(SR3) Zeiss rumored to launch the world’s first lens with ALON elements? It’s a 35mm f/1.8 FE pancake?

pancakelimited

Image on top shows a lens from the famous Pentax limited Full Frame pancake series

I just got this rumor that made me jump off the chair. The source writes that Zeiss is going to launch a new pancake lens series:

They are preparing to announce a new compact lens series with astonishing image quality at smaller lens size. Think premium pancake lens.
The first lens of the new series will be an 35mm f1.8 with a total length of under 4cm…..
has developed a lens where several elements are made out of Aluminium oxynitride (ALON for short)

This Material has a diffractive index of 1.79 that is high compared to normal glass (1.4-1.5)
Also it is highly scratch resistant having a MOS hardness of 9
Because of the difficulty in manufacturing it will only be used in the front element and two highly diffractive elements.

And now you wonder…what is ALON? Surmet writes:

ALON® or Aluminum Oxynitride is an amazing and unique transparent advanced ceramic that is polycrystalline (made from powder) with a cubic spinel crystal structure. In the popular media and in the Star Trek community, it is commonly referred to as Transparent Aluminum.

These are the advantages of using ALON elements:

– far less weight and thickness than normal glass
– High optical transmission (>85%) near-UV to mid-IR wavelengths (0.25 to 4.0 μm)
– Excellent clarity and no inherent birefringence
– Outstanding hardness, scratch resistance and high strength
– Excellent Refractive index homogeneity over large areas

My opinion on this …WOW! That’s exactly what’s needed in the FE system: Fast and compact primes. The big question is if those lenses will have autofocus or not…

UPDATE (rumor downgraded): Sony likely to announce new product(s) in mid-late May!

Sources told us Sony orgnized some big events and we should expect new products to be shown/announced around mid-late May!

I hope to get some details soon. From trusted sources we know that this is on Sony’s 2018 roadmap:

1) 24mm f/1.4 GM should be announced soon
2) A7sIII and A6700 will also be announced this year
3) Maybe a 135mm FE coming too

UPDATE: We know got word that Sony probably has delayed the product launch. We have to wait til June :(

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I am not sure yet what will be announced in May. Also don’t forget that Sony could unveil the pricing of the Sony 400mm f/2.8 OSS GM lens:

 

Competition news: New Nikon High End Mirrorless to be on market by Spring 2019

The Japanese TV NHK interview Nikon. And the one news that might be interesting for SAr readers is this: Nikon confirmed their new mirrorless system camera will be on market by Spring 2019. So exactly one year from now.

There are no reliable specs yet but this is most likely a new Full Frame mirrorless system with new mount. And it will directly compete with Sony’s A7-A9 system

Nikoneye.com believes the first camera will be an entry-level FF which is going to compete with the new Sony A7III.

Any thoughts on that?

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via MirrorlessRumors

(SR5) Sony registered a new camera code. Ready to launch the A7sIII or A6700?

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Sony registered a new camera code in Asia. We don’t know yet for sure but the code “WW 771132” should be either for the A7sIII or for the A6700. Usually it takes up to 2 months to see the camera announced.

Form our trusted sources we know that a new A6500 and A7sIII successor is coming while we haven’t heard about any new RX yet.

Just curious:

You hope this is the...

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via Nokishita

(SR5) UPDATED: Tamron 28-75mm FE price is $799

As reported by Nokishita the price of the new Tamron 28-75mm FE lens will be 94,500 YEN. UPDATE: We just got the info the lens will be priced at $799 in the USA (listed here at BH).

UPDATE: Our reader Anders spotted the pricing in Sweden at Cyberphoto. He writes:

“It’s slightly difficult comparing to USD or similar with our taxes but prices usually can be multiplied by 10 from USD so it should in theory cost around 869USD/869EUR.”

 

There is a new “handmade” Sony E-mount camera and it’s not from Sony!

Tomorrow (on Monday) I will post the details about a new Sony E-mount camera. All I can say is that it’s not from Sony and it’s handmade by one single person :)

Start your guesses folks what this will be about!