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Sony’s first G Master standard zoom with a constant f/2 aperture is the new FE 28-70mm f/2 GM, designed for low-light shooting and creating beautiful bokeh thanks to its 11-blade aperture. It boasts the latest technologies, including four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors but is only 92.9x139.8mm and weighs 918g. The rival Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM lens is much bigger and heavier at 103.8x139.8mm and 1430g. The £3049/$2898 E-mount lens focuses down to 0.38m/1.25ft throughout the zoom range, while Nano AR Coating II minimises flare and ghosting. The optics suppress internal reflections for flare resistance. Super ED (extra-low dispersion) and ED glass elements reduce chromatic aberration. The AF motors use Sony’s latest algorithm for full compatibility with the A1 II and A9 III’s high-speed continuous shooting. AF/AE tracking goes up to 120 frames per second, continued even while zooming. The lens is designed for minimal focus breathing, and rack focus and zoom effects can be used even at f/2 to create smooth, natural transitions while retaining critical focus for high- frame-rate 4K 120p/FHD 240p recording. It also supports breathing compensation and active mode image stabilisation with compatible Sony cameras. Control functions include Linear Response manual focus, adjustable zoom ring torque and an aperture ring with a click on/off switch. There are also two customisable focus hold buttons, an iris lock switch and an AF/MF switch. The filter diameter is 86mm, and the lens hood has a window to allow access to variable ND filters and polarisers. The body is weatherproofed by a fluorine coating on the front element that repels contaminants and makes cleaning easy. sony.com SONY’S FASTEST- EVER STANDARD ZOOM
A1 II driven with anti-AI deepfake tech!
person’s head and torso. It also tracks animals, birds, insects and vehicles. The new auto mode can recognise subject targets without specifying a subject mode. Upgraded in-body image stabilisation enables an improvement to 8.5 stops in the centre and seven stops at the periphery when shooting stills, as well as a newly supported dynamic active mode for video. The camera’s four-axis, 3.2-inch LCD monitor is just one of the design updates. There’s also an upgraded grip, altered placement of the shutter button, refined custom buttons as well as a deep, padded eyepiece cup option to replace the existing standard one. The A1 II now comes with a charger that juices up two Z batteries simultaneously in 155 minutes to full charge. An optional vertical grip offers additional support for vertical shooting and accepts two batteries. For a fast, real-time image transfer solution, the camera supports 2.5GBASE-T via wired LAN. Combined with Sony’s 5G portable data transmitter, files can be sent via high-speed 5G. Data can also be automatically transferred to Adobe Lightroom or Google Drive via Sony’s cloud storage service, Creators’ Cloud.
The flagship Sony mirrorless camera has been upgraded with an AI processing unit that brings advanced subject recognition plus compatibility with Sony’s Camera Authenticity software to combat manipulated imagery and AI-generated fakes. The A1 II retains the 50.1- megapixel full-frame sensor of the original A1 but claims to offer improved image clarity at mid-to-high sensitivities, plus an anti-distortion shutter. It inherits features from the recent A9 III sports camera, including stills pre-capture of up to one second and ergonomic design such as a fully articulating screen to replace the old tilt- only. A pleasant surprise is that it will cost £6299/$6498, which is slightly cheaper than the A1 at its launch in 2021. The AI II continues to be the ideal E-mount camera for both high-resolution stills and no- compromise video. It can shoot at up to 30fps blackout-free and track complex movements, with AF/AE calculations up to 120 times per second thanks to the stacked sensor technology. It retains 8K/30p and 4K/120p 10- bit video like its predecessor. The new AI processor offers advanced subject recognition
that includes human pose estimation to recognise a
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