Exciting announcements are on the horizon as the end of summer rolls around and the holiday season creeps ever closer. This week, Sony is back in the Roundup with an FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II Lens, as well Arturia with the release of its KeyLab Professional MIDI Controllers.
Sony Adds a New Portrait Prime to the G Master Series
Not only does the new FE 85mm GM II Lens add a new focal length to the G Master II lineup, it boasts additional performance improvements for improved portrait shooting. Its design ensures sharp, high-resolution images thanks to its integrated XA element and three extra-low dispersion elements. The new FE 85’s f/1.4 maximum aperture excels in difficult lighting conditions and lets the lens render a shallow depth of field.
Some other improvements from the G Master line include a faster autofocus and 11-blade diaphragm which allows for smoother bokeh. Other improvements include a Linear Super Sonic Wave Motor autofocus system and internal focus mechanism to facilitate quiet and precise autofocusing which shines for video applications. A new iris lock prevents your aperture ring from accidentally shifting while pivoting between shooting modes. Wedding photographers/videographers and run-and-gun shooters will appreciate these intuitive control upgrades alongside a total weight decrease for an overall lighter rig.
Prime lenses are the backbone of any shooter’s gear configuration and Sony’s 85mm lens provides small, but not insignificant, improvements on the last-gen version with its build quality and control layout that any photographer, novice or pro, can appreciate. It might not be as versatile as a 35 or 50mm lens, but for those looking to add to their kit it’s a great option.
Arturia Levels up the KeyLab Line
If you come from a video background like me you might see the Arturia KeyLab mk3 Professional MIDI Controller and think, “Wow, cool piano!”, but you’d be aggressively diminishing the functionality of these controller keypads.
These KeyLab mk3 devices are a part of a comprehensive MIDI line designed for studio musicians and producers looking to interact and control multiple software programs and virtual instruments using a single device. The controllers come in both 49-key and 61-key versions, with black and white colorways. Both versions have nine touch-sensitive knobs, nine faders, 12 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads, and a slew of software for music creation.
The mk3 controller expands upon previous models with an included arpeggiator, scale mode, and chord play. Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite, and Native Instruments “The Gentleman” are among just a few of the software programs included with each device. The controllers offer deep integration with Arturia software and DAWs thanks to bi-directional, 1-to-1 control over most audio mixer and software functions. Fans of Arturia products will be excited to see these upgraded features in a familiar product line.
In other news…
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Tamron announced a Nikon Z-mount version of its 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens, bringing its versatile ultra-telephoto zoom capabilities to a wider variety of mirrorless cameras.
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Anton/Bauer released a new four-bay V-mount battery charger called the QUAD 6A with 6A outputs for rapid 14 and 26V batteries.
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Warm Audio has added limited edition titanium colorways to its WA-47T & WA-87 condenser microphone models.
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Take the new SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds on your next run for 3D sound quality with its open-ear design.
Here’s to cooler temperatures and even cooler product releases. Check back next week for the latest news.
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