This Changed My Perspective on Modern Lenses – Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB for Sony FE

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
OVERRATED?! – Controversial Camera Gear (Gerald Undone).
Irix 65mm review on the Sony A1 (Lensvid).
Best 24-70mm F2.8 lens for video? Sony vs Panasonic vs Sigma (Slashcam).
Sony’s Airpeak Drone Failed Because It Couldn’t Get the Basics Right (PetaPixel).
Godox Announces the Compact and Handy iM30 Mini Flash (Explora).
Recording Interview Audio for All Budgets (42West).

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Today Cosina Japan announce the new Nokton 28mm f/1.5 FE lens. There is no pricing info and preorder will open in January only. A couple of image samples can be found on that official product page.

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Compatible with Sony E-mount
Equipped with electronic contacts, the lens usage status is reflected in the Exif information of the shooting data. In addition, since it has a built-in distance encoder, it supports 5-axis image stabilization on the camera body. It is also possible to enlarge the viewfinder by operating the focus ring.

Optimized Optical Design
In addition to ensuring a full-size image circle, the optical design is optimized for Sony E-mount sensors, maintaining high resolution even at the edges of the screen and suppressing phenomena such as color casting.

The minimum shooting distance is 0.28m
The minimum shooting distance from the subject to the imaging plane is 0.28m. The perspective unique to a wide-angle lens and the maximum aperture of F1.5 enable images with shallow focus, especially in close-up areas.

Beautiful bokeh with 12 aperture blades
A 12-blade aperture is used to make the aperture shape closer to a circle, resulting in natural depiction of out-of-focus areas and soft bokeh of point light sources rather than polygonal shapes.

Manual focus for precise focusing
The all-metal helicoid unit is machined and adjusted with high precision, and the use of high-quality grease that produces just the right amount of torque makes focusing feel smooth and allows for subtle focus adjustments.

Aperture click switching mechanism
The aperture click switching mechanism allows the aperture ring to be opened and closed steplessly without making a clicking sound. This eliminates the need to worry about the sound of the aperture ring being picked up during video recording, and also enables precise depth control by fine-tuning the aperture ring.

Main Specifications

• Mount: Sony E
• Format: Full size
• Focal length: 28mm
• Lens construction: 10 elements in 8 groups
• Maximum aperture: F1.5
• Minimum aperture: F16
• Aperture blades: 12
• Minimum shooting distance: 0.28m
• Maximum magnification: 1:6.9
• Filter diameter: φ49mm
• Size: φ62.6×55mm
• Weight: 320g

PetaPixel has just published the Camera Awards 2024, and Sony has clearly come out on top:

Camera of the Year: Sony a9 III (Amazon / BHphoto)

In a time where most cameras are simply iterating on existing technologies, the a9 III is the only camera in 2024 that allows photographers to capture photos that were before this camera existed, impossible.

Prime Lens of the Year: Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II (Amazon / BHphoto)

Everything that photographers complained about in the original Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM has been addressed in this new version and the result is a near-perfect prime lens.

Zoom Lens of the Year: Sony 28-70mm f/2 GM (Amazon / BHphoto)

It’s a fabulous technological achievement and Sony deserves praise. It is one of the best lenses ever made.

As noticed by DClife Sony shares hit highest price since listing in 25 years:

Sony Group’s stock price closed at 3,362 yen today, but rose to 3,398 yen at one point, reaching a new record high since listing for the first time in about 25 years, and has become a hot topic. Looking at economic news articles, the focus is on entertainment businesses such as “movies, animation, and music” rather than semiconductors. *The chart above is a screenshot from Google Finance .

By the way, Sony Group’s stock price has increased by +28.7% since the beginning of the year. *As of December 11, 2024

In 2025, 3-4 Alpha and FX cameras may be launched. And because it’s Christmas time, you can officially make a wish for 2025 :)

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These new binoculars with Sony sensor inside collected over a half a million dollars on Kickstarter (Click here):

The Night Storm X1, night vision binoculars designed for those who aren’t afraid of the dark. See into the night with a whopping 1200m range, 850nm infrared sensitivity, and 52-megapixel image capture. Record footage in true 4K, and with 18 hours of battery life, you will see longer than the night can last.

Maybe Sony should consider making a Sony Alpha 7 “infrared” camera? :)