Officially announced: World’s lightest 50mm f/1.2 lens from Sigma

Preorders:
In USA: BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
In Europe: FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK.

Reviews:
Article on Explora. SonyAlphaBlog. TheDigitalPicture. Lensvid.

Comparison with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4:

  • New lens has 40cm close focus instead of 45cm close focus of the f/1.4
  • New lens has 17 elements in 12 groups instead of the 14 elements in 11 groups
  • 13 aperture blades instead of the 11 blades
  • 81mm width compared to 78.2mm
  • 108.8mm height instead of 111.5mm
  • 745g instead of 670g
  • $1399 instead of $849

Youtube reviews:

Sony releases firmware update for the α7R V, α7CR, α7C II, ZV-E1

Sony issued a new firmware update for four Alpha cameras:

Benefits:

  • Fixes an issue where the camera could restart if many faces were simultaneously recognized at the same time when shooting a movies
  • Fixes an issue where the time code wasn’t always retained after a power restart
  • Fixes an issue where the certain custom key operations may cause the restart
  • Improves the exposure stability when using extended ISO during movie recordings
  • Improves the operational stability of the camera

 

Amazing: Sony just announced a new 247 Megapixel medium format sensor!

Sony just released the full details for a new 247 Megapixel medium format sensor. This sensor is meant for “industrial use” so it’s not clear if this can be used on regular cameras too.

A couple of impressive specs:

  • 3:2 ratio sensor with 53.96mm x 35.97mm size (that’s a medium format sensor used by 30k plus cameras like the Hasselblad H6D)
  • 247MP Back-side illuminated sensor
  • 5fps (which is quite fast considering size and resolution of the sensor.
  • comes in both color or monochrome versions

Here is the official Sony description:

Description
The IMX811-AAQR is a diagonal 64.84 mm (Type 4.1) CMOS active pixel type image sensor with a square pixel
array and 247.04 M effective pixels. This sensor incorporates maximum 24 dB PGA circuit and 16-bit A/D converter.
16-bit digital output makes it possible to readout the signals of 247.04 M effective pixels at high-speed of 5.3 frame/s
in all-pixel readout mode.
(Application: FA cameras)

Features
◆ Type 4.1 CMOS active pixel type dots
◆ Input clock frequency 72 MHz
◆ All-pixel readout mode
Various readout modes (*)
◆ Rolling shutter function
◆ H driver, V driver and serial communication circuit on chip
◆ +24 dB gain settable in CDS/PGA on chip
◆ Built-in 12-bit/14-bit/16-bit A/D converter
◆ R, G, B primary color mosaic filters on chip
◆ Back-illuminated type
◆ Sensor Slave Mode only
◆Seal glass: both sides are processed by AR coating
◆SLVS-EC output

Device Structure
◆ Back-Illuminated CMOS image sensor
◆ Image size: Diagonal 64.84 mm (Type 4.1)
◆ Total number of pixels: 19680 (H) × 13308 (V) approx. 261.90 M pixels
◆ Number of effective pixels: 19240 (H) × 12840 (V) approx. 247.04 M pixels
◆ Number of active pixels: 19200 (H) × 12800 (V) approx. 245.76 M pixels
◆ Unit cell size: 2.81 μm (H) × 2.81 μm (V)
◆ Optical black: Horizontal (H) direction: Left 188 pixels, right 188 pixels /// Vertical (V) direction: Top 56 pixels, bottom 56 pixels
◆ Package: 786 pin LGA 75.0 mm (H) × 63.6 mm (V)

Drive Mode
All-pixel readout mode 19200 (H) × 12800 (V)
Approx. 245.76 M pixels
12.4 SLVS-EC Lane 4 × 4 12
10.5 SLVS-EC Lane 4 × 4 14
5.3 SLVS-EC Lane 4 × 4 16

My take:
If I am not mistaken I sometimes saw industrial sensors used on regular cameras: An example is this IMX461102MP medium format sensor that is marked for “industrial” use but appears to be the same sensor of the Fujifilm GFX100 and Hasselblad X cameras.
Dear Sony..I am throwing the gauntlet: Make a fixed lens RX camera using this sensor and I will buy it :)