Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 tested by Fstoppers, and they like it too :)

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You will have a hard time finding any bad reviews of the new Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens. Today Fstoppers (Click here) posted the full Sigma review. And as so many reviewers before they write: “I tested the sharpness of this lens in a number of situations, and found it to be pretty consistent and sharp at all focal lengths and apertures.”  And on the creative side “I really loved the bokeh out of this lens. It’s smooth and fluid, and makes the shallow depth of field really beautiful. Thumbs up here.”

They end the review by writing: “For Sigma’s first run at a previously never before seen lens concept, this is a rousing success.”

Preorderes in USA at BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here) and in Germany at Foto Erhardt and Hifishop. Please let us know if you can find more pre order options. You can also add them directly at DealsRunner.com. By doing so they will be instantaneously be displayed on the SAR sidebar.

P.S.: In the almost impossible case you need to buy a SOny NEX and a Samsung tablet…you can get both as bundle with a $130 discount at Adorama (Click here).

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Two new Zeiss Touit tests. In Stock now at BHphoto and Adorama.

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Short note for US readers: Both Zeiss Touit lenses, the 12 and 32mm primes are in Stock now at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

New reviews: Matthew Durr posted the Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 test made on the NEX-7 camera. And Luminous Landscape tested both lenses (on a Fuji camera).

Matthew writes: “Though I did give high marks to the Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS, and I still stand by what I said, the Zeiss is in another league in areas of performance like sharpness and aberrations.”
LL writes: “Overall we rate the new Touit 12mm and 32mm lenses very highly. Technical reviews on sites that measure MTF, distortion and such are already showing first rate results, and our pragmatic field tests fully corroborate this.”

 

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(SR5) Sony is betting high on the new A-mount mirrorless generation!

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As you know the new Sony CEO Hirai forced a complete revamp of the A-mount strategy. The planed release of the A78, and FF SLT cameras has been deleted in order to focus resources and push the development of the new generation A-mount mirrorless cameras. So here are some general info I got form very high trusted sources:
1) I have been told that 2014 will be THE YEAR for A-mount. It means that Sony is aware that they have to succeed in the High End camera market to make profit. And Sony does believe that the DSLR form factor and the A-mount are the key success to achieve this gold (and not small E-mount cameras).
2) First A-mount mirrorless FF and APS-C cameras to hit the market in early 2014. They will be all mirrorless but maintain the current DSLR form factor.
3) AF, EVF and other key aspects have been considerably improved. The sensor is definitely 30+ megapixel and with phase detection pixels on sensor.
4) The cameras are not cheap. So I have been told :(  Anyway, if they are really good than this aspect can be not so important anymore.
5) As I told you before Sony expects a great increase in A-mount lens sales for 2014 due of the impact of the new A-mount cameras.

Now let’s hope this become true! Meantime stay tuned on SAR on June 27. Big RX camera announcement day coming!

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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

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Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 (for A-mount) and 60mm lens (for NEX) tested.

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Photozone (Click here) tested the 60mm lens for NEX: “When looking at the sum of its characteristics and the extremely low price tag, the Sigma is a pretty safe bet indeed.”

And Lenstip (Click here) the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens: “You should congratulate the Sigma Corporation and their optics specialists for two reasons. Firstly for their courage, not only they manufactured a unique instrument but also made it optically excellent in many categories…and (secondly) the company suggested a price which is within the reach of many amateur photographers“.

The superb Sigma zoom can be preorderes in USA at BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here) and in Germany at Foto Erhardt and Hifishop.

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New Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud available (monthly subscroption)

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Most of you don’t like it but many of you need it and will have to do it: Photoshop CC is now available for a $19 monthly subscription fee at Adobe US, BHphoto, Adobe Germany, Adobe UK, Adobe FR, Adobe IT, Adobe Sweden.

Yeah a lot of money :(

 

More hot deals via DealsRunner.com: eBay auction of the day is the [shoplink 19039 ebay]Sony SDHC 64GB card for $34 (Click here)[/shoplink]. Save up to 22% on Sandisk SD cards at BHphoto (Click here). Rokinon fisheye for $224 at Buydig.

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(SR5) NEX-7 successor will ship in October!

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By June 27 Sony will announce the new RX cameras. But those of you waiting for NEX news don’t worry, your showdown is shceduled for end of August-early September!

For now this is what we can expectt o be announced:

1) SR5: After some delay Sony finaally has set the shipping period for the new NEX-7 successor. The camera is set to ship in worldwide stores by mid October. Announcement of course will be made earlier. I still have no confirmed specs but now that Sony has finally set the date it will be only a matter of (short) time until I get them ;)
2) SR4: The 85mm f/1.4 lens will be announced too.
3) SR4: A high quality zoom is coming too.
4) SR3: NEX-5 successor and more lenses.

The big new A-mount mirrorless cameras will ship in early 2014. I still don’t know if Sony will unveil some of their new A-mount strategy info in autumn. Let’s see…

For now stay tuned on SAR. On June 27 at 6-7am London time we will follow live the RX announcement!

——–

Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!

——–

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

 

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Sony TidBits…

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SGNL chats with Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai at D11 (some general photography talk at the end of the interview).

Zeiss Touit 12mm lens test at Focus Numerique.
Sony A58 test at Mobile01.
Sony NEX-3n review at Photographyblog.
Sony RX100 tops our best high-end compacts test (TechRadar).
Sony Nex-3n Review at SonyAlphaLab.
A-Mount Rokinon 14mm ultra wide-angle lens review at SonyAlphaLab.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 first impression article at Dpreview.
Test Sony Alpha 58 at Focus Numerique.
Minolta 85mm f/1.4 review by Ken Rockwell.
Sony 20mm test at PChome and review at SonyAlphaLab.
Sony 16-50mm PZ OSS lens tested at SLRgear.

HS: “TEST SEL35F18 vs. Speed Boster + Zeiss Macro 50F2 vs. Lens Turbo + Zeiss Macro 50F2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/89543778@N07/?details=1”

Jaakko: “I tough that maybe you or the SAR readers would be interested of Some Outdoors and action sport shots Taken with Sony gear in North Europe. I use Sony NEX 6 and Sony A99 with various lenses. Photos can be found from my blog that are under my homepage here http://www.jaakkoposti.com/blog-2/”

Jose: “Found a really good place to get Lightroom Lens Profile for Sony A99V with Zeiss lens. http://www.lensprofiles.com/”

Anonymous: “Review of the NEX-7 from The Art of Photography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w8g-H42ExQ&feature=player_detailpage”

Arthur: “Just wanna share my flickr photostream, there are some example of rhinocam shots in original size ( 10000×10000) http://www.flickr.com/photos/tesloturar/”

Julien: “Here are two videos filmed with a Sony Nex F3 and Sony E 18-55. This Nex is used in my work. The assembly is made with windows live movie maker. Link 1, Link 2.”

Aniceta: “I am Italian and I have discovered there is a fantastic review of the Sony DSC-RX100 here: hifipertutti.”

Allan: “Early spring morning, with a beautiful sunrise. Sony NEX-5n@18-55 http://vimeo.com/67866823“

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