I am a big user of Topaz Photo AI. I constantly use it to upscale my photos and my AI generated images I post on my Instagram account. And it now got a big update that brings the following improvements:

Basic Brush to edit subject selection

You can now access a new basic brush to manually refine auto-detected subjects:

You’ll also notice that softness / feathering is applied all at once instead of per stroke. Because the brush is for subject refinement rather than precise selection, it’s intended to be fast, simple, and easy instead of a comprehensive painting tool.

Apple Photos extension

You can now select Topaz Photo AI in the Apple Photos Edit → Extensions (…) menu:

Note: don’t use the right-click → Edit In menu because TPAI will open in standalone mode, which will prevent the finished image from automatically appearing in Apple Photos.

Better cropping

The Crop tool now always stays centered and works more intuitively than before:

Enhance Resolution parameters

You can now manually adjust Enhance Resolution parameters for more control over upscaling results:

These settings describe the input image rather than the strength of the effect. In other words, for each image there’s a perfect combination of optimal values that Autopilot tries to detect. If you feel like Autopilot’s not doing a good job, you can now experiment with them yourself:

• Suppress Noise: the level of color / luma noise in the input image
• Remove Blur: the degree of softness or motion/lens blur in the input image
• Fix Compression: the level of compression artifacts like jpeg blockiness and aliasing in the input image

Please let us know if you see Autopilot consistently misapplying settings for certain images.

Smaller faces are now sharper

v1.1.9 introduced a Face Recovery issue that caused unintentionally blurry output with smaller faces. This is now resolved:

Also, Face Recovery strength now defaults to 80 instead of 100, which leads to more natural results without visible compromise in recovery strength. We’ll continue investigating other known Face Recovery issues in the Roadmap.

Other improvements and fixes

• Added support for more DNG types (HDR, Monochrome)
• Add compression option for PNG exports
• Support for opening jif, jfi, jfif, and jpe files
• Lightroom Classic Plug-ins Extras integration now copies Rating and Keyword data, stacks images, and preserves metadata from sidecar files
• Fix issues with the command-line interface (CLI) for Windows and Mac

Phototrend interviewed Yu Takae, Senior Manager in charge of ILC product planning – interchangeable lens bodies – at Sony Corp. A couple of highlights:

About the APS-C strategy:

We believe that APS-C cameras can meet different needs than full-frame cameras, thanks to their compact size. Sony will therefore continue to rise to the challenge of creating attractive products not only for creating videos, but also for photographers.

About sports cameras future (Sony A1 and Sony A9II):

Our strategy for professional sports photographers is clear: we will continue to listen to professionals in the field and exceed their expectations.

On Sony lens roadmap:

I cannot predict exactly when and what type of lenses will be released, but we would like to offer more affordable lenses in the future.

On lens designs:

we are prioritizing significant reduction in size and weight to improve usability in more situations.

About the RX1 Full Frame series future:

Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you about the RX series. We can’t pronounce on the future in terms of future product planning, but we are always listening to consumers and will deliver what they want.

Sony Cyber-shot F505: 24 YEARS later! RETRO review vs F505v

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Full Frame Is a MUST for Landscapes? (Matti Sulanto).
Sigma 60-600mm lens test at Kitamura.
Ranking all of our Point & Shoots (Lensprotgo).
A Guide to Car Photography (42West).
Professional Creative Photography: Your Guide to the World of Lensbaby (Explora).

Follow our new Youtube channel.
I kindly invite you all to follow our Discord channel, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

We have our own Facebook camera groups you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony Alpha group.
Sony A1 group.
Sony A9 series group.
Sony A7r series group.
Sony A7s series group.
Sony A7 series group.

Sony just issued the following press text for the release of their new SPAD sensor. Not sure this sensor tech might be used on future APS-C and FF designs too. But surely this innovation sounds exciting:

Sony A7IV vs Panasonic S5 II in Low Light

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Canon shows their impressive new Deep learning image processing technology (MirrorlessRumors).
Sigma Creates a New Standard: 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for E and L-Mount (Explora).
DPReview TV: One simple fix to improve video autofocus
What is a Gobo in Lighting? (42West).
Don’t Buy This Lens Unless… | Sony 70-200 F/2.8 GM II Review (Peter Lindgren).

Follow our new Youtube channel.
I kindly invite you all to follow our Discord channel, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

We have our own Facebook camera groups you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony Alpha group.
Sony A1 group.
Sony A9 series group.
Sony A7r series group.
Sony A7s series group.
Sony A7 series group.

Voigtlander has announced three new lenses that will not be available for E-mount. But there is a fair chance some of those lenses will be released as E-mount version sometimes later. Also because at the CP+ show they already displayed a Z-mount version of this new 50mm lens (therefore hinting they will expand the mount options). So let’s check them out:

• 50mm f/1.0 Full Frame lens for Canon RF
• 35mm f/0.9 APS-C lens for Fuji X
• 27mm f/2.0 APS-C pancake lens for Fuji X

Honestly I like all three lenses a lot! I do own the Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 FE and I am super happy with it. If I would be a Sony APS-C camera owner I would gladly get a 27mm f/2.0 pancake lens. Such a lens is perfect for street photography!

Here are some images of the lenses displayed at the Cp+ show (courtesy of DC.watch and Mapcamera):

Samyang 2470 f2.8 vs Sony 2470 f2.8 GM II Comparison

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE II vs. Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM and Sigma f/1.4 (Lensvid).
Laowa 58mm F2.8 Macro 2:1 review by SonyAlphaBlog.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art Review (PCmag).
Capture One vs Lightroom | What You Need To Know (42West).
Anamorphic for All with Atlas Lens Co. Primes (Explora).

Follow our new Youtube channel.
I kindly invite you all to follow our Discord channel, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to not miss news and rumors

We have our own Facebook camera groups you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony Alpha group.
Sony A1 group.
Sony A9 series group.
Sony A7r series group.
Sony A7s series group.
Sony A7 series group.