Photo news: Sony's flagship double and more Canon sigmas

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There it is – Sony has actually updated the Alpha 1 this year. And not just on paper, the camera is due to be available in December 2024. All the details can be found in our detailed report on the new top-of-the-range Alpha. It will be interesting to see whether agencies and other professionals will quickly exhaust their last annual budgets and who will put the camera under their Christmas tree. Sony's best will probably be in short supply in any case. Also because the price of 7500 euros is exactly within the acceptable range for the top model of one of the largest camera manufacturers.

Of course, this is a lot of money, but not as much as one might have feared, as the price is only 200 euros higher than the recommended retail price of the first Alpha 1 four years ago. It is also only 500 euros more than the A9 III, which, however, has a much lower resolution (24 instead of 50 megapixels) and a global shutter with a significantly different focus. Sony therefore has two flagships in its port. While prices have only been trending upwards in recent years, especially in the mid-range, the high-end models have now reached the end of the line. Let's throw another camera into the comparison: Canon's new R1, like the A9 III mainly a special tool for sports and action, also costs 7500 euros.

The big gap in the price structure

7000 to 7500 euros is the new range for the top models of the major manufacturers, and there is a large gap just one step below that. Canon's brand new R5 II is also under 5000 euros, Nikon's Z8 is now well under 4000 euros, and what about Sony? Then you have the choice between the enormous resolution of an Alpha 7R V for 4500 euros and the Alpha 7S III for around 4200 euros. That's about 3000 euros away from the flagship. The diversification of the product range is therefore increasingly based on price.

It is no longer true that the most expensive camera is the best for all applications. Initial tests of models from the series production of the Canon R1 also show that, like Sony's A9 III, it is a specialist device: the highest image sequences are needed above all for action, sport and reportage. And because this business is largely in the hands of large agencies, the price of depreciable equipment plays a subordinate role. Ambitious amateurs are at a disadvantage for the time being if they don't want to pay the enormous prices. However, it should not be forgotten that modern functions such as AI autofocus and eye tracking are also available in cheaper models. Just not 120 fps with the slightest compromises.

Record sales at Leica

Discussing camera prices is pretty pointless for one manufacturer – Leica. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the company achieved the highest turnover in its history with 554 million euros. However, resting on high camera prices alone is out of the question: Leica recently acquired the Norwegian company Fjorden Electra AS, which produces apps and photo accessories for smartphones. Together with the long-standing cooperation with Xiaomi, Leica is apparently also preparing for the cell phone photography market, as the "LUX" app is constantly being updated. The company is unlikely to neglect the large cameras, quoting from the annual report: "The Leica Q3 was the main sales driver." In other words, a full-frame camera with a current price of over 6000 euros.

More APS-C lenses from Sigma for Canon RF

Sigma's fixed focal lengths, which the company will soon also be offering for Canon's RF bayonet, will be significantly cheaper. They have already been available for Nikon's Z-mount and MFT for some time. It has been known for some time that Canon and Sigma are working together – and not fighting each other with patent lawsuits –. Now things are finally getting concrete: there will be four lenses, all as fixed focal lengths and with an aperture of f/1.4. Only the focal lengths differ.

The first lenses to be available from December 5, 2024 will be the 30 and 56 millimeter lenses at 369 and 469 euros each, followed by the 16 and 23 millimeter lenses in January. Sigma has not yet given a specific date for these two lenses, but prices are: the two shortest RF Sigmas will cost 439 and 549 euros. These are all quite reasonable RRP prices, but only for APS-C lenses; large and low-noise sensors cannot be fully utilized for available light photography. But that is not the only field of application for fast fixed focal lengths – Portrait and landscape are also suitable.

From photographer to artist

This brings us to the recommendation for the long read for the weekend. It is an insight into the work of British photographer Jimmy Nelson, who has been attracting attention for decades, particularly for his authentic yet artistic portrayal of indigenous peoples. He recently won the 100,000 US dollar HIPA photography prize. Nelson's life story and the way he comes to his pictures are just as remarkable as his advice to beginners: "Put the concept of photography aside for now and dare to become an artist." According to Nelson, modern cameras make the technical aspect far less important than what you want to express with your pictures.

(nie)