All these lenses are excellent….but Sony is even more efficient :) It is the lightest, most affordable and overall optically superior system too!

Sony trio:

• Sony 16-35mm GM II (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama)
• Sony 24-70mm GM II (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama)
• Sony 70-200mm GM II (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama)

Daniel Ockeloen is developing a grip extender for the new Sony A1II and Sony A9III. He writes:

As promised, an update on the design of the extender for the A1ii (and a9iii and probably a7V) I really want Sony or someone to make. This is now a fully working prototype: 17mm height, Airtag inside, Arca plate, Peak Design plug space, and easy battery swap. The Baby Extender Grip (BEG) is my way of begging some brand to make this. I am open to some people with 3D printers to share the files so you can test them. The core is now designed around an Airtag alu part from JJC.

The extender is compatible with popular Sony models such as the Sony A1 II, Sony A9 III, and Sony A7V.

He also made a special cooling grip:

Made a 2h22m 8k 25p 50hz, 520M 10bit 4:2:2 recording with my first test a1ii cooling grip. I just wanted to see if cooling in between the lcd and body would work. I think it can go unlimited in my test case at 20c room and no direct sunlight. I stopped it at that point. I also had to attach a usb bank to the a1ii because at 1h10m internal battery was at 10%. Did this because i was bored and well engineers that are bored start to fiddle and to provide feedback to Denz Ahmet. Ill report this back to smallrig sony design manager and maybe sony or smallrig or… will add something like this to their new cases as a option or build in. Canon made a 570 euro cooling grip for the R5ii that kind of does something like this and even this small test shows it could be done for the a1ii. I have no deep feelings if a a1ii should be used for 2hour 8k video thats up to people themselves and their usecases.

Cool project!

I always thought that the next big leap in image quality would be the move to three-layer sensor technology. Sigma has named the Foveon sensor as such. At Isscc from February 16-20, this will be one of the main points of discussion.

The 3-layer sensor technology (Foveon) is considered a potential future of imaging because it captures all three primary colors (RGB) at every pixel location, unlike traditional Bayer sensors that interpolate colors using a mosaic pattern. Here’s why it’s promising:

1. Superior Color Accuracy: Each pixel captures full RGB data, resulting in more accurate and natural colors compared to Bayer sensors.
2. Sharper Images: Without a Bayer filter, there’s no need for demosaicing, reducing artifacts like moiré and providing sharper details.
3. Better Micro-Contrast: Foveon sensors excel at reproducing fine details and textures, offering superior micro-contrast ideal for high-quality photography.
4. Simpler Workflow: Eliminates the need for anti-aliasing filters and complex post-processing for color reconstruction.
5. Potential for Innovation: With advancements in material science and processing technology, the challenges of high noise and limited ISO range in Foveon sensors can be addressed, unlocking their full potential.

If these challenges are overcome, Foveon and similar 3-layer sensors could redefine image quality, particularly for fields like fine art, product, and landscape photography.

A whole series of new global shutter sensors will also be presented at the same event. They are particularly interesting when it comes to video use. As a photographer, I’m more interested in seeing 3-layer technology in a future full-frame mirrorless camera. Sigma is working on it, but hasn’t gotten some production issues under control yet. Sony has patented several “ideas” in recent years, but there is still no indication of when their new sensors will be market ready.ensors will be market ready.

One insight from 2024 is that compact cameras with a fixed lens are back in fashion. This is what Techradar writes:

Zoomers embrace point-and-shoots, they don’t have a lot of choice when it comes to new gear. Perhaps that’s the point, and it’s all about vintage retro camera gear instead, which if true is great news for the secondhand market.

And that’s why the author writes:

I’d love to see an eighth iteration of the Sony RX100 series. The RX100 VII is five years old now, and Sony has done a lot since then, so a new model could be a seriously powerful pocket camera. What’s more likely, however, is a successor to 2016’s RX1R II – Sony’s pricier full-frame premium compact with a fixed 35mm lens. That series was hamstrung by its sky-high pricing (it wasn’t much cheaper than its Leica rival), but if Sony could make a next-gen model that’s priced a little closer to the Fujifilm X100VI, while adding a little retro flare, it’ll be a hit.

It would be stupid from Sony to miss out on the opportunity of this booming market!

Hollyland just announced the new Lark Wireless MIC you can preorder at Amazon and BHphoto.

First youtubers reviews:

Here are the results of the DPreview readers awards. The top 3 best products are:

1. Nikon Z6III
2. Canon R5II
3. Sony 28-70mm GM

My take on the single products:

1) The Nikon Z6III (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama) has the speed to beat the Sony A7IV, but the latter has better image quality (more resolution, a much wider dynamic range) and world-class autofocus. The soon the be announced Sony A7V needs to catch up in speed to beat the Nikon.

2) The Canon R5II (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama) is a hit. I like it and I think Sony should be worried about this camera model. It’s the one reason why I think Sony might anticipate the A7rVI launch to end 2025 (instead of 2026).

3) The Sony 28-70mm GM (Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama)  is a stunner. It proves once again that Sony is a leader in optical design technology. It is a pound lighter than the Canon and still optically superior. What more can you ask for? Ah yes… now I want a 70-150mm f/2.0 GM :)

Overall I would have put the Canon in first place and the Sony lens just behind. In third place I would not have chosen the Nikon…. but the FujiFilm X-M5. I know I am an anomaly here :)

What would have been your top three?

BCNranking published the top 50 of the best selling cameras on the Japanese market for the month of December. I marked in bold the Sony cameras in this list:

1. Canon EOS R10 RF-S18-150 IS STM Lens Kit
2. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit (Black)
3. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit (Black)
4. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit (Silver)
5. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit (Black)
6. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit (Black)
7. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit (White)
8. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Double Zoom Lens Kit (Black)
9. Nikon Z50 II Double Zoom Kit
10. Sony Alpha 6400 Double Zoom Lens Kit (Black)
11. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit (Black)
12. Panasonic LUMIX G100D W Kit
13. Nikon Z fc 16-50 VR Lens Kit (Silver)
14. Sony Alpha 6700 High Zoom Lens Kit
15. Canon EOS R50 RF-S18-45 IS STM Lens Kit Black
16. Canon EOS Kiss X10 EF-S18-55 IS STM Lens Kit Black
17. Canon EOS R50 RF-S18-45 IS STM Lens Kit White
18. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 Mark IV EZ Double Zoom Kit
19. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit White
20. Canon EOS Kiss X10 Double Zoom Kit Black
21. OLYMPUS PEN E-P7 EZ Double Zoom Kit Silver
22. Canon EOS R100 Double Zoom Kit
23. Nikon Z 30 Double Zoom Kit
24. Sony A6700 body
25. Lumix G100D kit
26. Nikon Z50II
27. Canon EOS RP/RF24-105 IS STM Lens Kit
28. Sony A7cII body
29. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit White
30. Nikon Z fc 16-50mm kit
31. Sony A6400 double zoom lens kit
32. White Sony ZV-E10 with powerzoom lens
33. Nikon Z30 16-50mm kit
34. Sony A7cII with zoom lens kit
35. Sony A7cII with zoom lens kit SILVER
36. Fujifilm X-T50 silver
37. Nikon Z 50 Double Zoom Kit
38. Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body
39. Canon EOS R10 18-145 Lens Kit
40. Nikon D7500
41. White Sony ZV-E10 with double lens kit
42. OM-5 with kit lens
43. OM-5 with kit lens Silver
44. Nikon Z f with 40mm lens
45. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 Mark IV EZ Double Zoom Kit Silver
46. Canon X90 with kit lens
47. Canon EOS R5II Body
48. Sony A7IV with kit lens
49. Nikon Z fc with 28mm lens
50. Olympus E-P7 with kit lens

A couple of things you learn from that ranking:

• Brands ranking: Sony (16 camera kits) Canon (13) Nikon (10) Om Digital (6) FujiFilm (3)  Panasonic (1)
• Of the 15 Sony cameras listed 8 are ZV-E10/II kits