For a limited time you save $30 on the new version of the well known Topaz Photo AI software (Click here).

You can download the latest firmware here:
GH7/G9II: https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

Panasonic has announced a series of new firmware updates for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S5II and S5IIX, as well as its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless GH7 and G9II cameras, aimed at improving the shooting experience and enhancing functionality.

Aligned with LUMIX’s ongoing commitment to supporting creators, the latest firmware updates will be available to download free of charge from the LUMIX Global Customer Support website on January 23, 2025.

LUMIX GH7 Firmware Version 1.3

• Compatibility with the LUMIX Lab smartphone app has been expanded to include remote shooting, shutter control, image transfer directly from the camera, and a wireless live streaming feature for enhanced functionality.
• A display feature for multiple frame markers has been added, allowing for the simultaneous display of up to three frame markers. The size and position of each frame marker can be adjusted, adding versatility for content creators framing for different aspect ratios or planning shots with multiple compositions. This further enhances the unrivaled convenience of shooting in Open Gate.
• MP4(Lite) compatibility has been added, enabling video recording in Open Gate mode with reduced data consumption without compromising resolution. This new smartphone-optimized format makes it easier to quickly share content on social media.
• Operational stability has been improved.

LUMIX G9II Firmware Version 2.3

• Compatibility with the LUMIX Lab smartphone app has been expanded to include remote shooting, shutter control, and the transfer of images selected on the camera, enhancing its functionality.
• The highly accurate phase hybrid auto focus system has been further improved with enhanced subject detection. A new option is now available to select detection of airplanes and trains, as well as specific parts of cars and motorcycles.
• A display feature for multiple frame markers has been added, allowing for the simultaneous display of up to three frame markers. The size and position of each frame marker can be adjusted, adding versatility for content creators framing for different aspect ratios or planning shots with multiple compositions. This further enhances the unrivaled convenience of shooting in Open Gate.
• The Crop Zoom feature has been introduced, enabling the extraction of the central part of an image and enhancing the zoom effect without degrading image quality. This feature also allows prime lenses to be used as if they have a longer focal length, enhancing the versatility of existing lenses in different shooting scenarios.
• MP4(Lite) compatibility has been added, enabling video recording in Open Gate mode with reduced data consumption without compromising resolution. This new smartphone-optimized format makes it easier to quickly share content on social media.
• Operational stability has been improved.

Pelican dropped a ton of new products you can get now at BHphoto and Adorama. A helpful introduction text can be read at Explora.

Press text:

In a world where visuals dominate, high-quality images are essential for standing out. From creating professional content to sharing moments online or preserving cherished memories, the demand for high-quality images is universal. Yet, not every photo or graphic is perfect straight out of the box. This is where Aiarty Image Enhancer steps in to close the gap, a generative AI image enhancement software to denoise, deblur, generate more details, and upscale images. With its latest V3.0 update, Aiarty Image Enhancer introduces 2 new AI models and an AI Face Restoration, which recovers photorealistic facial details, making every shot usable.

Aiarty Image Enhancer New Year Special Offer Benefits

Before we dive into the details, it’s important to highlight that Aiarty is currently offering an unbeatable New Year deal! For just $99, you can secure lifetime access for 3 PCs or 3 Macs, a 36% discount off the regular price. This one-time purchase grants you free lifetime usage and free updates—no recurring fees! Plus, enjoy the security of our 30-day money-back guarantee. And that’s not all! If you act now, you’ll also receive two incredible bonus gifts:

• Aiarty Image Matting 1-Year License (AI-powered precise background removal and image blending)
• VideoProc Converter (Convert between MKV, MTS, MOV, AVI, MP4, and more. Transcode H.264 and HEVC. Plus, download, compress, record, and quickly edit videos).

This is your chance to take your image and video to the next level – don’t miss out on this game-changing offer!

Aiarty Image Enhancer 3.0: A Leap Forward with Game-Changing Features

1) Two New AI Models for Enhanced Image Detail and Clarity

Aiarty 3.0 introduces More-Detail GAN v3 and AIGCsmooth v3, two powerful AI models designed to significantly improve image detail and quality.

• More-Detail GAN v3: This enhanced version of “More-Detail GAN v2” brings improved texture stability and more precise detail generation. With this update, Aiarty can now produce images that are smoother, clearer, and more refined, offering you a more realistic and polished final product. The model excels at maintaining consistency across textures, making it perfect for professional-grade images.

• AIGCsmooth v3: Specifically built to support AI-generated images, this new model focuses on enhancing image clarity and producing smoother, high-quality visuals. It ensures that AI-generated content looks more natural, with fewer visible artifacts, and enhances overall image quality, whether you’re working with original photos or AI-created artwork.

2) New AI Face Restoration Feature

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 introduces a powerful new AI Face Restoration feature that elevates facial details with exceptional precision and natural realism. By leveraging advanced algorithms, it addresses common image flaws such as skin blemishes, inconsistent focus, and missing features like eyebrows or teeth, all while maintaining the face’s natural appearance. The inclusion of Gradient Overlay and Routine Overlay ensures that key facial elements are enhanced with exceptional accuracy, producing a smooth, lifelike result. Whether enhancing low-resolution images, AI-generated faces, or group portraits, Aiarty’s Face Restoration delivers sharper, clearer, and more vibrant images, transforming your photos into professional-quality visuals with a realistic, fresh touch.

3) Flexible DPI Output Settings

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 now offers a range of customizable DPI output options, including 72DPI, 96DPI, 150DPI, 200DPI, 300DPI, 500DPI, and 1000DPI, giving users the flexibility to adjust image resolution according to their printing needs. This feature is especially useful for photographers and designers who need to convert digital images into high-quality prints for exhibitions, sales, or marketing materials. With these DPI settings, Aiarty makes it easier than ever to ensure your images meet the specific requirements for professional-quality prints.

Discover More of Aiarty Image Enhancer

Aiarty Image Enhancer is a state-of-the-art generative AI software that harnesses the power of advanced AI technology to denoise, deblur, upscale, and add intricate details to images, resulting in exceptional clarity and resolution. Capable of upscaling images up to an impressive 16K/32K, Aiarty effortlessly enhances AI-generated visuals, restores damaged photos, and improves low-quality JPEGs with just a few clicks. In addition to its newly introduced features, here are some standout capabilities that make Aiarty Image Enhancer truly unique:

• AI Image Denoise: Utilizes advanced deep learning to detect and remove noise, improving image clarity under conditions like low light, high ISO, and compression artifacts.
• AI Image Deblur: Corrects blurry, pixelated, or out-of-focus images, effortlessly transforming them into high-resolution, sharp visuals.
• Details Generation: Enhances details in elements such as skin, hair, textures, and lines, while preserving the original integrity of the image, adding realism and depth.
• AI Upscaling: Upscales images up to 32K without loss of quality or artifacts. It includes pre-set upscaling profiles like x1, x2, x4, x8, 1K, 2K, 4K, and 8K for easy use.
• Hardware Acceleration: Works seamlessly with both GPU and CPU, ensuring fast and efficient performance across different systems.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with real-time previews, making it accessible for both professionals and casual users.
• Batch Processing: Supports processing up to 3,000 images at once, saving time on large image collections.
• Offline Processing: Allows secure image processing without an internet connection, offering enhanced privacy and reliability.
• Format Support: Compatible with a wide variety of image formats, making it adaptable for multiple use cases.

Conclusion

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 delivers game-changing upgrades, from cutting-edge AI models to advanced face restoration and customizable DPI settings, making image enhancement smoother and more precise than ever. With these powerful features, you’ll create stunning, high-resolution images in no time. Plus, with Aiarty’s unbeatable New Year Special Offer, you can get lifetime access for just $99 (a 36% discount) and score two amazing bonus gifts. Don’t let this limited-time opportunity pass you by—elevate your image quality now with Aiarty!

5 Tips To Get BETTER Image Quality Using Micro Four Thirds Camera

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
I Wanted To Know Can An Upscaled 20mp Image File Compare To A Native 46mp Image File in Detail And Sharpness? (TheWanderinglensman).
Choosing the Right Softbox: Does Shape Matter? (42West)
Top Tech for Creators (Explora)
G100D review at Dc.watch.

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.

The new LaCie 4TB Rugged SSD Pro5 Thunderbolt 5 External SSD is available for preorder at BHphoto.

Explora writes:

LaCie announced their latest high-speed storage drive with the new Rugged SSD Pro5! Featuring blazing-fast ransfer speeds and a unique reinforced form factor, the Rugged SSD Pro5 is a must-have travel accessory for photographers and videographers on the go.
Backed by Thunderbolt 5 technology, the Pro5 gives you ultra-fast read and write speeds up to 6700 and 5300 MB/s, respectively, when you enable the 50GB cache, enabling you to operate your workload with support for 6K and 8K resolution video files directly from the drive rather than moving information to and from your system. Otherwise, you get read speeds up to 5000 MB/s and write speeds up to 1800 MB/s, which is still sufficient for managing your data.

Built with at least 45% recycled materials, the Pro5 not only is environmentally sound, but also lends itself to the IP68 rating, making it resistant to both dust and water as well as drops from up to 9.8 feet. It can even withstand crushing from vehicles weight up to 2 tons! 

The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 comes in either 2TB or 4TB models, includes a 5-year limited warranty, and Rescue Data Recovery Services which helps recover any potential data loss in the event of a mechanical, accidental, or natural disaster. World-class data recovery experts attempt to make a recovery of your information which is then sent back to you in an encrypted storage device. Additionally, users get a one-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud.

OM System Australia is promoting an OM System Day event on February 16 (click here). They don’t mention the launch of a new product, but I’m sure the OM-3 will be available for testing at this event :)