SAR reader Per Kylberg sent me this:

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Many complain about Sony menu system and user interface. In my professional work with virtual systems, the thing that differentiates between a success implementation is the usability. Easy to learn and use UI equals not only happy users, management see lead time go down and quality up and thus are happy too.
Below is my idea about a more logical, photographer perspective, menu system. It would be interesting to see how a discussion and proposals from SAR community can improve this starting point menu organisation!

Complain and propose!

Background
As with most camera manufacturers, Sony rightfully are critizised for the camera user interface and in particular for the menues. At the presentation of the A7Rmk2 a Sony official was asked about the UI and menues. The reply was (as I remeber): ”Menues are up to the engineers to decide”.
Engineers are very good at product development, yes. But they are not experts in using the products! Being in technical documentation and managing virtual systems (in automotive) for 40+ years, I have plenty knowledge from both sides of the matter. Engineers are great! They develop excellent cameras with great functionality! But the user interface should be developed by experts in UI and usage.
The reason for this is that engineers, naturally, think ”inside – out”. UI needs be developed ”outside – in! By UI experts
”Outside” are we: the photographers.

As – is analyse
The A7 cameras have about 17 outside physical controls. Nikon D8xx have 32 of them if I remember right.
In the menu structure the A7 has:
– 6 main menues
– 28 no-name sub menues
– 153 execution commands
Where is the logic in this hierarchical build? What is for instance the difference between ”Camera settings” and ”Custom settings”? And why no-name menues? There are 22 execution commands concerning focusing, spread out in 10 different no-name submenues under two different main menues. Why?

”Maybe To-be” alternative A – hierarchial structure
To reach execution commands, there should be no time/energy consuming search. The structure must have an easy to understand and remember structure. There must be a clear logic based on how photographers think. This should a core issue for Sony.
Below is my discussion proposal consisting:
12 Main menues
14 Named sub menues
153 execution commands

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And what do you think?

Gary Fong made a video introduction to the Neewer Vertcial Grip for the Sony A6000. That grip can be bought at Amazon (Click here). The same company also makes the Neewer housing you can get on [shoplink 38838 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

A6000 grip alternatives:
Ownuser grip you can buy on [shoplink 32882 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or Amazon (Click here).
“Travor” A6000 battery grip on Alibaba (Click here).

ePhotozine tested the new Samyang 50mm f/1.2 lens on the Sony A6000:

Samyang are to be congratulated on a very interesting and relatively inexpensive lens. Sacrifices are made in terms of handling and convenience, but the results are there for the taking and with practice the success rate will definitely improve. An excellent lens for anyone who wants to work totally manually and is prepared to make the necessary effort. The reward will be some very fine images.

Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 Lens for APS-C E-mount at Amazon, BHphoto and Adorama.
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DearSusans had a short Loxia 21mm hands-on test at Salon de La Photo:

Wow! Great detail, great sharpness, and absolutely not clinical! remarkable short-range performance. This lens puts paid to the theory that you can’t design a great wide angle that is small and light for the Sony A7.

Loxia 21mm FE lens at BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here). In Europe at WexUK (Click here).
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Let me catch up with some A7sII and A7rII news!

Tony Gale is presenting a RoofTop Sony event in New York (Twitter info here).
Filmmaking guru Philip Bloom tried out Sony’s latest low-light champion the a7s ii for the BBC. Watch the full video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34788539
The secret of how to shoot with a 2/3 broadcast lens on the Sony a7R II in 4K (Newshhooter).
Completely Mobile with the A7rII by Spencer Pablo.
Sony A7R II Field Test Part II: Off to the Big Apple for some night-shooting fun! (Imaging Resource).
Sony a7S II vs. a7R II Test – Which One Is Right for You? (Cinema5D).
For the first time Amazon Germany is having both camera sin Stock: A7rII (Click here) and A7sII (Click here).

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A7rII store list:
In USA at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore US, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
In Europe at Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Wex UK and ParkCameras.
In Asia at Digitalrev, CameraPro.

A7sII store list:
In USA at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Adorama.
In Europe/Asia at ParkCameras, WexUK, Jessops and Digitalrev.

Dpreview established the Sony A6000 as the best system camera within the $500-$800 price range:

“We really cannot say enough good things about the Sony a6000. Though we have it in the $500-800 category, due to its MRSP, it can often be acquired, body only, for closer to $500. And what does that get you? AF performance in line with the best in its class, great image quality, solid video quality/features with AF and no hunting, and a nice EVF, packed into a compact, enthusiast-friendly body.”

Probably that’s the reason why Sony didn’t hurry with the A6000 successor release. There is yet no real competition…

Sony A6000 store link list:
Sony A6000 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonyStore. In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, WexUK.
A6000 Gariz case on eBay in [shoplink 26006 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26007 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26008 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 26009 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink].

Image courtesy: ePhotozine.

ePhotozine tested both batis lenses. About the 85mm lens they write:

The Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 is another lovely lens. The design and handling are a pleasure. The results ooze quality. The OLED display is an innovation that looks to be actually quite useful. The construction quality is impeccable. The only thing not to like is perhaps the price, but it starts to look much better value when pitched against other premium quality lenses. This Zeiss lens certainly delivers the goods for Sony 7 users.

Aand about the 25mm batis they write:

The Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2 is just a lovely lens. The design and handling are a pleasure. The results ooze quality. The OLED display is an innovation that looks to be actually quite useful. The construction quality is impeccable. The only thing not to like is perhaps the price, but to be fair it looks as though it’s at the right level for what it is. Sony Alpha 7 series owners have a lens here to aspire to.

Admiringlight also tested the 25mm Batis and writes:

The only real downside to the lens is the price, which at $1,299 US is going to be a steep barrier to entry for many shooters. Still, the lack of readily available stock for the 25mm and its 85mm brother show that there’s plenty of demand for this lens, even at this price. I personally wasn’t quite as enamored with the lens as I was with the 85mm Batis, but I still very much enjoyed shooting with the lens and realizing the quality of images it produces. If you want an excellent wide-angle prime, the Batis 25mm will fit the bill handily. It’s an outstanding addition to the Zeiss lineup and the Sony FE system.

Yep, availability is still not there in Europe and USA. Only Japanese stores seem to have them in Stock and for sale on their [shoplink 42312 ebay]eBay sites (Click here. WWW shipment)[/shoplink] and on Amazon US (Click here).

Batis store links:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.