This week SAR readers photos selection.


Jonathan Ferland-Valois
Harbour Centre and parts of downtown Vancouver viewed from a rooftop. Which one? Probably shouldn’t say, but it was pretty high.
smile emoticon
Sony A6000 + Samyang 12mm f/2 @ f/4

1) Submit your picture with a message and picture here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors or on the SonyAlphaForum image section.
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors/photos_stream?tab=photos and on SonyAlphaForum.
3) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

Note: When sending a pic feel free to also add a link to your site to promote yourself!

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Sony A7sII info from Newsshooter: “Has tweaked sensor, no 4K internal recording on APS-C mode”.

HOT! The new Sony A7sII can be preordered at Adorama now (Click here). And also the new FS5 camcorder (Click here).

Newsshooter collected some more detailed info about the A7sII:

1) For low light shooting Sony is claiming the a7S II is better by approximately 2 stops than the a7R II.
2) The only difference between the sensors A7s and A7sII sensors is that the colour science has been tweaked on the a7S II and should offer results that are similar to that of the a7R II. This is something that a lot of Sony fans will be very pleased to hear as the a7R II seems to offer more pleasing skin tones than that of the original a7S.
3) A7sII has “S-Log3 Cine” with more filmic look. S-Log3 or S-Log3 Cine gammas has been lowered to 1600 ISO instead of the 3200 for S-Log2 on the a7S.
4) Strangely enough there is no option to record 4K internally in APS-C crop mode, you can only record 4K internally in full frame mode.

Update: obviously in crop mode there are less pixels so 4k is impossible :)

The A7sII is now listed at BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).

Schneider announces 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm T/2.1 Full Frame lenses for the Sony E-mount

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Surprise! Schneider announced the release of five Full Frame E-mount lenses: The 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm T/2.1! ALl lenses are prices between €2,998-€4,320. Those lenses do alreayd exist for other mounts like Nikon and Canon (prices here at BHphoto).

FF-PRIME LENSES BY SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH NOW ALSO WITH SONY E-MOUNT

Bad Kreuznach, 08.09.2015

Schneider-Kreuznach will present an FF-Prime lens with Sony E-Mount for the first time at the International Broadcast Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam.

The E-Mount allows users to mount the full frame lenses to cameras like the new Sony Alpha 7RII. Up to now, the lenses, which have been on the market since 2014, could be used in combination with Nikon’s F or Canon’s EOS mount bayonets as well as PL mounts. “With the FF-Prime lenses we want to provide a genuine optical alternative to professional filmmakers and cinematographers. We are delighted that we can meet the considerable demand for a combination with a Sony E-Mount and thus expand the scope for application”, says Harald Barth, Head of Film and Photo at Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH. With a 4K resolution (4096 x 2304 pixels), the lenses were designed specifically for DSLR cameras with full frame sensors and for professional cine cameras. The homogeneous set comprises T2.1/25mm, T2.1/35mm, T2.1/50mm, T2.1/75mm and T2.1/100mm focal lengths. The lenses are characterized in particular by their easy handling and an organic overall impression. This sets them apart from the crowd and makes them the lens of choice for filming ads, feature films, documentaries, TV series and corporate videos. The FF Prime lenses with Sony E-Mount will become available during the course of 2015 and will cost between 2,998 and 4,320 euros depending on focal length.

In addition, Schneider-Kreuznach will present its MPTV filters and Cine-Xenar lenses in Amsterdam. Among the MPTV filter range are the new Confetti filters that create mini-streaks on the image looking like fireworks. During talks on 11, 12 and 13 September, MPTV filter expert Ira Tiffen will provide some insight into the filters’ principles of operation and explain how to achieve the best possible filter effects. Dutch filmmaker Remco Hekker will present the FF Prime and Cine-Xenar lenses.

Schneider-Kreuznach will be at the IBC in Amsterdam from 11 to 15 September 2015: hall 11, stand A41.

Xenon Full Frame Primes
For digital cinematography, Schneider-Kreuznach offers the FF-Prime lens range for demanding film and TV productions. This series of 4K lenses was designed for cameras with full frame sensors (36mm x 24mm). This means that the full image circle with a diameter of 43.3mm can be utilized for cameras like the Canon 5D Mark III or the Nikon D800. In addition, the interchangeable bayonet mount enables the lenses to be used on cameras with S35 sensors including the RED Dragon, the Canon C100/C300/C500, the Arri Alexa, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera or the Sony F5/F55. The current range of focal lengths will be joined by 18mm and 135mm lenses. The 14-blade iris creates a harmonious bokeh and breathing is reduced to a minimum. Color matching ensures homogeneous color characteristics, thus reducing time-consuming corrections during postproduction.

MPTV range of filters for professional film and TV productions
The sheet filters in Schneider-Kreuznach’s MPTV filter range are suitable for use with matte boxes measuring 4” x 4”, 4” x 4.65” and 6” x 6”. During the production process that has been developed especially for this purpose, the high-quality, homogeneous foil material is vacuum laminated between two layers of crystal clear, optically pure glass. The glass is ground and finely polished on both sides to ensure exact flatness of the glass surface and plane parallelism. To guarantee consistently high quality in all products, the density of the filters is checked with a densitometer and the specified light transmission is analyzed with a spectrophotometer. Schneider-Kreuznach MPTV filters offer uncompromising optical performance for optimal results.

Cine-Xenar III range
In addition to the FF-Prime lens range, Schneider-Kreuznach offers another professional cine lens family – the MPTV “Cine-Xenar III” range. It was developed for cameras with Super 35 sensors (18.6 x 24.8mm). The 6K lenses feature outstanding optical quality, very low distortion, virtually no breathing and an excellent bokeh. As a result, all focal lengths in the range produce films with a consistent look. The Cine-Xenar range comprises seven fixed focal lengths: T2.2/14mm, T2.2/18mm, T2.2/25mm, T2.1/35mm, T2.0/50mm, T2.0/75mm and T2.0/95mm. Thanks to their modular design, the lenses are particularly easy to service. The PL bayonet can be exchanged with a Canon bayonet.

via Photographyblog.

Sony A7sII announced!

Bildschirmfoto 2015-09-11 um 09.40.56

Sony announced the new Sony A7sII. Stay tuned! I will keep updating this post!

Preorders:
The new Sony A7sII can be preordered at Adorama now (Click here). And also the new FS5 camcorder (Click here).
A7sII at BHphoto (Click here).

Key specs:
12MP Exmor CMOS sensor
RAW output 14 bit (real or lossy?)
Internal 4K recording with higher dynamic range
5 axis stabilization
Much improved AF in low light conditions (169 AF points)
The A7SII will be available in November 2015, at 3400€.

Press text, Image samples and videos:
Full Sony specs on that SonyAlphaRumors page.
Sony A7sII official press text: “Out of darkness cometh light” on that SonyAlphaRumors page.
5 Things You Need To Know About The New Sony Alpha a7S II (WexUK).
List fo real world pictures of the new Sony A7sII! (SonyAlphaCameras).
Sample photos at Sony.net Gallery.
α7S II – 4K low-light ISO comparison MOVIE | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras).
α7S II – 5x Slow Motion “Landscape” in Full HD | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
α7S II – 5-axis optical image stabilization | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
α7S II – S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3 movie | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
α7S II – High quality 4K movie “Takigi-noh” in Full frame | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
α7S II – Fast Intelligent AF for movie | α | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras).
Presnetation at TheVideomode.

Bildschirmfoto 2015-09-11 um 09.41.07

Newsshooter at IBC 2015: Sony A7s II first look from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

Sony A7sII official press text: “Out of darkness cometh light”.

Bildschirmfoto 2015-09-11 um 10.07.19

New A7sII preorder links:
HOT! The new Sony A7sII can be preordered at Adorama now (Click here). And also the new FS5 camcorder (Click here).
A7sII at BHphoto (Click here).

Full Press Release:

Out of darkness cometh light

  • Ultra-high sensitivity up to 409600i with low noise across the whole range
  • Wide dynamic range across entire ISO range delivering smooth tonal gradation from dark to bright conditions
  • In-camera 5-axis optical image stabilisation for expanded shooting possibilities
  • Internal 4K movie recording featuring full pixel readout without pixel binning in full-frame format
  • Wide range of professional movie functionality including S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3, new Gamma Assist Display, enhanced Zebra Function, Full HD 120fps recording and 4x/5x slow motion recording and full pixel readout without pixel binning in full-frame format
  • High-speed AF with enhanced accuracy in wide ranging scenes and advanced shooting functions

 

Sony today announced the latest addition to its award winning series of compact, full-frame α7 cameras with the introduction of the α7S II. Offering ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range across the entire ISO range and 5-axis image stabilisation for greater shooting control, the α7S II delivers stunning image quality for photographers who shoot in the most challenging light conditions. Be it the brightest of mornings or darkest of nights, the α7S II enables new levels of photographic expression at whatever shutter speed you wish to deploy. The α7SII also incorporates a host of pro-style movie functions including the ability to shoot 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in full-frame format, making it an extremely appealing proposition for photographers and videographers alike.

 

The α7S II delivers an awe-inspiring sensitivity range of ISO 50-409600[i], thanks to the combination of its 35mm full-frame 12.2 megapixel[ii] image sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine. The sensor optimises the dynamic range across the entire ISO range and broadens the range of tonal gradation in bright environments and minimises noise in dark scenes meaning that it delivers impressive results even in the most extreme conditions. The upgraded image processing algorithm of BIONZ X maximises the sensor’s capabilities and improves depiction throughout the full sensitivity range with particular emphasis on the mid-to-high range. This means that the resulting stills and movies demonstrate extra-fine detail with minimal noise.

Video Master

The α7S II can record 4K[iii] movies internally in the XAVC S format[iv] meaning that content is wonderfully detailed. Because information from all pixels is utilised without line skipping or pixel binning, the camera can maximise the expanded power of the full-frame image sensor and produce 4K movies with higher image clarity and negligible moiré. Full pixel readout without pixel binning is also employed when shooting Full HD[v] movies which means that it collects information from approximately five times as many pixels that are required to generate Full HD[vi] and condenses the information to produce extremely high quality movies.

In a first for the α7 series, the α7S IIcan record 120fps at 100Mbps[vii] with full pixel readout without pixel binning in full frame format which can be edited into wonderful 4x/5x slow motion footage[viii] in Full HD. The α7S II also has the ability to shoot 4x/5x slow motion footage internally which can be immediately reviewed on the camera screen.

Video functionality has been further enhanced with new profiles; S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3. These new profiles deliver wide dynamic range and colour correction is easier to perform. The α7S ll even offers impressive 14-stop latitude in the S-Log3 gamma setting. The camera also supports S-Gamut/S-Log2 which is very popular among cinematographers and videographers. Gamma Display Assist is a new function that allows users to monitor images or check focus when recording S-Log movies and the Zebra function has been improved for even greater control.

5-Axis Image Stabilisation

The new α7S II is equipped with the innovative 5-axis image stabilisation system that is proving extremely popular in the α7 II and α7R II cameras. The system corrects camera shake along five axes during shooting, including angular shake (pitch and yaw) which has the greatest impact on image quality and tends to occur with a telephoto lens, shift shake (X and Y axes) which becomes noticeable as magnification increases, and rotational shake (roll) that often affects night shooting or video recording.

Autofocus accuracy

The autofocus system on the α7S II has been upgraded and now offers 169 AF points for fast, precise focusing with greater accuracy.[ix] The power of the image sensor means that the absence of noise in images generated, enables the Fast Intelligent AF to detect contrast more easily and react speedily even in low-light situations (as low as EV-4), when it’s even tough to check with the naked eye. When shooting video, the AF performance is twice as fast as the predecessor model.[x]

Electronic Viewfinder

The XGA OLED Tru-Finder in the α7S II has been upgraded and offers the world’s highest viewfinder magnification[xi] of 0.78x (roughly 38.5 degrees in diagonal field of view) and shows clear images across the entire display area. The use of ZEISS T* Coating ensures sharp reduction of reflections on the viewfinder and unlike an optical viewfinder, the OLED Tru-Finder can be used to instantly show how exposure compensation, white balance and other selected settings are affecting the displayed image.

User upgrades

A number of enhancements have been made to the look and feel of the α7S II to make it more user friendly, reliable and intuitive. Its magnesium-alloy body is both light and highly robust and the grip and shutter buttons have been re-designed so that the camera feels more natural in the hand. For situations when you just want to blend into the background, silent shooting mode can be activated for 5fps continuous shooting[xii] and reliability has been enhanced with reduced-vibration shutter movement.[xiii] The lens mount has been further reinforced to ensure greater resilience, particularly when attaching third party lenses and users can now charge the camera via a USB power supply whilst the camera is in operation, thus extending battery life. For greater comfort and safety, Sony is also launching the LCS-EBF; a new premium leather body case for the α7S II which is also compatible with the α7R II and α7 II.

The α7S II is also Wi-Fi® and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application available for Android™ and iOS™ platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps, which add a range of fun creative capabilities to the camera. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca.

The new α7S II full-frame interchangeable lens digital camera from Sony will be available in Europe in November 2015, priced at approximately €3,400.

[i]Standard ISO 100 – 102400, Expandable to ISO 50-409600
[ii] Approximate effective megapixels
[iii] QFHD: 3840 x 2160. Internal recording and HDMI output, both at 4K resolution, are available in full-frame
[iv]SDXC memory card higher than Class 10 is required for movie recording in XAVC S format
[v]In 24p/30p
[vi] 1920 x 1080
[vii] UHS Class 3 memory card is required for recording at 100Mbps
[viii] 30p (25p) or 24p
[ix] Compared to α7S
[x]Compared to the α7S, when shooting Full HD movies.
[xi]Amongst digital cameras. The viewfinder magnification is approx. 0.78x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1). As of date of press release, based on Sony research.
[xii]Speed Priority Continuous mode. Focus and exposure settings fixed at first shot.
[xiii] 500,000-cycle durability. According to Sony internal testing, with the electronic front curtain shutter activated.