Youtuber TheFilmGuy says he chatted with a Sony rep who told him that False Color and Open Gate aren’t used much, so Sony doesn’t see much value in adding them. In addition, they asked Sony to add internal RAW recording to its budget cameras and to update the FX9/FX6 line, as it is unable to compete with the new C400 and C80 models.

I’m not sure if this Sony representative really knows the details of Sony’s strategy, as I know from experience that Sony Japan maintains the utmost secrecy when it comes to discussing future strategy. But I am sure that Sony will eventually learn from the progress made by its competitors and catch up by adding those missing features to future models, such as the FX3II.

One more thing: ProAV explains why Open Gate is so important:

BCN has released the detailed list of top-selling cameras for September. Their data covers roughly 50% of all Japanese retail stores, making it the most accurate snapshot of the market available.

Top 20 cameras:

1. Canon EOS R10 RF-S18-150mm IS STM Lens Kit
2. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit Black
3. Sony ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit Black
4. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit Silver
5. Nikon Z30 Double Zoom Kit
6. Sony ZV-E10 Power Zoom Lens Kit Black
7. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit White
8. Canon EOS RP RF24-105mm IS STM Lens Kit
9. Sony a6400 Double Zoom Lens Kit Black
10. Sony ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit Black
11. Sony a6400 Standard Zoom Lens Kit
12. Nikon Z50 II Double Zoom Kit
13. Panasonic Lumix G100D W Set
14. Sony ZV-E10Y Double Zoom Lens Kit Black
15. Sony ZV-E10L Power Zoom Lens Kit White
16. Sony a6700 Standard Zoom Lens Kit
17. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit Black
18. Canon EOS R50 RF-S18-45mm IS STM Lens Kit Black
19. Canon EOS R50 RF-S14-30mm IS STM Lens Kit Silver
20. Nikon Zf 16-50mm VR Lens Kit Silver

Top 20 fixed lens cameras:

1. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Black
2. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Black
3. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Black
4. Kodak PIXPRO C1 Black
5. Panasonic Lumix TZ99 Black
6. Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 Yellow
7. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Silver
8. Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 Black
9. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Silver
10. Kenko Tokina KC-AF11 BK
11. Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Black
12. Kodak PIXPRO C1 Brown
13. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Red
14. Canon IXY 650 Silver
15. Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Brown
16. Yashica movio MAF100 Digital Camera
17. Ricoh GR IV
18. Panasonic Lumix FZ85D Black
19. Sony ZV-1F Black
20. Panasonic Lumix TZ99 White

We all “hate” them but they are the ones really selling for Sony…the ZV cameras :)

On September 22, Sony increased prices on most of its cameras. I predicted this would be followed by Amazon Prime deals and holiday promotions bringing prices back to their original levels. And now, that’s exactly what seems to be happening—Sony US is teasing major rebates on gear. A not so cute “trick” :(

Reminder:

We have some new early Amazon Prime Deals (full list here):

• Lowest price on the Sandisk Extreme Pro SD cards
• Lowest price on the Sandisk 480GB CF Type A card
• 36% off on the slow but massive Sandisk 1Tb SD card
• $80(!) off on the 4th generation Nextorage 512GB CF Type A card
• Lowest price on the Nextorage SD cards
• $60 off on the super fast Crucial X10 2TB external disk
• 12% off on the SSK portable 1TB drive
• Nearly 50% off on the Neewer 3 pack NP-FZ100 Replacement Battery and Charger Set
• Up to 53% on camera bags

Selection of Sony Camera price increases:

• +$400 on the Sony A9III at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$400 on the Sony A7R V at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$300 on the Sony A1 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$300 on the Sony A7S III at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$300 on the Sony ZV-E1 (White) at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$200 on the Sony FX3 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama (it already got a +$200 on August 1st)
• +$200 on the Sony FX30 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama (it already got a +$200 on August 1st)
• + $200 on the Sony A7CR at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
• +$200 off on the Sony A7C II  at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama

You may have noticed that AI generated FAKE Sony Alpha Guides are now flooding Amazon. A fee examples:

• This fake A7rV guide -> please do NOT buy!
• This fake A7IV guide  -> please do NOT buy!
• This fake RX100VI guide -> please do NOT buy!

Those guides now make up of the vast majority of “books”!

For now, you can easily spot them by the strange camera images. But as AI improves, I expect they’ll be able to fool even us more experienced users. This is the world we live in now, where everything can be generated with such high quality that it fools 99% of people. Amazon should really try to implement a serious policy to fight against this trend!

For those of you that want to buy good books check out the book list from Gary Friedman, David Busch, Mark Galer.

A newly published Sigma patent reveals the design of three fast f/1.2 prime lenses. Two are already on the market — the 50mm f/1.2 and 35mm f/1.2 — while the third points to an unreleased 85mm f/1.2 portrait lens. I’m convinced Sigma will make this a reality very soon!

via Asobinet

Sony launched new deals in Europe:

• Up to 500 Euro off at Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton.
• Up to 500 Euro cashback at Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton.

Yodobashi shared the list of best-selling gear in early September:

Top 10 Best-Selling SLR Cameras:

1. Hasselblad X2D II 100C Body
2. Sony α7C II Zoom Lens Kit (FE 28–60mm)
3. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15–45mm Lens Kit
4. Sony α7C II Body
5. Canon EOS R5 Mark II Body
6. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit
7. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit
8. Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit
9. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit
10. Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body

Top 10 Best-Selling Lenses:

1. Sony FE 24–70mm F2.8 GM II
2. Canon RF100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM
3. Hasselblad XCD 2.5/55V
4. Sony FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
5. Canon RF24–70mm F2.8 L IS USM
6. Sigma 200mm F2 DG OS | Sports (E-mount)
7. Canon RF70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM
8. Sigma 16–300mm F3.5–6.7 DC OS | Contemporary (RF)
9. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–120mm f/4 S
10. Canon RF100–400mm F5.6–8 IS USM

Top 10 Best-Selling Compact Digital Cameras:

1. Ricoh GR IV
2. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
3. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-1 II
4. Panasonic LUMIX TZ99
5. Fujifilm X Half
6. Sony Cyber-shot RX1R III
7. Ricoh GR IIIx
8. Kodak PIXPRO C1
9. Fujifilm X100VI
10. Leica D-LUX8

My take:

• I am surprised to see a $8000 Hasselblad camera rank on top!
• RX1rIII also selling better than I expected in the compact camera segment.

For comparison, here are the bestsellers at BH:

Best selling cameras:

1. Ricoh GR IV Digital Camera
2. Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
3. Canon EOS R8 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
4. Hasselblad X2D II 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera
5. Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera
6. Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Digital Camera
7. Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS Digital Camera
8. Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR with 18-55mm and 75-300mm
9. Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera
10. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Digital Camera

Best selling lenses:

1. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens (Sony E)
2. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
3. Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
4. Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Sony E)
5. Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
6. Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens (Sony E)
7. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens
8. Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens (Sony E)
9. Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
10. OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8 IS PRO Lens