NA-A9 for Sony Alpha 9
Blazing Fast Professional Mirrorless
Aimed squarely at professional image makers, the Sony Alpha 9 provides 20 frame per second continuous shooting with full autofocus and UHD 4K Video. The A9 features a new 24 megapixel full frame Stacked CMOS sensor with excellent image quality, even at high ISO, and ultra-fast readout that enables the blazing speed this camera is capable of. Read More
The Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS is an impressive performer and I can’t wait to see more real world results, but until then we will have to rely on sources like DXO that have scored the lens very high in sharpness, but not overall. The shortcomings DXO list is some vignetting wide-open.
Telephoto zoom lenses like this tend to be quite large and unwieldy, and are inclined to be sharper at the shorter end of the zoom range. They also often have troublesome chromatic aberration that contributes to the decline in image quality, particularly at the longer end (where you need it the most).
While there has been some slightly improved performance in more recent models, such as the Canon EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II, Sony’s new FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS stands out not only for its seismic shift in sharpness, but also for being not much different in size to the FE 70-200mm F2.8. Best of all, perhaps, is that for once there’s a tele-zoom that offers seriously impressive image quality at that prized 400mm focal length.
Highlights
- Compact and relatively light in weight
- High sharpness levels throughout the zoom range, especially at 400mm
- Low lateral color aberration
Potential shortcomings
- Some vignetting wide-open
You can read the full review here
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
The 7Artisans lenses from China that launched recently have been pretty well received for their price and they seem to be an acceptable option for photographers looking to round out their bag. These lenses are far from perfect, but it’s easy to look past their flaws for the price. The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 has a lot of character and I am sure it will make some photographers very happy that are looking for something fast and a little different.
50mm f/1.1: Full Frame M-Mount
7.5mm f/2.8: APS-C fish-eye lens
25mm f/1.8: APS-C wide-angle lens
35 mm f/2: Full Frame
You can download firmware 04 for the Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS here
This utility updates the SELP18105G lens system software to version 04 to provide improvements to the focus tracking accuracy and stability.
Tokyo, Japan – Sony today released a variety of immersive 4K (QFHD 3840×2160) footage from outer space recorded by the acclaimed α7S II full-frame mirrorless camera. This is the world’s first*1 commercial camera to be mounted outside of the International Space Station (ISS) used to capture video in 4K. The videos showcase the Japanese islands from outer space with footage taken during day and night, showing off its majestic snow-covered peaks and metropolitan lights right down to the differences in color tone. These were able to be captured by virtue of the α7S II’s high sensitivity performance as well as high resolution 4K recording capability.
The α7S II has been selected*2 as the camera for the new exterior platform on the ISS’s Japanese Experiment Module known as “KIBO”. As a result of various tests conducted by JAXA, it was confirmed that the α7S II possesses the durability and reliability to withstand the unique and unforgiving environment of outer space, including high vacuum, cosmic radiation, and abrupt temperature fluctuations.
The α7S II was carried to the ISS by the “KOUNOTORI” cargo transporter that launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on December 9, 2016, and was subsequently installed on February 8, 2017*3. From 400 km above the surface of the earth, the α7S II completes an orbit around the planet approximately once every 90 minutes, recording a variety of 4K videos and still images from outer space.
Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D
Laowa 15mm f/2 FE is currently the World’s Fastest 15mm rectilinear lens for Full Frame cameras. It features a close-to-zero optical distortion, allowing photographers to take landscape or architecture shots with straight lines retained.
Dedicated to fulfill the need of photographers, Venus Optics have managed to add a 72mm filter thread onto the 15mm f/2 lens. Photographers can easily install standard screw-in filters without paying for an expensive yet bulky filter holder system.
Designed specially for the Sony Full Frame Mirrorless cameras, Venus Optics has successfully controlled the size and weight of the lens to the minimal. Weighing less than 1.1 pounds (500g) and 82mm in length, the portability and compactness of the Sony E-mount Mirrorless cameras can be maintained when used with the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Lens.
Featuring the fastest f/2 aperture ever built with a 15mm lens, the new Full Frame E-mount lens is engineered for professionals to shoot impressive landscape, architecture and primary astro photos with great details. This is an every-day and must-buy lens that every Sony Full Frame Mirrorless camera user should have one in his bag.
You can already put your order in via Venus Optic or you can wait until B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama have them in stock.
| Name | 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 15mm |
| Max. Aperture | f/2 |
| Angle of View | 110° |
| Format Compatibility | Full Frame |
| Lens Structure | 12 elements in 9 groups |
| Aperture Blades | 9 |
| Min. Focusing Distance | 15cm |
| Max. Magnification | 1:4 |
| Filter Thread | 72mm |
| Dimensions | 66 x 82 mm |
| Weight | 500g |
| Mounts | Sony E |