You can now preorder the new Sony G compact primes in the USA

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US preorders are now open::
24mm f/2.8 at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FocusCamera. BuyDig. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.
40mm f/2.5 at BHphoto Amazon. Adorama. FocusCamera. BuyDigFotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.
50mm f/2.5 at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FocusCamera. BuyDig. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.

Some new reviews:
24mm lens review by CameraLabs.
40mm lens review by CameraLabs.
24mm lens review by CameraLabs.
Spanish test at Photolari.

 

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Japanese market share analysis: Sony and Fuji on the rise, Canon and OM Digital decline

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According to BCNranking Sony increased it’s mirrorless market share on the Japanese market up to 34%. Canon had a slight decline down to 22% and Fuji is getting closer to Canon at 20%. There has been a quite dramatic sales drop for OM Digital which is somewhat to be expected after the transition. What’s really worth to be noted: Nikon is far behind all of those companies. Quite worrisome!

 

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DpreviewTV: a 4K video from the Sony a1’s 8K capture

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Preorders:
Sony A1 at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. Focuscamera.
Sony XPeria 5G PRO at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon.
Sony A1 in Europe at FotoErhardt DE. Calumet DE. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. WexUK.
Join the Sony A1 Facebook group here.

Dpreview tested the 8K feature of the Sony A1:

8K might sound like it’s completely unnecessary, given how few people have 8K displays and the diminishing returns that higher-resolution panels show at comfortable viewing distances. However, just like the early days of 4K, there’s a distinct value to being able to capture footage at higher resolution than you intend it to be viewed.

In this instance, most of the footage has been downsampled to 4K resolution, which should give higher levels of detail than you’d get from native 4K capture. The higher resolution also offers the possibility to crop and pan within the larger 8K region, while still offering at least 4K quality. Such examples are marked in the video.

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Press text: Sony Electronics Introduces Three New High-Performance G Lenses™ to its Full-Frame E-mount Lens Lineup

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Preorders:
24mm f/2.8 at BHphoto. Adorama. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.
40mm f/2.5 at BHphoto. Adorama. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.
50mm f/2.5 at BHphoto. Adorama. Fotokoch DE. Park UK. Calumet UK.

Sony Electronics Introduces Three New High-Performance G Lenses™ to its Full-Frame E-mount Lens Lineup

New 50mm, 40mm and 24mm Lenses Combine Incredible Image Quality and Intuitive Operability

SAN DIEGO, CA – March 23, 2021 – Sony Electronics Inc. has announced the addition of three new G Lenses to its impressive E-mount line-up – the FE 50mm F2.5 G (model SEL50F25G), FE 40mm F2.5 G (model SEL40F25G) and FE 24mm F2.8 G (model SEL24F28G). All three lenses deliver high image quality and beautiful bokeh in a lightweight and compact design, perfect for photographers and videographers needing high image quality combined with easy mobility.When paired with a Sony full-frame or APS-C camera, all three lenses offer high resolution, intuitive operability, and fast, precise and quiet AF (autofocus) capabilities. The lenses were designed for a wide range of photo and video uses including portraiture, landscape, street photography and more.“At Sony we are constantly innovating to develop the best tools that allow photographers and video creators to realize their artistic vision,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “With these three dynamic lenses, our customers can capture a wide range of perspectives with the excellent resolution and beautiful bokeh that Sony’s G lenses are known for.”As a set, the FE 50mm F2.5 G, FE 40mm F2.5 G and FE 24mm F2.8 G deliver an ideal focal length for any shoot, from wide-angle landscapes or establishing shots on the 24mm, to a closer versatile perspective with the 40mm and a normal field of view ideal for portraits and closer shots on the 50mm. With their intuitive operability and superb build quality, this lens set is perfect for a variety of needs for any content creator.

The three lenses are all the same size (2.68 in diameter x 1.77 in), all have the same filter diameter (49mm) and are almost all the same weight (FE 50mm F2.5 G 6.1 oz, FE 40mm F2.5 G 6.1 oz and FE 24mm F2.8 G 5.7 oz), allowing the user to easily switch between all three lenses when using a gimbal without needing to rebalance each time.  Moreover, each lens focuses internally, which means the front element does not move in and out to focus, enabling all three lenses to balance well when using a gimbal. They all feature the same stylish exterior design with focal lengths that are clearly marked to easily switch from lens to lens.

High Resolution in a Compact Design

The FE 50mm F2.5 G, FE 40mm F2.5 G and FE 24mm F2.8 G combine the high image quality of a G Lens with a compact and lightweight form factor. The image quality is achieved by state-of-the-art optics using aspherical elements and ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements[i], delivering high resolution and suppressing color fringing from corner to corner, even from the widest aperture, with a shallow depth of field.

The stunning bokeh of the G lenses is achieved with the optimization of a circular aperture and is delivered at the widest point of each lens (FE 50mm F2.5 G, FE 40mm F2.5 G, and the FE 24mm F2.8 G).

Focus Distances

The FE 50mm F2.5 G has a minimum focus distance of 0.35m (AF) / 0.31m (MF) and maximum magnification of up to 0.18x (AF) / 0.21x (MF), which is ideal for a variety of shooting environments and subjects.

The FE 40mm F2.5 G has a minimum focus distance of 0.28m (AF) / 0.25m (MF) and maximum magnification of up to 0.20x (AF) / 0.23x (MF). Particularly for movie shooting, 40mm is the preferred angle of view as it corresponds to the natural field of vision. For stills, 40mm allows subjects to stand out against backgrounds.

With a wide 24mm angle of view, the FE 24mm F2.8 G has a minimum focus distance of 0.24m (AF) / 0.18m (MF) and maximum magnification of up to 0.13x (AF) / 0.19x (MF), the user can easily shoot close-ups with a blurred background.

High Operability and Reliability

The lenses feature a focus hold button, focus mode switch, aperture ring, and aperture click switch for ideal operability. The focus hold button is customizable from the camera menu and can be assigned based on users’ preferences. The aperture ring provides an intuitive and direct feel, compared to operating the aperture from the camera body. The aperture also provides switchable click stops that can be turned off for movie shooting using the aperture click switch. Furthermore, with Linear Response MF, the focus ring responds precisely and linearly when focusing manually, so control feels immediate and intuitive, directly reflecting the intent of the photographer and allowing delicate focus adjustments.

The aluminum exterior ensures a premium, sophisticated finish and provides increased strength and durability. Conveniently, the diameter of the filter threads on the hood and the lens barrel are equal[ii] (49mm), allowing the same cap and filter to be attached to both the hood and the lens barrel. The lenses are also designed to be dust and moisture resistant[iii] to ensure usability in any outdoor environment.

Fast, Precise and Quiet Autofocus

The FE 50mm F2.5 G, FE 40mm F2.5 G and FE 24mm F2.8 G feature two linear motors to deliver fast, precise AF with excellent tracking performance which is maintained despite instantaneous changes in subject motion – making the lens ideal for tracking moving subjects. The AF is also quiet, so works for both still and movie shooting.

Sony’s Alpha Universe Site

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new lens and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony α – Alpha brand. You can find info on the Alpha Universe site here.

Pricing and Availability

The FE 50mm F2.5 G will be available in May and will be sold for approximately $600.00 USD and $800.00 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

The FE 40mm F2.5 G will be available in May and will be sold for approximately $600.00 USD and $800.00 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

The FE 24mm F2.8 G will be available in May and will be sold for approximately $600.00 USD and $800.00 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

More Information

New content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery. For detailed product information, please visit:

A product video on all three lenses can be viewed here.

Notes

[i] FE 24mm F2.8 G 1 x ED, 3 x aspherical elements

FE 40mm F2.5 G 3 x aspherical elements

FE 50mm F2.5 G 1 x ED, 2 x aspherical elements

[ii] This does not apply to FE 24mm F2.8 G

[iii] Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof

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Sony announcement will happen soon…stay tuned!

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It’s very likely Sony will announce the new lenses today sometimes around 14:00 London time. So please stay tuned on SAR!

P.S.: I wonder if those lenses will sell well or not. I actually do like the idea to have those compact lenses for A7c owners…makes sense to me if you wanna travel really light!

UPDATE: Apparently the price of the lenses will be 700€. And only the 24 and the 50 will have ED glass, not the 40mm.

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