Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 FE preorders:
In the USA at BHphoto, Amazon, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
In Europe it’s available at Calumet DE, WexUK, Park UK and CameraTools NL.

Here are two new video reviews from Chris Turner and Georges CamerasTV. Chris also made some RAW samples available here on Dropbox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NYZyw9VRg8

Sony A9 at Buydig, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, BestBuy. FocusCamera.

Dpreview updated the Sony A9 review and score:

Sony introduced a significant firmware update that largely revamped the autofocus system of the camera, adding a new ‘real-time tracking’ AF mode that works seamlessly with face and eye detection. Sony also updated face and eye detection algorithms by using machine learning to understand human subjects and features more accurately.

We’ve spent some time shooting with the updated a9 in a variety of situations, and have previously written and in-depth look into what the new AF system brings. After further testing, we’ve re-scored the a9 with the boosted autofocus in mind, and it brings the score up to 90% (from 89%). This makes the a9 the highest-scoring camera in its class, out-ranking the Nikon D5 and Canon EOS-1D X II.

The increased score reflects the precision of the updated a9’s subject tracking system, as well as its ease-of-use that makes it valuable for nearly all types of photography. Click ‘Read our review’ above to jump to our full review (originally published in 2017), and read on for a description of the new real-time tracking mode, with some examples and videos of the system in use.

And SankeiBiz wrote a piece about the Canon-Nikon-Sony battle for the Olympics. The google translated text says:

The battle for the share of the news camera, which attracts attention every time the Olympics, is gradually rising. In the battle of the two big giants Canon / Nikon, also known as the “Black and White Showdown”, this time the mirrorless one-eyed male Sony, who will introduce a telephoto lens based on the black and white “Zebra” color, is about to enter and the trend is also here Can not release.
The history of “black and white confrontation” is old, and the late-night Canon shows its best in the 1980s, while Nikon, who has taken the seat of the camera in the 1950s Tokyo Olympics Erode. Although the two companies’ shares have reached antagonism, the decisive change occurred at the Athens Olympics where the use of digital single-lens reflex cameras in 2004 began in earnest. Canon overwhelmed Nikon by the introduction of digital single-lens reflex camera “EOS-1D Mark II”. Since then, Nikon has been reviving, but according to industry officials, Canon is leading with the latest share of around 6 to 4 to 7 to 3.
Sony is trying to enter this fierce battle. In addition to being able to reduce the size and weight because no mirror is required, the mirrorless one eye also features no shutter sound. In the field of sports photography, he exerts great power in golf.
In the Olympics, the number of coverage passes is limited, and there is also a circumstance that “Canon cameras that have long been associated with media companies and Nikon cameras have priority”. It seems that it will be too soon for the camera competition of the Olympics to become a “three-odd” that Sony has joined, but I would like to pay attention to whether the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games will be the footsteps for that.

via Digicameinfo

And professional Sports Photographer Nick Walker recently switched to the Sony A9. These are his impressions:

Sony A9 experience – the finest AF system I have used. Struggling to find images that are not tack sharp. The Sony 400mm F/2.8 and 70-200mm F/2.8 are both optically ‘superb’ with high resolution, contrast and very fast AF systems.

The beauty of the Sony A9’s system is the freedom to automatically track a subject’s eye(s), or face, accurately across 80% of the frame and solely concentrate on composition, with no or little cropping, so liberating, something that cannot be said of a 35mm DSLR’s AF system which only covers approx 40% of the frame.

Sony A9 at Buydig, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, BestBuy. FocusCamera.

Sony 200-600 G OSS compared to the 100-400 GM by Alin Popescu

Alin Popescu tested the new Sony 200-600mm lens and the conclusion is:

I really loved it: its reach is amazing, is incredibly sharp, has superb color rendering and bokeh and has an affordable price for this kind of lens.

But I still love the incredible lightness of my 100-400 G Master lens, it’s better weather sealing, speed of acquiring subjects and tracking them. And I can always add the 1.4x TC that will get me close to 600, but at a cost of 1 EV.

It’s even a tougher decision if you just want to buy now one of these two superb lenses Sony has produced. I feel you!

There is also this great video review from Marc Galer:

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 FE preorders:
In the USA at BHphoto, Amazon, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
In Europe it’s available at Calumet DE, WexUK, Park UK and CameraTools NL.

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David Oastler is one of the few who has the new 17-28mm FE lens in his hands:

And a test video:

200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig, Adorama, Calumet DE. WexUK. Calumet NL.
600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig, Adorama, Calumet DE. WexUK. Calumet NL.

If you are curious to see how well the new 200-600G does with the Sony A7III check out this report from Gustav Kiburg. Full size image samples can be downloaded here.

Last Sunday I did photograph the Kingfishers. And this time I used the A7III, because that is the camera that most people do own.
I  am very happy with the results. Of course the A7III has almost the same sensor as the A9 (both 24MP) , but also with the A7III the AF is pretty fast.
With the kingfishers I had low light, that’s why I used 1000, 1600 and 2000 iso, to have enough shutter speed.

The Kingfishers I have taken at 600mm f/6.3. I’m really impressed with this lens.
They young little owl I have taken with the A9 and 1.4 TC + 200-600

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

DC.watch posted a set of new images of the new Sony 200-600mm and 600mm lenses. The image on top caught my attention. You see the new 200-600mm size compared with the 100-400mm lens when fully extended. It’s hard to choose between the two lenses because:

The 100-400mm lens should be sharper, is a tiny bit faster and it’s definitely a lot shorter and easier to carry around
The 200-600mm lens has way more tele reach, no extending zoom and it’s cheaper than the GM

And here are a few more images:

600mm f/4.0 on the Sony A9

200-600mm FE on the Sony A7III

And here is the “naked” 600mm f/4.0 FE lens:

USA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE. WexUK. ParkCameras. Calumet NL. Cameratools NL.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 FE preorders:
In the USA at BHphoto, Amazon, FocusCamera, BuyDig and Adorama.
In Europe it’s available at Calumet DE, WexUK, Park UK and CameraTools NL.