Sony issued a new firmware update for the A7rIV (download here).

Improvements:

• The Auto Focus (AF) performance is improved when recording movies with the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM (SEL1224GM) lens
• Improves the overall stability of the camera

And Tamron released a new firmware update for he 28-200mm FE (download here).

Improvements:

• When AF-S mode, the AF operation rarely stops in the middle and the focus indicator lights up even though it is not in focus.

rendering of a possible A5 camera (Yukai)

I am 99,9999999% sure that in mid September we will get a new Sony Full Frame E-mount camera. The only reason I am not 100% sure is because Covid-19 may mes the timeframe again if things get worse.

This camera will be something special: The first of a completely new line of cameras! It will become Sony’s new Full Frame entry line and this is what we know so far about this camera:

FACTS (What we know from the Sony Taiwan official registration):

• Battery is NP-FZ100,
• USB is Type-C.
• it has a single SD card slot
• It has both a mic-in and a headphone jack
• Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth

SOLID RUMORS: This is what I know so far about this model from TRUSTED sources:

• It’s a new Full Frame E-mount camera
• It’s an entry level model
• It’s something COMPLETELY new in the lineup (no A7 or A9) model.
• I don’t have confirmation on the name yet but I suspect it will be named A5 or A6
• Announcement around mid September (if Covid19 doesn’t mess this up)

UNCONFIRMED: This is what we I heard from new sources (unreliable yet):

• It has no EVF
• very compact A6xxx kind of size
• price around $1,000 (which makes it the cheapest “new” camera in the lineup). Of course the first generation A7 and A7II are priced below $,1000 but they weren’t that cheap when first announced.

Why is this camera HOT?
This will be the ultimate Sony FF camera to carry always with you. It will also attract plenty of new customers that might not be able to pay for the A7III. I am definitely going to buy this on!

You are excited and don’t know what to do now?
You can chat with me live on Discord about all the wild rumors I got on this camera. Also join the brand new Sony A5 Facebook group.

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Just a small warning, with all that convid-19 mess the announcement date might change like it did happen with the A7sIII (which was supposed ot be announced in June and not July).

Download it here: https://imagingedge.sony.net/en-us/ie-desktop.html

• Added clarity, fade, and sharpness range to Edit options.
• Added support for ILCE-7SM3.
• HEIF images cannot be viewed or edited.

Camrote launched a new major update for their App (here on App Store). Press text:

We have a feature-packed release for you in this latest update!

——– Focus Stacking!* ——–
Allows cameras which support remote control of “Touch AF” to perform focus stacking by providing a grid or set of areas to focus on which will then be captured in quick succession. Ideal for landscape or macro photographers!
* Focus stacking is only supported on certain models which support Touch AF remote control, please see https://camrote.app/camera-support for a list

——– Persistent Image Previews ———
We decided it was about time you could see image previews for longer than the 3-4 seconds they stuck around for previously… now they hang around for the whole app launch, and you can scroll back through them too! We’ll be bringing further improvements to this in the future (grouping timelapse shots e.t.c.)

——– Full Screen Mode ——–
We’ve added a distraction-free full screen mode! You’ll see we had to move some stuff around to accommodate this, but we think it’s well worth it! Full screen mode works particularly well on iPads where the screen closely matches the aspect ratio of the live view itself.

——– Other small tweaks ——–
– Disabled device auto-lock when downloading images
– Added support for bracketed capture (new Sony models)
– Added support for setting continuous shooting speed and mode (models earlier a7iii/a9)
– Added quick-switch for switching between cameras
– Added live view quality setting on newer models
– Changed order of radio buttons when setting exposure compensation to be more logical

Google translated from Photorar:

Krasnogorsk plant them. S. A. Zvereva of the Shvabe Holding of the State Corporation Rostec officially announced the development of a new lens for the Zenitar line. This is the Zenitar 2.8 / 60 Macro lens, which will be officially shown in the fall of 2020. The start of sales is scheduled for the same time.

“ The lens is designed for shooting small objects from a short distance with a high magnification – the maximum image scale is 1: 1. The novelty is distinguished by high resolution over the field of the frame at all shooting distances, even with an open aperture. The focal length of the lens is 60 mm, the minimum distance to the photographed object is 0.23 m , ”the manufacturer notes in the release text.

At the same time, Ivan Ozhgikhin, Deputy General Director of Shvabe, said that
” the quality and level of performance of the new development is comparable to that of leading manufacturers ” and called this lens the first lens in the Zenitar line with an electronically controlled diaphragm.

The official presentation of Zenitar 2.8 / 60 Macro will take place in Moscow in the fall of 2020. Also in September 2020, the Zenitar 35/2 will be announced for Sony-E cameras. Then the manufacturer commented on this future announcement as follows:

“The lens is made from 100% domestic components. Today it is presented in the E-mount version, but in the future we plan to release versions for other mirrorless cameras. Zenitar-12 will appear on the Russian market in mid-October , ”said Ivan Ozhgikhin, Deputy General Director of Shvabe.

This will be their second lens after the Zenitar 50mm f/0.95 Lens for Sony E that you can find on BHphoto.

Press text: