Shutter Release: DxOMark tests the Sony A9 sensor. How does it stack up to the competition?

 

 

We hope you all had a great weekend! Let’s get the new week started off with a bang. In this edition of Shutter Release, our regular roundup feature in which we share and briefly discuss interesting photography articles and videos from around the web, we look at DxOMark’s Sony A9 review, the potential for log profiles in the Sony A9, Vincent Laforet and blending of still and motion pictures with the $50,000 RED 8K Weapon camera, sad news from the Los Angeles Times and finally some grim financial news out of Japan for Ricoh.

Sony A9 sensor put to the test by DxOMark – SLR Lounge

The team at DxOMark published their Sony A9 sensor review over the weekend, which you can read here. I don’t want to spoil the results, but suffice it to say, it’s one heck of a sensor that matches up very favorably against its primary DSLR competition, the Canon 1D X Mark II and the Nikon D5. If you’d like to find out if the Sony A9 has overheating issues, a potential issue which has been heavily discussed online, see our extensive Sony A9 Overheating Test.

Will the Sony A9 ever have S-Log? – Sony Alpha Rumors

On the topic of the Sony A9, will the camera ever have log profiles for recording video? It’s unclear. As Sony Alpha Rumors points out, a Sony expert in early May had remarked on B&H that it would have log profiles. But just last week, a Sony Expert (perhaps the same one) chimed in again that the A9 doesn’t have a log profile. The situation becomes murkier when we consider a Sony statement published on CameraJabber which suggests that some functionality could be added via a firmware upgrade if users showed enough interest. We will have to take the wait and see approach for now.

The convergence of stills and motion with Vincent Laforet – ISO 1200

Professional photographer Vincent Laforet considers the RED 8K Weapon as a nearly perfect camera for both still and motion. Is this $50,000 specialty camera ideal for both? Find out why Laforet is so high on the RED camera in the video below.

Longtime Los Angeles Times photojournalist Gary Friedman dies at age 62 – The Click

The Los Angeles Times has shared the sad news that Gary Friedman, a longtime photojournalist who has covered presidential elections, Olympic games, the fallout of 9/11 and much more, has died at age 62 following an extended battle with cancer. You can read much more about the award-winning photographer’s career here.

Is Ricoh in trouble? Nikkei reports that the company is facing a crisis - Mirrorless Rumors

Ricoh, who owns Pentax, is apparently in significant financial trouble. Nikkei is reporting that for Ricoh, they’re facing a “sink-or-swim moment.” Ricoh’s big business is multifunction printers, accounting for around 90 percent of their total sales, so where a projected cost reduction target over the next three years of 100 billion yen (nearly US$1 billion) leaves Ricoh and Pentax’s camera business is unclear. Obviously it’s all speculation for now, but this will be a situation worth keeping an eye on for photographers.