higher than expected preorders lead Sony Japan to issue a statement apologizing for the supply shortage. Sony said they will do whatever they can to improve the situation.

GM lens store links:
85mm f/1.4 GM FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Amazon Germany. Calumetphoto.de. WexUK. Jessops.
24-70mm f/2.8 GM FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy. Amazon Germany. Calumetphoto.de. WexUK. Jessops.

One image to rule them all: Sony CAN make very compact FF lenses ;)

–

Photographer Sator is creating quite a buzz with his article “Why Sony’s Full Frame Pro Mirrorless Was a Fatal Mistake“. (Read here on PetaPixel).

I thought long if I should answer to this or not. I think there are many things “omitted” in his analysis and I want to point out some of those points. But first a disclaimer: I am not a Sony fanboy. I pointed out many Sony issues lately that I think are very annoying. For example service issues, horrible menu system, lens production quality issues and so on. Sony has still a long way to go to completely satisfy customers. That said I think Sator is not right on some of the points he mentions in the article:

1) Size doesn’t matter:

Let’s start with something I do agree with Sator: “SIZE” is not the major reason why you buy into the Sony system. In my opinion it’s Sony innovative tech package that makes the E-mount system popular. It’s not the “mirrorless” aspect that makes it attractive. But mirrorless is necessary for most of these innovative features to exist (like EVF tech, focus peaking and so on and on and on).

2) Sony CAN make smaller than DSLR lenses:

Sator also said: “Sony have failed to overcome the laws of physics. If you take something from the camera body, you have to give it back to the lens, and by the same amount.“. Well it’s true that most of the FE lenses are big. But here is Sator’s first mistake. He assumes FE lenses have to be big because “of the law of physics“. Please Sator give us the physics formula that says that? Where is the mathematic supporting your argument? Instead you bring up size comparisons made via CameraSize that are very questionable (more about it below).

He also misses to understand that Sony just started a system from scratch and the Sony declared main focus was to create very high quality lenses as first. And he assumes that because most of the current FE lenses are big this means we will not get smaller FE lenses. But that’s an assumption and not a “law of physics“.

Let’s discuss some examples he brought up by using the CameraSize tool:

With that comparison between the [shoplink 46513 ebay]Zeiss 85mm A-mount lens[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 46512 ebay]85mm GM lens[/shoplink] he wants to demonstrates that a Sony FE camera+lens package is as big as a DSLR equivalent. Sorry to say but he is comparing apple and oranges here! The new 85mm GM lens is made for ultimate quality. It’s a future proof lens made for 100+ Megapixel FF sensor. And to achieve such a quality you have to make lenses…bigger! That’s why a [shoplink 46515 ebay]Zeiss Otus 85mm lens[/shoplink] is bigger than a Sigma lens with the same aperture:

So let’s please compare lenses with “similar” image quality: For example the [shoplink 46527 ebay]Loxia 21m FE[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 46529 ebay]Milvus 21mm[/shoplink] lens. Note that CameraSize aligns the cameras including the EVF rubber. I re-aligned the images based on the camera back without the big rubber. I added the Loxia 21mm for myself as it’s not in the Camerasize database yet.

Look at how big the difference is!

And to put it into “weight” terms. The Sony-Zeiss combination weights around 1kg and the Nikon-Zeiss combination around 1,7 kg. That is a Big weight savings! Sator writes that with Sony “FF mirrorless bodies you end up having to carry multiple batteries, which negate any size advantage.” A Sony battery weights around 40g. Even if you take 1 or even 2 additional batteries the weight difference is still huge!

Again if I would stick on Sator’s error to not take into account that lenses are also designed for different image quality performances I could play this game:

You see? The Full Frame Sony with 16mm f/2.8 APS-C lens is way smaller than the APS-C X-PRO2 with 14mm f/2.8 lens :) Of course I do know the Fuji lens is a better lens here (and it’s 14mm and not 16mm). So I call this an unfair comparison. But if size is all that matters well Sony is smaller in that case!

Let’s make a more fair comparison: Here is the Zeiss FE 35mm f/2.8 vs the 18mm f/2.0 (29mm f/3.0 FF equivalent) comparison by CameraSize (re-aligned on the LCD screen)

The size is the same but the Sony has built-in IBIS and FF sensor in it! Impressive or not? So yes! Sony can make excellent quality and very compact lenses. And if Sony is reading this…please give us more of those :)
And please do note the Zeiss 35mm FE is “undoubtedly a very good performer” (to cite Photozone). Sony didn’t trade image quality for size on that lens.

To sum up:

The Zeiss FE 35mm and the Sony 28mm FE lenses do show that FF E-mount lenses CAN be more compact than similar performing DSLR lenses.
Moreover Sator didn’t recognize that owning a Sony A7 camera gives you an extreme flexibility: If small size is what matters you can use small APS-C or FF lenses on the very same E-mount. If extreme quality is what matters you can use the bigger FF GM lenses. Such a flexibility is yet second to none in the camera business!

Some more short remarks:

3) Sator forgets High ISO performance

When comparing the Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens and the Fuji 56mm f/1.2 lens he writes that the Fuji lens “allows you to shoot faster in low light. The Sony makes up for the slowness of the lens with IBIS, but this won’t stop action in low light.”
He completely omits the fact that Full Frame sensor do have a much better High ISO performance. This means you crank up the ISO to get the shutter speed you need. So he is plain simple wrong when he says that a Fuji can shoot faster shutter times compared to a Sony FF.

4) In Body stabilization matters

Sator says Sony Image stabilization is degrading the image quality. I think this is Sator’s weakest argument. He brings up some quotes from Fuji, Sigma, Zeiss (Nor Sigma nor Zeiss do actually talk about Sony IBIS) to somehow convince you that E-mount was not designed to have IBIS. He doesn’t bring a real actual proof to support his thesis. All reviewers so far have stated the Sony image stabilization does a superb job. Dear Sator where are the actual FACTS supporting IBIS on Sony does hurt image quality? Can you proof it?

5) Adapting non-native lenses

I do agree with Sator that adapting lenses can be problematic. Many wide angle lenses do not perform well on Sony cameras. And you really need a very high quality adapter to avoid micro misalignment. He quotes Lensrentals to reinforce the argument that this is a problematic matter. But he lacks to mention also the “positive” aspects mentioned by Lensrentals. I do quote:

1. Like a lot of tests, you can detect a very real difference in the lab that doesn’t make much difference at all in the real world.
2. Videographers are the primary users of adapters, and probably won’t notice the problems at all.
3. Putting a great lens on your camera via an adapter might still be better than an average native-mount lens.

Just to show three good reasons why it makes sense to adapt such lenses!

6) Live exposure preview

Sator: “This is something that is not yet the default modus operandi on most DSLR, but a new hybrid viewfinder patent from Canon suggests exposure preview is soon coming to DSLRs.“. Sticking to facts…Mirrorless is superior yet. A patent doesn’t change this now ….and just my two-cent guess…it will not change the future neither ;)

Message to Sator:
The point here is not to put any blame on you. I am very happy about the article you posted. It’s a good chance to discuss the matter! The intention of this post is to point out that you may have forgotten to mention some points and advantages of the Sony system. And while it’s fun and legit to speculate you have to separate facts from speculation. I am particularly talking about the arguments you made on Sony’s Image stabilization system.

–

A pro Fuji statement:
Sator is a Fuji photographer. And just to make it clear once again. I am no Sony fanboy. And as a “pure” photographer I will go so far to say that Fuji’s APS-C system is superior to Sony’s APS-C system. I can only hope Sony will “copy” many of the good things FUji did in those years!

Language disclosure:
My main language is German and Italian. My english is poor. Sorry for that when reading that article :)

We got a new E-mount surveillance camera. The UMC-S3C uses the [shoplink 46539 ebay]Sony A7sII sensor[/shoplink] and offers the highest 4K video sensitivity in its class. It’s also the smallest Sony FF camera yet.

Here is the full press text:

LAS VEGAS (ISC West, Booth 23057) April 5, 2016 – Sony’s new UMC-S3C video camera offers the highest sensitivity in its class with 4K video recording, allowing users to capture details even in challenging low-light conditions.  The camera also features tremendous flexibility and long duration video recording with 12 megapixel color still image capture capabilities.

“New products like the UMC-S3C allow us to expand our 4K line-up and bring high resolution and high sensitivity to new markets,” said Atsushi Seki, Director, Business Development at Sony Electronics. “This latest video camera is a testament to Sony’s continuing efforts to provide solutions that meet users’ individual business requirements.”

Capable of achieving sensitivity and resolution with color video recording in 4K, the UMC-S3C realizes the highest sensitivity in its class – under 0.004lx, expandable to ISO 50-409600. The camera uses advanced imaging technologies from Sony’s consumer and professional groups – a full-frame 35mm Exmor sensor, to realize high sensitivity with high light condensing efficiency, and an image processing engine, which enhances noise reduction. Using compatible E-mount lenses that maximize the performance of the 35mm full-frame sensor, resolution is kept high across the entire image area.

Area-specific noise reduction selectively divides images into areas based on patterns. Image quality is further enhanced through detail reproduction technology, allowing clear and sharp video recording in near pitch-black environments beyond the capabilities of the human eye. This helps optimized images fit various scenes while ensuring a more natural sense of dimension. In addition, the camera’s high shutter speed allows users to capture letters and numbers clearly.

Weighing approximately 400g, the lightweight UMC-S3C is currently the most compact camera in Sony’s full-frame line-up. With mounting points on the camera body to enhance mobility, it easily attaches to moving objects. Users can control the camera via multi terminal, including micro USB compatible devices, remote controls or compatible software.

The UMC-S3C is suitable for a variety of applications including disaster response; wildlife monitoring; landscape mapping or surveying; surveillance, inspections and investigations; live camera; and as a dashboard/professional point-of-view (‘POV’) camera, among others.

Supporting multi-camera systems, the UMC-S3C fits into nearly any existing infrastructure and also allows playback functions with the use of a PC as well as Live View via HDMI.

Long-duration video recording is also possible as the camera is equipped with a memory card slot on the camera body instead of network cabling. With a 64GB memory card, users can record up to 125 minutes of 4K footage at standard quality (30 fps/60 Mbps). In 4K resolution, where images are four times more detailed than full HD, users can cover larger areas with the highest image quality.  The UMC-S3C also supports the XAVC S format for high-quality 4K recording at 100Mbps, especially useful in environments where cabling or space is limited.

Sony’s UMC-S3C is planned to be available in the United States in August 2016.

Seeing in the Dark- a HIGH ISO Experience at Abandoned Carrie Furnace w/ Sony A7Sii by Jason Lanier

Sony 35/1.8, Zeiss 24/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 DC DN for Video and Stills? (SonyAlphaForum).
Sony Introduces Industry’s Highest Sensitivity 4K Network Camera, SNC-VB770 (Sony Blog).
5.6″ inch UHD / QHD Monitor, 4K Recorder, Intel Core Computer & Live Streaming device, Up to 4K 4:4:4 10-Bit (CineMartin).
Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN Art review at Imaging Resource.
Hands-On: Sigma MC-11 Mount Converter in Las Vegas (Sigma Photo).
Sharpest 85mm legacy lens (SonyAlphaForum).

Milan: “Sony A7S II @ Atomos Ninja Assassin 4K @ Canon 24-70 F4 @ Metabones IV: https://youtu.be/jyWE0FWxyMs“