Brand new Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 E-mount lens listed at BHphoto for $549!

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Good news folks! This is the new Rokinon f/2.8 macro lens you can now preorder at BHphoto (Click here). It works well on both Full Frame and APS-C E-mount cameras and it will ship on April 27 already!
Full specs can be read at BHphoto! (Found via MirrorlessRumors and an anonymous source).

Home in on close-up subjects with the Sony E mount 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens from Rokinon, which affords life-size 1:1 magnification along with a minimum focusing distance of 1′. This manual focus portrait-length lens also incorporates one high refractive index element and one extra-low dispersion element into its design to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions throughout the focusing range. An Ultra Multi-Coating has also been applied to minimize flare and ghosting for increase contrast and color neutrality. A long focal length lens with close focusing abilities and a high magnification ratio, this macro lens is ideal for making close-up, detailed images of nearby subjects.

This 100mm f/2.8 lens features a Sony E mount, and is compatible with full-frame sensors or APS-C sensors, where it will provide a 150mm equivalent focal length.
A bright f/2.8 maximum aperture is useful for working in a variety of lighting conditions and the minimum f/32 aperture helps to attain a long depth of field when working with close-up subjects.
One high refractive index element and one extra-low dispersion element help to control chromatic aberrations and minimize distortions throughout the focusing and aperture ranges.
An Ultra Multi-Coating has been applied to lens elements to reduce lens flare and ghosting for increased clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
Featuring a macro design, this lens affords a 1:1 maximum magnification ratio along with a minimum focusing distance of 1′.
Benefitting working with especially close subjects, this manual focus lens features an internal focus design to maintain the overall lens length during use. Additionally, the front filter mount does not rotate when focusing to better enable the use of polarizers, graduated ND, and other filter types that require precise positioning.
A rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing out-of-focus quality when using selective focus or shallow depth of field techniques.

Sony Deals:
Zeiss FE Distagon lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Back in Stock: Refurbished Zeiss FE 5mm lens for $749 at [shoplink 35071 ebay]Secondipity eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink]
Til April 4 deal: Sony DSC-HX50V/B at cart(!) is $219.99 +LR5 +$20.00 GC at Focus Camera (Click here).

FE 35mm f/2.8 fw update issues: Sony says it will repair affected lenses free of charge

zeiss35mm28

Sony issued the following statement regarding a possible issue with the FE 35mm f/2.8 lens:

Notice to Owners of the Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Interchangeable Lens

March 31, 2015
Sony has recently become aware that some of the Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA E-Mount lenses sold during and after November 2014 are experiencing an issue when customers attempt to update the software to the new version released on March 4, 2015 (from Ver. 01 to Ver. 02).
Sony is planning to offer repairs for the affected lenses free of charge.
(Please contact the Sony Support Center listed below. Applications for repairs will also be accepted through the Sony website.)
In the case that the software update completes with no trouble, there is no need for repair.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

【Malfunction Symptoms】
The software update freezes at the screen below when the customer initiates the software update (from Ver. 01 to Ver. 02) that was made available on March 4, 2015.
Update that has frozen   Update that is proceeding normally

If the above symptom is exhibited, please remove the battery from the camera when the update freezes.
The lens can continue to be used with the pre-update Ver. 01 software.

※How to check the software version
1) Power on the camera
2) Select [Menu]→[Setup]→[Ver.]
The software version installed on the lens will be displayed (as below).

【Affected model and production numbers】
SEL35F28Z Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
α™ (E-Mount) interchangeable lenses
Purchased during or after November 2014

※Affected production numbers
Some, but not all, numbers from
1812043 – 1851015 (AE Version)
1840715 – 1850381 (CN2 Version)

 

Thanks to the anonymous source who sent this!

Live Q&A with Sony Artisan Brian Matiash at 500px (and A6000 news roundup).

Quick note: 500px is hosting Sony Artisan Brian Matiash for their next Live Q&A session (next Tues, March 31st at 10AM Pacific/US). Part of the event is a contest where they’re giving away a Sony a6000 kit.

A6000 battery grip: Ownuser grip on [shoplink 32882 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or Amazon (Click here). “Neweer” battery grip for the A6000 is now for sale on Amazon (Click here). And the “Travor” A6000 battery grip is for sale on Alibaba (Click here).

„Neuer Fokus“: Manuel Neuer setzt auf die Alpha α6000 Systemkamera von Sony (Presscentre.sony.de).

Richard:Have shot a lot of with eh A6000 and A7R in the last few months of converting with teh Metabones from Canon 6D.: http://www.richardfoxphotography.com/blog/

Sony A6000 store link list:
Sony A6000 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonyStore. In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, WexUK.
A6000 Gariz case on eBay in [shoplink 26006 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26007 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26008 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 26009 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink].

Sony Tidbits…


Sony Alpha Tutorial – Setting up a Camera for Wireless Flash

Sony World Photogrpahy national award winners (Worldphoto).
Testing the Sony A7s with 4K at ISO 40,000 (PetaPixel).
April 18 A7II’s new machine Trial EVENT in Hong Kong (sony.com.hk).
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton II on a7R / a7S (SonyAlphaForum).
Shogun Firmware Update V6.2 (Atomos Support).
Mirrorless expert round-up (Mirrorlessons).
Contax G Sonnar 90/2.8 (SonyAlphaForum).

Eric:Here is the link for some amazing aurora photos taken with A7R, A7S and Canon TS-E 17. You are very welcome to post this if you like it :) https://www.behance.net/gallery/24366823/Chasing-Aurora. The full version of the entire Iceland journey in Chinese I posted on Mobile01.com

Josh:Not my pic, but if you haven’t seen it, here’s a nice meteor shot from a Sony RX100:
https://www.facebook.com/thehebrideanexplorer/photos/a.423808530971416.102928.156194614399477/968863493132581/?type=1&theater
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/meteor-over-loch-ness-this-is-how-the-photographer-captured-the-breathtaking-picture-10110765.html