Lightroom Classic 7.2 with better performance is released

Adobe finally seems to have fixed the slow performance of Lightroom. They released the new Lightroom Classic 7.2 (press text here):

In the past, many users have reported that Lightroom becomes slower after a prolonged usage. This issue should have been fixed with this version. Also, resource-intensive activities, such as export, import, preview generation, and HD/panorama merge should be faster if your machine has 12 GM or more RAM.
We, specifically, have implemented changes related to Threading Building Blocks (TBB). This should be effective on machines with 12 GB or more RAM.

If you like me prefer to have a proper standalone version with no subscription check this: We can now offer a 10% discount on Capture One 11 (Click here) and Capture One 11 for Sony (Click here). Use the coupon code “AMBSAR“.

 

Sony announces out of focus repair program for the 24-105mm FE lens

Sony reports:

In certain shooting conditions an out of focus issue may occur with some 24-105mm F4 Full-frame E-mount G (SEL24105G) lenses. These symptoms may occur under certain shooting conditions:

  • The lens may not focus when using autofocus with close aperture
  • The lens may be out of focus when changing the aperture after using manual focus

To address this issue, subject to the terms and conditions in the Limited Warranty that accompanied the Affected Lens, we will repair your Affected Lens, free of charge, through March 31, 2020.

To see if your lens is affected type your serial number on this page: esupport.sony.com/US/p/compatibility.pl?comp_project_id=18


Thanks Tamas and Pascal!

Press text: Sony Develops a Back-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensor with Global Shutter

Sony announced the successful production of a new Global Shutter sensor. In the press text they describe a 1,46 Megapixel sensor. But I am sure this tech can be scaled up to bigger sensors. Global Shutter gets rid of rolling shutter artifacts. Huge deal for future A7s cameras for example.

Press text:

Sony Develops a Back-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensor with Pixel-Parallel A/D Converter That Enables Global Shutter Function*1

Tokyo, Japan—Sony Corporation today announced that it has developed a 1.46 effective megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor equipped with a Global Shutter function*1. The newly developed pixel-parallel analog-to-digital converters provide the function to instantly convert the analog signal from all pixels, simultaneously exposed, to a digital signal in parallel. This new technology was announced at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) on February 11, 2018 in San Francisco in the United States.

CMOS image sensors using the conventional column A/D conversion method*2 read out the photoelectrically converted analog signals from pixels row by row, which results in image distortion (focal plane distortion) caused by the time shift due to the row-by-row readout.

The new Sony sensor comes with newly developed low-current, compact A/D converters positioned beneath each pixel. These A/D converters instantly convert the analog signal from all the simultaneously exposed pixels in parallel to a digital signal to temporarily store it in digital memory. This architecture eliminates focal plane distortion due to readout time shift, making it possible to provide a Global Shutter function*1, an industry-first for a high-sensitivity back-illuminated CMOS sensor with pixel-parallel A/D Converter with more than one megapixel*3.

The inclusion of nearly 1,000 times as many A/D converters compared to the traditional column A/D conversion method*2 means an increased demand for current. Sony addressed this issue by developing a compact 14-bit A/D converter which boasts the industry’s best performance*4 in low-current operation.

Both the A/D converter and digital memory spaces are secured in a stacked configuration with these elements integrated into the bottom chip. The connection between each pixel on the top chip uses Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connection*5, a technology that Sony put into mass production as a world-first in January 2016.

In addition, a newly developed data transfer mechanism is implemented into the sensor to enable the high-speed massively parallel readout data required for the A/D conversion process.

*1: A function that alleviates the image distortion (focal plane distortion) specific to CMOS image sensors that read pixel signals row by row.
*2: Method where the A/D converter is provided for each vertical row of pixels in a parallel configuration.
*3: As of announcement on February 13, 2018.
*4: As of announcement on February 13, 2018. FoM (Figure of Merit): 0.24e-・nJ/step. (power consumption x noise) / {no. of pixels x frame speed x 2^(ADC resolution)}.
*5: Technology that provides electrical continuity via connected Cu (copper) pads when stacking the back-illuminated CMOS image sensor section (top chip) and logic circuits (bottom chip). Compared with through-silicon via (TSV) wiring, where the connection is achieved by penetrating electrodes around the circumference of the pixel area, this method gives more freedom in design, improves productivity, allows for a more compact size, and increases performance. Sony announced this technology in December 2016 at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco.
Main Features
Global Shutter function*1 achieved in a high-sensitivity back-illuminated CMOS image sensor by using the following key technologies:
Low-current, compact pixel-parallel A/D converter
In order to curtail power consumption, the new converter uses comparators that operate with subthreshold currents, resulting in the industry’s best-performing*4, low current, compact 14-bit A/D converter. This overcomes the issue of the increased demand for current due to the inclusion of nearly 1,000 times as many A/D converters in comparison with the traditional column A/D conversion method*2.
Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connection*5
To achieve the parallel A/D conversion for all pixels, Sony has developed a technology which makes it possible to include approximately three million Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connections*5 in one sensor. The Cu-Cu connection provides electrical continuity between the pixel and logic substrate, while securing space for implementing as many as 1.46 million A/D converters, the same number as the effective megapixels, as well as the digital memory.
High-speed data transfer construction
Sony has developed a new readout circuit to support the massively parallel digital signal transfer required in the A/D conversion process using 1.46 million A/D converters, making it possible to read and write all the pixel signals at high speed.

Sony Tidbits…


Why to stay with Sony instead of switching to Canon

Sony 24-105mm FE review at Enthusiastphotoblog
2 Venus Optics lenses being awarded the “Gold Medal” in Digital Camera Grand-Prix (DGP)
Sony RX10 IV Review | If I Can Only Use ONE Camera, This Is It For Me (Mike Mu).
Carbon Fiber Comes to Manfrotto’s New Element Traveler Tripod Line (Explora).
Insta360 Light Field Camera (Personal View).
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 Review (ePhotozine)

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

Chung:Sony A5100 with Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 + MC11 adapter surpisingly gets fast autofocus in video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnFY-altRvY

This week SAR readers photos selection


Mario Marez‎
https://www.instagram.com/mariomarezimages/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1and0hound/

“This was worth the wait after sunset on Christmas Day 2015. The moonrise between El Capitan and Three Brothers in Yosemite along the Merced River. I had so much frost on my 16-35 f4 waiting, I had to remove it and use a Rokinon 24mm f1.4 backup lens on my Sony A7RII.”

 

1) To submit your picture for the weekly readers roundup post you can choose one of the following three options:
Instagram: Follow @sonyalphagallery and tag us on your picture to give us the permission to repost your image on the instagram gallery and on SAR (we will credit you)
Facebook: Submit your picture on our group: facebook.com/groups/sonyalphacamera. Please add the hashtag “#sonyalphagallery ” to grant the permission for reposting on SAR. Without the   hashtag we will not add your picture!
Forum: Submit your picture on the SonyAlphaForum image section and add the hashtag “#sonyalphagallery
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: instagram.com/sonyalphagalleryfacebook.com/groups/sonyalphacamera and on SonyAlphaForum.
3) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

Note: When sending a pic feel free to also add a link to your site to promote yourself! And please do share one single picture per week only. Do not spam :)

Read more

Sony Tidbits…


Sony Control Box CCB-WD1 for RX0

D850 58/1.4 vs a7RIII 55/1.8 AF-S and AF-C (Jim Kasson).
Dutch review FE 24-105mm at Pixelmania.
Sony A9 Wedding Review – 6 Months On by Rob Tarren
Idea for mimicking STF effect without APD filter (SonyAlphaForum).
Zoom Announces F1 Field Recorder with Shotgun or Lavalier Microphone (Explora).
FeiyuTech Vimble 2 Gimbal (Personal View).

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

Justin:This is a fun review of the a6500 – i.e. the poor man’s 1DX Mk II. Great 120fps shooting with stellar autofocus, good looking 4K, strong IBIS, but like the 1DX Mk II (and every decent Sony camera), no flip-out screen. Makes for great cinematic-style vlogs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzbD62y7Be8

Sigma Announces the new 14-24mm f/2.8 ART Lens designed for 50 Megapixel cameras

Sigma announced the new 14-24mm f/2.8 ART lens (full introduction page at Sigma). This lens does come for Canon and Nikon mount only but as usual you can use this with the excellent MC-11 adapter on any E-mount camera. This lens has beend designed to have a high performance on 50MP sensors.

Press text:

Sigma Announces Brand New 14-24mm F2.8 Art Lens

February 9, 2018 – Sigma Corporation today announced the brand new 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art wide aperture zoom lens. In addition to the new Global Vision full-frame lens model, Sigma also announced a new front conversion service for the 14-24mm F2.8.

Outstanding Art Lens Performance
Designed for 50-megapixel plus cameras, the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art achieves the legendary Art lens sharpness with three FLD glass elements, three SLD glass elements, and three aspherical lens elements, including one 80mm high precision molded glass aspherical element. With near zero distortion (less than 1%) and minimal transverse chromatic aberration, flare and ghosting, the new Sigma 14-24mm offers constant F2.8 brightness throughout the zoom range and delivers optimal image quality at every focal length and shooting distance. The high-speed, high-accuracy autofocus allows photographers to capture incredible, in-the-moment images.

Rugged Design
In addition to outstanding optical performance, the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art features the Sports line level dust- and splash-proof design with special sealing at the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring and cover connection, allowing for the lens to be used during varying weather conditions.

Versatile Camera System Mount Support
The new Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts and works with Sigma’s MC-11 Sony E-mount converter. The Nikon mount features brand new electromagnetic diaphragm, whereas the Canon mount is compatible with the Canon Lens Aberration Correction function.

Pricing and availability for the Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 Art lens will be announced later.

Front Mount Conversion Service for Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art
Addressing the rising popularity of multi-camera productions, especially using ultra wide-angle lenses in shooting virtual reality (VR) content, Sigma has introduced its Front Conversion Service. Converting the petal-type hood of the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art to an exclusive round component allows for the lens to be used in various VR scenarios without the risk of interfering with other lenses in the VR rig or undesired shadows in the content.

The availability of this fee-based service for Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 Art will be announced at a later date.