You may have missed that but lats weekend some Chinese site posted a fake image of a 12mm f/1.0 FE E-mount lens. As a rumor site it’s my duty to tell you that the image you see is a fake. To better show you how funny that fake is SAR reader Steve (Thanks!) shows you how big the lens would look on the A7 :)
As a side not if the lens would be real I guess the size could really be like that!
A77II (A-mount) camera owners can now download the new 2.0 firmware here:
Sony USA (coming in few hours), Sony Australia, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Portugal, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Switzerland, Sony Austria, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Finland.
It adds XAVC-S and speeds up the autofocusing! Share your tests here once you have installed it!
Sony A7s vs GH4 vs C100 vs 5D Mark III (!!!) – Camera Shootout – Part III – Low Light / High ISO
First Sheepcam at Tour de France with SONY’s Actioncam (ActionCameraRumors).
Preview article on the A7ii by MyPhotoJourney.
A5100 review at ThePhoBlographer.
5 axis will not solve the shutter vibration problem (Diglloyd).
Lady of Shalott shoot BTS (Sony A7S up to ISO 409,600) Vimeo.
Sony A7R in “not weatherproof” shock (Tobinators).
Sony FE 70-200 mm f/4 G : notre test (Focus Numerique).
Jorge Torralba:“t’s that time of the year again. The 2014 ZeissImages.com contest has officially begun.
Just like the previous contests we have hosted, A big thanks to Richard Schleuning of Carl Zeiss, Camera Lens Division for providing the winning prize once again. This time the winner can choose one lens from the following list.
Distagon 2/28 ZE or ZF.2
Distagon 2/35 ZE or ZF.2
Planar 1.4/50 ZE or ZF.2
Planar 1.4/85 ZE or ZF.2
Makro-Planar 2/50 ZE or ZF.2
Touit 2.8/12 E or X
Touit 1.8/32 E or X
Touit 2.8/50M E or X
Loxia 2/50 E
Loxia 2/35 E
This year’s theme will be “In the Open”. This could be any subject photographed outdoors where the surroundings blend well with the main subject and contribute to the overall image. For example, a nice landscape where the overall scene is the main subject, a cow grazing on a field where the surroundings make the cow seem interesting rather than boring, a portrait where bokeh from the surroundings enhance the subject, a fire fighter surrounded by a blazing building. Being captivated by the image is what we want.
Try and avoid portraits where you are only drawn to the main subject and ignore the rest of the frame. Avoid macro work and the proverbial cornucopias. Avoid heavy post processing that makes a photo look unnatural.
I think you get the picture now The objective is to maximize use of the entire frame and captivate the viewer.
You are allowed three entries under the category 2014 – Contest. This time, the contest is open to Zeiss users and non- Zeiss users as well. This will give all photographers a chance to own a coveted Zeiss lens. The only catch is that whatever camera you use must accept a Zeiss lens.
The contest will close on Dec 31, 2014 23:59:59 GMT and the judges will include staff members of Popflash Photo and ZeissImages.com
The by far best overview of all Sony camera and lens deals can be found on that special Adorama page (Click here). And today we have two more deals by BHphoto:
1) The A5000 with kit lens sells for $298 only at BHphoto (Click here). And you get free stuff for $46 value on top of it.
2) Another new deal is the A77 body for $549 and free extras for $77 at BHphoto (Click here). But I still think the newer A77II suberbundle ($600 off) is a better deal here at Amazon, Adorama and SonyStore.
And check here below to find the full super detailed Sony Christmas Deals List:
The brand new 5 axis Sony A7II E-mount camera is in Stock for the first time at Sony Store US (Click here to grab it). UPDATE: Now already sold out.
And SAR readers told me that their A7II preorder at BestBuy and BHphoto shipped today (or yesterday). Good to hear there is no delay and you should all expect to get the camera before Christmas. It’ will be much closer for European preorders because their shipping date is expected to be December 17/18!
USA/Canada preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore and Sony Store Canada.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.
EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Jessops UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany, Wex UK, Jessops UK, Verkkokauppa.
Asian/Australia preorders:
Sony A7II at Sony Store Australia and Amazon Japan.
The A7II 5 axis mechanism in pieces. Image courtesy: Lesnumeriques.
Reminder: A7II will ship tomorrow in USA. Preorder it here at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Lesnumerqiues has been told by Sony engineers how the Sony A7II fixe axis system works. It’s 100% confirmed that lenses with no electronic contact to the A7II will get the 3 axis and not the full 5 axis stabilization.
Sony also explained to Lesnumerique that the Olympus E-m1 5 axis system is not powerful and precise enough for a 4 times larger sensor. The Olympus version has a mechanical spring which “loses its elasticity with age”. Sony’s solution uses coils and magnets which also have the advantage that it uses less energy and is also very quite than the Olympus version (note that Olympus E-M1 stabilization is quite noisy).
In detail Sony’s A7II stabilization mechanism uses three coils and magnets points (in red on the image above) and a ball bearing system (in green on the image above) which is directly inspired by anti-seismic protection devices used on many buildings in Japan! There is no image of the ball bearing system so here is one of those used by the buildings:
Source mceer.buffalo.edu
I think it gives us a very clear idea of how it works! Now wondering what else those crazy genius Sony engineers have in their mind for the future! Great job guys!
One more thing: Mark Galer extended his 5 axis stabilization how to videos:
USA/Canada preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore and Sony Store Canada.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.
EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Jessops UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany, Wex UK, Jessops UK, Verkkokauppa.
Asian/Australia preorders:
Sony A7II at Sony Store Australia and Amazon Japan.
Sony China already has the new A77II 2.0 firmware update on their site! And as you know this is a quite important upgrade because it adds XAVC-S recording! It also speeds up the autofocus performance (up to 2.5 times faster with the 16-50mm f/2.8 lens).
I haven’t found the firmware on other EU/US Sony sites yet. Let us know if you find them!
Sony A77II firmware page can be found here: Sony USA, Sony Australia, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Portugal, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Switzerland, Sony Austria, Sony Sweden, Sony Norway, Sony Finland.
