Stefan Immes from Meyer Optik launched a new Kickstarter project for the 75mm f/1.5 Biotar lens. This lens will be available for E-mount too and is actually manufactured by Tokina and will start shipping in Summer 2018.

Here is the full press text:
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Global All-Star Team Forms to Resurrect Famous Biotar 75/1.5

Biotar Project Launches Today on Kickstarter

(Koblenz, Germany) Dr. Stefan Immes, who revived the Meyer Optik brand three years ago, is joining with two prominent lens designers and Japanese lens maker Kenko Tokina to resurrect the Biotar 75mm f1.5 lens, the famous Carl Zeiss lens that was produced in small batches up until 1960.

The collaboration to bring the Biotar 75 back to the market is independent of Meyer Optik and will operate under the brand name Oprema Jena and fall under the umbrella of the German firm net SE, which is led by Dr. Immes. Oprema Jena is introducing the lens today through a Kickstarter project.

The Oprema Jena team includes famed designer Andre de Winter, who has won awards for the mechanical design of the Leica Summicron-M 35mm ASPH lens and the Leica Summilux-C lenses. Also on the team is Wolfdieter Prenzel, a leading expert in the field of optical design of classic lenses. Prenzel, who worked for the original Meyer Optik, is the designer who created modern versions of several classic Meyer Optik lenses, including the legendary Trioplan and Primoplan lenses.

The Tokyo-based Tokina will handle the production of the new Biotar 75, which Dr. Immes says was a key part of the plan to revive the Biotar as it means the project won’t impact the production of Meyer Optik’s own brand of art lenses.

The Biotar 75 was designed in 1938 by Willy Merté for Carl Zeiss. The lens is known for its famous swirley bokeh at f1.5, along with an extreme center sharpness. Photographers also rave about an almost 3D-like effect with the center-focused subject seemingly separated from the background.

When the aperture is stopped down to f5.6 or 8, the lens becomes extremely sharp and contrasty, especially taking into consideration that it is a design dating back to the early part of the last century.

“We are excited to see this lens come to life and very happy that we have been able to land Wolfdieter, Andre and Tokina for this exciting revival,”Dr. Immes said. “This is not a one off but the beginning of a collaboration that will also bring back the Biotar 58, as well as the famous Flektogon lenses. The team has a great spirit and we think those lenses should not be forgotten.”

Dr. Immes has already revived Meyer Optik Goerlitz back to life in large part through several successful Kickstarter campaigns. Meyer Optik lenses are finding an ever-growing community of photographers throughout the world. The Oprema Jena project, which pays homage to the city where the Biotar was born, will operate independently of Meyer Optik.

Macphun announced that for the first time their new Aurora HDR 2018 will be available for Windows too. Pre-orders will open on September 12^nd, and downloads released on September 28^th. You can sign up here to be notified when the pre-order and launch begin. Full info at aurorahdr.com/2018

Press text:

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About Aurora HDR:

Aurora HDR is not just a tool for merging bracketed images, it also provides numerous tools and countless options to create perfect HDR photos for every taste – from one-click presets and advanced tone-mapping, to layers, noise reduction and powerful luminosity masking controls.

Aurora HDR’s Key Features:

• Total HDR editing experience with the most complete set of tools available.
• Fast, powerful RAW processing engine.
• Tone-mapping algorithm to achieve both realistic and dramatic HDR images.
• Over 70 presets that give photos an amazing HDR look in just one click.
• Luminosity masking that automatically makes advanced selections within HDR images based on the Zone System.
• Unique layer system that supports blend modes, custom textures and using original exposures as source images.
• Image Radiance, brushes, masks, lighting, vignettes and much more help users achieve their artistic vision
• Highly versatile batch processing
• Works as a standalone app, or a plug-in to Photoshop and Lightroom

A sneak peek into what’s new in Aurora HDR 2018:

• Lens Correction Tool – The new Lens correction filter easily fixes all kinds of lens distortion, from barrel to pincushion, to chromatic aberration and vignetting.
• New User Interface – Redesigned from scratch, the modern and responsive user interface brings a powerful, yet joyful experience to HDR photo editing.
• Cross-platform version – Aurora HDR 2018 will be available both for Mac and PC users. Files are interchangeable and mixed-computer households can share the same product key.
• Speed Improvements – Up to 4x improvement in RAW image processing, and up to 200% faster merging and masking performance means that Aurora HDR 2018 is dramatically faster than the last version.

Availability:

Aurora HDR 2018 will be availabe for pre-order on September 12, and released on September 28.

Pricing:

Mixed-computer households can share the same product key for Mac and PC that can be activated on 5 devices.

Pre-order:

• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $49
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 at a special pre-order price of $89
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Retail price:

• $59 for current Aurora HDR users
• $99 for new users

Shooting in S-Log

Wedding Photography Pricing: How Not to be a Starving Artist (ALC).
Comparing lenses: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 and Sony Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 (Scattered Light).
Sony FE 100-400/4.5-5.6 GM vs Contax 100-300/4.5-5.6 (Fred Miranda).
The horrifying truth about radioactive Camera Lenses (Mirrorlessrumors).
New Gear from Tiffen: More than Just Filters (Explora).
Aputure COB 300d LED Fresnel Light (Personal View).

Dru: “video shot on a6300 and a7ii https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPABwvZnCi8“

We have our own Facebook camera groups and pages you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony A9 group and Sony A9 page.
Sony A7rIII group and Sony A7rIII page
Sony A7sIII group and Sony A7sIII page
Sony A7III group and Sony A7III page
Note: In groups you can post your own stuff like images, news and questions. While on pages you will read the specific camera news from SAR.

Exactly three years ago (August 18) Sony announced their to date last entry-level E-mount camera, the A5100. There may be a 5300 coming but this kind of “budget” system cameras could soon be dead. Dpreview writes that “Smartphones killed the compact and now they’re coming for entry-level ILCs“:

Once smartphones can do a reasonably good imitation of things like bokeh and optical zoom, those who never wanted to pick up a dedicated camera won’t have to. Lots of people who do want the image quality benefits traditionally associated with a DSLR actually want nothing to do with a DSLR. They’re big, confusing and come with a significant learning curve. 

I think they are spot on with that “prediction”. The entry-level system camera market is shrinking and the profit margin on those kind of cameras is very small. I see it likely that in 3-4 years from now we will only have a market for high-end APS-C or FF cameras. And their price will keep climbing to offset the declining entry-level business. Still, I do not think Smartphone will ever kill the High End Camera Market. Or maybe I am just being naive?