New Robot Skin A7M3 / A9 by LockCircle

Share

 

The Italian company Lockcircle announced the new A9 Robot Skin (details here) and the A7rIII-A7III Robot Skin (details here). Here is the press text:

Robot Skin A7M3/A9

The new Robot Skin is another innovative professional LockCircle cage designed to fit like a glove around the latest mirrorless Sony A7III/A7RIII and A9 cameras, featuring the exclusive “Asymmetrical Design Approach” for right hand camera grabbing and controlling with the original camera ergonomic feeling.

Designed for comfortable grip and action, leaving on the left side of the camera all the production tools and accessories mounting:
a still and film camera without the limitations of other cages.

If looking for a more cinematic approach, the asymmetrical concept can be upgraded to “total wrap” with the Side Bar to add other accessories and rigging solutions on the right side of the cage.
A special ergonomic approach offers something more than just wrapping around the Sony mirrorless cameras with a metallic cage with some threads:
a natural extension of the original camera shape!

The Robot Skin is designed for filmmakers using the original XLR microphone adapters and the Top Grip Handle Extension mount, offers an ergonomic handling of the camera set-up with the Microphone Adapter mounted.

The Robot Skin A7M3/A9 integrates the MultiPort for secure connectors locking HDMI/USB-C/Headphone and Microphone mini-jacks. LockPort Flex kits (port savers) are available for the Micro to Full-Size HDMI output.

A professional grade of mounting plates and Positive-Lock Mounts for universal cine-style lens mounting are available, offering precise professional follow-focus work.

The Robot SkinA7M3/A9 baseplate has a mounting “receiver” for the Meta Block (adjustable), designed for a Metabones “state of the art” mounting/locking, a Novo-Block for Novoflex mounts integration and an IMS-Block for high grade professional Positive-Lock Mounts, PL-Mount, Canon EF, Nikon F, Panavision, Leica R, Leica M.

Vertical mount of the camera is available and compatible with the LockPort Flex System, and all along the Focal-Plane there are several threads for the (AC) tape measurement hook mounting.

The camera baseplate has three camera mounting threads (1/4“ and 3/8” with 1/4“ adapter) for heavy-duty safety mounting.

A heavy-duty baseplate is available for heavy cinematic primes and zooms. A titanium grade 5 camera 1/4-20 screw is coming with the cage.
A new MicroMega-M ultra-compact professional modular baseplate for 15mm rods is available together with the RodRocket Titanium Grade 5 15mm rods system.

Asymmetrical classic LockCircle cage design concept.
Right hand camera grabbing/control with original Sony A7M3/A9 cameras ergonomics.
Innovative SFA Straight Function Action with DTV Dials Total View design concept.
Right Side Bar (total wrap) expansion module for right hand accessories/grip handles.
90 (105 threads with the Side Bar) 1/4”-20, 3 3/8”-16 (5 with the Side Bar).
Top Grip handle and Boombooster compatible accessories.
Top Grip extension handle for Sony XLR Microphone Adapter.
CNC machined from billet aircraft grade aluminum.
Ultra-Lightweight and professional heavy-duty grade strength.
High quality organic anodizing with “professional grade” velvet surface finish.
Dura-T (Mil-Spec) heavy duty unscratchable military look finish.
Custom genuine titanium grade 5 screws and knobs.
MultiPort HDMI/Audio port savers with connector locking.
Meta-Block mount (adjustable) for Metabones monolithic mounting.
IMS-Block for IMS – Mounts for the serious cinematographers needs.
Novo-Block mount for Novoflex mounts.
Several IMS Professional lens mounts available: PL-Mount, Panavision, Leica-R, Canon EF and Nikon with Positive-Lock.
Novo-Block mount for total integration of Novoflex mounts.
New MicroMega-M ultra-compact modular expandable 15mm baseplate.
Focal Plain thread for AC measurement custom titanium hook.
New hi-tech deep anodized colors.
Designed by cinematographers and manufactured in Italy.

Available from end of September!
A special trade-in program is available for customers that already owns the old BirdCage Pro/Pro-S for Sony A7M2 Series.

For more informations: sales@lockcircle.com
www.lockcircle.com

Share

Sony Tidbits…

Share


Shooting a model with 3 Vintage lenses on A7II

Konica AR 135 f3.2 – A close-focusing bargain (Theweekendlens).
Metabones Degrades the Edge Image Quality of Wide-Angle Lenses (PetaPixel).
Sigma 85 mm F1.4 ART | Version für den Sony E-Mount Kurztest by ValueTech [Deutsch]
Should You Buy the Sony a6000 in 2018? (That1CameraGuy).
Manfrotto Announces a New Travel-Centric Noreg Bag Line and New Additions to Their Commuter Manhattan Line (Explora).

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
I kindly invite you all to follow our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

Share

2017 Nikkei report: Sony now has a 13.3% market share in the system camera market

Share

The market share in the system camera market (2017)

Nikkei published the 2017 market share report for different categories. Let’s check some of the them:

Sony has a 13.3% market share in the system camera market. Nikkei writes (google translated text):

The interchangeable lens camera is an oligopolistic market where Canon, Nikon, Sony and Japan hold the market share of less than 90%, but the SLR is continuing to decline. SAR
In 18 years, the move of each company to accelerate the concentration of development resources to luxury mirrorless is likely to accelerate.

Interesting to note that the three leaders together increased their market share by +6.2% at the cost of the other manufacturers (Fuj-Olympus-Panasonic-Pentax). Sony did growth by 2,9% in a year to year basis and is getting closer to Nikon. Still Canon did grow faster with 3.9%.

2) Sony has 20% share of the overall camera market (system+compact cameras). Sony’s gap with Nikon is much closer with just 5,7% share difference.

 

In the CMOS sensor segment Sony owns a 52,2% market share. Nikkei writes (google translated text):

Sony’s single win is continuing for the CMOS sensor. With the trend of strengthening the camera function of smartphones, the market size in 2017 has expanded by more than 20%. For the future, attention will be paid to automobiles, such as high-sensitivity sensors that can recognize obstacles even in the dark.

 

Share

Debunking the next myth: Sony could make super fast FE glass if they wish to do so…

Share

That huge Nikon mount size created a myth on the web: That the Sony E-mount would never allow to make f/0.95 fast autofocus glass because their mount diameter would be too small. I talked to people close to Sony and their answer is that this is pure Bullshit. Sony has no plan yet to launch any f/0,95 FE lens. The simple reason for that is there are still too many gaps in the E-mount lens range to fill before to make such a special lens that only few people would buy. Such a lens would be big and expensive ($3,000 or more).

Seems like the large size of the Nikon mount has more to do with allowing them to eventually use larger than FF sensor. And if Nikon launches a fast lens that’s purely to give us a big “wow” to attract attention on the system. That’s what they need to hide the fact that they have a big lens gap to close. Don”t get fooled by Nikon huge DSLR lens range that can be used with adapters. Those lense are not designed for mirrorless continous autofocus system. They will not work as fast as the new “native” Nikon lenses designed for mirrorless

And by the way, this is the third big myth on E-mount I counted in those 8 years:

The first myth: I remember many years ago people argued that E-mount wouldn’t allow to have Full Frame sensor in it. The discussion only ended once Sony launched the FF VG900 camcorder.

The second myth: This one camera after the Sony A7 launch. It said it would be impossible for Sony to add-on sensor stabilization as the FF sensor barely fitted inside the E-mount. Of course Sony proved them wrong once more with the A7II launch

I guess that my post will absolutely NOT end this discussion. I hope Sony will make a 50mm f/0.95 just to end this third myth sticking around the web :)

Note this is an image of the Leica 50mm f/0,95 (manual focus lens) on the Sony A9:

–

One more message to Sony: Ah yes, one more thing, please Sony, please consider making a new medium format system too. Preferably with the larger 54x40mm sensor as I think the smaller GFX-X1D sensor size really makes little sense (too close to FF in terms of size with no visible IQ advantage). Dear Sony, make one new “real” medium format system to kill them all :)

Share

Sony Tidbits…

Share


Sigma Cinema Lenses

Sony A7riii vs the Sony A6300 (Enthusiastphotoblog).
Nikon 500mm tested on the Sony A7rII (Outfor30).
Vivitar 55 f2.8 Auto Macro – 1:1 on a budget (Theweekendlens).
Sigma 70mm 2.8 (e-mount version) on A7III and A7rIII (Mirrorlessons).
Gitzo Revamps Boompole Lineup with Lighter and Stiffer Carbon Fiber (Explora).
Sony a7iii & 55mm f1 8 studio field of flowers shoot (David Oastler).

Big event on Thursday in the UK at Brands Hatch Racing circuit with Cameraworld.
Lots of Sony offers on the day will be too good to miss! probably the best so far this year across Alpha bodies.

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
I kindly invite you all to follow our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

Share