New Sigma FE image samples

You can find new image samples on those pages:

45mm f/2.8 image samples at Fengniao.
35mm f/1.2 image samples at Fengniao.
14-24mm image samples at Fengniao (scroll down).

New hands-on images at Dpreview.

Sigma FE lenses:
Sigma 35mm f/1.2 FE at Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Henrys. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 FE at Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Henrys. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.
Sigma 45mm f/2.8 FE at Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Henrys. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.

 

More 200-600mm and 600mm tests by Northrup, Jared Polin, TheSlantedLens, Michael Schaake, SLRclub

USA/CA Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig, Adorama and Henyrs.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Amazon, BHphoto, FocusCamera, BuyDig, Adorama and Henyrs.
EU Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Amazon DE. Calumet DE. Amazon UK. WexUK. ParkCameras. Amazon FR. Amazon IT. Amazon ES.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Calumet DE.WexUK. ParkCameras.
Asia Preorders:
Sony 200-600mm FE at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.
Sony 600mm FE GM at Sony Japan. Sony Australia.

Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS test by Ole J Liodden:

My overall impression of this new telephoto lens is that it is extremely well made, fast, reliable and light-weighted. It is difficult to find anything to improve, maybe except the pricing. Hopefully I will have another chance soon to use the lens on an expedition to test it in different situations.

New Sigma FE 35mm f/1.2 lens size comparison!

From left to right: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 FE new Sigma 35mm f/1.2 FE and Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE

 

Preorders:
Sigma 35mm f/1.2 FE at Adorama, BHphoto. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 FE at Adorama, BHphoto. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.
Sigma 45mm f/2.8 FE at Adorama, BHphoto. In EU at ParkUK, WexUK.

I made an attempt to make a size comparison between the new Sigma 35mm f/1.2 lens and other FE lenses. The leaked image actually shows the L-mount version. That’s why I matched the size the “A” logo between the leaked image and the current Sigma 35mm f/1.4 FE. It’s not 100% accurate but it should be very close…

What’s clear is that the new f/1.2 lens is both longer and wider than current FE lenses. You cannot cheat on physics :)

Next we have the size comparison between the Sony 16-35mm GM, the new Sigma 14-24mm FE (L-mount version on this image) and the Tamron 17-28mm FE:

Finally the size comparison between the compact Sigma 45mm f/2.8 FE (L-mount version on this image) and the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 FE:

The new Sigma FE lenses will be unveiled tomorrow (July 11) at 9am London time! Stay tuned on SAR!

Which new Sigma lens will you buy?

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First review of the Zenitar 50mm f/0,95 FE lens by Bastian Katzke: “So much is wrong with this lens”

You can now preorder the lens directly at Zenit.photo.

 

Bastian Katzke reviewed the new Zenitar 50mm f/0,95 FE lens and this is likely to be the wworse lens ever made for the FF E-mount cameras:

So much is wrong with this lens, I don’t even know where to start.
The lens is super heavy, yet the build quality isn’t exactly great. Both rings are a bit scratchy with uneven resistance, markings are not engraved, the lens hood is wobbly and reflective on the inside.

Sharpness and contrast at f/0.95 are far from good, especially off center. By f/1.4 the lens starts to show acceptable resolution and contrast, but there are many more reasonable 50mm f/1.4 lenses available that offer the same and more for much less money and bulk.

Distortion is unusually high for a 50mm lens. Astigmatism and coma are both very badly corrected. You get completely black corners when stopping the lens down and flare resistance at wider apertures is the worst I have ever seen.

Now all those things may still be acceptable for some, if the only alternative was the Leica Noctilux 50mm 0.95 costing 10 grand. But that is not the case. We have the Zhong Yi Mitakon 50mm 0.95 MKII and MKIII. Both lenses are optically superior, seem to have actually been designed for E-mount cameras and at the same time they are much smaller and lighter and not even more expensive.

In my opinion there is absolutely no reason to get this lens. You have been warned.

 

The new Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0,95 III is available at Adorama and BHphoto.

 

Thanks Vladimir for sharing this.

Dpreview: Sony a9 ‘real-time tracking’ update makes it the highest scoring camera in its class


Sony A9 at Buydig, BHphotoAdorama, 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.

Sensor image quality is excellent, great colours with excellent dynamic range.

The ability to capture images without disturbing an athlete, when you can hear a pin drop, opens up new photo opportunities.

I have covered professional sport since 1992, during this time owned many flagship cameras and pro lenses (14mm – 600mm).

I feel that I am qualified to say that the A9 has no peers when it comes to AF as I have been privileged to collaborate with other leading companies, testing DSLR prototype devices and providing feedback on AF systems.

Shortly before the 2012 Olympics I set up a comprehensive AF testing session at an athletics track with one company to try and iron-out AF issues with a newly released camera – a subsequent AF tracking only firmware upgrade greatly improved the camera in question.

https://sportpicturelibrary.photoshelter.com/archive

@SonyUK. #SonyUK #SonyAlpha #sonyalpharumors 
@FixationUKltd fixationuk.com

Sony A9 at Buydig, BHphotoAdorama, Amazon, BestBuy. FocusCamera.