The Venice Extension mini is coming… but is there any hope of a ‘one more thing’ announcement?

The preorder page is up at BHphoto (Click here).

Pergear has launch its upgraded Master Series CFexpress 4.0 Type A Memory Cards and til March 31 you save big on them:

USA preorders:

• 256GB card for $103 at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 512GB card for $183 at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount. The 2-pack costs $314.
• 1TB card for $320 at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

Germany preorders:

• 256GB card for €127 at Amazon DE (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 512GB card for €212 at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 1TB card for €390 at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

UK preorders:

• 256GB card for £118 at Amazon UK (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 512GB card for £195 at Amazon UK (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 1TB card for £356 at Amazon UK (Click here) after checkout discount.
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

Canada preorders:

• 256GB card at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 512GB card at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• 1TB card at Amazon (Click here) after checkout discount.
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

Australia preorders:

• 256GB card at Amazon AUS (Click here).
• 512GB card at Amazon AUS (Click here).
• 1TB card at Amazon AUS (Click here).
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

Japanese preorders:

• 256GB card at Amazon JP (Click here) and Rakuten.
• 512GB card at Amazon JP (Click here) and Rakuten.
• 1TB card at Amazon JP (Click here) and Rakuten.
• All cards available also at Pergear store.

Main Features:

1. Work Up to 2x Faster,Up to 1780MB/s read, 1600MB/s write speeds.
2. Enables 4K60P/8K30P/4K120P RAW Video Storage
3. Capacity options from 256GB, 512GB to 1TB
4. Compatible with Sony Alpha and FX cameras, A7IV（ILCE-7M4(A7M4)；A1（ILCE-1）； A7SIII（ILCE-7SM3）；A7RV（ILCE-7RM5)；A9III（ILCE-9M3）；ILME-FX3；ILME-FX6；ILME-FX30.

Pergear Cexpress 4.0 Type A memory cards utilize the latest lash memory technology to double the speeds of Pergear CFexpress Standard cards while remaining backward compatible with existing devices. Fully compliant with the CFexpress Type A 4.0 specification and meets Type A 2.0 standards.
Note: it is necessary to use the CFexpress 4.0 Type A card reader.

Tamron USA launched their new the E-mount lens rebates you can find on those pages at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.

Lenses with lowest price ever:

• 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8 for $1,699 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($200 lower than previous best price)
• Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III for $1099 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 lower than previous best price)
• 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III for $1199 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 lower than previous best price)
• Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for $649 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($50 lower than previous best price)
• Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for $499 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 lower than previous best price)

Other lens on rebate matching some of the previous deals:

• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for $699 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($200 off)
• Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III for $1199 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 off)
• Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD for $799 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 off)
• Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD for $699 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($130 off)
• Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD for $599 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($100 off)
• Tamron 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD for $549 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($150 off)
• Tamron 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD for $249 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($50 off)
• Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD for $199 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($50 off)
• Tamron 24mm f/2.8 Di III OSD for $199 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama ($50 off)

Tomorrow Sony has a major product announcement and the preorder page is already up at BHphoto (Click here). Looks like we are getting a new Venice Extension System Mini (see specs and image below). But I have to share two curiosities:

1. I don’t recall Sony doing a teaser for such smaller niche product announcements in the past… so I wonder if there will be something ‘more’….
2. Why the hell is Sony US sticking with this stupid 1 day delay on reordering. They’ve been doing big teasers for 10 years and on the day of the announcement people can’t preorder anything and have to wait 24 hours. Why?

One more thing: One “Influencer” shared an Easter egg about the “FX3II”. Don’t fall for it…this is a”trap” for an April 1 joke :)

This is a leaked press release:

Sony has announced that it will release a scaled-down VENICE expansion module on March 26, 2025, designed to deliver next-generation visual content in an ultra-compact form factor. The VENICE Extension System Mini (model CBK-3621XS) has a built-in 8.6K full-frame CMOS sensor that retains the image quality of VENICE 2, but is approximately 70% smaller than the VENICE Extension System 2 (image block volume ratio). Flexibility is built into every corner of the compact design. A slim, soft, detachable cable brings greater freedom to filmmaking, while also opening up XR content creation and stitching shooting. SAR
The PL mount adapter supports more lens selection and metadata recording. Assignable buttons and numerous mounting holes allow photographers to mount and shoot to their preferences. This compact system is ideal for handheld, gimbal, and POV shooting. 

At the CP+ show PetaPixel had a quick chat with Masaaki Oshima, Head of Sony Imaging Entertainment Business Unit. He said that Sony has maintained its competitive advantage in three ways:

• The first is that we have our own image sensor company in our group
• The second is that we are focusing on not only the camera and the lens, but also total workflow solution (Creative Cloud, lot’s of accessories and so forth)
• Third is our AI-based technologies

They also chatted with Masanori Kishi, Senior General Manager of Sony Lens Technology and Systems Business Unit.

Kishi says that the openness of the E-mount is a “strong point” of the Sony Alpha system:

“It pushes us. The E-mount has the biggest ecosystem compared to other mounts, making it a mount system that holds greater potential for creators. Our system offers many more opportunities than compared to others, as we are developing it in collaboration with third-party manufacturers.”

My take:
Sony has avoided sharing any interesting details. Obviously the marina advantage of the E-mount system is that it has a ton of lenses. Would love if Sony would also open the E-mount to camera manufacturer. Imagine having a Full Frame OM-3 or a DJI E-mount camera :)

China is probably the most important market for camera manufacturers. And when it comes to Chinese bird photographers, this was the camera market share in 2024:

1. Canon: 1st place with 56.5%
2. Nikon: 2nd place with 29.25%
3. Sony: 3rd place with 18.22%
4. Others: 3.45%

And here the top 10 best selling camera:

1. Canon EOS R5 (11.75%)
2. Sony α1 (10.23%)
3. Nikon Z9 (9.12%)
4. Canon EOS R3 (7.78%)
5. Nikon Z8 (6.06%)
6. Canon EOS R7 (5.79%)
7. Canon EOS-1DX Mark III (5.16%)
8. Canon EOS-1DX Mark II (4.05%)
9. Nikon D850 (3.17%)
10. Sony α9II (2.96%)

via Weibo