First reviews of the new Samyang 14mm f/2.8 FE autofocus lens

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The new Samyang lens on the A7rII (Image courtesy ePhotozine).

Samyang has two FE autofocus lenses in the range: The 50mm f/1.4 and the 14mm f/2.8. The latter got reviewed for the first time:

Albert Dros writes:

The new Samyang 14mm f/2.8 designed for E-mount beats the old version in almost every aspect AND it has auto focus that could be important for some people. If you’re looking for a good fast wide-angle prime than this lens is currently a good bet, especially if you’re looking at the price. If you plan on using the lens for only astrophotography landscapes than the old one might be a better choice because of the better sharpness wide open. Again, a prototype was used for this review.

ePhotozine writes:

14mm is an exciting and powerful focal length for both a wide range of creative photography and for architectural record shots. Given the high quality of the results from Samyang’s second AF lens and the relatively modest price it makes the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC a very attractive proposition.

Photographyblog writes:

The price of the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 FE is undoubtedly very attractive given the fast f/2.8 aperture, complex construction, and the quick and quiet auto-focusing, which makes this lens worthy of our Highly Recommended award.

14mm FE lens preorder at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

Our reader CC got informed by Samyang Europ that the lens will actually ship in December only in Europe (it will ship in October in USA).

Sony interview at Imaging Resource: New LSI chip likely to be used on future mirrorless cameras too

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Imaging Resource had a chat with Sony manager Kimio Maki and Takashi Kondo. And those are the take-aways written by Imaging Resource:

  1. He (Kimio Maki) did indicate that we’d likely see the LSI in future cameras, including mirrorless models.
  2. I found it particularly interesting that Sony doesn’t appear to view the A99 II so much a tool for convincing people to switch to Sony from Canon or Nikon (or Fuji or Olympus) as it is about delivering new technology to long-time A-mount loyalists, some of whom have been using the platform for decades.
  3. the sense we got was that Sony isn’t currently planning on launching an equivalent to its G Master lenses for the A-mount. Instead, he noted that A-mount shooters should be able to get the maximum image quality from their existing A-mount glass by simply stopping down slightly when paired with the A99 II body

All new Sony stuff on preorder:
Sony A99II at BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon. Calumet Germany and WexUK.
Loxia 85mm f/2.4 at BHphoto and Adorama.
Tamron 150-600mm G2 A-mount lens at Bhphoto.Rokinon 35mm f/1.2 APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto.
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 autofocus FE lens at Amazon and BHphoto.

The last Photokina news roundup…(Irix ILA-FE2EF FE adapter, Iberit FE lenses, Tokina Cine lenses)

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1) (Image above) Irix announced the development of a new Irix ILA-FE2EF FE adapter (Optyczne).
2) Handevision Iberit lenses hands-on by Matt Granger
3) Tokina Cine lenses hands-on by Matt Granger. Tokina FíRIN 20mm f/2 FE MF – Toma de contacto (DSLRmagazine).
4) Laowa 24mm f/14 Replay 2x Macro Lens With Unusual Shape Announced (ePhotozine).
5) Loxia 85mm first impressions by ThePhoBlographer. Hands-on photos at Photographyblog.
6) Sony Alpha A99-II Hands-On Preview (ePhotozine).
7) Sony interview at Fotosidan.se (video in english)
8) Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100 Prototoype Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog).

Sony A99II preorder links:
In USA at BHphoto, Adorama and Amazon.
In Europe at Calumet Germany and WexUK.

First Sony A99II RAW files available for download

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A99II image by Michał Wiatrowski (fotopapiery.pl)

SAR reader Michał Wiatrowski (fotopapiery.pl) managed to save and share a few full size A99II image samples.  Michael writes: “It’s a fantastic camera. And in my opinion it’s very good in iso/noise. It’s fast, got a lot of details and this will be my next camera

UPDATE: Sony asked Michal to remove the RAW files because they were not representative of the final image quality because shot on a preproduction camera. SAR therefore removed the links. Instead you can see full size JPG images at Sony.net.

You can now preorder the new Sony A99II:
In USA at BHphoto, Adorama and Amazon.
In Europe at Calumet Germany and WexUK.