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:

The new cards are now available for preorder at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon. Press text can be read here: progradedigital.com.

Reminder: For the first time you get this card with a big $120 discount at Amazon US (Click here). This is the largest capacity CFexpress Type A card and it now has the lowest price ever. If you need a BIG reliable workhorse storage this is the one to get.

If you need a larger capacity CFexpress Type A card:
You save 15% on the fast and most affordable Pergear Type A card sold by Amazon US (Click here and click on the coupon button).
You save 20% on the same card sold in Europe by Amazon DE, Amazon UK.

The 256Gb V90 fast SD card sells for $129 only at Amazon US (Click here). It’s the lowest price you can get now on fast V90 cards.

Topaz just released the new Gigapixel 7 (Click here). I personally use it ALL the time to upscale my old images or images taken with my smartphone. Sometimes I even do upscale cropped images taken with my Sony A7rV camera.

Major changes:

• Updated AI engine which should allow better compatibility and faster processing
• Added Standard and High Fidelity v2 models
  • These models will eventually replace v1 models in time. If you have quality issues, please let us know.
• Refreshed the UI with new design and controls
• Updated preferences with new options
  • Note: This will fully reset your preferences

Notable additions:

• Added panning and pinch to zoom gestures in preview
• Added updated RAW preview handling (should be closer to Photo AI)
• Added ability to capture before/after in split and side by side views
• Added ability to move the file list up and down via dragging
  • Note: There is a known issue where removing/adding images causes it to snap back to the default position
• Changed logic for selections
• Changed controls to show mixed states if multiple images with different values are selected

I am sure that after one year for rumors. at some point in 2024 the Canon R1 will be announced. But rumors so far have been totally wild and the latest batch of specs are also in my opinion just an educated guess:

• 30Mp dual gain sensor
• no mechanical shutter
• 240fps
• 6.7k/60p

They might be a good guess…. but the source has been wrong most of the time whenever he has “tried” to spread rumors. The reason I’m writing this on SonyAlphaRumors is that the R1 will also be very important for the Sony A1II. This camera is in the final stages of development and will have to beat out both the Canon R1 and the Nikon Z9. As far as I know, the A1II will be launched in November 2024 at earliest (2025 more likely), and I hope that trustworthy sources will be able to release reliable information about this camera by late spring. But I’m fair enough to hope that the Canon R1 will be better than the rumored specs… because in my opinion, they’re not enough to challenge even the current Sony A1 model. We need Sony to feel the pressure so that:

1. They will give us the best on the A1II
2. Price it according to the competition…so that we can afford to buy it :)

So hopefully my own sources that were spot on…on the 200-800mm lens (see my rumor here) will tell me more about the R1 specs. Stay tuned!