Sony Xperia 1IV at BHphoto, Adorama.

As you now the Sony Xperia 1IV is the first smartphone with a built-in optical telezoom. Sony is betting high on this kind of devices and a Sony manager just recently said he expects smartphones to exceed the image quality of mirrorless cameras in 2024 (I think this is just marketing BS).

Still, Sony clearly wants to be seen as the maker of the smartphones with the best Photo/Video Image Quality. Here is Marques Brownlee exciting take of the new 1IV:

Tamron 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8 FE lens at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. Fotokoch DE. Foto Erhardt DE. Wex UK. Park UK.

Reza Malayeri posted his full review on 42West and concluded:

The Tamron 35-150 mm lens can replace up to five prime lenses — offering 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 150mm focal lengths. It offers excellent optics, performance, and build quality at less than half of the cost of buying the equivalent five primes.

Over the course of one month, and various shooting assignments, the Tamron 35-150mm lens stayed glued onto the mount of my Sony A1. It was instrumental in allowing me to focus on telling the story, instead of worrying about my gear and being distracted. It’s a unique lens that can do it all, and would be a great lens for professionals and beginners alike.

Preorders:
USA: BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon. FocusCamera. Henrys CA.
EU: Fotokoch DE. Calumet DE. FotoErhardt DE. Wex UK.
Asia: CameraPro AUS.

PcMag tested the new lens and concluded:

You can criticize Sony for replacing a lens it originally billed as future-proof, but the new FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is a worthwhile upgrade. First and foremost, it’s easier to carry—Sony has come a long way with miniaturization since it tipped the GM system. This slim zoom joins svelte lenses like the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS, FE 50mm F1.2 GM, and FE 24mm F1.4 GM, all of which made us rethink how hefty well-corrected, bright aperture lenses should be. The redesign also adds useful on-lens controls for photo and video, something missing from Sony’s first take.

Internally, there’s a fresh optical formula that performs a bit better than the original on Sony’s most demanding camera sensor, the 60MP chip in the a7R IV. Furthermore, dual linear motors make focus performance a bit snappier, and picture quality is a little better than with the older lens. Aside from a bit of focus breathing, we don’t have many criticisms about the optics.

Despite excellent optics, the original FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM didn’t quite earn our Editors’ Choice award when we reviewed it, and it’s now a bit behind the times in terms of controls and design. You can still buy it for around $2,000, but we recommend you spend more to get the GM II—it’s a standout lens, and an Editors’ Choice winner.

Also DigitalCameraWorld published a full review and concluded:

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the original edition of Sony’s G Master trinity standard zoom, but the second incarnation is even better in every way. It packs a host of new features, improved handling characteristics and a completely redesigned optical path into a smaller, more lightweight build. It’s more comprehensively weather-sealed as well. The GM II is undeniably pricey, but you get what you pay for and more besides.

via PetaPixel

Samyang 35mm f/1.4 II lens at BHphoto (Click here).

SonyAlphaBlog tested the new Samyang 35mm II lens and concluded:

The Samyang is priced at 700 euros vs 830 euros for the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN which is much better in term of sharpness , has a real aperture ring and a better AF for subjects in movements. I see therefore no reason to buy the Samyang 35 unless for video thanks to its low focus breathing
If the price goes down to 450-500 then it will be a good price for the performances. Also if you don’t need the f1.4 the Samyang 35mm F1.8 offers better performances (better sharpness) for 400 euros in a more compact and much lighter format
In term of best 35mm The Sigma and Sony are excellent and in 80% of the case you can not distinguish them , they all have excellent sharpness, smooth background blur, excellent bokeh balls, color rendering ….

Christopher Frost:

So you’ve just bought a new Sony camera, with the smaller-sized APS-C sensor. Where do you go from here? All kinds of avenues are open nowadays – so let’s take a look at your options.

The World’s First Modular Magnetic Filter System is now available for preorder on Kickstarter (Click here). Peter Forsgård reviewed it here: