Japanese photographer Akiomi Kuroda contacted me to share these images he shot on the new Zeiss Batis 135mm. All images are used with permission on SAR and please visit his social network to see more pics:
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Web http://artratio.net/
Awards History http://artratio.net/awards/

His Japanese review of the lens can be read at xico.media/review/carl-zeiss-batis-135mm/

New Batis Preorders:
Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto, PhotoPorstNeuwied and ParkCameras.
Zeiss Batis 135mm lens shade at Adorama and Bhphoto.

UPDATE: This is the translation of Akiomis review conclusions (Thanks Frank and Lee for that):

good points
– Resolution bordering on the insane
– No major loss of luminosity on the borders at full open.
– No gap in the rendering from close up to far away objects.
– Contrast which is so good it seems to be able to photography the air

Points of concern
– The 2.8 is the highest in the Batis catalogue, a source of worry. But in real use no worries at all ( smile )
– Release date ?
– Bokeh shape is not to everyone taste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO5WvQAf16g

Manny Ortiz tested the new 85mm f/1.8 FE lens and he believes it’s nearly a match of the much more expensive 85mm GM lens (watch video on top). And Jason Vong made that
Sony FE 85mm 1.8 vs G Master 85mm 1.4 video:

Newsshooter posted their Aputure DEC Vari ND Hands On Review:

And Mathieu Stern made an E-mount lens out of garbage named “Crapinon”:

Two reviewers compared the new Fuji GFX medium format camera with the Sony A7rII. Those are their conclusions:

DearSusans writes:

My conclusions are that the GFX feels a tiny bit less electronic at 100% and colours seem a bit better. On the other hand the A7RII seems a little sharper. But the real conclusion is that, in terms of IQ, both are so close as to make no significant difference, other than colourwise. So, coming from a Sony A7rII corner, it’s hard to see anything compelling enough to make a switch. Moving up from a different system, your mileage may vary.

Jim Kassons concludes

The Fuji is markedly sharper except at the very corners, where the Sony comes close. I messed around with sharpening on the Sony images, and I couldn’t get them to look anything like the Fuji ones, except is the cases where they were very close to begin with.

Quite two different conclusions :)

Imaging Resource tested the Sony A99II and the conclusion is:

The Sony A99 II is a bold statement that the Sony A-mount is alive and well for enthusiasts and professionals alike. It is a remarkable technological achievement in multiple ways, from its ability to capture full-resolution 42.4-megapixel RAW images at nearly a dozen frames per second, to utilizing a super-quick, advanced hybrid autofocus system with tons of individual AF points.
However, it is also a camera that, despite how advanced many of its features are, felt occasionally stuck in the past. 4K UHD video recording is hampered and despite Sony’s efforts, the menus and a few of the controls are somewhat clunky.
Overall, the Sony A99 II is an excellent full-frame “DSLR” camera that achieves some great feats. To be able to utilize hundreds of autofocus points while shooting 42.4-megapixel images at nearly 12fps is very impressive.

Sony A99II at [shopcountry 56569].

Tony went crazy and posted a 100 minute long Sony A99II tutorial :)  And yes, he really likes the Sony A99II a lot!

Sony A99II at [shopcountry 56569].

Homer Simpson “D’ho” would be the appropriate reaction after reading the surprisingly provocative DPreview article about the new Fuji GFX. In it Dpreview debunks the hype on the new Medium format camera and nicely advises the reader to get a much less expensive FF camera instead:

Companies like Sony have poured a lot of R&D into their full-frame (and smaller) sensors, and the a7R II uses a backside-illuminated design that makes it more efficient than the sensor used in the 50S. It also offers a dual-gain architecture that flips the camera into a high gain mode at ISO 640, allowing it to effectively overcome any noise introduced by the camera’s own electronics. In other words, the a7R II’s sensor is better able to use the light projected onto it, relative to the MF sensor – ironically a sensor made by Sony itself – in the G50S (or Pentax 645Z, or Hasselblad X1D). This allows it to match the low light noise performance of the larger sensor in the GFX (and Pentax 645Z and Hasselblad X1D) even at the same shutter speed and f-number.

Of course there is more than just sensor performance that defines the overall quality of a camera. The GFX remains a highly desirable object. But if price is in your equation well you really have to think if that very small image quality improvement is worth the money.

Now let’s hope Sony can find a way to make a $5,000 RX medium format camera wiht the super large 55x41mm sensor. Of course this is just a dream of mine yet :)

Dan Watson posted his full A99II review at Huffingtonpost:

The Sony A99II is one of the greatest cameras on the market today and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. It’s a camera that seems to be amazing at everything with virtually no weaknesses. In a market where speed means lower resolution and high resolution lowers speed and low light ability, it’s awesome to see technology that allows these to all coexist in a single body.

A99II at [shopcountry 56569].

Marc Alhadeff tested both new Sony lenses. The 100mm STF (review here) and the 85mm FE (review here). Note: the 100mm article contains nude pictures.

New Sony FE lens preorder links:
85mm f/1.8 FE at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK. Amazon IT. Amazon FR. Amazon ES.
100mm f/2.8 STF FE at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK. Amazon IT. Amazon FR. Amazon ES.