Tamron says there is a short 70-180mm production delay…

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A source sent me a couple of info about Tamron:

Tamron mentioned that they will only be making mirrorless lenses from now on! I asked if they meant like Canon, but they said that they’re all in on mirrorless and fully committed (unlike Canon).
Tamron also mentioned that some of the previously rumored lenses had their release dates delayed, so we’re getting less lenses than expected. They also expected the 70-180 to be finished by now, so that’s been delayed.

We are likely to get some info about the exact lens price and availability around the CP+ show start on February 27.

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Competition news: This is the new Nikon D6 which will challenge the Sony A9II

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Today Nikon announced the new D6 flagship camera (full specs here). It’s going to compete against the Sony A9II which to be fair costs $2,000 less. The Nikon s definitely a superb camera and a reliable tool for sports photographers. Here comes the press text which guides you through all the features:

DECISIVE POWER. FASTER WORKFLOW. ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY: THE NEW NIKON D6 GIVES PROFESSIONALS THE EDGE WHEN IT MATTERS MOST

The New Nikon D6 Offers the Most Powerful AF System in Nikon’s History, and Continues the Brand Legacy of Professional Cameras That Deliver Connectivity, Dependability and Streamlined Workflow

MELVILLE, NY (February 11, 2020) – Today, Nikon Inc. has unveiled the D6, a new professional-grade DSLR built for those in need of extreme reliability and ultimate performance. The D6 addresses the needs of professionals and press agencies and is faster and more powerful than ever before. Offering the most powerful AF system in Nikon’s history, this flagship DSLR camera delivers crucial improvements to modern workflow while also accelerating file transfer capabilities. Promising unparalleled low-light performance, powerful agility, advanced 4K UHD multimedia capabilities and a mechanical shutter frame rate boosted to a staggering 14fps, the D6 will redefine the way pros work.

“The D6 is purpose-built and inspired by the valuable feedback of professional users,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President of Nikon Inc. “The world relies on photojournalists and professionals to document every corner of the globe through impactful images; Nikon cameras are trusted to stand up to any job and help photographers capture the shot, time and time again.”

The Most Powerful AF in Nikon’s History: The D6 leaves nothing to chance. To maximize hit rate, it is equipped with a newly developed, densely packed 105-point AF system in which all the focus points utilize cross-type sensors and all points are selectable. Through the new focus point layout and the use of a triple-sensor arrangement for each focus point, the D6 achieves AF coverage that is approximately 1.6x denser than that of the D5. The D6 also sports an expanded focus detection range which increases the detection area for single point AF and dynamic area AF, making it easier to achieve focus on a subject even when slightly outside the focus point.

Improving upon Nikon’s popular Group AF mode, this function has evolved with support for 17 custom arrangements from which users can choose according to the scene or subject movement. The D6 also demonstrates superior low-light AF performance. The center focus point works down to -4.5 EV1 and the others to -4 EV, making autofocus possible even in dark situations or with low-contrast subjects.

Unparalleled Performance: The new EXPEED 6 engine’s superior image-processing capabilities combined with the vast amount of information provided by the new dedicated AF engine drives high-level performance in any situation. To help capture the decisive moment consistently, the D6 boasts a 14fps2 mechanical shutter with full AF and AE. The D6 can also shoot completely silent for sensitive situations, capturing full resolution at 10.5 fps. For faster frame rates, the Nikon D6 is able to take 2-megapixel images at approx. 60 fps and 8-megapixel images at 30 fps in Live View mode.

The D6 leverages a 20.8-megapixel FX-Format CMOS sensor, creating images that pop with stunning detail and true colors and exhibit incredible dynamic range. The ISO ranges from 100 to 102,400, which helps to preserve sharpness and subtle details in even the most challenging light. Additionally, ISO is expandable up to 3.2 million, giving photographers the ability to truly conquer the dark.

Concentration on Workflow: Building on Nikon’s history of serving professionals, the D6 is the most customizable Nikon DSLR yet, designed to speed up the workflow of any user during and after capture.

  • Recall shooting functions create combinations of settings that can be assigned to a specific button to get the perfect shot in a pinch
  • The D6 excels in connectivity and supports the same 1000BASE-T Ethernet standard as the D5, with an approximate 15% increase in transmission speed. The camera also supports a number of options for wireless networking, offering built-in 2.4- and 5-GHz*3 Wi-Fi®4 or traditional wireless transfer using the WT-6 Wireless Transmitter (optional)
  • Includes 14 customizable buttons, assignable to any of 46 unique function choices and a new intuitive menu system
  • Priority Image Transfer gives the ability to move an important image to the front of the queue when speed is of paramount priority, which can easily be done by swiping the touch LCD during playback
  • Security Lock compatibility supports connection of anti-theft cables to provide maximum security for remote applications or when the camera is unattended
  • Built in GPS5 gives accurate time, date and location information for just about anywhere on the planet
  • Dual CFexpress6 slots offer blazing fast read/write times and have the ability to overflow, copy or separate file types
  • JPEG functions allow for the simultaneous recording of two JPEG images with different image size and quality settings, which is convenient for separating images that will be transmitted from those that will be edited
  • Creativity options for multimedia creators including a new interval timer mode to retain the best resolution and enable in-camera time-lapse movie file recording providing professionals the ability to create exceptionally sharp 16:9 4K Ultra HD video

Absolute Reliability: Nikon’s flagship cameras remain trusted in the industry and have been proven on the sidelines, in the studio and even in outer space. With a magnesium alloy camera body and extensively weather-sealed design, the D6 is as tough as the professionals who use it, ready to take on the harshest shooting conditions. The camera offers long-lasting battery life, delivering the safety net and energy-saving performance that pros need on daylong outings. The D6 also employs a USB-Type C connector for faster direct-to-PC file transfer rates than previously possible with the D5.

Endless Lens Choices: By pairing the D6 with Nikon’s extremely diverse selection of F-Mount NIKKOR telephoto lenses, professionals have the most advanced imaging solution in Nikon’s history. No matter the job, the client or the location, there’s a NIKKOR lens, from the ultra-wide to the super-telephoto. The D6 is also compatible with Nikon’s line of creative Speedlights, offering extra creative freedom to enhance natural light and add artistry and drama to any scene.

Pricing and Availability

The new Nikon D6 will be available in April 2020 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $6,499.95* for the body only configuration. For more information on the latest Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

###

1. At ISO 100, 20°C/68°F.
2. With continuous-servo AF (AF-C), manual (M) or shutter-priority auto exposure (S), a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Nikon Corporation and its Affiliates is under license.
3. Available in station mode; not available in some countries or regions.
4. Wi-Fi® and the Wi-Fi® logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
5. GPS function is not available in some countries or regions.
6. CFexpress is a trademark of the CompactFlash Association in the United States and other countries.
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
All Nikon products include Nikon Inc. limited warranty. Images are for illustrative purposes only. All Nikon trademarks are trademarks of Nikon Corporation. Nikon Authorized Dealers set their own selling prices, which may vary. Nikon is not responsible for typographical errors.
All other trade names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Sony World Photography Finalists, Shortlist and Grant Recipients Announced

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You can find all the selected images on that page: worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-galleries/2020-professional-competition

This is the official press text:

The World Photography Organisation is pleased to reveal the finalist and shortlisted photographers in the Professional competition for the Sony World Photography Awards 2020. Also included are details of new photographic projects by Sony Professional Grant 2019 recipients. Works by both Professional competition finalists and Grant recipients will go on display as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2020 exhibition at Somerset House this April.
Now in its 13th year, the Awards’ Professional competition rewards a remarkable body of work for technical excellence and a fresh perspective on contemporary subjects. The winner of Photographer of the Year 2020 will be selected from the group of Professional finalists and announced during the Sony World Photography Awards 2020 ceremony in London on 16 April.

Over 345,000 images from 203 territories were submitted across the 2020 Awards’ four competitions and over 135,000 were entered across the Professional competition’s 10 categories – the highest number of entries to date. A new Environment category has been introduced this year in recognition of the growing importance of this topic in both fine art photography and photojournalism.
This year’s finalist projects engage with a wide array of topics, photography techniques and presentation methods, covering personal subjects and observations, inventive approaches to storytelling and shedding light on little known but critical issues.

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Sigma confirms the 70-200mm f/2.8 FE lens is coming soon!

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Image on top shows the front of the current Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 Canon EF lens

In this interview Sigma CEO Yamaki was asked about the 70-200mm f/2.8 FE lens (minute 4:30 on the video below). And he clearly stated this is a lens “needed” in the mirrorless world. Which means it’s coming soon as I rumored many times here on SAR. So please, it’s time to prepare your wallets :)

Yamaki also said they are considering making Anamorphic Cine lenses:

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News: Sony Electronics Announces New Camera Software Development Kit (SDK) for Third Party Developers and Integrators

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Sony is announcing the release of a new software tool that will enable corporations, researchers and other business users to automate the functionality of many Sony cameras. This new SDK will allow developers to make custom solutions to control and review imagers remotely, opening up new creative possibilities for integrating Sony cameras in news gathering, scientific research, entertainment creation, and more.

Press release:

Sony Electronics Announces New Camera Software Development Kit (SDK) for Third Party Developers and Integrators
New SDK Enables Remote Control of Sony Cameras for a Variety of Professional and Commercial Applications

SAN DIEGO – Feb 11, 2020 – Sony today has announced the release of a new software development kit (SDK) that enables third party developers and integrators to access control of Sony cameras.

Sony, the industry leader in both full-frame and mirrorless cameras, is releasing the SDK based on extensive interest in their camera lineup from commercial customers.

“The customer’s voice is absolutely critical to all aspects of our business,” said Neal Manowitz, Deputy President of Sony Imaging Products and Solutions Americas. “After receiving many requests, we’re excited to finally be able to open our platform in this manner. Companies will now be able to custom develop applications to control our cameras remotely, allowing them to take full advantage of the many innovations in Sony’s lineup including industry-leading autofocus, shooting speeds and much more. Ultimately, this gives professional clients the ability to create new and different imaging experiences unlike anything that’s been done before.” SAR

With the new SDK, key camera controls and still image data captured will be available for remote access, including adjustment of camera settings, shutter release and live view monitoring. These control capabilities are appealing to the workflow of a wide variety of industries including security, entertainment and many others.

One of the companies that have a high expectation of Sony’s SDK is Telemetrics Inc., a company that specializes in robotics and camera control systems, selling complete packages including a weather resistant housing unit on a remotely controlled pan/tilt head compatible with select Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Telemetrics, Inc. sells to a wide variety of clients including broadcast, production, sports and education companies.

“Combining our expertise in robotics and camera control with the impressive capabilities of Sony’s Alpha camera technology will allow us to create some especially unique solutions for capturing live sports entertainment, which include the newly introduced PT-CP-S5 Compact Pan/Tilt Head and the WP-HOU-A9 Camera Housing unit,” said Michael Cuomo, Vice President of Telemetrics, Inc. “We’ve been thrilled with the results and are extremely excited at the potential for future integration with our systems.”

Initially, the Camera Remote SDK will support Alpha 7R IV and Alpha 9 II bodies, with plans to gradually expand the lineup of supported cameras hereafter. The Camera Remote SDK is available now and can be downloaded from here.

The current Camera Remote API’s provision will be closed following this new release of the new Camera Remote SDK and its support will be terminated.

 

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Messy A7IV mistake at FNAC :)

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Ou reader Hadrien spotted these “A7IV” specs in a Fnac store in Switzerland. Obviously a big messy error :)

On a more serious note: I still got no sign the A7IV might be coming at the CP+ show :(  All I heard is that there will be a “new camera” But I strongly suspect this will be a new fixed lens model…

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