[shoplink 48054 ebay][/shoplink]

The following review is a guest post from Dean Vuksanovic. To write a guest post follow the instructions on that page. Thanks!

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Hello fellow camera enthusiasts and Sonyalpharumors readers! This guest post is a tribute to my favourite lens which, when combined with the original Sony A7 camera, makes for the world’s smallest and lightest digital full frame system with a 35mm field of view. We are talking about none other than the [shoplink 48054 ebay]almighty Minotar lens[/shoplink] adapted from the Minox 35 film cameras.

Mike Ling posted the 85mm GM video test above and writes:

This is a real life lens comparison of the Sony 85 GM, Zeiss Otus 55, Zeiss 135 APO, Nikon 85 F1.8G. The Sony is very sharp wide open at F1.4, the color seems much warmer compare to the other 3 lenses in the test. All raw and jpeg images can be downloaded to pixel peep in Lightroom, link iis under the video descriptions.
85mm GM store links: [shopcountry 47395].

The 50mm FE lens got reviewed at Dsphotoblog:

This lens has excellent value for money when it comes to image quality and the warm look you get. For 248 $ or 300 euros it even beats Tamron and Sigma lenses. The image quality and the look are that good that I will keep this lens and hope that Sony will release a firmware update for it to improve the autofocus. If i would give it a rating it would be a 8+ out of 10 for image quality and the look. The FE 50 1.8 is small and lightweight and it makes total sense on an A7 series camera especially for street shooting and travelling and of course for portraits.
50mm FE store links: [shopcountry 47526].

And Ricky Ban is testing the new 70-300mm FE lens:

I’ve posted a comparison of the Sony FE 24-70 GM vs Sony FE 70-300 @ 70mm F/4.5. Not sure if your readers are interested. Just did it for some fun. And to compare the sharpness of them both.
70-300 FE store links: [shopcountry 47527].

And Digitalrev compared the Bokeh performance between the Otus 85mm and Sony 85mm GM lens

[shoplink 47935 ebay]

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[shoplink 47935 ebay]Canon FD 500L[/shoplink] + [shoplink 47939 ebay]FD to M adapter[/shoplink] + Techart M to E adapter on the A6300.
Image by Dirk Westermann on Facebook.

The first batch of the new Techart PRO Leica M autofocus adapter is now shipping. SAR reader Dirk Westermann got the adapter and he is the using it to “add autofocus” on [shoplink 47938 ebay]Canon FD lenses[/shoplink]!
Above you can see his picture of his huge [shoplink 47935 ebay]Canon FD 500L (here one Bay)[/shoplink]. He used two adapters to add autofocus on the A6300: The [shoplink 47939 ebay]FD to M adapter[/shoplink] and then the Techart Leica M adapter.  It’s really amazong that your old (and still high quality) Canon FD lens can now autofocus on Sony E-mount cameras!

This is what Dirk writes:

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1. First of all I still find it amazing that I now have auto focus on my manual FD lenses. I have been using FD lenses with manual focus for some years, and the keeper rate for birds with focus peaking was like 20%, because the feather details and the harsh crops that are often necessary are very unforgiving if the focus is not exactly right. Now, with this fantastic new adapter, the keeper rate is about 80%!! as far as I can estimate this after the 5 days that I have had it.
When using my great portrait lens [shoplink 47941 ebay]Canon FD L 85mm f1.2[/shoplink], AF accuracy is crucial due to the little DOF. Also there, the adapter does a great job and even with f1.2 it is easy to get the eye EXACTLY in focus!

Here is a sample image that I took with the Sony A6300, TECHART PRO adapter and my [shoplink 47942 ebay]Canon FD 300F4L lens[/shoplink].
The AF really nails it most of the time, fantastic work, Techart people!
Image by Dirk Westermann on Facebook.

2. I prefer CAF at that time, especially with the longer lenses. This enables me to change the manual focus when I have half pressed the shutter, and the adapter then constantly adapts the AF. With my big lenses (CANON FD 500mm and FD 300mm) the range where the adapter can auto focus is quite small and the accuracy of the manual pre focus is more important, so with this method I can manually narrow the focus to the area where the AF then works.

3. I would prefer an adapter position somewhere in the middle when I turn on the camera. Now the adapter is at the far end and can only adapt to one direction. I prefer to do a quick and rough pre focus, and then half press the shutter and the adapter does the AF fine tuning from that position, into one or the other direction, thus a middle position would be more helpful. But it also works as it is now.

4. It is tricky to find the right [shoplink 47939 ebay]Leica M to FD adapter[/shoplink], because the available models are too large in their diameter. I modified a cheap M to FD adapter DIY and now it fits perfectly.

Hope this helps!

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Thanks Dirk!

Kai reviewed the A63000 and liked the camera a lot!

A63000 at [shopcountry 47396].

The Sony RX10III is in Stock at BHphoto (Click here) and FocusCamera (Click here). And first camera reviews and tests are being posted on various sites:

Ken Rockwell writes:

Get one; I’m astounded at how useful this is. It’s especially for people who need the complete lens range in one zoom; if a 24-70mm is enough, the RX100 MK IV is the same thing in a smaller package.
While I can see slight differences in color rendition between the RX10 III and my DSLRs, few other people will, and the RX10 Mk III’s technical qualities are better than 99% of the people who will use it.
Sony has come a long, long way in recent years, and this RX10 Mk III may now be the only camera you need for just about everything.

Cinema5D tested the video capability fo the camera and was not impressed by it:

The absence of previously available features like ND filter and a constant fast aperture leads me to think that this particular model is aimed more for the photographers among us rather then the videographers.

[EU] Wonder Woman – Shot on a Sony RX10 III from cinema5D on Vimeo.

Sony RX10 Mk III: First Impressions (Bokeh).
Sony RX10 III First Shots (Imaging Resource).
The ultimate hiking partner? Sony’s RX10 III goes the distance (Dpreview).
Sony RX10 III: primeras muestras (Quesabesde).
Sony RX10III 1st Shoot: More Blades, a Toothpick, and a Spoon Added to the Swiss Army Knife of Cameras (Dpatsblog).

Sony RX10M3 Unboxing and First Look

Yep, I am sure you almost forgot about it but there is a new A-mount camera from Sony :) The A68 will ship soon in USA and here is a new review from Photographyblog:

The Sony A68 is an excellent alternative to a mid-range DSLR, offering the same excellent auto-focusing performance as the top-of-the-range A77 II camera. In summary, the Sony A68 proves that there’s still life left in the Sony A-mount camera range. It’s both a worthy alternative to the DSLR competition and Sony’s smaller-bodied E-mount system.

There is also a German Sony a68 handson video by Jens Knotte on Youtube. And a polish review at Fototesty.

A68 at [shopcountry 47723].

The new Sigma 30mm 1.4 DC DN E-mount is now shipping at BHphoto, Adorama, WexUK and Calumet Germany. So let’s check out some new reviews of the lens:

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/lenses/sigma-30mm-f1-4-dc-dn-review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Wh-IcUR9I
http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/reviews/lenses/sigma-30mm-f1-4-dc-dn-review
http://www.alinpopescu.eu/blog/review-sigma-30-f1-4-dc-dn-contemporary/

And here is a hands-on review video from Digital Goja

Thanks Del!