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.