DxOmark posted the new Sony RX100m4 sensor test results. The good news is that there is a small improvement compared to the previous generation and:
For a physically small sensor, the new 20-Mpix Exmor RS BSI CMOS chip ranks high, coming in at 116th in our database for sensors of all sizes. Performance ranks alongside recent Micro-Four-Thirds models and even APS-C-equipped DSLR models such as the Canon EOS 7D Mk II and EOS 760D.
Serious zoom: Sony Cyber-shot RX10 II shooting experience (Dpreview)
Most sexy(?) RX10mII slow motion test on Youtube.
It is important to note that even though I did encounter a variety of small issues, the image quality makes many of these just not worth worrying about, and I would have no problem recommending this camera to most people. The only reservation I would have is with photographers who solely shoot in a studio, as a full-sized DSLR with proper ports, a more balanced build, and an optical viewfinder may benefit them, as the weight-savings of the mirrorless design doesn’t really matter too much. In the end, Sony has released a truly impressive camera, and one that I expect to find at or near the top of many “Best Cameras of 2015” lists at the end of this year.
Overall, despite the few shortcomings, the A7R II is well worth its asking price. It’s not going to replace a main body for many event or sports shooters, but most everyone else will be quite pleased with what Sony has put in this camera. Landscape photographers especially will love the wide dynamic range and exceptional detail. While it’s not perfectly executed, the Sony A7R II is currently the best mirrorless camera on the market. If you can swing the price of the camera and the price of the outstanding glass needed to fully realize its potential, it’s well worth a look for the serious shooter.
3D-Kraft posted another Sony A7RII Aerial report. Video can be seen o Vimeo and Youtube.
ThisWeekInPhoto video interview with Gordon Laing (main talk about the A7rII):
A7rII case: Gariz leather case in [shoplink 39113 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39108 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39110 ebay]Orange (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39111 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 39112 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink]. Also available on Amazon US (Click here). Gariz Alcantara case in [shoplink 39094 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 39095 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink]. Also available on Amazon US (Click here). Lim’s case in [shoplink 39107 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39102 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39103 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39104 ebay]Yellow (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 39105 ebay]Navy Blue (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 39106 ebay]Khaki (Click here)[/shoplink]. Also available on Amazon US (Click here).
The leaked Sony roadmap shows how the A6xxx should have been released sometimes between April-June this year. Got delayed because of some hardware issues (rumor).
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Ok guys, let’s stop the A7rII talk for a moment to go back to what really excites us GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) syndrom photographers…rumors about future Sony cameras :)
The last couple of days two trusted and one anonymous source (Thanks!) confirmed Sony is about to launch a new E-mount camera. I am yet not 100% sure but this should be finally(!!!!!!!) the new A6xxx (or A7000) camera!
If you have some “rumor” to share just send me an anonymous messages here: at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use the contact form you see on the right top of this site.
Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor): SR1=probably fake rumor SR2=rumor from unknown sources SR3=50% chance it is correct SR4=rumor from known sources SR5=almost certainly correct!
[shoplink 39731 ebay][/shoplink]
The new Leica FF mirrorless will have a design based on the original [shoplink 39731 ebay]Leicaflex camera[/shoplink].
MirrorlessRumors (Click here) broke the news and posted some detailed info about the very first Sony A7 line competition. Lecia will launch a new Full Frame Mirrorless (non-rangefinder) system camera in October! Here is the info via MR:
Coming soon: An interchangeable lens version of the Leica Q, with AF lenses. Due out in time for Photo Plus, in October.
This will not be the replacement to the M240 but rather a new system with new AF lenses, bulkier than the Q or M lines, with an EVF and lighter build despite the bulk. Sensor will be similar, if not the same, as the Q’s sensor. Anticipate that it will come bundled with a 50 mm f/2 Summicron lens and retail around $8,000 USD. Build quality will be comparable to the M line and Q line…much of the Q’s tech, including in body image stabilization, electronic shutter, and built in high res EVF, will be included. The camera may harken in design to [shoplink 39731 ebay]Leicaflex bodies[/shoplink] of years gone by…like a bulkier XT-1 with more simplified layout. This may end up being called the new “R” camera and may well take old R lenses via adapter, along with new AF R lenses. Not sure that it will take M lenses.
Anticipate that Leica will begin to simplify options, but canceling the T line and possibly the X-line. What will remain are the DLux, VLux, M, Q, S lines…
Good, at last Sony will get some competition although the price of the Leica camera body is rumored to be around a heavy $6,000. It’s a good news for us Sony camera owners too. Without competition we are condemned to pay a high price on new cameras and lenses. With Leica and maybe in future Canon and Nikon FF mirrorless things will change.
It’s also worth to mention that the mirrorless tech like in body stabilization and the sensor are made by Panasonic. Maybe one day Panasonic will join the new Leica system too?
As we all know reviewers are all different and it’s quite normal to see how everyone sees a camera differently. For some the A7rII focus is excellent (read Dpreview) and for some it is not. For some the image quality is astonishing (and do not care about 12 or 14 bit RAW) and for some not because they know that in 0,1% of the pictures the lossless RAW compression shows posterization artifacts :)
We read a lot of good things about the A7rII but it’s now time to share a review from Ming Thein who dislikes many things on the camera…but at the end bought it anyway :) Here are just some of the negative A7rII points he mentioned in his review:
1) I have used all of the A7 series cameras except the A7S, and previously reviewed the A7R and A7II in detail. Each of these cameras suffered from significant shortcomings, and the A7RII is no different – though perhaps it has the fewest so far.
2) The menu system is typical Sony. It is passable to those familiar, and completely unintuitive to those who aren’t.
3) Operationally, this does not feel like a fast camera. Every action seems slightly delayed, as though damped in oil. Power on is slow. Reviewing images and zooming in is laggy
4) AF with normal E-mount lenses is not exactly speedy – just the right side of acceptable most of the time, but in even slightly backlit situations, be prepared to wait – and get a lot of false positives.
5) No matter how many times I profile the camera or what I do with the primary curves or HSL defaults in ACR, there’s some muddiness and color indistinction going on in the shadows if you want to extract the most dynamic range from it; on the other hand, if you want clean shadows, you’re going to be faced with fairly early clipping.
6) IBIS unfortunately also complicates the matter of sensor cleaning greatly – though there’s a function which basically shakes the thing using brute force, I’ve already got stubborn dust spots on mine that cannot be dislodged with blower or shaker.
Conclusion:
Sadly, the A7RII is not a camera that gives me any pleasure to shoot at the moment, and it bothers me that I cannot put my finger on exactly why. Logically, it ticks all the boxes. Yet it does not inspire goad you on, like the Leica Q, nor does it feel solidly dependable and razor sharp like the D810. It may well be unfamiliarity or a bad choice of custom key configuration on my part, but I suspect that isn’t entirely it. It just feels like a consumer electronic device in operation, something designed for anoraks by anoraks, not a camera.
As usual please don’t be a Sony fanboy. If you feel Ming Thein is NOT right on some points simply argument with reasonable logic. To be 100% fair Ming also listed some positives about the camera on his full review and at the end bought the camera for his personal use.
Personal view: I do understand some of Ming Thein complains. And I am happy when reviewers highlight the limits of the camera and do hope Sony will take note of it. That said I always see the cameras as a whole package and for me the positives by far outweight the negatives. I have the camera since one week and in my real life use I found it excellent! If you want to see an A7rII review that really reflects my view of the A7rII watch the video review from Luminous Landscape.
Nikon F to Sony E Adapter – with Autofocus & Stabilisation
Our friend Matt Granger (website here) posted the world’s first hands-on review of the Nikon G to Sony E-mount autofocus adapter. Please keep in mind that what you see here is a prototype and has no PDAF support which will be added soon too. So yes, autofocus sucks for now, but it’s a start. I am sure the final version will be much faster and maybe in a year or so we will have very useable ones. A good news for those folks owning a lot of Nikon glass!
The adapter will be sold by end of this year by [shoplink 38429 ebay]Commlite on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. The same company alreayd makes a “decent” electronic AF adapter for [shoplink 38430 ebay]Canon EF lenses on Sony E-mount (Click here)[/shoplink].
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The new Leica FF mirrorless will have a design based on the original [shoplink 39731 ebay]Leicaflex camera[/shoplink].
