sonyalpharumors Log in

On Facebook Zeiss answered many questions from their followers:

1) Yes, the Batis 1.8/85 has optical image stabilization
2) The displays are not limited in their lifetime. After many years of intensive use, they will become darker. If sometime they might be difficult to read, they can be easily exchanged by our ZEISS service.
3) Batis lenses use different components than Sony or Sony/ZEISS lenses.
4) Our Batis lenses are primarily made of high-quality plastics, aluminum and optical glass.
5) ZEISS Batis lenses are made in Japan.
6) MTF charts will be available in June.

Both lenses are now available for preorder at BH and Adorama:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Lens shade for 85mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.
Lens shade for 25mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.

A couple of readers sent me that image that is floating on websites and forums (like Douban, DCfever and so on). I am 99,9% sure it’s fake. Although it’s easy to guess that the real future A7sII will be similar to the current A7II. The specs are also too good to be true. Or will Sony surprises us?

The video on top has been shoot by Jamie Unwin with the great help from Sony UK. I am glad to hear that Sony sponsors that kind of projects. That iw what Jamie told me:

“I’m an advocate for Sony UK, my latest film about The Illegal WIldlife Trade in Malawi, Africa has just been released.
This year Malawi stands up to wildlife crime, I spent my Christmas producing a short 8 minute film that was shown to the President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika the film was then aired on national TV in Malawi. As a result the president has decided to burn the entirety of Malawi’s Ivory stock piles as a clear signal to the world that Malawi is serious about protecting its wildlife. The film worked as a persuasive and deterrent conservation tool, to show the people of Malawi that if they protect their wildlife and natural places it will benefit them economically by attracting tourism, creating a spiral of economic benefits. The film also exposed that Malawi is taking wildlife crime seriously, enforcing prison sentences to those who commit the crimes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlYpgyzUl6E
We know you have a big media following and as we are trying to reach as many people as possible it would be incredibly beneficial if you would share the film for us.
www.JamieUnwin.com
Sony provided all the equipment to make the film. it was entirely shot on using the Sony a77mk2 and a99.
Many thanks,
Jamie Unwin”

More Sony tidbits:
Sony’s HDR AS200V Vs. GoPro Hero 4 Silver (ActionCameraRumors).
Sigma patent for 400mm f/2.8 OS Sport Lens (CanonWatch).
Testbericht: Sony FE 24-240 mm 3.5-6.3 OSS (Digitalkamera).
Olympus vs Sony at SonyAlphaLab.
Sensor Cleaning on A7 Mark II…Does IBIS Create Special Situation? (SonyAlphaForum).
Sony 35mm f/1.4 FE Zeiss lens test (Spencerpablophotography).

Sony Suisse deals:
Sony Center in Lucerne/Switerland (Click here) is having a extra 10% discount on our products from 24. April until 2. Mai 2015.
For example (all prices including 8% Sales Tax):
ILCE-7KB for CHF. 1169.—( in Euro 1113.–)
ILCE-7S for CHF: 1799.— (Euro 1713)
DSC-RX100M2  for CHF. 449.— (Euro 427)
SLT-A99V for CHF. 1619.— (Euro 1541)
SEL24240 for CHF. 840.— (Euro 800)
SEL55F18 for CHF. 840.— (Euro 800)

This is a great news! Sony lowered the prices on the newest A7II camera by $200! And for the first time you can get the first generation Sony A7 for under $1,000 thanks to a big $300 off!

Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,498 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,798 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.

Sony Alpha a7 (Body Only) for $998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7 with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,298 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.

The A7r got a major price drop weeks ago ($1898 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto). In that case the reason for the price drop is that the new A7rII will be available in June!

UPDATE: There is also a $100 off on the A6000 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.

Sony refurbished deals:
Sony A7r for $1,399 (Click here).
Zeiss 16-35mm for $1,199 (Click here).
16mm for $149 (Click here).
55-210mm for $164 (Click here).
Sony A3000 for $199 (Click here).
Zeiss 55mm for $1749 (Click here).
A5000 double lens kit for $399 (Click here).
A6000 double lens kit for $649 (Click here).
NEX-5T double lens kit for $399 (Click here).

The new revised Sony financial forecast report.

It really looks like the big Sony financial crisis will be over soon. Playstation sales and Imaging Sensor Business made Sony post its best quarterly profit in seven years and increase its projection for annual sales. Sony now expects a full-year operating profit of 20 billion yen, compared with an earlier forecast for a 40 billion-yen loss.

Smartphone-selfie ready cameras and autocar cameras are pushing the Sony sensor sales. There is yet no specific info about how good the Alpha-RX cameras business is doing. But having a booming sensor business certainly helps the digital camera division to keep costs down and to get the best tech :)

Source Sony via Bloomberg.

Anders Wotzke
Eye of the storm
A7II + 16-35mm f/4
35mm f/11 1/200 ISO200
http://flickr.com/photos/anderswotzke
http://instagram.com/anderswotzke

1) Submit your picture with a message and picture here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors or on the SonyAlphaForum image section.
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors/photos_stream?tab=photos 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!

Read the rest of this entry →

Camerland is selling a couple of brand new (US warranty!) A5000 kit cameras with a nice $100 discount on their eBay Page (Click here).

More new deals:
New Rokinon A and E-mount 100mm lens is in Stock at BHphoto.
Lexar SD cards savings at Amazon US (Click here).
The Atomos Shogun 4K recorder for the A7s comes with a free 256 SSD card at Adorama (Click here).
Free $50 gift card with the Sony CLM-V55 at Adorama (Click here).
$300 off on the A58 with lens and Flash kit at BHphoto (Click here).
There is a long list of Mother’s Day deals on that special eBay page (Click here). Here is the direct link to the Sony stuff:
Sony Cameras (Click here).
All lenses (Click here).

And the new Lightroom 6 (or CC as cloud version) is now available for preorder:
Lightroom CC at Adobe (Click here).
Lightroom 6 at Adobe (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).

The four new Batis and A-mount lenses:
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II at Amazon, BHphoto and at Adorama.
Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II at Amazon, BHphoto and at Adorama.
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto.