Venus Optics told me that preorders for the new 10-18mm FE lens are scheduled to start in September (if all goes by plan).

This is the press text of the two FE lenses that we still cannot preorder yet:

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Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom
This lens is currently the widest zoom lens available for Sony full frame E-mount cameras. Designed primarily for travel photography, Venus optics have managed to compress the size to smallest in its class, less than 10 inch (<10cm) and only 1.1 pounds (<500g). The 102° (18mm) to 130° (10mm) angle of view provides flexibility for photographers to compose landscape or architecture photos with ease. The lens houses with 14 elements in 10 groups with 2 aspherical elements & 1 extra-low dispersion element to deliver exceptional performance. It can focus as close as 15cm for some mini-macro shooting. A rear filter slot is included to fit with 37mm filter. Click/clickless aperture can be toggled by the switch on the lens barrel.

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
Followed by the success of the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro, the 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro is the 2nd member of Laowa 2:1 macro line-up. This new 100mm lens can cover full frame sensor size and focus from 2:1 magnification to infinity. The wide magnification range allows macro photographers to capture subject at any sizes. This 100mm portrait lens also features an apochromatic (APO) characteristic that no chromatic aberration can be found. The 12 elements in 10 groups optics design delivers a crystal sharpness image in both macro and tele distances. Canon EF / Nikon AI / Pentax K / Sony FE mounts are available.

On Kickstarter you can buy this tool to digitize up to 4×5 film with your Sony camera. Cool!

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: First Look | 4K

Comparing the Best Ultra Wide Zoom Lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony & Sigma (Lensrentals).
How Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” Came To Life (Alphauniverse).
Cat & Philip’s Wedding Film shot on Sony a7RIII a7R II a6500 (Jason Vong).
Turn It Up Over 1:1 with Ultra Macro Lenses (Explora).
German Samyang 35mm f/1.4 FE review at Wimair.at
Adobe introduces Project Rush a cross-device video editing app (Newsshooter).

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

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Sony Artisan Marc Galer:

Just thought you may be interested posting a link to this feature-length masterclass movie. http://www.markgaler.com/sony-alpha-focus-masterclass

Skylum released the new 1.3.0 free update. If you plan to buy Luminar use the coupon code “SAR” you will get $10 off. The new update fully supports the new Sony A7III.

Mac New & Improved Features:

• IMPROVED Raw Develop. The Raw Develop filter has improved handling of the Lens and Transform effects. Effects are not shown on the left side (Before) when using the Compare option. The effects are also not blended with original when using the Filters Amount slider.
• IMPROVED Sharpening. The Sharpening filter is more responsive and accurate. As you adjust the controls all changes are visible in high resolution with real-time feedback.
• IMPROVED Batch Processing. You can now export to several file formats including new options for PDF and JPEG-2000.
• IMPROVED LUT Mapping. You can now easily scroll through your LUTs in the LUT Mapping filter. Just hover your mouse over a LUT and it updates in real-time.
• IMPROVED Language Support. Luminar offers eight Improved localizations: Chinese, Chinese Simplified, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish.
• IMPROVED Image History. It is now possible to use the “Save History” option when saving a file with the “Windows Compatible” option. Additionally, White Balance presets are now displayed in an image’s history with the preset name when using the RAW Develop and Develop filters.
• NEW Plugin Support. The following third-party plugins can now be used via the Plugins menu: Imagenomic Noiseware 5, Imagenomic Portraiture 3, Imagenomic Realgrain 2, and DxO FilmPack 5.
• IMPROVED Filter Controls. To save you time, all filter checkboxes can be enabled or disabled by clicking on the control name or the checkbox. Additionally, be sure to try scrubbable number sliders. Just mouse over the value for a filter and then click and drag left or right to move the slider.
• IMPROVED JPEG Controls. Take precise control over JPEG and JPEG-2000 compression. You can see a numeric value for the Quality slider. You can also click on the number and enter a precise value.

Windows New & Improved Features:

• NEW Faster opening of RAW-files. You can now open raw files much faster thanks to improvements in our RAW engine.
• NEW White Balance Tool. A new White Balance functionality and eyedropper tool have been added to the Raw Develop, Develop, and Color Temperature filters.
• NEW Image History. It is now possible to use the “Save History” option when saving a file. Additionally, White Balance presets are now displayed in an image’s history with the preset name when using the RAW Develop, Develop and Color Temperature filters.
• NEW Layer Renaming. For all new layers, you add to a document (except for the original image) you can choose to assign a custom name. Just double-click on a layer’s name to edit it. This is a great way to organize adjustment and image overlay layers in your project.
• IMPROVED Filter Performance. You can now add or subtract filters more quickly to an image.
• IMPROVED Blending Modes. When you choose a blending mode for an Adjustment or Image Layer, the experience is even easier. Just hover your mouse over a blending mode and it updates in real-time. This is an easy way to simply mouse-over the list to find the perfect blending mode.
• IMPROVED LUT Mapping. You can now easily scroll through your LUTs in the LUT Mapping filter.
• IMPROVED Language Support. Luminar offers seven improved localizations: Chinese, Chinese Simplified, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish.
• NEW Canvas Color. You can now set the Canvas background color to White. Choose View > Background > White to set the working Canvas to White or choose from other shades of gray or black.
• IMPROVED Sharpening. The Sharpening filter is more responsive and accurate. As you adjust the controls all changes are visible in high resolution with real-time feedback.
• NEW DNG Camera Profiles (DCP). Are you looking for truly professional control over your raw files? Then give DNG Camera Profiles a try. Luminar recognizes the industry standard DCP files that you may already have on your computer (or have bought from third parties).
• IMPROVED Batch Processing. Windows users gain the useful Batch Processing improvements. These include the ability to “Replace or Skip Files” when saving the file with the same name when Batch Processing. Additional options include the ability to create JPEG and TIFF files as well as improved reliability when renaming and numbering files on export.

Here are the instruction how to get it:

The next time you launch Luminar, it should prompt you to update the software. You can also manually check for the update.

• Mac – Please choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
• Windows – Please choose Help > Check for updates.

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Some major competition news today:

Nikon Japan officially discontinued the Nikon 1 line that has been never a serious thread to current Sony-Fuji-Panasonic-Olympus mirrorless systems. The timing seems to be appropriate also because Nikon will soon announce two new Full Frame cameras. Here are the unverified and rumored specs of these cameras that are supposed to have the same size as the Sony A7 but with “better ergonomics”

• Two different mirrorless full frame cameras
• Resolution: 24-25MP and 45-48MP
• Similar body size to the Sony a7 camera
• 5-axis in-body stabilization
• 9fps
• 4k video
• Memory cards: XQD and CF Express
• EVF resolution: 3.6 million dots
• Nikon is putting a lot of emphasis and effort into the shooting experience of the new mirrorless camera. The camera was designed with ergonomics in mind.
• Over 400 AF points, not sure about the exact number, it should be somewhere between 430-450. The AF is supposed to be very fast.
• The rear LCD screen is tiltable just like the Nikon D850.
• There is a second LCD screen on the top of the camera.
• My understanding is that there is only one selection wheel on top of the camera.
• The camera’s “prism” with the EVF is a bit less angular/smoother when compared to the Sony a7.
• I can now confirm that the new 24-70 mirrorless full frame kit lens will indeed be f/4.
• I see 8K listed in the technical specifications, but it is hard for me to get the translation – I don’t think it’s for video, maybe 8K time-lapse just like the D850?
• The new Nikon mirrorless camera will have a nice finish and a very comfortable grip. The overall handling/feeling is supposed to be excellent – this is coming from somebody who is/has tested the camera.
• Most likely no built-in flash.
• The promo materials should include dancers.
• Potential names: Z300 and Z500 (not confirmed, take it with a grain of salt for now).
• Initially, three lenses will be announced: 24-70mm f/4, 35mm and 50mm (I think the 35 and 50mm will be f/1.4). There is also talk about a 24mm, but it may come later.
• At least one new mirrorless zoom lens will have power zoom for video recording (unconfirmed, could be announced later).
• Two electric AF motors (not confirmed).
• Very sophisticated new F-mount adapter (confirmed by multiple sources).
• I was told that Nikon is currently developing a large number of new mirrorless lenses and this is a top priority.
• The new mirrorless mount will allow for f/0.95 lenses

Rumor source Nikonrumors and recap via Nikoneye.