Sooner or later we are going to have large CMOS global shutter sensor on Sony Alpha cameras. This week Sony just announced smaller 2/3 and 1/1.8 inch CMOS global shutter sensors. The new Sony video on top shows the advantage of the global shutter over rolling shutter when recording fast moving objects.

Here is part of the press text (via Sony.net):

Global Shutter Function
Industrial applications require imaging of fast-moving subjects. However, there is the issue that existing CMOS image sensors are unable to accurately identify fast-moving subjects due to focal plane distortion as a result of rolling shutter operation. The IMX250LLR/LQR and IMX252LLR/LQR address this issue by providing analog memory inside each pixel and realizing a global shutter function, which enables high-picture-quality imaging without focal plane distortion.

The Industry’s Smallest Pixel Size Class for Industrial Applications
Analog memory, transistors and other elements must be added to the inside of each pixel to realize a global shutter function, which made it a challenge to reduce the pixel size. The newly developed products use Sony’s fine pixel fabrication technology to realize a small pixel with a size of 3.45 µm compared to the 5 µm range that is the existing standard for global shutter pixels.
This enables high-resolution imaging using a smaller lens than that of the existing products.

High Sensitivity
In order to reduce the size of pixels equipped with a global shutter function, it is necessary to secure a sufficient pixel light-detecting area while also securing an analog memory area within the pixel, so there were concerns over a drop in sensitivity.
However, high-sensitivity pixel design technology and condensing process technology were used to increase the sensitivity of the newly developed 3.45 µm pixel, and realized high sensitivity exceeding that of the existing 5.86 µm product (1.1 times compared to the existing 5.86 µm product).
In addition, EXview HAD CCD*1 technology also increases sensitivity in the near-infrared range, enabling use with high picture quality even under near infrared light.

*1: EXview HAD CCD is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

High Frame Rate
Customers have strongly demanded higher frame rates for industrial applications, so an ADC 8-bit mode was added to the IMX250LLR/LQR and IMX252LLR/LQR in addition to the existing ADC 10-bit and 12-bit modes. Also, the column-parallel A/D conversion technology of Sony CMOS image sensors is used to realize high-speed imaging of up to 163.4 [frame/s] (ADC 8-bit) for the IMX250LLR/LQR and up to 216.3 [frame/s] (ADC 8-bit) for the IMX252LLR/LQR (Table-3). This enabled further increasing the processing speed for industrial applications.

A Variety of Functions
The IMX250LLR/LQR and IMX252LLR/LQR are equipped with a variety of functions needed for industrial applications, such as ROI mode and trigger mode. ROI mode crops arbitrary areas, and up to 8 × 8 = 64 locations can be set. Various exposure methods are provided for trigger mode, which controls the exposure time using an external pulse. In addition, the IMX250LQR and IMX252LQR (color products) are equipped with functions such as subsampling, horizontal and/or vertical inverted readout, and multiple frame set output, and the IMX250LLR and IMX252LLR (monochrome products) also have a pixel addition function in addition to color product functions.

Steven: “Awesome video if you wanna share it of Iceland, shot on a Sony HX9V with no sliders, tripods, gimbals. https://vimeo.com/126876271“

Zeiss FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Distagon T* review at Admiringlight.
Loxia 35mm review at Photographyblog.
Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f1.6 review (Sony A Mount) at ThePhoBlographer.
Sony FE 28mm f/2 Sample Images (Photographyblog).
Sony RX100 III review at Adorama Blog.
Zeiss 35mm FE Distagon test at Fengniao.
Hello from Phase One (Capture One Pro and Express for Sony) at SonyAlphaForum.

Jordan: “I thought I’d share this video I recently shot of The Funk Parade in Washington, D.C. All I used was a Sony A6000, Nikkor 50mm 1.4D lens with Metabones adapter, variable ND filter and a cheap plastic shoulder rig. With all the hype surrounding the A6000 replacement, I still think the current model still does a great job. I just hope the new camera has an improved EVF :) https://vimeo.com/126994521”

Alexandre: “I went to Rome, Italy and I shot the landmarks (Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Piazza Navona etc…) and the people with my Sony A7R and the Zeiss Lens 35mmF2.8
http://traveljournalist.com/visit-rome-italy-people-landmarks-monuments-tourism-pictures/“

With the launch of the 5 axis stabilization system of the A7II Sony opened a whole world of new possibilities. Not only is any lens produced so far suddenly “stabilized” (even 60 years old lenses). But on paper you could also realize a Super High Resolution shooting mode that Olympus added on the new Olympus E-M5II. And I even got a rumor lately confirming that Sony is testing that feature.

Diglloyd writes down what I hope will become true one day via firmware update:

Since the Sony A7 II already has image stabilization and a Sony A7R II ought to have the same stabilization, the possibility of a firmware update for the A7 II which supports sensor shift technology is intriguing. Consider the following if implemented only as far as Olympus does it:

• 24MP full-frame sensor could generate 96MP raw files delivering something approaching 60 megapixels of detail under ideal conditions.
• 36MP full-frame sensor could generate 144MP raw files delivering something approaching 90 megapixels of detail under ideal conditions.
• 50MP full-frame sensor could generate 200MP raw files delivering something approaching 125 megapixels of detail under ideal conditions.

I am sure every SAR reader would like to get that feature!

Sony Europe launched a new Sony A6000 advertising campaign with Manual Neuer. This indirectly confirms the rumor saying the new A6xxx will NOT replace the A6000. The new A6xxx will be placed above the A6000 and be more of a [shoplink 8454]NEX7 successor[/shoplink]. The A6000 is now the main header on all Sony Europe (Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, )

For German readers: You keep having new Sony Amazon Gold Box deals every day! Today you have the RX100m2 (at 16:00), the A99 (again at 16:00) and the A5100 (18:00). Discounted pricing will be unveiled at 16:00 exactly. The fulld eal page can be seen here: amazon.de/sonderangebote-restposten-schnappchen-elektronik/

Reminder:
The A6000 with Gariz case on eBay in [shoplink 26006 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26007 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26008 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 26009 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink].

[shoplink 36620 ebay][/shoplink]

SAR reader Tom Altman created a new tool that some of you could find useful. He sent me this:

The Sony A7S camera is the best video camera in the market. But it has one major challenge when using the video feature. The video record button is too small, awkwardly placed and slightly recessed. This makes it very difficult to activate without much fumbling around. You usually have to remove your eyes from the viewfinder to even locate the button. All this searching and fumbling around can cause shaky footage or missing the action all together.
This is why we created the [shoplink 36620 ebay]Cineasy Touch Button Enhancement[/shoplink]. This Patent Pending device, for the Sony Alpha line of mirrorless cameras will help your camera to capture pristine video just as easily as it does still images. The Cineasy Touch installs in just minutes and is super intuitive and very responsive. The Cineasy Touch provides a larger point of contact that can easily be found without taking your eye off the action. Simply press the Cineasy Touch and record video intuitively and effortlessly.
You will love it so much you will never remove it from your camera. It simply attaches to the neck strap eyelet nearest the video button with the included screw. Its that simple to make your camera capture video like a professional. And for a limited time you can get yours for the low introductory price of $24.95.

More info
https://vimeo.com/128038653

Model for Sony A7S
[shoplink 36620 ebay]http://www.ebay.com/itm/221773014854?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649[/shoplink]

Model for Sony A6000
[shoplink 36621 ebay]http://www.ebay.com/itm/221773016602?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649[/shoplink]

Sony 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 Lens Review

Gold Box deal on the A6000 double lens kit at 12:00 at Amazon DE (Click here) and on the 16-70mm Zeiss at 18:00 again Amazon DE (Click here). Gold Box deal of the day is the White A6000 kit for 549 Euro at Amazon DE (Click here).
Distagon 35mm review (ThePhoBlographer).
Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Fish-eye and A7r (SonyAlphaForum).
Sony FE 24-240mm review on Pixelmania.nl.
Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon T* Sample Images (Photographyblog).
Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T* Sample Images (Photographyblog).
Sony will increase the RX10-QX100-QX10 price in Japan (Dc.watch).
A600 pictures form the sky (Russos.livejournal).

Josh: “With the big shift toward mirrorless cameras, my friend Jay and I decided to start a new YouTube channel called, The Camera Project. The point of the channel is to explore and review recent cameras, but instead of doing it in a clinical and technical way, our goal is to explore a city or neighborhood, and take our viewers through that neighborhood while exploring the latest gear. The series is from the viewpoint of photo enthusiasts as opposed to professional photographers.  We’ve been following Sony’s outstanding innovations over the past few years and felt that the Sony a7II was the perfect first subject for us. While we do intend to explore other brands, we’ve just published our first 3 part review series on the a7ii. Overall, we were quite impressed, please take a look at the channel. We’d love go garner feedback on our first videos and see what the viewer response is: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL58CQzpUWd36VoEG4FwxZ3Z9-9c8E2eC”

Kristian Maglalang: “Take a look at this VIMEO video (not mine) featuring Vietnam: https://vimeo.com/126747807. Shoot using: Sony A7ii @ 1080 60p PP7 (Exposed in S-Log2). Video Stabilization: Nebula 4000. Lens used: Zeiss 35mm 2.8 and Zeiss 55mm 1.8“

Quick Look: Lensbaby Velvet 56

For Germans: At 10:00 Gold Box on the A58 kit (Click here). At 11:00 on the AS200 (Click here). At 16:00 on the RX1R (Click here). At 18:00 on the RX100m2 (Click here). At 18:00 on the Tamron E-mount zoom (Click here). Full Gold Box deals list here.
Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Review (Photographylife).
Image samples from A7 II and Canon FD 100mm f/2 and 135mm f/2 lenses (Flickr).
Venuslens/Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro Objektiv (Joerghaag.com).
Sony to Increase Image Sensor Capex 4.8x in FY2015 (Image Sensor World).
Miguel Quiles Goes Behind the Scenes on His Lighting Setup for Beauty Shoots (Wppionline).
Field Test: Sigma 19mm, 30mm and 60mm F2.8 DN lenses (Dpreview).

Fiberstobe: “I’ve just finished a review of the sony VCL-ECU1 adapter, which might be interesting for the readers of sonyalpharumors. I know that it’s not a very new lens but I show some tricks how can it be used on the SEL30M35 lens for wide angle macro photography: http://fiberstrobe.blogspot.de/2015/03/sony-vcl-ecu1-ultra-wide-converter.html“