Insider info: The new Fuji X-T50 is selling again like hotcakes! Sony take some notes!

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Today Fujifilm announced the GFX100IIS (at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama) and the FujiFilm X-T50 (at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama).

Weeks ago I told you that Fuji’s X-T50 film simulation dial was a winning addition that would create instant hype and be loved by influencers and young people. This is the kind of ‘gimmick’ that cameras need to sell to this group. Some people said I would be a fool to think that, so I made an effort to contact some of the major shops in the US, Europe and Asia. They all told me the same thing: re-orders for this camera are very high! The highest ever for any X-Txx camera!
Granted, not as high as the FujiFilm X100VI, but still much higher than usual.

Let’s be honest, I’m a middle-aged classic photographer and I don’t need that dial. But I want companies to keep producing new cameras that focus on photography. And the only way they will do that is if they can make money on this kind of ‘different’ cameras as well. That way they can keep the whole business profitable. This is why the upcoming Sony ZV-E10II is so important. Not because we like it… but because it is the best-selling E-mount camera and is always at the top of Amazon’s ranking (click here). I still don’t know when the ZV-E10II will be announced…first rumored dates were late May but there might be a small delay of a couple of weeks….

 

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Side by Side: Leaked Lumix S9 competes with the Sony ZV-E1

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The Blogger market is still booming and that’s why on May 22 Panasonic will launched the Lumix S9 (full specs on L-rumors). As you can see from the leaked image it will compete directly with the Sony ZV-E1. The S9 should also have a dedicated “LUT” button to select your own style in a similar way the new Fujifilm X-T50 does with the new film simulation dial.

i am wondering if Sony will consider focusing on the “styles” part of such cameras. Maybe by offering official Sony approved style directly delectable through physical button.

Reminder: Sony is rumored to launch the ZV-E10II pretty soon…but I still don’t have a final announcement date.

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Leaked: Full Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens pricing and specs

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The Austrian Digitalstore already listed the E-mount version of the new Sigma lens. Specs are obviously valid for the L-mount version too!

Google translated text:

A classic, further developed.

The SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG ON II I Art is SIGMA’s flagship lens that has evolved significantly from its predecessor, incorporating the most advanced technologies available to SIGMA from design to production. Compared to the previous SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG ON I Art, the SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG ON III Art has improved resolving power throughout the zoom range and also benefits from functional improvements such as the addition of an aperture ring and high-speed AF with a newly developed AF motor, HLA (High-Response Linear Actuator). The lens is also around 7 % smaller and 10 % lighter. This 24-70mm F2.8 Art zoom lens is a versatile and powerful tool to help photographers and filmmakers realize their creative potential.

Versatile and powerful tool

The Sigma Art 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II is around 7% smaller and 10% lighter than its predecessor. This makes it a versatile and powerful tool that allows photographers and filmmakers to realize their full creative potential.
The optical design of the lens includes 6 FLD glass elements, 2 SLD glass elements and 5 aspherical lens elements to thoroughly suppress various aberrations over the entire zoom range. Sagittal coma flicker in particular has been well controlled to achieve consistently high resolution right to the edge of the image. The effective correction of lateral chromatic aberrations enables high-resolution images without colour fringing.

Integration of 5 aspherical lenses

The use of 5 high-precision aspherical lenses enables high optical performance with minimal correction of aberrations and a compact optical design. High-precision aspherical molding technology at SIGMA’s sole production plant in Aizu enables the manufacture of the thin, highly polished aspherical lenses that are essential to the construction of this lens. This has led to greater freedom in optical design.

Outstanding close-up range

With a close focus distance of 17 cm at the wide-angle end and a maximum magnification of 1:2.7, the lens offers an excellent close focus distance, which is useful when composing close-ups of a subject or when photographing in tight spaces where it is difficult to maintain a good distance from the subject.

Minimizing flare and ghosting

Flare and ghosting, which affect image quality, have been largely eliminated using advanced simulation technology to ensure that the lens delivers rich, high-contrast results in all conditions. In addition, a nanopore coating and a super multi-layer coating have been used to suppress flare and ghosting as much as possible. The high backlight resistance enables clear and sharp images under all lighting conditions.

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Canon R1 development officially announced…and likely will be on market exactly when the new Sony A1II will be announced!

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The multi-year long rumored Canon R1 has been finally announce…or more like pre-announced! From the press release it sounds likely this camera will be on market by early 2025 and that’s also when I heard that Sony might announce the new Sony A1II.

You can read the full press text on Explora but here are the key interesting aspects:

  • It’s going to use a new CMOS sensor (so no global shutter)
  • Uses the same “old” Digic X processor of the Canon R3. UPDATE: CanonRumors corrected me and this is not the “same” processor but a variation within a family of processor.
  • promises to have the best in class autofocus…beating the Sony A1 and Sony A9III AF system.
  • Will be field tested at the Olympics

So the key really is the Autofocus performance. I have a hard time believing they can beat the A9III but at the end we all have to hope they can pull this off. This will put some pressure on Sony to give us a stunning new Sony A1II ;)

Here are my thoughts:

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