Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS lens review by PetaPixel

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16-300mm at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoErhardt. Fotokoch. WexUK.

The new Sigma 16-300mm lens launch got a bit undermined by the gorgeous 300-600m launch and the curios BF camera. Chris from PetaPixel tested this lens and concluded:

I expected the optical issues that are inherent to the design of a superzoom and despite them, still had a wonderful time traveling with the 16-300mm lens. All’s well that ends well when you go through your photos and treasure the results.

Both Sigma Lens Preorder links:
300-600mm lens at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoErhardt. Fotokoch. WexUK.
16-300mm at BHphoto. Amazon. Adorama. FotoErhardt. Fotokoch. WexUK.

 

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Sony Tidbits…

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A $180 Lens Has No Business Being THIS Good

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
A Guide to Filters for Lenses (Explora).
The Best Photo Editing Software in 2025 (42West)
Adapting Vintage Lenses to your Mirrorless Camera (Fotodiox).
Samyang + Schneider-Kreuznach | 14-24mm F2.8 FE vorgestellt [Deutsch] by ValueTech.
Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS Review (Kitamura).
What Photographers Wish They Knew Before Their First Lunar Eclipse Shoot (42West)
How to Choose a Tripod for Wildlife Photography (Explora).

Follow our new Youtube channel.
Join our SonyAlphaForum.
I kindly invite you all to follow our Discord channel, Instagram, Facebook, Threads 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

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Exclusive SAR deal: 30% off Luminar with our code!

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Until 30 March, you can save 30% on your Luminar purchase (click here) when you use our checkout code ‘SAR30’.

More hot deals:

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Curiosity: Two new medium format cameras leaked (using the Sony’s 102MP sensor)

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Recently I leaked the first image of the new FujiFilm GFX100RF (my video is here) and of the Hasselblad X2DII (my video is here). Both will use the well known Sony 102Mp sensor.

And this once more reminds of the fact, that I would love Sony making a medium format system camera too. And if patents are any indications than if Sony would go medium format they would really do it differently than competition:

  1. BIG and REAL Medium format sensor:
    Most of Sony’s patent show that they use the larger 53.5mmx 40mm size sensor with 0,65 crop factor. This is larger than the current Fuji GFX sensor (44x30mm, 1.7 larger than FF and 0,79 crop)
  2. CURVED (patents here)
    Usually larger sensor means larger lenses too. But in most of the Sony patents we see the camera suing a curved sensor. This allows the lenses to be much smaller because they don’t need additional glass to correct for distortion. And it allows to get the same sharpness all across the frame. The f/2.8 (FF equivalent f/1.7) lenses are barely larger than Full frame f/1.4 primes.
  3. FAST LENSES:
    The patented lenses are all primes with f/2.8 aperture. This is equivalent to f/1.7 in Full Frame terms.

Final take:
But I think the curved sensor tech is still far out and if Sony would go medium format now they would use the regular flat sensors. Their latest sensor for the 53x40mm sensor size have 150MP and 250MP resolution. For the 44x30mm sensor size sonny released a new 126MP global shutter sensor. Still, so far I got no indication Sony plans to enter the medium format world.

In my opinion, they should do it because it would open up a new mounting system for them to develop potentially exciting cameras and lenses that they can sell at a higher margin than full frame. What are your thoughts on this?

 

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Nikkei report: China’s Generation Z is the driving force behind the recovery of the digital camera market

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The Nikkei newspaper has published an article about the current state of digital camera shipments based on data from CIPA. Digicameinfo had access to the article behind the paywall and wrote this summary:

  • Global shipments of digital cameras, including mirrorless single-lens cameras, are expected to recover to their highest level in nine years in 2024. The driving force behind this is the demand for “instaworthy” photos posted on social media by China’s young Generation Z. Young people who are not satisfied with smartphone cameras are purchasing high-performance products.
  • The Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) announced on the 3rd that global shipments of digital cameras in 2012 were 824.7 billion yen, up 15% from 2013. This is the fourth consecutive year of growth, and the highest level since 2015 (885.4 billion yen).
  • The increasing sophistication of cameras pushes up product prices. The average price in the global market was about 97,000 yen in 2024, a fourfold increase over the past decade. By demonstrating capabilities not available in smartphones, it appears that the market’s shrinking trend, particularly in the high-end price range, has been halted.

It seems that China’s Generation Z is the driving force behind the recovery of the digital camera market, so we may see an increase in cameras aimed at this generation in the future.

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Smarter AI Background Removal & Blending with Aiarty Image Matting (Mega Updates + Special Offer!)

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For photographers, background removal can be tedious, especially with intricate details like hair, fur, or lace. Manual editing wastes time and often leaves frustrating artifacts.
Aiarty Image Matting simplifies the process with AI-powered precision, preserving fine details for seamless blending. Whether you’re editing portraits, product shots, or composites, Aiarty makes background removal effortless—and with batch processing for up to 3,000 images, your workflow just got faster.
Additionally, it fully supports RAW files from Sony Alpha, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji, and other DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, ensuring a smooth workflow with PNG and JPEG exports.

What’s New in Aiarty Image Matting V2.5?
The latest update introduces faster performance, more control, and a smoother workflow:

  • Enhanced Alpha Mask Control with Curve Adjustment – Fine-tune transparency for smooth transitions and refined edges.
  • Faster AI Inference with TensorRT/CoreML Integration – Enjoy a significant speed boost on Windows and Mac.
  • Alpha Mask Inversion – Instantly reverse masks with a single click, unlocking new creative possibilities.
  • Improved Model Loading – Faster batch processing makes handling large projects effortless.

Limited-Time Offer – Save 30% on Aiarty Image Matting V2.5!
For a short time, save 30% on the Lifetime License and get unlimited free updates forever.

  • All Features, No Limits – Enjoy lifetime access with free updates.
  • Best Value – $75.00 for 3 PCs or 3 Macs (regular price: $109.00).
  • Bonus Gift – 1-Year Aiarty Image Enhancer License to upscale, restore, and denoise images.

Alternatively, you can grab a free V2.0 license and see how Aiarty Image Matting fits into your product photography workflow!

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Best price ever on the 4-Pack Apple AirTags at Amazon ($64 instead of $99)

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You get the 4-Pack Airtags for $64 only at Amazon (click here). I use them to track all my gear with these tools.

Reminder: Last week I reported about the new  Elevation Lab TagVault AirTag tripod Plate you can get for $19 on Amazon (click here).

Hot deal reminder:

You now get the super fast OWC 960GB card for the lowest price ever on Amazon (Click here). You also save big on the 480GB and 240GB cards

 

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