UPDATED: Sony Adds New Enhancements To VENICE Camera

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This post has been updated.

Sony has announced enhancements for the Venice Cinema Camera (this camera comes in native E-mount too). This is the official press text via Alphauniverse:

At the CineGearExpo in Los Angeles, Sony has announced new enhancements for the VENICE camera system. See below for full press release:

Sony is announcing new updates and developments for its VENICE CineAlta motion picture camera system including version 2 firmware, which has been advanced and will now be available in the beginning of July 2018.

Sony is announcing the development of its new VENICE Extension System designed for expanded flexibility and enhanced ergonomics. Also being announced is Sony’s plan for high frame rate support for the Venice system.

“Venice was born from the voice of cinematographers,” said Peter Crithary, marketing manager for motion picture cameras, Sony Electronics. “Their voices continue to fuel the ongoing development of this powerful camera with the mission to make a real difference in their daily work. These new enhancements provide professionals more freedom to hone their craft, and also protects their investment.”

VENICE Version 2 firmware

Version 2 adds new features and capabilities specifically requested by production professionals to deliver more recording capability, customizable looks, exposure tools and greater lens freedom. Highlights include:

Dual base ISO – With 15+ stops of exposure latitude, VENICE will support high Base ISO of 2500 in addition to existing ISO of 500, taking full advantage of Sony’s unique sensor for superb low light performance with exceptional dynamic range from +6 stops to -9 stops as measured at 18% middle gray. This increases exposure indexes at higher ISOs for night exteriors, dark interiors, working with slower lenses or where content needs to be graded in High Dynamic Range, while maintaining the maximum shadow details.

Select FPS (off speed) – in individual frame increments, from 1 to 60.

Additional Imager modes – V2.0 newly adds several Imager Modes, 25p in 6K Full-Frame, 25p in 4K 4:3 Anamorphic, 6K 17:9, 1.85:1 and 4K 6:5 Anamorphic imager modes.
User up-loadable 3D LUTs – users can customize their own looks and save them directly into the camera.
Wired LAN remote control – users can remotely control and change key functions, including camera settings, FPS, shutter, EI, iris (Sony E-mount lens), rec start/stop, and built-in optical ND filters.
E-mount –users can remove the PL mount and use a wide assortment of native E-mount lenses.

VENICE Extension System

At Cine Gear 2018, Sony will demonstrate the VENICE Extension System, a Full-Frame tethered extension system that allows the camera body to detach from the actual image sensor block with no degradation in image quality up to 20 feet apart. These are the result of Sony’s long-standing collaboration with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment.

“This new tethering system is a perfect example of listening to our customers, gathering strong and consistent feedback, and then building that input into our product development,” added Crithary. “The ‘Avatar’ sequels will be among the first feature films to use the new VENICE Extension System, but it also has tremendous potential for wider use with handheld stabilizers, drones, gimbals, and remote mounting in confined places.”

High Frame Rate

Sony is also announcing the details of a planned optional upgrade to support high fame rate – targeting speeds up to 60 fps in 6K, up to 90 fps in 4K, and up to 120 fps in 2K to be released in North America in the spring of 2019.

For more information visit sony.com/VENICE.

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(SR5) Tamron 28-75mm FE firmware update will be released in 2 weeks

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A couple of Tamron news:

1) The next Stock of lenses will ship out in mid June according to an updated info from BHphoto.

2) Trusted Tamron sources told us the new firmware update will be released in two weeks

Tamron 28-75mm FE lens at BHphotoAmazon, BuyDig, FocusCamera and Adorama. In Europe at Amazon DE and WexUK.

Two more Tamron reviews:
Rolling review by Phillip Reeve.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 & Sony a7iii with moza aircross review in video by David Oastler on Youtube.

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Full Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 E-mount lens review by Marc Alhadeff: “the best Kamlan lens produced so far”

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Marc Alhadeff from SonyAlphablog tested the new Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 E-mount lens which is on sale today at Kickstarter:

The Kamlan 28mm F1.4 is a surprise and is certainly the best Kamlan lens produced so far. It gives very good results for numerous usages

  • For street photography and half body portrait , The Kamlan 28mm F1.4 is giving very nice results with very good bokeh and very good central sharpness
  • Closed down e.g. for landscape, you get very sharp pictures on the entire frame

Pros

  • very good bokeh and soft background blur
  • Nice color rendition and good contrast
  • 3D effect when shooting wide open
  • Good build construction and easy handling
  • Good to excellent central sharpness
  • Excellent corners when stopped down to F8
  • Lens fall off goes away as from F2.8
  • Price (>200$)
  • Size

Average

  • Chromatic aberrations
  • Distorsion visible but easily correctable in Lightroom

Con’s

  • Manual lens
  • soft corners wide open

At 150$ on Kickstarter , it is a real bargain

Its closest competitors is the Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN that has AF but that is costing 2 times the Kamlan price (380 euros)

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Sony Tidbits…

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A must own LENS for your CROP SENSOR camera (Sony A6500)

Hasselblad H6 versus H5 versus Sony A7Rii Camera test. Camera test by Karl Taylor.
I Stopped Recording 4K with Sony Mirrorless (For Now) by That1CameraGuy.
Lastolite Introduces 6 x 7-Foot HiLite Softbox Accessories (Explora).
Lanparte MQR-03 Modular Quick Release System (Personal View).
In-depth comparison between the A7 III and Fuji X-H1 (Mirrorlesscomparison).

Share your best pictures on our new Instagram SonyAlphaGallery.

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

Dan:I thought I’d submit a recent video that I uploaded where I take a black and white-converted A7r Mark II for a spin with a Canon FD 50/1.2L and a Pinhole Pro pinhole adapter. I expect to shoot a video in the future doing more of a formal comparison of the black and white-converted A7r Mark II to my non-converted A7r Mark III. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNTg4g_zj94

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New Tokina 20mm f/2 FE AF Lens for Sony is in Stock at BHphoto and Adorama.

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The new Tokina FiRIN 20mm f/2 FE AF Lens for Sony is in Stock for the very first time at BHphoto and Adorama.

New lens preorders:
Tamron 28-75mm FE at BHphotoAmazon, BuyDig, FocusCamera and Adorama. In Europe at Amazon DE and WexUK.
Tokina 20mm FE at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 for $1,599 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 for $899 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 for $849 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 for $899 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 for $949 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 70mm macro for $569 at Adorama.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for $1,199 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 for $1,399 at BHphoto and Adorama.

Sony cashback:
Sony US launched their big rebates you can find listed on those pages at BHphoto, Buydig, Adorama, FocusCamera.
First time rebates:
$300 off on the Sony A9 at BHphotoAdorama, Amazon, BestBuy. FocusCamera.
$100 off on the 18-135mm lens at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, FocusCamera and BestBuy.
Lowest price ever:
$300 off on the 24-70mm f/4.0 Zeiss lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.

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New Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 E-mount lens announced. First review with samples by Christopher Frost and Dustin Abbott.

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Kamlan announced the new APS-C 28mm f/1.4 E-mount lens. All details can be found on that Kickstarter page. This will be their fifth lens. All other Kamlan lenses are in Stock on Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon ES and Amazon IT.

They also teased the launch of four more APS-C E-mount lenses during 2018:

Christopher Frost and Dustin Abbott posted their review of the new 28mm Kamlan. Christopher also posted some image samples on Flickr.

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Tamron announces it will soon fix the 28-75mm FE autofocus issue via firmware upgrade!

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Image by SonyAlphaBlog

Tamron 28-75mm FE lens at BHphotoAmazon, BuyDig, FocusCamera and Adorama. In Europe at Amazon DE and WexUK.

Today Tamron issued an official statement saying that it will fix the 28-75mm FE autofocus issue (reported here by That1CameraGuy). Nice to see Tamron reacting that quick on the autofocus issue:

Dear Tamron product users and potential purchasers.

Thank you for your interest in Tamron products.

We would like to announce that we discovered some issues with the auto focus of our new lens, 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036) for Sony E-mount, 35mm full-frame mirrorless cameras, released on May 24, 2018. The issues occur primarily when using the camera in video recording mode.

Rest assured, we are evaluating the cause of the error and for the solution to this matter. We expect this issue to be resolved very shortly and we will release a firmware update at that time.

Regarding the firmware updating process, please be assured that the process is accomplished directly through the Sony camera and supported by the Sony firmware updating function. As soon as the process is finalized, we will explain the process in detail on our website.

We sincerely apologize to all users and potential purchasers for any inconvenience this issue may cause.

SonyAlphaBlog posted their full review:

For most of its performance it is on par with the Sony 24-70 F2.8 GM except for AF accuracy (SAR note: Fix coming soon)

Pro’s

  • Excellent sharpness globally on par with the Sony 24-70 F2.8 GM
  • Cheap ! (900 euros)
  • Small
  • Quiet AF
  • Very good flare resistance and very low CA
  • Very short minimum focusing distance (19cm)
  • Built in lens corrections

Average

  • Strong vignetting and distorsion but will be corrected with a Lightroom lens profile soon
  • Build quality : quite good but feel a bit plastic

Con’s

  • unreliable AF in AFC
  • only starts at 28mm
  • Unable to shoot at 20fps on A9 (8-9 max)
  • No AF/MF button
  • No focus hold button (so practical to assign to eye AF)

And here are new Tamron lens video tests:

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