OWC CFExpress Type A Cards for Sony are now Shipping!

2024-05-06 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: camera cards, CFExpress camera storage card, memory, Other World Computing, OWC Atlas camera storage cards

re: NEW! OWC Atlas Pro CFExpress Type A Camera Cards for Sony A7R V, Sony A1

Of course they are for any brand, but only Sony uses CFExpress Type A for now eg in the Sony A7R V and other models, at least in the group of Leica/Fujfiilm/Hasselblad/Canon/Nikon which all use Type B.

I’ll have some Type A cards to test very soon. The OWC CFExpress Type B cards have performance flawlessly in every camera I’ve used now for 2.5 years and counting. These cards rock and are ideal for encrypted wallet backups too! And they will be factory fresh speed for their lifetime with OWC Innergize.

OWC Atlas Pro CFExpress Type A and B

OWC Atlas CFExpress wish list • Deals on OWC

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High-performance, highest quality memory card for professional filmmakers, photographers, and videographers using Sony Alpha and FX cameras

OWC Atlas Pro CFExpress Type A

• Pro-Speed: Up to 1700MB/s write and 1850MB/s read speeds for the most advanced uses cases of professional content creators including fast burst RAW image sequences and high bitrate video recording up to 8K1
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• Compatible: Designed for use in Sony Alpha and FX cameras including a1, a7SIII, a7IV, a7rV, a9III, FX3, FX6, FR7, and FX30; as well as CFexpress Type A memory card readers and reader slot equipped devices
• Supportive: VPG200 certified to work with all Sony camera modes and enable the highest allowable settings in Sony Alpha, FX and FR7 cameras
• Compliant: Fully compliant with CFexpress Type A 4.0 specification and meets Type A 2.0 specifications
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OWC Atlas Pro CFExpress Type A to B
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• Complete: includes Innergize™ health, performance, and field upgrade management tool for OWC Atlas Memory Cards
• 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty

The Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type A cards are now available for pre-order and will ship in May on Macsales.com at $319.99 for 480GB and $519.99 for 960GB. Atlas CFexpress Type B readers are also available at a starting price of $79.99 on Macsales.com.

Super Cost-Effective High Capacity Storage: 64TB for ~$1330

2024-05-05 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Other World Computing, OWC Thunderbay, RAID, RAID-4, weather events

The 16.0TB Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 is only $220.

That’s 32TB for only $440, as compared to a single 22TB hard drives for $440 to $600. Or 45% to 80% more storage for the same price.

2 X 16TB into an OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual for 32TB total storage.
4 X 16TB into an OWC Thunderbay 4 for 64TB total storage, or 48TB as RAID-4/5.
8 X 16TB into an an OWC Thunderbay 8 for 128TB total storage, or 112TB as RAID-4/5.

Run them as single independent drives, or a RAID-0 stripe, or a RAID-4/5 fault tolerant.

WOW! That’s a ton of storage for the money!

High Capacity Storage

Big Fast Storage wish list • Deals on OWC

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OWC Thunderbay 4

Is a Nikon Z7 III Coming?

2024-05-05 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: digital sensor, Nikon, Nikon mirrorless, Nikon Z7, Nikon Z7 II

The Nikon Z7 II ($1000 off, see below) is positively ancient now, having been released way back in 2020.

The Nikon Z8 is $500 off, but that’s the ~same as Sony’s recent discounts on Sony A7R V.

Will Nikon introduce as Nikon Z7 III? With the Z7 II and Z8 both having 45MP and the Z8 essentially a compact version of the Nikon Z9, maybe a Z7 III could make sense—with the right feature set.

But what sensor would make sense in a Z7 III given that achieving parity with the Sony A7R V and Leica SL3 is all well and good for existing Nikon system shooters, but would by itself provide nothing new to the market. No reason to switch, and at this point it’s all about market share, which Nikon is not doing so well on. Still, parity is better than no update at all.

What I’d like to see but am not predicting. A Nikon Z7 III with sensor optimized for peak image quality. No PDAF, high precision CDAF, optimized in-camera multi-shot high-res mode—eg a real landscape photographers camera. Is there any market for that any more? But I can’t see much point to a “me too” camera, so I think Nikon really ought to think outside the box and do something on the peak image quality front, and with both color and monochrome sensors.

Or, can Nikon jump the queue and get to 100+ megapixels in a Z7 III? Sony has not gotten there yet, and Sony’s sensor technology leads the pack. Seems unlikely.

What about a new entrant to medium format, a "halo"product for Nikon? Can’t rule it out, but we badly need a mainstream company to bumper-car things with stultified Fujifilm.

My #1 pick on the lenses would be the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S. Along with the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z MC VR S Macro and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E FL ED VR.

Nikon Mirrorless

Color Management wish list • Deals on Datacolor

$1997 SAVE $1000 = 33.0% Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Mirrorless	$3497 SAVE $500 = 12.0% Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Mirrorless	$2097 SAVE $400 = 16.0% Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$997 SAVE $200 = 16.0% Nikon 17-28mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$897 SAVE $100 = 10.0% Nikon 24mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$1997 SAVE $400 = 16.0% Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$697 SAVE $150 = 17.0% Nikon 35mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$1897 SAVE $200 = 9.0% Nikon 50mm f/1.2 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless
$527 SAVE $100 = 15.0% Nikon 50mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S Lens with UV Filter Kit IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$847 SAVE $200 = 19.0% Nikon 105mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z MC VR S Macro Lens (Nikon Z) IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$997 SAVE $100 = 9.0% Nikon 16-35mm f/4 AF-S NIKKOR G ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1597 SAVE $500 = 23.0% Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1897 SAVE $450 = 19.0% Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E FL ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1447 SAVE $150 = 9.0% Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S NIKKOR G IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1057 SAVE $340 = 24.0% Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 AF-S NIKKOR E ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR

Nikon Z8

OWC Deals: Macs, Storage, Apple Watch, etc

2024-05-05 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Apple, Apple Watch, Other World Computing

Top pick: $99.99 14-port Thunderbolt 3 Dock.

View all deals...

Deals at OWC

External SSD wish list • Deals on OWC

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Where Does Fujifilm Go From Here with the GFX System? + Reader Comments

2024-05-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: digital sensor, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, Jason W, medium format, please fix this, please fix this camera, please fix this Fujifilm, reader comment

Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4

re: Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S: Standout Lenses that Nail It
re: Attention all Camera Makers: 23.5 Things To Please Your Customers
re: please fix this Fujifilm

Please do me a favor and like/retweet and follow my postson X. With a larger audience, I can reach the ears of the camera vendors a lot better.

...

Is it sunset for the Fujifilm GFX system in terms of progress?

The GFX system has matured and the last lens in the Fujifilm lineup is coming soon (Fujifilm GF 500mm f/5.6), according to FujiRumors.com. What next?

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System Top Picks

Where can Fujifilm go from here?

I see Fujifilm as having gotten a bit lazy in recent years—bugs are not getting fixed like they used to and rollouts are taking too long. Amazingly this obvious stuff does NOT GET DONE and yet it is by far the cheapest route to make the system more attractive. Two things Fujfilm should get its act together on:

• Fix the bugs already.
• Implement useful low hanging fruit like frame averaging, auto-ETTR, non-stupid multi-shot, etc.
• Fire all the people doing the stupid useless shit that no one cares about. Build great products and leave it at that.

Once you have a market, lock it down so no one wants to switch. I can’t figure out why after all this time and now with its dominance that Fujifilm is taking the risks of irking customers like me. Giving customers a reason to consider looking elsewhere is a losing strategy.

Beyond that, we get into things that we might like, but might or might not have good ROI:

• A monochrome Fujifilm GFX100m? Would add uncontested value for anyone already with the system.
• A new or revised lens line with “II” versions that bump up performance that a 100MP sensor needs? Given the roadmap, that seems iffy—there is nothing on it. Sme lenses just are woefully inadequate eg the Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5 and most of the zooms.
• An even more aggressive push deep into 35mm-format territory? That’s already there at $2999 and $4399, but cut off another $500 off and/or bring 100MP down to $2999.
• A future 180-megapixel Fujifilm GFX180? The lens lineup is not good enough for such a camera, with few exceptions. It’s not just about sharpness but about being able to place that sharpness eg focus shift and field curvature.
• A wide format panoramic camera? Something on the order of 19240 pixels wide.
• Fixed-lens medium format camera? Ideally with custom-tuned lens for 180MP sensor.
• A camera with a sensor designed for peak image quality, a “PhaseOne killer” so to speak? No PDAF and individually-tuned camera with base ISO 50? I don’t see this coming to pass, though it is my #1 wish for landscape.

Seems to me that we need an aggressive new competitor in the medium format space. An entry by Sony with a 48 X 36mm sensor seems ideal to shake up the 44 X 33mm of Fujifilm, and prompt innovation.

Lens roadmap and performance

Few lenses “scale up” to the demands of the 44 X 33mm sensor.

IMO, what is missing at 100 megapixels is total detail commensurate with 100 megapixels vs 60 megapixels. A 180MP sensor given the limits we already see would help total image quality but I can’t see much more total detail forthcoming. Because on such a sensor the lens has to be at peak performance by f/4.5 with f/5.6 already suffering substantially diffraction with even thinner depth of field.

That is why I hope that Sigma and Voigtlander entry the medium format lens fray.

Fujifilm is at the last lens in the Fujifilm lineup (“as of September 2023”). And I still cannot obtain the 30mm and 110mm shift lenses for review.

Fujifilm GF Lens Roadmap as of September 2023

Reader Comments

Jason W writes:

As for GFX next steps, Fujifilm already has medium format on lockdown.

If anything, they are victims of their own success. As we've talked about, Hasselblad is near irrelevant except for a certain kind of user, and the pro guys who want more than FF go for the GFX. Fujifilm is a Phase One killer. I don't know how many P1 folks have moved to Fuji, but I bet P1 got hurt.

DIGLLOYD: agreed, Fujifilm’s success and lack of significant competition means that it will not push the platform forward at more than a tepid pace, if at all.

BTW, what I hear is that PhaseOne is apparently doing great by shifting to things like drone photography. I have not confirmed that myself, but it makes sense.

What do You Do When a Lens Sample Looks Marginal? Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4

2024-05-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm Lenses, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, Jason W, medium format, Mt Dana area, peak bagging

Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4

Optical design potential is not the same thing as how a particular lens sample performs. Sample variation is perhaps the #1 factor in lens performance. Which is why the Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN that I recently tested was both very impressive and disappointing—erratic performance across the frame.

That idea holds for all brands. There is no surefire way to get a sample that performs to potential other than trying and trying and trying.

The very first sample of the Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 seemed to be exceptional. I wish I had bought that one, the one I first tested back in 2022. Other samples have not been quite as good.

I recently had a loaner from B&H Photo of a new 20-35/4, intending to buy it if it delivered to my expectations.

Accordingly, I shot my usual “Deck and Roof” series at 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm or thereabouts.

It struggled to make sharp stuff at the edges and the real depth of field was paltry at f/8. Ugghhh. The lens went back. I will try again: I want it in my kit, but it has to be performing near its optical design potential.

What I want are lenses that perform like the Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7 that I tested last fall (the 55/1.7 is the best lens of the entire lineup). Now I wonder if I try another 55/1.7 whether it will perform as well as that sample, which was fantastic. Did I send back a prime sample and condemn myself to a search for one as good as that first one? I don’t yet now.

Should I show the series I shot with the 20-35mm, disappointing as they are? Nothing obviously wrong... just that things fall way WAY short of what I’d hope for.

Few lenses “scale up” to the demands of the 44 X 33mm sensor.

You can show that the GFX100S/GFX100 II outperforms the 35mm format even with the best 35mm-format lenses, but what is missing is total detail commensurate with 100 megapixels vs 60 megapixels. I don’t want a smidgen more detail, I want everything I’m due for were the lens up to it. The Fujifilm 55/1.7 is one of the few lenses that can meet that need.

That is why I hope that Sigma and Voigtlander entry the medium format lens fray.

Especially if a ~180-megapixel Fujifilm GFX100 III appears in a year or two, all but one or two lenses in the lineup will be wholly inadequate.

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System Top Picks

Jason W writes

One of the reasons I returned the 20-35mm and then made the mistake of selling my entire GFX system (overreaction), was I felt my 20-35 sample didn't match up with the quality I saw in your best sample shots.

DIGLLOYD: yep. I would love to buy that one good sample I tested—now in hindsight it was unusually and spectacularly good. The other 3 or 4 samples I used have not held up to that quality level—frustrating! I know photographers who have purchase dup to ten (10!) lens samples (never mind the brand), and not found one satisfactory one. More typically, 3-4 samples delivers one (1) sample that one can accept but that is still noticeably off at least in one end of the zoom range.

The reason we see such sample varation is simple: cost. Rejecting even 1/3 of lens samples would be an enormouse cost. Instead, the Q/A standards are dropped to a low bar and customers are left to sort it out. I once heard that at least early in production that the Zeiss Otus lenses were seeing a 50% rejection rate due to a very high performance cutoff. That explains why they cost $4K to $5K each.

Icebergs in Dana Lake, View to Mt Dana

f8 @ 1/90 sec electronic shutter focus stack 6 frames, ISO 100; 2023-08-10 15:41:22
Fujifilm GFX100S + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 17.7mm equiv (21.5mm)
ENV: Dana Canyon, altitude 11200 ft / 3414 m, 58°F / 14°C
RAW: Camera ASTIA, Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5200°K tint 21, push 1 stops, +50 Shadows, -80 Highlights, +40 Whites, +40 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, diffraction mitigating sharpening, +10 Vibrance

[low-res image for bot]

Really Right Stuff L-Bracket for Fujifilm GFX100 II

2024-05-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, L-bracket, medium format, Really Right Stuff, tripods and support

On my new Fujifilm GFX100 II is the fantastic about $230 Really Right Stuff FUJIFILM GFX100II L-SET. I have the two-piece variant but there is a unibody variant also.

Also available for the camera with and without the battery grip.

I love the RRS gear; it has served me incredibly well for 15 years or so now. Tripods, brackets, tripod heads, various plates, etc.

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System Top Picks

Really Right Stuff FUJIFILM GFX100II-LS on Fujifilm GFX100 II

Really Right Stuff FUJIFILM GFX100II L-SET

Elevate your Fujifilm GFX100 II experience with Really Right Stuff's BGFX100II plates, meticulously designed to banish twisting and optimize ergonomics. Crafted from 6061-T6 aluminum, they boast unparalleled strength and a sleek matte finish. Every detail is perfectly tailored with innovative features like slide-away L-components for seamless portrait shooting. Access all side ports effortlessly, thanks to the thoughtfully contoured upright section. The integrated strap lug anchor offers added security, while the hex key conveniently stored in the L-Plate ensures hassle-free adjustments. 

Whether you opt for the two-piece BGFX100II-LS or the unibody BGFX100II-LBG, your camera is in expert hands. Compatible with Arca Swiss clamps, these plates guarantee stability and precision, letting you focus on capturing the perfect shot. Say goodbye to bulky accessories – our plates blend seamlessly with your camera, maintaining its sleek profile. Trust in our custom-machined, threaded mounting screws for quick and secure attachment, allowing you to unleash your creativity without constraints. It's time to unlock the full potential of your GFX100 II with Really Right Stuff. 

Rest assured, all Really Right Stuff products come with a five-year warranty against defects in materials or craftsmanship from the purchase date. We stand by our commitment to quality, offering repair or replacement as needed.

Features

• Crafted with precision from 6061-T6 Aluminum using advanced CNC machining techniques.
• Coated with Type II Black anodizing for a sleek and durable finish.
• Features laser-engraved center marks for precise alignment and calibration.
• Equipped with an integrated Quick Detach (QD) socket for seamless strap attachment.
• Includes a 1/4"-20 threaded accessory mounting socket for versatile accessory compatibility.
• Provides full access to camera accessory ports, ensuring uninterrupted functionality.
• Allows easy access to the battery without removing the plate, for uninterrupted shooting sessions.

Perfect fit and finish with the GFX100 II.

Really Right Stuff FUJIFILM GFX100II-LS on Fujifilm GFX100 II

Sigma’s CEO Wants to Make Lenses for Medium Format Cameras eg Fujijfilm GFX100 II + Reader Comments

2024-05-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: apochromatic, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, Jason W, medium format, optics, Other World Computing, reader comment, Sigma, Sigma lenses, Voigtlander, Voigtlander FE, Voigtlander FE APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical

re: Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S: Standout Lenses that Nail It

From Petapixel:

Sigma’s CEO Wants to Make Lenses for Medium Format Cameras

In an interview with PetaPixel at the Japanese camera exhibition CP+ in Yokohama, Sigma’s CEO Kazuto Yamaki expressed interest in expanding his company’s support for lenses beyond full-frame cameras, specifically saying that he would like to see Sigma make glass for medium format options.

“I [am] personally very much interested in supporting medium format. Again, it’s a small market, but I have some interest,” he says.

...“Up until now, we have been very busy to have the range of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras. So we have to have some kind of regular stuff, like a 24-70mm f/2.8, 35mm f/1.4, or 50mm f/1.4, but now we have these lenses,” Yamaki explains.

“That’s why we started releasing such unique products, like the 500mm f/5.6 or 15mm f/1.4 fisheye,” he continues, referencing both of the optics Sigma debuted at CP+ last week.

“So from now on we can expand our road map.”

Yamaki does temper expectations however, stating that while he would personally like to see Sigma start supporting medium format, it isn’t currently part of the company’s plans.

“So right now we don’t have such plan, but if Sigma wants to be a master of optics, I think we need to support medium format. But that’s just personal hope. But I need to carefully look at the market and demand,” he explains.

Fujifilm GFX100 II

DIGLLOYD: these comments are a trial balloon if ever there were one.

it would terrific to see both Sigma lenses for medium format. In practice that means Fujifilm GF lenses, since Hasselblad trails far behind in market share and PhaseOne has no meaningful market share.

This might unleash the platform in a serious way by hugely expanding the ecosystem just as the cost of medium format plunges well below some 35mm-format cameras.

There are 3rd-party lenses for Fujfilm medium format already. To date, the ones I have tried are of very poor quality, of no interest to me whatsoever. There might be a few specialty things that are exceptions (eg Cambo RPM-80-105 REPRO System), but so far no bueno. This is why a foray into it by Sigma would be so interesting.

Still, I am less interested in Sigma than in Voigtlander. What I want is ultra-high performance lenses.

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System Top Picks

In particular, I would like to see Cosina Voigtlander deliver equivalents of its Voigtlander FE 35mm f/2 APO Lanthar, Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO Lanthar, Voigtlander FE 65mm f/2 APO Lanthar for Fujifilm medium format. Though I have some trouble reconciling this idea with the need for manual focus which makes the automated focus stacking of AF lenses impossible. OTOH, the impressively greater real depth of field of the Voigtlander APO lenses would help out.

Even if they were 50% larger than the 35mm-format lenses, Voigtlander medium format lenses would still be small. And I’d be very happy with seeing them kept to f/2.8, which in theory could keep them to a similar size: covering a frame 2/3 larger but more squarish (4:3 instead of 3:2) and also dropping a stop of brightness should make that feasible. I’d be pleased with f/3.5 lenses so long as they are as good or better than the 35mm-format ones.

     

Voigtlander APO lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 65mm

Jason W writes

What strategy Sigma pursues entering the G-mount ecosystem will be interesting. Their FF strat has been to offer best in class performance priced below equivalent OEM lenses, or offer unique lenses. Some of their FF designs can also probably be adapted to G-mount without completely re-inventing the wheel. Here's my personal conjecture on what they might do:

1) Stick with tradition by launching fast high performance primes in the normal focal lengths. This allows apples to apples comparisons and proves value, which is Sigma's M.O. I'll bet a 35mm or 50mm @ 1.8. Price needs to be under $1699, with below $1499 being excellent.

2) Wide or ultrawide astro prime. Fuji has nothing faster than f4 in the wide or ultrawide and astro is a pain point for the system. I'd say a 20mm or 24mm f1.8 and not slower than f2.8 would do the job here. It can even be a little pricey.

3) Faster fixed aperture zoom. The 32-64 and 45-100 f4's are dogs and the 35-70 is variable aperture. Any high performing 2x zoom within the wide to normal range with any fixed aperture faster than f4 competitively priced would be compelling.

DIGLLOYD: Jason may well be right about how Sigma would proceed, as much as I wish for smaller/slower/better. That the Fujfiilm GF 32-64mm f/4 and Fujifilm GF 45-100 f/4 are wildly unusable for landscape photography is not a testament to Fujifilm’s design failings, but rather to it being extremely difficult to wrangle the tradeoffs while covering a 44 X 33mm sensor. In fact those two lenses would have been jaw-dropping accomplishments a decade ago. I do not think that Sigma could eke out more lens speed without making things worse.

Fujifilm GFX100 II

Fujifilm GFX100S II Coming Soon? Features?

2024-05-04 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: EVF, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, medium format

The Fujifilm GFX100 II was released in September 2023.

The rumor from FujiRumors.com suggests that a Fujifilm GFX100S II is due in mid-May (8 months later) at a price of US$5000. Let’s see if that works out better than the mid-February prior claim.

I purchased the $7500 Fujifilm GFX100 II at a nice discount and sold my GFX100S to offset the cost. The EVF issue seems to have resolved. It is by far the best camera Fujifilm has yet produced, much more responsive and with the highest-quality EVF of any camera today.

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System Top Picks

Features: $5000 Fujifilm GFX100S II have versus a $7500 Fujifilm GFX100 II?

Surely the GFX100S II would have the same sensor and the same IBIS mechanism.

That doesn’t leave much to differentiate without cutting core features. Will we really see a $2500 cost difference for minimal benefits? Or will we see something problemetic cut back?

• Fujifilm GFX100S II presumably will have a built-in EVF (non-detachable), but will it have same fantastic high-res EVF? And even if it does have the same resolution EVF, it is likely to have a lower magnification optical system for the EVF, one visibly less easy on the eyes. Because the optics cost money.
• Smaller/lighter/less robust body?
• Slower frame rate or less fast processing speed?
• Lack of the high performance CFExpress Type B slot and/or a single card slot?
• Drop the top LED panel?

I’m just not seeing a whole lot that Fujifilm can skimp on.

Fujifilm GFX100S

Fujifilm GFX100S

Huge Discounts on Nikon Z8, Nikon Z7 II, lenses

2024-05-01 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: deals, Nikon, Nikon mirrorless, Nikon Z7 II

The Nikon Z7 II and Nikon Z8 are deeply discounted.

My #1 pick on the lenses would be the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S. Along with the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z MC VR S Macro and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E FL ED VR.

See also:

• Sigma deals
• Canon deals
• Fujifilm deals

Nikon Mirrorless

Color Management wish list • Deals on Datacolor

$1997 SAVE $1000 = 33.0% Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Mirrorless	$3497 SAVE $500 = 12.0% Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Mirrorless	$2097 SAVE $400 = 16.0% Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$997 SAVE $200 = 16.0% Nikon 17-28mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$897 SAVE $100 = 10.0% Nikon 24mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless
$1997 SAVE $400 = 16.0% Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$697 SAVE $150 = 17.0% Nikon 35mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$1897 SAVE $200 = 9.0% Nikon 50mm f/1.2 NIKKOR Z S IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$527 SAVE $100 = 15.0% Nikon 50mm f/1.8 NIKKOR Z S Lens with UV Filter Kit IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless	$847 SAVE $200 = 19.0% Nikon 105mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z MC VR S Macro Lens (Nikon Z) IN STOCK in Lenses: Mirrorless
$997 SAVE $100 = 9.0% Nikon 16-35mm f/4 AF-S NIKKOR G ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1597 SAVE $500 = 23.0% Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1897 SAVE $450 = 19.0% Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR E FL ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1447 SAVE $150 = 9.0% Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S NIKKOR G IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR	$1057 SAVE $340 = 24.0% Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 AF-S NIKKOR E ED VR IN STOCK in Lenses: DSLR

Leica SL3: How Does it Manage to Miss with Spot AF?

2024-04-30 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Leica, Leica M, Leica SL3, Spot AF

From a few weeks ago... how can a Spot AF function with a tiny extremely precise crosshair... miss?! The crosshair is on the leading edge of the railing, but the focus ends up in the far distance! Broken half-assed functionality like this really bothers me.

And the Leica SL3 makes it far worse with its “gridded” AF spots—a coarse grid that strictly controls where the precision spot can go, far more coarse than most camera. That’s grid AF, not spot AF, and it’s a bad joke. Short of recomposing, there is no way to better center that crosshair on the subject. Which makes a mockery of a Spot AF function. It is the worst by far in any camera I}ve used, but just one of nearly two dozen failings of the Leica SL3 vs Sony A7R V which make the SL3 the worst value on the market today along with the worst haptics on the market. The SL3 can’t get even the basics right, but they want twice the price. Seriously Leica?

Do you care? Maybe not. But Spot AF is all I use on all my cameras, so it matters a lot to me.

And BTW, while I did not test the focus tracking, a good friend who borrowed the SL3 for a weekend reports that it cannot begin to compete with the Sony A1 or Sony A7R V. If a camera can’t track well, and can’t do Spot AF properly, it’s a serious loser.

f2.2 @ 1/90 sec, ISO 320; 2024-04-06 14:03:06
iPhone 15 Pro Max + iPhone 15 Pro Max 2.2 mm f/4 @ 2.2mm ENV: altitude 683 ft / 208 m

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SHOOTOUT: Sigma FE 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art vs Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO: Deck and Roof

2024-04-25 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: apochromatic, Sigma, Sigma FE, Sigma FE 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art, Sigma Lenses, Sony, Sony A7R, Sony A7R II, Sony A7R III, Sony A7R IV, Sony A7R V, Sony mirrorless, Voigtlander, Voigtlander FE, Voigtlander FE APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, Voigtlander Lenses

This f/1.2 - f/8 series pits Sigma FE 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art against my unrivalled reference lens*, the Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical ("CV50/2") on a boring but revealing scene which displays fine-detail sharpness and zone of sharp focus exceedingly well.

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is not included because it looked so poor—something wrong with the right 1/3 of the frame. Not worth showing because it clearly has an issue. I am looking into whether I can get it replaced or adjusted.

Sigma FE 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art vs Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO: Deck and Roof

Include images up to full camera resolution from f/1.2 - f/8 plus crops.

CLICK TO VIEW: 50mm Lenses for Sony

f1.2 @ 1/2000 sec, ISO 100; 2024-04-25 16:56:14
Sony A7R V + Sigma FE 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art
RAW: Enhance Details, LACA corrected, +10 Whites, +10 Clarity, AI Denoise 10, +10 Vibrance

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Tiny 4TB High Performance SSD: 4TB OWC Envoy Pro Elektron

2024-04-24 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Other World Computing, OWC Envoy Pro, OWC Envoy Pro Elektron, SSD

re: OWC Envoy Pro Elektron

Looking for a great little drive for your travels?

TESTED: OWC Envoy Pro Elektron USB-C SSD, 4TB

Fantastic performance in a tiny package!

CLICK TO VIEW: High Performance SSDs

Sustained transfer speed of 4TB OWC Envoy Pro Elektron SSD, across entire capacity

Fujifilm GFX100 II: Bad EVF or Defective Camera or Firmware Bug?

2024-04-21 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Claude F, Dr S, EVF, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, medium format

re: Fujifilm GFX100 II

re: Best Configuration for Evaluating ETTR Captures on Fujifilm Medium Format?
re: Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S: Standout Lenses that Nail It

UPDATE 2024-05-04: the issue seems to have resolved. This makes me nervous—will it reappear? Glitches bother me since they usually mean something is coming back, sooner or later. But I can’t demonstrated it as a problem now, so looks like I’ll have to take my chances.

...

I’m not sure what’s going but I’m having trouble with my Fujifilm GFX100 II. I updated it to the very latest firmware version 2.10, and did one shoot, no issues.

But a day later, I turned it on and the EVF is a mess like an old TV set that has no signal—noisy with dancing lines. This has occurred several times when I turned on the camera. I detached and reattached the EVF to no avail.

Whether this is a firmware bug or a defective camera or defective EVF I don’t know. But I never had such issues for over a month last fall when I tested the GFX100 II.

Dr S writes:

I assume you tried all the usual remedies.....clean the contacts of the EVF and the area of the cam it attaches to..... make sure the EVF is secure by removing and reinserting the EVF a number of times... knock the camera into the wall really hard a few times (not really).

Does the cam work normally without the EVF? Obviously if everything does work without the EVF, can you find a cam store with a vertical EVF or an older GFX that had a removable one (forgot which model).... I think the original had one as well as another.... and try that at least to narrow down the issue.

The simple remedy, assuming it is new, is to return the cam to the dealer for an exchange. If you recall, my first GFX had an alignment issue with the sensor. Since there were no replacements available I sent it to Fujifilm back east and I had a new body with 3 days since I am a Pro member.

DIGLLOYD: yes, I did all the usual things that make sense. Yes the camera otherwise works normally including the rear LCD. It is clearly an EVF thing, suggesting something flaky about the contacts between the EVF and the camera. A reason I generally prefer the unibody design of the GFX100S—sealed and no such issus.

Thing is, with an intermittent problem like this, confidence is lost—it might work fine, then the EVF just fails entirely when 500 miles from home for a weeks-long trip. I can't have that.

I’ll test it out every day for a week—today it was fine—and then when B&H Photo is open on May 1, I’ll see about swapping it out.

While it does look like an issue that might relate to electronic contacts, cleaning contacts on a brand-new camera is not something that makes much sense to me—fresh out of the baggies. If it cannot work right out of the box, no amount of cleaning is going to give me confidence of years or even months of reliable use. But that is the only thing that Fujiflm support had to suggest, confirming it wasn't a known issue. Which seems to rule out firmware bugs. And if that actually worked, it would be a bad sign and just leave me guessing as to whether it is a fluke. More likely it would just contaminate pristine electronic contacts. Worse, the problem is intermittent, so it would prove nothing and inspire no confidence.

Claude F writes:

I had a similar problem with my GFX100S. Turned the camera on/off, battery in/out, and problem resolved.

DIGLLOYD: I did both those things, it did not resolve. But since it's a flaky problem, it’s not clear to me that it was causal for solving it in Claude’s case either.

Jean-Luc D writes:

I have a similar issue with the Fujifilm GFX100s, I am not sure is related but a few times I pushed the button inadvertently at the front of the camera to control the improve focus and EVF display performance, I changed the setting to BOOST and the issue disappeared ! In the PDF Fujifilm GFX100 II manual you have this information page 367.

DIGLLOYD: sounds like some initialization condition in the code has a general BUG. It makes sense that if the display mode is switched, that it might rejigger something, by forcing a change in the code flow. That would also explain why powering off/on can sometimes re-establish proper function.

Why I never saw such an issue for a month with the Fujifilm GFX100 II last fall, dunno. I also cannot recall seeing it with my Fujifilm GFX100S for two years.

I am aware of the various settings. I set the camera to BOOST = EVF RESOLUTION PRIORITY, thinking that will give me the best detail for checking focus.

CLICK TO VIEW: Fujifilm GFX System

Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR

FOR SALE: Lloyd’s Fujfilm GFX100S with Really Right Stuff L-Bracket $2900 OBO —  SOLD

2024-04-17 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, L-bracket, medium format, Really Right Stuff, shutter, tripods and support

With my new Fujifilm GFX100 II on the way, I am selling my Fujifilm GFX100S, which sells new for $4399 ($1600 off).

• Fujifilm GFX100S with box and original stuff that comes with
• Really Right Stuff L-bracket
• Sony TOUGH 128GB SDXC card 300MB/sec

This is the same GFX100S that has done all my work for the past 3 years—a known-good reliable camera.

Some people wonder about "shutter count" eg a worn physical shutter. I don’t know what the count is, but it’s essentially new, since 99% of my images are/were taken with the electronic shutter (ES), no physical shutter actuation at all, so zero wear. I don’t think I’ve taken more than 10K frames, nearly all of them ES. But if this is the right EXIF field, then it’a 8K or less:
Image Count                     : 7240
BTW, I have verified that this counter counts all frames (ES or otherwise) and is thus complete bullshit as to actual shutter usage. All some online sites do that give you the number is extract this number. They are equally BS.

$2900 OBO. Contact Lloyd SOLD

Buyer pays insured FedEx shipping speed of choice.

Fujifilm GFX100S

Fantastic LED Lighting $1000 = 50% Off

2024-04-17 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: none

I own the Luxli Taiko 2x1 RGB LED Light Panel, and it is the best lighting I have ever had. I’d love to have a 2nd one because a pair of these can provide ultra-even illumination on a subject.

And it’s now 50% off.

• CRI 95 / TLCI 98 (varies slightly with color temperature, can be up to CRI 98)
• Smooth diffuse light, not the ugly glare as from most LED lighting.
• Lghts up a whole room even when bounced off ceiling.
• Dimmable from 1% to 100%.
• Silent, no fan.
• Color temperature is variable to just about anything and you can even do garish colors—just about any color you want.
• Very low power draw relative to light ouput (250W max)—like having 2000W of halogen.

It’s a large light, so I would not call it easily portable, but for a studio or similar, one of these (or a pair!) would be fantastic.

It is the lighting I used for some of my studies last month using art work.

Lighting

Color Management wish list • Deals on Datacolor

$1449 SAVE $550 = 27.0% Luxli Taiko 2x1 RGB LED Light Panel IN STOCK in Lighting: LED

$1648 Luxli Taiko 2x1 RGB LED Light Panel (Complete Kit) OUT OF STOCK in Lighting: LED

$3905 Luxli Taiko 2x1 RGB LED Light Panel Accessories Kit OUT OF STOCK in Lighting: LED

f7.1 @ 1.0 sec, ISO 100; 2024-03-01 12:22:15
Fujifilm GFX100S + Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR @ 42.6mm equiv (51.8mm)

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Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 is $500 off, first-ever discount on it

2024-04-15 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Fujifilm, Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm Lenses, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, medium format

re: Fujifilm GFX100 II

re: Best Configuration for Evaluating ETTR Captures on Fujifilm Medium Format?
re: Fujifilm GFX100 II, Fujifilm GFX100S: Standout Lenses that Nail It

For the first time ever, the Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 is discounted, and by $500.

The GF20-35 is an outstanding lens. I have used at least 3 samples. All were good, but one was noticeably outstanding, and I wish I had bought it.

Fujifilm GFX System

Fujifilm Medium Format wish list • Deals on Fujifilm

$7499 FUJIFILM GFX 100II Medium Format Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Medium Format	$4399 SAVE $1600 = 26.0% FUJIFILM GFX 100S Medium Format Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Medium Format	$2999 SAVE $1000 = 25.0% FUJIFILM GFX 50S II Medium Format Camera IN STOCK in Cameras: Medium Format	$1999 SAVE $500 = 20.0% FUJIFILM 20-35mm f/4 GF R WR OUT OF STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$3999 FUJIFILM 30mm f/5.6 GF T/S Lens (FUJIFILM G) PREORDER in Lenses: Medium Format
$999 FUJIFILM 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 GF WR IN STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$999 FUJIFILM 50mm f/3.5 GF R LM WR IN STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$2299 FUJIFILM 55mm f/1.7 GF R WR Lens (FUJIFILM G) IN STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$2299 SAVE $500 = 17.0% FUJIFILM 110mm f/2 GF R LM WR IN STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$3499 FUJIFILM 110mm f/5.6 GF T/S Macro Lens (FUJIFILM G) PREORDER in Lenses: Medium Format
$3299 FUJIFILM 250mm f/4 GF R LM OIS WR IN STOCK in Lenses: Medium Format	$300 OWC 1TB Atlas Pro UHS-II SDXC Memory Card IN STOCK in Accessories: Memory Cards	$680 OWC 2TB Atlas Ultra CFexpress 4.0 Type B Memory Card IN STOCK in Accessories: Memory Cards	$100 OWC Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Type B Card Reader IN STOCK in Accessories: Memory Cards

Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR