On Facebook Zeiss explained why the new Batis lenses have that unique OLED screen:

Our new ZEISS Batis lenses feature an OLED display. We decided to integrate it in response to many customer requests that we received after the introduction of previous ZEISS lenses. The display shows the focus distance and depth of field and can be reliably read in poor ambient light or in the dark. By the way, the distance unit can be easily changed from meters to feet.

UPDATE: Right now Zeiss posted a full Q&A about the new lenses: blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=5983. Here are a couple of tidbits:

The ZEISS Batis lenses are protected against dust and splashes (not waterproof) and are therefore suitable for use in everyday weather conditions. They are designed for use at temperatures ranging from -10 °C to +55°C.

ZEISS Batis lenses are designed exclusively with E-mount for use on mirrorless system cameras with Sony E-mount.

Additional focal lengths will follow. Right now, we do not wish to publish any further details.

One more thing: A couple of new Batis image samples can be found on SonyAlphaForum (Click here) and by Michael Kormos (Click here).

Both lenses are now available for preorder in USA and Europe (UK/Germany)
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Lens shade for 85mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.
Lens shade for 25mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.

Source: Wikipedia.

GSM Dome reports that “Sony’s production line can meet at the moment just 50% of the market demand received from Chinese companies.” And Digitimes reports that “priority supply goes to Apple and Samsung“.

I don’t know if that affects the Alpha camera launch. Of course Sony produces a lot less APS-C and FF sensor but they are also many times bigger than smartphone cameras. As you can see from the graph above you obviously can exponentially produces many smaller sensor on a single wafer compared to FF sensors. And the image also shows how “bad” working sensor production is higher on larger sensors too.

It may be that both (in different degrees)….the shrinking digital system camera market and the high smartphone sensor request may influence the camera release cycle. The last nine months we only got one new system camera: The Sony A7II. This is unusual for a company like Sony . The last 3-4 years they released plenty of system camera every year (around 6-8 per year). And if there has been a delay or “slowing down” of the release cycle this may explains why some of the rumored cameras announcements have yet not been released…

via Image Sensor World.

Sony Australia launched the “move to mirrorless” micro site. Also confirmed is a touch and try event on May 15. Still nto sure if they will show any new E-mount camera there!

Thanks Alex!

MOONLIT – Kiting from Dusk till Dawn (A7s) from FLYSURFER Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

New A7 Mirrorless Camera Custom Finder Kit by Hoodman USA.
Sony FE 55 1.8 ZA review by Roger Marc.
Article about sports photographers who use mirrorless systems (Mirrorlessons).
Why The Faster Lightroom 6 Might Not Be Faster (SonyMirrorlessPro).
Image Sensor Market Shares (Image Sensor World).
A Post-DSLR World? 5 Thoughts After 5 Months of Mirrorless Shooting (Mikeonthestreet).
TRP Camera Straps (Tyson Robichaud).

Richard: “People have had problems finding Lightroom 6 stand alone so I wrote a quick blog about it: www.richardfoxphotography.com/lightroom-6-stand-alone-purchase/”

Cuneyt: “16min time lapse movie. All movie filmed with  #sony a99,a7r,F55.  goo.gl/4FhnBw”

Azham: “I just want to share some real world photos of Sony FE 35mmF1.4 during a Sony workshop few weeks ago. http://www.azhamshaari.com/v2/?p=432“

Reflections from Uyuni (Sony A7s) from Enrique Pacheco on Vimeo.

Sony RX100 III Field-tested (Cardinalphoto).
A7II review by Coolframe.
Zeiss BATIS launch : reading between the lines ? (DearSusans).
Egami spotted the 55mm FE lens patent.
A6000 with 5,6/540mm telephoto! (SonyAlphaForum).
HX90 samples at Fotopolis.
Sony A7II test at Fotosidan (google translation).

JJ: “Been a long time follower and thought I’d share with you a recent video we published on our channel showcasing how we use the a7s camera with a wireless follow focus unit on our rig. You shared our video last time and got a great response from your readers so I figured this would be another great resource for your readers to see the setup: https://youtu.be/who30zO5Fw0“

Chuljae Lee sent me his concept video about a “Sony ILCA a9x Mirrorless Apha, Global Shutter, Z Shift camera“.
One camera to make them all happy…A and E-mount owners :)

Colby Moore: “Wanted to share this dark video I shot on a7S in NYC in March.  https://vimeo.com/125973444“

Today there is a beauty seminar at Adorama from Miguel Quiles. And he created a tutorial video to go along with it:
Beauty shoot BTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BcBOg_ndRU
Seminar Link: http://www.adorama.com/alc/browse/pages/seminar-beauty-photography-basics-miguel-quiles

The $15 Holga 25mm f/8 Lens Review (Ilovehatephoto).
New Sony deals at Jessops UK.
Sony Artisan Spotlight: Cristina Mittermeier – Protecting the mighty Amazon (Sony Blog).
E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS – Compact, Light and Surprisingly Sharp (SonyAlphaForum).
Fly with Sony ActionCam and GoPro (Actioncamerarumors).

Hans: “Hi, maybe a cool option for E mount and technical camera lovers. I’m an A mount guy and no relation to Cambo other then that I’m dutch too. http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item34298.html“