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Sony stretches the limits of zoom technology Sony has revealed a superfast standard professional zoom with a wide focal length range and a shockingly fast constant f/2
FAST TIMES Sony’s G Master 50- 150mm has a bright f/2 aperture through the whole range
aperture, built to replace a whole set of primes. The FE 50-150mm f/2 GM is the world’s first lens that goes from 50mm to a 150mm maximum focal length, all at f/2 aperture. The price is £3799/$3898. Part of Sony’s acclaimed G Master series, it has advanced XA, ED and Super ED optics in its 19-element, 17-group design. The famed G Master bokeh comes courtesy of an 11-blade aperture and close focusing capability. It has fast and silent AF due to four XD linear motors, and can shoot stills at 120fps on Sony’s A9 III sports camera. A floating focus mechanism maintains high image quality throughout the focusing range, for matched sharpness from infinity to the 40cm/15.7in minimum distance at the wide end; 74cm/29.1in at the tele end.
The lens weighs 1340g/2.9lb, with much of the weight at the rear of the lens for a balanced design that promotes more comfortable handheld use. There are two programmable focus hold buttons and a focus mode switch. The front lens element also has a fluorine coating that serves to repel water, oil and other contaminants. The front filter thread is 95mm in diameter. Nano AR Coating II keeps flare and ghosting in check and there is a robust dust- and moisture-resistant design. sony.com
The internal focusing design promotes quicker focusing speeds and maintains lens length during use. The internal zoom also maintains overall lens length during use, as well as keeping consistent centre of gravity for smoother gimbal or tripod shooting. Focus breathing has been minimised optically, and the lens supports Sony’s Breathing Compensation in select cameras to eliminate the angle of view shifts while changing the zoom position. The manual aperture ring can be de-clicked for smooth, silent switching, while zoom smoothness can be adjusted for more precise handling.
HUSH-HUSH UPGRADE FOR POPULAR FX3 The FX3 hybrid mirrorless camera has had a sneaky upgrade from Sony to include a brand-new, higher-res screen. Officially, Sony hasn’t issued any details of the model – dubbed the FX3a – but it has appeared on several retailer websites. The main change is that the LCD panel resolution now has 2,359,296 and infrared remote-control light- receiving element. It is believed the change happened because the original screen became unavailable from Sony’s supplier, so a new, improved version was sourced. The FX3 was announced in February 2021, so is relatively old in the Sony line-up but is still very popular; hence the decision to quietly upgrade the camera, as there is no sign of a new model yet. dots compared to the 1,440,000 dots on the older model. Sony has also removed the NFC functionality
INSTA360 LAUNCHES NEW FLAGSHIP Insta360 has unveiled its newest flagship 360° action cam: the X5. It has larger dual 1/1.28in image sensors and a new Triple AI Chip system, supporting 8K 360° video at 30fps. Pure Video, a dedicated low-light mode, is designed to enhance performance in darker settings through AI-driven noise reduction and dynamic range optimisation. The device is waterproof up to 15m and includes a replaceable lens system, letting users swap out damaged lenses. A built-in wind guard and updated audio processing improve sound recording. insta360.com
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