(SR4) Seems Sony is going to announce 400mm f/2.8 pricing and specs within few days?

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Two sources confirmed that they heard about a Sony announcement coming within days. And it probably be related to the 400mm f/2.8 FE.

They didn’t tell me this but there might be something else too???

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(SR2) First unconfirmed rumors about a possible Sony product announcement in early July…

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I got first unconfirmed rumors about a possible Sony announcement in early July. I hope trusted sources reading this can confirm or deny this soon. It would make sense if Sony would announce the full specs and pricing of the 400mm f/2.8 FE lens in July. The lens is expected to be available in September according to BHphoto.

Moreover Sony recently registered a new camera code….for the A6700?

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Sony kicks out influencer Daryl Aiden Yow after discovering he shared modified Stock photos

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A reader sent me this interesting story:

This influencer photographer, @darylaiden
(with over 100K followers) who’s a photography ambassador with Sony here in Singapore was recently exposed on online media for faking many of his Instagram photos with stock photos and Photoshop:
https://mothership.sg/2018/06/daryl-aiden-yow-instagram-photos-singapore/

Sony Singapore has taken down their official page featuring him, but you can still see the shots he claims he shot with Sony gear: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/darylaidenxsony/

Google Cache of the official Sony page that was taken down: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GCHvUohX-SYJ:https://www.sony.com.sg/yourcreativeally+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg

As reported by Dpreview the Instagramer did apologize for this in his latest post.

Interestingly enough, his numbers of followers went UP(!!!) after all that buzz. Bad publicity is still publicity they say…

P.S.: follow me too I am no good photographer but my pics are boringly authentic :)

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New Voigtlander 110mm FE lens on preorder at Adorama for $1,099

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You can preorder the new Voigtlander 110mm FE lens at Adorama. This is potentially an excellent lens and I can’t wait to test it. I like the 40mm f/1.2, love the 65mm macro but the 110mm should beat them all!

This is the official press text:

MACRO APO_LANTHAR 110mm F2.5 full frame Sony E-mount lens
The Voigtlander MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm F2.5, a 1:1 macro lens designed exclusively for full frame Sony E-mount cameras. The APO-LANTHAR designation is given to especially high performance lenses in the Voigtlnder lens lineup, with APO being derived from the apochromatic optical design.

A need for apochromatic optical designs that reduce the longitudinal chromatic aberrations of the three primary colors (RGB) of light to practically zero arose with the increasing popularity of color film. Now, with the current range of high-resolution digitals sensors, this need for extremely high-level control of chromatic aberrations is even more pertinent than when film changed from monochrome to color in the middle of the 20th century. So rather than just being for already solved old technologies, apochromatic optical designs are indeed a subject requiring serious consideration in the digital age.

Voigtlnder MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm F2.5 is a high performance manual focus 1:1 macro lens optimized for the imaging sensors of Sony mirrorless cameras. Inheriting the APO-LANTHAR designation, the lens is highly corrected to eliminate optical aberrations including longitudinal chromatic aberration. Retaining a similar form factor to the highly regarded Voigtlnder MACRO APO-LANTHAR 65mm F2.0 Aspherical we released in August 2017, this lens covers the full frame image area, and achieves a maximum image reproduction of 1:1 life size with no additional attachments.

In order to ensure subjects from minimum focus distance to infinity are captured with extremely high image quality, a 3-group floating mechanism is employed to adjust three optical groups according to focus distance. The 110mm focal length on full frame format ensures not only a good working distance from subjects for macro shooting, but also its angle of view for portraiture does not look too cropped in comparison with 135mm and 200mm lenses.

Another attractive feature is the ability to create images with a strong out-of-focus bokeh’ effect, made possible by the 110mm focal length and F2.5 maximum aperture. This lens is a manual focus and manual aperture design, but also features electrical contacts that enable the lens settings at image capture to be included in the Exif information of the image data. Furthermore, the lens is installed with a distance encoder to enable support for 5-axis image stabilization on bodies with this feature, by providing distance to subject information used to compensate for camera shake. Focus peaking while manual focusing is also supported.

Voigtlander 110mm f/2.5 Features

  • Full frame Sony E-mount with electrical contacts
  • Apochromatic optical design that eliminates chromatic aberrations
  • Optical design optimized for digital imaging sensors
  • Maintains high image quality at all shooting distances with a 3-group floating mechanism
  • Extremely solid and durable all-metal barrel
  • Manual focus for precise focusing
  • Maximum reproduction ratio of 1: 1 at a minimum focus distance of 35 cm
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New Sony patent describes an updated E-mount for improved stability

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Today a brand new Sony patent application has been published. And it shows Sony found a solution to improve the E-mount “usability”. I guess that with “usability” they mean they want to reinforce the E-mount for the use with the upcoming big FE lenses like the 400mm f/2.8 FE and the rumored 500mm and 600mm f/4.0 lenses. I guess the future Sony A9II is a hot candidate to use this “updated” mount system.

It’s clear from the drawings how this works. Sony writes:

The purpose of the present invention is to improve usability. The present invention comprises the following: a ring-shaped mounting unit to which accessories can be attached; an imaging element that receives light from an object being imaged, the light entering through an aperture; a barrier that moves between a shut position at which the aperture is shut and an open position at which the aperture is open; an operated unit for causing the barrier to move according to an accessory-attachment operation performed on the mounting unit; and an operation unit that moves the barrier regardless of the accessory-attachment operation performed on the mounting unit. The operation unit is positioned on the inner side or the front surface side of the mounting unit.

 

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Aurora HDR 2018 Update 1.2.0 released with support for the new Loupedeck+

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The Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 is a free update to all current users of Aurora HDR 2018. This update focuses on making the workflow faster and more efficient from beginning to end. Get it here: Macphun.com. Use our coupon code “SAR” to get a $10 discount!

Aurora also supports the new Loupedeck+ editing console:

WHAT’S NEW AND IMPROVED in Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0:

Here are the most essential changes:

  1. Speed boost for editing and adjusting. We’ve dramatically increased performance across all areas of Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 on Windows and Mac.

  2. Fast single-file opening. With an improved image processing engine, Aurora HDR is now much faster when opening single files.

  3. Loupedeck integration (for Mac&Windows). Now, users can quickly process photos in Aurora HDR using physical dials, knobs, and keys.

  4. Batch processing (for Windows). Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 will allow Windows users to edit a large number of photos simultaneously.

  5. Better memory management. Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 is also optimized to make better use of memory, with more intelligent memory management and improved stability.

  6. Windows version catches up to Mac version. Windows users will receive a flip/rotate tool, bringing Aurora HDR for Windows more in line with its macOS counterpart.

  7. Aurora HDR now supports more cameras than before. The full list across both Windows and MacOS includes: Canon EOS 3000D / Rebel T100 / 4000D, FujiFilm X-H1, FujiFilm X-A20, FujiFilm X-A5, FujiFilm X-E3, Olympus E-PL9, Panasonic DC-GF10 / Panasonic DC-GF90, Panasonic DC-GX9 / DC-GX7MK3, Panasonic DC-TZ200 / DC-ZS200 / DC-TZ202 / DC-TZ220 / DC-ZS220 / DC-TX2, PhaseOne IQ3 100MP Trichromatic, Sony A7 III.

Here’s a full list of the new features and improvements:

MAC:

  • Performance boost when editing and opening single files

  • Faster export

  • Loupedeck integration

  • Better brackets sorting during Batch processing

  • Better memory management

  • Plugin stability improved

  • New camera support

  • Better export performance

  • Fixed brush drawing

  • Improved opening of .DNG image

WINDOWS:

  • Performance boost when editing and adjusting

  • Faster export

  • Better stability and memory management

  • Batch processing added

  • Added layers menu and layer options menu

  • Ability to rename layers

  • UX improvements

  • Quick loading of single RAW files

  • Hover on blends

  • Added white balance color picker

  • Localisation fixes

  • Changed order of preset categories

  • UI fixes and improvements

  • Added histogram to tone curve filter

  • Improved stability of Dodge & Burn filter

  • Added context menu in the filters menu

  • New camera support

  • Better Windows document support

  • Added flip/rotate

  • Exif saving to document fixed

  • Loupedeck integration

  • Improved opening of .DNG image


AURORA HDR 2018 1.2.0 OFFER INFORMATION:  

Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade for $59 ($49 with your coupon code).

New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 for $99 ($89 with your coupon code).

A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.


OFFER AVAILABILITY: June 20–July 4

Bonuses included in the offer ($148 value):

  • 119 Dramatic & Romantic Sky overlays ($29 value) – The ultimate collection of 119 dramatic high-res sky overlays to turn photos with boring skies into eye-catching works of art.

  • Complete HDR Tutorial by Trey Ratcliff ($99 value) – This entirely new HDR tutorial is perfect for beginners to mega-advanced professionals who want to see all of the latest post-processing techniques. Lisa and Trey discuss their artistic inspirations and challenges, how they compose a shot, their camera settings, and much more. You’re then transported back to Trey’s studio where he slowly takes you step-by-step through his latest techniques.

  • Deep Dive into Aurora HDR 2018 video by Trey Ratcliff ($20 value) – Trey Ratcliff, the most famous HDR photographer, shares his editing process in the new Aurora HDR 2018.

Get it here: Macphun.com. Use our coupon code “SAR” to get a $10 discount!

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Sony Tidbits…

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How to CLEAN your Camera Sensor like a Boss (gel stick)

Sony Cameras FREEZING with Metabones & Tamron G2 Lens SOLVED (TheBrotographer).
Sony| FS5 II | Look comparison between FS5 II and FS5 (Sony Channel).
Our E-mount Wishlist: Slower or Less Perfect Lenses (Phillipreeve).
Venus Optics LAOWA 9 mm f/2.8 ZERO-D (Lenstip).
Nikon D850 vs Sony a7R III Underwater Camera Comparison – Full Frame Showdown (Backscatter).

Mathieu Stern:In my last video i show how imounted an old Projector lens for some insane swirly bokeh on a Sony A7II
In fact this 70$ lens is better than it’s 6000$ Leica equivalent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTiKPkDQKw8

Share your best pictures on our new Instagram SonyAlphaGallery.

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

We have our own Facebook camera groups and pages you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony A9 group and Sony A9 page.
Sony A7rIII group and Sony A7rIII page
Sony A7sIII group and Sony A7sIII page
Sony A7III group and Sony A7III page
Note: In groups you can post your own stuff like images, news and questions. While on pages you will read the specific camera news from SAR.

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