Photography enthusiasts are in for a treat as Sony introduces two new lenses that cater to both wide-angle and super-telephoto needs. The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS, Sony's first lens with an 800mm focal length, and the FE 16mm F1.8 G, a compact ultra-wide prime, are set to enhance the capabilities of Sony's full-frame camera lineup. These lenses are designed to meet the demands of wildlife, action, and landscape photographers while offering competitive pricing and advanced features.
The unveiling of the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS marks a significant milestone for Sony, as it extends its telephoto range to unprecedented lengths. This lens will be available from early March 2025 at $2,900 or £2,550. It is particularly suited for capturing distant subjects such as wildlife and motorsports, where proximity is not feasible. One of its standout features is compatibility with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can extend the reach up to 1600mm, although this comes with a reduced maximum aperture of f/16, limiting its practicality except in bright conditions.
Designed with durability in mind, the 400-800mm lens boasts dust and moisture resistance, ensuring reliability in challenging environments. An internal zoom mechanism prevents the lens from extending during use, maintaining a stable center of gravity and reducing the risk of dust and moisture ingress. The optical design includes 27 elements in 19 groups, six of which are Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements, promising superior image quality with minimal flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration. Additionally, it supports autofocus tracking up to 120 frames per second, making it a powerful tool for fast-paced photography.
Complementing the telephoto marvel, the FE 16mm F1.8 G is scheduled for release in early April 2025 at $800 or £850. This ultra-wide prime lens offers a compelling alternative to existing options in Sony's lineup, boasting a competitive price, compact build, and a fast f/1.8 aperture. Its ultra-wide perspective makes it ideal for landscape and architectural photography, while its fast aperture ensures excellent low-light performance. For users who frequently utilize the widest angles of their zoom lenses, the 16mm prime could prove to be a more practical and cost-effective choice.
Both lenses bring unique advantages to Sony's ecosystem, catering to diverse photographic needs. The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS sets a new benchmark for super-telephoto zooms, while the FE 16mm F1.8 G offers a versatile and affordable option for wide-angle enthusiasts. Together, they expand Sony's lens offerings, providing photographers with enhanced tools to capture stunning images across various genres.
A significant service disruption affecting the popular workplace communication platform Slack has been ongoing since mid-morning on February 26, 2025. The company acknowledged the issue at approximately 10:30 AM Pacific Time and has since been working tirelessly to restore full functionality. Key features such as workflows, message sending, threads, and API-related functionalities have been impacted. Users have reported difficulties accessing the platform via web browsers, while mobile and desktop applications seem less affected. Slack continues to provide updates on its progress but has not yet provided a timeline for resolution.
The initial reports of the outage began rolling in around 11:00 AM Eastern Time, with over 3,000 users logging complaints within just 24 minutes on Downdetector. This sudden surge in outage reports indicates a widespread impact across various regions. Slack officially acknowledged the problem shortly after, stating that it was investigating issues related to connectivity and loading problems. By this time, many businesses relying on Slack for daily operations were already feeling the strain, as internal communications became disrupted. Teams had to quickly adapt by turning to alternative tools like email and video conferencing platforms to maintain productivity.
As the day progressed, Slack continued to face challenges in fully restoring services. At around 9:00 AM Pacific Time, the company updated its status page, indicating ongoing efforts to bring back affected features. Specifically, workflows, message-sending capabilities, threaded conversations, and API integrations remained compromised. Additionally, some users encountered login issues, further complicating access to the platform. Despite these setbacks, Slack expressed gratitude for the patience of its user base and assured that updates would be shared promptly as more information became available.
By late afternoon, the situation appeared to be worsening, with Slack’s status page detailing multiple ongoing problems. Many users found it impossible to log into their workspaces, which effectively prevented them from using any of the platform’s features. This development underscored the severity of the outage and highlighted the critical role Slack plays in modern business communication. Companies that rely heavily on Slack had to implement contingency plans, leveraging other tools to keep operations running smoothly. The incident also raised questions about the resilience of cloud-based services and the importance of having robust backup systems in place.
The disruption to Slack’s services has had far-reaching effects, disrupting workflows and communication channels for countless organizations. While the company remains committed to resolving the issue, the extended downtime has served as a reminder of the vulnerability of digital infrastructure. Businesses now face the challenge of maintaining productivity in the face of unexpected technical failures, emphasizing the need for diversified communication strategies. Slack’s ongoing efforts to restore full functionality are closely watched by both its user base and the broader tech community.