Sony Alpha digital cameras

(SR5) Trusted source: Yes, Sony will launch a 85mm G lens soon.

July 22, 2015
rumors
130 Comments

85mmG

The same trusted source who shared the 100% correct Zeiss Batis lens specs contacted me to confirm that Sony will launch a new “85mm G lens” this year. He didn’t share any more detail but other sources said the lens should have a f/1.4 aperture and very creamy bokeh performance.

I only have one very small doubt: The source didn’t actually tell me if the lens is A or E-mount. I just suppose he meant E-mount based on the roadmap we have from Sony. I hope the source will correct me if I am wrong!

For readers: trusted sources do usually contact me through the anonymous contact form (and they use a nickname so that I can recognize them). There is no way for me to contact them other than posting directly on the SAR front end so that they can read me :)

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If you have some “rumor” to share just send me an anonymous messages here:
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

RX100m4/RX10m2 tests roundup…

July 22, 2015
reviews
55 Comments

A slow motion test to have a laugh :) https://www.facebook.com/danulis/

EosHD published a detailed look at slow motion on the Sony RX100 IV / RX10 II:

My favourite way to capture slow-mo on the Sony RX100 Mk IV and RX10 Mk II is the regular 1080/120fps mode. It is the first recording mode circa-100fps I have used that doesn’t resort to heavy pixel binning on the sensor like with Sony A7S, Samsung NX1 and Panasonic GH4. The image is flawless, detailed and sharp. You can work in stills mode for faster one-shot AF to establish focus on a quickly moving subject for instance.

Henry: “I recently purchases the sony rx100 iv and shot a video of my daughter and I thought you may be interested in posting the content on your blog to show people what the camera is capable of. Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://vimeo.com/134107105”

Kristoffer: “Went to a mini festival this weekend to try out the new Sony RX10 II. https://vimeo.com/133881621”

Ovidiu: “Here is a cool slow motion test with the new RX100 MK IV :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWXJ3otEnQ“

A7rII and RX camera preorder list:
In USA:
A7rII at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore US, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
RX10m2 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
RX100m4 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, FocusCamera, Uniquephoto.
In Europe at:
A7rII at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT. Wex UK.
RX100m4 at DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT. Wex UK.
RX10m2 at DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT. Wex UK.
In Asia at:
A7rII at Digitalrev, CameraPro.
RX10m2 at Digitalrev, CameraPro.
RX100m4 at Digitalrev, CameraPro.

First batch of Batis lenses ships out from BHphoto and in Germany! New Zeiss Batis lens tests.

July 21, 2015
reviews
23 Comments

I just got this from two SAR readers:

Reader_1: Just received notification that the Batis 85mm lens that I ordered from B&H shipped today on UPS. My card was charged. I ordered the lens in the first hour after I read of its preorder status on this sight. Thank you!

Reader_2: Just letting you know the Batis 25mm lens is shipping from B&H – mine shipped yesterday and is arriving on Thursday. It’s seems to be more of a limited supply.

At last! And also first German stores have the [shoplink 38631 ebay]Batis in Stock (on eBay here)[/shoplink]. And if you want the Loxia lenses than know their are in Stock at KenmoreCamera: [shoplink 38621 ebay]35mm Loxia (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 38622 ebay]50mm Loxia (Click here)[/shoplink].

And here are some more Batis lens tests and image samples:

Zeiss Batis 25mm first impressions at ThePhoBlographer:

So far, we’re very impressed with the image quality from the Zeiss Batis 25mm f2 lens. Then again, we didn’t have any doubts. What will be the deciding factor is how it is in manual use and how the display rendering works out in the long run. For news videographers, it may be a nice option, but otherwise it’s a very new concept that is a bit alien to us.

Mirrorlessons tested the 85mm Batis and writes:

The optical quality is what you’d expect: excellent sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and a fast and silent autofocus mechanism.

Eggry:

I’d like to share you some sample and test shot of Batis 85.8 from Korea. In Korea, Zeiss Batis 85.8 is already released, it would be useful information for westerners: http://eggy.egloos.com/4090510. This is my blog posting of Batis 85.8 test against Samyang/Rokinon 85.4. DOF, Close range resolution, near infinity range resolution, Distortion tested.
I think distortion is the most interesting part because it has really huge distortion for 85. Lense profile is not supported in Lightroom yet, so you need to endure it if you shoot RAW.
I took some sample photos too. followings are some samples from others.
http://www.popco.net=31807
http://www.popco.net=31761
http://www.popco.net=31758
http://www.popco.net=31834
http://www.popco.net=31732

Photos taken with the Zeiss Batis 2/25 and the Sony A7R & A7S on Flickr.

Zeiss Batis store links:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.

(SR2) Some A7000 specs from an anonymous source.

July 21, 2015
rumors
238 Comments

[shoplink 38142 ebay] nex-7successor [/shoplink]

This is from an anonymous source. Rarely these kind of rumors turns out to be correct. But I thought the specs look so good you may tell me if you would really buy such a camera! This is what the source said:

Still ironing out the last kinks is needed, but it is likely to be announced soon. A possible date would be aug/sep.
•   The specifications showcase
•   Upgrade of the widely famed APS-C alpha6000
•   Newly developed 24MP sensor featuring backside illumination for increased sensitivity.
•   In sensor HDR function including video for dynamic range up to 15.5EVs
•   196 phase detect auto focus points
•   Blazing 16fps continuous autofocus burst rate
•   Unlimited 4k video recording
•   Refined pop out XGA OLED Tru-Finder
•   180 degree tilting 2.36M Dot LCD monitor
•   Weather-Resistant Magnesium Alloy Body

By default the Camera will come with a new and improved Kit lens featuring 16-50mm F2.4-3.6
The camera set will be targeted to the professional consumer demanding uncompromised image quality in a small body. The target retail price will be set at1499$

Sounds good…if true!

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Stay tuned on SAR and subscribe the newsletter to get info when it matters:

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If you have some “rumor” to share just send me an anonymous messages here:
at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com or use the contact form you see on the right top of this site.

Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

Sony Tidbits…(Marc Galers new Sony site)

July 21, 2015
news
4 Comments

Sony Professional: XAVC – what is it?

Sony Ambassador Marc Galer created a new Sony Alpha resource site at markgaler.com. He writes:

“As a Sony Alpha Ambassador I have decided to transform it into a dedicated Sony Alpha support site. Much of the content is now free for visitors when they subscribe. My aim is to build a strong International Sony Alpha community.
The Capture section features user-friendly eBooks that help A6000 and A7 owners set up the custom settings. In this section members can also download a Free 40-Minute HD movie that teaches users how to create dynamic time-lapse movies.
The Create section provides Alpha owners, who subscribe to the site, with a host of Free image editing projects. These projects give access to the Raw file used in the tutorial. As an Adobe Photoshop Ambassador the tutorials look at using contemporary editing workflows using the popular Lightroom and Photoshop CC software programs.
The Blog will be updated daily with interesting news or reviews of Alpha products or products of interest to Alpha owners.
The Socialise section will provide links for new Alpha owners to help them connect with the growing Alpha community – whether it be Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Flickr, Pinterest or YouTube. There is also access to an Alpha Flipboard magazine!”

A good 200mm lens for the A7 (SonyAlphaForum).
3 videos shot at 1000fps with the RX10 II at Thevideomode.
Canon FD 35mm F/2 Convex (SonyAlphaForum).

Alex Villamira: “Hi here’s my video made with A7s+rx100 https://vimeo.com/123288389“

DxO reviews the new Sony 90mm FE lens and says it has an “Outstanding optical performance”!

July 20, 2015
reviews
124 Comments

UPDATE: For unkowns reasons DxO has removed the 90mm FE lens reviews from their site.

DxOmark (Click here) reviewed the new Sony FE 90mm macro lens. And the conclusion is:

With some innovative cameras in the range, Sony is beginning to fill out the E-mount system with some useful high-quality lenses, and the FE 90mm f2.8 macro is up there with the best in terms of optical quality. The only downside, perhaps, is that the lens is at odds with the perceived benefits for buying into mirrorless systems: sure, the bodies are smaller, but this lens is not significantly smaller nor lighter than rival options. Be that as it may, there’s little wrong with the optical quality of the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS, and if the size or weight isn’t an issue, then it can be easily recommended.

The lens even outperforms by one single point the $400 more expensive Zeiss 10mm macro lens! It will be hard for the new Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens to outperform the 90mm FE lens!

90mm links:
In USA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, [shoplink 37938 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
In Europe at [shoplink 37991 ebay]Fotomundus[/shoplink], Amazon Germany, Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony BE, Sony AT, Sony CH, Sony SE, Sony FI, Sony NO, Sony PT.
In Asia at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.

Batis links:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.

Sony to work with Invisage on new quantum film stacked sensors?

July 20, 2015
news
71 Comments

Invisage CEO Jess Lee stated that Sony is likely to become a Invisage partner to make the first mass production Quantum film stacked sensors in 2016. The sensors will be first used on smartphones because one of the main advantages of the new tech is the much thinner sensor. But the new tech could be used on larger Digital Camera sensors too because of the higher performance. Quantum Film sensor tech explained via Wikipedia:

QuantumFilm Technology involves the creation of a film to coat the image sensors used in a cellphone camera, allowing it to capture more light, improving the quality of the images taken.[9][10] A typical camera phone pixel sensor is made up of several layers, with a layer of colored plastic or glass acting as a color filter sitting on top of several layers of metal connecting silicon electronic transistors together, which is itself on top of a base layer of silicon used by the sensor’s electronic transistors and photodetectors. The light coming to the sensor has to pass through the layers of metal before reaching the silicon, a weak light absorber, so the sensor detects only about 25 percent of the light that makes up the image.[11] QuantumFilm Technology places a layer of semiconducting crystals – called quantum dots – on top of the chip, which allows the chip to absorb more light, place more pixels in a smaller space, and create sharper images.[12]
Using quantum dots is more efficient at capturing light than traditional silicon-based image sensor chips (capturing 90-95% of the light that hits it), giving the sensors higher sensitivity in low light as well as higher resolution.[3][13] And while traditional image sensors read an image from top to bottom (which can create a blurred image when the subject is moving), quantum dots detect the entire image at the same moment, reducing the chance for distortion.[14]
Invisage holds patents related to the development of QuantumFilm technology, as well as its applications toward optoelectronic devices.[15]

found via Image Sensor World.