You can win an RX100V by sharing your story at Sony.com

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Sony launched a new site named sony.com/stories where you can share your stories. And one of you will win a RX100V camera

This is Sony’s press text:

Have a Sony camera that you love? Maker is offering Sony users a chance to tell their story. Share your photos or videos and you could be featured on Sony.com and/or win a brand new RX100v camera. Showcase your work with this unique opportunity to be a part of Sony’s global online community.

Find inspiring stories and share your own at www.sony.com/stories.

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Sony Tidbits…

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Aputure DEC Vari-ND Lens Adapter Product Overview Guide

Sony A99 II autofocus testing at Camerajabber.
Sony FE 1.8/85 Rolling Review (Phillip Reeve).
New Fantasea Housing for the the Sony A6500 & A6300 (SonyDive).
Tips for HDR Video-Editing Workflow (Explora).
Sony 100mm STF lens test at Mapcamera.
 Sony | PlayMemories Camera Apps | Stop Motion+ | “Movement” (Sony Channel)
How to Backup Photos While Traveling with an iPad and Raspberry Pi (Movingelectrons).

Join the new Sony Alpha Camera Facebook group.
To get news from our Forum subscribe that RSS feed.
To write a guest post on SAR follow the instruction on that page

Craig: “a documentary film was aired today that I shot all of the stills for with the Sony a7s, a7rII and a6000, including the movie poster. The filmmakers (who are separate from me—I just did the stills) also used Sony cameras and lenses, they used the FS7. The a7rII I used was rented because it wasn’t even available yet for purchase, so I literally used it on a job and without testing it first, and it performed nearly flawlessly. Now it’s a totally proven camera.
Here’s a link to the trailer: https://medium.com/hbo-cinemax-pr/rock-and-a-hard-place-debuts-march-27-on-hbo-456d91549694”

Roland: “I was with a RX100V & A7RII (and DJI Mavic) in Patagonia. Most of time I used the RX100V, a perfect travel camera! i love the quality and the dynamic range of this small sensor. I wrote a small review (german): http://www.rolandmichels.com/patagonien-roadmovie/“

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Few hours left on the Big Rokinon E-mount lens deal

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The savings on those three E-mount lenses will end tomorrow:
50mm f/1.4 Autofocus FE lens for $499 ($200 off) at Adorama.
50mm f/1.2 for $399 ($100 off) in Sony E-Mount – Black or Sony E-Mount – Silver.
20mm f/1.8 for $429 ($170 off) at Adorama.

You save $100 on the Sigma MC-11 Canon EF to Sony E-mount adapter sold by Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
You can find a long list of A7 cameras and E-mount lenses on Open Box offer on that BestBuy page.

New Sony Full Frame USA deals:

Sony A7 cameras:
$200 off and free extras on the A7rII at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$100 off on the A7sII at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$50 off on the A7II at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$50 off on the A7 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.

Full Frame E-mount lenses:
$100 off on the Zeiss 5omm f/1.4 lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-200mm G lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 16-35mm f/4.0 Zeiss lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24-70mm f/4.0 Zeiss lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-300mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24-240mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.

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Zeiss Batis 135/2.8 OSS – initial impressions by Per Kylberg

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This is a Guest Post from Per Kylberg. He tested the new Zeiss Batis 135mm FE which just started to ship at Amazon, BHphoto, Amazon.de and Photo-Porst-Neuwied.

Zeiss Batis 135/2.8 OSS – initial impressions

Freshesest possible leaves @2.8 about 90cm – shallow DOF and beautiful  bokeh. Yes, not perfect sharpness slight movement but image shows close up  capabilities and bokeh.

To me the specifications of this lens was exactly what I hoped for: Light, OSS, excellent IQ. It was confirmed via an, unusually early, unusually trustworhty  review (http://www.verybiglobo.com/zeiss-batis-apo-sonnar-135mm-f2-8-lens-review/#). To finance this very expensive lens I sold off three seldom used lenses moving my total camera system investment up by “just” 950€.

A7R2
Images imported to Lightroom using my own default settings:
Detail 51-0.5-36-0
Clarity +9
Profile: Camera Light
(Adobe default settings are so dull and boring!)
Images has no further post processing – except for the three images comparing 135 to 85.

More and larger images can be found here:     https://www.flickr.com/photos/perkylberg/albums/72157680507030814

Conclusion: A superb lens that draws absolutely beautiful images. Will work excellently for portraits. @1.3m the LED says DOF 0.00 to 0.00, means DOF is less than 8mm. (Now some of you start whining, but making portraits is NOT about “sharp iris and unsharp eye lashes”. It is about creating contact and trust with the person, create lighting and environment that shows persons character and emotions. Too short DOF may be a “beautifier” but also acts as a “make up” that hides the person/personality.)

The Batis 135/2 out-resolves the Batis 85/1.8.

Color and contrast is superb

  • OSS is effective, 1/20 being my limit – same as for the 85mm. Note: Yes,  lens OSS is more effective than in-body IS. Olympus, market leader in IBIS. Still their new HQ zoom also have lens OSS.
  • AF about the same, maybe a tad faster, as the 85mm
  • “Infinity” is about 250m away. LED says @5,6 from 109m to infinity DOF, @2.8 from 148m to infinity – something to keep in mind.
  • LED is very useful, especially with longer lenses as you can see the DOF  and adjust aperture to get the DOF you want.

135 vs 85

Many are interested to see how a 135 draws the image compared to 85 mm and the following three images illustrates just that. The 135 has a more compressed perspective as shows a) Larger seeming distant objects, b) Fewer objects visible in the background, c) background seems more flat, less detail. To me this  makes the 135 a more creative tool.

People with long nose would be preferred be photographed with the 135. Flat  nosed people would though prefer the 85 perspective….

To me the 85 is the best general portrait alternative. The 135 takes it a little  more to the wild side which of course can be an advantage.

ver 1: 135 @6.3. Note the background and its bokeh

Version 2: Same position  and aperture but with Batis 85. Note different  background perspective and bokeh

Version 3: 85mm but moved closer to mimic the version 1 135mm FOV. Note 
very background very different perspective as well as slightly different bokeh

Excellent detail and rendering @5.6

@2.8 and LED reading: 28m, DOF from 28m to 31m.Wanted the naked tree in background to be out of  focus but all birch leaves in focus. In PP I will  enhance just the birch tree.

Intention was to do an infinity test, but how far is infinity really? With the Batis 135, about 150m is NOT infinity, much to my surprise. @2.8 and focus nearest corner of the white building the 400m away “Crown tower” is out of   focus!

5.6 (on a rainy day) focus on more distant brown building. LED says DOF from  109m and onwards.
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This week SAR readers photos selection

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José Ramos Photography‎
“Pareidolia”
Sony a7R + Venus Laowa 12mm f2.8
Standing silent in the dark landscapes of Alentejo, right by the border with Spain, surrounded by all kinds of unidentifiable and ever growing
animal sounds, where everything becomes so much larger than us. As soon as the eyes adapt to such intense darkness, a surreal dome of stars fills the
sky, and the elusive Milky Way progressively appears near the horizon, slowly rotating as the night advances.
Even though the cold is slowly becoming too intense, winning the battle against the mupltiple layers of clothing, there’s a purpose in the
persistence of the visit: to unveil what lies beneath the dark, and enter a world where elephants drink on top of bridges, stars become near
confident neighboors, and light expands through every corner of our Universe.
Location: Elvas – Ajuda Bridge
José Ramos © http://www.facebook.com/joseramosphotography

1) Submit your picture with a message and picture here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors or on the SonyAlphaForum image section.
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers here: facebook.com/sonyalpharumors/photos_stream?tab=photos and on SonyAlphaForum.
3) A selection of most liked pictures by the community and by me SAR admin will be posted weekly on SAR.

Note: When sending a pic feel free to also add a link to your site to promote yourself!

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Open Box Sony A7 with kit lens for $934 at BestBuy

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Open Box Sony A7 with kit lens for $934 at BestBuy on eBay (Click here). The item is in perfect new condition and covered by the regular 1 years Sony US warranty. BestBuy only did Open the Box to sell it to you as “Open Box” item :)
You can find a long list of A7 cameras and E-mount lenses on Open Box offer on that BestBuy page.

50mm f/1.4 Autofocus FE lens for $499 ($200 off) at Adorama.
50mm f/1.2 for $399 ($100 off) in Sony E-Mount – Black or Sony E-Mount – Silver.
20mm f/1.8 for $429 ($170 off) at Adorama.

You save $100 on the Sigma MC-11 Canon EF to Sony E-mount adapter sold by Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.

New Sony Full Frame USA deals:

Sony A7 cameras:
$200 off and free extras on the A7rII at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$100 off on the A7sII at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$50 off on the A7II at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.
$50 off on the A7 at Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon.

Full Frame E-mount lenses:
$100 off on the Zeiss 5omm f/1.4 lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-200mm G lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 16-35mm f/4.0 Zeiss lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24-70mm f/4.0 Zeiss lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
$100 off on the 70-300mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the 24-240mm lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
$100 off on the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 lens at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.

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