Download now! Sony releases A7rII firmware with 14 Bit uncompressed RAW

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A7rII_firmware_14bit

Sony just issued firmware 2.0 for the Sony A7rII. Download links:
Windows: Sony.com, Sony Australia.
Mac: Sony.com, Sony Australia.

Those are the new features:

  • Adds the selectable feature for uncompressed 14-Bit RAW image capture
  • Adds support to output video via HDMI during use of the Remote Camera Control software (still mode only)

UPDATE: There seems to be an issue with the firmware update. If you have APS-C mode on “Auto” than once you install the firmware update you can only shoot pictures at a max resolution of 18 megapixel. You can still change the settings after the firmware update so don’t worry. But just in case you can’t take any 42MP pictures any more know it that the firmware seems to activate it as default! (Thanks Mirrorlessons for the tip).

Thanks Oliver, Mike, Craig for sharing the links!

A7rII store list:
In USA at Amazon, BHphoto, AdoramaSonyStore US, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
In Europe at Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Wex UK and ParkCameras.
In Asia at Digitalrev, CameraPro.

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New FE lenses to be shown at the School of Visual Arts in NYC on October 20?

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FE

Many Sony Artisans and Sony manager Kenta Honjo will attend the Sony mirrorless expert panel at the School of Visual Arts in NYC on Ocotber 20. So many big names usually come together when there is also some new Sony products to be announced. Keep in mind the PhotoPlus show will start the day after and we are expecting Sony to announce their new FE lenses and an updated FE lens roadmap.

Here is the official event description:

MPS Digital Photography and Sony present department chair Katrin Eismann, Sony Alpha product manager Kenta Honjo, photojournalist Ben Lowy, photographer and filmmaker Ben Moon and portrait and wedding photographer Miguel Quiles in a panel discussion on how technological developments such as the mirrorless camera have improved the quality of digital photography, reduced the size and weight of cameras and increased accessibility to photography. Moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning celebrity and portrait photographer Brian Smith.

It’s free for people to attend!

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(SR4) Sony will announce a new A-mount camera in early November!

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At last I have some good rumor for the A-mount folks! According to two trusted(!) sources Sony will announce one new A-mount camera in early November! Stay tuned on SAR to get more info the coming days!

Reminder: The new FE lenses should be announced at PhotoPlus. The new A-mount camera will be announced after the PhotoPlus show.

Stay tuned on SAR and subscribe the newsletter to get info when it matters:

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
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SR5=almost certainly correct!

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Sony Australia will not sell any A-mount camera/lens anymore.

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Today I reported how Sony will announce a new A-mount camera in early November. But that new camera will certainly not go on sale in Australia and New Zealand because Sony Oceania decided to not sell any A-mount camera and lenses anymore.

Sony’s strategy is to sell A-mount only in areas where it sells well and where mirrorless is having a hard time to eat the DSLR market share.

Here is the official news reported by SAR reader John on Twitter:

 

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Sony A7rII gariz case in Stock through US sellers.

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[shoplink 41660 ebay]A7rII_Gariz_alcantara[/shoplink]

You can now buy the Gariz Leather or Alcantara A7rII case directly from californian eBay US seller. Check the item in [shoplink 41663 ebay]Black Leather (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 41660 ebay]Black Alcantara (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 41661 ebay]Red Leather (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 41662 ebay]Orange Leather (Click here)[/shoplink]. The same sellers sells them also on Amazon US (Click here).

Open Box Sony and Zeiss lenses for sale at Samys:
[shoplink 41436 ebay]$300 off on the A7rII on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 41211 ebay]$500off on the 70-400mm SSM lens on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 41213 ebay]FE 24-240mm on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 41214 ebay]FE 24-70mm Zeiss on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 41215 ebay]E-mount APS-C 16-70mm Zeiss on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 41216 ebay]E-mount APS-C 18-200mm on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 41437 ebay]Silver A6000 kit on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

New RX1rII, A7sII, Loxia 21mm and Sigma 20mm store links:
Sony A7sII is now shipping in USA at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Adorama. And in Europe/Asia at ParkCameras, WexUK, Jessops and Digitalrev.
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Nikon F mount version at BHphoto and Adorama.
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Canon EF mount version at BHphoto and Adorama.
Loxia 21mm FE lens at BHphoto and Adorama. In Europe at WexUK.
RX1rII at Bhphoto, Amazon and Adorama.

Sony A7rII savings:
$310 off on the Grey imported an 1 year seller warranty Sony A7rII at [shoplink 41498 ebay]Deals-All-Years eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
$300 off on the Open Box Sony A7rII at [shoplink 41497 ebay]Samys eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
$$$ of feee extras on the normal US warranty A7rII sold at [shoplink 41500 ebay]BuyDig eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

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(Guest Post by Dierk Topp) The new Nissin Di700A & Air 1 wireless TTL flash for Sony

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The new Nissin Di700A & Air 1 wireless TTL flash for Sony

I used the great wireless i-TTL flash for many years with my Nikon DSLRs and after switching to Sony some time ago I was missing this wireless TTL flash most.
Many weeks ago I read about the new Nissin flashes here at SAR and tried to order them. Many dealers offered the flash and some the commander Air1 too, but no one could deliver! I had to wait several weeks, till I got the kit set and one extra flash unit.

I want to mention, that I payed for the gear and do this post for the readers of SAR!
you find the following pictures here in my flickr album

Here is what I got.

The camera is the A7RII with the Zeiss Batis 2/25mm. The Air 1 commander is mounted on the camera, the two flashes are mounted on the included stands and you can see the box with the batteries. Nissin offers extra battery holders for a fast replacement of batteries during shooting. They also offer extra power boosters. If you want more info go to the Nissin homepage.

The A7RII with the Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 and the Nissin Di700A (do some exercises
for you arm befor you start shooting :-) )

 

I would like to share with you how I used the flashes.

Let’s start with a typical setup for a portrait.

One flash simply bounced against the white wall and ceiling.

Sony A7RII with Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100@f/5.6

And one flash with a silver umbrella reflector

Sony A7RII with Zeiss Otus 1.4/85@ f/4

Next is a test with the use of HSS (high-speed synchronization)

This HSS also works with the A7R and even with the NEX-6!!

A7RII with Otus 1.4/85@ f/4 and 1/640. One flash and umbrella reflector.

I reduced the exposure of the background by -3 EV. With shorter exposure times you can of course eliminate the ambient light completely.

the same situation with automatic exposure without flash, f/4

 

Macro

Sony A7RII with Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 ZE@ f/11,

one remote flash outdoor

Sony A7RII with Micro Nikkor PC 85mm/2.8
light tent, two flashes left and right

 

Stills

Sony A7RII with Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100@ f/11 light tent, two flashes left and right

Same set up, the exposures with white object and black object are both perfect!

Architecture

All with Sony A7RII and Zeiss Batis 2/25mm@ f/2.5, 1/250, ISO 100 first without flash

Two flashes in front of the building, same camera and lens, same time

Again two flashes positioned next to the camera, f/2.0, same time, distance to the building about 40m!

and last but not least

Digitizing with Sony A7RII for slide/film

copy slides and negatives with 5.300 DPI, exposure controlled with TTL

The set up:
this is a normal bellows, in this case for Nikon, with a slide duplicator adapter. The lens is a Leica Focotar 4.5/50mm enlarger lens. You will get enlarger lenses for very good prices now. It is set on f/11. Or look for “Slide Duplicator”, I just saw one for 87$ including the bellows.

There are not many scanners, that can do it and with this set up you need only seconds per “scan”, no scanner is that fast. For 6 negatives you need about 20 seconds, every image ist perfectly exposed.

To protect the lens against the flash, I put some dark paper over the lens and the slide holder. Not used here for better demonstrating the set up.

What I like:
the price
the menu system
wireless radio (tested up to 30m, may be more), not IR
zoom reflector from 24-200mm and 16mm
three groups of multiple flashes
individual remote control of exposure and zoom reflector for every group
remote control of TTL with/without HSS or manual exposure from 1/1 to 1/128

What I don’t like

 

I hope, these infos are helpful for you

regards

dierk

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dierktopp/

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