Sony Alpha digital cameras

Full Zeiss 16-35mm FE lens review at Photographyblog (gets Highly Recommended)

November 14, 2014
reviews
22 Comments

Zeiss 16-35mm FE shipping early next week! Yesterday many US SAR reader got notified that their 16-35mm preorder at Amazon US will ship next week November 18!

Photographyblog (Click here) posted the extensive 16-35mm Zeiss FE f/4.0 lens review. The lens gets Highly Recommended for the following reason:

It delivers outstanding sharpness in the centre of the frame almost throughout its aperture and zoom range, and also performs very well at the edges of the frame too. The Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35 mm F4 ZA OSS lens does suffer from both distortion and vignetting at either end of the zoom range, requiring some post-processing to remove it, but chromatic aberrations are well-controlled and it can even create some nice bokeh effects when shooting wide-open at 35mm. The relatively compact Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35 mm F4 ZA OSS offers an effective image stabilisation system, quite fast, quiet and reliable auto-focusing on the A7R that we tested it with, intuitive manual focusing and an excellent level of build quality, plus it’s usefully weather-tight too. All in all, we’d definitely recommend buying this lens if you can stomach the price of admission – it makes an excellent addition to the already released Zeiss FE 24-70mm F4 and FE 70-200mm F4 lenses.

Preorder the 16-35mm Zeiss lens here:
USA/Canada at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony Store US, Sony Canada.
Europe at Sony DE, UK, ES, IT, FR, CH, AT, NL, BE, FI, SE, NO, PT.
Australia and Asia at Sony AUS, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Moving to Sony Mirrorless free(!) book by Brian Matiash!

November 14, 2014
news
7 Comments

Sony Artisan Brian Matiash published a new eBook called ‘Moving to Mirrorless’. It chronicles his transition from using Canon dSLR gear for over 10 years to shooting exclusively with Sony A7-series bodies and Sony glass.
The book is over 90 pages long and is totally free! To download, users just need to sign up for his newsletter over here: http://eepurl.com/ML_sv.

Current Canon/Nikon camera owners that would love to switch to the Sony FE system may find this helpful. You can use all your current lenses and trade in your camera at Adorama (Click here) :)

Thanks Brian!

(SR4) 85mm FE prime coming in Spring 2015. Faster and more expensive than the 55mm FE.

November 14, 2014
rumors
149 Comments

A FAKE rendering of a possible Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE lens (Source: Xitek.).

I keep receiving confirmations from different sources that Sony will launch a new 85mm Zeiss FE prime lens in 2015. It should ship late 2015 at best. I am yet not sure about the aperture but it is defintiley faster than f/1.8 of the Zeiss FE 55m lens!!! Only issues, I have been told it’s also more expensive than the 55mm FE :(
Anyway, if you need a budget 85mm E-mount lens do not forget you have the manual focusing Samyang 85mm f/1.4 E-mount on [shoplink 30515 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] or at Amazon (Click here). Very cheap!

Let’s just speculate with the specs and price yet:

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Reminder: This is the official Sony FE roadmap:

———
Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
For readers: Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!
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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!

Press text: Phottix Introduces Two New Mitros TTL Flash Units for Photographers Using the Sony Multi-Interface Hotshoe

November 14, 2014
news
40 Comments

phottix_sony

Phottix Introduces Two New Mitros TTL Flash Units for Photographers Using the Sony Multi-Interface Hotshoe

Powerful, reliable and affordable Mitros and Mitros+ Electronic Flash units now available for use with newer Sony cameras, which use the Sony multi-interface hotshoe

Hampstead, MD (November 12, 2014) – Phottix announces the worldwide introduction of two new Mitros TTL Flash units for use with the proprietary Sony multi-interface hotshoe. Following more than three years in development, the two new Phottix flash units not only fit the multi-interface hotshoe found on newer Sony cameras but electronics in the flash units readily communicate with the cameras’ own expanded capabilities to operate as one smooth system. The new Phottix Mitros is now available for $299 (USD) and the Mitros+ is also now available for $399 (USD).

Both Mitros models share many significant features including a guide number of 58, full TTL functionality as well as manual and multi modes, Auto/Manual Flash Head Zoom with 180 degree rotation and 97 degree tilt, High Speed Sync and Rear Curtain Sync, Manual and bracketed Flash Exposure Compensation, and a Quick Flash Mode: with 0.1-2.5 second recharge times and much more including a USB port for future firmware upgrades and a 3.5mm sync port.

The Phottix Mitros+ adds significant functionality, allowing photographers to not only use the Mitros on or off camera for lighting, but to also control and trigger remote flash by radio signal. The Mitros+ is an industry landmark and was developed with input from wedding and event photographers.

“The introduction of these new Sony-mount flash units recognizes the popularity enjoyed by Sony with digital cameras, not just in the United States but across the world,” said Phottix CEO Steve Peer. “Sony continues to produce innovative solutions for photographers and with the introduction of these new flashes, Phottix is underscoring its commitment to supporting Sony users as well.”

Photographers can use the versatile Mitros+ on-camera as a key- or fill-light, as well as control and trigger other Mitros+ flashes or compatible flashes using Phottix Odin Receivers. The Mitros+ also offers a built-in Phottix Odin Receiver and Strato II Receiver. Existing Phottix triggers, like the Phottix Odin or Strato II can be used to trigger the Mitros+ without extra receivers.

About Phottix
Launched in 2007, Phottix (http://www.phottix.com/index.php/en/) is a leading international supplier of photo accessories. All Phottix products are created to assist with the daily challenges photographers face. The company has established a high level of brand name recognition with retailers and customers because of the design, quality and pricing of their unique accessories.

About OmegaBrandess
OmegaBrandess has manufactured and distributed photographic and imaging products for over 75 years. A privately held company, OmegaBrandess supplies the photography industry with over ten thousand products from dozens of branded lines. For more information about OmegaBrandess and its represented brands, call 410-374-3250 or visit http://www.omegabrandess.com. Phottix products are marketed exclusively in the U.S.A. by OmegaBrandess.

Sony will launch a “White-Christmas” A6000 edition.

November 13, 2014
news
39 Comments

Sony just announced the Sony A6000 White Christmas edition that will go on sale from Mid December. Pity that it will go on sale with a Silver (and not a better matching white) 16-50mm kit lens. Price of the camera+lens will be $1,099. Don’t know you but I would rather spend $150 less and get the Black A6000 double(!) lens kit for $948 at Amazon US instead.

The new White version is listed at Sony UK and Sony Germany.

Sony A6000 store link list:
Sony A6000 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonyStore. In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, WexUK.
Silver A6000 at Amazon US, BHphoto, WexUK.
Sony A6000 with lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonyStore, Sony Canada, WexUK.
Silver A6000 with lens at Amazon US, BHphoto, WexUK.
Sony 70-200mm FE at Amazon, BHphoto, SonyStore. In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT
A6000 Gariz case on eBay in [shoplink 26006 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26007 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 26008 ebay]Camel (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 26009 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink].

Super great deals: A6000 with lens, case and card for $648!

November 13, 2014
deals
16 Comments

Sony A6000 with kit lens, bag and card for $648 at Groupon (Click here) Use the code “SALE” to get the additional $50 off.
Same coupon code allows you also to get the A5000 with kit lens for $348 again at Groupon (Click here).

More great new Sony US deals:
SEL55210 (factory refurbished), both silver and black versions for $179.00 at Buydig using discount code “2X103RDS” (Click here).
New QX10 for $149 at [shoplink 30510 ebay]Tigerdirect on eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
Refurbished RX100M3 for $669 on [shoplink 30505 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
Refurbished RX100M2 for $399 on [shoplink 30506 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
Refurbished A5000 with kit lens for $339 on [shoplink 30507 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
Refurbished A6000 body for $498 on [shoplink 30508 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].
Refurbished RX10 body for $799 on [shoplink 30509 ebay]eBay US (Click here)[/shoplink].

Reminder: Full Black Friday deals can be seen on at that Amazon US page (Click here to see the long list). Specific photo deals of Sony/Sigma and accessory stuff can be see on that Amazon page (Click here).

New A7s review/videos (with most sexy model yet). A7s is leading the Amazon’s Professional Video Cameras ranking.

November 13, 2014
reviews
48 Comments

SAR reader Isidor Taylor sent me his last A7s video shot with Top model Lise Olsen. Doesn’t tell a lot about the A7s quality but she is a beauty!
And here some more A7s news:
Behind the Scenes with the Sony A7 & A7s (Joshmcleodphotography).
Dirty slow motion video test between a Sony FS700 at 240 frames per second, a7s at 120 and a NEX7 at 60 (Dave Tameling).
Sony A7S Image Quality Analysis (Imaging Resource).
Sony A7s Compared To Sony A7r At High ISO Settings + Full Size Resolution Jpgs (Soundimagesplus).
A7s CINOFLEX (Vimeo).
Stills from 4K: How Many Megapixels Does it Take to Make a Great Wedding Album? (Planet5d).
German High ISO test (Sony Germany Forum).
Drifting From Shore shot on the A7s on Vimeo.

Zach: “Commercial video for TxBands.com shot entirely on the A7s. The camera performed very well in an incredibly fast paced environment. Only had a few hours to shoot the event and publish the video before the event ended. The camera never got in the way and just allowed me to focus on shooting. https://vimeo.com/110933800”

Laszlo: “here two links to clips shot using Sony a7s in one voigtlander 35mm lens and in the other Loxia 35 mm lens. enjoy. https://vimeo.com/106631345 and https://vimeo.com/110671055″

Ashley: “We recently filmed a black friday advertisement for our store using the Sony A7s with only available light. Most of the night shots are at ISO’s of 8000 or more, we would love to hear what you think of the video and if you think it is something the SAR community would like to see. Really shows how the A7s works in such low light conditions and still can deliver an image with great contrast and saturation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULy-dQuhu4I”

What I never noticed before is that the Sony A7s is the leader of the Professiona Grade sales ranking at Amazon (Click here to see the full ranking).

Sony A7s store links:
Sony A7s in USA/CA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony USA, Sony Canada.
Sony A7s in Eu at Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PL. And Wex UK.
A7s Gariz leather case in [shoplink 27569 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 27570 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 27571 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 27572 ebay]Orange (Click here)[/shoplink].