Tested by Alex Phan: Canon 800mm stack with sony 1.4x TC = 1120mm on the Sony A9


Image on tops shwos the Canon 800mm (without the 1.4 Sony TC) on the A7rIII

Alex Phan tested Canon 800mm on the Sony A7rIII and A9. You can see all image samples on his facebook page here and here. He told me this:

Andrea, great news. Canon 800mm stack with sony 1.4x TC = 1120mm .Works flawlessly.

This is an image that shows how well tracking worked (Click on it to enlarge):

Here is the Sony 100-400mm FE on top of the 800mm lens to show the size of the Canon beast:

Here are is a video of the setup:

Three Sigma FE lenses in Stock (and five shipping). 105mm Bokeh Monster to start shipping out in September?

Sigma sent out a press release (read below) to confirm that 5 of their 9 new FE lenses are now officially shipping out. Right now three lenses are marked as in Stock at BHphoto (click here). There is still no word about the shipping time of the one lens I really want to buy: The 105mm f/1.4 Bokeh Monster. I heard it through the grapevine that it will be available in late Summer (probably early September).

New Sigma FE lenses:
All lenses listed on one page at BHphoto (Click here).
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 for $1,599 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 for $899 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 for $849 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 for $899 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 for $949 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 70mm macro for $569 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and  Adorama.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for $1,199 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 105mm f/1.4 for $1,599 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 for $1,399 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, Amazon and Adorama.

Press text:

Sigma Ships Five Prime Art Lenses for Sony E-mount Cameras with Full-Frame Sensors

Ronkonkoma, NY – June 19, 2018 – Sigma Corporation of America, a leading still photo and cinema lens, camera, flash and accessory manufacturer, today announced availability of five of its interchangeable Art prime lenses for Sony E-mount camera systems – Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM($899 USD), Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM ($849 USD), Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM ($899 USD), Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM ($949 USD) and Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM ($1199 USD).

Offering the same high-performance optical design as other lenses in the Art line, the new Sony E-mount models feature a newly developed control algorithm that optimizes the autofocus drive and maximizes the data transmission speed. In addition, these lenses are compatible with Sony’s Continuous AF (AF-C) and high-speed autofocus, which are not addressed by Sigma Mount Converter MC-11. Like MC-11, the lenses are compatible with in-camera image stabilization and in-camera lens aberration correction, which includes corrections for peripheral
illumination, chromatic aberrations and distortion.

Key Features and Benefits
Autofocus Tuned for Each Lens
Thanks to an autofocus drive control program tuned for each lens and high-speed data transmission, the lenses offer a high-speed autofocus at the same performance level as that of a lens designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras. In particular, in E-mount cameras offering Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF, AF-C mode delivers exceptional subject following performance. Autofocus remains
extremely precise even in those E-mount cameras offering only contrast AF.

Compatible with In-Camera Image Stabilization
The lenses are compatible with in-camera image stabilization. The Sony E-mount camera senses the focal length of the lens and automatically optimizes image stabilization performance.

Data Loaded for Compatibility with In-Camera Aberration Correction
The lenses are fully compatible with in-camera aberration correction, which includes corrections for peripheral illumination, chromatic aberrations and distortion. By matching corrections to the optical characteristics of the lens, this function takes image quality to an even higher level.

Native Mount for a More Rigid and Stable Feel
Making the mount native to the lens means a more rigid and stable feel to the lens. Featuring a special surface treatment to enhance strength, the brass bayonet mount offers a high-precision fit and exceptional durability. The mount connection area incorporates rubber sealing for dust- and splash-proof construction.

Available Mount Conversion Service*
This service converts the mount of Sigma lenses to that of a different camera body, allowing photographers to continue using their favorite lenses over the long term regardless of camera system.

*The Mount Conversion Service is different from a normal repair. In order to apply for the service, please contact your nearest authorized Sigma subsidiary or distributor: http://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/.

**This service is performed exclusively by Sigma.

Sony Tidbits…


How to Lightpaint with Steel Wool

How to Color Calibrate Every Device in a Photographers Workflow (Fstoppers).
Gizmodo: Deep Learning Can Now Flawlessly Correct Photos Taken in Almost Complete Darkness (Shot with A7sII)
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art tested on the Sony by Photorec.
BenQ Delivers Quality with SW240 Photography Monitor (Explora).
Kinefinity Mavo Cinema Cameras and Mavo Cinema Primes (Personal View).

Share your best pictures on our new Instagram SonyAlphaGallery.

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

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Voigtlander officially releases the 110mm f/2.5 FE macro lens

Voigtlander finally announced the full specs and pricing of the new 110mm f/2.5 FE macro lens. The lens costs £849.00 in the UK and ¥ 148,000 in Japan. The US price has not been released yet but it should be around $1,100. The lens will start shipping out in August.

Image samples can be seen here: cosina.co.jp/gallery/oomura-110mm/index.html

Press text:

The Voigtländer MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm f2.5 is a 1:1 macro lens designed exclusively for full frame Sony E-mount cameras. The APO-LANTHAR designation is given to especially high performance lenses in the Voigtländer lens lineup, with APO being derived from the apochromatic optical design. A need for apochromatic optical designs that reduce the longitudinal chromatic aberrations of the three primary colours (RGB) of light to practically zero arose with the increasing popularity of colour film. Now, with the current range of high-resolution digitals sensors, this need for extremely high-level control of chromatic aberrations is even more pertinent than when film changed from monochrome to colour in the middle of the 20th century. So rather than just being for already solved old technology, apochromatic optical designs are indeed a subject requiring serious consideration in the digital age.

Retaining a similar form factor to the highly regarded Voigtländer MACRO APO-LANTHAR 65mm F2.0 Aspherical released in August 2017, this lens covers the full frame image area, and achieves a maximum image reproduction of 1:1 life size without the need for attachments.

In order to ensure subjects from minimum focus distance to infinity are captured with extremely high image quality, a 3-group floating mechanism is employed to adjust three optical groups.

Another attractive feature is the ability to create images with a strong out-of-focus ‘bokeh’ effect, made possible by the 110mm focal length and F2.5 maximum aperture. This lens is a manual focus and manual aperture design, but also features electrical contacts for storing exif data.

Furthermore, the lens is installed with a distance encoder to enable support for 5-axis image stabilisation on bodies with this feature, by providing distance to subject information used to compensate for camera shake. Focus peaking while manual focusing is also supported.

Main Features

  • Full frame Sony E-mount with electrical contacts
  • Apochromatic optical design that eliminates chromatic aberrations
  • Optical design optimized for digital imaging sensors
  • Maintains high image quality at all shooting distances with a 3-group floating mechanism
  • Extremely solid and durable all-metal barrel
  • Manual focus for precise focusing
  • Maximum reproduction ratio of 1: 1 at a minimum focus distance of 35 cm

Samyang announces a new 85mm f/1.4 lens for Canon…and it might come for Sony FE too

Samyang announced a new 85mm f/1.4 autofocus lens for the Canon EF system. While it’s not official I think it’s highly likely that Samyang will release this lens for E-mount sometimes later. I think this lens woule be very welcome in the FE range. The current Sigma and Sony 85mm f/1.8 lenses are very big. The Samyang is lightweight and compact, weighs only 485g without lens caps and hood. Moreover the Samyang will cost $800 only!

So please Samyang gives us that FE version soon!

 

New firmware update for the Tokina 20mm f/2 FE AF Lens

Tokina FiRIN 20mm f/2 FE AF Lens for at BHphoto and Adorama.

Here is the press text:

Tokina FíRIN 20mm F2 FE AF lens firmware update

We here by announce the availability of a firmware update for Tokina FíRIN 20mm F2 FE AF lens.

Benefits of this firmware update
With this firmware update the auto-focus performance of Tokina FíRIN 20mm F2 FE AF in AF-C mode at high-speed shooting (Hi+/Hi/Mid) when used with Sony α7III, Sony α7RIII, Sony α9 cameras will be improved (when used with Sony α9 auto-focus tracking will work only in Mechanical Shutter type AF-C mode). SAR
For the firmware update procedures and further instructions please contact the shop where the lens has been purchased. For more information please contact your local official Tokina Distributor or contact us.