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Why the speed of Stacked CMOS is key to Nikon’s pro mirrorless camera

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Why the speed of Stacked CMOS is key to Nikon’s pro mirrorless camera

In an interview with DPReview, Nikon announced its next pro sports camera will be mirrorless. That in itself isn’t much of a surprise, perhaps, given how much investment has clearly been made in the Z-mount system. But the detail we didn’t expect to be revealed was that the camera will be based around a Stacked CMOS sensor.

What is Stacked CMOS?

Stacked CMOS chips are the next generation of chip designs after BSI (backside-illuminated) and provide the designers with greater flexibility, which in turn allows greater capability. BSI sensors are made by fabricating the sensor, then shaving off the silicon substrate upon which it was built. In effect, this allows the sensor to be turned round, and the ‘back side’ to be used for light collection. This means all the connection wiring ends up behind the light-sensitive part of the pixel, rather than getting in the way.

Stacked CMOS takes this process a step further: layers of sensor are fabricated, shaved off the substrate and then carefully aligned and joined together. This means the chip designers can build even more complex structures behind the pixels. In the case of the stacked CMOS chips we’ve seen so far, this includes building RAM directly into the sensor: supporting super-fast readout by providing nearby storage for large amounts of data.

It is this fast data readout and handling that we believe makes Stacked CMOS the enabling technology for post-DSLR sports cameras. The news that Sony’s camera division won’t be the only one with access to this technology in future is excellent news for competition within the industry.

What does Stacked CMOS offer?

The only large Stacked CMOS sensors we’ve seen so far come from Sony Semiconductor. So the question is, how similar will the chip in Nikon’s camera be to the one used in the Sony a1?

In the examples we’ve seen so far, the benefits of stacked sensors haven’t come in the terms of image quality (where, at best, they match the already very high standard of existing BSI chips), but in terms of speed.

Sensor readout speed helps define mirrorless camera performance more than it did in DSLRs. Because the imaging sensor is totally central to the operation of mirrorless cameras (acting as both autofocus sensor and also the means of live view image composition), fast readout boosts every aspect of camera performance, and particularly those areas in which sports cameras need to excel.

There are various tricks for squeezing the most performance out of existing sensors: using a lower resolution feed to provide faster AF updates or taking a dynamic range hit by dropping to lower bit-depth readout. But ultimately, the faster your sensor’s full-resolution, full-precision readout, the faster all these other modes become, too.

How readout speed underpins every aspect of performance

At its most basic, faster sensor readout boosts the camera’s maximum shooting rate. With no mirror to constantly move in and out of the way between exposures, mirrorless cameras have been pushing burst shooting rates upward for years.

Fast readout also means the camera’s autofocus system can be run faster. The more often the camera can take measurements from the scene, the more effectively it can react to changes in the subject it’s trying to focus on. This is a fundamental capability of a pro sports camera.

Interestingly, while the Stacked CMOS sensors from Sony Semiconductor are the ones setting the pace for readout speed, it’s worth noting how much Canon has managed to achieve without adopting such advanced (and expensive) techniques. The EOS R5 manages 20 fps shooting and 8K capture at up to 30p, which is pretty impressive. However, measuring the output of these modes suggests although it can deliver a very respectable readout time of ~16ms, it’s having to drop to 12-bit readout to do so. In other words, it’s enough to deliver a camera with strong specifications, but doesn’t provide as much of a boost to the camera’s capabilities as we’ve seen from the latest stacked sensors.

It also means the viewfinder can be refreshed more often and with less lag between something in the scene moving and that movement being detectable to the photographer with their eye to the finder. For professional photographers who need to anticipate how the action is going to unfold, this is an essential requirement if they’re going to move away from optical viewfinders.

As Sony’s Alpha 1 showed us, fast readout also improves rolling shutter performance, meaning that fully electronic shutters can be used with flash and can be used under a wider range of artificial lighting without having to worry about clashes between the flicker rate of the lights and the speed at which an exposure can be ended.

And, of course, Nikon also said its upcoming professional camera would offer a ‘high resolution’ sensor. Given Nikon’s history of using sensors from Sony Semiconductor Solutions, this raises the possibility that it will use a similar sensor to the a1 and that on top of all these performance improvements, it may be able to match that camera’s trick of providing sports camera speed, and landscape camera detail and image quality.

How fast will the Nikon camera be?

Beyond conventional stills photography, fast readout also underpins the ability to shoot high resolution video. Nikon mentioned 8K during our interview, which would immediately put the upcoming camera in a very select group. We’ll be even more excited if it’s got the processing power to downscale this 8K into super-detailed 4K (just because it keeps file sizes down and is arguably more useful) but for now we’re going to focus on what 8K means for the camera’s sports-shooting capabilities.

We’re going to resist the temptation to start thinking in terms of sideline shooters grabbing their best shots from video clips and argue that delivering 8K doesn’t tell us much about the camera’s prowess as a sports camera.

Canon achieved 8K video capture from the frontside-illuminated sensor in its EOS R5, but it had to drop to 12-bit readout to do so and it can’t match the readout speeds of the latest Stacked CMOS sensors.

The most basic 8K capture demands a sensor that can read-out at least 33 million pixels in 41ms or less and under 33ms to deliver 30p footage. But those numbers only equate to readout rates of 1/24 and 1/30 sec, which is a long time in which a lot can change, if you’re shooting sports. The distortion created by rolling shutter could still be quite significant at those speeds

What Nikon’s camera is capable of will depend on how much quicker than this its sensor can go. Sony’s a1 uses groups of readout channels to read out its whole sensor in under 5ms (proven by its ability to sync with flashes at up to 1/200 sec). This sets the benchmark for what’s currently possible in terms of readout and all the performance benefits that come from it.

Consequently the key specification we’ll be looking for, once Nikon reveals more information, will be the flash sync speed in e-shutter mode, because that’s primarily limited by how quickly the sensor can be read. This single line in the spec sheet will give the clearest insight into whether the sensor is able to read out fast enough to provide the performance boosts we hope to see across the whole shooting experience.

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Landscape Photographer of the Year winners reveal a beautiful Earth

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Landscape Photographer of the Year winners reveal a beautiful Earth


Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners

The 11th annual International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition has announced the winners of its 2024 awards, showcasing stunning imagery from around the world. Photographers competed in various categories, including the coveted Landscape Photographer of the Year, requiring a portfolio of at least four images, and Landscape Photograph of the Year, recognizing the power of a single captivating shot.

This year’s competition saw Canadian photographer Andrew Mielzynski, an amateur with a deep connection to the natural environment, claim the top prize for his portfolio of stark images with simple color palettes. Ryohei Irie from Japan captured the Landscape Photograph of the Year award with a mesmerizing image of fireflies illuminating a forest.

Beyond the overall winners, the competition presented awards in specific categories, including Black and White, Aerial, Snow and Ice, and Forest, along with at-large winners. In addition to the overall and category winners, we’ve included several of our favorite photos from the 202 photographs recognized this year. You can visit the competition’s website to see all the winning images or to download its 2024 eBook.

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st place

POY 1ST B ANDREW MIELZYNSKI SunriseAtacamaDesert

Photographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada

Subject and location: Cono de Arita in the Salar de Arizaro, Atacama Desert in Argentina

Description: The Cono is a perfectly cone-shaped volcano at 3,690 meters above sea level. It’s very graphic due to the contrast between the dark, perfectly formed cone and the bed of white salt that is found at its base.

Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st place

POY 1ST A ANDREW MIELZYNSKI WinterCottonwoods

Photographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada

Subject and location: Winter Cottonwoods, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Description: During the pandemic, I went out for a walk at a local park during a fierce winter storm. I ran across this scene. It seemed very chaotic, with many layers of trees. I loved how the snow, driven by high winds, was embedded into the bark of the trunks. The snow on the bark created a textural contrast that adds detail and interest to the trees. I took a few frames, trying to simplify the scene in front of me and settled on this one, loving the tones, the depth, the order and the minimalism. Even in a chaotic scene, there seems to be a sense of balance that feels orderly and pleasing.

Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st place

POY 1ST D ANDREW MIELZYNSKI ThinDitchIceAlongCountryRoad

Photographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada

Subject and location: Found in a roadside ditch near Heathcote, Ontario, Canada

Description: After a melt, we had a flash freeze with extremely cold temperatures and a clear blue sky. I was driving by a ditch on the side of a road that had been filled with water and had to stop and look (as we photographers do, can’t pass a ditch without investigating). This is what I found. Great textures and patterns, tones and flow, with lovely graphic lines creating a dynamic, abstract designs. I love this type of work – it’s so much fun, yet challenging to find just the right composition.

Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd place

POY 2ND C IGNACIO PALACIOS PumiceField

Photographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia

Subject and location: Pumice Field, La Puna, Argentina

Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd place

POY 2ND B IGNACIO PALACIOS 7ColorMountain

Photographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia

Subject and location: Seven Colors Mountain, Siloli Desert, Bolivian Altiplano

Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd place

POY 2ND A IGNACIO PALACIOS AritaCone

Photographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia

Subject and location: Arita Cone, La Puna, Argentina

Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd place

POY 3RD B GHEORGHE POPA EarlyAutumn

Photographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania

Subject and location: Early Autumn, Vânători Neamț Natural Park, Romania

Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd place

POY 3RD C GHEORGHE POPA PoisonedBeauty

Photographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania

Subject and location: Poisoned Beauty, Geamăna, Apuseni Mountains, Romania

Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd place

POY 3RD D GHEORGHE POPA WhisperOfTheSunkenTrees

Photographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania

Subject and location: Whispers of the Sunken Trees Cuejdel Lake, Romania

Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photograph of the Year: 1st place

PHOTO 1ST Ryohei Irie Traces Of Light

Photographer: Ryohei Irie, Japan

Subject and location: Traces of Light, Ichinomata, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

Description: The Landscape Photograph of the Year Award went to Ryohei Irie of Japan. He likes the mysterious atmosphere created by the standing dead trees and firefly light. “I have been visiting this Subject and location for several years during the firefly season, and it is an interesting place because the intensity and length of the firefly light and the Subject and location where the fireflies fly vary greatly, depending on the year and time of day, resulting in completely different works, even when photographed in the same way.”

Copyright Ryohei Irie / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photograph of the Year: 2nd place

PHOTO 2ND JUSTINUS SUKOTJO MotherCareFraming

Photographer: Justinus Sukotjo, Indonesia

Subject and location: Mother Care Framing, Walakiri Beach, Sumba Island, Indonesia

Copyright Justinus Sukotjo / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Landscape Photograph of the Year: 3rd place

PHOTO 3RD Himadri Bhuyan The Flow

Photographer: Himadri Bhuyan, India

Subject and location: The Flow, Sohra, Meghalaya, India

Copyright Himadri Bhuyan / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

The Black and White Award

B W J. Fritz Rumpf White Tie Affair

Photographer: J. Fritz Rumpf, United States

Award: The Black and White Award 2024

Subject and location: White Tie Affair. Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Copyright J. Fritz Rumpf / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

The Aerial Award

AERIAL Benjamin Barakat The Final Dune

Photographer: Benjamin Barakat, Switzerland

Award: The Aerial Award 2024

Subject and location: The Final Dune, Namibia

Copyright Benjamin Barakat / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

The Snow and Ice Award

SNOW Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove IsþyrluIceSwirl

Photographer: Jeroen van Nieuwenhove, Iceland

Award: The Snow and Ice Award 2024

Subject and location: Isþyrlu – Ice Swirl, Scoresbysund, Greenland

Copyright Jeroen van Nieuwenhove / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

The Forest Award

FOREST Shirley Wung Fireflies Flying In

Photographer: Shirley Wung, Taiwan

Award: The Forest Award 2024

Subject and location: Fireflies flying in the Misty Mountains, Wufeng Township, Hsinchu, Taiwan

Copyright Shirley Wung / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

The Exciting Sky Award

SKY Federico Delucchi Aurora  Meteor Showe

Photographer: Federico Delucchi, Italy

Award: The Exciting Sky Award 2024

Subject and location: Aurora, meteor shower and other cool stuff, Rocca la Meja, Italy

Copyright Federico Delucchi / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

53317 Laura Bennett Dancing Trees

Photographer: Laura Bennet, United States

Subject and location: Sumba Island, Indonesia

Copyright Laura Bennet / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

56536 William Preite Chasing Fall

Photographer: William Preite, Italy

Subject and location: Pale di San Martino, Falcade, Dolomites, Italy

Copyright William Preite / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

53414 Siegfried Makedanz Glacier Lagoon Islan

Photographer: Siegfried Makedanz, Germany

Subject and location: Sandfellsjökull Glacier Lagoon, Southern Iceland

Copyright Siegfried Makedanz / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

56123 Sabine Weise Desert´S Crevasse

Photographer: Sabine Weise, Germany

Subject and location: Moonscape Overlook, Utah Badlands, USA

Copyright Sabine Weise / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

53909 Yuri Vantowski Sunrise Over Mount B

Photographer: Yuriy Vantowski, United States

Subject and location: Mount Bromo, East Java, Indonesia

Copyright Yuriy Vantowski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

53307 Tanay Das Into The Night Sky

Photographer: Tanay Das, India

Subject and location: Kistwa, Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Copyright Tanay Das / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Other top entries

53759 Rajesh Jyothiswaran Pandora S Box

Photographer: Rajesh Jyothiswaran, United States

Subject and location: Texas, United States

Copyright Rajesh Jyothiswaran / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year





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The APS-C lens landscape has changed

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The APS-C lens landscape has changed


Images: Canon, Nikon

It wasn’t long ago that many of our reviews of APS-C cameras had to come with a warning: no matter how good the body was, you were almost certainly going to be limited by lens selection. This was especially true with Nikon and Canon’s mirrorless cameras. Sony has followed its longstanding tradition of letting third parties build out a healthy selection of lenses, and the selection for Fujifilm’s APS-C-only X-mount is second to none, but Nikon’s Z mount and Canon’s RF mount appeared to be almost completely locked down. As a result, you could count the number of APS-C lens options available on your fingers.

But things are changing. Over the past year, we’ve seen several APS-C lenses announced and released for Canon and Nikon cameras, filling notable gaps in the first-party lens lineups. But while the situation is improving, it’s clear that the two companies are still in control.

This week, Sigma released four APS-C primes for Canon’s RF mount, making good on its promise to release six licensed lenses for the system – earlier this year, it released the 10-18mm F2.8 and 18-50mm F2.8. Meanwhile, Nikon has allowed Sigma to release select primes for Z-mount – a trio of F1.4 primes at 16, 30, and 56mm. It’s worth noting the company’s 23mm F1.4 is the only one of its APS-C primes that it hasn’t brought to Z-mount; it likely isn’t a coincidence that Nikon’s only first-party APS-C prime lens is a 24mm F1.7.

Sigma-APS-C-prime-lens-lineup
Sigma’s APS-C prime lens lineup is quite good, and now most of them are available for almost any mirrorless APS-C camera.

Image: Sigma

However, Nikon hasn’t stopped companies like Viltrox and Sirui from releasing a slew of Z-mount APS-C prime lenses, complete with autofocus. If you pick up a Nikon Zfc or Z50II, you can get anywhere from a 13mm F1.4 (20mm equiv.) to a 75mm F1.2 (113mm equiv.) to go with it, as well as most of the classic focal lengths in between.

Your choices are no longer limited to a few first-party options, manual-focus only lenses, or glass meant for full-frame bodies

This is an important change for APS-C shooters. Even going back to the DSLR days, it’s felt like many manufacturers have viewed the format as a stepping stone to full-frame rather than something enthusiasts and pros might consciously choose. Neither Canon nor Nikon have been particularly prolific when releasing new APS-C glass. But with the gates being slightly opened, you’re no longer limited to a few first-party options, manual-focus-only lenses from third parties, or heavier, more expensive full-frame lenses. Now, there’s at least some selection of third-party lenses with autofocus to choose from, alongside Canon and Nikon’s offerings.

This isn’t to say that you can now buy any APS-C camera you want and be assured that all the lenses you want will be available – you are still at the mercy of what Canon and Nikon wish to allow. While plenty of primes are available for Z-mount APS-C cameras, no fast zoom lenses are available; Nikon’s all start at F3.5 and end at F5.6 or F6.3.

In fact, there are currently no third-party APS-C zooms available for Nikon Z-mount at all, despite the fact that two have made the jump from E and X-mount to RF – it also goes without saying that there are many others more available on Fujifilm and Sony’s systems. That’s a bummer for anyone looking to step up from the kit lens or wanting to shoot sports or birds in anything but ideal lighting without having to shell out for and lug around a full-frame 70-200mm.

tamron-11-20mm-f2p8-canon-rf
Tamron has promised to bring its 11-20mm F2.8 APS-C lens to Canon RF mount this year as well – no word on Z-mount, despite Tamron bringing some of its full-frame lenses to Nikon.

Image: Tamron

RF mount at least has the two constant F2.8 zooms thanks to Sigma, with one more on the way from Tamron, though those are all at the wide end. However, there are far fewer autofocus primes available for Canon, as manufacturers like Sirui and Viltrox aren’t producing them. That’s not surprising; a representative for the latter once said that Canon had told it to stop producing products for RF mount. The 85mm F1.4 lens that Samyang announced for the system in 2020 also disappeared from the market not long after.

In a perfect world, these problems wouldn’t exist. Canon and Nikon would make the lenses that their APS-C cameras needed to stand on their own feet as a real alternative to full-frame options, and there would be robust competition from third parties, which would be allowed to make whatever lenses they want.

None of that seems particularly likely. However, at least those who choose to shoot with a smaller sensor in a Canon or Nikon body have gotten a wider choice of lenses, even if they’re still bound by the companies’ rules.

At the end of the day, that’s better for everyone interested in APS-C, because it means that cameras like the EOS R7 and Z50II are competitive with the Sony a6700 and Fujifilm X-T5 in a way that they wouldn’t have been with an extremely limited lens selection. With any luck, this trend will continue, and the APS-C landscape will become more competitive – even if Canon and Nikon aren’t giving it their full attention.



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Sony's new 28-70mm F2 GM is a zoom for dark places

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Sony's new 28-70mm F2 GM is a zoom for dark places


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The FE 28-70mm F2.8 GM, attached to the newly-announced a1 II.

Photo: Mitchell Clark

Sony has announced the FE 28-70mm F2 GM, a zoom lens that trades 4mm at the wide end for an aperture that’s a stop brighter than the one found on a classic 24-70mm F2.8. It’s the company’s first constant F2 zoom lens for its E-mount cameras.

The lens’s optical formula consists of 20 elements in 14 groups, with three aspherical lenses, three super ED elements, and one ED element. It uses an 11-blade aperture. The front element has an oil and water-resistant flourine coating, and the lens is moisture and dust resistant.

It’s far from a compact lens, though it’s not as monstrously large as you might expect – it weighs in at 918g (32 oz) and is around 140mm (5.5″) long. It has an 86mm filter thread.

Sony makes it obvious what lens it’s competing with; highlighting that it’s 36% lighter and 11% smaller in diameter than Canon’s RF 28-70mm F2 L lens while claiming better corner-to-corner sharpness. The company also says the lens’s four linear motors can focus even when shooting at 120fps, and emphasized that they’re quieter than the older ring-type ultrasonic style motor in the Canon F2. In fairness, that lens was one of the original RF-mount releases, announced in 2018.

“Sony makes it obvious which lens it’s competing with”

The quieter operation should help when shooting video. Other pluses for video: it has an internal focusing mechanism which should make it easier to use the lens on a gimbal, the ability to switch the aperture ring into clickless mode and supports the focus breathing compensation mode included on some Sony bodies. You can also set the manual focus ring to have a linear response, which should make focus pulls easier.

The lens has a variety of switches and buttons. There are two customizable focus hold buttons, an Iris lock switch, the aperture click switch and a zoom smoothness switch that lets you adjust between “smooth” and “tight” torque settings.

It’s not the fastest zoom lens available for E-mount: at the time of writing, that prize goes to Sigma’s 28-45mm F1.8, though that model has substantially less reach on the tele end and only a 1/3EV increase in light-gathering ability.

The FE 28-70mm F2 GM will be available in mid-December and has an MSRP of $2,899.

Press Release:

Sony Electronics Announces Its First Constant F2 Aperture Zoom Lens: The Full-Frame 28-70mm F2 G Master™

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 19, 2024 – Sony Electronics Inc. introduces the 28-70mm F2 G Master, the first1 Sony zoom lens with a constant F2 aperture and 77th lens in the Sony E-Mount lineup. This full-frame lens offers a versatile focal range from 28mm to 70mm while delivering prime-like2 bokeh with its constant F2 aperture. Despite its wide aperture and zoom range, the 28-70mm F2 G Master remains compact, lightweight, and well-balanced, making it ideal for both photography and video applications. This combination of zoom range, large aperture, and compact design makes this an innovative and versatile lens for portrait, sports, wedding, event, and video professionals.

“Our goal with the 28-70mm F2 G Master was to create a high-performing zoom lens that could be a strong single lens alternative to multiple primes,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President of Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “We prioritized a lightweight design during the engineering process as we knew that was a critical factor for real-life, practical use. And in a manner that only Sony can do, we were able to deliver a small, standard F2 zoom lens that does not sacrifice image quality. We’re proud to add this to our G Master series and believe it is one of the most innovative lenses ever offered to professionals.”

Sharp Imagery and Beautiful Bokeh

The 28-70mm F2 G Master produces extremely sharp corner-to-corner results throughout the entire zoom range, even while shooting wide open at F2. The high-resolution output is made possible by the three XA (extreme aspherical) elements and three aspherical elements built within the lens that minimize aberrations. The lens also features a floating focusing system that helps maintain internal stability. This focusing mechanism enables an impressive minimum focusing distance of up to 14.8 inches (0.38m) throughout the entire zoom range.

Staying true to the G Master lens lineage, the lens’ aperture up to F2 produces extraordinary bokeh, ideal for creating images that showcase a shallow depth of field. The 28-70mm F2 amplifies the G Master bokeh standards through a newly designed 11-blade circular aperture unit. Chromatic aberrations, which cause color fringing within photos, are effectively minimized with three Super ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and one ED element built within the lens. Additionally, Sony’s Nano AR Coating II reduces flare and internal reflections, ensuring clear images, even when strong light sources are present in the frame.

Compact, Lightweight Design Without Compromising Quality

The 28-70mm F2 G Master is one of the most advanced mirrorless camera lenses manufactured with a total 20 different lens elements arranged within 14 internal groups. Despite the advanced optical design, the lens remains compact at 3.6 x 5.5 inches (92.9 x 139.8mm) and lightweight at approximately 32.3 ounces (918g). The combination of imaging performance and a compact form factor offers an innovative solution that meets the demands of industry professionals.

Precise Autofocus Tracking with Instant Response

Reliable and responsive autofocus is delivered through the lens’ four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors powered by advanced control algorithms. This smooth performance system provides accurate and quick focus tracking, often essential in many professional use cases like weddings and sports. This lens is fully compatible with Sony’s Alpha 9 III‘s high-speed continuous shooting capabilities of up to 120 frames per second3 with AF/AE (autofocus/autoexposure) tracking, even while zooming.

Designed for High-Performance Video Shooting

Along with its F2 aperture, the zoom range of the 28-70mm G Master provides a versatile video option that can cover standard field-of-view shots and tighter compositions up to 70mm. This lens minimizes focus breathing through its build and compatibility with the Breathing Compensation feature on various Alpha bodies4. Its high autofocus performance ensures reliable focus even when recording in high frame rates up to 4K 120p / FHD 240p5. Additionally, the XD linear motors and newly developed aperture unit operates silently, preventing any lens noise from being captured during filming.

The lens is ideal for gimbal use with a minimal zoom extension of approximately .68 inches. The compact form factor and short external zoom helps maintain gimbal balance, even at varying focal lengths. ​

Operability and Reliability for Versatile Control

Key control features include Linear Response MF for intuitive manual focusing, adjustable zoom ring torque, and an aperture ring with a click ON/OFF switch. The lens also offers two customizable focus hold buttons, an iris lock switch, and an AF/MF switch. The 28-70mm F2 G Master has an 86mm filter diameter and a convenient window on the lens hood for variable filter adjustments.

For durability, all buttons and switches are sealed with silicone gaskets, and critical areas are designed to resist dust and moisture6. This ensures reliability, even while using in challenging outdoor environments. Additionally, a fluorine coating on the front element repels contaminants for easy cleaning.

Pricing and Availability

The 28-70mm F2 G Master will be available in December 2024 for approximately $2,899.99 USD and $3,999.99 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

A product video on the new 28-70mm F2 G Master can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/7Y_O5YYQIl0

For detailed product information about the 28-70mm F2 G Master, please visit: https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/full-frame-e-mount/p/sel2870gm

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new 28-70mm F2 G Master and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to inform, educate, and inspire content creators.

Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Zoom lens
Max Format size 35mm FF
Focal length 28–70 mm
Image stabilization No
Lens mount Sony E, Sony FE
Aperture
Maximum aperture F2–20
Minimum aperture F2–20
Aperture ring Yes
Number of diaphragm blades 11
Optics
Elements 20
Groups 14
Special elements / coatings 3 aspherical, 3 super ED, 1 ED
Focus
Minimum focus 0.38 m (14.96)
Maximum magnification 0.23×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Linear Motor
Focus method Internal
Distance scale No
DoF scale No
Physical
Weight 918 g (2.02 lb)
Diameter 93 mm (3.66)
Length 140 mm (5.51)
Sealing Yes
Colour Black
Filter thread 86 mm
Hood supplied Yes



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