First two Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens tests: Surprising good performance at full aperture!

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The world fastest zoom lens for APS-C sensors just got tested at Focus Numerique (google translated) and Digifoto (no translation because images will not be displayed by google). And both reviewers came to the same conclusions!
FN writes: “The results of the new Sigma zoom are impressive and worthy of a professional optical 24×36 mm f/2.8 zoom!
Digifiti noticed as only limit the high chromatic aberration: “We were surprised again after seeing the test photos. You expect from a zoom lens at fully open aperture somewhat lesser performance in the corners. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 however scored exceptionally well, even at the 18mm f/1.8 corner tightened remains very good. The bokeh of the lens looks very stylish, and distortion remains well within bounds.

The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 (here at BHphoto) isn’t yet available for preorder as Sony A-mount. But as I told you last month they will certainly release the A-mount version within the year!

P.S.: Some image samples can be seen at Dpreview too.

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(SR5) Confirmed! Sony RX100 MKII to be announced soon (end of June!).

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Guys!

I got a confirmation from a very trusted source that indeed the new RX100 MKII will be officially announced by end of June! I am still working on the full specs but I can also confirm it has WiFi and swifel LCD. I don’t know the price of the new RX100 MKII but right now you can find the current RX100 with a $60 discount at [shoplink 18822 ebay]Sunset Electronics on eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].

Stay tuned, I am also working on the next RX and NEX camera and lens release rumors ;)

P.S.: Zeiss Touit shipping in Europe, new LED+SLT rebates and NEX-F3 kit deal at DealsRunner.com

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(SR3) First rumors about the RX200!

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Image on top shows a fake(!) RX100 with hot shoe and Silver variation :)

I just got a double hint about a possible new RX200 release:
First Sony Service reported to a SonyUseForum.de user that the RX200 is coming this month!
Second an anonymous source told me that the new RX100 MKII has a new CMOS sensor, Wifi and folding LCD screen.

These are two rumors coming from external and new sources. So take it with a grain of salt.

RX100 links roundup:
RX100 price search links: [shopcountry 13014].
Cases: [shoplink 13347 ebay]Official Sony LCJ-RXA case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13344 ebay]Gariz case[/shoplink], [shoplink 13345 ebay]more leather case[/shoplink].
Batteries: [shoplink 13346 ebay]NP-BX1 Battery[/shoplink].
Special stuff: [shoplink 13343 ebay]Multi-Coated LENS ARMOR UV[/shoplink]. Magfilter at Amazon (Click here). RX100 filter adapter on [shoplink 13486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]

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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Zeiss to ship from June 13. New 4% reward at Amazon. New Samyang deals.

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There is a short delay with the Zeiss Touit for NEX shipments. They will now be in Stock on June 13 according to BHphoto (Click here). First Zeiss Touit are shipping in [shoplink 18803 ebay]Japan via eBay[/shoplink].

A great news comes from Amazon. They now offer a 4% reward on all cameras and lenses (Click here to read the details).

Samyang (also branded as Rokinon or Bower) is offering two deals: $70.00 off on the 35mm f/1.4 lens at BH (Click here) and $40.00 off on the 8mm Ultra Wide Angle f/3.5 Fishey lens at BH (Click here).

 

All deals roundup:
A77 up to $600 in Instant Savings at AmazonSamys, Adorama and BHphoto.
60mm Sigma for NEX in Stock at BHphoto (Click here).
60% off SanDisk cards at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
$100 off on the Sony NEX-F3 kit at BHphoto (Click here).
65% off on the Sony 64GB SDHC/SDXC Class 10 UHS-1 R40 Memory Card on [shoplink 18793 ebay]eBay US[/shoplink].
Full A77, A65 and A58 deal page at Amazon (Click here).
New 20mm pancake NEX deal(Click here).
Canon PIXMA PRO-10 Professional Photo Inkjet Printer at Adorama (Click here).

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(SR4) Sony devloping the 5 Axis SSS with Olympus!

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The Olympus 5 axis stabilization presentation video.

Great news folks! As you know the next bunch of A-mount cameras is expected to be launched in early 2014. And of the brand new key features will be the 5-Axis SSS developed in partnership with Olympus! As you know the Olympus E-M5 and the brand new E-P5 have that kind of tech. Sony and Olympus engineers are now developing it further to make it work on Sony’s next Full Frame cameras!

You can see the advantage of the 5 axis IS over the regular 2 axis stabilization on that video:

In short, not only will be the new 400mm f/4.0 A-mount lens be designed with Olympus. Also the new A-mount cameras will get some of the best tech from Olympus. I also hope they will use Olympus JPG engine knowledge to make Sony JPG’s look better.

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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Finally: Sigma double E-mount lens kit deal in Europe!

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[shoplink 18786 ebay]

[/shoplink]
A couple of months ago there was a great $199 double Sigma lens kit deal. The 19mm and 30mm are great quality lenses. As usual with those kind of great deals it was available for our US citizen only.But finally also EU readers can grab it! The dual kit is in Stock for 189 Euro via [shoplink 18786 ebay]FotoMundus one eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

You can follow and get more deal news at DealsRunner.com.

 

P.S.: Now Sigma launched the new 19mm and 30mm ART lenses which do have the same optical design in a different case.

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