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Venus Optic's Laowa 10mm F2.8 Zero-D FF is the company's first autofocus lens

DP Review Latest news - Thu, 02/22/2024 - 06:34
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Venus Optics has released the Laowa 10mm F2.8 'Zero-D' FF lens, the company's first lens with autofocus, as long as you're using a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount body. Those with Canon RF or Leica L-mount cameras will be manual focus only.

The 10mm F2.8 has a 130° angle-of-view, which the company claims makes it the world's widest rectinliner (ie: non-fisheye) lens. The lens has a total of 15 elements, including 3 ED and 2 aspherical elements. Venus will offer the lens with either 5 or 14-blade apertures. (The 14-blade version is manual focus.)

The minimum focus distance of the lens is 12cm (4.7") from the sensor, and the maximum magnification is 0.24x. It accepts standard 77mm threaded filters.

The Venus Optics Laowa 10mm F2.8 Zero-D FF will be available next month for $799. You can find a plethora of sample photos on the company's website.

Buy now:

$799 at B&H Photo $799 at Adorama
Categories: Photo News

Venus Optic's Laowa 10mm F2.8 Zero-D fisheye is the company's first autofocus lens

DP Review Latest news - Thu, 02/22/2024 - 06:34
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Venus Optics has released the Laowa 10mm F2.8 'Zero-D' FF rectilinear fisheye lens, the company's first lens with autofocus, as long as you're using a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount body. Those with Canon RF or Leica L-mount cameras will be manual focus only.

The 10mm F2.8 has a 130° angle-of-view, and Venus claims that its 'Zero-D' architecture minimizes distortion. The lens has a total of 15 elements, including 3 ED and 2 aspherical elements. Venus will offer the lens with either 5 or 14-blade apertures. (The 14-blade version is manual focus.)

The minimum focus distance of the lens is 12cm (4.7") from the sensor, and the maximum magnification is 0.24x.

The Venus Optics Laowa 10mm F2.8 fisheye will be available next month for $799. You can find a plethora of sample photos on the company's website.

Buy now:

$799 at B&H Photo $799 at Adorama
Categories: Photo News

OpenAI's Sora is racing into a brave new world of misinformation

DP Review Latest news - Thu, 02/22/2024 - 06:15

A frame grab from an AI-generated video OpenAI created by entering the following prompt into Sora: "A stylish woman walks down a Tokyo street filled with warm glowing neon and animated city signage. She wears a black leather jacket, a long red dress, and black boots, and carries a black purse. She wears sunglasses and red lipstick. She walks confidently and casually. The street is damp and reflective, creating a mirror effect of the colorful lights. Many pedestrians walk about."

AI video credit: OpenAI

In the AI-generation gold rush, OpenAI sent a decisive salvo across the bow of existing video-generation tools like Google's Imagen, Runway Gen-2 or Meta's Make-A-Video.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

These competing efforts were blurry, low-resolution, plastic in appearance and altogether rudimentary – more sneak peeks into a future of synthetic images than viable products. OpenAI's Sora is an entirely different beast, taking text prompts to produce photorealistic humans, animals and landscapes. It uses treatments that mimic film grain or cell phone footage and employs professional tracking, dolly and jib movements.

It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn close to being indistinguishable from reality.

The results are rather impressive. A woman's earrings sway naturally with her gait as light realistically reflects off her glasses and rain-soaked Tokyo streets. In another video, several giant wooly mammoths approach, treading through a snowy meadow, their shadows wrapping around them and the environment as expected. Several videos have no sign of the uncanny valley that made synthetic videos of the past scream that something was artificial.

These impressive results are also alarming.

"This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. Let that sink in."

Beyond fears of what this means for creative jobs (as highlighted by 2023's Hollywood writer and actor strikes) or what it means for our understanding of photos and video, the biggest alarm bell is for what it means for the future of objective truth, disinformation and power.

If you can't tell what is real (AI-generated videos that look real as well as real videos others claim are fake), nothing is real except what you choose to believe. The last decade has shown us globally the dangers of social media-fueled echo chambers; with selective facts come a selective reality and ultimately, further division and harm to society.

What is real?

Prompt: "Several giant wooly mammoths approach treading through a snowy meadow, their long wooly fur lightly blows in the wind as they walk, snow covered trees and dramatic snow capped mountains in the distance, mid afternoon light with wispy clouds and a sun high in the distance creates a warm glow, the low camera view is stunning capturing the large furry mammal with beautiful photography, depth of field."

AI video credit: OpenAI

When looking at the example above with the wooly mammoths, it's easy to say that it's not real. As a viewer, you may recall that wooly mammoths went extinct about 4000 years ago, so you reason this must be an illustration of some sort, AI-generated or not.

(At least until we start cloning wooly mammoths.)

But consider for a moment that such a video was to be packaged and presented as accurate to people unaware that they've gone extinct. That's not as far-fetched as you may think. As the BBC reported last year, AI-generated science YouTube videos targeting children were remarkably effective at convincing kindergarteners that Egypt's pyramids were electric generators, aliens were real and that NASA was hiding that human activity has played no role in climate change. All of these are false, but that didn't stop 5-year-olds from believing it and viewing the videos as proof for these claims.

A tool like Sora, which promises to easily and quickly deliver photorealistic humans and real-world environments to anyone, with little to no learning curve, does present a challenge from bad actors seeking to dupe children (and adults), and that should give you pause. It certainly gives me pause.

Deepfakes of the past took some level of skill and computing power to pull off realistically (at least two weeks and $552 in 2019 for a rudimentary one), but with tools like Sora, the threshold has been lowered to anyone with a keyboard and some time and intention.

OpenAI didn't disclose how long each sample video it created took to make. I've seen several claims they can be made in minutes, but based on my experience with static AI image creation, I suspect it'll be hours or days of fine-tuning and editing to get the ideal results. In posts on X following the announcement of Sora, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman asked for reader prompts and delivered two (a grandma cooking and a fantasy of ocean creatures in a bike parade) within about 90 minutes.

OpenAI has also not shared what video and image sources were used to train Sora or, more pointedly, if copyrighted works were used. The company, which also makes the chatbot ChatGPT and still image creator DALL-E, has been sued with allegations of using copyrighted works to train these previous products.

Regardless, the writing is on the wall. Soon, every Tom, Dick and Harriet will be able to make convincing fake videos. OpenAI seems to have recognized the dangers of AI tools on some level.

A large portion of the announcement was devoted to a safety section with a prominent menu header to acknowledge the risks of misinformation and societal harm. The platform has no public release date yet; it is currently only accessible to a select group of testers who have also been tasked with helping identify and assess risks and potential harms. I hope this level of care is genuine and not lip service.

Prompt: "A movie trailer featuring the adventures of the 30 year old space man wearing a red wool knitted motorcycle helmet, blue sky, salt desert, cinematic style, shot on 35mm film, vivid colors."

AI video credit: OpenAI

Wild wild west

At present, there are no regulations on AI-generative tools. The EU's AI Act may become the first, if passed, and would regulate the industry by limiting corporate and law enforcement use of AI along with a means for the public to file complaints. There are also several efforts in the US and China to regulate the use of AI, but at present, they are patchwork at best.

The only safeguards in place as I write this are self-imposed by the companies working on AI.

OpenAI uses language filters to check and reject text prompts that include items it deems violent, sexual, hateful, or attempts to use copyrighted material or the likeness of celebrities. There are plans to implement C2PA metadata into any public release version of the tool.

C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) is an authentication standards effort backed by Adobe, Sony, BBC and others. It brings together the efforts of CAI (Content Authenticity Initiative) and Project Origin to address image provenance and authenticity by setting authoring and metadata standards alongside open-source tools for public education about content authenticity.

"New technology is cool, and acknowledging the risk is great, but taking responsibility for the genie in the bottle before you let it out is the right thing to do."

By joining this group and adopting the standard, OpenAI seems to acknowledge the need for a paper trail to determine what is authentic and what is synthetic. Until Sora goes public, we won't know how it'll be implemented, how the public will be trained to use authentication tools, or, more importantly, the value of using such tools.

However, there is one key thing missing from this acknowledgment. C2PA's efforts have predominantly targeted journalists, who may be most concerned about media authentication. What do image provenance and authenticity mean to the average Sora user?

Case in point: rage bait. A critical success metric on social media is engagement – how many people interact with your content: a rubric of likes, comments, time spent consuming, shares, saves and follows. In this model, all that matters is these metrics that define engagement, so it doesn't matter if things are true. The ends justify the means.

New technology is cool, and acknowledging the risk is great, but taking responsibility for the genie in the bottle before you let it out is the right thing to do. We've been entrenched in a years-long debate about AI images and whether they are photos, art, copyrightable or useful. We've snickered that AI can't make hands look human or text look legible. But if Sora reminds us of one thing, it's that technology advances faster than we humans do, and we have a limited window to be proactive before we become reactive to any harm.

This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. A year ago we giggled at how AI tools struggled with human bodies and couldn't render a realistic Will Smith eating spaghetti, and 11 months later we have videos like the one below of a man reading a book.

In its presentation, OpenAI shared examples of the tool still struggling with hands, physics and overlapping animals. If we look closely at details, it's possible to tell that something isn't real, but that requires more than a passing glance. Or, in the case of social media and people resharing screengrabs where visual compression reduces image quality, it requires us to be skeptical and seek out the source to verify for ourselves. C2PA tools may help if implemented correctly from a technical side, but they'll also need a robust media literacy education effort.

Looking at how far AI-generated video has come in 11 months, it feels inevitable that the quirks of AI-generated images and videos will resolve themselves in due time. This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. Let that sink in.

Prompt: "A young man at his 20s is sitting on a piece of cloud in the sky, reading a book."

AI video credit: OpenAI

Weaponized disinformation

Maybe it's because I come from working for newspapers, magazines and TV journalism, but a world in which truth can be buried under fiction with such ease strikes me as hurtling dangerously close to dystopian.

I'm reminded of my family stories from India's colonial period and the riots around the country's 1947 partition. For generations, colonial leaders had pitted different religious and regional groups against each other to keep power isolated at the top. Misinformation was a pivotal tactic to support an effort to place Hindus and Muslims at odds in order to maintain control.

For a lighter example, consider 1975's "Rollerball" (yes, really). In true '70s fashion, the film imagines a future world where corporations and the technology they control shape our world. In one scene, the main character visits a library only to learn that global corporations have digitized and rewritten all books and bent historical knowledge to their liking. An alternative history, complete with "proof," is used to control the public and maintain power.

The scary thing in both examples is that they're both based on a truth: knowledge is power, a power that if used maliciously, can be used to distract or direct others toward an outcome they desire.

History is littered with examples of image manipulation and attempts to pass off inauthentic images as authentic; following Abraham Lincoln's death, a famous image of the former US president was faked. However, unlike in the past, the prevalence of cheaper and easier-to-use image manipulation and fabrication tools, such as AI, has made it possible for anyone to create fake images, and soon videos, and quickly circulate misinformation as truth, either for fun or more nefarious goals.

"Without knowing what is accurate and true, everything becomes suspect and facts become subjective."

Recently, social media has been flooded with visual misinformation on the Hamas-Israel conflict. Images from other parts of the world have been paired with new misleading headlines, AI images are passed as proof of war crimes, fake BBC-style videos share fictitious accounts from the ground, and videos of world leaders with inaccurate English captions sow dissent and confusion. The problem is so significant on X that the platform reminded users about its disinformation policy and how it has ramped up the use of Community Notes, its fact-checking feature, which some insiders say is a bandaid that isn't working.

Today's deluge of visual misinformation challenges society and those producing authentic images. Without knowing what is accurate and true, everything becomes suspect and facts become subjective. Suddenly, bad actors can flood social media and muddy the waters, making it difficult to sort fact from fiction.

When I look at Sora and the samples shared, this fear creeps in of a media landscape in which one cannot confidently know what is real and what is someone trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

Among the AI-generated videos Sora made of animated creatures and paper planes over a jungle are a few concerning videos. Photorealistic humans in real-world environments conjure scenarios of weaponized misinformation. A video created from the prompt "historical footage of California during the gold rush" is anything but historical documentation. Videos from global locals open the door to alternative histories of a place.

Among all the videos shared by OpenAI, there is one that alarms me most. A ten-second Chinese Lunar New Year celebration clip shows a large crowd gathered for a parade, flanking both sides of the street as two dragon puppets participate in a dragon dance down the center.

Prompt: "A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration video with Chinese Dragon."

AI video credit: OpenAI

The video is pretty innocuous; not thinking too hard about the angle, you might assume it's smartphone video. With its realistic lighting, lower image quality, lack of depth-of-field, slightly out-of-focus people masking lack of detail and motion blur, nothing triggers a reason to think someone would go to the trouble of making an AI video of such a scene. Coming across this video on social media, you may think it's real and move on convinced.

This is the danger. It's ordinary enough that one might wonder, "Why would anyone fake this?"

Now, consider a scenario where a bad actor wanted to place someone in this scene and have them doing something nefarious in the background; perhaps the target is meant to be seen cavorting with someone they shouldn't be. At a later date, accusations are made against the targeted person, and soon, this fake video is presented as the smoking gun. Now, consider this targeted person as a country's president and planting the seed that they are untrustworthy and harmful for the nation is suitable for the opposing party. That scenario shouldn't seem too far-fetched. In the last year, we've seen this happen with AI-generated still images in the US presidential race.

I won't pose the could/should cliche, but I will say there needs to be considerations of ethics, societal harm, media literacy and corporate responsibility. Now that the genie is out, humanity has a greater responsibility to place guardrails in place with the means to course correct in real-time, not pick up the pieces in the aftermath of harm.

Prompt: "Reflections in the window of a train traveling through the Tokyo suburbs."

AI video credit: OpenAI

A value proposition

Every time I revisit AI-generative technology, I am also left with the same thoughts. It is undoubtedly impressive, but what exact problem does it solve? To borrow Silicon Valley's favorite mantra, does this make the world a better place?

I understand that there is a gold rush. I see the surges in stock prices for Nvidia and Microsoft and understand how money motivates AI development. I also see people making inventive things that inspire creativity. I've used AI-generative images for storyboards and mood boards. But I also see the dangers.

"To borrow Silicon Valley's favorite mantra, does this make the world a better place?"

In the example videos shared by OpenAI, none really struck me as having a compelling use case. At its core, Sora is trying to produce a photorealistic video that could pass for real, and I have to wonder, to what end? Fake videos can pass for real with a passing glance. Real videos can be alleged to be fake by anyone. "Truth" becomes fractured and in its place, a million echo chambers rise and are free to enshrine their own version of what is real for them and their followers.

I suppose hindsight will have to be our arbiter. Perhaps one day an AI-Chris Nolan will team up with an AI-Charlie Kaufman to make a meta-commentary AI-Oppenheimer on the moment the AI genie is fully out of the bottle to finally make clear what it meant and what we learned.

Categories: Photo News

OpenAI's Sora is a race into a brave new world of misinformation

DP Review Latest news - Thu, 02/22/2024 - 06:15

A frame grab from an AI-generated video OpenAI created by entering the following prompt into Sora: "A stylish woman walks down a Tokyo street filled with warm glowing neon and animated city signage. She wears a black leather jacket, a long red dress, and black boots, and carries a black purse. She wears sunglasses and red lipstick. She walks confidently and casually. The street is damp and reflective, creating a mirror effect of the colorful lights. Many pedestrians walk about."

AI video credit: OpenAI

In the AI-generation gold rush, OpenAI sent a decisive salvo across the bow of existing video-generation tools like Google's Imagen, Runway Gen-2 or Meta's Make-A-Video.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

These competing efforts were blurry, low-resolution, plastic in appearance and altogether rudimentary – more sneak peeks into a future of synthetic images than viable products. OpenAI's Sora is an entirely different beast, taking text prompts to produce photorealistic humans, animals and landscapes. It uses treatments that mimic film grain or cell phone footage and employs professional tracking, dolly and jib movements.

It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn close to being indistinguishable from reality.

The results are rather impressive. A woman's earrings sway naturally with her gait as light realistically reflects off her glasses and rain-soaked Tokyo streets. In another video, several giant wooly mammoths approach, treading through a snowy meadow, their shadows wrapping around them and the environment as expected. Several videos have no sign of the uncanny valley that made synthetic videos of the past scream that something was artificial.

These impressive results are also alarming.

"This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. Let that sink in."

Beyond fears of what this means for creative jobs (as highlighted by 2023's Hollywood writer and actor strikes) or what it means for our understanding of photos and video, the biggest alarm bell is for what it means for the future of objective truth, disinformation and power.

If you can't tell what is real (AI-generated videos that look real as well as real videos others claim are fake), nothing is real except what you choose to believe. The last decade has shown us globally the dangers of social media-fueled echo chambers; with selective facts come a selective reality and ultimately, further division and harm to society.

What is real?

Prompt: "Several giant wooly mammoths approach treading through a snowy meadow, their long wooly fur lightly blows in the wind as they walk, snow covered trees and dramatic snow capped mountains in the distance, mid afternoon light with wispy clouds and a sun high in the distance creates a warm glow, the low camera view is stunning capturing the large furry mammal with beautiful photography, depth of field."

AI video credit: OpenAI

When looking at the example above with the wooly mammoths, it's easy to say that it's not real. As a viewer, you may recall that wooly mammoths went extinct about 4000 years ago, so you reason this must be an illustration of some sort, AI-generated or not.

(At least until we start cloning wooly mammoths.)

But consider for a moment that such a video was to be packaged and presented as accurate to people unaware that they've gone extinct. That's not as far-fetched as you may think. As the BCC reported last year, AI-generated science YouTube videos targeting children were remarkably effective at convincing kindergarteners that Egypt's pyramids were electric generators, aliens were real and that NASA was hiding that human activity has played no role in climate change. All of these are false, but that didn't stop 5-year-olds from believing it and viewing the videos as proof for these claims.

A tool like Sora, which promises to easily and quickly deliver photorealistic humans and real-world environments to anyone, with little to no learning curve, does present a challenge from bad actors seeing to dupe children (and adults), and that should give you pause. It certainly gives me pause.

Deepfakes of the past took some level of skill and computing power to pull off realistically (at least two weeks and $552 in 2019 for a rudimentary one), but with tools like Sora, the threshold has been lowered to anyone with a keyboard and some time and intention.

OpenAI didn't disclose how long each sample video it created took to make. I've seen several claims they can be made in minutes, but based on my experience with static AI image creation, I suspect it'll be hours or days of fine-tuning and editing to get the ideal results. In posts on X following the announcement of Sora, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman asked for reader prompts and delivered two (a grandma cooking and a fantasy of ocean creatures in a bike parade) within about 90 minutes.

OpenAI has also not shared what video and image sources were used to train Sora or, more pointedly, if copyrighted works were used. The company, which also makes the chatbot ChatGPT and still image creator DALL-E, has been sued with allegations of using copyrighted works to train these previous products.

Regardless, the writing is on the wall. Soon, every Tom, Dick and Harriet will be able to make convincing fake videos. OpenAI seems to have recognized the dangers of AI tools on some level.

A large portion of the announcement was devoted to a safety section with a prominent menu header to acknowledge the risks of misinformation and societal harm. The platform has no public release date yet; it is currently only accessible to a select group of testers who have also been tasked with helping identify and assess risks and potential harms. I hope this level of care is genuine and not lip service.

Prompt: "A movie trailer featuring the adventures of the 30 year old space man wearing a red wool knitted motorcycle helmet, blue sky, salt desert, cinematic style, shot on 35mm film, vivid colors."

AI video credit: OpenAI

Wild wild west

At present, there are no regulations on AI-generative tools. The EU's AI Act may become the first, if passed, and would regulate the industry by limiting corporate and law enforcement use of AI along with a means for the public to file complaints. There are also several efforts in the US and China to regulate the use of AI, but at present, they are patchwork at best.

The only safeguards in place as I write this are self-imposed by the companies working on AI.

OpenAI uses language filters to check and reject text prompts that include items it deems violent, sexual, hateful, or attempt to use copyrighted material or the likeness of celebrities. There are plans to implement C2PA metadata into any public release version of the tool.

C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) is an authentication standards effort backed by Adobe, Sony, BBC and others. It brings together the efforts of CAI (Content Authenticity Initiative) and Project Origin to address image provenance and authenticity by setting authoring and metadata standards alongside open-source tools for public education about content authenticity.

"New technology is cool, and acknowledging the risk is great, but taking responsibility for the genie in the bottle before you let it out is the right thing to do."

By joining this group and adopting the standard, OpenAI seems to acknowledge the need for a paper trail to determine what is authentic and what is synthetic. Until Sora goes public, we won't know how it'll be implemented, how the public will be trained to use authentication tools, or, more importantly, the value of using such tools.

However, there is one key thing missing from this acknowledgment. C2PA's efforts have predominantly targeted journalists, who may be most concerned about media authentication. What do image provenance and authenticity mean to the average Sora user?

Case in point: rage bait. A critical success metric on social media is engagement – how many people interact with your content: a rubric of likes, comments, time spent consuming, shares, saves and follows. In this model, all that matters is these metrics that define engagement, so it doesn't matter if things are true. The ends justify the means.

New technology is cool, and acknowledging the risk is great, but taking responsibility for the genie in the bottle before you let it out is the right thing to do. We've been entrenched in a years-long debate about AI images and whether they are photos, art, copyrightable or useful. We've snickered that AI can't make hands look human or text look legible. But if Sora reminds us of one thing, it's that technology advances faster than we humans do, and we have a limited window to be proactive before we become reactive to any harm.

This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. A year ago we giggled at how AI tools struggled with human bodies and couldn't render a realistic Will Smith eating spaghetti, and 11 months later we have videos like the one below of a man reading a book.

In its presentation, OpenAI shared examples of the tool still struggling with hands, physics and overlapping animals. If we look closely at details, it's possible to tell that something isn't real, but that requires more than a passing glance. Or, in the case of social media and people resharing screengrabs where visual compression reduces image quality, it requires us to be skeptical and seek out the source to verify for ourselves. C2PA tools may help if implemented correctly from a technical side, but they'll also need a robust media literacy education effort.

Looking at how far AI-generated video has come in 11 months, it feels inevitable that the quirks of AI-generated images and videos will resolve themselves in due time. This is now the worst AI-generated video will ever look. Let that sink in.

Prompt: "A young man at his 20s is sitting on a piece of cloud in the sky, reading a book."

AI video credit: OpenAI

Weaponized disinformation

Maybe it's because I come from working for newspapers, magazines and TV journalism, but a world in which truth can be buried under fiction with such ease strikes me as hurtling dangerously close to dystopian.

I'm reminded of my family stories from India's colonial period and the riots around the country's 1947 partition. For generations, colonial leaders had pitted different religious and regional groups against each other to keep power isolated at the top. Misinformation was a pivotal tactic to support an effort to place Hindus and Muslims at odds in order to maintain control.

For a lighter example, 1975's "Rollerball" (yes, really). In true 70s fashion, the film imagines a future world where corporations and the technology they control shape our world. In one scene, the main character visits a library only to learn that global corporations have digitized and rewritten all books and bent historical knowledge to their liking. An alternative history, complete with "proof," is used to control the public and maintain power.

The scary thing in both examples is that they're both based on a truth: knowledge is power, a power that if used maliciously, can be used to distract or direct others toward an outcome they desire.

History is littered with examples of image manipulation and attempts to pass off inauthentic images as authentic; following Abraham Lincoln's death, a famous image of the former US president was faked. However, unlike in the past, the prevalence of cheaper and easier-to-use image manipulation and fabrication tools, such as AI, has made it possible for anyone to create fake images, and soon videos, and quickly circulate misinformation as truth, either for fun or more nefarious goals.

"Without knowing what is accurate and true, everything becomes suspect and facts become subjective."

Recently, social media has been flooded with visual misinformation on the Hamas-Israel conflict. Images from other parts of the world have been paired with new misleading headlines, AI images are passed as proof of war crimes, fake BBC-style videos share fictitious accounts from the ground, and videos of world leaders with inaccurate English captions sow dissent and confusion. The problem is so significant on X that the platform reminded users about its disinformation policy and how it has ramped up the use of Community Notes, its fact-checking feature, which some insiders say is a bandaid that isn't working.

Today's deluge of visual misinformation challenges society and those producing authentic images. Without knowing what is accurate and true, everything becomes suspect and facts become subjective. Suddenly, bad actors can flood social media and muddy the waters, making it difficult to sort fact from fiction.

When I look at Sora and the samples shared, this fear creeps in of a media landscape in which one cannot confidently know what is real and what is someone trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

Among the AI-generated videos Sora made of animated creatures and paper planes over a jungle are a few concerning videos. Photorealistic humans in real-world environments conjure scenarios of weaponized misinformation. A video created from the prompt "historical footage of California during the gold rush" is anything but historical documentation. Videos from global locals open the door to alternative histories of a place.

Among all the videos shared by OpenAI, there is one that alarms me most. A ten-second Chinese Lunar New Year celebration clip shows a large crowd gathered for a parade, flanking both sides of the street as two dragon puppets participate in a dragon dance down the center.

Prompt: "A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration video with Chinese Dragon."

AI video credit: OpenAI

The video is pretty innocuous; not thinking too hard about the angle, you might assume it's smartphone video. With its realistic lighting, lower image quality, lack of depth-of-field, slightly out-of-focus people masking lack of detail and motion blur, nothing triggers a reason to think someone would go to the trouble of making an AI video of such a scene. Coming across this video on social media, you may think it's real and move on convinced.

This is the danger. It's ordinary enough that one might wonder, "Why would anyone fake this?"

Now, consider a scenario where a bad actor wanted to place someone in this scene and have them doing something nefarious in the background; perhaps the target is meant to be seen cavorting with someone they shouldn't be. At a later date, accusations are made against the targeted person, and soon, this fake video is presented as the smoking gun. Now, consider this targeted person as a country's president and planting the seed that they are untrustworthy and harmful for the nation is suitable for the opposing party. That scenario shouldn't seem too far-fetched. In the last year, we've seen this happen with AI-generated still images in the US presidential race.

I won't pose the could/should cliche, but I will say there needs to be considerations of ethics, societal harm, media literacy and corporate responsibility. Now that the genie is out, humanity has a greater responsibility to place guardrails in place with the means to course correct in real-time, not pick up the pieces in the aftermath of harm.

Prompt: "Reflections in the window of a train traveling through the Tokyo suburbs."

AI video credit: OpenAI

A value proposition

Every time I revisit AI-generative technology, I am also left with the same thoughts. It is undoubtedly impressive, but what exact problem does it solve? To borrow Silicon Valley's favorite mantra, does this make the world a better place?

I understand that there is a gold rush. I see the surges in stock prices for Nvidia and Microsoft and understand how money motivates AI development. I also see people making inventive things that inspire creativity. I've used AI-generative images for storyboards and mood boards. But I also see the dangers.

"To borrow Silicon Valley's favorite mantra, does this make the world a better place?"

In the example videos shared by OpenAI, none really struck me as having a compelling use case. At its core, Sora is trying to produce a photorealistic video that could pass for real, and I have to wonder, to what end? Fake videos can pass for real with a passing glance. Real videos can be alleged to be fake by anyone. "Truth" becomes fractured and in its place, a million echo chambers rise and are free to enshrine their own version of what is real for them and their followers.

I suppose hindsight will have to be our arbiter. Perhaps one day an AI-Chris Nolan will team up with an AI-Charlie Kaufman to make a meta-commentary AI-Oppenheimer on the moment the AI genie is fully out of the bottle to finally make clear what it meant and what we learned.

Categories: Photo News

Panasonic intros Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 macro travel zoom

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 16:30
$(document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({"containerId":"embeddedSampleGallery_2879640445","galleryId":"2879640445","isEmbeddedWidget":true,"selectedImageIndex":0,"isMobile":false}) });Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Panasonic has introduced what it claims is the smallest and lightest zoom lens for mirrorless systems: the Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 Macro OIS. This L-mount lens is just 9.3cm (3.7") long and weighs in at 413 grams (14.6 ounces).

The 28-200's Dual IS 2 stabilizer can compensate for up to 6.5 stops of camera shake. It's capable of taking half-size (0.5x) close-ups with a minimum distance of 14cm (5.5"). Panasonic says that the lens has been designed to reduce focus breathing, and users can choose between linear or non-linear focus ring settings.

The Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 will be available at the end of April for $899.

Buy now:

$898 at Amazon $898 at B&H Photo $898 at Adorama

Press Release:

Panasonic introduces the World’s Smallest and Lightest1 Long Zoom Lens:
LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. (S-R28200)

A wide and long zoom range of 28-200mm, that fits all in the palm of your hand

Newark, NJ (February 21, 2024) – Panasonic is pleased to introduce the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. (S-R28200) lens based on the L-Mount system standard. Designed with meticulous attention to detail in optics and mechanics, the new LUMIX S 28-200mm is the world's smallest and lightest1 long zoom lens, with total length of 93.4mm2 (3.67 inches) and mass of approximately 413 g. (14.57 oz). The first wide-to-tele zoom for the LUMIX S Series lineup, the lens is compact and lightweight to match the camera body.

In addition to delivering outstanding imaging performance with stunning bokeh, the lens is also capable of half life-size macro shooting and close-up photography from just 3cm between the end of the lens and the subject. With a wide range of focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 200mm telephoto, a variety of scenarios from landscapes to portraits can be captured in high resolution with this single lens.

The new 28-200mm boasts high-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, while its 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (Image Stabilizer) compatibility compensates for up to 6.5 stops4 of correction to enable the creator to concentrate on capturing the subject. It also offers micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure changes, as well as the ability to choose between linear or nonlinear focus ring settings. These features have become hallmark characteristics of LUMIX S Series lenses.

Main Features

1. Excellent Mobility with the World’s Smallest and Lightest1 Long Zoom Lens

- The optical system and mechanism with attention to detail are designed to realize smaller size and lighter weight.

- A total length of approx. 93.4 mm2 (3.67 inches) and a mass of approx. 413 g (14.6 ounces).

2. Ideally Suited to Capture Any Scenario

- With the minimum shooting distance of 0.14 m3 (5.5 inches) and the maximum shooting magnification of 0.5x, half life-size macro shooting is possible).2

- Achieves high resolution, outstanding photographic performance, and stunning bokeh in entire zoom area, from the center of the image to the edges.

- The long zoom lens covers a wide range of focal lengths from a 28mm wide-angle to a 200mm telephoto zoom.

3. Optimal Operability for Video Production

- Effectively suppresses focus breathing, in which the angle of view changes caused by movements in the focus position.

The LUMIX S 28-200 lens will be available at valued channel partners at the end of April 2024 for $899.99.

1. As of February 22, 2024. Among interchangeable lenses for AF compatible full-frame mirrorless cameras, and lenses with an optical zoom of 7x or more. Based on a Panasonic survey.

2. When focal length is 28mm.

3. 14cm from focal plane.

4. Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=200mm. When LUMIX S1 is used.]

Categories: Photo News

Panasonic intros Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 macro travel zoom

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 16:06
Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Panasonic has introduced what it claims is the smallest and lightest zoom lens for mirrorless systems: the Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 Macro OIS. This L-mount lens is just 9.3cm (3.7") long and weighs in at 413 grams (14.6 ounces).

The 28-200's Dual IS 2 stabilizer can compensate for up to 6.5 stops of camera shake. It's capable of taking half-size (0.5x) close-ups with a minimum distance of 14cm (5.5"). Panasonic says that the lens has been designed to reduce focus breathing, and users can choose between linear or non-linear focus ring settings.

The Lumix S 28-200mm F4-7.1 will be available at the end of April for $899.

Press Release:

Panasonic introduces the World’s Smallest and Lightest1 Long Zoom Lens:
LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. (S-R28200)

A wide and long zoom range of 28-200mm, that fits all in the palm of your hand

Newark, NJ (February 21, 2024) – Panasonic is pleased to introduce the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. (S-R28200) lens based on the L-Mount system standard. Designed with meticulous attention to detail in optics and mechanics, the new LUMIX S 28-200mm is the world's smallest and lightest1 long zoom lens, with total length of 93.4mm2 (3.67 inches) and mass of approximately 413 g. (14.57 oz). The first wide-to-tele zoom for the LUMIX S Series lineup, the lens is compact and lightweight to match the camera body.

In addition to delivering outstanding imaging performance with stunning bokeh, the lens is also capable of half life-size macro shooting and close-up photography from just 3cm between the end of the lens and the subject. With a wide range of focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 200mm telephoto, a variety of scenarios from landscapes to portraits can be captured in high resolution with this single lens.

The new 28-200mm boasts high-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, while its 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (Image Stabilizer) compatibility compensates for up to 6.5 stops4 of correction to enable the creator to concentrate on capturing the subject. It also offers micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure changes, as well as the ability to choose between linear or nonlinear focus ring settings. These features have become hallmark characteristics of LUMIX S Series lenses.

Main Features

1. Excellent Mobility with the World’s Smallest and Lightest1 Long Zoom Lens

- The optical system and mechanism with attention to detail are designed to realize smaller size and lighter weight.

- A total length of approx. 93.4 mm2 (3.67 inches) and a mass of approx. 413 g (14.6 ounces).

2. Ideally Suited to Capture Any Scenario

- With the minimum shooting distance of 0.14 m3 (5.5 inches) and the maximum shooting magnification of 0.5x, half life-size macro shooting is possible).2

- Achieves high resolution, outstanding photographic performance, and stunning bokeh in entire zoom area, from the center of the image to the edges.

- The long zoom lens covers a wide range of focal lengths from a 28mm wide-angle to a 200mm telephoto zoom.

3. Optimal Operability for Video Production

- Effectively suppresses focus breathing, in which the angle of view changes caused by movements in the focus position.

The LUMIX S 28-200 lens will be available at valued channel partners at the end of April 2024 for $899.99.

1. As of February 22, 2024. Among interchangeable lenses for AF compatible full-frame mirrorless cameras, and lenses with an optical zoom of 7x or more. Based on a Panasonic survey.

2. When focal length is 28mm.

3. 14cm from focal plane.

4. Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=200mm. When LUMIX S1 is used.]

Categories: Photo News

Fujifilm teases new XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 kit lens

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 11:50
Image: Fujifilm

The X100VI was undoubtedly the star of Fujifilm's X Summit event in Tokyo earlier this week, but Fujifilm also tucked some additional news into the end of its press conference, including a tease for a new version of its long-standing X-mount kit lens.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Fujifilm's current X-mount kit lens, the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4, is over a decade old. Little is known about what the new XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 will include. Fujifilm has promised improvements to compactness, versatility, and sharpness but shared no details yet.

You can watch the relevant section of the press conference below and place your bets on when it will arrive.

Categories: Photo News

Fujifilm teases new XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 kit lens

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 11:50
Image: Fujifilm

The X100VI was undoubtedly the star of Fujifilm's X Summit event in Tokyo earlier this week, but Fujifilm also tucked some additional news into the end of its press conference, including a tease for a new version of its long-standing X-mount kit lens.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Fujifilm's current X-mount kit lens, the XF 18-55mm F2.8-4, is over a decade old. Little is known about what the new XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 will include. Fujifilm has promises improvements to compactness, versatility, and sharpness but shared no details yet.

You can watch the relevant section of the press conference below and place your bets on when it will arrive.

Categories: Photo News

The OM System OM-1 will get autofocus improvements via firmware this fall

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 08:26
Photo: Richard Butler

Less than a month after the release of the OM-1 Mark II, OM System has announced that its original OM-1, released in 2022, will benefit from a firmware update later this year. Owners can expect upgraded autofocus capabilities and the option to use the 'trash' button as a programmable shortcut. But don't expect any new features from the Mark II.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

While the primary new features of the OM-1 Mark II, like human detection autofocus and improvements to simulated neutral density filters, manifest primarily as software features, they likely rely on the grunt of the Mark II's increased RAM.

In its press release announcing the update OM System is clear: "The new AF performance of the OM-1 will not match the OM-1 Mark II."

The update is slated for this fall.

Future Firmware Update Plan for OM-1

February 21, 2024 – Thank you for your continued support of our products.

Since the announcement of the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II interchangeable lens camera on January 30, there have been many inquiries regarding the possibility of a firmware update to the OM SYSTEM OM-1 (released March 2022).

As a result, we would like to advise of our plan for a future firmware update for OM-1:

Future Firmware Update Plan for OM-1

Scheduled to be released around this autumn (northern hemisphere), the following changes for the OM-1 via a firmware update are planned:

  1. Autofocus: Improvement of some AF performance capabilities, such as S-AF and C-AF in all-target mode to improve capture of main subjects.
  2. Operability: Improved usability through the option to assign the trash (delete) button as a menu access shortcut.

Please note the following:

  • It will not include new features introduced with the OM-1 Mark II, such as Live GND and AI Detection AF for humans.
  • It will provide some AF performance improvements only and therefore the new AF performance of the OM-1 will not match the OM-1 Mark II.

We will continue to provide products and services that enrich the photography experience.

* Details are subject to change

Categories: Photo News

The OM System OM-1 will get autofocus improvements via firmware this fall

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 08:26
Photo: Richard Butler

Less than a month after the release of the OM-1 Mark II, OM System has announced that its original OM-1, released in 2022, will benefit from a firmware update later this year. Owners can expect upgraded autofocus capabilities and the option to use the 'trash' button as a programmable shortcut. But don't expect any new features from the Mark II.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

While the primary new features of the OM-1 Mark II, like human detection autofocus and improvements to simulated neutral density filters, manifest primarily as software features, they likely rely on the grunt of the Mark II's increased RAM.

In its press release announcing the update OM System is clear: "The new AF performance of the OM-1 will not match the OM-1 Mark II."

The update is slated for this fall.

FUTURE Firmware Update Plan for OM-1

Thank you for your continued support of our products.

Since the announcement of the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II interchangeable lens camera on

January 30, there have been many inquiries regarding the possibility of a firmware update to the OM SYSTEM OM-1 (released March 2022).

As a result, we would like to advise of our plan for a future firmware update for OM-1:

Future Firmware Update Plan for OM-1

Scheduled to be released around this autumn (northern hemisphere), the following changes for the

OM-1 via a firmware update are planned:

  1. Autofocus: Improvement of some AF performance capabilities, such as S-AF and C-AF in all-target mode to improve capture of main subjects.
  2. Operability: Improved usability through the option to assign the trash (delete) button as a menu access shortcut.

Please note the following:

  • It will not include new features introduced with the OM-1 Mark II, such as Live GND and AI Detection AF for humans.
  • It will provide some AF performance improvements only and therefore the new AF performance of the OM-1 will not match the OM-1 Mark II.

We will continue to provide products and services that enrich the photography experience.

* Details are subject to change

Categories: Photo News

Sony promises fast performance on new compact FE 24-50mm F2.8 lens

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 07:00
Image: Sony

Sony has announced a compact 24-50mm F2.8G lens for its full-frame mirrorless cameras. Coming in at just 440 grams (just under 1 pound), this lens covers the most popular focal lengths for everyday shooting in a chassis 92mm (3.6") long.

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Sony claims that they've made no compromises with the lens. It has an 11-blade circular aperture, uses ED and aspherical elements, and has twin linear motors for responsive and quiet focusing. Sony says that the lens can keep up with the 120 fps burst mode of its flagship a9 III.

The lens has focus, zoom, and aperture rings; the latter can be "de-clicked" for video shooting. There's also a focus hold button, whose function can be customized. The lens is dust and moisture-resistant (but not 100%, Sony points out), and the front element has a fluorine coating to fight off water and oil.

The 24-50mm F2.8G will be available in May for $1100.

We have the lens in hand, and will be adding sample images to this story in the coming days.

Buy now:

$1,098 at B&H Photo $1,098 at Adorama $(document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({"containerId":"embeddedSampleGallery_3180868587","galleryId":"3180868587","isEmbeddedWidget":true,"selectedImageIndex":0,"isMobile":false}) }); Sony Electronics Announces a New Compact FE 24-50mm F2.8 G Standard Zoom Lens Designed for High Performance and Portability

A large-aperture, constant F2.8 standard zoom full-frame E-mount lens that delivers outstanding end-to-end image quality in a compact and lightweight form factor

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21, 2024 - Sony Electronics is pleased to announce the release of the FE 24-50mm F2.8 G standard zoom lens (SEL2450G), which is compatible with Sony's α™ (Alpha™) cameras. The 72nd addition to the full-frame E-mount lens lineup is extremely compact and lightweight yet maintains high-resolution performance synonymous with Sony's G lens series. With a constant F2.8 maximum aperture, it produces stunning bokeh and enables creative flexibility across the entire zoom range. The versatile 24mm to 50mm focal range, coupled with its compact form, enables users to capture a myriad of scenes including portraits, everyday snapshots, landscapes, and video.

"The demand for light and compact standard zoom lenses is increasing, and our new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G lens offers a F2.8 standard zoom option for creators seeking portability, without a sacrifice. It is a lens option ready to go anywhere," said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. "The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is our first-ever full-frame F2.8 standard zoom lens in the G series lens lineup. Bringing the ever-popular F2.8 aperture from our G Master series into the G series is yet another example of our dedication to building lens options for every level of creator."

Outstanding Optical Performance in a Compact Form Factor

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G's design is compact with a filter diameter of φ67 mm, maximum diameter of 74.8 mm (about 2.94 in), length of 92.3 mm (about 3.63 in), and weight of approximately 440 g (about 15.52 oz). Despite its compact size, the lens maintains exceptional image quality throughout all focal lengths. This is made possible by the incorporation of four aspherical lenses and two elements of Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass. These advanced elements effectively minimize chromatic aberrations, resulting in high-resolution performance that remains consistent from the center to the corners of the frame.

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G's 11-blade circular aperture and well-controlled spherical aberration creates the beautiful, smooth bokeh known to the G lens series. Painstaking optical optimization has achieved impressive close-up performance at all focal lengths. It has a minimum shooting distance of 0.19 m (AF) at the wide end, and a maximum magnification of 0.30 x (AF) for detailed shooting.

Fast and Precise Autofocus Capabilities for Both Stills and Video

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is equipped with two linear motors to achieve extremely fast, precise, and quiet focusing with AF (autofocus). It also supports high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking of up to 120 frames per second, a feature offered on Sony's newest full-frame mirrorless camera, the Alpha 9 IIIi.

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G's AF capabilities make it advantageous for video production, especially when shooting in high frame rates like 4K 120p or FHD 240p movie recordingii . It supports in-camera Active Mode Image Stabilizationiii for fast paced shooting and is compatible with the Focus Breathing Compensation feature native to select Sony Alpha camerasiv. In addition, the Linear Response MF offers intuitive and precise manual focus adjustments, a feature beneficial for filmmakingv.

Enhanced Controllability and Reliability

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is equipped with intuitive controls designed to offer ultimate operability. These features include a customizable focus hold button, aperture ring, aperture click ON/OFF switch, and focus mode switch.

Additionally, the lens' front element is fluorine coated, which effectively repels and effortlessly eliminates fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and other contaminants. This dust and moisture resistant design makes it a reliable option for any environment.

Pricing and Availability

The new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G will be available in May 2024 for approximately $1,099.99 USD and $1,499.99 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony's authorized dealers throughout North America.

A product video on the FE 24-50mm F2.8 G can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/pC0shkwJ7b0

For more information about FE 24-50mm F2.8 G, please visit: https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/all-e-mount/p/sel2450g

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G and Sony's other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony α - Alpha brand.

Notes:

i Sony test conditions. Maximum continuous frame rate may be lower in some shooting conditions. Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on the lens used in AF-C focus modes. Visit Sony’s support web page for lens compatibility information.

ii Depending on camera used.

iii Compatible models only.

iv See camera compatibility info at: https://www.sony.net/dics/breathing/ Angle of view and image quality may change slightly when this function is [ON]. Effective compensation may not be achieved in all situations.

v Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof.

Categories: Photo News

Sony promises fast performance on new compact 24-50mm F2.8 lens

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 07:00
$(document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({"containerId":"embeddedSampleGallery_3180868587","galleryId":"3180868587","isEmbeddedWidget":true,"selectedImageIndex":0,"isMobile":false}) });Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Sony has announced a compact 24-50mm F2.8G lens for its full-frame mirrorless cameras. Coming in at just 440 grams (just under 1 pound), this lens covers the most popular focal lengths for everyday shooting in a chassis 92mm (3.6") long.

Sony claims that they've made no compromises with the lens. It has an 11-blade circular aperture, uses ED and aspherical elements, and has twin linear motors for responsive and quiet focusing. Sony says that the lens can keep up with the 120 fps burst mode of its flagship a9 III.

The lens has focus, zoom, and aperture rings; the latter can be "de-clicked" for video shooting. There's also a focus hold button, whose function can be customized. The lens is dust and moisture-resistant (but not 100%, Sony points out), and the front element has a fluorine coating to fight off water and oil.

The 24-50mm F2.8G will be available in the May timeframe for a price in the $1100-$1300 range.

Categories: Photo News

Fujifilm X100VI, a sample gallery from the streets of Seattle to Tokyo

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 06:00
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At first glance, you'd be forgiven to assume that Fujifilm's X100VI doesn't deviate too far from its predecessor. The exterior is virtually identical and it's easy to confuse the two. But under that nostalgia-inspired body lies improvements to the sensor, autofocus and the introduction of in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

The camera also remains very pocketable and we took it along through city streets, coffee shops, nightlife and across oceans from our home in Seattle to Fujifilm's turf in Japan.

Buy now:

$1,599 at B&H Photo $1,599 at Adorama $1,599 at Amazon

A darling of Tik Tok, the X100V became the must-have camera of the last couple of years. We gave the former model high marks for its image quality, lens, and video performance, and we agreed, that it did feel like an "object of desire."

The X100VI seems to retain everything that worked well in the X100V and ratcheted it up a notch. We'll be looking to see how well it meets that expectation in our final review after additional testing and some longer-term use.

View our Fujifilm X100VI sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Categories: Photo News

Fujifilm X100VI, a sample gallery from the streets of Seattle to Yokohama

DP Review Latest news - Wed, 02/21/2024 - 06:00
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At first glance, you'd be forgiven to assume that Fujifilm's X100VI doesn't deviate too far from its predecessor. The exterior is virtually identical and it's easy to confuse the two. But under that nostalgia-inspired body lies improvements to the sensor, autofocus and the introduction of in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

The camera also remains very pocketable and we took it along through city streets, coffee shops, nightlife and across oceans from our home in Seattle to Fujifilm's turf in Japan.

Buy now:

$1,599 at B&H Photo $1,599 at Adorama

A darling of Tik Tok, the X100V became the must-have camera of the last couple of years. We gave the former model high marks for its image quality, lens, and video performance, and we agreed, that it did feel like an "object of desire."

The X100VI seems to retain everything that worked well in the X100V and ratcheted it up a notch. We'll be looking to see how well it meets that expectation in our final review after additional testing and some longer-term use.

View our Fujifilm X100VI sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Categories: Photo News

Sigma announces 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS super-telephoto for E- and L-mount

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 17:00

Sigma announced a pair of lenses at CP+ in Japan, and the larger of the two (literally) is the 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS "Sports". Despite that range, the lens is relatively compact and light. It's 234mm (9.2") long and weighs in at 1.4kg (3 lbs). It will be available for Sony E-mount and bodies that support L-mount glass.

Buy now:

$2,999 at Amazon $2,999 at B&H $2,999 at Adorama

The 500mm F5.6 has 20 elements in 14 groups and has both FLD (similar to fluorite) and SLD glass. The focus groups are driven by an "HLA" linear motor, which Sigma claims is quick and quiet. You'll want stabilization on a lens like this, and the "OS2" algorithm reduces shake by up to 5 stops, according to the company. The lens supports Sigma's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters as well as its USB dock.

The lens is sealed against dust and moisture and has a number of switches on its left side, one of which is customizable. A button near the aperture ring is also customizable.

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You'll be able to pick up the 500mm F5.6 for yourself in March for $2999.

Manufacturer's sample gallery $(document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({"containerId":"embeddedSampleGallery_0799774977","galleryId":"0799774977","isEmbeddedWidget":true,"selectedImageIndex":0,"isMobile":false}) }); Press release

SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS

The crystallization of technology. A whole new ultra-telephoto experience.

  1. Perfect for hand-held shooting, a 500mm lens with unparalleled optical performance
  2. Compact, lightweight and excellent build quality
  3. A wealth of functions to assist in a variety of shooting situations

Clear, sharp images and amazing mobility

A handy-size 500mm that offers a whole new shooting experience

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports is an ultra-telephoto prime lens exclusively for mirrorless cameras that features a 500mm focal length with outstanding image quality in a remarkably compact and lightweight body. By incorporating multiple large-diameter, exclusive low-dispersion glass elements that are challenging to process, SIGMA succeeded in significantly downsizing the lens construction without the use of diffractive optical elements. At the same time, the lens has achieved high resolving power that meets the expectations for a 500mm prime lens. The lens body, composed mainly of high-precision engineering plastic parts, has excellent build quality and weather resistance, including dust and splash resistant structure*, despite its compact size. With its rich descriptive power and incredibly compact size for its focal length, the handy-size SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports offers a whole new photographic experience for wildlife, aviation, sports and other fast-action photographers.

* The structure is designed to be dust and splash resistant, but not waterproof. Be careful not to bring the lens in contact with a large amount of water. Water inside the lens may cause major damage and even render the lens unrepairable.

[Key features]

1. Perfect for hand-held shooting, a 500mm lens with unparalleled optical performance

The latest optical design using exclusive low-dispersion glass elements has succeeded in achieving both an extremely compact lens construction and high optical performance with excellent correction of aberrations. In addition to its size that allows hand-held shooting, the high-speed AF with HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) and the OS2 optical stabilization algorithm support comfortable shooting.

High optical performance and compact lens construction

The latest optical design has succeeded in significantly downsizing the optical system for a 500mm ultra-telephoto lens. By utilizing exclusive low-dispersion convex elements at the front of the lens, the lens delivers both a high aberration correction capability and a short overall length. The high level of production technology at SIGMA’s only manufacturing base, the Aizu factory, provides the exacting precision necessary for processing the exclusive low-dispersion glass elements with a large aperture. The lens has excellent correction of all aberrations, especially axial chromatic aberration, which cannot be corrected by the camera body, ensuring a stable high resolution from the center to the periphery of the image.

Excellent backlight resistance

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports uses refractive lenses in its optical system to prevent flare and ghosting that are characteristics of diffractive optical elements, allowing for clear images without concern for flare or ghosting even in backlit conditions or when a light source is included in the image. Furthermore, measures are taken against all conditions of incident light based on state-of-the-art simulation technology.

High-speed AF with a linear motor HLA

A linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) is used for the actuator, which is characterized by its high driving accuracy owing to the advanced electronic control, as well as its quietness. The HLA enables fast and accurate autofocus even in ultra-telephoto photography, such as sports and bird, where extremely precise focusing is required.

OS2 algorithm in optical stabilizer function

The latest OS2 optical stabilization algorithm provides an outstanding image stabilization effect of 5.0 stops*. The lens is equipped with two OS modes: Mode 1 is suitable for general shooting, and Mode 2 is ideal for panning shots of motorsports and other sports. In Mode 2, SIGMA’s Intelligent OS, an algorithm specially designed for panning shots, enables effective image stabilization even when the camera is moved vertically or diagonally, irrespective of the horizontal and vertical orientation. This ensures that the subject’s movement can be captured without losing the panning shot effect.

* Based on CIPA guidelines (Measured at 500mm with a 35mm full-frame image sensor)

2. Compact, lightweight and excellent build quality

The lens body has been designed to be small and lightweight in line with the optical system, which has been made significantly more compact. Not only is the lens easy to handle in hand-held use, but it also has the weather resistance of SIGMA’s Sports line specifications and the excellent build quality that SIGMA prides itself on in terms of texture and the operating quality of each ring and control.

High-precision TSC* parts enable both high performance and compact, lightweight design

In order to achieve such a compact, lightweight and robust body, materials such as TSC and magnesium have been used in appropriate places. In particular, the production of a large TSC part that integrates functions as an internal structure, as well as an exterior part to reduce size and weight of the lens are manufactured with micron-level precision and they also have a sleek finish that gives the lens its premium feel. The sophisticated processing and production technology of the Aizu factory, SIGMA's only manufacturing base in Japan, enables the high degree of precise production and ensures the high performance and durability of the lens.

* TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminum. It has a high affinity to metal parts which contributes to high quality product manufacturing.

Weatherability of Sports line specifications

The mount connection, manual focus ring, switches and exterior connection are all dust and splash resistant to prevent dust and dirt from entering the lens. Further, the front element of the lens features a water and oil repellent coating to facilitate maintenance when water droplets or dust adhere to the lens.

Cover-type lens hood included

A lightweight, high-strength, exclusive cover-type lens hood made of TSC is included. The tip of the hood is rubberized to protect the lens from abrasion and scratches caused by placing the lens upside down.

3. A wealth of functions to assist in a variety of shooting situations

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports is equipped with a full range of assist functions including an aperture ring and three AFL buttons* ready to be assigned to preferred functions using the camera. The L-Mount version is also compatible with SIGMA’s tele converters for AF-enabled shooting at ultra-telephoto focal lengths of up to 1,000mm.

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

Full range of customizable functions

Equipped with a Focus Limiter switch, the lens enables users to limit the focus driving range during AF when necessary, allowing quick and precise focusing. Further, the lens features three AFL buttons which can be assigned to a range of functions via the menu on selected cameras. The AFL buttons are easy to operate regardless of how the camera is oriented, and make accessing important settings quick and easy. For the L-Mount version, the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 can be used to set OS operation or the focus limiter range for the Custom Mode switch*.

* The assigned setting for lenses for Sony E-mount cannot be changed from the default setting because a USB DOCK for the mount is not available. The default setting allows users to switch the visibility of the OS effect in the viewfinder and live view.

Equipped with an aperture ring

In addition to an aperture ring, the lens is also equipped with an aperture ring click switch and an aperture ring lock switch, allowing for aperture operation suited to the shooting application.

Detachable tripod socket

The lightweight and sturdy magnesium alloy tripod socket is Arca-Swiss compatible. The detachable socket comes with a ring that clicks into position at 90° intervals.

* The tripod socket TS-151 is compatible with the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports.

Tele Converter for L-Mount (1.4x / 2.0x)

The L-Mount version of the lens is compatible with the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 (1.4x) and TC-2011 (2.0x). Using a tele converter, the focal length can be multiplied by 1.4x and even 2x, for AF-enabled shooting at ultra-telephoto focal lengths of up to 1,000mm.

[Additional features]

  • Lens construction: 20 elements in 14 groups (3 FLD, 2 SLD elements)
  • OS (Optical Stabilizer) function with the latest “OS2” algorithm
  • Inner focus system
  • Compatible with high-speed autofocus
  • HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
  • Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections or auto correction functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

* On cameras where lens aberration correction is controlled with ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ in the camera menu, please set all aberration correction functions to ‘ON'(AUTO).

  • Supports DMF and AF+MF
  • Compatible with AF assist (for Sony E-mount only)
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Water and Oil Repellent Coating (front element)
  • Aperture ring
  • Aperture ring click switch
  • Aperture ring lock switch
  • AFL button (3 buttons)
    * Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.
  • Focus Limiter switch
  • Focus Mode switch
  • Support for switching between linear focus / non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)
    * Function available on supported cameras only.
  • OS switch
  • Custom Mode switch
  • Dust and Splash Resistant Structure
  • LENS HOOD LH1034-02
  • TRIPOD SOCKET TS-151 *Detachable lens foot type
  • Compatible with SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 / TC-2011 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
  • Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
  • 11-blade rounded diaphragm
  • High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
  • Mount Conversion Service available
  • “Made in Aizu, Japan” craftsmanship
Categories: Photo News

Sigma to ship ultra-fast 15mm F1.4 "Art" diagonal fisheye lens in March

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 17:00
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Sigma has announced its 15mm F1.4 DG DN "Art" diagonal fisheye lens at CP+ in Japan. The lens is well-suited for astrophotography, with a 180-degree field-of-view, manual focus lock button, and lens heater support. Sigma claims that the lens has "unparalleled resolving power" thanks to its use of FLD and SLD elements.

Buy now:

$1999 at B&H Photo $1999 at Adorama $1999 at Amazon

The lens is weather-sealed and offers an aperture ring that can click or rotate smoothly. There are a grand total of 21 elements inside the lens, and the AF glass is driven by a linear motor. For those looking to use filters, you'll find a drop-in slot on the mount. An Arca-Swiss tripod adapter is included in the box.

The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN "Art" will be available for E and L mounts next month for $1999.

Press Release

SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE

180° of high resolution

An innovative diagonal fisheye lens

  1. Resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses
  2. An addition to the Art F1.4 lineup, meticulously crafted for astrophotography
  3. A wealth of latest functions and excellent build quality

The world's first* F1.4 diagonal fisheye interchangeable lens for 35mm full-frame. Unparalleled resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses

In developing a fisheye lens featuring an ultra-wide-angle and powerful fisheye distortion, SIGMA has achieved a completely new level of artistic potential, combining the world's first F1.4 aperture for consumer use with outstanding resolving power across the entire image. In terms of optical performance, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art has achieved excellent point image reproducibility and high resolution by correcting various aberrations, especially sagittal coma flare. The lens is capable of handling astrophotography, which demands particularly high-quality performance, even when wide-open. Unlike conventional fisheyes, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is exceptionally sharp across its entire 180° angle-of-view and offers an ultra-fast F1.4 aperture, making it perfect for a wide range of applications including astrophotography, landscapes and architecture. The expressive power of this all-new full-frame mirrorless lens opens a wealth of creative possibilities in wide-angle photography.

* As an interchangeable lens for full-frame cameras for consumer use. (As of February 2024 by SIGMA)

[Key features]

Resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses

The latest optical design thoroughly corrects each type of aberration. This diagonal fisheye lens has the unique expressiveness of a fisheye lens and high resolution throughout the entire image from a wide-open aperture. The performance of the lens is guaranteed by a full inspection with SIGMA's proprietary MTF measuring system.

Even wide-open, high resolution and point image reproducibility across the entire image

The lens consists of 21 elements in 15 groups, including 4 FLD and 3 SLD exclusive low-dispersion glass elements, and 2 aspherical lens elements. By correcting sagittal coma flare and other aberrations, the lens can precisely reproduce bright points of light across the whole frame even wide-open, making it ideal for astrophotography.

Diagonal fisheye lens with 180° angle of view

The powerful distortion effect, which is the appeal of fisheye lenses, allows users to enjoy expressions such as a unique perspective and emphasis on the subject at a 180° angle of view. In addition, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is designed with the strict performance standards of the Art line. Furthermore, all lenses are inspected with SIGMA's proprietary MTF measuring system. The unique descriptive power of this new fisheye lens, which combines an incredible 180° angle-of-view with very high resolution optics, delivers a level of artistic potential that exceeds other fisheye lenses.

Designed to minimize flare and ghosting

To prevent flare and ghosting, which reduce image quality, the lens is designed to handle all conditions of incident light based on state-of-the-art simulation technology. High backlight resistance enables clear and sharp images under any lighting conditions.

2. An addition to the Art F1.4 lineup, meticulously crafted for astrophotography

The SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art offers abundant functions to support astrophotography. With the introduction of this lens, SIGMA now has four F1.4 wide-angle prime Art line lenses with functions specifically designed for astrophotography, including the 14mm, 20mm, and 24mm. In terms of both lineup and functionality, SIGMA fully supports the joy of capturing the stars.

MFL (Manual Focus Lock) switch

The lens is equipped with an MFL switch. When the MFL switch is set to “LOCK,” the focus ring operation is disabled, ensuring that once focus is acquired, it will not be changed by unintentional movement of the ring. This is useful for long exposures and other situations where the focus should be fixed while shooting.

Lens heater retainer

A small step at the front of the lens called a lens heater retainer prevents the lens heater* from protruding over the front element, eliminating the risk of vignetting.

* A belt-shaped heat strip that is wrapped around the lens to prevent condensation from forming inside the lens when the temperature drops.

Rear filter holder

A standard-equipped rear filter holder at the lens mount allows sheet-type filters to be used.

Special cover lens cap with a locking mechanism and filter slots

The included cover lens cap features two slots to securely store rear filters, as well as a locking mechanism. The cap is specially designed for the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art, allowing users to carry sheet-type filters without the risk of confusing or forgetting them, while protecting them from scratches and dirt.

Tripod Socket

The lens is equipped with an Arca-Swiss compatible, lightweight and sturdy magnesium alloy tripod socket. The detachable leg can be mounted on a tripod for stable conditions even during long exposures. The shape has been deliberately designed to prevent interference when using a lens heater.

* The tripod socket TS-141 is also compatible with the SIGMA 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art.

A wealth of latest functions and excellent build quality

The SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is equipped with various functions to assist shooting, including an AFL button*1 to which preferred function can be assigned and an aperture ring, and uses a linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) as the AF actuator to enable fast, quiet, and highly accurate AF shooting. The lens is also equipped with a dust and splash resistant structure*2 to ensure a high level of weather resistance and robustness, as well as excellent build quality that allows for long and reliable use in any environment.

*1 Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

*2 The structure is designed to be dust and splash resistant, but not waterproof. Be careful not to bring the lens in contact with a large amount of water. Water inside the lens may cause major damage and even render the lens unrepairable.

Various shooting assist functions

The lens is equipped with an AFL button which can be assigned to a range of functions via the menu on selected cameras. In addition to the aperture ring, the lens is equipped with an aperture ring lock switch and a click switch to turn the click on and off.

Dust and splash resistant structure and water and oil repellent coating

In addition to a dust and splash resistant structure, the front element of the lens features a water and oil repellent coating, allowing photographers to shoot without concerns even in harsh outdoor environments.

Adopts a linear motor HLA

The AF actuator is a linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator). The high thrust motor and advanced electronic control operate the focus lens at high speed and with high precision to provide comfortable AF shooting.

Excellent build quality

To support the heavy optical system and enhance robustness and reliability, metal parts are used in key parts of the lens body. Meanwhile, the lightweight engineering plastic TSC* is also used in appropriate places to reduce weight. Furthermore, each control part, such as rings and switches, is designed to feel good. SIGMA is proud of the exceptional build quality of its products, which do not compromise on durability, operability, and a satisfying sense of ownership.

* TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminum. It has a high affinity to metal parts which contributes to high quality product manufacturing.

[Additional features]

  • Lens construction: 21 elements in 15 groups (4 FLD, 3 SLD, 2 aspherical elements)
  • Inner focus system
  • Compatible with high-speed autofocus
  • HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
  • Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction

* Due to being a fisheye lens, distortion will not be corrected.

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections or auto correction functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

* On cameras where lens aberration correction is controlled with ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ in the camera menu, please set all aberration correction functions to ‘ON'(AUTO).

  • Supports DMF and AF+MF
  • Compatible with AF assist (for Sony E-mount only)
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Water and Oil Repellent Coating (front element)
  • Aperture ring
  • Aperture ring click switch
  • Aperture ring lock switch
  • AFL button

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

  • MFL (Manual Focus Lock) switch
  • Rear filter holder (compatible with GUIDE PLATE GP-21)
  • Lens heater retainer
  • Focus Mode switch
  • Support for switching between linear focus / non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)
    * Function available on supported cameras only.
  • Dust and Splash Resistant Structure
  • TRIPOD SOCKET TS-141
  • Special COVER LENS CAP LC1040-01 with a locking mechanism and filter slots
  • Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
  • Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
  • 11-blade rounded diaphragm
  • High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
  • Mount Conversion Service available
  • “Made in Aizu, Japan” craftsmanship
Categories: Photo News

Sigma announces 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS super-telephoto for E- and L-mount

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 17:00

Sigma announced a pair of lenses at CP+ in Japan, and the larger of the two (literally) is the 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS "Sports". Despite that range, the lens is relatively compact and light. It's 234mm (9.2") long and weighs in at 1.4kg (3 lbs). It will be available for Sony E-mount and bodies that support L-mount glass.

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The 500mm F5.6 has 20 elements in 14 groups and has both FLD (similar to fluorite) and SLD glass. The focus groups are driven by an "HLA" linear motor, which Sigma claims is quick and quiet. You'll want stabilization on a lens like this, and the "OS2" algorithm reduces shake by up to 5 stops, according to the company. The lens supports Sigma's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters as well as its USB dock.

The lens is sealed against dust and moisture and has a number of switches on its left side, one of which is customizable. A button near the aperture ring is also customizable.

You'll be able to pick up the 500mm F5.6 for yourself in March for $2999.

Official sample gallery $(document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({"containerId":"embeddedSampleGallery_0799774977","galleryId":"0799774977","isEmbeddedWidget":true,"selectedImageIndex":0,"isMobile":false}) }); Press release

SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS

The crystallization of technology. A whole new ultra-telephoto experience.

  1. Perfect for hand-held shooting, a 500mm lens with unparalleled optical performance
  2. Compact, lightweight and excellent build quality
  3. A wealth of functions to assist in a variety of shooting situations

Clear, sharp images and amazing mobility

A handy-size 500mm that offers a whole new shooting experience

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports is an ultra-telephoto prime lens exclusively for mirrorless cameras that features a 500mm focal length with outstanding image quality in a remarkably compact and lightweight body. By incorporating multiple large-diameter, exclusive low-dispersion glass elements that are challenging to process, SIGMA succeeded in significantly downsizing the lens construction without the use of diffractive optical elements. At the same time, the lens has achieved high resolving power that meets the expectations for a 500mm prime lens. The lens body, composed mainly of high-precision engineering plastic parts, has excellent build quality and weather resistance, including dust and splash resistant structure*, despite its compact size. With its rich descriptive power and incredibly compact size for its focal length, the handy-size SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports offers a whole new photographic experience for wildlife, aviation, sports and other fast-action photographers.

* The structure is designed to be dust and splash resistant, but not waterproof. Be careful not to bring the lens in contact with a large amount of water. Water inside the lens may cause major damage and even render the lens unrepairable.

[Key features]

1. Perfect for hand-held shooting, a 500mm lens with unparalleled optical performance

The latest optical design using exclusive low-dispersion glass elements has succeeded in achieving both an extremely compact lens construction and high optical performance with excellent correction of aberrations. In addition to its size that allows hand-held shooting, the high-speed AF with HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) and the OS2 optical stabilization algorithm support comfortable shooting.

High optical performance and compact lens construction

The latest optical design has succeeded in significantly downsizing the optical system for a 500mm ultra-telephoto lens. By utilizing exclusive low-dispersion convex elements at the front of the lens, the lens delivers both a high aberration correction capability and a short overall length. The high level of production technology at SIGMA’s only manufacturing base, the Aizu factory, provides the exacting precision necessary for processing the exclusive low-dispersion glass elements with a large aperture. The lens has excellent correction of all aberrations, especially axial chromatic aberration, which cannot be corrected by the camera body, ensuring a stable high resolution from the center to the periphery of the image.

Excellent backlight resistance

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports uses refractive lenses in its optical system to prevent flare and ghosting that are characteristics of diffractive optical elements, allowing for clear images without concern for flare or ghosting even in backlit conditions or when a light source is included in the image. Furthermore, measures are taken against all conditions of incident light based on state-of-the-art simulation technology.

High-speed AF with a linear motor HLA

A linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) is used for the actuator, which is characterized by its high driving accuracy owing to the advanced electronic control, as well as its quietness. The HLA enables fast and accurate autofocus even in ultra-telephoto photography, such as sports and bird, where extremely precise focusing is required.

OS2 algorithm in optical stabilizer function

The latest OS2 optical stabilization algorithm provides an outstanding image stabilization effect of 5.0 stops*. The lens is equipped with two OS modes: Mode 1 is suitable for general shooting, and Mode 2 is ideal for panning shots of motorsports and other sports. In Mode 2, SIGMA’s Intelligent OS, an algorithm specially designed for panning shots, enables effective image stabilization even when the camera is moved vertically or diagonally, irrespective of the horizontal and vertical orientation. This ensures that the subject’s movement can be captured without losing the panning shot effect.

* Based on CIPA guidelines (Measured at 500mm with a 35mm full-frame image sensor)

2. Compact, lightweight and excellent build quality

The lens body has been designed to be small and lightweight in line with the optical system, which has been made significantly more compact. Not only is the lens easy to handle in hand-held use, but it also has the weather resistance of SIGMA’s Sports line specifications and the excellent build quality that SIGMA prides itself on in terms of texture and the operating quality of each ring and control.

High-precision TSC* parts enable both high performance and compact, lightweight design

In order to achieve such a compact, lightweight and robust body, materials such as TSC and magnesium have been used in appropriate places. In particular, the production of a large TSC part that integrates functions as an internal structure, as well as an exterior part to reduce size and weight of the lens are manufactured with micron-level precision and they also have a sleek finish that gives the lens its premium feel. The sophisticated processing and production technology of the Aizu factory, SIGMA's only manufacturing base in Japan, enables the high degree of precise production and ensures the high performance and durability of the lens.

* TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminum. It has a high affinity to metal parts which contributes to high quality product manufacturing.

Weatherability of Sports line specifications

The mount connection, manual focus ring, switches and exterior connection are all dust and splash resistant to prevent dust and dirt from entering the lens. Further, the front element of the lens features a water and oil repellent coating to facilitate maintenance when water droplets or dust adhere to the lens.

Cover-type lens hood included

A lightweight, high-strength, exclusive cover-type lens hood made of TSC is included. The tip of the hood is rubberized to protect the lens from abrasion and scratches caused by placing the lens upside down.

3. A wealth of functions to assist in a variety of shooting situations

The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports is equipped with a full range of assist functions including an aperture ring and three AFL buttons* ready to be assigned to preferred functions using the camera. The L-Mount version is also compatible with SIGMA’s tele converters for AF-enabled shooting at ultra-telephoto focal lengths of up to 1,000mm.

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

Full range of customizable functions

Equipped with a Focus Limiter switch, the lens enables users to limit the focus driving range during AF when necessary, allowing quick and precise focusing. Further, the lens features three AFL buttons which can be assigned to a range of functions via the menu on selected cameras. The AFL buttons are easy to operate regardless of how the camera is oriented, and make accessing important settings quick and easy. For the L-Mount version, the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 can be used to set OS operation or the focus limiter range for the Custom Mode switch*.

* The assigned setting for lenses for Sony E-mount cannot be changed from the default setting because a USB DOCK for the mount is not available. The default setting allows users to switch the visibility of the OS effect in the viewfinder and live view.

Equipped with an aperture ring

In addition to an aperture ring, the lens is also equipped with an aperture ring click switch and an aperture ring lock switch, allowing for aperture operation suited to the shooting application.

Detachable tripod socket

The lightweight and sturdy magnesium alloy tripod socket is Arca-Swiss compatible. The detachable socket comes with a ring that clicks into position at 90° intervals.

* The tripod socket TS-151 is compatible with the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports.

Tele Converter for L-Mount (1.4x / 2.0x)

The L-Mount version of the lens is compatible with the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 (1.4x) and TC-2011 (2.0x). Using a tele converter, the focal length can be multiplied by 1.4x and even 2x, for AF-enabled shooting at ultra-telephoto focal lengths of up to 1,000mm.

[Additional features]

  • Lens construction: 20 elements in 14 groups (3 FLD, 2 SLD elements)
  • OS (Optical Stabilizer) function with the latest “OS2” algorithm
  • Inner focus system
  • Compatible with high-speed autofocus
  • HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
  • Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections or auto correction functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

* On cameras where lens aberration correction is controlled with ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ in the camera menu, please set all aberration correction functions to ‘ON'(AUTO).

  • Supports DMF and AF+MF
  • Compatible with AF assist (for Sony E-mount only)
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Water and Oil Repellent Coating (front element)
  • Aperture ring
  • Aperture ring click switch
  • Aperture ring lock switch
  • AFL button (3 buttons)
    * Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.
  • Focus Limiter switch
  • Focus Mode switch
  • Support for switching between linear focus / non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)
    * Function available on supported cameras only.
  • OS switch
  • Custom Mode switch
  • Dust and Splash Resistant Structure
  • LENS HOOD LH1034-02
  • TRIPOD SOCKET TS-151 *Detachable lens foot type
  • Compatible with SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 / TC-2011 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
  • Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
  • 11-blade rounded diaphragm
  • High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
  • Mount Conversion Service available
  • “Made in Aizu, Japan” craftsmanship
Categories: Photo News

Sigma to ship ultra-fast 15mm F1.4 "Art" diagonal fisheye lens in March

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 17:00
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Sigma has announced its 15mm F1.4 DG DN "Art" diagonal fisheye lens at CP+ in Japan. The lens is well-suited for astrophotography, with a 180-degree field-of-view, manual focus lock button, and lens heater support. Sigma claims that the lens has "unparalleled resolving power" thanks to its use of FLD and SLD elements.

The lens is weather-sealed and offers an aperture ring that can click or rotate smoothly. There are a grand total of 21 elements inside the lens, and the AF glass is driven by a linear motor. For those looking to use filters, you'll find a drop-in slot on the mount. An Arca-Swiss tripod adapter is included in the box.

The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN "Art" will be available for E and L mounts next month for $1999.

Press Release

SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE

180° of high resolution

An innovative diagonal fisheye lens

  1. Resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses
  2. An addition to the Art F1.4 lineup, meticulously crafted for astrophotography
  3. A wealth of latest functions and excellent build quality

The world's first* F1.4 diagonal fisheye interchangeable lens for 35mm full-frame. Unparalleled resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses

In developing a fisheye lens featuring an ultra-wide-angle and powerful fisheye distortion, SIGMA has achieved a completely new level of artistic potential, combining the world's first F1.4 aperture for consumer use with outstanding resolving power across the entire image. In terms of optical performance, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art has achieved excellent point image reproducibility and high resolution by correcting various aberrations, especially sagittal coma flare. The lens is capable of handling astrophotography, which demands particularly high-quality performance, even when wide-open. Unlike conventional fisheyes, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is exceptionally sharp across its entire 180° angle-of-view and offers an ultra-fast F1.4 aperture, making it perfect for a wide range of applications including astrophotography, landscapes and architecture. The expressive power of this all-new full-frame mirrorless lens opens a wealth of creative possibilities in wide-angle photography.

* As an interchangeable lens for full-frame cameras for consumer use. (As of February 2024 by SIGMA)

[Key features]

Resolving power that overturns the conventional wisdom about fisheye lenses

The latest optical design thoroughly corrects each type of aberration. This diagonal fisheye lens has the unique expressiveness of a fisheye lens and high resolution throughout the entire image from a wide-open aperture. The performance of the lens is guaranteed by a full inspection with SIGMA's proprietary MTF measuring system.

Even wide-open, high resolution and point image reproducibility across the entire image

The lens consists of 21 elements in 15 groups, including 4 FLD and 3 SLD exclusive low-dispersion glass elements, and 2 aspherical lens elements. By correcting sagittal coma flare and other aberrations, the lens can precisely reproduce bright points of light across the whole frame even wide-open, making it ideal for astrophotography.

Diagonal fisheye lens with 180° angle of view

The powerful distortion effect, which is the appeal of fisheye lenses, allows users to enjoy expressions such as a unique perspective and emphasis on the subject at a 180° angle of view. In addition, the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is designed with the strict performance standards of the Art line. Furthermore, all lenses are inspected with SIGMA's proprietary MTF measuring system. The unique descriptive power of this new fisheye lens, which combines an incredible 180° angle-of-view with very high resolution optics, delivers a level of artistic potential that exceeds other fisheye lenses.

Designed to minimize flare and ghosting

To prevent flare and ghosting, which reduce image quality, the lens is designed to handle all conditions of incident light based on state-of-the-art simulation technology. High backlight resistance enables clear and sharp images under any lighting conditions.

2. An addition to the Art F1.4 lineup, meticulously crafted for astrophotography

The SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art offers abundant functions to support astrophotography. With the introduction of this lens, SIGMA now has four F1.4 wide-angle prime Art line lenses with functions specifically designed for astrophotography, including the 14mm, 20mm, and 24mm. In terms of both lineup and functionality, SIGMA fully supports the joy of capturing the stars.

MFL (Manual Focus Lock) switch

The lens is equipped with an MFL switch. When the MFL switch is set to “LOCK,” the focus ring operation is disabled, ensuring that once focus is acquired, it will not be changed by unintentional movement of the ring. This is useful for long exposures and other situations where the focus should be fixed while shooting.

Lens heater retainer

A small step at the front of the lens called a lens heater retainer prevents the lens heater* from protruding over the front element, eliminating the risk of vignetting.

* A belt-shaped heat strip that is wrapped around the lens to prevent condensation from forming inside the lens when the temperature drops.

Rear filter holder

A standard-equipped rear filter holder at the lens mount allows sheet-type filters to be used.

Special cover lens cap with a locking mechanism and filter slots

The included cover lens cap features two slots to securely store rear filters, as well as a locking mechanism. The cap is specially designed for the SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art, allowing users to carry sheet-type filters without the risk of confusing or forgetting them, while protecting them from scratches and dirt.

Tripod Socket

The lens is equipped with an Arca-Swiss compatible, lightweight and sturdy magnesium alloy tripod socket. The detachable leg can be mounted on a tripod for stable conditions even during long exposures. The shape has been deliberately designed to prevent interference when using a lens heater.

* The tripod socket TS-141 is also compatible with the SIGMA 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art.

A wealth of latest functions and excellent build quality

The SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art is equipped with various functions to assist shooting, including an AFL button*1 to which preferred function can be assigned and an aperture ring, and uses a linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) as the AF actuator to enable fast, quiet, and highly accurate AF shooting. The lens is also equipped with a dust and splash resistant structure*2 to ensure a high level of weather resistance and robustness, as well as excellent build quality that allows for long and reliable use in any environment.

*1 Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

*2 The structure is designed to be dust and splash resistant, but not waterproof. Be careful not to bring the lens in contact with a large amount of water. Water inside the lens may cause major damage and even render the lens unrepairable.

Various shooting assist functions

The lens is equipped with an AFL button which can be assigned to a range of functions via the menu on selected cameras. In addition to the aperture ring, the lens is equipped with an aperture ring lock switch and a click switch to turn the click on and off.

Dust and splash resistant structure and water and oil repellent coating

In addition to a dust and splash resistant structure, the front element of the lens features a water and oil repellent coating, allowing photographers to shoot without concerns even in harsh outdoor environments.

Adopts a linear motor HLA

The AF actuator is a linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator). The high thrust motor and advanced electronic control operate the focus lens at high speed and with high precision to provide comfortable AF shooting.

Excellent build quality

To support the heavy optical system and enhance robustness and reliability, metal parts are used in key parts of the lens body. Meanwhile, the lightweight engineering plastic TSC* is also used in appropriate places to reduce weight. Furthermore, each control part, such as rings and switches, is designed to feel good. SIGMA is proud of the exceptional build quality of its products, which do not compromise on durability, operability, and a satisfying sense of ownership.

* TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminum. It has a high affinity to metal parts which contributes to high quality product manufacturing.

[Additional features]

  • Lens construction: 21 elements in 15 groups (4 FLD, 3 SLD, 2 aspherical elements)
  • Inner focus system
  • Compatible with high-speed autofocus
  • HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
  • Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction

* Due to being a fisheye lens, distortion will not be corrected.

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections or auto correction functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

* On cameras where lens aberration correction is controlled with ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ in the camera menu, please set all aberration correction functions to ‘ON'(AUTO).

  • Supports DMF and AF+MF
  • Compatible with AF assist (for Sony E-mount only)
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Water and Oil Repellent Coating (front element)
  • Aperture ring
  • Aperture ring click switch
  • Aperture ring lock switch
  • AFL button

* Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.

  • MFL (Manual Focus Lock) switch
  • Rear filter holder (compatible with GUIDE PLATE GP-21)
  • Lens heater retainer
  • Focus Mode switch
  • Support for switching between linear focus / non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)
    * Function available on supported cameras only.
  • Dust and Splash Resistant Structure
  • TRIPOD SOCKET TS-141
  • Special COVER LENS CAP LC1040-01 with a locking mechanism and filter slots
  • Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
  • Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
  • Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
  • 11-blade rounded diaphragm
  • High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
  • Mount Conversion Service available
  • “Made in Aizu, Japan” craftsmanship
Categories: Photo News

This limited-edition X100VI comes with Fujifilm's founding logo

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 06:38
Photo: Richard Butler

The Fujifilm X100VI is here, and you can preorder it right now. Does that feel just a little too easy? You're in luck! The X100VI is also being released in a limited edition variety, with Fujifilm's founding logo, in a run of just 1934 units, with quantities varying based on geographic location.

Image: Fujifilm

Each of the 1934 cameras in the run (a number that harkens back to Fujifilm's founding 90 years ago) will be adorned with the original Fujifilm logo on the lens cap and along the top of the camera, along with an individual serial number. The camera also comes in a fancy box with some "Fujifilm history cards" and a special strap.

Image: Fujifilm

The special edition comes at a MSRP of $2,000, which is a $400 premium over the X100VI's $1,600 list price, itself a $200 increase over the launch price of the X100V. Getting your hands on one will require a little sleuthing; Fujifilm instructs interested parties to "contact your local Fujifilm sales and marketing company to explore the opportunity to purchase." That is, if you don't want to try and buy one of the secondary market for an additional markup.

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Otherwise, the vanilla X100VI is waiting for you.

Buy now:

$1,599 at B&H Photo $1,599 at Adorama $1,599 at Amazon Limited Edition X100VI Units Announced

To celebrate Fujifilm’s 90th anniversary year in 2024, a special Limited Edition of 1,934 X100VI cameras will be made available by Fujifilm, worldwide. The Limited Edition camera body is engraved with the corporate brand logo from Fujifilm’s founding in 1934, and each unit bears a unique serial number. These numbered X100VI units are packaged in a special, soft-release box that includes a special strap and Fujifilm history cards. The Limited Edition X100VI units will be available in extremely limited quantities and vary depending geographical location. Please contact your local Fujifilm sales and marketing company to explore the opportunity to purchase the item in your area.

Pricing and Availability:

X100VI is expected to be available from Fujifilm dealers early March 2024 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,599.95 USD and $2,159.99 CAD.

X100VI Limited Edition is expected to be available directly from Fujifilm commencing in late March 2024 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,999.99 USD and $2,699.99 CAD.

For more information about X100VI, please visit https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/x100vi.

Categories: Photo News

This limited-edition X100VI comes with Fujifilm's founding logo

DP Review Latest news - Tue, 02/20/2024 - 06:38
Image: Fujifilm

The Fujifilm X100VI is here, and you can preorder it right now. Does that feel just a little too easy? You're in luck! The X100VI is also being released in a limited edition variety, with Fujifilm's founding logo a run of just 1934 units, with quantities varying based on geographic location.

Image: Fujifilm

Each of the 1,934 cameras in the run (a number that harkens back to Fujifilm's founding 90 years ago) will be adorned with the original Fujifilm logo on the lens cap and along the top of the camera, along with an individual serial number. The camera also comes in a fancy box with some "Fujifilm history cards" and a special strap.

Image: Fujifilm

The special edition comes at a MSRP of $2,000, which is a $400 premium over the X100VI's $1,600 list price, itself a $200 increase over the launch price of the X100V. Getting your hands on one will require a little sleuthing; Fujifilm instructs interested parties to "contact your local Fujifilm sales and marketing company to explore the opportunity to purchase." That is, if you don't want to try and buy one of the secondary market for an additional markup.

Recent Videos!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.src='javascript:false';t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js?cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a&cid=a1b625fb-cd44-410e-9479-699e835fd645';cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "1cad57d1-aae3-42ce-aa46-cb49bb02d99a" }).render("0f952e209d6147a793d43f13d9e1cfa2"); });

Otherwise, the vanilla X100VI is waiting for you.

Buy now:

$1,599 at B&H Photo $1,599 at Adorama $1,599 at Amazon Limited Edition X100VI Units Announced

To celebrate Fujifilm’s 90th anniversary year in 2024, a special Limited Edition of 1,934 X100VI cameras will be made available by Fujifilm, worldwide. The Limited Edition camera body is engraved with the corporate brand logo from Fujifilm’s founding in 1934, and each unit bears a unique serial number. These numbered X100VI units are packaged in a special, soft-release box that includes a special strap and Fujifilm history cards. The Limited Edition X100VI units will be available in extremely limited quantities and vary depending geographical location. Please contact your local Fujifilm sales and marketing company to explore the opportunity to purchase the item in your area.

Pricing and Availability:

X100VI is expected to be available from Fujifilm dealers early March 2024 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,599.95 USD and $2,159.99 CAD.

X100VI Limited Edition is expected to be available directly from Fujifilm commencing in late March 2024 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,999.99 USD and $2,699.99 CAD.

For more information about X100VI, please visit https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/x100vi.

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