New goodies from Falcam and New Year Giveaway!

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 FE review (Amateur Photographer).
On-Camera Monitors, Video Recorders, and Wireless Systems (Explora).
4 Professional Printing Trends Photographers Should Know in 2024 (42West).
Sony FE 70-200 f:4 Macro G OSS II Lens Review (Martin Gallego).
Patent application for an optical system based on Sigma’s 150-600mm F5-6.3, 200-800mm F5-6.3, and 80-600mm F5-6.3 (Asobinet).

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The A9III USA shipment start has been anticipated from Feb 21 to Feb 8 at BHphoto. Amazon (date will change soon). Adorama.

Reminder: A9III is in Stock in EU and Australia now:

Germany: Calumet Fotokoch. FotoErhardt.
UK: WexUK. ParkCameras. Jessops.
Italy: IlFotoamatore.
France: Digitphoto. Bastille.
Belgium: FotoGrobet.
Australia: CameraPro.

One source just told me that the Sony A1 firmware update will be released o February 10. I wasn’t able to double check this via trusted sources but to me it’s sounds likely to be true. I don’t know if also the Sony A7sIII will get the firmware on the same day (I guess so).

Like I told you previously expect to get a TON of new features…much more than anticipated by Sony ;)

I also hope that Sony will soon pre-announce firmware updates for other popular cameras like the Sony A7rV (which I do own), Sony A7IV and Sony A6700.

BCNranking collected the 2023 sales data from nearly half of all Japanese stores. And this gives us a pretty accurate idea how companies are doing.

In 2023 Sony managed to increase their market share in the mirrorless segment from 29,4% up to 34%. Keep in mind Japan is quite unique when it comes to the taste of cameras. OM Digital for example is on third place ahead of Nikon!

Here are the detailed of the rankings:

Mirrorless cameras:
1st Sony: 34% share (29.4%)
2nd place Canon: 28.3% share (31.7%)
3rd place OM Digital Solutions: 12.5% ​​share (14.3%)

DSLR cameras:
1st place Canon: 77.1% share (76.8%)
2nd place Nikon: 17.1% share (17.2%)
3rd place Ricoh Imaging: 5.8% share (5.7%)

Fixed lens cameras:
1st place Canon: 22.6% share (18.0%)
2nd place KODAK: 20.7% share (-)
3rd place Fujifilm: 18.1% share (17.1%)

Video cameras:
1st place in the digital video camera category Sony: 38.7% share (34.7%)
2nd place Panasonic: 36.4% share (42.4%)
3rd place DJI: 19.6% share (9.4%)

Action cameras:
1st place in action camera category GoPro: 53.7% share (57.7%)
2nd place Insta360: 18.1% share (7.9%)
3rd place DJI: 15.9% share (20.5%)

Interchangeable Lenses:
1st place Sigma: 17% share (14.5%)
2nd place Tamron: 15.4% share (-)
3rd place Sony: 15.2% share (16.4%)

Tripod/monopod:
1st place Hakuba Photo Industry: 29.6% share (30.9%)
2nd place Videndum Media Solutions/Manfrotto: 14.2% share (15.1%)
3rd place Slick: 14.2% share (14.4%)

Case/bag:
1st place in camera category Hakuba Photo Industry: 45.8% share (41.0%)
2nd place ELECOM: 16.5% share (17.5%)
3rd place Etsumi: 7% share (5.9%)

A couple of private thoughts:

• Sigma/Tamron/Sony leading the lens ranking makes it clear E-mount is doing well
• Sony is doing well in the video business…and I guess the FX lineup is playing an important role here
• I still think Sony is missing an opportunity by not really joining the action camera market.

You can preorder the lens at Meike Global and soon at Amazon US&EU. The lens will ship out end of February for $159 only. Below you can see a review of the Z-mount version: