(SR5) New Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 for E-mount to be announced soon. First “schematic” image leaked!

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Note: This post has been updated twice with new information:

The image on top shows the “schematic” of a new Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lens. A trusted source told me that some people from Meyer Optik are involved in a special project to bring back to live this old [shoplink 61146 ebay]Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5[/shoplink] lens. The new Full Frame lens will be available in different mounts including Sony E-mount. And of course it will be manual focusing only.

It’s quite unusual to see that Zeiss licensed one of their old lenses to a third-party company.

Image below shows the old original [shoplink 61146 ebay]Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 you can still find on eBay[/shoplink].

 

[shoplink 61146 ebay][/shoplink]

I hope to get some more specs and images soon!

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100-400mm Field Test from Imaging Resource: “A home run for Sony E-mount owners”

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Imaging Resource posted their 100-400mm GM field test. And their conclusion is that this is a “A home run for Sony E-mount owners“:

What I like:

  • Great build quality
  • Excellent image quality
  • Good control of chromatic aberration
  • Versatile zoom range – and a really nice zoom mechanism
  • Impressive close focus capabilities
  • Despite being expensive, this is a great value given its unique role in the E-mount lineup

What I didn’t like:

  • Quite front-heavy with the APS-C A6500 body
  • Autofocus can be slow when focusing on a close subject, especially at the telephoto end
  • Focus ring feels loose
  • Not easy to remove the tripod foot

While the performance of a zoom lens won’t match a similar prime lens, all else equal, the Sony 100-400mm G Master lens is still incredibly sharp and performs very well. Considering its versatility, build quality, optical quality and price, the Sony 100-400mm GM is a home run and deserves a place in the kit of every Sony E mount shooter in need of telephoto reach. Granted, it is still $2,500 and that is a lot of money, but if you can afford this lens, buy it.

Lens store links: [shopcountry 60806]

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New Sony 16-35mm GM lens is now shipping

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UPDATE: I have been told that first US stores are now shipping the new 16-35mm GM lens at Bhphoto, Adorama, BestBuy and Amazon. In EU the lens is aready in Stock since a while at Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Calumet DE, WexUK, Jessops.

And today you save $150 on the Zhiyun-Tech Crane sold by BHphoto (Click here).

Deals:
The new Sony FE 100-400mm GM lens is now shipping out from all US store: BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy.
J.B. announced the new Grip-Case Pro for Sony A9 (here on Amazon) and A7II Series Bodies (here on Amazon).
Grey imported Sony A7rII sells for $2,199 only at NYC Department store on eBay.

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Sony Tidbits…

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTTSDrllEGE
How I got the SHOT! Urban Photoshoot with the Sony A9

Remembering Samsung (by Leonard Goh)
Best Mic for Sony a6000? (Jason Vong)
Should You Buy the Sony a6000 or Sony a6300? (That1CameraGuy).
What’s In My Bag: Nino Rakichevich Takes the α9 to Paris for Fashion Week (Alphauniverse).
Erfahrungsbericht Sony A6000, A6300, A6500 (SonyAlphaBog).
10 Essential Accessories For Better Beach Photography (Adorama Learning Center)
The Utility of Ambient Light in the Portraits of Bernard Gotfryd ().

Bernard: “When making a promotional video for the touristic region of Charlevoix in Canada, I used Sony A6000 and Sony A7s for all Timelapses. youtube.com/watch?v=JPJNA4iFFtQ“

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Voigtlander Macro 65mm FE lens shipment delayed til mid August

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The new Voigtlander Macro 65mm FE lens shipment start was originally planed for August 2. But it seems like there is a delay and the lens is now shipping from mid August only according to at BHphoto.

The lens is also on preorder at at Adorama.

Deals:
The new Sony FE 100-400mm GM lens is now shipping out from all US store: BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy.
J.B. announced the new Grip-Case Pro for Sony A9 (here on Amazon) and A7II Series Bodies (here on Amazon).
Grey imported Sony A7rII sells for $2,199 only at NYC Department store on eBay.

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(SR3) First rumors about a new Sony A77III A-mount camera (Same A6500 sensor and 4K)

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I got two info about a possible new Sony A77III A-mount camera:

Source 1:

the development for a77 mk3 is finished, it is now already in deep real-life testing cycle and it will be astonishing good and really, but really fast ;)

A SAR reader had a talk with a Sony manager who told him this:

Same A6500 sensor
Same A77m2 AF-phase detection module combined with a new Hybrid-AF (on sensor AF of the A6500)
4K Video

This all sounds very reasonable to me. Hope to get some more details about the announcement time soon. Anyway, A-mount is still alive for now :)

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Sony Q1 financial data: Increase of camera sales reported

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Sony published the Q1 financial report. Compared to last year Q1 operating income went up by 180%. Sony is definitely over the big crisis they had a couple of years ago. And the Imaging Segment is doing well too:

Both sales in terms of units and the operating income increased compared to last year. Not really surprising as last year we had the Kumamoto earthquake that hade a huge negative impact. The forecast for the whole 2017 year got a 1.6% upward revision.

Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

Sales increased 27.3% year-on-year (a 26% increase on a constant currency basis) to 155.6 billion yen. This significant increase in sales was mainly due to the absence of the impact from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year as well as an increase in unit sales and an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, both in Still and Video Cameras.

Operating income increased 15.7 billion yen year-on-year to 23.2 billion yen.
This significant increase was mainly due to the impact of the above-mentioned significant increase in sales, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating income for the current quarter included the above-mentioned 2.6 billion yen in insurance recoveries related to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes. During the current quarter, there was no material impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

Semiconductors

Sales increased 41.4% year-on-year (a 38% increase on a constant currency basis) to 204.3 billion yen. This increase was primarily due to a significant increase in unit sales of image sensors for mobile products, as well as the absence of the impact of a decrease in image sensor production due to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, partially offset by asignificant decrease in sales of camera modules, a business which was downsized.

Operating income of 55.4 billion yen was recorded, compared to an operating loss of 43.5 billion yen recorded in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. This significant improvement in operating results was primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales, the above-mentioned 27.5 billion yen gain resulting from the sale of the entire equity interest in SEH, and 6.7 billion yen in insurance recoveries related to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, as well as the absence of the 20.3 billion yen impairment charge against long-lived assets for camera modules and the net charges of 13.6 billion yen for expenses resulting from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes recorded in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. During the current quarter, there was a 2.5 billion yen positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

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