BCN releases the full 2018 Japanese market share details: Canon rules the mirrorless market!

Bcnaward.jp published the Japanese market share for 2018:

Mirrorless market shares
Canon 31,6% took the first spot at Olympus expense. Canon had an impressive +10% jump thanks to the EOS-M50 and the new EOS-R. Sony had a small +2% jump.

Fixed lens camera shares:
Nikon had a nice +6% growth and took the first spot while Canon slipped down to the second place. Sony managed to grab the third position.

 

DSLR camera shares:
Canon as usual on on the top, Nikon as usual in second place and Pentax-Ricoh as usual on the third spot.

Here are the video camera and action camera shares:

Sony announces the new A6400 vlogger oriented camera…which two annoying flaws…

The new Sony A6400 has been finally announced. You get this for $899 at BHphoto and Adorama.

Teh camera has top features like the world’s fastest autofocus, touch selfie screen, new real-time tracking, animal eye-af and many other improvements. And the price is very competitive too!

Sony made a big buzz about this camera being ideal for vloggers and than they did “built-in” two flaws:

1) It has no IBIS

2) Most Vloggers use a hotshoe mic on the and this will cover the selfie screen when vlogging

For the second “flaw” the only solution seems to be this one:

Still a nice camera if you consider the price…

Sony A6400 Key specs:

  • World’s Fastest (i) 0.02 seconds (ii) AF acquisition speed plus 425 phase-detection and contrast-detection AF points covering approximately 84% of image area
  • Advanced Real-time Eye AF
  • New Real-time Tracking for object tracking
  • 24.2MP(iii) APS-C Exmor™ CMOS image sensor and latest-generation BIONZ X™ image processor
  • 180-degree fully tiltable LCD touch screen for self-recording
  • High-speed continuous shooting at up to 11 fps(iv) mechanical shutter / 8 fps(iv) silent shooting with continuous AF/AE tracking
  • High-resolution 4K(vi) movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, plus advanced AF speed and stability
  • Interval recording for time-lapse videos

Sony A6400 coverage:
Full A6400 Brochure. Full presentation page at Sony. Press at Dpreview. Image samples at Sony USA.

CIPA report from November: The digital camera market gets in deeper crisis and new Canon/Nikon mirrorless cannot help it

Oh dear folks I have been so wrong. I hoped that in 2017 we bottomed out but I was wrong. In 2018 the digital camera market shrunk further. My next hope was that the new Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras would help to recover a bit but I was wrong again. In November 2018 Japanese companies shipped 17% less camera units compared to last year. And this despite the new Canon EOS-R and Nikon Z cameras shipping throughout the world.

What can save the camera industry now? I think we are stuck at the moment. Current cameras are so good you really don’t need any upgrade. Moreover new cameras offer only incremental improvements and do cost more than ever.

We need real innovation. An example? I really want an APP store support built-in on my camera. Where third party developers can sell special APPS I can buy and download on my camera. Yes, just like a smartphone! This stupid basic idea would at least open a new market and make cameras interesting again.

Or do you have even better ideas to share in the comment system?

Breaking new records: Lexar announces world’s first 1TB SD card

You can preorder it now for $399 at BHphoto and Adorama. And those are the specs:

Shoot and record more of what you love without changing cards with this high-capacity 1TB memory card that supplies the space you need for capturing all the action. Designed for your mid-range DSLR, HD camcorder, or 3D camera, the Lexar Professional 633x SDXC UHS-I card lets you quickly capture, and transfer high-quality photos and stunning 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video, with read speeds of up to 633x (95MB/s). This Class 10 card leverages UHS-I technology to deliver high-speed performance to get the shot you want, while providing the reliability you need,

Nikon will soon release a Nikon Z firmware update to add Eye AF, Raw video and CFexpress support

Press text:

The Nikon Z Series: Upcoming Firmware on Display

The Nikon Z series will continue to adapt to changing user needs through the development and roll-out of firmware updates to meet and exceed creative expectations. Taking into account feedback from photographers and creators, Nikon will display three feature updates under development that open creative opportunities for the Z 6 and Z 7. Displays will include:

  • CFexpress – Coming soon to the Z 6 and Z 7 cameras is support for CFexpress, which is compatible with the XQD memory card form-factor.
  • Eye AF – Under development is an Eye AF function, which will automatically detect the subject’s eyes to make attaining critical focus on the eyes easier. It will allow users to capture photos in which focus has been clearly acquired on the subject’s eye, which is useful for portrait, event and street photography scenarios.
  • RAW Video Support – Nikon is currently developing a feature that works with the ATOMOS Ninja V to output video in RAW format, using the ProRes RAW codec.

Details, including the release date of new firmware updates, will be shared at a later date.

via Dpreview

Panasonic S1-S1R will ship in late March and feature High Resolution mode and HLG shooting

Panasonic has a CES event and talked a lot about the new S1-S1R cameras. But they still did nto share the full specs and pricing. Those are “rumored” to be unveield in late January. The new info we got today has been summarized by L-rumors.com:

1) They will be able to shoot in High Resolution mode. It takes 8 photos and merges them for better resolution in varying lighting conditions.
2) They will capture HLG photos
3) The cameras will start shipping out in late March

UPDATE: Here is the official press text:

Panasonic Announces Additional Key Functions for the New Full-frame Mirrorless Camera at CES 2019

Las Vegas, NV (January 7, 2019) – Following an announcement at Photokina 2018, Panasonic will unveil additional key features of the new LUMIX S full-frame mirrorless cameras at CES 2019. The LUMIX S full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses will be available at the end of March 2019.*

A Whole New Style of Photo Expression

High Dynamic Range Still Photo – HLG Photo Mode

HLG Photo allows images to be shot with a wider dynamic range. By reproducing both glaring lights and dark shadows that are likely to be overexposed or underexposed, the Lumix S achieves rich, precise color expression as close as possible to visual memory. 43rumors

HLG Photos are produced as an HSP file. The user can play back these vibrant images on the latest Panasonic HLG-compliant 4KTV via HDMI cable connection or other HLG- compliant devices. It is also ideal for photographers’ photo presentations.

Stunning Details with a Realistic Sensation

High Resolution Mode

Taking advantage of the Body Image Stabilizer. (I.S.) mechanism, eight consecutive images are automatically shot while shifting the sensor. These eight images are synthesized into a single image by the new Venus Engine, which boasts high-speed signal processing. Precise details are faithfully reproduced to be saved as a beautiful, highly realistic image. This mode is ideal for shooting natural landscapes or fine art objects with delicate details.

Considering situations where moving subjects are included in the scene, sub options are available to suppress motion blur, so photographers can use this mode the same as shooting in a normal photo shooting mode.

*Availability date may vary depending on the sales area •Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.