Photozone kills the 16-70mm Zeiss: “heavily overpriced and below average optical performance”.

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[shoplink 35017 ebay]

16-70mm

[/shoplink]
The German friends from Photozone tested the [shoplink 35017 ebay]16-70mm E-mount Zeiss lens[/shoplink] and the conclusion is very negative:

Sony/Zeiss did many things right – range, build quality, image stabilization but optical quality is not part of the list. Yes, the center quality is outstanding but the corners are often mediocre or even dismal.
It is worth to mention AGAIN that we also send the lens to the Sony service in order to let them verify that our sample was within specs – TWICE and we let them know who we are and that there’ll be a review. So we have to take their word.

SAR thoughts: Overall Sony really needs to take care of the APS-C E-mount customers again. They launched the very successful NEX system and then suddenly changed name and stopped to make lenses for the system. I understand the FE system is popular and needs a lot of new lenses. But if I would be on charge at Sony I would also release a Sony APS-C E-mount lens roadmap with a few nice primes and zooms. This would really help to create confidence around the system. The A6000 is such a great camera it’s pity you are let down by the limited lens range!

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Sony Tidbits…

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Sony Alpha Tutorial – Setting up a Camera for Wireless Flash

Sony World Photogrpahy national award winners (Worldphoto).
Testing the Sony A7s with 4K at ISO 40,000 (PetaPixel).
April 18 A7II’s new machine Trial EVENT in Hong Kong (sony.com.hk).
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton II on a7R / a7S (SonyAlphaForum).
Shogun Firmware Update V6.2 (Atomos Support).
Mirrorless expert round-up (Mirrorlessons).
Contax G Sonnar 90/2.8 (SonyAlphaForum).

Eric:Here is the link for some amazing aurora photos taken with A7R, A7S and Canon TS-E 17. You are very welcome to post this if you like it :) https://www.behance.net/gallery/24366823/Chasing-Aurora. The full version of the entire Iceland journey in Chinese I posted on Mobile01.com

Josh:Not my pic, but if you haven’t seen it, here’s a nice meteor shot from a Sony RX100:
https://www.facebook.com/thehebrideanexplorer/photos/a.423808530971416.102928.156194614399477/968863493132581/?type=1&theater
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/meteor-over-loch-ness-this-is-how-the-photographer-captured-the-breathtaking-picture-10110765.html

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Adorama launches special bundles rebates on the A7. Comes with free grip and free case!

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Bildschirmfoto 2015-03-29 um 18.15.40

The Sony A7 now sells with free case, free mic and free vertical grip included at Adorama (Click here to see all kit versions)!

More new Sony deals:
A7/s/r lens/case superbundle again at Sony Store US (Click here).
Sony A77II bundle deal at SonyStore (Click here).
NEX-7 with kit lens for $498 only at BHphoto (Click here).
The Sony A3000 with kit lens sells for $249 at BHphoto (Click here).
Refurbished A5000 sells with two E-mount lenses and free 16GB SD card for $349 at [shoplink 34892 ebay]Secondipity eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]
$300 off and free SD card and case on the A6000 double lens kit at [shoplink 34733 ebay]Secondipity eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
$100 off on the A3000 with kit lens at [shoplink 34732 ebay]Secondipity eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
50% off on refurbished 55-210mm sold by [shoplink 34704 ebay]BeachCamera on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Save $250 on Open Box Sony A7s cameras sold by [shoplink 34706 ebay]Samys on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
RX100 with $100 free extras (SD card, LR5) and a $50 gift card when using the code “trade50328” at FocusCamera (Click here).
A77II kit with free grip at Sony Store US (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
$300 off on the Zeiss 12mm f/2.8 Touit at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
$221 off on the Zeiss 32mm f/1.8 Touit at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here)
FE 24-240mm is in Stock at [shoplink 34856 ebay]BestBuy eBay[/shoplink], Adorama and Sony US

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Firmware 2.0 for the E-mount FS7 gets released!

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FS7

PXW-FS7 firmware
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/HXR/0sMtGAHDwD/PXW-FS7_V200_firmware.zip?fm=na
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/HXR/0sMtGAHDwD/PXW-FS7_Update_manual_eng.pdf

XDCA-FS7 firnware and installation manual
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/HXR/0sMtGAHDwD/XDCA-FS7_V200_firmware.zip?fm=na
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/HXR/0sMtGAHDwD/XDCA-FS7_Update_manual_eng.pdf

User Manual
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/HXR/0sMtGAHDwD/PXW-FS7_V200_manual_eng.pdf

New features:
Expands audio recording to four channels audio at 24-bit, 48 KHz.
Supports DCI compliant 4096 x 2160 XAVC-Intra-frame recording up to 60 fps.
Adds HD Apple ProRes codecs to enable progressive and interlaced HQ and 422 recording with XDCA-FS7.
Eliminates “Magenta Cast” in WB preset mode.
Renames “Color Temp” menu parameter to “Preset White”
Eliminates need to re-enable “Steady Shot” after power ON/OFF cycle.
Retains “Paint Menu” settings after power OFF/ON cycle.

Found via Sony Community.

FS7 store links:
Sony PXW-FS7 body only at BHphoto, Adorama and Amazon.
Sony PXW-FS7 with 28-135mm lens at BHphoto.
Sony VCT-FS7 Lightweight Rod Support System for PXW-FS7 at BHphoto.
28-135mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
28-135mm powerzoom in Europe at Sony DE, UK, ES, IT, FR, CH, AT, NL, BE, FI, SE, NO, PT.
Sony 128GB XQD Memory Card G Series 400MB/s at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 64GB XQD Memory Card G Series 400MB/s at Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony 32GB XQD Memory Card G Series 400MB/s at Adorama and BHphoto.

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Distagon 35mm f/1.4 now in Stock in Europe (and new Sony Germany Gold Box deals).

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Bildschirmfoto 2015-03-04 um 07.21.17

The very first bunch of new Zeiss Distagon 35mm FE lenses are in Stock in Europe via [shoplink 34950 ebay]Fotomundus eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. It’s in Stock in Asia at Digitalrev (Click here). A full review of the lens can be read at SLRgear (Click here) and a few user pictures on SonyAlphaForum (Click here). And the 28mm FE lens is in Stock in Europe via [shoplink 34972 ebay]Richmond eBay UK (Click here)[/shoplink].

Germans also have two E-mount Gold Box deals today:
16-70mm Zeiss at 11:00 (via DL).
White A6000 kit at 14:00 (via DL).

The Zeiss can be preordered here:
in USA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
in Europe at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony BE, Sony AT, Sony CH, Sony SE, Sony FI, Sony NO, Sony PT.
in Asia/Australia at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.

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