If you shoot with Sony Alpha gear, you know the frustration of “almost perfect” shots: Maybe it’s an A7R V landscape that loses its bite after a heavy crop, an A7S III low-light frame that lacks the resolution for a gallery print, a wildlife shot that came out just a bit too soft, or massive 10-bit XAVC S files that are quickly exhausting your SSD storage. None of these are capture failures — they’re post-production bottlenecks. Winxvideo AI serves as a powerful post-production extension of Sony’s BIONZ XR processing limits.

Limited-Time Offer for SAR Readers

For a limited time, the SAR community can get a lifetime license of Winxvideo AI at a 55% discount ($39.95, down from $89.95). This includes unlimited free updates and 30-day money-back guarantee—a solid utility for anyone needing to enhance blurry and noisy shots or manage massive file archives.

55% off Winxvideo AI lifetime license – one-time payment, free updates forever >>

A Comprehensive AI Toolkit for the Sony Ecosystem

Winxvideo AI isn’t a one-trick pony; it’s a full “Image + Video + Audio” toolkit that combines cutting-edge AI enhancement tools with a professional-grade converter, compressor, downloader, recorder, and editor.

For Sony users, this makes it particularly useful as a bridge between raw capture and delivery. Whether you’re working with older A-mount photos, high-resolution Alpha RAWs, or large 10-bit XAVC S clips from FX-series cameras, Winxvideo AI is designed to handle batch-heavy, real-world workflows.

Image AI: Detail Reconstruction without the “Plastic” Look

The biggest hurdle with AI-enhanced images is often that “plastic” look—waxy skin, smeared foliage, or over-sharpened edges. Instead of one-size-fits-all approach, Winxvideo AI uses four tailored models—GenDetail V3, Real Smooth V3, Zyxt, and Anime—to ensure that each enhancement based on content and keep the shot remain faithful to the Sony sensor’s look. It handles everything from high-bitrate Sony RAW files to HEIC and TIFF with full batch processing support.

Upscale to 10K for Crops and Large Prints

Winxvideo AI supports up to 4X upscaling, enabling outputs up to 10K resolution while maintaining structural integrity. This can be useful when rescuing aggressive cropping or preparing large-scale prints from low-resolution captures— for example, extending a 12MP A7S III still or recovering a cropped A7R V frame.

Image showcase 1: A Sony RAW file upscaled to 10K via GenDetail V3, revealing the bee’s delicate antennae and intricate floral veins with lifelike clarity.

Sharpen Details and Fix Soft Shots

For images that missed focus by a small margin, the Image AI can reconstruct lost edges and restore fine structures, keeping the fine structure in fur, feathers, and foliage that usually turn to “mush” in standard upscalers. This is especially helpful for wildlife or sports shooters where reshooting isn’t an option.

Image showcase 2: Take a look at the bird’s feather details — blurred in the image on the left and enhanced with fine texture on the right using Winxvideo AI.

High-ISO Denoising without Over-Smoothing

When capturing handheld blue-hour cityscapes, or fast-action indoor sports, high ISO is unavoidable. Even on sensors like the α7S III or FX30, deep shadows can suffer from grain crawl or blotchy skin tones. Winxvideo AI bypasses the waxy in-camera smoothing. It can denoise photo and maintain real skin textures, natural grain, and tonal depth.

Image showcase 3: A Sony A7 series night shot processed with Real Smooth V3, showing cleaner shadow areas while preserving organic textures.

Face Restoration and Photo Colorization

The tailored AI models can fix soft-focus faces in older family archives with every detail refined and accurately colorize black-and-white photos from the early Alpha era with surprising realism.

Image showcase 4: A before-and-after restoration of the portrait, illustrating reduced blur and improved facial detail, with clearly defined eyelashes and sharper pupils after processing with Winxvideo AI.

AI-Powered Video Toolkit: A Batch-Processing Powerhouse for XAVC S Enhancement and Processing

For video shooters handling everything from 10-bit vlogs to high-speed action, Winxvideo AI addresses the “storage vs. quality” dilemma. It combines a high-efficiency AI enhancement engine with a professional-grade video toolkit, all supporting batch processing to handle entire shoot days at once.

• AI Upscaling & Blur Fix: Older1080p/720p/480p footages, high-ISO clips, or slightly soft recordings can be upscaled to 4K while improving edge clarity and reducing shadow noise. This is particularly helpful when integrating legacy footage into modern 4K standards.
• Smooth out Motion and Shaky Clips: Acts as a great supplement to Sony’s Active Mode by removing micro-jitters in handheld telephoto footage. Includes AI frame interpolation to turn 24fps cinematic footage into fluid 60/120fps without the unnatural “soap opera effect”.
• GPU-Accelerated Transcoding: Converts XAVC S/HS, 10-bit 4:2:2 into widely supported formats (MP4, MOV, MKV, HEVC, H.264) for social media or client previews, with full GPU acceleration.
• Storage-Friendly Compression (90% Smaller): Shrinks massive 4K 10-bit archives by up to 90%, keeping your high-quality library intact without constant NAS upgrades.
• Plus: Screen recording, downloading, quick editing (cut, crop, merge, rotate), all backed by hardware acceleration for faster batch exports.

Image showcase 5: A screenshot of the Winxvideo AI interface, demonstrating all key features in one unified interface.

Audio AI: Clean Up Field Recordings and Fix Vocals in Windy or Noisy Environments

Street noise or wind can easily sneak into your footage, even when using quality mics like the Sony ECM-B1M. The built-in Audio AI helps remove background hum and separates vocals from ambient noise, allowing for a clean edit directly from the field without a dedicated audio engineer. You can also convert audio files to MP3, AAC, AC3, FLAC, etc, instantly fix audio-video sync issue, and handle basic parameter adjustments like codecs, sample rates, etc.

55% Off Christmas Special to Enjoy Winxvideo AI’s Full Features

To fully integrate Winxvideo AI into your production pipeline, you can take advantages of the Christmas special and secure a lifetime license for just $39.95 (originally $89.95). Unlike subscription-based software that drains your budget every month, this one-time payment grants lifetime access, unlimited free updates, and full feature access to 3 bonus apps for iPhone manager, background removal, and data backup.

Enter Winxvideo AI special deal page today. See how Winxvideo AI transform your Sony media workflow and take your Alpha-captured content to next level.

Tony Northrup listed his BOLD predictions for 2026:

1. Sony: Sony A7S IV (video-centric hybrid; likely ~24MP, proper EVF, improved cooling, possible 6K)
2. Sony: FX3 update/FX3 Mark II (expected to share the A7S IV’s updated sensor and cooling system)
3. Sony: RX100 series revival (new RX100; built-in flash; likely drop EVF and flip screen; improved AF; around $1,500)
4. Sony (wishful): Entry-level full-frame “A5” priced below $1,500 to compete with Canon/Nikon

His most confident Sony prediction is the arrival of the A7S IV. The A7S III is now about five years old, which is ancient by Sony standards, yet it remains one of the most trusted hybrid video cameras on the market. He emphasizes that reliability is the reason people still use it: rock-solid autofocus, zero overheating drama, and predictable performance in the field.

The A7S IV, in his view, doesn’t need radical specs. He argues Sony should abandon the ultra-low megapixel approach and move to something closer to a 24MP sensor, giving users more flexibility without sacrificing video performance. A modest jump to 6K video, improved processing, and an updated body with a proper viewfinder would be more than enough to keep the A7S line dominant. This isn’t about spec chasing — it’s about refining what already works.

An FX3 refresh follows naturally

In the same breath, he predicts an update to the FX3. His assumption is simple: Sony will reuse the same updated sensor and cooling system from the A7S IV. This fits Sony’s usual strategy of spreading sensor development across multiple bodies. The FX3 II wouldn’t need flashy changes — just improved thermal handling, incremental AF improvements, and continued focus on professional reliability.

The RX100 comeback: Sony reads the room

One of his more interesting predictions is the return of the RX100 line. He sees compact fixed-lens cameras as one of the hottest segments right now, driven by nostalgia, the ‘90s digicam aesthetic, and a growing rejection of smartphone photography. People want something small, simple, and separate from their phones — and the RX100 concept fits that perfectly.

He expects Sony to simplify the design. That means dropping the pop-up EVF and the flip screen, keeping either a basic tilt screen or a fixed one, and focusing on fast autofocus and a built-in flash. This wouldn’t be a vlogging camera; it would be a “take it to a party and photograph your friends” camera. He estimates a price closer to $1,500, positioning it well below luxury compacts like the RX1R III, which he openly criticizes as wildly overpriced for what it offers.

The missing piece: an entry-level full-frame Sony

This is where prediction turns into strong wishful thinking. He argues that Sony desperately needs an entry-level full-frame camera — often referred to as an “A5” — priced below $1,500. Right now, Sony pushes buyers in that range toward APS-C bodies that feel outdated and cramped for professional use, while Canon and Nikon both offer compelling full-frame options at similar prices.

He doesn’t claim this will definitely happen in 2026, but he makes it clear that Sony is falling behind strategically if they ignore this segment much longer. If Sony wants to maintain dominance among new photographers and hybrid shooters, they can’t rely forever on older APS-C designs to fill that role.

Sony’s bigger picture: safe, calculated dominance

Overall, his Sony outlook is not about bold experiments or radical new categories. It’s about Sony doing what Sony does best: refining sensor technology, extending platforms across multiple bodies, and capitalizing on trends once they are clearly proven. Unlike other brands, Sony doesn’t need to gamble — they already sit in a position of strength.

If he’s right, 2026 won’t be a “shock” year for Sony. Instead, it will be a year where long-standing gaps finally get filled, overdue updates arrive, and Sony quietly reinforces why so many professionals and enthusiasts continue to rely on their ecosystem.

Do you agree that Sony should play it safe in 2026 — or do you think it’s time for a truly disruptive move?

7Artisans announced a new “LITE” Series with three new lenses:

• AF 25mm F1.8 (here at BHphoto)
• AF 35mm F1.8 (here at BHphoto)
• AF 50mm F1.8 (here at BHphoto)

Mounts Supported: E/X mounts. 

They all have autofocus and weight of around 180g.

The lenses will start to be available for preorder on December 30. No idea about pricing yet

Dear SAR readers, I simply want to wish all of you Merry Christmas!

Quick family break for me—heading out for some ski touring tomorrow. Then it’s back to the rumor mill. I know Sony has a special announcement lined up in the next 1–2 months, so stay tuned ;)

The massive Sony holiday savings at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama will end on December 28

Sony Camera rebates:

• $500 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A1 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $900 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7R V at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $300 off on the Sony FX2 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
• $200 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7CR at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $700 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7 IV at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $200 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7C II at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $500 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7 III at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $300 off and $50 cashback on the Sony A7C (Silver) at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $300 off and $50 cashback on the FX30 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
• $200 discount on the Sony RX100VII at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
• $100 off on the Sony A6700 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $100 off on the Sony ZV-E10 II (Black) at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $100 off on the Sony A6400 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• $100 off on the Sony ZV-E10 (Black) at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama

Sony A7V preorders:
In USA at at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Henrys.
In EU at  Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, Foto Köster, WexUK, Clifton, Park UK, Fnac FR.
In Australia at: Camera Pro, Sony Australia.

Our reader Robin Chee performed an overheating test on the Sony A7V and concluded:

The thermals are fantastic.. I tested recording 4k60 to dual cards simultaneously with the lcd closed at ambient 30degreeC, with usbc power. It lasted 12hrs 59mins before the internal limit cut in and recording stopped. The only cameras to match this are A7s3 and FX series. Neither the a1ii or a9iii could match it by far.

If you’ve run your own tests, drop them in—I’m all ears. From what I’m seeing, this looks like a rock‑solid workhorse. No Open Gate, true, but it also doesn’t overheat like the Canon R6 III.

–

One more tutorial video: