperia smartphones

Tokyo/Japan, Oberkochen/Germany, 24 February 2020 – Sony and ZEISS today jointly announced their strategic collaboration expansion from digital imaging to Xperia smartphones.

Sony’s new flagship smartphone Xperia 1 II will feature ZEISS optics with T* (T-Star) anti-reflective coating to enhance the quality of images and deliver the best photography experience to consumers. Xperia 1 II offers the world’s first1 smartphone with up to 20fps2 AF/AE tracking burst and 5G connectivity for a complete creative entertainment experience.

Sony and ZEISS have built on the long-shared history and expertise since the launch of Sony’s first video Hi8 HandycamⓇ CCD-TR555 in 1996. Over the past few decades, this strategic collaboration has evolved to include digital still cameras, such as Cyber-shot RX series, α™ (Alpha™) camera lenses, and 4K HandycamⓇ camcorders.

Sony and ZEISS are founded on a shared passion for innovation and continue to pursue their joint ambition to empower and expand the best quality imaging experience to wider consumers.

“For a quarter of a century of the strategic collaboration between ZEISS and Sony, we have strived to promote the evolution of digital imaging products and diversify the way and occasions users take pictures. Using our technologies and expertise in the fields of optics and electronics as well as our strong drive to create new value through innovation, we have enabled users to display their creativity,” said Shigeki Ishizuka, Senior Executive Vice President, Officer in charge of Electronics Products & Solutions Business, Sony Corporation. “We will deliver new photography experiences with smartphones through the expansion of our strategic collaboration.”

“What Sony and ZEISS started in 1996 is now a powerful partnership with a clear mission: to set new standards in digital photography. We share a deep passion for photography as well as the will to anticipate new technologies. Bolstered by the spirit to push the limits of the imagination and our unique optical expertise acquired over more than 170 years, ZEISS is introducing essential elements for the next level of smartphone imaging”, said Jörg Schmitz, Executive Vice President, Head of ZEISS Consumer Products. “Seeing beyond borders and pushing limits is what motivates us to break new ground in smartphone imaging together with Sony.”

  • 1Xperia 1 II’s camera features up to 20 fps AF/AE continuous shooting with tracking. Xperia 1 II produces in-focus photos at up to 20 fps by continuously calculates AF/AE up to 60 times/second. Verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX Service against the published camera specifications for over 16,000 smartphones. Correct as of the 23rd February 2020.
  • 2Up to 20fps burst shooting with AF/AE is available for 24mm camera. 16mm and 70mm camera can shot up to 10fps AF/AE. This function can be taken with “Photography Pro”. Effective when drive mode is “Hi”. Effective when shutter speed is 1/100 second or faster. It may vary depending on the shooting environment. Maximum fps will depend on shooting environment and settings.
  • *All listed product names listed here are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation or of their respective owners.
  • *ZEISS is a registered trademark of Carl Zeiss AG.

Sony’s New Flagship Xperia 1 II Smartphone and Development of Xperia Pro Announced

Sony made a big fuzz today announcing the Xperia 1II. It officially has all Alpha features like Eye Af and Animal Eye Af and for the first time uses a Zeiss T coated lens too.  You can download the full press text with images here: pressroom.pixelshift.studio/xperia-assets

The official presentation video is all about cross references between the Alpha system and this mobile phone:

Official Press text:

Sony’s New Flagship Xperia 1 II Smartphone Delivers the Complete Creative Entertainment Experience
Flagship Model Offers World’s First Smartphone with up to 20 fps Continuous Shooting Capability

  •  Triple camera array and 3D iTof sensor incorporating industry-leading Sony Alpha technology and ZEISS optics with T* coating calibrated specifically for Xperia
  • Advanced autofocus camera technology enables the world’s first smartphone camera capable of up to 20 fps2continuous shooting with 60 times per second[1] AF/AE3 calculations
  • Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals[2]
  • Photography Pro and Cinematography Pro functions offer more user control over photo, video and movie creation
  • 21:9 CinemaWide 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display[3] delivers unprecedented color accuracy
  • True front stereo speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, and new 360 Reality Audio[4] with unique hardware decoding to optimize sound quality
  • Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 Mobile Platform, with high-capacity 4000mAh battery with wireless charging for optimal speed and performance

SAN DIEGO — Feb. 24, 2020 — Sony today announced its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 II (Mark two). The new phone leverages even more of Sony’s most innovative technologies, breaking new ground in smartphone camera capabilities and elevating the entertainment experience in a mobile device.

Capture the Decisive Moment with High-speed Shooting

Designed with Sony’s Alpha industry-leading AF technology, the newly developed triple camera array with focal lengths of 16mm, 24mm and 70mm supports advanced photo technologies with outstanding ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for Xperia 1 II, as well as ZEISS T* coating, which contributes to exquisite rendering and contrast by reducing reflections.

Utilizing technology developed for Alpha interchangeable lens cameras, Xperia 1 II offers continuous autofocus and auto-exposure that performs AF/AE3 calculations at 60 times per second4.

This enables the world’s first1 AF / AE continuous tracking for high-speed shooting at a maximum of 20 fps[1] which is especially useful for shooting moving subjects such as children or animals and fast-moving sports. Focus and follow the subject with high precision and capture decisive moments that you do not want to miss.

Furthermore, “Real-time Eye AF[2],” which locks focus on the subject’s eye for stunning portrait shots, is now available for both humans and animals.

Xperia 1 II fast focus also works in low light conditions, delivering quality images in challenging circumstances thanks to four technologies working together:

  • dual-photo diode sensor[5]
  • an autofocus system that covers approximately 70 percent of the sensor[6]
  • the 3D iToF sensor[7]
  • a new large 1/1.7” Exmor RS™ for mobile sensor, which is 1.5x more sensitive than the previous model, resulting in faster and more accurate AF in low light shooting.

Advanced Capture Modes for Photos, Videos and Movie Creation

The new Photography Pro function with technology from Alpha brings a user interface that is familiar to Alpha cameras, with manual controls to set ISO, shutter speed, burst mode, autofocus area, exposure control and more.

Cinematography Pro, powered by CineAlta, newly supports 2K 120fps 10-bit HDR cinematic high frame rate shooting[8]and 21:9 4K HDR recording at 24/25/30/60fps[9] to create cinematographic shooting experiences. Touch AF, Metered Manual controls for setting exposure, level meter and improved white balance settings offer more manual control, while the unique Intelligent wind filter technology from Sony reduces noise and wind interference for clear audio recording.

Immersive Entertainment

Whether users are listening to music or watching movies, the Xperia 1 II is finely tuned for an immaculate entertainment experience. Motion blur reduction technology is equivalent to that of a 90Hz display and reduces frame lag for a clearer image quality. It also features Dolby Atmos® sound, tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, to deliver a multi-dimensional surround sound experience.

Drawing on Sony’s expertise both in audio hardware and music entertainment, the Xperia 1 II has been engineered to deliver a truly authentic listening experience with the audio tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment.

The aural experience is taken even further with the world’s first[10] smartphone featuring 360 Reality Audio hardware decoding to optimize sound quality when listening to music on the global music and entertainment platform TIDAL[11].

High-quality music can be enjoyed through true front stereo speakers using either wired headphones connected to the 3.5mm jack, or wireless headphones via Bluetooth. Significant audio tuning has reduced crosstalk to an imperceptible 20dB, which is over 90 percent lower than USB-C headphone connections.

In addition to featuring High-resolution Audio and High-resolution Wireless Audio[12]Xperia 1 II introduces DSEE Ultimate. This new technology utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically improve audio frequency and bit rate in real-time, taking each track close to high-resolution audio. It works with wired or wireless headphones, and with local or streaming music.

 Built for Exceptional Gaming 

The expansive 6.5-inch 21:9 4K HDR OLED screen takes mobile gaming to the next level by offering a wider field-of-view for user gameplay. True front stereo speakers, enhanced touch sensitivity, direct connection to PlayStation®4’s DUALSHOCK®4[13] Wireless Controller, and motion blur reduction technology for smoother action, make gaming on Xperia more immersive than ever.

Supporting the gaming experience further, the Game Enhancer mode, which optimizes the game’s processing performance on the device, has been improved with additional functionality on Xperia 1 II, such as “Competition Set,” which pins a game to the screen and turns Xperia into a dedicated gaming device, making it ideal for competitive matches and Esports.

 Enhanced Performance and Power Management 

With the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 Mobile Platform, Xperia 1 II empowers you to game, capture, cross-task and connect like never before with improved performance and 25 percent faster CPU and GPU performance than the previous model.

Smart and Powerful

Xperia 1 II is powered by a high-capacity 4,000mAh battery with fast charge that charges up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes[14] and features Qi fast wireless charging for a fast battery boost while on the move. Sony continues to develop battery technologies to improve the lifespan and keep the battery healthier for longer, including AI-powered ‘Battery Care’ that adapts to your personal routine.

The Xperia 1 II comes with IP65/68 water resistance[15] and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 on both sides, making it sturdy as well as beautifully designed.

Xperia 1 II comes with Android™ 10 and will be available in the U.S. market in 2020. Xperia 1 II will be available for purchase unlocked from Sony authorized retailers and will be compatible with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket and MetroPCS networks.

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Sony and Prophesee Develop a Stacked Event-Based Vision Sensor with the Industry’s Smallest Pixels and Highest HDR Performance

This isn’t sensor going to be usd on Sony Alpha camera. But it’s still interesting to see how advanced Sony’s tech is. In that case they managed to create a sensor with Industry’s Smallest Pixels and Highest HDR Performance

Press text:

Sony and Prophesee Develop a Stacked Event-Based Vision Sensor
with the Industry’s Smallest*1 Pixels and Highest*1 HDR Performance

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Sony announcements: Tomorrow new XPERIA phones with Alpha features and Zeiss lens. After tomorrow we get the 20mm f/1.8 FE.

The leaked 20mm FE test confirming the launch on Feb 25

Sony will have two announcements this week:

  1. Tomorrow (Feb 24) we might get two new XPERIA phones with “Alpha” branded features and Zeiss lens (see images below)
  2. After tomorrow (Feb 25) we shall get the new 20mm f/1.8 FE G lens. Unclear if also the fixed lens camera registered months ago will be announced too.

XPERIA 1II

XPERIA 10II

via Slashleaks

Firmware update for the Sigma 24-70mm FE lens

Sigma issued a new firmware update for the new 24-70mm f/2.8 FE lens. Benefits:

  • It has corrected the phenomenon whereby the image is disturbed during the focus drive when the camera is set to auto with the distortion correction function in the camera and shooting a movie.
  • It has improved the effect of the in-body peripheral illumination correction function.

Sigma 24-70mm FE lens at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Calumet DE, FocusCamera. WexUK

This week SAR readers photos selection


Mark Kostich‎
Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera) black variation
Sony 7R4, 90mm Macro lens, Sony HVL-F45RM
1/250, F14, ISO 100
www.instagram.com/mark_kostich_photography/
#sonyalphagallery

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4) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

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