This week SAR readers photos selection.


Rad Alzyoud
Crazy Clouds at Torres del Paine in Patagonia.
Using Sony A7RM2

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!

Read more

Sony A7s primers by Omeneo

Bildschirmfoto 2016-04-16 um 12.26.56

After the A7rII Omeneo also made primers for the Sony A7s. The benefits of using those primers:

1) Increased color precision
2) More natural image aesthetics
3) More practical shooting, ability to choose optimized profiles for the scene
4) More informative on-set monitoring, ability to perceive the outcome after primary color correction
5) Reduced unpleasant surprises in post production
6) Speeding up post-production
7) Reduced deterioration of footage with lower color sampling

First images of the new Zenit 50mm f/0.95 lens

26405395486_8ec8cfc120_z

The russian site Gavriloart published the first images of a Zenit 50mm f/0.95 prototype lens. There is no info about the release date and price of the lens. I hope it can exceed the optical quality of the direct competitor the [shoplink 46954 ebay]Mitakon Speedmaster (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

26338997122_95c90c443b_z

Sony Tidbits…


Quick Sony a6300 Test
from Daniel Peters on Vimeo.

So I Killed Another A7R2 . . . ADH Replacement Saga (SonyAlphaForum).
Camslinger Streetomatic Bag Review (Dsphotoblog).
A Few Thoughts About the Camera Market (Photographylife).
Sony RX1R2 – A photographers perspective – Manila to India (f8photography).
Tips for tethered shooting (Vanguardworld).
A Quick Look at the SWIT S-8972 Replacement Lithium-Ion Battery for Your Sony A7-Series Camera (4kshooters).

Bernie Aniciete: Sony a6000 with 16/2.8 and wide-angle adapter. https://www.facebook.com/BnEPhotography/posts/10209366716512030

Stan Moniz‎: A beautiful afternoon at the Crrizo plains national monument. Shot entirely with the Sony A7rII and Tokina 100mm f2.8 & 24-70mm f2.8 mounted to the A7rII via the Metabones Mark IV adapter. Hope you enjoy! https://youtu.be/aafOXxt1yc4

Strong earthquake hits Japan. Sony CMOS factory evacuated.

Sony-Image-Sensor-Fabs1

Japan just got hit by the strongest quake felt in Japan since 2011 Tohoku disaster. The earthquake also hit the Sony CMOS fab in Kumamoto. Bloomberg reports:

Sony has evacuated employees from its Kumamoto image-sensor factory as a precaution, spokeswoman Mami Imada said by phone. There are no reports of fire or injuries at the facility and the company will assess the extent of damage on facilities, she said.

Good to here there wer no injuries. Wish all affected Japanese friends a quick recovery from that shock.

Zeiss announces the Batis 18mm f/2.8 FE lens. Ships on May 5 for $1,499 at BHphoto.

batis-BH

Preorders:
in USA at BHphoto. Adorama. FocusCamera.
in Europe at Amazon.de. Photo Porst. ParkcamerasUK.
Zeiss Lens Shade for Batis 18mm F2.8 Lens at Adorama.

Key Info:
Ships on May 1 in Europe and May 5 in USA. Costs 1499 Euro/Dollar

Hands-on previews:
Explora. ThePhoBlographer. Hands-on at Adorama.

Diglloyd posted a full review of the lens (for subscribers only). And his conclusion is:

The Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Distagon is the finest 18mm lens ever to be produced for full frame cameras.

Brian Matiash posted an introduction with image samples:

All in all, I was exceptionally impressed with the performance of this lens and the image quality it produced.

Image samples:
Image samples on Flickr. Adorama. Explora.

Press text:
Press text on SonyAlphaRumors. Specs sheet (pdf file). Presentation page at Zeiss. Presentation page at Lenspire. Updated Batis leaflet.

Polls:

Do you like the new Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Lens charts:

Bildschirmfoto 2016-04-14 um 14.43.03
Bildschirmfoto 2016-04-14 um 14.43.20

Press text: The ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 expands the Batis range of lenses with a super wide-angle lens.

The ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 expands the Batis range of lenses with a super wide-angle lens.

Preorders:
in USA at BHphoto.
in Europe at Amazon.de. Photo Porst. ParkcamerasUK.

Bildschirmfoto 2016-04-14 um 11.14.31

For the Sony α system with E-mount the new lens, which features a diagonal field angle of 99 degrees, is currently the shortest full-frame fixed focal length with autofocus. Capture unique moments with the ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 – manually or with autofocus.

The new ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 with innovative OLED display to show focus distance and depth of field is impressive thanks to its high image quality across the entire image field.

Photographer Christian Dandyk has tested the new ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 and is truly impressed.

 “I automatically associate the ZEISS Batis lenses with creative freedom. Because I can concentrate on the composition and don’t have to keep worrying about the technology.”

“The ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 follows on from the highly successful first two focal lengths the ZEISS Batis 2/25 and the ZEISS Batis 1.8/85. In spite of the extremely wide angle, we have succeeded in adapting the image quality of the ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 perfectly to the two different lens types,” says Dr. Michael Pollmann, Product Manager of ZEISS Camera Lenses.

“With the expansion of the ZEISS Batis family of lenses, we are offering creative and discerning photographers yet another professional tool,” says Pollmann. With the ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 customers can now enjoy the super wide-angle full-frame lens they’ve been waiting for.”

Bildschirmfoto 2016-04-14 um 11.14.51

The ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 on the Sony α7 II

ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 sample application – Sony α7R II, f/11, 0.62 sec, ISO 100, © Drew Gardner. | <a title="High-resolution photo on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/26057717012/sizes/o/" target="_blank">High-resolution photo on Flickr</a>

ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 sample application – Sony α7R II, f/11, 0.62 sec, ISO 100, © Drew Gardner. | High-resolution photo on Flickr

A broad spectrum of applications

The new ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 is impressive on account of its high image quality across the entire image field. “By virtue of the large diagonal image angle of 99 degrees, this lens is ideal for capturing unique images in landscape, architectural and astro photography and for impressive interior shots of small spaces,” continues Pollmann.

 

 

 

Features for discerning users

The super wide-angle camera lens has 11 lens elements in ten groups and draws on the ZEISS Distagon optical design. Four of the lens elements are aspheric on both sides and seven are made from special types of glass. The Floating Elements design permits constantly high image performance in the focal plane – from the minimum object distance to infinity.

 

ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 sample application – Sony α7R II, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, © ZEISS | <a title="High-resolution photo on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/26124439866/sizes/o/" target="_blank">High-resolution photo on Flickr</a>

ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 sample application – Sony α7R II, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, © ZEISS | High-resolution photo on Flickr

Innovative OLED display

The new ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 also features an innovative OLED display to show focus distance and depth of field depending on the camera sensor used. “The electronic display is easy to read even in low light,” explains Pollmann.

Precise focusing

The fast, quiet autofocus drive with linear motors keeps the subject sharply in focus. In addition to the autofocus, a handy, rubberized focus ring supports precise manual focusing. This gives the photographers total creative freedom when compositing the image.

ZEISS Batis lenses are also equipped with dust and weather seals, allowing them to be used in even the harshest weather conditions. All ZEISS Batis lenses support all the operating modes and functions of the current range of E-mount cameras.

 

Batis birds gave the lens family its name Photo: Adam RileyThe origins of the name Batis

Since 2013, new ZEISS lenses in one series have been given the same family name that conveys a common identity. These family names have been derived from the Latin names for birds. The name Batis is derived from a small bird that is found in the forests and scrub of Africa. These birds are characterized by great speed, excellent reflexes and boast a plumage rich in contrasts. Metaphorically speaking, this also applies to the ZEISS Batis lenses, whose fast autofocus enables photographers to capture stunning shots rich in contrast.

 

The super wide-angle ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 for the Sony E-mount

The super wide-angle ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 for the Sony E-mount

Available from May 2016

Orders are now being accepted for the ZEISS Batis 2.8/18. The lens will be available from May 2016. The recommended retail price is 1,499 € (incl. 19% sales tax)*  and 1,499 US$ (excl. VAT)*.

*Status: April 2016

 

Additional links

Technical data sheet

Batis landing page

Batis 2.8/18 Flickr album