I hate AI tools because it takes away the joy form authentic photography. But no matter what I think about it, I suspect that in one year from now it will be normal to use AI tools to modify your images. So I tried this morning to do something simple like adding cappuccino on a real photo of an empty cup. Watch the video to see how well this worked (and subscribe my youtube channel if you want to see more of this).

If you are interested in debating and learning how to use AI tools to modify your photos join our new Forum AI-imagelab.com (is now in BETA version).

Viltrox will soon announce two new lenses:

• Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 for APS-C E-mount autofocus lens (already available as X-mount on BHphoto).
• Viltrox 16mm (aperture unknown) Full Frame E-mount lens

Source Weibo

Zhongyi Optics released the 200mm f/4.0 for Sony FF E-mount cameras in China. US&Europe announcements will follow within 2 weeks and the lens will be available through their official Amazon store.

Specs:

• 11 elements in 7 groups of optical structures,
• 9 aperture blades,
• the closest focusing distance is 0.48 meters,
• 67mm filter interface,
• adopts APO and internal focus design,
• and the size of the lens body 75*186mm,
• weighing about 1300g,
• with Canon EF/RF, Nikon F/Z, Sony E, Fuji X/GFX, Hasselblad XCD and L mount,
• only priced at 3980 yuan (close to 600 Dollars)

In future photographers might use some AI to edit their own pictures. Adobe launched Firefly and I joined the Beta to see how it works. Sadly, the three tools that are interesting for us photographers are not activated yet: Inpainting (to remove and replace pieces of a photo), personalized results to create new images form your real photos and extend image (to increase the aspect ratio through AI interpolation).

The only tool I could play with is the text to image generation tool If you want to see how good (or bad) this works check out my video:

I am also Beta testing my new forum named AI-Imagelab (feelf ree to join).

BCNreport shared the latest Japanese February sales data:

Lens share by mount:

• E-mount 32.6%
• MFT 13.8%
• Canon EF 11.4%
• Nikon F 9.3%
• Fujifilm X 8.8%
• Nikon Z 8.5%
• Canon RF 7.7%

Lens share by manufacturer:

• Canon 17.1%
• Sigma 16.0%
• Tamron 15.1%
• Sony 14.2%
• Nikon 13.8%
• OM Digital Solutions 8.6%
• Panasonic 4.6%
• Fujifilm 4.2%

via DigicameInfo

Preorders:
17mm lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, WexUK.
23mm lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, WexUK.
50mm lens at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, FotoKoch, WexUK.

News and Reviews:
Press text at Explora. 17mm test at SonyAlphaBlog. 23mm test at SonyAlphaBlog. 50mm test at SonyAlphaBlog. 17mm lens review at Lensvid.

Youtube reviews:

Here are the lens specs:

17mm F4 DG DN | Contemporary (Full Frame)

• Lens construction: 9 elements in 8 groups
• Shortest shooting distance: 12cm
• Maximum magnification: 1:3.6
• Filter diameter: 55mm
• Size: φ64.0mm x 48.8mm (50.8mm for E mount version)
• Weight: 225g (220g for E-mount version)
• Magnetic metal cap

50mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary (Full Frame)

• Lens construction: 11 elements in 9 groups
• Shortest shooting distance: 45cm
• Maximum magnification: 1:6.9
• Filter diameter: 58mm
• Size: φ70.0 x 68.0mm (70.0mm for E mount version)
• Weight: 350g (345g for E-mount version)
• Compatible with magnetic metal caps

23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary (APS-C)

• Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups
• Shortest shooting distance: 25cm
• Maximum magnification: 1:7.3
• Filter diameter: 52mm
• Size: φ65.8 x 76.9mm
• Weight: 340g
• Mount: L mount, Sony E mount, Fujifilm X mount