Sony NEX-6 still a bestseller in US: Maybe Sony should make more APS-C E-mount lenses too…

APS-C E-mount cameras are literally dominating the Amazon mirrorless ranking (list here).

We are all waiting to see the new stuff at Photokina. But in the meantime …for months now(!) the most sold popular Sony camera at Amazon US (Click here to see the ranking) is the Sony NEX-6.
It’s a bit pity that only Sony E-mount FF lenses are about to be announced soon (16-35mm Zeiss, powerzoom lens and the Zeiss Loxia). Sony should really try to support those many APS-C E-mount owners and make some lenses for them too.

P.S.: Of course they can use the FE lenses too, but it’s really not the same thing (increased weight, increased price, missing focal lengths and so on…).

Reminder: Sony US is selling plenty of discounted ref. cameras:
$700 off on the [shoplink 28308 ebay]RX1R (Click here)[/shoplink].
$80 off on the [shoplink 28309 ebay]RX100 (Click here)[/shoplink].
$120 off on the [shoplink 28310 ebay]A77 with kit lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
Few [shoplink 28311 ebay]A900 bodies (Click here)[/shoplink].
$74 off on the [shoplink 28312 ebay]QX100 (Click here)[/shoplink].
Samys sells Open Box and $300 off [shoplink 28313 ebay]A7r bodies (Click here)[/shoplink].

Sony Tidbits…

SONY A7s Eyecup – how to fit the Hoodman HoodEYE from FILM…SOUND…COLOR on Vimeo.

Sony RX100 III Review at Imaging Resource.
Sony A7S Shooter’s Report Part I: First impressions, handling and oh my, high ISO! (Imaging Resource).
First Impressions: HandeVision Ibelux 40mm f/0.85 (Admiringlight).
Part two: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 / Sony Alpha 7S Comparative Review (Dpreview).
Sony 500mm F8 AF mirror lens (used with A77) at MyPhotoJourney.
Sony NEX-3 infrared at Myphotojourney.
Just want to share a Youtube video with you which a Hong Kong photographer comparing 3 medium format cameras, all equipped with the Sony sensor.
‘Season of Touit’ starts at the ‘http://www.yearofthealpha.com – 52 weeks of Sony Alpha Photography. Follow 10 weeks of Sony Alpha photography taken with Zeiss Touit products (Touit 2.8/12 & Touit 2.8/50M).

Sony surprise: New firmware update for the RX10 (gets XAVC-S) and RX100m3.

RX10 firmware download at Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Norway, Sony Sweden, Sony Portugal. It adds following improvement:

Enables shooting 60p/30p/24p/120p movies in the XAVC S format that supports high bit rates  (1920×1080) 50p/25,(1280×720) 100p, (1920×1080) 60p/30p/24p,(1280×720) 120p
Note: When shooting a movie in the XAVC S format, ensure that an SDXC card of Class 10 or faster is used.

RX100m3 firmware download at Sony US, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Holland, Sony Belgium, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Norway, Sony Sweden, Sony Portugal. It adds following improvement:

This update improves stability in rare cases where the unit does not turn due to low remaining life of the internal back-up battery (used to maintain the date and time)

Samyang 50mm T/1.5 AS UMC officially announced!

Samyang officially announced the new 50 mm T/1.5 AS UMC. All specs and info can be read at Samyang-europe.com. The Cine lens will be available in both A and E-mount version.

These are some image samples (Click on it to enlarge):

Samples
1 200px 2 200px 3 200px
Samyang 50mm 1:1.4 AS UMC Samyang 50mm 1:1.4 AS UMC Samyang 50mm 1:1.4 AS UMC
4 200px 5 200px
Samyang 50mm 1:1.4 AS UMC Samyang 50mm 1:1.4 AS UMC

This week SAR readers photos selection.


Ren Murray‎
Shot with a99 and Tamron 24-70
One Alien Bees b1600 with 7″ reflector to camera right
ISO 100, f13, 1/200
On location in Lincoln City, Oregon

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

Read more

Zeiss starts a “teaser game”. New E-mount lenses coming!

Last week I told you how Zeiss is about to launch some amazing E-mount manual focusing lenses. And to prepare you Zeiss launched a sort of “teaser game”. To participate just visit that page: http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=5285.

These lenses will be amazing. Can’t wait to get the specs about them. Some careful source may send them to me now? Just use the anonymous message box on the top-right of the page…thanks :)

—

I have no specs of the new lenses yet but Zeiss already made manual focusing lenses for “non-DSLR”. These are the Zeiss “Full Frame” ZM analog camera lenses:
[shoplink 10875 ebay]Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9803 ebay]Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9805 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9806 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].

Sony TidBits…

The video on top is part of a very detailed A7s test published at DVXuser.

High ISO Comparision – Fuji X-T1 v. Olympus E-M1 v. Sony A7s by JoshMcleod.
A99-RX100 mk2 ISO comparison by PhotoAgainstPhoto.
Japanese A7s test at Nikkei.
RX100 mk2 review at PhotoAgainstPhoto.
Sigma 18-35mm lens test at GetDpi.
A6000 with Sony G 70-400 SSM and Sony LA-EA2 testclip on Youtube.

Alexandre: “After having the small flash (F20M), I decided to buy the Sony HVL-F43M and I tested it by shooting models at the Bangkok Motor Sales last week. I’m really satisfied, this is a professional flash, very efficient and still not too heavy nor bulky.  You can see here the most beautiful models from this Motor Show, shot with my Sony A7R+FE35mmF2.8 and the Flash Sony HVL-F43M. http://thailandfacts.com/bangkok-grand-motor-sales-2014-pretty-thai-models/“