Smart Photography

It is EISA season once again and both the prestigious EISA Awards and the Maestro Awards were revealed to the world on August 15. A tremendous amount of work is put in by various expert groups within EISA and the end results are highly valued for their credibility. Our heartiest congratulations to Sony for winning the most prestigious Camera Of The Year Award. Nikon has set a new record by winning five EISA Awards and we heartily congratulate them as well. The forthcoming year looks exciting with several new launches and increasingly competitive products at the lower end of the market. HERE’S WHAT MAKES US #1 WE ARE GLUED TO THE GLOBAL IMAGING INDUSTRY Our team is updated with all the benchmarks and road blocks that the field of photography…

NEWSWATCH Sony and Nikon have emerged as the big winners at this year’s prestigious EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association) Awards, with both brands securing top honours across multiple categories. However, the absence of Canon’s latest flagship cameras has raised eyebrows, particularly given their cutting-edge features and strong market presence. The EISA Awards, which recognise the best cameras and lenses released over the past year, had a submission deadline of 20 May 2024. Unfortunately for Canon, its highly anticipated EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II were not officially launched until 17 July, missing the cutoff for consideration in this year’s awards. Canon UK and the EISA Awards confirmed that the timing of the releases was the sole reason for the exclusion of these models from the 2024-2025 awards. In…

According to a BCN report, in June 2024, Sony took over the Number One spot in Japan with a market share of 33.3%. Canon’s market share tumbled to 25.7%. Nikon increased its market share to 17.4%. Fujifilm came in fourth with a market share of 10.7%. Canon reacted with the following statement: “ For interchangeable lens digital cameras, sales increased due to the launch of new products in the same period of the previous year, but due to the decline in sales, sales volume decreased and sales decreased.”…

NEWSWATCH Nikon has reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of the fiscal year, continuing its impressive recovery. The company’s overall revenue increased by 3.6% year-on-year to 163 billion yen (£875 million), while operating profit, though down by 10.3%, remained robust at 2.95 billion yen (£16 million). The standout performer for Nikon was its Imaging Products segment, which includes interchangeable lens digital cameras and lenses. This division saw total revenue rise from 74.4 billion yen (£400 million) to 83.7 billion yen (£450 million). Profits also increased, climbing from 15.3 billion yen (£82 million) to 17.8 billion yen (£95 million). Nikon reported sales of 230,000 digital interchangeable lens cameras in the first quarter, up by 10,000 units compared to the same period last year, along with a 40,000-unit increase…

NEWSWATCH Nikon has released firmware updates for five Nikkor Z lenses, addressing a specific enhancement. The update introduces support for the [Focus ring rotation range] options within the camera’s [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU], offering more control for users. Previously, the lenses only supported a [Non-linear] setting. With the update, users can now select a linear option, allowing the lens to move from the minimum focus distance to infinity with a consistent rotation of the control ring, regardless of speed. As of August 2024, this feature is supported on the Z9, Z8, Z6III, Zf (from “C” firmware version 2.00), and the Z7II and Z6II (from “C” firmware version 1.40).…

NEWSWATCH Chinese lens manufacturer 7Artisans has launched a completely redesigned 35mm f/1.4 Mark III lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The new lens features an upgraded design incorporating low-dispersion glass elements, with the addition of an ED element to improve image quality, distinguishing it from its Mark II predecessor. One of the standout features of the Mark III is the ability to switch between a clicked and de-clicked aperture control ring, offering flexibility for both photographers and videographers. The 10-blade aperture diaphragm further enhances the lens’s versatility, making it ideal for various shooting scenarios. Aesthetic updates include the introduction of a medium-grey titanium silver finish, joining the existing black option, and the addition of depth-of-field scale markings. The lens also boasts a durable chrome-plated metal mount and laser-engraved markings on its…