New Laowa 10-18mm FE lens in Stock for the first time in the USA

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The new Laowa 10-18mm FE zoom is in Stock for the first time in the USA via FocusCamera (Click here).

Big software deals:
Skylum officially launched Luminar 3 with Libraries (Click here). You can preorder it today with a $10 discount using our code “SAR“.
Capture One 12 officially released. It adds a ton of new features and if you want to buy it (Click here) you get additional 10% off using our code “AMBSAR“.

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Sony A7III and A7rIII firmware update will be re-released in mid December

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In case you missed it: Sony confirmed it will re-release the 2.0 firmware update in mid December.

Notification of system software updates for customers using the α7R III (ILCE-7RM3) and α7 III (ILCE-7M3) interchangeable lens digital cameras
Thank you for using Sony products.

It has come to our attention that the following issues may occur with our α7R III and α7 III interchangeable lens digital cameras.

In rare cases, your α7R III or α7 III model may stop functioning while writing RAW data onto an SD card that has already been used multiple times.

Notes:

  • This may also cause abnormalities in the files managing the images, preventing the images from displaying on the camera
  • No image data in the memory card will be corrupted or deleted aside from data that was being written at the time the interruption occurred
  • If images no longer display on the camera, follow the steps below to use “Recover Image DB” feature:

Select MENU → (Setup) → [Recover Image DB] → desired memory card slot → [Enter]
Then, when taking a picture, back up the data on a PC or other device, and format the memory card on your camera.

2. With the α7R III, taking a picture while using the Auto Review function, may occasionally cause the camera to stop responding.

We will provide an update to the system software addressing to the above issues in mid-December. Until then, please take the following precautions:

While we are preparing to provide new system software, we will no longer offer updates to the current system software.

Before taking any pictures, format the memory cards in both slots on the camera, or use a new memory card.
Ensure the Auto Review function is off when taking pictures.

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused while using the affected products and thank you for your understanding.

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That’s weird: New versions of the FE 28mm f/2 have been “secretly” improved?

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Well this is quite an interesting finding. One of our reader shared it:

I am Le Minh Bui from Vietnam.

I want to share with you a surprise. A friend of mine accidentally found out that there are different versions of FE 28mm f/2 that show a huge change in the sunstar effect. He borrowed a new FE 28mm and it produces a fantastic sunstar, which is in contrast with the old lens (mediocre sunstar).

A closer look revealed that the new version has re-designed aperture blades that are curvy at the top and straight in the bottom, instead of being curvy from top to bottom (the old design). For comparison, I included the close shot of Voigtlander 28mm f/2, which shows a very nice sunstar even at f/4. Voigtlander blades are straight!

It seems nothing else is different between the two. Based on various reviews, I narrowed down the time when Sony made the change is in 2016-2017 period, but I can’t tell exactly from which batch. The easiest way to distinguish them is by the shape of the iris. If the lens is closed down and form a straight nonagon shape, it’s the new version.

I notice that all of the lenses that Sony has announced recently have the same blade design to balance the bokeh and sunstar effect, especially the new GM 24mm f/1.4 (very round bokeh even when stopping down to f/5.6, but the sunstar is very nice from f/8).

Maybe some readers can report if they had similar results on other lenses too?

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New exclusive deals for European and Australian readers (A6500, E-mount lenses and RX cameras)

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Today we got new Sony deals for our European and Australian readers:

Today only save on the Zeiss 16-70mm, A6500 and RX10M3 sold on this special Amazon Germany page (Click here).
And there is a new larger Stock of discounted Sandisk cards sold again by Amazon Germany.

And for Australian offer we have an exclusive offer: Use the coupon code SONYRUMOR$50 to save $50 on those items sold by CameraPro:

 

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Sony Tidbits…

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The Best Sony Portrait Lenses: Sony 90mm 2.8G Macro

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 UNBOXING + Photo Samples (Jason Vong).
Dark and Cold Outside? Try Tethering Inside! (Explora)..
Sony 24-70mm f/4 Review (Enthusiastphotoblog)
Zonlai 50mm F1.4 review at SonyAlphaBlog.
Voigtlander VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton (Phillip Reeve).

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

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
I kindly invite you all to follow our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

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Hot deal of the day: $350 off on the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FE lens!

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This runs today only: $350 off on the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FE lens at BHphoto (Click here). They also rund deals on those three items on their DealZone page:

More deals:
You get this Lexar 128GB cardat Amazon US.

Big software deals:
Skylum officially launched Luminar 3 with Libraries (Click here). You can preorder it today with a $10 discount using our code “SAR“.
Capture One 12 officially released. It adds a ton of new features and if you want to buy it (Click here) you get additional 10% off using our code “AMBSAR“.

 

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Rumors recap: Sony 8k, telephoto lens, 35mm and 135mm FE, A7000, A7sIII

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Here is an extended recap of rumored E-mount gear:

Sony A7000.
Sony officially confirmed that a high end APS-C camera is in the works. And recently Sony registered a new mirrorless camera in Asia which I believe is the new APS-C camera (and not the A7sIII). This is what our sources told us about this camera:

– it’s not an A6500 successor
– it has a new design with EVF in the center
– it’s a new High End APS-C camera
– mini-A9
– probably 20 fps and 5.6 milion dot EVF

Sony A7sIII:
For sure it has 4k60p, 4:2:2 10bit (external), 5.6 milion dot EVF, new stacked sensor and announcement in first half 2019. Sony also said it will have some “unexpected” features. Unclear what they could be.

Sony prime lenses:
35mm f/1.8 G and 135mm f/1.8 GM are on the roadmap.

Sony telephoto lenses:
Sony officially confirmed a new telephoto lens is coming soon. No specs have been shared but we found patents for 500mm and 600mm f/5.6 lenses. And there was an unconfirmed rumors about a possible 200-600mm FE lens too.

Sony f/1.2 primes:
I never got a rumor about such a lens but the fast lenses from Nikon and Canon might convince Sony to add such a lens in their roadmap. Sony stated officially that “Maybe some demand exists for an f/1.2

New FF sensors:

Sensor 1:
60MP
16 channels (which is crazy, normally it should be 8),
4.6FPS@16bit
12FPS@14bit
8k30P@12bit
8K60p@10bit
4k60p@12bit
FHD300P@10bit
Sensor 2:
36MP
10FPS@16bit
60FPS@10bit
on-chip PDAF

Tamron FE:
100-400mm 5-6.3 and 70-200mm f/2.8 FE could be announced in 2019.
Tamron 70-200mm FE could be announced in early 2019.

Sigma FE:
Sigma will announce the first FF lenses exclusively designed for mirrorless in 2019.

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