Mark Galer posted a second video (watch on top) explaining the A7II Phase Detection and other new Features (Thanks Mark!). And than there is that very cool video:

It shows how much(!) the sensor moves on the 5 axis stabilization. I am really surprised to see this doesn’t crop the image! That’s good news. And now the possible bad news: DSLRmagazine (translation here) tested the 5 axis stabilization on third party lenses. And well they got the “feeling” that on third party manual lenses where you have to manually set the focal length of the stabilization…well only the three axis stabilization works and not the full 5 axis! But keep that with a grain of salt because:
1) They are yet not 100% sure of that
2) Sony may fixes this in the final firmware version?

Can reviewers and testers please ask Sony about this matter? Thanks!

UDPATE: One more little good news: Imaging Resource compared the A7 vs A7II image quality at ISO 3200 and the A7II seems to have a slightly increased sharpness.

More A7II tests:
Spanish hands-on at Xatakafoto (translation here).
DC.view (google translation here) posted some ISO samples with A7II images on left and A7 images on right.

USA preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.

EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany and at Wex UK. In Finland at Verkkokauppa.

Asian/Australia preordersNote:
Sony A7II at Sony Store Australia (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).

Hi readers. I really need some help from you. If you don’t see the newest articles on our main Homepage or if you see other people complaining on forums that they don’t see SAR news anymore please do/tell them that:

To see full content on homepage please refresh our site by doing so:
Windows: ctrl + F5
Mac/Apple: Apple + R or command + R
Linux: F5

THis will fix a browser caching issue we had on November 27.

Please spread the word! Thanks!

Note: Also our Australian readers can now preorder the A7II at Sony Store Australia (Click here).

Mark Galer Alpha Ambassador from Sony Australia shot this A7II hands-on video. From minute 5 you can hear his robotic voice (LOL) and the interesting 5 axis stabilization test with the [shoplink 31410 ebay]Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 lens[/shoplink]. The difference between having and not having stabilization is quite impressive!

Thanks Marc for sharing this!

USA preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.

EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany and at Wex UK. In Finland at Verkkokauppa.

Note: Also Australian readers can now preorder the new Sony A7II at Sony Store Australia (Click here). The first A7II cameras will ship tomorrow in Japan according to Amazon.co.jp.

This is very strange: For many weeks now the Zeiss Loxia 50mm lens is out of Stock in almost any US-EU-Japan store!
It’s not in Stock at BHphoto or Adorama. It’s not in Stock in Germany. Only Store having a small Stock of lenses left in-house is Digitalrev (Click here). Don’t know if the first production run has been sold out or if there is some issue on the production line. One of the dealers I am in contact with asked Zeiss many times about when they wills end them a Stock. And Zeiss answered that they still cannot say when. Strange!

In the meantime check out the Loxia 50mm lens review at Varietyoflight:

The image quality is very good. This lens indeed eliminates some of the typical flaws of older M-mount lenses adopted on E-mount (full-frame) and as a result sharpness wide open can not only be seen in the very center of the image but also to the sides. Overall it seems that a very balanced image quality has been achieved where none of the artifacts like CA or vignetting sticks out. The only artifact which appears a little bit more prominent is distortion which might be rather annoying when shooting architecture/geometry but which can be easily corrected in post production.

And Mirrorlessons posted a set of Sony A7s & Zeiss Loxia gallery pictures.

On November 27 our rumor site server had a small issue on the caching software. Since then some of you may have not seen new articles on the main SAR homepage. This happens because your browser memorized the issue and doesn’t get rid of it. To clear the issue please just reload the SAR homepage (not the single post view site!) by hitting your “control + F5” button to reload the site. Or  clear the browser’s cache manually. That will get rid of the issue. Of course you have to do it for every browser you use on any device.

Thanks a lot!

Note: Amazon (Click here) is again taking preorders on the A7II!! Europe too at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.

Newsshooter spoke with Sony Europe at length about the new Sony A7II. And this is ome of the key info they got:

1) the A-mount 16mm f2.8 fisheye, 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2.8 and 500mm f8 AF mirror lens when used with a Sony A-mount to E-mount adapter only offer three axis stabilisation.
2) With third party lenses without electronic communication on the a7 II you can program the focal length into the menu for optimal operation. I was told you set the focal length closest to the one you are using – although I don’t know what you are supposed to do when using a manual zoom that doesn’t communicate with the camera.
3) Changing of the programmed focal length can be assigned to a custom button to make changes quicker. Sony say the stabilisation system will likely perform well with third party lenses, but there are no guarantees.
4) They were keen to point out that the roll axis stabilisation is likely to aid video shooters the most. When running-and-gunning this is often the hardest motion to stabilise.
5) One added bonus of the sensor shift system is that is also improves the sensor cleaning as the camera is now able to physically shake dust off the sensor.
6) I was told the a7 II uses the same sensor as the original a7, but has some improvements in the way it processes that data which may improve image quality.
7) Interestingly the lowest ISO setting for S-log 2 in video mode seems to be ISO 1600 as opposed to 3200 on the a7S.

Thansk Newsshooter for prividing that additional info!

SAR reader Michael had the chance to play with the A7II in UK and told me that:

I played with it extensively in the past two days and it is a nice upgrade. The focusing is much much better and I like the implementation of the tracking more along the lines of the a7S, The stabilisation works on just about any lens, The Camera is definitely a little heavier which is a good thing as it feels more solid less plasticy and the way the camera sis in ones hand makes it a pleasure to use.

And Ilovehatephoto wrote the Reasons why A7 Owners Should and Shouldn’t Upgrade to the Sony A7II.

USA preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.

EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany and at Wex UK. In Finland at Verkkokauppa.