Metabones released the new firmware update V0.57 for their Metabones Smart Adapter IV and EF-E Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x. You can download the firmware for WIN and MAC.

• Benefits and improvements:
  • Added autofocus support during high speed and medium speed continuous drive (up to 10fps) on Sony A9 (“Green” mode only). Experiment with the “Priority Set in AF-C” setting for the best compromise between hit rate and frame rate for your shooting style. Overall performance depends on lens used. The camera does not use hunting while tracking is in operation. If subject movement exceeds the measurement range of the OSPDAF sensor, autofocus pauses. This is by design. The measurement range of the OSPDAF sensor decreases as the focal length increases. Except for the original Mark I Smart Adapter this feature is available for all subsequent Speed Boosters and Smart Adapters.
  • Enlarged PDAF area on supported cameras when adapter is in Advanced mode, with the advisory that AF performance may be unsatisfactory outside of the central portion of the frame.
  • Enabled AF illuminator (Advanced mode only).
  • There is an AF accuracy issue when using AF-S or DMF on Sony A9 and telephoto lenses with Metabones in “Advanced” mode, which affects this and all previous firmware versions. Green mode, which is set by default on Sony A9, is not affected (except for the original Smart Adapter Mark I, which does not support “Green” mode). A9 users are advised to not use “Advanced” mode but stick with the default “Green” mode. In addition, some telephoto lenses rarely exhibit this issue, such as EF 200/2.8L II USM, EF 400/5.6L USM and Tamron 150-600/5-6.3 VC USD A011. Investigation of this issue is still in progress.
  • Fixed AF issue with EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM and EF-S 18-135/3.5-5.6 IS Nano USM lenses.
  • Fixed smooth iris support for 40/2.8 STM, 50/1.8 STM and Sigma 50-100/1.8 DC HSM Art 016.
  • Fixed CN-E 18-80 T4.4 L IS KAS S servo zoom used by the camera’s zoom rocker and the lens’ rocker in alternation.
  • Fixed CN-E 18-80 T4.4 L IS KAS S auto iris when adapter is in Green mode, where extremely bright conditions no longer causes the iris to close completely.
  • Fixed aperture display with Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM lens and Kenko Pro 300 teleconvertter.
  • Corrected W-T zoom scale display in “Advanced” mode for Speed Booster and Kenko Pro 300  teleconverter (except Mark I/II/III and original Speed Booster).
  • Faster aperture diaphragm for still photography in Advanced mode when Live Vide mode is set to Setting Effect OFF.
  • LED (if available) now shows solid magenta when adapter is connected to USB waiting for Metabones App to run.

–

found via Brian Smith

Sony announced a new 1 inch sensor with all-pixel global reset function (specs here). This will allow to drastically reduce rolling shutter. The sensor size and megapixel number suggest that this sensor may be used on a future RX100VI camera.

Sony also announced a Four Thirds sensor with an interesting Quad Bayer COding HDR function (specs here). It allows to take instant HDR pictures on moving objects too.

Sony a99ii – Best Gear On The Planet 2017 – DSLR’s – Real World Shootout

We shot the Boeing 737 Max 9’s first flight with a Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III (Dpreview).
Hands-on Sony 16-35 f/2.8 and 12-24 f/4 lens (Photorec).
Sigma 135mm F1.8 ART Lens Review on Sony A7RM2 | John Sison
Micro Four Thirds to Sony E-mount Lens Adapter: Rokinon 7.5mm Fisheye + Sony A7S (Fotodiox).
Batis 135mm FE test at Mapcamera.
Creativity & Awareness: Learning to See Before the Capture (ALC).
In the Field with the Freefly MōVI Pro (Explora).

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From top left til bottom right these are all native 50mm E-mount lenses (with one 55mm lens included):
Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 macro ([shopcountry 51065])
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 ([shopcountry 49849])
Zeiss FE Loxia 50mm f/2.0 ([shopcountry 47047])
Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8 ([shopcountry 37736])
Rokinon (Samyang) FE 50mm f/1.4 ([shopcountry 51066])
Sony APS-C 50mm f/1.8 ([shopcountry 51067])
Handevision Iberit APS-C manual focus 50mm f/2.4 ([shopcountry 51068])
Zeiss 50mm FE f/1.4 ([shopcountry 51069])
Rokinon (Samyang) APS-C manual focus 50mm f/1.2 ([shopcountry 51070])
Rokinon (Samyang) FE manual focus 50mm f/1.4 ([shopcountry 51071])
Zeiss Touit APS-C 50mm f/2.8 macro ([shopcountry 51072])
Mitakon FE manual focus 50mm f/0.95 ([shopcountry 51073])

I may have forgotten some other third-party lens (or rebranded version of the same lens). I think we can safely say we have enough 50mm lenses :) Althoug I could really like to get two more 50mm lenses:
Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 pancake

Here is the size comparison aligned horizontally (Click on it to enlarge)

Ilya Artemiev on SonyAlphaForum
Have tried Leica Summarit 50/1.5 (1952) on my a7rII, and fell in love (with this lens).
Flickr

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