On Facebook Zeiss answered many questions from their followers:

1) Yes, the Batis 1.8/85 has optical image stabilization
2) The displays are not limited in their lifetime. After many years of intensive use, they will become darker. If sometime they might be difficult to read, they can be easily exchanged by our ZEISS service.
3) Batis lenses use different components than Sony or Sony/ZEISS lenses.
4) Our Batis lenses are primarily made of high-quality plastics, aluminum and optical glass.
5) ZEISS Batis lenses are made in Japan.
6) MTF charts will be available in June.

Both lenses are now available for preorder at BH and Adorama:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Lens shade for 85mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.
Lens shade for 25mm at Adorama, Bhphoto.

The video on top has been shoot by Jamie Unwin with the great help from Sony UK. I am glad to hear that Sony sponsors that kind of projects. That iw what Jamie told me:

“I’m an advocate for Sony UK, my latest film about The Illegal WIldlife Trade in Malawi, Africa has just been released.
This year Malawi stands up to wildlife crime, I spent my Christmas producing a short 8 minute film that was shown to the President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika the film was then aired on national TV in Malawi. As a result the president has decided to burn the entirety of Malawi’s Ivory stock piles as a clear signal to the world that Malawi is serious about protecting its wildlife. The film worked as a persuasive and deterrent conservation tool, to show the people of Malawi that if they protect their wildlife and natural places it will benefit them economically by attracting tourism, creating a spiral of economic benefits. The film also exposed that Malawi is taking wildlife crime seriously, enforcing prison sentences to those who commit the crimes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlYpgyzUl6E
We know you have a big media following and as we are trying to reach as many people as possible it would be incredibly beneficial if you would share the film for us.
www.JamieUnwin.com
Sony provided all the equipment to make the film. it was entirely shot on using the Sony a77mk2 and a99.
Many thanks,
Jamie Unwin”

More Sony tidbits:
Sony’s HDR AS200V Vs. GoPro Hero 4 Silver (ActionCameraRumors).
Sigma patent for 400mm f/2.8 OS Sport Lens (CanonWatch).
Testbericht: Sony FE 24-240 mm 3.5-6.3 OSS (Digitalkamera).
Olympus vs Sony at SonyAlphaLab.
Sensor Cleaning on A7 Mark II…Does IBIS Create Special Situation? (SonyAlphaForum).
Sony 35mm f/1.4 FE Zeiss lens test (Spencerpablophotography).

Sony Suisse deals:
Sony Center in Lucerne/Switerland (Click here) is having a extra 10% discount on our products from 24. April until 2. Mai 2015.
For example (all prices including 8% Sales Tax):
ILCE-7KB for CHF. 1169.—( in Euro 1113.–)
ILCE-7S for CHF: 1799.— (Euro 1713)
DSC-RX100M2  for CHF. 449.— (Euro 427)
SLT-A99V for CHF. 1619.— (Euro 1541)
SEL24240 for CHF. 840.— (Euro 800)
SEL55F18 for CHF. 840.— (Euro 800)

The new revised Sony financial forecast report.

It really looks like the big Sony financial crisis will be over soon. Playstation sales and Imaging Sensor Business made Sony post its best quarterly profit in seven years and increase its projection for annual sales. Sony now expects a full-year operating profit of 20 billion yen, compared with an earlier forecast for a 40 billion-yen loss.

Smartphone-selfie ready cameras and autocar cameras are pushing the Sony sensor sales. There is yet no specific info about how good the Alpha-RX cameras business is doing. But having a booming sensor business certainly helps the digital camera division to keep costs down and to get the best tech :)

Source Sony via Bloomberg.

Anders Wotzke
Eye of the storm
A7II + 16-35mm f/4
35mm f/11 1/200 ISO200
http://flickr.com/photos/anderswotzke
http://instagram.com/anderswotzke

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