Tag Archives: Sony Alpha

National & Regional Awards: India Winner Announced

Sony India recently revealed Rajeev Gaikwad as India’s National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.

The National & Regional Awards programme is an initiative set up by Sony and Creo under its photography strand the World Photography Organisation to support local photographic communities around the world, with 56 countries taking part this year. Across this year’s Awards over 419,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.

National and Regional Award winners were selected from the Open competition, which champions the best single images taken in the past year.

Rajeev Gaikwad was anonymously selected by judges for his photograph Phantom Bloom, entered into the Object category of the Open competition. Amidst a vast abandoned waste marble dumping yard in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, a lone tree reaches towards the sky, its bare branches a testament to its resilience. Hanging from the branch, the vivid burst of colour of the two bags introduces a touch of humanity. In this image, the photographer reflects on the delicate balance between nature and human presence in an unforgiving landscape.

Growing up on the surreal outskirts of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, I found inspiration in the dreamlike rural landscapes around me. Photography became my way of preserving moments and telling stories, blending realism with a touch of surrealism. My work focusses on capturing emotions, connections, and the beauty in the mundane. I Always aim to share my unique perspective and inspire others to see the world through a creative and thoughtful lens.

Commenting on his win, Gaikwad said, “Being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards is a surreal and humbling experience for me, I feel completely Blessed. It’s an honor to have my work recognised on this esteemed international platform.

As India’s National Award winner, Rajeev Gaikwad receives Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.

The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 will be announced on 16 April and will go on display as part of the exhibition at Somerset House, London (17 April – 5 May 2025)

This year’s National and Regional Awards winners are:

Bangladesh - Syed Mahabubul Kader — **Bangladesh Winner — © Syed Mahabubul Kader**

**Indonesia Winner — © Sim Jhones Gozali**

**Philippines Winner — © Renzer Rev Damaso**

**Nigeria Winner — © Nsikanabasi Effiong**

**South Africa Winner — © Werner De Kock**

**Qatar Winner — © Ridhwan Mohammed Rafi**

**Saudi Arabia Winner — © Mohammed Muhtasib**

**Sri Lanka Winner — © Sasindu Pramuditha**

**Uzbekistan Winner — © Mubina Fayzullaeva**

**United Arab Emirates Winner — © Donell Gumiran**

**Republic of Korea Winner — © Kibong Nam**

**Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova Winner — © Peter Svoboda (Slovakia)**

**Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania Winner — © Ieva Gaile (Lithuania)**

**Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Winner — © Marko Buntić (Croatia)**

**Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia Winner — © Panagiotis Rontos (Greece)**

**Latin America Winner — © Lucero Mora Ardila (Mexico)**

Sony India Announces FE 85mm F1.4 GM II at ₹180,990

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Sony India announced the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II – a premium lens offering a supreme
blend of high resolution and stunning bokeh with fast autofocus (AF) in a compact body. This is a
second-generation lens that inherits the optical design that achieved a high-level fusion of bokeh
and resolution that was highly praised in the first-generation model, and generously incorporates
the latest technology. When paired with the latest Sony’s Alpha series cameras, it is an ideal option
for a wide variety of creative uses in both photography and videography, including portraiture,
wedding, travel, and cinematic video.
The advanced and refined optical design and elements of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II brings together
appealing bokeh and enhanced high resolution, making it ideal for portrait photography. Packed
with two XA (extreme aspherical) and two ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses, the state-of-the-art
optical design effectively suppresses aberrations. This combination offers corner-to-corner
resolution and rendering, resulting in outstanding image quality. Moreover, Sony’s original Nano AR
Coating II technology effectively subdues flare and ghosting for clear, crisp images. The 11-blade
circular aperture and optimization of spherical aberration during the design and manufacturing
process provide the beautiful, soft bokeh that is the hallmark of G Master lenses.
The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II’s AF is agile, maximizing the speed advantage of advanced camera bodies.
For stills, it is up to three times faster compared to the previous model, tracking moving subjects
with high precision. It keeps up flawlessly with the Alpha 9 III’s 120fps continuous shooting, and
subject tracking performance is improved by as much as 7 times.
Compared to the current 85mm F1.4 GM1, the weight of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (642 grams) is approximately 20% lighter and 13% smaller in volume, which is achieved through the latest mechanical technology and optical design. The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has a filter diameter of φ77 mm, diameter of 84.7 mm and length of 107.3 mm.
For smooth movie creation at F1.4, the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has an XD linear motor. Focus breathing
is minimal, and in-body focus breathing compensation is supported. It has two customizable focus
hold buttons and an AF/MF switch offer flexible operability, while an independent aperture ring and
Linear Response MF focus control provide the kind of intuitive control that creative shooting
demands.
The front lens element features a fluorine coating, which makes it easy to remove fingerprints, dust,
oil, and other contaminants from the lens surface. The dust and moisture resistant design provides
extra reliability for outdoor use in challenging conditions.
The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II will be available across all Sony Centers, Alpha Flagship stores, Sony
authorized dealers, ecommerce websites (Amazon and Flipkart) and major electronic stores across
India from 6th September 2024 onwards at a price of ₹ 180,990.

Sony launches Alpha 9 III Camera at ₹5,29,990 in India

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Sony India recently unveiled the Alpha 9 III, a camera incorporating a global shutter system, marking a noteworthy advancement in digital imaging technology. This new model promises to mitigate common photography challenges, such as distortion and blackout during high-speed captures, offering burst speeds up to 120 frames per second.

The device is outfitted with Sony’s cutting-edge autofocus system, capable of executing up to 120 focus calculations per second, and supports flash synchronization at any shooting speed. This combination of features is designed to meet the demands of professional photographers who require precision and reliability to capture fleeting moments.

Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Digital Imaging Business at Sony India, highlighted the camera’s potential to set new standards in photography, emphasizing its ground-breaking 120 fps shooting capability and global shutter technology.

Featuring a 24.6-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR image processor, the Alpha 9 III delivers high-speed continuous shooting with autofocus and auto-exposure tracking. This model represents a leap forward in still image performance and video capabilities, ensuring minimal distortion and improved usability for professional environments. Additionally, the camera’s enhanced video functionalities include 4K recording at 120p without crop and 4K at 60p with 6K oversampling, complemented by S-Cinetone colour science for natural skin tones and subject depiction.

The Alpha 9 III has been designed with operability and reliability in mind, featuring an ergonomic grip and optional vertical grip for extended use, a 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor, and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder to accommodate professional shooting conditions.

Moreover, the camera is equipped to support a high-speed workflow and offers scalability with features like image selection filters, dual media slots for CFexpress Type A and SD cards, and compatibility with professional mobile applications for streamlined content delivery and remote operation.

Priced at ₹5,29,990, the Alpha 9 III will be available from 26th February 2024 at Sony retail outlets and online platforms across India.