No guys, 2016 didn’t start good for the camera industry. In January Japanese manufacturers shipped 20%(!) less cameras compared to 12 months ago. Once again the fixed lens compact camera market is the main negative driver (-28%). System Cameras sold almost as good as in 2015 (-4%). Yep, it looks like 2016 will be even worse than the already very bad 2015.

Full data can be read at CIPA: cipa.jp/stats/dc_e.html

Imaging Resource interviewed Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. Here are some key insights:

1) Why Sigma opted for a mirrorless system camera:
“There are many advantages [for a mirrorless camera over a DSLR]. The [lower] focus accuracy and mirror shock [of a DSLR], does not exist in the mirrorless system. So we decided to go to mirrorless.”

2) Why Sigma opted for a new APS-H sensor:
“We thought that if we go to full-frame, the file size would be huge and the processing speed would be very slow. So we thought that APS-H is a good size for the customers.”

3) About future f/1.8 zooms:
“We’d like to expand this series, but it’s quite challenging, so we are not sure if we can develop another lens.”

4) Asked if Sigma will keep developing lenses that fit fot both APS-C and MFT mirrorless systems:
“If we can increase the sales volume, we can reduce the cost, and we can provide the products which the customers want.”

5) Why the new SD Quattro camera don’t record video:
“Because we have the three-layer stack, so the data size is about two times or three times [as much as a traditional sensor].”

It doens’t happen often you get something good for free. Well today is the day this happens for real! Google who recently bought Nik Software announced that it’s now available for free! Grab it here:

MAC: dl.google.com/edgedl/photos/nikcollection-full-1.2.11.dmg
WIN: dl.google.com/edgedl/photos/nikcollection-full-1.2.11.exe

via SonyAlphaForum

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Not for free but heavily discounted:
$700 off and 1 year US seller warranty on the [shoplink 301875 ebay]Sony A7rII by ElectronicsValley on eBay[/shoplink].
$600 off and 1 year US seller warranty on the [shoplink 301876 ebay]Sony A7sII by ElectronicsValley on eBay[/shoplink].

X-PRO 2 owners got their first firmware upgrade (Download here). The firmware update Ver. 1.01 from Ver.1.00 incorporates the following issues:

• 1. The Phenomenon is fixed that in rare cases, established customized menu settings are reset to factory default setting when the camera is turned off.
• 2. Improvement of image quality when shooting in the long exposure mode.

Imaging Resource interviewed Mr. Toshihisa and Makoto from Fuji. Here are a couple of interesting info:

1. Fuji has around 14% of the market share in the global mirrorless system camera market. In Thailand they have 40% of the market share
2. Fuji doesn’t ask customers to buy a new camera every two-year “it’s ridiculous“. They prefer them “to spend more money for lenses or accessories, and so on. That’s more beneficial to the customers.“
3. About 4k: “If we develop 4K movie-capable cameras, we will need to change the form factor.“
4. Fuji says its way to early to introduce cameras with organic sensor.
5. The lens request they got from the customers is a fast telephoto prime lens and a more compact 35mm f/2.0 lens (smaller than the existent).

ePhotozine and Photographyblog are present at the NEC show in Birmingham (UK). And they shared some hands-on pictures with newly announced lenses and cameras:

Sigma SD Quattro H Vs Sigma SD1 Merrill (Source: ePhotozine)
ePhotozine posted some hands on pics of the new Sigma SD Quattro mirrorless system cameras
Laowa STF 105mm f/2 (T3.2) Lens Hands-On Preview (ePhotozine).
Panasonic 12-60mm Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog).
Sigma MC-11 Mount Converter Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog)
Sony Wireless Flash System Hands-on Photos (Photographyblog)

Soundimagesplus shared some more info about the Irix 15mm lens:

• There are two versions of the lens – one ‘normal’ finish and another weather sealed
• It is hoped that this lens will be available in May 2016
• Again, while this isn’t settled yet, the lighter ‘Firefly’ version will be sold around the £400 mark and the heavy duty ‘Blackstone’ version for £500.
• Both versions will have the same optical quality

And we heard from our sources that they are considering to make Sony E-mount version of their lenses in future. But for now you can use the lens with adapter on any mirrorless system camera.

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Thanks David!