Sony silently did announce the new Sony HVL-F28RMA External Flash and the new Sony HVL-F46RMA Wireless Radio Flash. Both on preorder at BH now.

Today Sony shares dropped by 10%. Since the start of the “tariff war” Sony shared stropped by over 20%. We now have to see how this will also impact the Alpha camera and lens roadmap…

Songraw is displaying the new 50mm f/1.2 FE lens at the NABshow. This is the first ever lens from this new Chinese company. Here are the specs:

• 13 aperture blades
• 15 elements in 10 groups
• 0,52m close focus
• 72mm filter size
• Click/Declick aperture ring
• AF/MF switch
• E/Z/L mount versions
• Price around $1,000
• Available end of April

Here is an image from 2nd focus:

Here is an interview by CineD:

Sony Alpha Ambassador Albert Dros launched the new “Lightroom for Landscapes” course (Click here). For the first week you save 10% using the coupon code “INTRO”

This course includes:

• 20+ lectures.
• 18 RAW files to work on.
• My most up to date editing techniques with Lightroom: from beginner to very advanced with complicated masking techniques.
• Feedback from myself on your work in our private community.
• High Quality Instructions like you’re used to from me.

Viltrox announced a 200g light Full Frame 50mm f/2.0 lens you can preorder this lens on BHphoto, Amazon, Pergear.

Reviews can be read at SonyAlphaBlog and Dustin Abbott. And here are some youtuber reviews:

In the video above from Fstoppers, you can clearly see the confusion over these tariffs. In fact, prices will go up on every item, including those made in the US, since everyone relies on parts and raw materials made in different countries. And no, the tariffs will not shift any significant amount of production to the US, as in most cases the tariffs would have to be many times higher to make local US production competitive.

And there are also three more problems:

1. In most cases, there is no production network in the USA for goods that are currently manufactured in ASIA. And it would take many years to build such a network.
2. Tariffs run on everything, finished products and also parts. This will make American goods more expensive and exports will go down, which is exactly the opposite of Trump’s goal
3. I doubt that for you USA workers the ‘US dream’ is to get those ‘nice’ factory jobs from Vietnam, Bangladesh and other countries. Particularly when you already have a 4% unemployment rate…will you really go work in a sweater shop?

The Verge writes:

As for whether these tariffs could potentially encourage Big Tech to restart domestic manufacturing, it’s highly unlikely. Even with these tariffs in place, it’s still cheaper for these companies to manufacture devices like smartphones, laptops, and wearables overseas. And even if they did want to move some industry back home, that wouldn’t be possible overnight. The U.S. has lost a lot of its manufacturing capacity, particularly for consumer electronics, in the last few decades.

My MAGA readers pointed out that this is just part of a ‘super-smart’ negotiating tactic by Donald Trump. That may be, but still, a lot of damage has already been done by this super-smart tactic:

• Your 401k is reduced by 20%. If you have to dip into your savings now, you’re going to feel the pain.
• Since people’s savings have lost value, they will spend less to buy things, and that will slow down the economy.
• The economy and businesses hate unpredictability. So product releases will slow down, investment will fall… and the likelihood of a recession will increase.
• The rest of the world is annoyed by the US’s actions. They will try to turn their backs on the US.

Again, I know Trump’s arguments, and there are certainly some arguments in favor of tariffs (e.g. greater independence from China in certain important areas like semiconductors and other reasons). But I think global constructive co-operation is beneficial for everyone in the long run, for the US, for China and for the rest of the world, and yes… it will never be completely fair, that is an impossible task and it doesn’t have to be to grow the economy.

Again I would recommend ordering it today the cameras that will ship out in the next weeks…to avoid paying the tariffs later:

• Sony A1II at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama (shipping in May)
• Sony 16mm at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama (shipping on April 8)
• Sony 400-800mm at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama (shipping any time soon)
• Sigma 300-600mm at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama (shipping on April 22)

IMPORTANT POLITICAL NOTE: Please have a civilized discussion. I myself do not pretend to know what is perfectly right, and I am willing to change my mind if you do so with respect and rational argumentation. We need more love in this world :)