PetaPixel: It’s Time to Stop Being Elitist About Camera Sensor Sizes

PetaPixel writes:

We think the spirit of the opinion in question here is true: full frame cameras are a sweet spot in the market right now. However, we don’t agree that in order to get to that point it was necessary to drag down everything else unfairly.

There are an abundance of excellent APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras on the market right now, and I hope we made that clear here. Jordan Drake is loving the G9 II, Chris Niccolls uses the OM-1 Mark II every week, Jeremy Gray is over the moon about the X-H2, and I’ve never been more inspired and filled with the desire to make art than when I’m holding the X100VI.

a bit of everything…


Bird photographer Petr Bambousek and the new OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Using the Lumix G9 Mk2 I go to France to film the Flamingos in the Camargue (Mike Lane).
Using Scrims and Flags for Portraits (Explora).
Flashpoint Launches Zoom Li-On X Pro, A Flexible Beauty Flash for the R2 Line (42West).
Was kann das beste und teuerste MFT Objektiv? OM 150-400 F4.5 TEST (Amazing Alpha).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.
I kindly invite you all to follow me on Youtube, Instagram, Threads for more broader camera talk :)

Just announced: new DxO PureRAW 4

Today DxO released the new DxO PureRAW 4 software (Click here). Below you can read the full press text and a couple of youtube reviews:

Press text:

DxO PureRAW 4 introduces a new generation of its breakthrough denoising AI and sets new industry standard for RAW image quality enhancement
With numerous workflow enhancements, DxO PureRAW 4 asserts its position as the indispensable first step in any photographer’s RAW processing workflow.

Paris (France): With a heritage spanning over two decades, DxO Labs continues to lead in optical corrections and RAW image processing by introducing DxO PureRAW 4 which sets new industry standards with its new generation AI denoising technology and improved lens softness correction. RAW enhancement with PureRAW 4 offers demanding photographers exceptional image quality by adjusting its image-correction algorithms in direct response to the lens and camera combination used to create each photo.

“PureRAW 4 features updated denoising and demosaicing algorithms, developed through our deep learning technology and billions of sample images,” explains Jean-Marc Alexia, VP of Product Strategy. “Helped by a real-time preview, this version also gives photographers greater control over their images, with additional settings and faster workflow features.”

Introducing DeepPRIME XD2: Advanced Deep Learning-Powered Denoising and Demosaicing

In 2022, DxO’s DeepPRIME XD technology set a new standard in noise reduction and demosaicing. Building on this legacy, DeepPRIME XD2, trained on billions of images, advances further, producing images of unprecedented clarity and detail.

“XD2 is the culmination of years of high-level research,” explains Wolf Hauser, Head of Science at DxO. “The neural network we have built continues to get smarter, surprising us by how images keep getting crisper and cleaner.”

Unique and improved lens softness correction

Even the best lenses lose sharpness towards the edge of the frame, and image softness is often most obvious when budget optics or complex multi-element zoom lenses are involved. To rectify this, PureRAW offers a unique approach to optical sharpening. It is a process enabled by DxO Optics Modules whereby mathematical models are developed from observing each lens’ performance across the entire field of view and focal range. This modeling ensures that precise, incremental, levels of sharpening are applied across the image in direct response to the lens’ measured performance. This is why software that uses global sharpening cannot compete with DxO’s laboratory-based lens testing.

Advanced settings for denoising processing

DxO PureRAW has always delivered excellent results without the need for guesswork and complex sliders. However, for those photographers who want to fine-tune their results, version 4 introduces a new level of control through the addition of new sliders like Luminance and Force Details.

This new version also provides real-time correction previews so that photographers can get an immediate sense of how images will be processed, and get direct feedback if they choose to make any adjustments.

Major workflow upgrades

A new widget detects when memory cards and external drives are connected, launching DxO PureRAW 4 automatically so that photographers can quickly begin ingesting and processing RAW files. The widget also acts as a hub to keep photographers updated on the status of tasks. In addition, photographers can now use advanced batch renaming. For example, mixing plain text with automated tokens to fit any naming convention.

Finally, version 4 allows users to compare different output files (DNG, TIFF, JPEG) with the original RAW file when viewing images after processing, and has a revamped processing window for greater efficiency.

Price and availability

DxO PureRAW 4 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/) at the following prices:

DxO PureRAW 4 €/$119 £109
DXO PureRAW 4 Upgrade €/$79 £69

Just announced: New Topaz Photo AI 2.4

According to two trusted sources Sony will soon announce a new 24-70mm f/2.0 lens. No one in the history of photography has ever made such a lens!
The closest lens is the current Canon 28-70mm f/2.0. But having 4 mm more at the wide end makes this lens much more attractive to a variety of photographers. You can shoot landscapes and take beautiful portraits–a real jack-of-all-trades!

From what I have heard, this lens should be about the same size as the Canon, while having a longer focal length. So it should still be “practical” and not too heavy. I have been told that the image quality is superb, and that there is no compromise in getting the 2.0 aperture.

I do not yet have an exact release date or pricing information to share. But I understand that this lens may be announced in the next few months, and my guess is that the price will be around 3000+.

But today’s rumor is good news for multiple reasons:

  • This appears to be the first in a new series of super-fast zooms and primes.
  • It seems that in general Sony wants to create an exciting “new kind” of product… not only in lenses, but also in cameras!

What else can we expect?

I am starting to get some rumors about the next upcoming superfast lens, the Sony 24-70 mm f/2.0, about which I will soon share some “wild rumors” (meaning they are unconfirmed).
I also got the first hints about the announcement of a major camera(s) coming in the second half of the year. I hope my dream of something “different” will come true….new RX fixed lens camera or some other exciting new camera concept.

Now, let me know in the comment system what you think about this lens, and what kind of super fast lens you hope to get after that one!

To sources:

If you happen to have more details about this new lens and also about the upcoming Sony cameras feel free to send me a message using this anonymous contact box (Please use a nickname so that I can recognize you in future). Or send me an email directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.

Five Japanese stores share the most sold cameras of January: Two OM Digital cameras make it into the top

Five large Japanese retailers open share the top 5 of the best selling cameras in January:

■Yodobashi Camera
1 Sony “α7 IV Zoom Lens Kit (ILCE-7M4K)”
2 Sony “α7 IV (ILCE-7M4)”
3 Fujifilm “X-T30 II XC15-45mm Lens Kit”
4 Sony “α7C II (ILCE- 7CM2)”
5 Sony “α7R V (ILCE-7RM5)”

■Bic Camera
1 Sony “VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit (ZV-E10L)”
2 Nikon “Z fc 16-50 VR Lens Kit”
3 Canon “EOS R50 RF-S18-45 IS STM Lens Kit”
4 Canon “EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit”
5 Olympus “PEN E-P7 EZ Double Zoom Kit”

■Camera Kitamura
1 Sony “VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit (ZV-E10L )”
2 Fujifilm “X-T5 XF18-55mm Lens Kit”
3 Canon “EOS R10/RF-S18-150 IS STM Lens Kit”
4 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
5 Canon “EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit”

■Map Camera
1 Sony “α7C II (ILCE-7CM2)”
2 Nikon “Z 8”
3 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
4 Fujifilm “X-T5”
5 Sony “α9 III (ILCE-9M3)”

■Fujiya Camera
1 Nikon “Z 8”
2 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
3 Sony “α9 III (ILCE-9M3)”
4 OM SYSTEM “OM SYSTEM OM-1 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II Kit”
5 Nikon “Z f”

 

a bit of everything…


G9ii feature that’s the best yet for Lumix?

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
The Results Are In & This Lens Get’s The WIN (Grant Robert).
That Micro 4/3 Guy‘ OM System Chat
How to Choose the Right Paper for Photo Prints (Explora).
Why You Should Use Continuous Light in Your Studio (42West).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.
I kindly invite you all to follow me on Youtube, Instagram, Threads for more broader camera talk :)