Photokina reports and tests roundup

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Sigma 28mm, 40mm, 56mm, 70-200mm and 60-600mm Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog).
Sony Cyber-shot HX99 Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog).
Photokina marks a massive upheaval in the camera landscape (Engadget).

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Image of the new Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x macro FE lens at Photokina

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Optyczne shared this image of the new Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x macro lens. This lens will be available as native Full Frame E-mount lens too. There are some image samples shot with the Canon version on Optyczne. Some more hands-on images are also available at Photographyblog.

Here is the press text I shared a while ago:

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.

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Zeiss ZX1 listed at BHphoto with full specs and no price yet

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That sincelry crazy and for some apsects intruiging Zeiss ZX1 is now officially listed at BHphoto (Click here):

Shoot
  • Full-frame 37.4MP CMOS sensor enables recording high-resolution stills at up to 3 fps and 4K30p video, along with a sensitivity range of ISO 80-51200.
  • Built-in ZEISS Distagon T* 35mm f/2 lens has been perfectly matched to the sensor in order to provide edge-to-edge sharpness and illumination. The optical design incorporates two double-sided aspherical elements, which help to reduce spherical aberrations and minimize distortion. Additionally, the bright f/2 maximum aperture is suitable for low-light shooting and also offers increased control over depth of field.
  • Leaf shutter design provides flash sync at all shutter speeds and allows for especially quiet shooting.
  • A 255-area AF system is available, and can be used in conjunction with single-shot or continuous AF modes, or DMF and MF modes can also be used.
  • Physical shutter speed and ISO dials, along with a manual aperture ring on the lens, afford direct, intuitive control over exposure settings.
  • High-resolution 0.7″ OLED electronic viewfinder has a Full HD resolution along with a 0.74x magnification for clear, bright viewing.
  • Rear LCD incorporates a side tool bar for quick switching between four distinct camera modes.
  • Microphone and headphone jacks can be used for enhanced audio recording and audio monitoring while recording video.
  • Top hot shoe is compatible with the Sigma TTL flash protocol.
Edit
  • Based on a large, 4.34″ rear LCD screen, on-the-fly image editing is possible. The HD (1280 x 720) screen has a 338 ppi resolution and is touch-sensitive for intuitive navigation and editing control. The spacious screen is also the perfect place for in-depth review of your imagery while out shooting.
  • The distinct shape of the camera body, which has a bend in the middle, allows for an easy-to-find groove in the screen where the touch-sensitive tool bar is located.
  • Integrated Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC allows for thorough editing capabilities directly on the camera. This sophisticated software lets you adjust everything from exposure and color to making selective edits or syncing your edits to Lightroom CC on your computer.
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  • A wide range of sharing capabilities are possible, including both wireless and wired means to help you quickly and efficiently get your photos out to the world.
  • Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity let you seamlessly share images directly from the camera to a linked device.
  • USB Type-C interface can be used to port images directly to an external hard drive, share a live view of the camera to an additional screen, or an external battery pack can be used to power and charge the internal battery.
  • Integrated 512GB SSD allows for storing a huge amount of photo and movie files without the need to swap memory cards. On the camera, files can be organized into different collections for easier navigation.
  • Wireless connectivity lets you upload your files to cloud storage services directly from the camera.
  • Automatic backups are possible to your own NAS system and remote access to the files is also available from wherever you are.
  • Firmware updated can be downloaded and installed or updates over-the-air are also possible.

In Stock:
The Sony A7III is in Stock at BuyDig (Click here). The kit versions is also in Stock at FocusCamera.

Preorder status check:
The new Zeiss Batis lens is available for preorder at Adorama and BHphoto.
The Sony A7III will be in Stock within days according to BHphoto and Adorama.
The Tamron 28-75mm FE will be in Stock tomorrow according to BHphoto.
The Sony 400mm GM FE will be in Stock on October 11 according to BHphoto.
The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 FE will be in Stock on October 18 according to BHphoto.

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New Batis 40mm f/2.0 FE lens test by Allan Weitz and Lisa Beaney

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Zeiss 40mm f/2.0 CF lens preorder at Adorama and BHphoto.

Allan Weitz (test here) conclusion is:

Though my personal lens preferences lean toward wide-angle lenses, the slightly wide-angle PoV, combined with the 40mm Batis’s ability to focus closer than your typical normal lens, made my time with the Batis 40mm f/2 CF a creatively enjoyable experience.

Lisa Beaney (test here) conclusion is:

From the testing I’ve done this lens is very sharp (not a scientific measurement, just from using it and looking at the images !)

Preorder status check:
The new Zeiss Batis lens is available for preorder at Adorama and BHphoto.
The Sony A7III will be in Stock within days according to BHphoto and Adorama.
The Tamron 28-75mm FE will be in Stock tomorrow according to BHphoto.
The Sony 400mm GM FE will be in Stock on October 11 according to BHphoto.
The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 FE will be in Stock on October 18 according to BHphoto.

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What f/1.2 (or faster) FE lens should Sony release to debunk the Nikon Z mount argument?

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At Photokina Sony clearly said that a larger mount is not required to make fast high quality lenses. This is an argument Nikon keeps using to hammer on the E-mount. And today Nikoneye.com reports a statement from a Nikon manager claiming the new 58mm f/0,95 is made to show what can be done with the new Z-mount. The lens aims to match or even surpass the performance of the Zeiss Otus lenses. The manager also said the lens has no autofocus as its goal is ultimate optical performance.

Well, I guess there is only one way to debunk this Nikon argument. Sony has to make a state of the art fast lens! So let us know if you would prefer a f/1.2 autofocus lens like this new Canon 50mm f/1.2 or an even faster manual focusing lens like the Nikon 58mm:

If you could pay $3000+ for a fast lens which one would you buy?

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Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM review at Photographyblog: “outstanding wide-angle prime lens “

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Photographyblog posted the full review of the new Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM lens (preorder at Bhphoto. Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany. WexUK.):

The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is an outstanding wide-angle prime lens with a very fast maximum aperture, although the high asking price is certainly reflective of the performance and image quality on offer.
This relatively compact, lightweight optic delivers excellent sharpness in both the centre and edges of the frame almost throughout its aperture range, even performing well wide-open.
The near-circular 11-blade aperture creates some lovely bokeh effects, despite the wide-angle nature of the lens, making it suitable for everything from landscapes to portraits, as shown in our Sample Image gallery.
Coupled with a high-resolution camera like the A7R III that we tested it with, it’s capable of producing incredibly detailed, very sharp images, with Sony’s excellent Eye AF function seamlessly tracking the subject.
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM delivered fast, near-silent and reliable auto-focusing on the A7R III camera, intuitive manual focusing and a high level of build quality, plus it’s usefully weather-tight too.
If you really love the 24mm focal length, we’d heartily recommend the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM – you certainly won’t be disappointed by the image quality that it can deliver.

And here is the hands-on by Photogearnews:

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Sony Tidbits…

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Photographic Futures – Technological Developments in Digital Imaging

Sony Cybershot RX10 IV Review (Bonus)- Worth the High Price? (Photographic Central).
70mm F/2.8 Sigma Macro For Sony E Review by TheBrotographer.
Meike 28mm F2.8 review at SonyAlpha.blog.
Are Rugged Hard Drives Tough Enough? (Explora).
Lanparte MLVP-01 Monopod V-Lock Plate (Personal View).
Sony FE 28-70mm Kit Lens Review by SonyAlphaLab.

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

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