Zeiss announced the new Loxia 25mm f/2.4 FE lens.

Preorders:
In USA at BHphoto and Adorama.
In EUR at Photo Porst Neuwied.

Press text:
Zeiss website.

More material and previews:
Full review by ePhotozine. Hands-on by ThePhoBlographer. Loxia PDF file. Image samples by Zeiss. Product images by Zeiss. Article on Lenspire. Product page on Zeiss.

Video:

Technical details:

Adobe finally seems to have fixed the slow performance of Lightroom. They released the new Lightroom Classic 7.2 (press text here):

In the past, many users have reported that Lightroom becomes slower after a prolonged usage. This issue should have been fixed with this version. Also, resource-intensive activities, such as export, import, preview generation, and HD/panorama merge should be faster if your machine has 12 GM or more RAM.
We, specifically, have implemented changes related to Threading Building Blocks (TBB). This should be effective on machines with 12 GB or more RAM.

If you like me prefer to have a proper standalone version with no subscription check this: We can now offer a 10% discount on Capture One 11 (Click here) and Capture One 11 for Sony (Click here). Use the coupon code “AMBSAR“.

Sony reports:

In certain shooting conditions an out of focus issue may occur with some 24-105mm F4 Full-frame E-mount G (SEL24105G) lenses. These symptoms may occur under certain shooting conditions:

• The lens may not focus when using autofocus with close aperture
• The lens may be out of focus when changing the aperture after using manual focus

To address this issue, subject to the terms and conditions in the Limited Warranty that accompanied the Affected Lens, we will repair your Affected Lens, free of charge, through March 31, 2020.

To see if your lens is affected type your serial number on this page: esupport.sony.com/US/p/compatibility.pl?comp_project_id=18

–
Thanks Tamas and Pascal!

Sony announced the successful production of a new Global Shutter sensor. In the press text they describe a 1,46 Megapixel sensor. But I am sure this tech can be scaled up to bigger sensors. Global Shutter gets rid of rolling shutter artifacts. Huge deal for future A7s cameras for example.

Press text:

Sony Develops a Back-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensor with Pixel-Parallel A/D Converter That Enables Global Shutter Function*1

Tokyo, Japan—Sony Corporation today announced that it has developed a 1.46 effective megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor equipped with a Global Shutter function*1. The newly developed pixel-parallel analog-to-digital converters provide the function to instantly convert the analog signal from all pixels, simultaneously exposed, to a digital signal in parallel. This new technology was announced at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) on February 11, 2018 in San Francisco in the United States.

CMOS image sensors using the conventional column A/D conversion method*2 read out the photoelectrically converted analog signals from pixels row by row, which results in image distortion (focal plane distortion) caused by the time shift due to the row-by-row readout.

The new Sony sensor comes with newly developed low-current, compact A/D converters positioned beneath each pixel. These A/D converters instantly convert the analog signal from all the simultaneously exposed pixels in parallel to a digital signal to temporarily store it in digital memory. This architecture eliminates focal plane distortion due to readout time shift, making it possible to provide a Global Shutter function*1, an industry-first for a high-sensitivity back-illuminated CMOS sensor with pixel-parallel A/D Converter with more than one megapixel*3.

The inclusion of nearly 1,000 times as many A/D converters compared to the traditional column A/D conversion method*2 means an increased demand for current. Sony addressed this issue by developing a compact 14-bit A/D converter which boasts the industry’s best performance*4 in low-current operation.

Both the A/D converter and digital memory spaces are secured in a stacked configuration with these elements integrated into the bottom chip. The connection between each pixel on the top chip uses Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connection*5, a technology that Sony put into mass production as a world-first in January 2016.

In addition, a newly developed data transfer mechanism is implemented into the sensor to enable the high-speed massively parallel readout data required for the A/D conversion process.

*1: A function that alleviates the image distortion (focal plane distortion) specific to CMOS image sensors that read pixel signals row by row.
*2: Method where the A/D converter is provided for each vertical row of pixels in a parallel configuration.
*3: As of announcement on February 13, 2018.
*4: As of announcement on February 13, 2018. FoM (Figure of Merit): 0.24e-・nJ/step. (power consumption x noise) / {no. of pixels x frame speed x 2^(ADC resolution)}.
*5: Technology that provides electrical continuity via connected Cu (copper) pads when stacking the back-illuminated CMOS image sensor section (top chip) and logic circuits (bottom chip). Compared with through-silicon via (TSV) wiring, where the connection is achieved by penetrating electrodes around the circumference of the pixel area, this method gives more freedom in design, improves productivity, allows for a more compact size, and increases performance. Sony announced this technology in December 2016 at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco.
Main Features
Global Shutter function*1 achieved in a high-sensitivity back-illuminated CMOS image sensor by using the following key technologies:
Low-current, compact pixel-parallel A/D converter
In order to curtail power consumption, the new converter uses comparators that operate with subthreshold currents, resulting in the industry’s best-performing*4, low current, compact 14-bit A/D converter. This overcomes the issue of the increased demand for current due to the inclusion of nearly 1,000 times as many A/D converters in comparison with the traditional column A/D conversion method*2.
Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connection*5
To achieve the parallel A/D conversion for all pixels, Sony has developed a technology which makes it possible to include approximately three million Cu-Cu (copper-copper) connections*5 in one sensor. The Cu-Cu connection provides electrical continuity between the pixel and logic substrate, while securing space for implementing as many as 1.46 million A/D converters, the same number as the effective megapixels, as well as the digital memory.
High-speed data transfer construction
Sony has developed a new readout circuit to support the massively parallel digital signal transfer required in the A/D conversion process using 1.46 million A/D converters, making it possible to read and write all the pixel signals at high speed.

Why to stay with Sony instead of switching to Canon

Sony 24-105mm FE review at Enthusiastphotoblog
2 Venus Optics lenses being awarded the “Gold Medal” in Digital Camera Grand-Prix (DGP)
Sony RX10 IV Review | If I Can Only Use ONE Camera, This Is It For Me (Mike Mu).
Carbon Fiber Comes to Manfrotto’s New Element Traveler Tripod Line (Explora).
Insta360 Light Field Camera (Personal View).
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 Review (ePhotozine)

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

Chung: “Sony A5100 with Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 + MC11 adapter surpisingly gets fast autofocus in video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnFY-altRvY“