Anti theft protection: JJC just announced a new Metal Thumb Up Grip with built-in AirTag compartment for the A7cII/A7cR cameras

JJC just launched new Metal Thumb Up Grip with built-in AirTag compartment for the A7cII/A7cR cameras. You can purchase it for $51 on Amazon US&EU (Click here). It is not yet available for other Alpha cameras, so you need to look for alternatives that can be found on Amazon:

Until companies start providing a built-in GPS anti-theft solution, this is your best chance to find your stolen equipment!

Sony A7cII at BHphoto, Amazon US&EU, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK. Sony AUS.
Sony A7cR at BHphoto, Amazon US&EU, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK. Sony AUS.

Just announced: new DxO PureRAW 4

Today DxO released the new DxO PureRAW 4 software (Click here). Below you can read the full press text and a couple of youtube reviews:

Press text:

DxO PureRAW 4 introduces a new generation of its breakthrough denoising AI and sets new industry standard for RAW image quality enhancement
With numerous workflow enhancements, DxO PureRAW 4 asserts its position as the indispensable first step in any photographer’s RAW processing workflow.

Paris (France): With a heritage spanning over two decades, DxO Labs continues to lead in optical corrections and RAW image processing by introducing DxO PureRAW 4 which sets new industry standards with its new generation AI denoising technology and improved lens softness correction. RAW enhancement with PureRAW 4 offers demanding photographers exceptional image quality by adjusting its image-correction algorithms in direct response to the lens and camera combination used to create each photo.

“PureRAW 4 features updated denoising and demosaicing algorithms, developed through our deep learning technology and billions of sample images,” explains Jean-Marc Alexia, VP of Product Strategy. “Helped by a real-time preview, this version also gives photographers greater control over their images, with additional settings and faster workflow features.”

Introducing DeepPRIME XD2: Advanced Deep Learning-Powered Denoising and Demosaicing

In 2022, DxO’s DeepPRIME XD technology set a new standard in noise reduction and demosaicing. Building on this legacy, DeepPRIME XD2, trained on billions of images, advances further, producing images of unprecedented clarity and detail.

“XD2 is the culmination of years of high-level research,” explains Wolf Hauser, Head of Science at DxO. “The neural network we have built continues to get smarter, surprising us by how images keep getting crisper and cleaner.”

Unique and improved lens softness correction

Even the best lenses lose sharpness towards the edge of the frame, and image softness is often most obvious when budget optics or complex multi-element zoom lenses are involved. To rectify this, PureRAW offers a unique approach to optical sharpening. It is a process enabled by DxO Optics Modules whereby mathematical models are developed from observing each lens’ performance across the entire field of view and focal range. This modeling ensures that precise, incremental, levels of sharpening are applied across the image in direct response to the lens’ measured performance. This is why software that uses global sharpening cannot compete with DxO’s laboratory-based lens testing.

Advanced settings for denoising processing

DxO PureRAW has always delivered excellent results without the need for guesswork and complex sliders. However, for those photographers who want to fine-tune their results, version 4 introduces a new level of control through the addition of new sliders like Luminance and Force Details.

This new version also provides real-time correction previews so that photographers can get an immediate sense of how images will be processed, and get direct feedback if they choose to make any adjustments.

Major workflow upgrades

A new widget detects when memory cards and external drives are connected, launching DxO PureRAW 4 automatically so that photographers can quickly begin ingesting and processing RAW files. The widget also acts as a hub to keep photographers updated on the status of tasks. In addition, photographers can now use advanced batch renaming. For example, mixing plain text with automated tokens to fit any naming convention.

Finally, version 4 allows users to compare different output files (DNG, TIFF, JPEG) with the original RAW file when viewing images after processing, and has a revamped processing window for greater efficiency.

Price and availability

DxO PureRAW 4 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/) at the following prices:

DxO PureRAW 4 €/$119 £109
DXO PureRAW 4 Upgrade €/$79 £69

Sigma Japan apologizes for possible shipment delays of the 500mm lens because of “high demand”

Preorders:
500mm f/5.6 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
15mm f/1.4 fisheye at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK.

Google translated press text from Sigma Japan:

Apology regarding the supply status of “SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports”

Thank you for using Sigma products.

Regarding the “SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports” scheduled to be released on March 14, 2024 (Thursday), we have received more orders than we expected, and we are currently unable to keep up with demand. We now have. Therefore, some customers may take some time to receive their products.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers and related parties who are waiting for the product, but we are currently working diligently to produce it, so we ask for your patience.
We appreciate your continued patronage of our company and our products.

Five Japanese stores share the most sold cameras of January: ZVE10 and A7cII selling hot

Five large Japanese retailers open share the top 5 of the best selling cameras in January:

■Yodobashi Camera
1 Sony “α7 IV Zoom Lens Kit (ILCE-7M4K)”
2 Sony “α7 IV (ILCE-7M4)”
3 Fujifilm “X-T30 II XC15-45mm Lens Kit”
4 Sony “α7C II (ILCE- 7CM2)”
5 Sony “α7R V (ILCE-7RM5)”

■Bic Camera
1 Sony “VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit (ZV-E10L)”
2 Nikon “Z fc 16-50 VR Lens Kit”
3 Canon “EOS R50 RF-S18-45 IS STM Lens Kit”
4 Canon “EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit”
5 Olympus “PEN E-P7 EZ Double Zoom Kit”

■Camera Kitamura
1 Sony “VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit (ZV-E10L )”
2 Fujifilm “X-T5 XF18-55mm Lens Kit”
3 Canon “EOS R10/RF-S18-150 IS STM Lens Kit”
4 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
5 Canon “EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit”

■Map Camera
1 Sony “α7C II (ILCE-7CM2)”
2 Nikon “Z 8”
3 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
4 Fujifilm “X-T5”
5 Sony “α9 III (ILCE-9M3)”

■Fujiya Camera
1 Nikon “Z 8”
2 Canon “EOS R6 Mark II”
3 Sony “α9 III (ILCE-9M3)”
4 OM SYSTEM “OM SYSTEM OM-1 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II Kit”
5 Nikon “Z f”

What I learned from this ranking:

  • 9 of the 25 cameras listed here are from Sony. Followed by Canon (7) Nikon (4) Fujifilm (3) and OM Digital (2)
  • ZV-E10 is still selling hot and the A7cII is doing pretty well too.

I do not expect any major change i the February ranking but I bet the March ranking will show the new Fujifilm X100VI on top of most stores. And once the Sony ZV-E10II gets announced in Spring we will see this camera on top too.

via Digicameinfo

New images of the Laowa 15mm f/5 FFII FE lens

The new lens appeared at the CP+ 2024 exhibition. It is suitable for full-frame cameras. It will be launched for Sony E, Canon R, Nikon Z, Leica L and Leica M mount versions. The aperture range F5-F22, minimum focusing distance 0.12 meters, 0.2x magnification, manual focus, compatible with 39mm filter, lens size approximately 67.1 × 42mm, weight approximately 160g.

 

via Weibo

Sony Tidbits…


Sony’s Optical Steady Shot (OSS) is seldom talked about these days as the IBIS system has taken over

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Review (Artur R).
Yongnuo 11mm F1.8 DA DSM WL review by SonyAlphaBlog.
Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G Review (Photographylife).
Godox Announces 3 Additions to its KNOWLED Lineup (Explora).
What is Focus Breathing? (42West).
7Artisans Goes AF –50mm F1.8 Is The First Ever AF Lens (Matti Sulanto).

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