New Profoto Connect Wireless Transmitter for Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji and Olympus cameras

Profoto announced this new Connect Wireless Transmitter. You can preorder it at BHphoto and more details can be read on that product page from Profoto.

Press text:

With the Profoto Connect Wireless Transmitter, you have a wireless connection with AirTTL lights that controls flash sync, remote control, Auto TTL, and HSS. The transmitter also controls flash sync and remote control in Air lights. There are three settings on the Connect transmitter itself. Auto being the first, takes all the guess work of setting up your flashes. The manual setting is there if you want to set the flashes yourself and be more creative. The final setting, of course, is to turn it off when the transmitter is not in use.

By downloading the Profoto app and with Bluetooth connection, you can control your lights wirelessly as well and upgrade your firmware later through the app. The Connect works on a frequency of 2.4 GHz and up to eight channels with an operating range of a 1000′ when using it with normal sync flash and remote control, and 330′ with Auto TTL and HSS. The built-in lithium-ion polymer battery has a battery life of 30 hours and is rechargeable via the included USB cable. Additionally, the transmitter powers off after 60 minutes of inactivity.

Sony announces the next V-loggers tool: The new RX0II

After the A6400 we got another new Sony camera with a selfie screen. With the new RX0II Sony hopes to attract all sorts of youtubers like this guy (LOL):

I am really not sure the RX0II is the camera the youtubers were wating for. A Full Frame GH5 with fully articulating screen would be the real killer!

Preorder the Sony RX0II at Bhphoto.

Smartphones with 64MP and 108MP sensors are coming in 2019-2020

Soon Fuji will announce the first sub $10,000 camera featuring a 100 Megapixel sensor. Well, it seems like smartphones will be capable to shoot such resolutions from 2020:

Credit Suisse made this prediction for the smartphone market:

  • The CIS technology roadmap calls for further evolution towards higher megapixels, with development expected to bring 64MP in 2H 2019 and 100MP in 2020. The trend will increase the number of lenses required (though weight is an issue), demanding higher levels of cooperation between lens, module and AP manufacturers to achieve incremental improvements in image resolution.

Of course there is a huge difference between the quality of a large 100 Megapixel medium format sensor and computationally created image using a number of very tiny sensors. Still, it’s impressive to see the fast innovation within the smartphone industry.

via Image Sensor World

Tamron financial report shows small good surprise: Lens sales increased

Tamron is one of the very few manufacturers reporting an increase in sales within the digital camera market.

  1. Tamron claims that their own branded lenses sold particularly well in the USA.
  2. While Tamron expects the market to decrease further they also expect their lens sales profit to go up.

Below you can see more graphs. What I learned from this is that if you launch interesting products (like they did with the excellent 28-75mm FE) you actually will sell them and make money. May be a lesson for some other companies out there :)

Sigma CEO says L-mount APS-C cameras is coming too. First “real” lenses for FF mirrorless coming this year too.

Bildschirmfoto 2015-12-23 um 09.16.39

Sigma CEO Yamaki released an interview with Lensvid. A couple of takeways:

1) Sigma might use non Foveon sensors in future L-mount cameras.
2) Sigma might even use an APS-C sensor again.
3) Sigma’s first lens designed for Full Frame mirrorless is coming this year. For sure it will be available for Sony E-mount but it’s easy to guess this lens will be available as native L-mount versison too
4) Moving forward we will release more lenses designed for mirrorless cameras.