MacPhun announced the new Luminar Neptune software (Click here). The big new feature is an “artificial intelligence” filter which does all the basic changes on your photos for you. You get $10 off if you use the checkout code “MIRROR”.

New feature highlights in Luminar Neptune:

Accent AI filter – Uses artificial intelligence to create stunning images with a single slider movement, tapping into the power of dozens of filters.
Quick & Awesome workspace – A workspace consisting of the Accent AI Filter, Saturation & Vibrance and Clarity filters. Perfect for achieving great results in a fun and easy way within seconds.
Plug-in integration with Creative Kit and Aurora HDR 2017 – Seamlessly access favorite features from Macphun’s other photo editing tools.
Brush, Gradient and Radial Gradient tools – Dramatically faster performance yields smoother selective editing.
Vignette filter – Addition of Vignette Styles, Place Center and Pre- and Post-Crop modes delivers even more flexibility to this popular photo finishing tool.
Memory management – Increased overall performance for large files and 5+ simultaneous open images.
User Interface changes – Extensive improvements to in-app animation and mode transitions make for a more pleasing editing experience.
Crop tool update – Ability to specify custom crop sizes bring the ultimate usefulness to cropping.
Local history – Provision for reviewing separate history while in Transform, Denoise, Clone & Stamp modes helps optimize editing.

That gave me a smile on the face. The German blog Der Postillion posted a fake news about a new 0,001 megapixel Camera from Casio. Why would they imagine such a camera? Because it’s perfect to take blurred low resolution shots of UFO’s. No more work needed in post production :)

Oh no Fuji! The company discovered some “inappropriate accounting” in New Zealand and Australia. Today they released that statement (PDF here)

“[…] in addition to Fuji Xerox New Zealand Limited (“FXNZ”), an overseas sales subsidiary of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. which is a consolidated subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings , Fuji Xerox Australia Pty. Limited, an Australian sales subsidiary of Fuji Xerox, also conducted inappropriate accounting similar to that conducted by FXNZ. As a result, the accumulated impact of the inappropriat e accounting regarding our consolidated subsidiaries on the “net income” on a consolidated basis of the Comp any for the past few years has become a loss of 37.5 billion yen from a loss of approximately 22 billion yen […]. Further, the accumulated impact on the “net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings” is a loss of 28.1 billion yen“

“Although sales in areas such as electronic imaging field of the optical device and electronic imaging business have increased, our sales and operating income has decreased due to a decrease in sales in the healthcare business and the document business.

At the same time, as a result of the review of the cross-shareholding, a gain on sales of investment securities has been recorded in non-operating income and expenses so there have been increases in income before income taxes, net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings, and net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings per share, which has resulted in a record high in the net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings.

Further, the impact on the amount in the consolidated earnings for the fiscal year ended March 2017 relating to the accounting problem at overseas sales subsidiaries of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. […] is minor.”

We don’t know yet if there will be any legal consequences of this “misbehaviour”.

via Fujirumors

The German company Meyer Optik Görlitz announced the revival of their Lydith 30/f3.5 lens. You can buy one on Kickstarter:

The new Lydith fulfils all of this criteria. However, in our prototype test shootings, photographers came back and said: Wow, this little art lens outperformed my expectations so much that we had trouble finding words to express how special it performed.

Sharpness? Contrast? Yes, the Lydith is maybe the sharpest and most contrasty lens in our historic art lens portfolio and of course, as a Meyer-Optik lens, it can produce extraordinary bokeh. But in combination with its ability to capture light – it grows to its full potential.

And we have another treat for you: The Lydith has an extremely low minimum focusing distance of 0.16m. So you can get very close to your object, while still displaying a good portion of the surroundings. If you have a lens at a focal length, you might have things in mind you want to shoot with it. But due to the Lydith’s performance, you will try out setups you wouldn’t have shot with any other lens at this range. Come on, join us on the journey where the Lydith takes us.

Today Sony announced a new firmware update which promises to fix (or improve) the A9 overheating issue and the also the famous “Star Eater” issue:

A9 firmware download at Sony Support.
A7rII firmware download at Sony Support.
A7sII firmware download at Sony Support.
A7II firmware download at Sony Support.
A6500 firmware download at Sony Support.
A6300 firmware download at Sony Support.

List of the improvements:

Sony A9

• Change specifications for overheating warning

Sony A7rII and A7sII

• Adds “Auto Pwr OFF Temp.” function(*)
  (*)If the same part of your skin touches the camera for a long period of time while using the camera, even if the camera does not feel hot to you, it may cause symptoms of a low-temperature burn such as redness or blistering.
  Pay special attention in the following situations and use a tripod, etc.
  • When using the camera in a hightemperature environment
  • When someone with poor circulation or impaired skin sensation uses the camera
  • When using the camera with the [Auto Pwr OFF Temp.] set to [High]
• Improves operability of the camera:
  1. Improves operability when AF area is set to flexible spot
     Refer to here for details.
  2. Adds “Live View Display” into custom button assignation
  3. Adds “Set File Name” function
• Supports visible light LED in external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM)
• Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
• Optimizes exposure algorithm during focusing when [Live View Display] is [Setting Effect OFF]
• Improves image quality when Long Exposure NR setting is OFF
• Improves overall stability of the camera

Sony A7II

• Improves operability of the camera:
  1. Improves operability when AF area is set to flexible spot
     Refer to here for details.
  2. Adds “Live View Display” into custom button assignation
  3. Adds “Set File Name” function
• Supports visible light LED in external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM)
• Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
• Improves overall stability of the camera

Sony A6500

• Supports new lens “SEL100400GM”
• Optimaizes image stabilization performance in movie mode

Sony A6300

• Adds “Auto Pwr OFF Temp.” function(*)
  (*)If the same part of your skin touches the camera for a long period of time while using the camera, even if the camera does not feel hot to you, it may cause symptoms of a low-temperature burn such as redness or blistering.
  Pay special attention in the following situations and use a tripod, etc.
  • When using the camera in a hightemperature environment
  • When someone with poor circulation or impaired skin sensation uses the camera
  • When using the camera with the [Auto Pwr OFF Temp.] set to [High]
• Supports new lens “SEL100400GM”
• Modifies aspect of guide frame display in LCD (2.35:1 mode)
• Improves overall stability of the camera

Fringer announced a new Contax 645 to GFX adapter with full electronic aperture and autofocus support:

Will be available soon. Support Contax 645 lenses on GFX50s with electronic aperture control and auto focus (AF is for 35, 45, 80, 140 only).
A GF63/2.8 is needed for activating the adapter. Or the adapter will not work. Please make sure you own it or can borrow one.
There are limitations! Please download and read the user’s manual before placing an order.

ISamyang announces a new 35mm f/2.8 FE autofocus lens. It aims to compete against the exactly same specced and exact same size Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 FE lens. Of course this lens is much cheaper as it will go on sale for $299 only (The Zeiss costs $800).

Press text:

Tiny but Mighty

A tiny lens with a mighty performance, Samyang AF 35mm F2.8 FE is ideal for daily photography as well as travel photography. This new compact and lightweight lens, together with the existing AF 14mm F2.8 FE and AF 50mm F1.4 FE lenses, now expands Samyang’s autofocus lens line-up to three.

The AF 35mm F2.8 FE weighs just 85g and measures 3.3cm in length, without the hood and rear cap. Thanks to Samyang’s exceptional optical technology, its compact size is packed with features for outstanding image quality. Featuring seven elements in six groups, two aspherical lenses and one high refractive lens plus Ultra Multi Coating to minimise aberration and unnecessary light dispersion, the lens delivers high resolution from the centre to the corners of the image.
Perfect Partner for Everyday Photographers

This new lens is specifically designed to work in harmony with full frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E mount. For full frame sensors, the focal length resembles the human eye the most. For APS-C types for Sony alpha 6000 and 5000 series users the lens is equivalent to approximately 52mm, which is also one of the most popular focal lengths among photographers.

Portability with mighty performance and a 35mm focal length makes this lens the best choice for daily photographers who want to capture every memory as a high quality image. The autofocus is fast and accurate and is ideal for the capture of outdoor events such as hiking, sports events and landscape photography. It also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.35m and is ideal for street, portrait and close focus photography.

Image samples at Samyanglensglobal.com/product/detail.do?SQ=59