Today only: 60% off on the Manfrotto Advanced Camera Backpack sold by BHphoto

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Today only you save 60% on the Manfrotto Advanced Camera Backpack sold by BHphoto.

Reminder:
There is a new Stock of Open Box gear (with warranty) on sale at BuyDig on eBay and OneCall on eBay. A short selection:

And this is still running too: If you can live with the 1 year seller warranty you save $630 on the Sony A7rIV by this highly reliable Canadian eBay seller (Click here).

 

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Sony’s new Leaf Shutter mechanism patent

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This is quite unexpected: Sony is working on a leaf shutter system for interchangeable lenses. In this patent Sony writes:

A camera system, including: an interchangeable lens; an internal shutter configured to open and close; and a lens detector coupled to the internal shutter and capable of accepting the interchangeable lens, the lens detector configured to detect the presence of a leaf shutter within the interchangeable lens, wherein the lens detector generates a shutter signal to keep the internal shutter open when the presence of the leaf shutter within the interchangeable lens is detected.

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Image of a Leaf shutter via Camera-wiki.

The Sony RX1 line does use leaf shutter mechanism but the patent in question said that the new mechanism has been developed for interchangeable lenses. Maybe Sony will launch a new series of “silent” lens line for the E-mount or maybe this is for a new Sony medium format system camera. Don’t know if that is something SAR readers will really buy into…

These are the Pros and Cons listed by CameraPedia:

Pros
1) Leaf shutters can synchronize a flash at any available shutter speed.[1]
2) They are generally more compact and less noisy than focal plane shutters.
3) They do not distort the image of moving objects.

Cons
1) Leaf shutters are typically not capable of shutter speeds as high as modern focal plane shutters
2) Cameras using leaf shutters must either have a shutter in each lens, like the Hasselblad 500, or have the shutter in the camera body, which limits the range of possible focal lengths and the maximum aperture, like the Paxette.

 

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Sony 20mm FE review by Marc Alhadeff: “new masterpiece from Sony and could deserve the GM label”

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Marc Alhadeff from SonyAlpha.Blog tested the new Sony 20mm f/1.8 FE lens and concluded:

The Sony 20mm F1.8 G is a new masterpiece from Sony and could deserve the GM label. Compared to the Sony 24mm F1.4 GM is a little bit less excellent in term of Bokeh and corners sharpness, but vs the competition around 20-21mm for Sony E mount , it takes easily the pole position

Sony 20mm f/1.8 FE G:
In USA at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. FocusCamera.
In EU at Amazon DE, Calumet DE. Amazon UK. Parkcameras UK. Amazon FR. Amazon IT. Amazon ES.

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New low price on Sony gear at Amazon DE and ParkCamerasUK

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Germany:
Save 25€ on the Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE at Amazon Germany.
Save 12€ on the Sony 5omm f/1.8 FE at Amazon Germany.
Save 100€ on the Zeiss 16-70mm lens at Amazon Germany.
Save 20€ on the Sony 35mm f/1.8 FE at Amazon Germany.
Save 200€ on the Sony 70-200mm GM at Amazon Germany.
250€ Sofortrabatt mit Camera+Objektiv bundle at Calumet Germany.

UK:
Save 10% on selected Sony lenses when you buy a Sony A7 or A9 Camera – (Ends 1st June) at Park Cameras.

Spain:
Save 25€ on the Tamron 28-75mm FE at Amazon Spain.

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New Video Enhance AI update released ($169 instead of $299 with checkout code “RUMOR”)

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Today Topaz released a new update for their Video Enhance AI software ($169 instead of $299 with checkout code “RUMOR“):

Improved speed on Mac and Windows
Increased hardware support
Upgraded AI Models with improved motion stability

Use our checkout code “RUMOR” to get an additional 15% discount on all TOPAZ products (Click here). This is what you can do with the Topaz  Video Enhance AI software:

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Roundup of rumors from super wild (or crazy) sources :)

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About those rumors: I have no idea who sent them and 90% of the times they turn out to be wrong. But, it happened in the past that a couple of those were right. So I will post them today, and we all together can eventually keep track of this. If one of the sources turns out to be right than we will know we can trust it a bit more!

Source 1:

The A7SIII will announce in late September, early October

Source 2:

“I don’t think Sony has any a7000 and ultra-high pixel machines at all. Don’t expect anything from Sony’s apsc. Not to mention the reason that due to insufficient construction period and priority delivery to large customers, the original 2.9um of FY’20 Sony Semiconductor was also delayed, so let alone FF 100MP and APS-C 44MP. “

Source 3:

Next lens could be 28 f1.4 GM or 300 f2.8 GM

Source 4:

I wanted to confirm / add of your RX100 story.
The case will see the first major case redesign in years.
The built in Flash is removed, but a new flash box (as big as a matchbox) powered by the camera will be introduced.
Also a new grip/tripod with a spare battery will be introduced along the camera
The camera will have the newest AF modes
it will record 4k60 for 5min.
USB C is accompanied by Mic and Headphone jack
Introduction of a new live streaming mode via WLAN
New built in beauty mode also in video
One additional button on the back and one on the top

There are actually two versions of the lens designed. A 20-200mm f2.8 and a 16-50mm f1.4.
Now the sad news: Because of the corona outbreak production that was supposed to start in Jan/Feb is delayed for at least for months.

Source 5 (SAR note: Rumor sent before the news of the Olympics cancellation):

1. 5.27-30 release FE12-24GM
2. 300 / 2.8 GM released before the Olympics
3. 200 / 2.8 derivative of 135 / 1.8 GM
4. 70 / 85-400 / 500mm f4.5-6.3

Source 6:

The A7IV prototypes were already in the hands of a few select testers all the way back in the beginning of the year. It was a very insignificant update, as it was basically the same as the A7RIV with a lower resolution, no real video upgrades. We would have already had the announcement, but Sony recalled them in February and has gone back to development, as they have realized that the camera needs much higher video specification. They have will now be releasing the A7IV this year, and it will have 4k 60, 10bit and ProRes Raw they HDMI, but there will be an announcement later of another higher end A7 body that will offer 8k ProRes raw, 4k 120 internal, and use cfexpress.

Source 7:

I really love your site and check it at least once a day.
Now it‘s time to share an information with you I got today from a bigger reseller here in xxx.
As he have confirmed, the a7sIII is going to be announced in July as you mentioned.
The planned release date is early to mid september.
And there are also two more cameras to be released in september: a fixed lens like the RX100 and the Sony a7IV.

 

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