Small good news on the A7II: Gets rid of the “ghosting” issue.

[shoplink 32354 ebay]A7IIgariz[/shoplink]
[shoplink 32354 ebay]A7II with Gariz case[/shoplink]

SAR reader Wojciech pointed out one good news regarding the new A7II:

Fotopolis posted full sony A7 II test. Interestingly with  A7II  sony solved problem of fatal focal strong light sources reflections (ghosting) observed at the peripheries of the A7 frame (sensor) during night shots. And they did it without removing AA filter. It is rarely mentioned by the testers.

Good to hear at last!

More A7II news:
ePhotozine posted a full review and writes: “improved handling as well as built-in image stabilisation make the camera better than ever
Boon:I’ve tested my friend’s Sony A7II and have posted about this from a A7R user’s perspective: http://myphotojourney.co.uk/sony-a7ii-impressions/
Jason: “MetaBones just released a new firmware for their EF-NEX Adapter making it compatible with the A7II  plus a slew of biz fixes mainly (for me at least) resolves issues with the sigma 50 Art lens. Firmware can be found at their website and clicking on the EF-NEX Mark IV adapter, then firmware.
Paul:Amateur hand held video with sony a7ii, zeiss 55mm & zeiss 16-35mm. http://youtu.be/6TGVjLtH6fk

USA/Canada A7II links:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore and Sony Store Canada.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto.
EU A7II links:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for 1.799 Euro at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Jessops UK, Sony France, Sony Italy, Sony Spain, Sony Austria, Sony Switzerland, Sony Netherland, Sony Belgium, Sony Portugal, Sony Sweden, Sony Finland, Sony Norway.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for 2.099 Euro at Amazon Germany, Wex UK, Jessops UK, Verkkokauppa.
Asian/Australia A7II link:
Sony A7II at Sony Store Australia, Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
A7II Gariz case:
You can get in [shoplink 32354 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 32396 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink],  [shoplink 32355 ebay]Orange (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 32356 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink].

The craziest Sony QX+lens review yet: QX1 with Leitz 560mm!

[shoplink 33195 ebay]QX1-leitz[/shoplink]
Image courtesy: Yodobashi.

That is probably the craziest Sony review seen lately. Yodobashi tested the [shoplink 33195 ebay]Sony QX1 with a Leitz telyt 560mm lens[/shoplink] mounted on it!
SAR reader “X” who found the review wrote me:

The lens itself is marvelous, with only cylinder shape of qx1 on the other end, the pair never looks like a camera. it is a bazooka. I think you will need to inform the security officer every time you want to use this setup. otherwise some one will think you are pointing bazooka at your subject.

To see a few image samples click over at Yodobashi and scroll down to find the pics.

The Leitz lens sells for over $1,000 on [shoplink 33195 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

A few great pictures of the new FE lenses (look how big that 24-240mm FE is).

DSC02819

At last we know the new first FE lens will ship on March 12. It’s the 24-240mm FE OSS lens! And the other three lenses are likely to be released in April.

Our reader Cabala shared us those pics of the new Sony FE lenses (Source: caba1a.com/sony-of-cp2015). The picture on top shows the max length of the new 24-240mm FE OSS lens. He writes about that lens:

“The weight is OK, balance was well on the old small grip A7 body. The zoom ring is sooo hard to turn, maybe this was a preproduction lens, but still uncomfortable on my hands. The lens filter size of FE 24-240mm is 72mm, the coating showed a fantastic color.”

DSC02977

This is the Zeiss FE 35mm 1.4:

My impression was: big, heavy, solid, classic. The focus speed was great, bokeh is great. The focus ring was so big, I don’t think people need that size. Accurately the lens felt like an all metal Sigma Art lens, and aperture click switch button was on it which means it was also designed for video work. The reflecting of the front lens could barely been seen, a nano coating?

DSC02980

The FE 28mm f/2.0 lens:

With A7 II’s body, lens without OSS could be smaller lighter bigger aperture. And the bigger grip of A7 II suited the lens well. A nicely builded lens with fast auto focus. Filter size is 49mm.

DSC02982

FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens

Very funny lens, with push and pull focus ring. you can see an element moves inside the lens. My main feeling was the weight of the lens, all at the front end of it. So the balance was strange.The OSS of the 90mm macro lens feels very efficiently, auto focus speed is OK but not decisively. Push the button on the lens body will stop auto focus process, it just worked fine. The lens reflection showed a big difference from the 35mm f1.4 lens.

Thanks Cabala!

All images copyrighted and on courtesy of caba1a.com!

New Loxia 35 and 50mm review.

lox35The 35mm Loxia (Image courtesy: Stockografie).

Stockografie (Click here) tested both Zeiss Loxia lenses:

The Zeiss Loxia 2/35 as well as the Zeiss Loxia 2/50 is a wonderfully crafted lenses. They are built to withstand almost anything a photographer could run into. I would not hesitate to use these lenses under harsh conditions such as rain, dust or any other kind of influences.
If I would have to choose between one of the two I would go for the Zeiss Loxia 2/35 but that is only my personal preference as I like the 35mm field of view better than that of the Zeiss Loxia 2/50. In terms of image quality both lenses are amongst the best you can get for your A7 series camera with a native E-Mount.

The Loxias are in Stock in:
50mm in Europe at [shoplink 33600 ebay]Photo Porst eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 33602 ebay]Photo Petzold eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
35mm in Europe at [shoplink 33599 ebay]Photo Porst eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 33601 ebay]Photo Petzold eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
50mm in USA at [shoplink 33603 ebay]PoppFlash eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
50mm in Asia/Australia at DigitalRev (Click here).

Big savings on Tamron A and E-mount lenses. And new A7II with 150-600mm lens test by LL.

[shoplink 33575 ebay]Bildschirmfoto 2015-02-19 um 12.45.21[/shoplink]

I have found plenty of Tamron lens deals including on the majestic [shoplink 33575 ebay]Tamron 150-600mm lens[/shoplink]. And that lens also  just got “Antarctica” tested on the new A7II 5 axis stabilized camera at Luminous Landscape:

The on-sensor phase detection AF of the A7 MKII and the system’s focus tracking capability allowed for capturing these completely unpredictable penguins as they jumped from the water. Their position can’t really be anticipated and their time above water is faster that ones ability to anticipate.Virtually every frame out of hundreds shot showed excellent lock-on and tracking. I frankly don’t think that I have ever used a long zoom lens / camera combo that could have done better.

That’s really great to hear! So let’s jump now to the Tamron deal offered by Trusted Store Prodigital which ships them all for free in USA/Canada:
[shoplink 33575 ebay]$80 off on the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33561 ebay]$130 off on the SP 70-300mm (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33564 ebay]$100 off on the new SP 70-200mm f/2.8 (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33565 ebay]$95 off on the 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33566 ebay]$180 off on the 18-200mm Di III VC E-mount lens (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33567 ebay]$189 off on the AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33568 ebay]$130 off on the 28-75mm F2.8 XR Di LD (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33569 ebay]$100 off on the 24-70mm f/2.8 Di USD (Click here)[/shoplink].

And these are refurbished and demo Tamron lenses:
[shoplink 33563 ebay]$50 off on the REFURBISHED 18-200mm XR (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33571 ebay]$135 off on the DEMO 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33572 ebay]$210 off on the REFURBISHED 90mm f/2.8 Di SP (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 33574 ebay]115 off on the REFURBISHED 18-270mm PZD Di-II (Click here)[/shoplink].