Over a month ago I told you that the new Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 lens was the first lens designed by Tamron that is capable of resolving the future Sony (and Canon) FulL Frame 50 megapixel sensor resolution. It’s rumored that both Sony and Canon will launch those cameras this year. And starting from today the Tamron lens can be preordered for the first time for Sony A-mount at Adorama (Click here).
Now let’s hope it wont take to long until we get a proper A-mount camera to take advantage of that lens :)

Lenstip (Click here) wrote a very detailed and so far best article I have ever read about the Sony SLT tech. The title of the post is: “Everything you always wanted to know about the semi-transparent mirror technology (but were afraid to ask)“.

You absolutely have to read it because it’s really showing on  a scientific way how the Sony SLT system works. At the end those are their conclusions based on they tests they made:

A fixed film mirror has a lot of advantages over the classic solution:

• Burst mode can be faster
• Dirt won’t invade the interior of the camera so easily
• The camera might be more reliable
• The camera is physically lighter and can be potentially cheaper
• The camera might offer continuous preview (not necessarily if you deal with an electronic viewfinder, though)
• Phase-detection AF in the LV mode and during registering a movie

Of course there also many reasons why classic reflex cameras have been sold on the market up to now. Some of them are listed below:

• Bright optical viewfinder
• 1/3 more of light = faster speeds or lower ISO, an advantage in dynamic range and noise
• The mirror can be cleaned without any risk and it’s less prone to damage
• A damage of a film mirror influences the resolution of photos; a damage of an ordinary mirror won’t have such consequences.

What I write now is just my private opinion and not based on rumors: I think the SLT tech will not live long. The chance is high on sensor PDAF will become mainstream in the coming years and therefore semitransparent mirror (and even classic DSLR mirror) may become obsolete. Of course this doesnt mean A-mount has to go. It means A-mount becomes mirrorless just like E-mount and as Sony stated recently, they can use the “free space” to explore other new tech (Z-shift and so on).

Capture Professional Looking Portraits with a Sony Alpha Camera and Kit Lens

Conquering the dimension of time with 4D autofocus (Sony Blog).
Sony Low-Cost Global Shutter Sensor Features in Point Grey Cameras (Image Sensor World).
The Zeiss Distagon ZM 35/1.4: First Impressions on a Sony A7r (DearSusans).
AdoramaPRO and SONY Present: The New PXW-FS7 (Youtube).
Real-world samples: Sony Alpha 7 II in Kauai (Dpreview).
Comparing several Sony microphones by Dave Tameling.
Sony A7R: Sensor Glass Thickness, Ray Angle and Image Degradation: Kolarivision Modification (Diglloyd).
a7S power solution from Hawkwoods (Newsshooter).
We redesigned cinema5D and open our doors for your films (Cinema5D).

Anonymous: “Just love this example on how to color grade the Sony a7S SLOG: https://vimeo.com/116417752“