New Sony Multi Interface Mecablitz M400 flash announed

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The German company Metz just announced the new MecaBlitz M400. Specs and details of the Sony MUlti Interface version can be read here: www.metz-mecatech.de.

Perfectly equipped, attractively packaged.

The mecablitz M400 represents a new generation of compact flash systems. It is especially suited to mirrorless system cameras and is ideal for any photographers or film-makers looking for a convenient flash unit. The mecablitz M400 is also highly equipped and leaves nothing to be desired. The maximum guide number of 40 forISO 100 is capable of handling almost all shooting situations. Versatile lighting options are provided by the motor zoom function (24-105 mm), the fully pivotable reflector with removable reflector card and the integrated wide-angle diffuser (12 mm). The M400 is also ideal for wireless operation, be it TTL or servo. As for usability, the M400 also sets new standards with its innovative OLED display and its impressively tidy, simplified user interface.

The AUTO TTL operating mode enables the camera to fully automatically control the flash unit (turning on and flashing) and ensures the subject of your picture is put in the best light possible – perfect to those new to flash. The mecablitz can be synchronised with the first or second shutter curtain (irrespective of camera model) and it supports high-speed sync (HSS or FP). The new design of the mecablitz M400 not only looks timeless – the flash unit is always kept up-to-date via a USB interface for receiving firmware updates.

Sony Tidbits…


Sony 70-200 G-Master Mini Sports Review Cross Country (VLOG2)

NYC by night (SonyAlphaForum)
Sigma MC-11 test at Mirrorlessons.
To write a guest post on SAR follow the instruction on that page.

Drasko:Just added my complete Travel VLOG to Prague. Get some Burgers & Beer and enjoy my impressions of this beautiful city in the Czech Republic in this Video. All images taken with the Sony A7II + Sigma 24mm 1.4 + Canon 70-200 F4 L + Sony FE 50mm 1.8 http://www.dsphotoblog.com/?p=2057

Tea sent me the link to this post by Philip Bloom where he says: “The A7s II is a the best hybrid camera out there for sure. Full frame stunning video, S-LOG, Peaking, Zebras, Clean 4K HDMI out, 1080p slow motion up to 120fps, stabilised sensor, MIND BLOWING low light performance. It is without question THE best stills camera/ video camera hybrid out there.  you can get that with the incredible clear zoom feature that is sheer voodoo
http://philipbloom.net/blog/canon5div/

Mariusz:I did review of this charger for a7 cameras and I thought maybe you’d like to share it. Check it out – https://youtu.be/Q2P1hFIYlOM

Jeff’s new guide on the Sony A7 Series Hack

SAR reader Jeff made this video to show how the Sony A7 Series Hack works:

Please do at your own risk. We are not responsible for what happens to your camera. Good luck!
Discussion about the hack:
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/di…
Github page:
https://github.com/ma1co/OpenMemories…
Where you can install the hack:
https://sony-pmca.appspot.com/apps
Articles about the hack:
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/a-firs…
https://www.cinema5d.com/sony-alpha-h…

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Zeiss officially announces the new Loxia 85mm f/2.4 Sonnar FE lens

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It’s official. Here we have the new Loxia 85mm f/2.4 Sonnar lens! You can now preorder the new Zeiss Loxia 85mm FE lens at BHphoto (Click here).

Press text via Lenspire:

The Loxia 2.4/85 is the youngest member of our manual focus lens family for Sony α7 series cameras. So the already available three focal lengths of the lens family – Loxia 2.8/21, Loxia 2/35 and Loxia 2/50 – are supplemented with a lens in the tele range. Specially designed for mirrorless full-frame cameras with E mount, the compact ZEISS Loxia lenses are the ideal choice for travel and street photographers who value light and compact camera equipment. “In terms of its technology and the feel of its surface, the Loxia 2.4/85 fits perfectly with the existing focal lengths, and is particularly well suited for portrait photography,” says Christophe Casenave, product manager with ZEISS Camera Lenses. The Loxia 2.4/85 will be available in stores starting December 2016.

Optimized ZEISS Sonnar® design

The new Loxia 2.4/85 with its seven lens elements in seven groups has been designed for digital sensors and is based on an optimized ZEISS Sonnar design.

“With the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85, we have managed to develop a well-rounded and new interpretation of the original ZEISS Sonnar optical design that meets all the requirements of digital photography and videography.”

Christophe Casenave, product manager, ZEISS Camera Lenses

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The lens has a minimum object distance of 0.80 meters. The manual focus ring has a rotation angle of 220 degrees and enables the subtlest variations of focusing. The large aperture of f/2.4 combined with the high-quality optical design ensures an appealing bokeh. The electronic interface transfers lens data (EXIF) as well as focus movements. Additionally, if desired by the user, this activates the camera’s loupe function. “Precise manual focusing with hard stop and the mechanical setting of the aperture (working aperture priority mode) provide sophisticated photographers who don’t want to leave everything to the camera abundant possibilities for composition,” Casenave adds.

Also ideally suited for filming 

Videographers also don’t come off badly with the new Loxia. Again the well-known de-click function is on board. This allows for mechanically deactivating the click stops on the aperture ring — a condition for silent and infinite adjustments of the aperture. As a result, the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 is also an attractive lens for video cameras that have an E mount, such as the Sony PXW-FS7 and PXW-FS5. The overall package comprises a robust metal barrel, the filter diameter of M52 (which is identical across all focal lengths) and protection against penetration of dust and spray onto the lens mount. In addition, the external diameter, which is uniform across all ZEISS Loxia lenses, simplifies film shoots.

 

ZEISS Lens Gears

In combination with our ZEISS Lens Gears, our Loxia lenses can also be used ideally with a follow focus system. The Lens Gears are made of high-quality aluminum with a hardened surface coating. Through simple mounting they can be attached to the focus ring of the lens. To do so, they are simply slid over the lens and then fixed by turning two rings that each go in the opposite direction. Therefore, precise focusing is possible and the lenses become endowed with similar features as a full-scale cine lens. The Lens Gear Rings in the sizes mini (62 – 69mm, 60 – 67mm with GumGum) fit the Loxia lenses.

 

Price and availability

Global delivery of the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 will begin at the beginning of December 2016. The lens shade is included with delivery. The recommended retail sales price is 1,399 euros (including 19% VAT in Germany) or 1,399 US$.

More information about the ZEISS Loxia lenses:

www.zeiss.com/loxia

lenspire.zeiss.com/en/tag/loxia,zeiss-loxia

Listen to what the Atomos CEO says about Sony vs Canon!


Atomos CEO Jeromy Young on Canon, the 5D Mark IV, and the Entire Camera Industry from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

Newsshooter interviewed Atomos CEO Jeromy Young. And this is what he had to say about Sony and Canon:

Sony’s giving everything they can inside their cameras, I truly believe it’s their best play.
It’s Canon that I think is really holding back to this market. I think they believe the photography market is a better market for them…It may very well be a bigger market for them, but I think they’re going to lose traction, they’re going to lose that, I guess, the prowess and the market share that they gained with the 5D series early on.

Usually COE’s are very “politically correct” when talking about other companies. So it’s a bit of a surprise to hear such harsh words from Jeremy!