The Zeiss Loxia 2/35 as well as the Zeiss Loxia 2/50 is a wonderfully crafted lenses. They are built to withstand almost anything a photographer could run into. I would not hesitate to use these lenses under harsh conditions such as rain, dust or any other kind of influences. If I would have to choose between one of the two I would go for the Zeiss Loxia 2/35 but that is only my personal preference as I like the 35mm field of view better than that of the Zeiss Loxia 2/50. In terms of image quality both lenses are amongst the best you can get for your A7 series camera with a native E-Mount.
The Loxias are in Stock in:
50mm in Europe at [shoplink 33600 ebay]Photo Porst eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 33602 ebay]Photo Petzold eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
35mm in Europe at [shoplink 33599 ebay]Photo Porst eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 33601 ebay]Photo Petzold eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
50mm in USA at [shoplink 33603 ebay]PoppFlash eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
50mm in Asia/Australia at DigitalRev (Click here).
Sony US deal reminder:
Sony A7r cameras for $1,669 on [shoplink 33096 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Save $200 on the grey imported but with full 3 year US warranty coming 55mm FE lens sold at [shoplink 33110 ebay]GetDigital on eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink]
Open Box Sony A7 for $1,150 at [shoplink 32378 ebay]Samys eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Tamron A and E-mount lens deals reminder: [shoplink 33575 ebay]$80 off on the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33561 ebay]$130 off on the SP 70-300mm (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33564 ebay]$100 off on the new SP 70-200mm f/2.8 (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33565 ebay]$95 off on the 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33566 ebay]$180 off on the 18-200mm Di III VC E-mount lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33567 ebay]$189 off on the AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33568 ebay]$130 off on the 28-75mm F2.8 XR Di LD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33569 ebay]$100 off on the 24-70mm f/2.8 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33563 ebay]$50 off on the REFURBISHED 18-200mm XR (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33571 ebay]$135 off on the DEMO 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33572 ebay]$210 off on the REFURBISHED 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33574 ebay]115 off on the REFURBISHED 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
The Spanish site DSLRmagazine asked Tamron if they plan to make lenses for the Sony A7 system. But the official answer was: “Currently we have no intention to cover this line of business, although we have a very good relationship with that particular brand.“
He also confirmed the new 15-30mm Sp lens can resolve the new 50 megapixel FF sensors. This fits with a rumor I got back many months ago. That source gave me the lens specs as first and also told me Sony would make a close to 50MP FF camera too. Question now is only WHEN that camera will be announced to fight back the Canon 5ds.
Mirrorless system camera market share in 2014 (Japan only)
BCNranking published the full 2014 camera sales date in Japan. The good news is that Sony dethroned Olympus and is now number one in the mirrorless system camera market in Japan. And in Japan mirrorless is very strong and on par with DSLR in terms of cameras sales. The (unsurprisingly) bad news is that Sony really holds no more any meaningful share of the DSLR market:
DSLR market share in 2014 (Japan only)
Sony really needs to reinvent the wheel with their A-mount system if they want to make it successful. They would certainly have the necessary tech for that but we have to see if the management really wants that.
Voigtländer 40mm Nokton f1.4 tested on the A7II at SonyAlphaForum.
My personal review on the Zeiss Loxia 2/35 and 2/50 on the Sony A7 (Stockografie).
Sony RX100III Field Report (Hikinginfinland).
A little 85mm comparison: Minolta 1.7/85, 2/85 and others (SonyAlphaForum).
Paris monuments and people : beautiful winter 2015 (Traveljournalist).
A Sony A7 camera spotted at the Grammy Award.
Special Sony QX iphone case (Ascii Japan).
Sony A7 with only Nikon F-mount Lenses? (SonyAlphaForum).
8 Valentine’s Day Dates for the Photographer in Your Life (ilovehatephoto).
Hikari: “I have a website where I interview actors, directors, & athletes. I’m not sure if you would be interested in this type of news but I just shot & edited an interview with actor Thomas Jane (“The Punisher”, “”Deep Blue Sea”, “Boogie Nights”, “61*” & HBO’s “Hung”). The main camera used in the shoot was the RX100M3 in XAVC-S codec (1080p 24fps 50mb/sec) & the side angle was shot with the a99 Zeiss 24-70mm (AVCHD 1080p 24fps 24mb/sec), & edited & rendered in Sony Vegas Pro 13 in the XAVC 1080p 24fps setting. I have worked very closely with Sony Alpha Cameras & even longer with Sony Creative Software. The footages were shot extremely flat then color graded in Genarts Sapphire 8 Film Style (main camera) & the side camera graded in BCC9 Film Process (the camera on me was a Nikon D5200 which I have since got rid of. The flat profile produced colors that were completely different from the Sony cameras & sometimes flickered with the LED lights). hikaritakano.co/index.php/video-interviews/thomas-jane”
Elmar: “I am a photographer and im using Sony cameras A7 / 7s / 7r / 7MII and Nex-7 my focus is underwater photography as well as landscape, events, sports, and so on. I m using Nauticam underwater housing, inon strobes, ports and more equipment from Nauticam. All fotos taken with cameras from above: http://www.blueworldpixel.com/“
I have found plenty of Tamron lens deals including on the majestic [shoplink 33575 ebay]Tamron 150-600mm lens[/shoplink]. And that lens also just got “Antarctica” tested on the new A7II 5 axis stabilized camera at Luminous Landscape:
The on-sensor phase detection AF of the A7 MKII and the system’s focus tracking capability allowed for capturing these completely unpredictable penguins as they jumped from the water. Their position can’t really be anticipated and their time above water is faster that ones ability to anticipate.Virtually every frame out of hundreds shot showed excellent lock-on and tracking. I frankly don’t think that I have ever used a long zoom lens / camera combo that could have done better.
That’s really great to hear! So let’s jump now to the Tamron deal offered by Trusted Store Prodigital which ships them all for free in USA/Canada:
[shoplink 33575 ebay]$80 off on the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33561 ebay]$130 off on the SP 70-300mm (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33564 ebay]$100 off on the new SP 70-200mm f/2.8 (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33565 ebay]$95 off on the 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33566 ebay]$180 off on the 18-200mm Di III VC E-mount lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33567 ebay]$189 off on the AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33568 ebay]$130 off on the 28-75mm F2.8 XR Di LD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33569 ebay]$100 off on the 24-70mm f/2.8 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].
And these are refurbished and demo Tamron lenses:
[shoplink 33563 ebay]$50 off on the REFURBISHED 18-200mm XR (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33571 ebay]$135 off on the DEMO 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33572 ebay]$210 off on the REFURBISHED 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33574 ebay]115 off on the REFURBISHED 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
The 35mm Loxia (Image courtesy: 
[/shoplink]