Snappiness doens’t like the new X-Half ;)
No hate on the Fujifilm X Half camera, I applaud them trying something new (that’s what I’m all about actually). But if you’re going to go through the effort of making a cool “analog” digital camera, please do these things instead. :)
PetaPixel discussed the Mid Range mirrorless market status:
Sony
Sony’s mid-range strategy came under heavy criticism. The A7 IV is still being sold at $2,500 despite its age and lack of AI-based subject tracking. The newer A7C II and A7CR include updated tech but are compromised by stripped-down ergonomics. The podcast hosts agreed Sony needs a true successor—possibly an A7 V—with a stacked sensor and modern autofocus to stay competitive in this crucial segment.
Nikon
Nikon received some of the most enthusiastic praise for its new Z6 III, which delivers a stacked sensor, excellent autofocus, and solid hybrid performance at a competitive price point. The Zf also earned a nod for being a retro body that’s both stylish and functional. With recent hits like the Z8 and Z9, Nikon was described as the most consistent innovator in 2024–2025.
Canon
Canon remains strong, particularly with its EOS R6 Mark II, but the podcast noted that Canon has been more conservative lately. There’s a clear gap in their lineup between the R8 and R6 II—no real $1,800–$2,200 model exists to bridge the two. The R50 and R100 are fine entry-level models, but Canon risks falling behind if it doesn’t address the middle of the market soon.
Panasonic (L-Mount & MFT)
Panasonic got mixed feedback. On the L-mount side, the firmware updates for the S1R II, S1 II, and S1 II E were praised, but concerns were raised about thermal management and a lack of mid-range offerings. On the Micro Four Thirds side, the G9 II is solid but isn’t clearly positioned as a true mid-tier model. Panasonic seems to be abandoning the $1,500–$2,000 range entirely.
OM System
OM Digital Solutions was described as “doing a good job without doing anything new.” The OM-5 is essentially a rebranded Olympus model, but it still sells. The E-M10 Mark IV continues to serve as the entry-level option, and a rebrand to OM-10 is expected. Their strong focus on outdoor and nature photographers keeps them afloat, but innovation remains limited.
Leica
Leica was only briefly mentioned and continues to operate in a niche high-end space. No new gear was discussed, and it seems Leica’s focus is not on broader market relevance but rather on delivering prestige products for its loyal base.
Sigma
Sigma received positive notes for its prime lenses but criticism for a lack of new camera bodies. The fp L was acknowledged as unique but niche. Overall, Sigma appears to be focusing more on optics than system expansion at this point.
Conclusion
The podcast made one thing clear: the mid-range mirrorless space is in flux. Nikon is leading with strong hybrid cameras, while Sony and Panasonic seem to be losing ground. OM System and Sigma are playing it safe, and Canon is coasting on past momentum. Whether it’s firmware, ergonomics, or pricing, users want fresh, innovative gear—and not everyone is delivering.
Venus Optics just announced the new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 autofocus Full Frame E-mount lens. You can preorder it now at BHphoto, Venus-store, Amazon.
Official product video:
First reviews:
For $99 you now can preorder the new Echolens on Kickstarter (Click here). This is what makes is so unique:
Mapcamera has published the most popular cameras for May:
Considering that Fujifilm and Ricoh account for half of the rankings, it is striking that Canon, Nikon, and Sony appear to be struggling. Sony in particular is represented by only one camera in the top 10!
Used camera market:
Press text:
Aiarty Video Enhancer Debuts – Next-Gen AI for Low-Light Denoise and Texture Recovery
Whether you’re shooting handheld street footage, cinematic slow-motion, or low-light vlogs with your gear, getting the most out of your footage matters. That’s where Aiarty Video Enhancer comes in —a next-gen AI desktop tool designed to restore old footage and make high-definition videos sharper, smoother, and more natural-looking — all in less time.
Limited-Time Launch Offer
Aiarty addresses common video flaws like noise, blur, and lack of detail using advanced AI models —all through a clean, intuitive interface with no complicated settings. It’s built for quality, speed, and simplicity, combining the latest AI technologies with GPU acceleration for NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD systems. Everything runs locally on your computer, ensuring the fastest possible processing with zero upload delays and no privacy concerns.
Denoising Optimized for Low-Light Video
When capturing moody interiors, night cityscapes, or golden-hour portraits with deep shadows, high ISO settings are often unavoidable—and that’s when noise tends to creep in. Even with top-tier sensors like those in your Sony α7S III or FX30, high ISO footage can show grain crawling in the shadows or produce blotchy, unnatural skin tones.
Aiarty Video Enhancer is specially optimized to improve video quality in low-light and high ISO conditions. Unlike traditional noise reduction that can smear details, erase texture, or give faces a waxy, unnatural look, its superVideo vHQ model works differently. It intelligently distinguishes between real detail and unwanted grain, removing noise while preserving the subtle textures that define your scene.
Test 1: De-noise Low-night Video
Test 2. De-noise Low-Night Video
Zoom out — details remain well preserved and enhanced.
Restore Lost Detail with 4K AI Upscaling
Have old footage shot on early DSLR or mirrorless cameras? Maybe it’s handheld B-roll from a wedding, a quick travel vlog segment, or a client interview captured in HD to save card space.
With Aiarty Video Enhancer, you can upscale your footage by 200% or 400% to true 4K — and not just stretched pixels. Powered by cutting-edge AI, it analyzes frame-by-frame and reconstructs natural detail, making it look like it was shot natively in 4K. It recovers subtle intricacies often lost in compression or low-resolution formats—hair strands, delicate edges of flower petals, swaying tree branches, or the texture of clothing and stone walls. The results aren’t just bigger—they’re richer, sharper, and truly professional.
Test 1. Restore Old Footage
Test 2. Enhance Outdoor Shots with Sharp Clarity and Vibrant Colors
Eliminate Low FPS Choppiness with AI Frame Interpolation
Even with a powerful Sony camera, the capture footage is not always smooth. When filming a dynamic night-time travel scene, pushing the ISO in dim light, shooting a long-form event, or choosing a lower FPS to maintain exposure, it can result in in choppy or low frame rate clips.
Aiarty Video Enhancer comes to help. With advanced AI frame interpolation, it analyzes the motion between existing frames and intelligently generates entirely new, realistic intermediate frames. It doesn’t just duplicate frames—it predicts motion, fills gaps, and maintains natural movement without introducing ghosting or artifacts. That means, you can easily turn 24fps or 30fps clips into ultra-smooth 60fps (or even 120fps) with professional-grade fluidity without any expensive high-speed camera gear.
Crystal-Clear Sound Even in the Chaos
Street noise, wind, or distant chatter — they sneak into your footage more often than you’d like. Whether you’re filming a wedding, a vlog, or an event with your Sony camera, background noise can ruin an otherwise perfect take.
Aiarty Video Enhancer isn’t just about visuals — it also removes background noise with its AI-powered audio denoise. It removes hums, hisses, and other background sounds without flattening the life out of your audio. The result? Clean, natural-sounding speech and a more immersive listening experience.
Boost Your Workflow with Optimized AI Models
Powered by SOTA-level AI technology, Aiarty’s optimized AI models and Turbo Mode are designed to keep up with your workflow—delivering up to 3× faster processing compared to other AI tools.
Real-world testing:
A 25-minute 2K@30FPS video was upscaled to 4K in just 25 minutes on a system with RTX 5090, Intel Core i7, and 8GB RAM—while most desktop tools take over an hour for the same task.
Additionally, Aarty’s models are also finely tuned for GPU acceleration and fully optimized for NVIDIA, AMD, and Apple Silicon. With up to 95% GPU utilization, you’ll get the most out of your hardware for faster, smoother video enhancement.
Powerful AI Models for any Videos
Aiarty Video Enhancer includes 3 AI models, designed to enhance different videos for the best results.
moDetail-HQ
It offers powerful deblurring and denoising, recovering fine textures like hair, petals, and outdoor elements. Best for daylight scenes and high-detail restoration.
Smooth-HQ
It offers balanced enhancement—removing flaws while preserving authentic color and texture continuity. Ideal for indoor shots, portraits, and general footage.
SuperVideo
Specialized for extreme low-light, this model removes heavy noise while preserving critical details in dark scenes like nightscapes or dim interiors.
Aiarty Video Enhancer is a best-in-class AI video enhancement tool that uses advanced AI models to deliver professional-quality results quickly and easily. Ideal for creators, it sharpens, denoises, and upscales videos for stunning clarity and detail.
Here are the leaked images of the new Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens! The lens will be announced within days and cost more than it’s predecessor.
Technical Specifications:
Product Description
Building on the success of the highly acclaimed TAMRON 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (model A046), the second generation G2 lens comes in the form of the advanced 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (model A064), this time also for users of Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. While expanding the zoom range, it maintains a compact and lightweight design and delivers exceptional image quality. In addition, it offers improved autofocus performance and has been updated to the latest lens design, improving overall operability. It is also compatible with TAMRON Lens Utility, allowing you to customize convenient functions for both stills and video shooting.
A Trio of Lenses with a Universal Range
With the introduction of the ultra-wide-angle 16-30mm F2.8 G2, the G2 is now a great addition to the standard zoom 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 (model A063). Together, these lenses cover a versatile range of 16mm to 75mm, making them ideal for most scenes. Experience the perfect combination of performance and functionality that makes professional photography more accessible than ever before.
Lightweight and Compact
Lightweight, compact and designed for mobility – it’s ideal for travel and everyday photography and video content creation. Despite the major improvements, the new lens retains the incredibly lightweight and compact design of its predecessor. This highly portable zoom can be used to capture high-quality photos in a variety of situations. The AF drive uses TAMRON’s fastest and most precise VXD linear motor mechanism. It excels at tracking fast-moving subjects, making it ideal for skateboarding and other dynamic scenes.
G2 Second Generation
A new generation of lenses with improved performance, faster focusing, better image stabilization, and a higher-quality finish. All G2 lenses are compatible with the TAP-IN bracket.
Di III – Mirrorless Systems
These lenses are designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras and cannot be used with digital SLR cameras.
VXD
The VXD autofocus is a world premiere: It is the first linear focus motor developed by Tamron for superior autofocus performance. Two VXD modules, operating in a floating system and controlled by electronic pulses, ensure fast and precise focusing on both near and far subjects. The new motor also ensures improved AF tracking, for example when shooting sports. The autofocus operates so quietly that you can shoot even in situations that require complete peace and quiet.
MR – Splashproof
Tamron lenses have a weather-resistant casing that optimally protects the sensitive interior from wind and weather. The robust outer casing is effectively sealed against moisture at all critical points (e.g. between the focus ring and the bayonet connection). This ensures reliable operation even in the most adverse outdoor shooting conditions.
Special XLD optical elements
Like LD, it prevents chromatic aberration and other defects. However, XLD is a much more sophisticated system that is mostly used in telephoto zooms.
Special LD optical elements
Color aberration is a common optical defect that manifests itself in many ways. We often talk about the so-called chromatic aberration, which occurs more often in wide-angle lenses. LD elements are made of special optical glasses with extremely low light dispersion, which effectively compensate for chromatic aberration, which is especially noticeable when using telephoto lenses at the extreme position.
IF – Internal Focusing
With lenses with internal focusing, the length of the lens does not change during focusing and the filter ring does not rotate with it. This makes handling easier, especially with longer telephoto lenses, and also for shooting with polarizing and gradation filters. Other advantages include a shorter focusing distance throughout the focus area and less light loss in the corners of the image (vignetting) and less focus-related aberrations.
BBAR / BBAR G2
The BBAR coating prevents reflection and scattering of light hitting the lens surface. This avoids loss of brightness and contrast and prevents “ghosting”. The BBAR coating also contributes to natural color reproduction. Since 2019, the advanced BBAR G2 coating has been used.
FLR
The fluoride coating permanently protects the front lens from contamination. Oil and water droplets do not adhere to the surface, which is therefore very easy to clean.
Tamron Lens Utility
The new “TAMRON Lens Utility” software has been specially developed for configuring compatible lenses. TAMRON Lens Utility can be operated from a computer by connecting the lens from its connector port via TAMRON’s USB-C cable. Users can customize functions and update firmware via the lens. With individual settings, the lens can be optimally adapted to the respective shooting situation, such as still photography or video recording.
Firmware Update
Focus A-B: Set 2 focus positions (A and B) and automatically shift the focus between A and B.
Focus Preset: Set the desired focus position and press the button to move the focus to the recorded point.
AF/MF Select: Select the AF and MF function using the focus adjustment button
Focus / Iris: Switch the function of the focus ring from focus adjustment to aperture adjustment.
Astro Focus Lock (Astro FC-L) supports precise astrophotography: The focus is automatically set to infinity to maintain the focus point for astrophotography. The focus ring is disabled until Astro FC-L is released to prevent focus deviation due to incorrect operation.
