CP+ Japan 2024 Highlights from BH

This is BHphoto’s report from the CP+ show. You can see the OM booth from minute 2:18 and the Lumix booth from minute 3:46.

OM-1II at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.
150-600mm at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.
9-18mm at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.

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.
Up Close: Transforming the Small into the Spectacular | Hosted by OM SYSTEM (Explora).
My Volleyball Photography Spiked with the Lumix G9II (Marlene Hielema)
OM-1 MarkII. Test ambassadeur OM SYSTEM
How to Shape Studio Light Using V-Flat Boards (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 :)

New OM-1II and 150-600mm are now shipping out in USA&EU

Today the official shipping of the newly announced OM Digital products starts. If you had pre-ordered something, you should receive it very soon ;)

OM-1II at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.
150-600mm at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.
9-18mm at Amazon US&CA&EU, BHphoto, Adorama, Om Digital,
FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK. OM Germany, OM UK, OM, Italy, OM France.

Source says there is no product announcement event on March 4

This week OM Ambassadors teased about something BIG coming on March 4th. I was already skeptical that this would be about a new product. Now one trusted source told me he heard nothing about a new OM Digital product. My bet now is that this is about something completely else….like a special event presentation or whatever…

a bit of everything…


It’s here: the new OM-1 Mark II

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
OM System Launches OM-1 Mark II Camera with Computational Capabilities: Hands-On Review with Susan Magnano (42West).
OM System OM1 Mkii & 300-600 Lens. Are We Losing Our Way? (Brian James).
What is the Best-Looking Camera Ever Made? (Explora).
OM-1II review at Mapcamera.

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 :)

CIPA outlook for 2024: “outlook is less than bullish”

CIPA released a forecast for 2024. They think the market will slightly contract further with 4% less of camera shipments (in terms of numbers). Here is their full press text:

2024 Outlook on the Shipment by Product-Type Concerning Cameras and Related Goods

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA: President Hiroyuki Ikegami) has announced the outlook on the shipment by product-type concerning cameras and related goods for the 2024.

1. Track Record of Digital Camera Shipments 2023
While total shipments of digital cameras were 96.4% those of the previous year, and the mainstay “interchangeable-lens” type cameras were 101.2% and the leading mainstay “mirrorless” cameras were 118.6%, a two-digit growth.

In 2023 (January to December cumulative), the total shipments of digital cameras were 7,720,505 units, 96.4% of the previous year. (The attached “Outlook” table shows the figures in units of 10,000.). However, shipments of interchangeable-lens digital cameras, which account for 78% of total shipments, were 5,998,913 units, 101.2% of the previous year. Moreover, those of the leading mainstay, mirrorless cameras, which account for 81% of interchangeable-lens digital cameras, reached 4,832,813 units, 118.6% of the previous year. Now that an enormous number of people are immediately becoming well-versed in photos and heavy photo users by taking a lot of photos continuously as soon as they have a smartphone in hand, interchangeable-lens digital cameras and mirrorless cameras are a receptacle for

Shipments to China and other regions: more than 100% of the previous years, even for digital cameras in total

Shipments of mirrorless cameras were more than 100% of the previous years in all regions. However, as for those of digital cameras in total, there were clear differences among regions.
Shipments to Japan were 98.1%, to Asia (except for Japan and China) 98.2%, to Europe 80.8% and to the Americas 94.3%. In contrast, shipments to China were 124.7%, and to other regions 104.0%.
As for China, while there were some negative reports on general economic trends in 2023, the digital camera market performed well or quite well. As decreases in shipments to Japan and Asia (except for Japan and China) were less than 2%, total shipments to Japan, China, and Asia (except for Japan and China), or shipments to all Asian destinations, now account for almost half, 46.1%, of total shipments worldwide. Although shipments of digital cameras in total were less than the previous year, it should be noted that by category, mirrorless cameras remain popular and that by region, China and other regions are gaining momentum.

2. Shipments of Interchangeable Lenses in 2023. Total shipments of interchangeable lenses were 99.1% of the previous year, a slight decrease. Shipments of lenses for cameras of a format smaller than 35mm were 100.1%.

The total shipments of interchangeable lenses were 9,638,752 units, 99.1% of the previous year. While the figure slightly decreased, it exceeded 1.6 times that of interchangeable-lens digital cameras (body only) (for every interchangeable-lens digital camera, 1.6 units of interchangeable lenses were shipped in 2023). They continued to make a presence as another mainstay product that determines the range of expression with digital cameras. By category, lenses for cameras of a format smaller than 35mm, such as APS-C and Micro Four Thirds for lightweight and compact-sized interchangeable-lens digital cameras, were shipped in higher quantities than the previous year.

3. Shipping Outlook 2024

Total digital camera shipments in 2024 (from January to December cumulative) are expected to be 7.41 million units, which is 96.0% of the previous year, including 860,000 units or 94.5% to Japan,
and 6.55 million units or 96.2% to countries other than Japan.
By category, the total shipments of interchangeable-lens digital cameras are expected to be 5.89 million units, which is 98.2% of the previous year, including 510,000 units or 98.1% to Japan, and 5.38 million units or 98.2% to countries other than Japan, and that of digital cameras with built-in lens is 1.52 million units or 88.4%, including 350,000 units or 89.7% to Japan, and 1.17 million units or 88.0% to countries other than Japan.
As for interchangeable-lens digital cameras, it is 9.57 million units or 99.3% of the previous year, including 1.03 million units or 100.0% to Japan, and 8.54 million units or 99.3% to countries other than Japan. As the market experienced a slowdown slightly toward the end of 2023, this outlook is less than bullish. However, digital cameras are items closely connected to “outdoor demands” and “outing demands.” In association with the current trend breaking away from the COVID-19 pandemic, further growth is expected.