Technical note: How to see all SAR posts on homepage (caching issue)

On November 27 our rumor site server had a small issue on the caching software. Since then some of you may have not seen new articles on the main SAR homepage. This happens because your browser memorized the issue and doesn’t get rid of it. To clear the issue please just reload the SAR homepage (not the single post view site!) by hitting your “control + F5” button to reload the site. Or  clear the browser’s cache manually. That will get rid of the issue. Of course you have to do it for every browser you use on any device.

Thanks a lot!

Newsshooter additional info on the Sony A7II (On few Sony lenses “only” 3 axis stabilization works).

sonya7II

Note: Amazon (Click here) is again taking preorders on the A7II!! Europe too at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.

Newsshooter spoke with Sony Europe at length about the new Sony A7II. And this is ome of the key info they got:

1) the A-mount 16mm f2.8 fisheye, 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2.8 and 500mm f8 AF mirror lens when used with a Sony A-mount to E-mount adapter only offer three axis stabilisation.
2) With third party lenses without electronic communication on the a7 II you can program the focal length into the menu for optimal operation. I was told you set the focal length closest to the one you are using – although I don’t know what you are supposed to do when using a manual zoom that doesn’t communicate with the camera.
3) Changing of the programmed focal length can be assigned to a custom button to make changes quicker. Sony say the stabilisation system will likely perform well with third party lenses, but there are no guarantees.
4) They were keen to point out that the roll axis stabilisation is likely to aid video shooters the most. When running-and-gunning this is often the hardest motion to stabilise.
5) One added bonus of the sensor shift system is that is also improves the sensor cleaning as the camera is now able to physically shake dust off the sensor.
6) I was told the a7 II uses the same sensor as the original a7, but has some improvements in the way it processes that data which may improve image quality.
7) Interestingly the lowest ISO setting for S-log 2 in video mode seems to be ISO 1600 as opposed to 3200 on the a7S.

Thansk Newsshooter for prividing that additional info!

SAR reader Michael had the chance to play with the A7II in UK and told me that:

I played with it extensively in the past two days and it is a nice upgrade. The focusing is much much better and I like the implementation of the tracking more along the lines of the a7S, The stabilisation works on just about any lens, The Camera is definitely a little heavier which is a good thing as it feels more solid less plasticy and the way the camera sis in ones hand makes it a pleasure to use.

And Ilovehatephoto wrote the Reasons why A7 Owners Should and Shouldn’t Upgrade to the Sony A7II.

USA preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
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, 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 and at Wex UK. In Finland at Verkkokauppa.

Sony Tidbits…


Eagle flies over Paris with Sony Action Cam Mini

QX1 test at Dime, DC.watch and Nikkei.
Zeiss 16-35mm test at PChome.
Expensive vs Cheap Camera – What is the difference in real life situations? (Youtube).
Nebula 4000 Lite with Sony A7s test (Youtube).
Year of the Alpha – 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography’
Best lenses for the Sony A6000: Primes and Zooms (DxOmark)
E 50mm F1.8 OSS and 60mm F2.8 tested on the A6000 (DC.watch).
Tutorial I wrote about levitation photography (ilovehatephoto).
Voigtlander Nokton 35mm lens review on the A7R (Martinirwinphotography).
Chinese companies copying the QX idea (c.dx.com)
HVL-F32 is shipping (Imageshack).
A5100 test at Optyczne.pl.
Just How Good Is The Sony FE 16-35mm F/4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T* Lens? (Soundimagesplus).

Patrick:these are my A6000 CF settings for shooting sports action after 4 months of testing: https://vimeo.com/112324657

Ralf:here is a link of my photo series Why I Love Tattoos on a nice blog. All images are taken with the A900 and A99 and a CZ 85 / 1.4 lens. Feel free to share the link:
http://www.boredpanda.com/why-i-love-tattoos-the-book/”

Sokira:I would like to share my images from the new Zhongyi/Mitakon 24mm f/1.7 mouonted on my Sony NEX-7. So people who are interested in this lense can see what is like. You can find my album on flickr via: https://www.flickr.com/photos/34167069@N08/sets/72157649489877472/

This week SAR readers photos selection (with new like record on photo)


Beboy photographies‎
https://www.facebook.com/beboy.photographies
“Here is a photo of Sathorn, the Bangkok business district. I took this photo with my Sony A7R + Canon prime 14 mm lens mounted via a Metabones adapter. I’m amazed how this combo works great to catch insane details” Beboy photographies — in Bangkok, Thailand.

Note: The photo o top got a record of 153 likes on SAR’s facebook page. That’s a new record…congratulations Beboy!

1) Submit your picture with a message and picture here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors or on the SonyAlphaForum image section.
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors/photos_stream?tab=photos and on SonyAlphaForum.
3) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

Note: When sending a pic feel free to also add a link to your site to promote yourself!

Read more

Amazon explains why they do not accept A7II preorders anymore. And new A7II previews!

1417220374_DSC08258
Image courtesy: SLRclub

SAR reader Oleg (Thanks!) got this mail from Amazon which explains why they removed the A7II preorder option (Click here):

Since Sony hasn’t given us a date that we will receive and be able to ship these, we do not have a date listed. I checked on your order and it is still in effect. We are not allowing more pre-orders at this time as we have filled our pre-order slots.

A new A7II preview has been posted on the Korean SLRClub site. The reviewers first impressions are:

– He thinks the A7II grip is the best of all mirrorless system cameras.
–  A7II is matt like the A99. Therefore, It is mightier than A7 on the scratches and dusts.
– Boot up time is faster than on the A7. You can press the shutter button before display is turned on!
– A cons is the body weight and size.

He also posted a Simple AF Tracking Test (GIF included): http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?id=minolta_forum&divpage=168&no=897313

Plenty of A7II image samples have been posted on Fengniao.

USA preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II  (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon (non available), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStore (Click here).
Sony Alpha a7II  with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon (non available), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStore (Click here).
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto (Click here).

EU preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II  (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Amazon Germany (Click here) and at Sony UK (Click here), Wex UK (Click here).
Sony Alpha a7II  with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany (Click here) and at Wex UK (Click here). In Finland at Verkkokauppa.