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Category: New Gear

  • Sony FX2 Unveiled: Full‑Frame Cinema Camera

    Sony FX2 Unveiled: Full‑Frame Cinema Camera

    Sony has officially pulled the wraps off the FX2, the newest—and most affordable—member of its Cinema Line. Sitting squarely between the FX30 and FX3, the FX2 pairs a 33‑megapixel back‑illuminated Exmor R sensor with Sony’s latest dual BIONZ XR processors and an on‑chip AI engine, promising pro‑level video chops in a travel‑friendly body.

    Key specs at a glance

    • Oversampled 7K ➜ 4K 30 p plus 4K 60 p (Super 35 crop) and 1080 p 120 fps for buttery slow‑motion
    • Dual‑base ISO 800 / 4 000 delivering 15+ stops of dynamic range in S‑Log3
    • New 3.68 M‑dot tilting OLED EVF—a first for Sony’s compact cine line—alongside the familiar vari‑angle LCD
    • 4:2:2 10‑bit XAVC S‑I internal recording, 16‑bit RAW output via HDMI, and support for user‑imported LUTs
    • Real‑time Recognition AF with AI subject tracking for people, animals, birds and vehicles
    • Active & Dynamic Active IS modes plus metadata‑based post‑stabilization for gimbal‑free shooting

    Why it matters

    For solo shooters, run‑and‑gun documentarians and content creators chasing both cinematic video and high‑resolution stills, the FX2 is designed to be a one‑body solution. Three built‑in ¼‑20 mounts eliminate the need for a cage, while the optional XLR‑H1 handle unlocks pro audio and extra controls. Sony even brought over the VENICE‑inspired “BIG6” quick‑menu UI and accessibility features like a screen reader and menu magnification.

    Creator‑friendly workflow

    The camera records 4K 4:2:2 10‑bit internally in All‑Intra or Long‑GOP, offers S‑Cinetone as the default for ready‑to‑deliver color, and lets you bake or monitor up to 16 custom LUTs. A new Movie/Still switch flips the UI and color pipeline for quick hybrid shooting, while built‑in Wi‑Fi, USB‑C streaming, and a cooling fan rated for 13‑hour takes keep production rolling.

    Price & availability

    Pre‑orders for the Sony FX2 open today at major retailers for $2,698 (body‑only) or $3,098 with the XLR handle. Shipments are slated to begin in July 2025, with regional pricing at £2,699 / €2,999 (body).

  • Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Cosina Voigtländer has just lifted the curtain on the Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8, a manual‑focus medium‑telephoto that blends vintage optical design with a brand‑new spherical‑aberration control ring. It’s the first Voigtländer lens that lets photographers dial a scene from dreamy glow to razor‑sharp contrast simply by twisting a front‑barrel ring—no filters, no firmware hacks, just pure glass magic. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Key specs at a glance

    • Full‑frame coverage, Sony E‑mount (electronic contacts transmit EXIF and distance data) OpticalLimits
    • Unique “under ↔ over” spherical‑aberration ring for on‑lens bokeh tuning PetaPixelPhoto Rumors
    • Classic 6‑element / 3‑group Heliar formula with 9‑blade diaphragm for smooth round highlights PetaPixelOpticalLimits
    • Fast f/1.8 aperture, 0.7 m minimum focus, 1:7.4 max magnification—ideal for portraits and tight product shots OpticalLimits
    • All‑metal housing, 62 mm front filter thread, and weighs 515 g; barrel‑style hood included OpticalLimits

    Why it matters

    Portrait shooters chasing that elusive “character” now get a native‑mount option that behaves a bit like Nikon’s legendary 135 mm f/2 DC—only smaller, faster and mirrorless‑ready. Twist toward “under” and edges bloom for a soft‑focus, vintage feel; roll to “over” and micro‑contrast snaps into clinical sharpness, with every tweak nudging effective T‑stop and focus plane for creative control on the fly. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Price & availability

    The Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 ships in June 2025. Cosina lists a suggested price of ¥165,000 in Japan (≈ US $1,100), while UK preorder listings hover around £750 before VAT; official U.S. MSRP is expected to land just under the thousand‑dollar mark once retailers open their carts. Photo RumorsPetaPixel

    SEO boost: Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 lens, adjustable bokeh lens, spherical aberration control, Sony E‑mount portrait lens, manual focus prime, vintage Heliar design, fast f/1.8 medium telephoto, 62 mm filter thread, 9‑blade aperture, price and availability.

  • Hollyland LARK MAX 2 Officially Launched – 32-bit Float, On-board TC & Four-TX SupportHollyland LARK A1 wireless microphone

    Hollyland LARK MAX 2 Officially Launched – 32-bit Float, On-board TC & Four-TX SupportHollyland LARK A1 wireless microphone

    Kits, pricing & availability

    Combo 4-Person – four transmitters, one camera-mount receiver, and one USB-C receiver for $319
    Ultimate Combo – two transmitters, camera-mount receiver, USB-C receiver, and the OWS wireless ear-monitor for $279
    Combo – two transmitters plus both the camera-mount and USB-C receivers for $249
    Solo – single transmitter with the camera-mount receiver for $169
    Individual transmitter – spare / add-on TX available separately for $61.90

  • Hollyland LARK A1 Announced – Affordable, Wireless Microphone for USB-C & Lightning Devices

    Hollyland LARK A1 Announced – Affordable, Wireless Microphone for USB-C & Lightning Devices

    Hollyland LARK A1 wireless microphone

    The LARK A1 wireless microphone system is a very lightweight and compact set designed for creators to use with a mobile phone. It features 48 kHz, 24-bit audio quality, and a high sound pressure level of 120dB SPL. Thanks to these specs, the microphone can handle sudden loud noises and minimize distortion, according to Hollyland.

    The system provides stable audio transmission over distances of up to 200 meters (650 ft, unobstructed line of sight). Each transmitter (TX) weighs 8 grams and is 9mm thick. It can only be attached magnetically; there is no clip built into the TX unit. There is also no 3.5mm jack input on the transmitter.