“I see the light”
A7s + Samyang 14/2.8
ISO 8000, focal length 14mm, f/2.8, shutter speed 20 sec

Our reader “Gift Of Light” worked with the A7II and A7s in extreme subzero temperatureconditions. These are soem of the pics and a short report of his adventure. The full reportage can be seen at SonyAlphaForum (Click here).

“Tracer”
A7s + FE 70-200/4
ISO 100, focal length 200mm, f/4, shutter speed 1/5,000 sec

“At lake Baikal, the average temperature is around -15 to -10 degree Celsius. All of my stuff, as in list, worked well, except the battery life. As all of us can expect, the battery life in a bit extreme cold weather should not be long. However, there is something more than that. Sometime I found that the battery status abruptly decreased from many percentages to exhausted, occurred in both A7II and A7s, but after the battery was changed both of them can work normally.

“Burning Cave”
A7 + FE 16-35/4
ISO 100, focal length 16mm, f/19, shutter speed 1/10 sec (HDR blend with +2 and -2 stops photos)

By the way, the exhausted batteries were found that they didn’t really exhaust because when I put them in the chargers, they didn’t charged from the zero. Moreover, I encountered a big problem once about this issue during the trip. At one morning, I went outdoors early since 4:00 AM and stayed there until 8:00 AM. At around 8:00 AM, my A7II abruptly showed exhausted battery status. I tried to replace the battery with many of unused batteries in my bag several times, but each time the A7II showed exhausted battery status after take a few shots. And as I told you earlier, all of them didn’t really exhaust. I don’t know what is the problem between the battery or the camera, but I think the latter is most likely. Otherwise, there is nothing to complaint about my Sony stuff.

“Dawn of The Coldest Desolation”
A7 II + FE 16-35/4
Blending two shots of
ISO 400, focal length 16 mm, f/16, shutter speed 2 sec (for a man)
ISO 100, focal length 16mm, f/16, shutter speed 8 sec (for whole photograph)

However, I want to request something from Sony. First of all, if it is possible, please make new battery with larger capacity. The A7 series is growing day by day and make attention from many professional photographers who want to use a smaller and lighter system for their work but still get image quality of full frame camera. But, to think that if you want to travel to remote areas without electricity for a while, you must bring a huge pack of your batteries to make sure that you will have enough power supply during your trip. That is not good. Another request, could you please add depth of field scale (or even hyperfocal distance) into the camera, just like when we turn the focusing ring and then the focusing distance pop up in the camera. It should be a great feature for landscape shooter like me. These are all I want to request for this time.”

“A7 Mk II on Ice”
A7s + FE 55/1.8
ISO 100, focal length 55mm, f/11, shutter speed 1/60 sec

A lot more images can be seen at SonyAlphaForum (Click here).

Yuri Afanasiev
Morning in red. “Red dress” serial. Sony a7r + FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS | 125mm | F / 6,3 | ISO 1000 | 1/40, light from windows + Reflector (Silver)
My Site http://www.photoru.ru/
https://www.facebook.com/photoru.ru

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!

Quick Look: Canon Super Telephoto 1200mm f/5.6L

Possible three new APS-C E-mount lenses to come in 2015…(SonyAlphaForum).
FE 35mm Distagon review at Focus Numerique.
Sony Fe 4/16-35 Review (SonyAlphaForum).
Keeping obstacles within your frame can be a good thing! (Sony Blog).
Canon 11-24 on A7r (Tomang).

Steve: “I wanted to share this short film shot mostly with my Sony Nex7, Canon FD glass and a Novaflex adapter. A few scenes (the low-angle footsteps & inside the church) were shot on my iPhone 5s. Enjoy. https://vimeo.com/112755882”

Maico: “I spent the last weeks reverse engineering the Sony PlayMemories Camera appstore and found out how to install custom apps on Sony NEX / Alpha cameras. I wanted to post my findings on http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/12756/sony-alpha-hacks-talk/p1, but the site seems nearly dead and invitation-only. That’s why I send the link to you:
https://sony-pmca.appspot.com/

Give it a try if you want to. I hope it works.
The source is available here:
https://github.com/ma1co/Sony-PMCA-RE

There is still a lot of work to do, but it is a proof of concept which should allow us to start understanding PMCA apps and begin to develop our own.Feel free to ask me any questions.
Thanks!
Kind regards
ma1co“

Zeiss posted new image samples shot with the Batis lenses on Flickr (Click here). These have been shot by Michael Semaan, Fine Art Photographer, Laguna Beach, California. He writes:

“Working with the ZEISS Batis lenses has been a fascinating experience. The OLED display is truly unique and differentiated from anything else on the market, showing exact focus distance and depth of field in any light condition. The optical characteristics and rendering of the lenses, build quality, ergonomics, weather sealing, auto focus, and resulting images are superb. ZEISS Batis lenses are enabling a new era of professional photography.”

Both Batis 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.
In Europe and Asia the Loxias can be found in Stock via [shoplink 36456 ebay]eBay sellers (Click here)[/shoplink] and Digitalrev (Click here).

How to Make the World’s Greatest Sandwich… from Gary Yost on Vimeo.

Gary (video on top): “Hey there… I’m a DP who usually uses big cameras from Black Magic, Sony F55, etc.  I recently bought an RX100m3 to see if it could function as a b-cam and was so impressed by it that I decided to shoot a little test using just the RX100 — mostly to see how well the XAVCS files could take a grade in Davinci Resolve. Well… it’s freakin amazing.  What a little powerhouse! Here’s the result.  Entirely shot with the RX100m3 with the exception of the first shot, an aerial made with a DJI Inspire. Enjoy, and feel free to link to it if you like it. https://vimeo.com/128085280”

FE 55mm lens review at Admiringlight
A7II review at Epicmirrorless.
Sony Artisan Profile: Caroline Jensen (Sony Blog).
Shogun Firmware Update V6.21 (Atomos).
Sigma 18-35mm ART lens issues (SonyAlphaForum).
Einfach nur genial: Das Sonnar T* FE 2,8/35 ZA an der Sony alpha 7 – Teil 2 (Joerghaag).

Blue Eden: “We shot this sailing over a week in Phuket and the Phi Phi islands using a Sony a7s and Nikon D800.  Check it out, and hope you can feature it if you like it :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQVO76h-p7Q“

Our reader Joe (Thanks!) sent us the link to the newly published detailed Sony electronics presentation: sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/irday2015electronics_presenE.pdf. Here are the key info:

1) Sony is selling less fixed lens cameras but selling more system cameras and high end fixed lens cameras
2) The earnings volume is slightly dropping but the profit is growing
3) Sony forecasts an increase of both Interchangeable camera and lens sales.

4) Focus is on premium products. Expansion of the professional camera product lineup (Alpha Cameras and Lenses and premium fixed lens cameras).
5) Apply high-end tech in consumer models
6) Establish an Ecosystem of strong differentiated products centered around the Alpha System

7) Focus on 4K, High Frame rate and wide color Gamut technology

8) there will be 20 FE lenses by early 2016
9) One of the competitive advantages of the Alpha Lenses is word’s highest resolution. Editor’s note: Sounds like they are ready for the 50+MP camera :)
10) Reading all files it’s clear that Sony will focus on “Alpha” system in the sense of E-mount and not A-mount (that’s my interpretation).
11) Sony has 60% of the mirrorless system camera market.

In Summary: Sony will push the E-mount system, launch plenty of high end products (A7 and maybe a future A9 series) with world leading innovations. Focus is on High resolution, High ISO, High Speed and 4K technologies. Also likely to be pushed is the RX system while there is no word in those documents what’s going to happen with A-mount.

What are you first impressions about Sony’s strategy?