N&R: Impressive new Sony A9, interesting Pana-Leica ultra-wide and the rather poor Nikon D7500

Nikon

Nikon have announced the D7500, which DPReview has compared to the D500 and the D7200. Honestly, this is a fail camera for me for just one reason - they've removed the dual slots. So, if you want dual slot redundancy, you're forced to either stick with the D7200, or upgrade to the bigger D500.

I think it's a shame when a product goes backwards like this. The D500 has enough features in its own right that a D7500 wouldn't have canibilised its sales. This just doesn't make sense, and I think there should be more outcry than there is from respectable sites like DPReview.

Panasonic

Panasonic have announced a co-Leica branded 8-18mm f.28-4 wide angle micro 43 lens. It is a similar size to the older 7-12mm f4 lens, but can take 67mm filters. Retailing for 1,098USD, it should be an attractive alternative to the older lens if it can control flare better.

Also in Panasonic news, a GH5 firmware with 10-bit internal recording has been released, and they've admitted their video AF sucks. Plus, they have a new compact superzoom.

Sony

An AF joystick selector and dual slots - hallelujah!

So, the long rumoured A9 has been announced - and it's a serious Nikon D5/Canon 1DX competitor.

From the press release:

• World’s First full-frame stacked CMOS sensor, 24.2 MP resolution
• Blackout-Free Continuous Shooting at up to 20fps for up to 241 RAW/ 362 JPEG images
• Silent, Vibration-free shooting at speeds up to 1/32,000 sec
• 693 point focal plane phase detection AF points with 60 AF/AE tracking calculations per second
• Extensive professional features including Ethernet port for file transfer, Dual SD card slots and extended battery life
• 5-Axis in-body image stabilization with a 5.0 step shutter speed advantage

The thing to bear in mind is that 20fps is achieved via an electronic shutter, using the mechanical shutter brings it down to 5fps. However, Sony claims the new stacked CMOS sensor will remove any rolling shutter effects.

For me personally, the stand out features are:

• AF joystick
• Touch screen
• Dual Card slots
• My Menu (finally)
• AF type selection via control wheel (AF-C vs AF-S etc)
• Still same basic size and weight as the A7R Mark 2

Those first 4 features were severe limitations on the A7R2 (for me) compared to the competition (Canon 5D Mark 3 and Nikon D810).

On the negative side of the A9 we have:

• No log video (what the hell Sony?)
• No control lever on the AF-On button - I always use this to change from back-button focus to Eye-AF.
• Still just USB2 - though an ethernet port has been added.

Also not mentioned is if this camera can make use of hot shoe flash AF assist lights.

You can see a hands-on reviews from DPReview and FStoppers.

Will I get this personally? I'll wait for more in-depth reviews. If I were still shooting events as much as I used to, I would love this. If I wanted to get into weddings, this would also be my camera of choice. As it stands now, I might wait and see if an A9R or A7R Mark III is announced, and what it beings to the table.

As it stands, this is a very compelling offering from Sony. Even if I don't get it, I'm happy to know, every time I splash out for a new Sony FE-lens, that this camera exists.

Oh, they also announced a 100-400 f5-5.6 lens.

N&R: Canon, Leica, Panasonic Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Cactus and Sekonic

Sony RX1R III may be coming, but will it be worth an upgrade?

N&R: Leica M10 & Fuji X100F

Over the last week, both Fuji and Leica announced new cameras; which is somewhat interesting as, for some inexplicable reasons, a lot of people (Fuji users) like to compare their cameras to Leica.

Not a Fuji

N&R: 4 relatively quiet weeks

Seems not much has happened in the last 4 weeks: GoPro is in trouble with it's Karma drone; some new lenses from Nikon; uninspired new body from Leica, plus a cute little lens; new macro flash from Olympus; and some issues with the Panasonic G85 and IBIS in video. Plus a new Kickstarter from Spider Holster a new budget lens from Yongnuo.

The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 gets an update.

News and Rumours: Apple, Canon, Fuji, Hasselblad, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Zeiss, Metz and FlashQ

In this week summary:

• The long awaited iPhone 7 Plus gets announced with dual cameras.
• Stylised images of the new Canon EOS-M5 are leaked.
• Fuji announces monochrome instax film.
• Hasselblad will soon announce another medium format mirrorless lens.
• Leica announce a new 6mm macro lens for their TL mirrorless camera.
• The three new lenses from Olympus have leaked images.
• More information on the Panasonic G80/G85 cameras.
• Sigma announce a new series of Cine lenses.
• Sony will also soon announce a new cine lens.
• Tamron announces the previously leaked 15-600mm G2 lens.
• Leaked images of three new Milvus lenses coming from Zeiss.
• Metz is teasing a new, smaller flash.
• The FlashQ Q20 small flash should is expected to be released in Q4 this year.

You read it here first: the LightPix Q20 is expected to arrive this year.

News and Rumours: Fuji, Eye-Fi, Huawei and Metabones

In this week's summary:

• Fuji officially announces the already leaked X-T2.
• Eye-Fi announces they're going to brick most of their product range.
• Huawei tags a Canon DSLR photo with #HuaweiP9.
• Metabones releases an updated firmware for their Canon to Sony adapter (yes again).

News and Rumour Thursday: Nikon, Olympus, Sony/Zeiss, Nissin and DxO Optics

In this week's summary:

• Nikon - DPReview reviews the D5, and some early rumours of a new mirrorless system.
• Olympus - New PRO lenses coming.
• Sony - Reports next Zeiss Loxia will be telephoto, and delays from earthquake aftermath.
• Nissin - the new Nissin i60A for Sony has been delayed until August.
• DxO Optics - DxO OpticsPro 11 has been released with advanced noise reduction.
• Huawei/Leica - DPReview has reviewed the Huawei P9 camera.

The one touch zoom on the Nikon D5 sounds very convenient for review.

News and Rumour Thursday: Leica, Micro43s, Nikon, Sony and ON1

In this week's summary:

• Leica: Leaked images of the Leica M-D Typ 262
• Micro43s: Rumours about the new Olympus EM-1 and the Panasonic Leica 12mm lens.
• Nikon: Autofocus auto-tune on D500 and D5, delays in DL, and yet another shutter issue with the D750
• Sony: New firmware, hacked firmware, and a potential AF bug
• ON1: Have announced a new RAW converter they claim will offer unrivalled performance

News and Rumour Thursday: Fuji, Leica, Sony, Zeiss, Blackmagic, Lexar, Pelican and Phottix

In this week's summary:

• Fuji: Images of the X-T2 leaked
• Leica: New major firmware update to the SL
• Sony: Earthquakes affect sensor production, and possible issues with the Sony 85mm G-Master
• Blackmagic Design: Blackmagic have announced a new public beta of DaVinci Resolve 12.5
• Lexar: Easy way to access MicroSD cards on your iPhone
• Pelican: A new, lighter, range of cases
• Phottix: A new mount for using Elinchrom and Bowen's light shaping tools with speedlights

The TIPA Awards: Everyone wins a prize

I recall correctly, last year many photography sites were making fun of the TIPA awards - by having each of an Entry Level, Advanced, Expert and Professional award for various cameras, they may as well start giving out awards for participation. Was there a mirrorless camera released last year that didn't get an award? If you're thinking the Leica SL, don't worry, they snuck that in as the Best Premium Camera.

For some reason though, most brand focused sites are instead reporting just on what their preferred brand won.