ePhotozine tested the new Sony 50mm f/2.8 macro lens and writes:

“There is no doubt that handling is excellent. Focus locks on reliably, the image in the viewfinder or on the monitor is clear and it is a pleasure to enjoy again the simplicity of just having that one standard lens to shoot with.
Sharpness at the centre is simply excellent at all apertures.
Despite only having 7 diaphragm blades, the bokeh is still very pleasing.
The 50mm lens is a universally useful optic and the ability to continue to focus right down to life size is very appealing indeed. The Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 macro lens is an excellent performer and a pleasure to use, at a realistic price.”

The new Sony FE 50mm macro lens is in Stock and shipping for the first time:
in USA at BHphoto, Adorama and Amazon.
in Europ at Fotomundus, Amazon.de, Amazon UK.

Preorders (Start on October 10 at 11am NYC time):
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

Above you can watch an Interview with Sony manager Mark Weir. Right below the interview with Kento:

Hands-on and in-depth with the Sony a6500 by Dpreview.
Sony A6500 preview preview by CameraLabs:

“I can see how existing A6300 owners may be frustrated it’s arrived so soon after this model, but as we know, Sony doesn’t hold back on new releases and the A6500 is pitched at a higher level than the A6300 and at a higher price too. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”

Sony RX100 V preview by CameraLabs.
Sony Releases New A6500 Mirrorless Camera and RX100 V Compact (ALC).
The 10 Main Differences Between the Sony a6300 and a6500 (Mirrorlesscomparison).
Sony’s Fast & Furious Hardware Updates Vs. Fuji’s Kaizen Firmware (Fujirumors).
Sony RX100 Mark V: The Fastest Production Still Camera on Earth (Patrick Murphy-Racey).

Preorders (Start on October 10 at 11am NYC time):
A6500 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
RX100m5 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
New Underwater housing for all RX100 cameras at BHphoto, Adorama.

Image of the Sony 101MP sensor by Exclusivearchitecture

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Sony conquered the medium format world with their new CMOS medium format sensor. The biggest sensor is the new 54x40mm 101 Megapixel sensor which is also a referred as to be a true Full Frame Medium format. Unlike the one used by the Hasselblad X1D and Fuji GFX which do use a smaller44x33mm sensor.

The new Sonys ensor has a 2.5 larger area than Full Frame. And the question is…does it really make a difference? Well both Dpreview and Imaging Resource posted a first review of the Phase One IQ3 back with the Sony 101MP sensor. And that’s what they say:

Dpreview writes the performance is “sensational”:

• The amount of detail it can capture is astonishing, but what I appreciated more was the 3D quality that so many pixels dedicated to a tonal transition can create
• One of the greatest elements of the back is the dynamic range though, which allows the deepest shadows and the brightest highlights to be recorded in a single frame and made visible (via tonemapping) in the fabulous Capture One software.
• The need for neutral density graduated filters with this camera is greatly reduced, and it is actually quite difficult to get an exposure so wrong that a decent image can’t be produced: just like the days of color negative printing

Imaging Resource writes the performance is “stunning”:

• Holy moly, this camera can capture some insanely detailed photographs! I could pretty much just stop there. The images are incredible.
• I was able to recover tons of detail in the highlights, if I found myself with blown-out, overexposed areas. On the other end, I was also able to lift up the shadows to reveal lots of detail without introducing much noticeable noise.

It is interesting to note that both sites mention that handheld shooting is a challenge mainly caused by the big mirror movement. I can see the market for a mirrorless system camera with such a sensor. Why don’t you do it Sony? :)

At Photokina Vogitlander displayed the new Voigtlander 65mm f/2.0 FE macro lens. Mathieu Gasquet posted a new video showing the lens on the Sony A7rII. It’s really a huge lens! What’s also unique on this lens are the colored stripes on the front. Personally I don’t like those…

Watch from minute 2:40 to see more about the lens:

In case you missed it. These are the three official Sony A99II Sony videos!

All new Sony stuff on preorder:
Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.
Loxia 85mm f/2.4 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Tamron 150-600mm G2 A-mount lens at Bhphoto.Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 autofocus FE lens at Amazon and BHphoto.

[shoplink 38055 ebay][/shoplink]

As you may remember there is a new adapter that let’s you use the [shoplink 38055 ebay]Minolta Vectis lenses (here on eBay)[/shoplink] on Sony E-mount cameras.

Now Neil at Dyxum shared the first review of the adapter along many image samples on Flickr. He writes:

Like the Canon EOS lens to Sony E-mount adapter , there are a few minor issues to take into mind .For normal everyday use this adapter is perfect for my needs , doing everything I want it to do ( A/F would have been nice though !) .
Build quality is very good . This hasn’t just been knocked up in someone’s shed , it is very professionally made .
The maker had only had another six made , hopefully he will have more made as these will sell quickly .

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