I think all SAR readers are curious about what’s selling hot—and what’s not—these days. I can report from reliable sources that the first batch of the new Hasselblad X2D II medium format camera (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama) sold out quickly. The cameras have already shipped out, and anyone placing a preorder now will likely have to wait until at least the end of September to receive theirs.
Just imagine how a Sony medium format camera would sell if it had that super fast Sony Autofocus….
In a recent video, photographer Patrick shares his excitement for Sony’s latest telephoto lenses—and makes a compelling case for the next one Sony should build: a 500mm f/4 G Master.
Patrick praises the outstanding performance of the Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS and the new Sony 50-150mm f/2.8 G Master, calling them “game-changing” for sports and wildlife photography. He’s already planning to bring the 50-150mm GM to the sidelines of high school basketball games this fall.
“The 300mm f/2.8 and 50-150mm f/2.8 together give me such incredible versatility. But there’s still one lens missing.”
Why Sony should release a 500mm f/4 GM
Patrick argues that a 500mm f/4 would perfectly complete Sony’s long lens lineup—filling the gap between the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS and the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS. He wants a lighter, more affordable super-telephoto that still delivers that razor-sharp “eye candy” look you only get past 400mm.
According to him, in the old days of prime-only setups, the 300/500/600 trio was a common focal-length progression. Today, a 500mm f/4 GM would make a lot more sense than jumping straight from 300mm to the massive 600mm.
Other lenses on his wish list:
A lightweight, budget-friendly 300mm f/4 G (non-GM) lens for birders and enthusiasts
More telephoto lenses with built-in 1.4x converters
Possibly even a 200mm f/2 G Master to rival Canon and Nikon’s legacy primes
Patrick ends the video with a clear message to Sony:
“If you build a 500mm f/4 G Master, I will buy it. No question.”
What do you think? Should Sony add a 500mm f/4 GM to the lineup? What long lens are you still waiting for?
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On August 30 Viltrox will launch this new 56mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount AF lens. This lens is likely to be priced close to $600 just like the current 27 and 75mm f/1.2 E lenses:
DJI owned Hasselblad has officially unveiled the new X2D II medium format camera (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama) with the well known 100MP Sony sensor (Press text on Explora). But this new release is absolutely worth your attention because of a couple of exciting features:
10-stop IBIS – That’s right. The X2D II offers the world’s most powerful in-body stabilization to date.
Integrated LIDAR autofocus – A world first: Hasselblad has built in a LIDAR module for ultra-precise focusing, even in challenging low-light conditions.
Internal 1TB SSD – No need to juggle cards; shoot confidently with fast internal storage.
Minimal, elegant Scandinavian design (and simplified UI) – As always, Hasselblad pairs premium aesthetics with top-tier imaging tech and simple UI
The X2D II is a glimpse of where camera tech is heading—and it’s built around a Sony sensor. Its LIDAR AF system, class-leading IBIS and simplified UI are the kind of innovations we’d love to see Sony adopt in future Alpha and Cine gear.
Supports the following Monitor & Control app functions:
Manual framing function
Attach Clip Flag
Notes:
Ver. 2.4.0 or later of the Monitor & Control app is necessary.
The Monitor & Control app may not be available in some countries or regions.
The Security (IPsec) functionality is no longer supported. Please enable and use Access Authen. as it provides more secure protection
WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported. You will no longer be able to select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi. Please use the more secure WPA2 or WPA3 moving forward
Improves the operational stability of the camera
Note: Please refer to the Help Guide for details on all updated functions.
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Also the Sony FX30 got firmware update! Here are the info from Sony.com:
With its global shutter, the Sony A9 III erases motion distortion—though it won’t prevent a photographer from motion himself into the shot at the US Open 🙂
