Metabones to offer an updated EOS to NEX adapter with full AF control.

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Metabones announced that it will add autofocus support on [shoplink 15341 ebay]EF to NEX Smart Adapter II (they are here on eBay)[/shoplink]. What follows is the official press release:

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Vancouver, Canada, November 7, 2012 – Metabones adds autofocus support for select Canon lenses to its Smart Adapter II (for mounting EF and EF-S mount lenses on Sony NEX cameras).
To ensure the best possible accuracy, autofocus is enabled only for late-model Canon-brand lenses (introduced circa 2006 or later).
Significant effort has been put into focus accuracy research and we conclude that only lenses capable of the most precise control in their autofocus mechanisms could reliably deliver pixel-accurate results when adapted to Sony NEX cameras. Autofocus is disabled for most older Canon lenses and most third-party lenses, but aperture control, image stabilization (if applicable), EXIF and other features will continue to work just like before.
Autofocus speed is significantly slower than on a DSLR camera. Phase detection feature of NEX-5R/6 is not used at this time. As a result, autofocus speed of a Canon EF/EF-S lens on Sony NEX is usually slower than on the new Canon EOS M. Compared with Sony’s own A-mount lens adapters, Metabones Smart Adapter II is faster than LA-EA1 but slower than the translucent-mirror-equipped LA-EA2.
Smart Adapter II with autofocus support is available right now at the same price (US$399+applicable tax/duty) from Metabones’ distributors in many countries all over the world and the Metabones online shop. Existing Smart Adapter II customers may send their units back for an upgrade for a nominal shipping/handling charge of $50.

via DPreview.

Five new E-mount Rokinon/Samyang lenses released and preorders!

UPDATE: Bhphoto listed five new E-mount lenses from Rokinon Samyang! These are all Cine lenses (smooth aperture control). Someone raised the question that this may be a BH mistake. But their text clearly says it’s for NEX.

8mm T/3.8 Fisheye Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
14mm T3.1 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
24mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
35mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).
85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Sony E at BHphoto (Click here).

Don’t forget that there is also an upcoming Rokinon 8mm T/3.8 Fisheye Cine Lens for Sony A-mount (BHphoto), the 24mm t/1.5 A-mount (Amazon) and the 35mm t/1.5 for A-mount (Amazon).

As usual be aware that Samyang has mane different brand names. Click on these Slidoo eBay links to see a list.
USA: Rokinon, Samyang, Opteka, Bower and in Europe: Samyang, Rokinon, Walimex, Falcon, Vivitar.

Note: Slidoo is a SAR developed official eBay App (in Beta phase). Subscribe to change country and help me testing this project. Thanks!

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Samyang also sent us the press release text of the 85mm t/1.5 lens:

Press release:

Kraków, 9th of November, 2012 – Samyang Europe proudly informs about releasing at the turn of November and December brand new video lens Samyang T 1.5 85mm AS IF UMC.
The lens will join Samyang’s VDSLR family and will be available with following mounts: Nikon, Canon, or Sony. Optical construction, similarly as in case of classical version, comprises of 9 lenses  divided into 7 optical groups and provides internal focusing function. It should be also noted that one of the lenses is aspherical. Iris diaphragm allows one to produce aesthetic bokeh. All lenses were covered with multilayered, anti-reflective coatings, which add to the very high level of light transmission. As in the case of the rest VDSLR lenses, the aperture and focus rings are featured with gears, allowing to control work of the lens with follow focus system.
Samyang T 1.5 85mm AS IF UMC will be available on sales at the turn of November and December, but for those, who would like to have it earlier, Samyang Europe prepared a special contest. The prize is the brand new 85mm VDSLR itself. To win the lens a short video needs to be made. All necessary information is at distributor’s offical site: www.samyang.pl and its Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/samyangpl
Welcome to the fun!
Samyang Europe

 

via Cheesycam.

Pics of the “new” RX1!

As you know Sony modified the original announced RX1 camera. AF-C Auto Focus option has been removed and shutter speed increased to 1:4000. DC.watch (translation here) posted the pics of the final RX1 production camera.

Our friend Mike Kobal posted some hands-on pictures of the prototype RX1: “The camera felt just right in my medium sized hands and control dials and buttons were in the right place. I was a little disappointed to realize the size of the lens, especially with the lens hood attached. It will not fit into my pockets ”

Yesterday Yosuke Aoki from Sony said that “all Sony RX1 photos we have seen so far don’t yet show off the compact full-frame’s camera full potential.“. I can’t wait to see a side by side RAW image comparison between the RX1 and the A99!

A warning: That [shoplink 15267 ebay]RX1 eBay auction (Click here)[/shoplink] some reader sent me is not for a real in Stock camera!!!

The RX1 can be pre ordered at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany, Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.

Interesting interview with Yosuke Aoki from Sony. Talks about RX1 and FF mirrorless.

Our friends over at The.me (Click here) interviewed Mr.Yosuke Aoki from Sony. Here are just some of the most interesting statements:

– Mr. Aoki says that all Sony RX1 photos we have seen so far don’t yet show off the compact full-frame’s camera full potential.
– He also admitted that “We’re studying the possibility” of doing a Full Frame mirrorless system.
– “Canon and Nikon are traditional camera brands. Sony stands for uniqueness and electronics. Those we’d like to optimize. We plan to use electronics and technology to change camera development.”

An unnamed Sony executive told THEME about SonyAlphaRumors. They don’t want to push to close these website. At that point I only want to say that I know well that many Sony managers do appreciate most of my work (not all of course). And I appreciate the great innovations coming thanks to the hard work of engineer’s and managers. I hope I can be one of the (small) vehicles capable of bringing some excitement and visibility on future Sony products. So dear Sony, send me some anonymous rumors about the next A1 and FF mirrorless please! …just joking ;)

 

The RX1 can be pre ordered at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany and more links at Alphacameradeals.