Sony a9 III Sensor test by DxO: “stands out as an impressive alternative”

DxOmark tested the new global shutter sensor of the Sony A9III and concluded:

From a technical perspective, Sony’s rapid iteration of its cameras is truly remarkable. The introduction of the innovative global shutter sensor in the Sony a9 III offers clear advantages for action and sports photographers. This sensor is highly optimized for operational speed, enabling not just high-speed capture while also supporting autofocus (AF), auto exposure (AE), but also flash synchronization up to 1/80,000 second shutter speed. However, there is a slight trade-off in terms of image quality, with a modest reduction in color depth and dynamic range. As this primarily occurs at low ISOs, it may not be a significant concern. Even if the Sony a9 II and Canon EOS R3 remain competitive in image quality across the sensitivity range, the Sony a9 III still stands out as an impressive alternative. The global shutter sensor greatly enhances the versatility of the Sony a9 III, making it a compelling choice for fast-action photographers.

Sony A9III at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoErhardt. Fotokoch. Calumet. WexUK.

CineD reviewed the world’s first autofocus anamorphic E-mount lenses from Blazar

CineD tested the very unique new Blazar E-mount lenses and concluded:

The lens is sharp where it is supposed to be (center), and of course, the more you close it down, the sharper the edges get, too.
All in all, I would like to salute this young company for coming up with a very desirable lens and for closing the gap in terms of “ease of use” between spherical and anamorphic lenses. It is worth noting that the 50mm lens will be released first, and it will come in E-mount. Additional mounts are planned for early next year.

Blazar 35mm T1.6 APEX 1.33X ANAMORPHIC AF Lens at BHphoto.
Blazar 50mm T1.6 APEX 1.33X ANAMORPHIC AF Lens at BHphoto.

Already a first price drop: Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 FE lens now available for $764 at Amazon US (+ first reviews)

The new Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 FE LAB lens is now available at at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch. In all cases you get 15% off starting from today!

And today a ton of youtuber shared their take on this lens:

SonyAlphaBlog reviewed the lens and concluded:

The Viltrox 135mm f1.8, the Samyang 135mm F1.8 AF and the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM are clearly ahead of the Sigma, Zeiss Batis and Samyang MF.
The Samyang is the best one in term of sharpness , level of CA, resistance to flare It delivers very crunchy images and beautiful background blur , bokeh and excellent color rendering. It has a very efficient AF , It is lighter and 2 times less expensive than the Sony. Its only weaknesses is the AF in burst mode for sports.
The Viltrox delivers also excellent results , with excellent color rendering and a very good contrast , its AF is a tiny bit better than the Samyang but less than the Sony. Bokeh balls are equal vs the Samyang and a bit less rounded than the Sony. The big difference is the weight: +70% vs the Samyang, +30% vs the Sony which makes it very painful to carry for several hours. It will be less good in term of CA than the Samyang (but equal to the Sony for CA)
The Sony is also outstanding in term of sharpness but a tiny bit less sharp than the Samyang, It is the best one in term of AF for sports , it has a little bit better bokeh balls (more rounded as of F4) and a mure subtle and gentle color rendering
Between the 3, if money is not important, it is a matter of taste in term of rendering with more crunchy image with the Samyang , more subtle for portraits with the Sony and also a matter of AF efficiency for Sports where the Sony is superior and the only one compatible with 20fps on A9 and 30fps on A1 and also in tempo f weight you want to carry between 772g and 1230g
For the money the Samyang 135mm F1.8 AF is unbeatable