Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Sony FS100 Firmware Version 2 Upgrade Now Available

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Sony FS100 Firmware Upgrade

The Sony FS100 firmware version 2 upgrade is now available on Sony’s website.  The new firmware adds the following features to the FS100:

  1. Added 50Hz recording system (PAL): 1920×1080 50p, 50i, 25p and 1280×720 50p.
  2. Camera Profile (camera settings can be saved to and loaded from a memory card).
  3. Additional 4x and 8x Expanded Focus magnification: (with user selectable focus area).
  4. Selectable ISO or GAIN sensitivity display.
  5. Selectable Focus indication in FEET or METERS (E-mount lens only).
  6. Selectable Shutter indication as EXPOSURE TIME or SHUTTER ANGLE.
  7. Added the following Aspect-Ratio markers: 2.35:1, 1.85:1 and 1.66:1.
  8. Display ON/OFF button enables Zebra and/or Histogram overlay onto video output.
  9. Compatible with the new A-Mount to E-Mount adaptor, model LA-EA2. One push Auto-IRIS and continuous 15-point, Phase-Detection Auto-Focus operation with most Alpha A-Mount lenses is available. Lens metadata is displayed onscreen and stored real-time to image file.
 

Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN First Look Review

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Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN for Sony NEX

The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN is the closest thing to a “fast 50” that we can get right now for Sony’s NEX models in the native E-mount.  I’ve been playing with it for a couple of days and, in short, I think it’s a nice complement to the 18-55mm kit lens.  At $199, it’s certainly a lens that NEX owners should consider adding to their kit. [Read more…]

Lensbaby Composer Pro for Mirrorless Cameras

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Lensbaby Composer Pro

Lensbaby has announced the Composer Pro for mirrorless cameras, including Micro Four Thirds, Sony NEX and Samsung NX models.  The Composer Pro works with the existing Optic Swap system and comes with the Double Glass Optic.  The new Composer Pro for mirrorless cameras retails for $300 and is available from lensbaby.com and B&H Photo.

More info in the press release below. [Read more…]

Sony NEX-FS700: 4K APS-C Camcorder & 240fps at 1080p

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Sony NEX-FS700

Sony has released preliminary information on the upcoming NEX-FS700, and it looks like a killer camera out of the box if the price comes in around the expected $8k mark, available in June.

The FS700 will ship as a 1080p camera that utilizes an 11.1MP EXMOR CMOS sensor, which will later receive a firmware upgrade to enable the 4K functionality.  It’s not clear whether or not this upgrade will come at an additional expense like the initial S-LOG upgrade for the Sony F3.

More so than the 4K, the feature that really excites me is the ability to capture 10x slow motion in full 1080p.  The record times are limited to 8 seconds for 240fps and 16 seconds for 120fps.

Sony FS700

Another big boon is the built-in ND filters (up to 6 stops) that we all missed on the FS100, along with 3G-SDI and HDMI outputs for external capture devices.  It will also come with expanded focus magnification up to 8x out of the box – something the FS100 will get via a firmware update later this month.  Another expected update for the FS100 is the ability to store camera profile settings on memory cards – and, thankfully, Sony will put this on the FS700 from day one.

Sony FS700

I’ll have more coverage on this new camera as additional details emerge. For now, check out the rest of the new features below. [Read more…]

Boris Continuum Complete 8 for Sony Vegas Pro Now Available

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Boris Continuum Complete 8

Sony Vegas Pro editors can now get Boris Continuum Complete 8 to add onto Vegas Pro versions 10 and 11.  All BCC filters take advantage of either multi-processing or OpenGL acceleration.  The BCC 8 package retails for $995, but is now available at an introductory price $595.  Upgrades from prior BCC software is $295. [Read more…]