Photo news: Scarce Sony A1 II and a high-edge instax

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Artificial scarcity is one of the oldest tricks in marketing: if a coveted product is difficult to deliver, the price can be kept high and potential customers are constantly discussing the product they cannot get. However, this only works as long as there is no alternative and the product is still technically fully competitive.

It would therefore be wrong to accuse Sony of such unfair motives in the ongoing shortage of its Alpha 1 II. It was already clear at the time of its launch at the end of November 2024 that it would not be available immediately, as all high-end devices on the photography market have been for several years. Such expensive cameras, in this case 7500 euros for the body alone, are not produced in stock, and the exquisite components such as the 50-megapixel stacked sensor are also expensive to manufacture. But the fact that even Amazon USA is now simply canceling pre-orders is something that hardly anyone had in mind.

A1 II cannot be found on Amazon

This was reported by Petapixel, which was contacted by a reader who saw his order, which had been placed five months ago, disappear. At the time of publication of this column, the camera is no longer available on Amazon's German pages, nor can it be searched for. It is listed on the US pages, but as "not available". And you can still pre-order it from major German retailers, but only with an unknown delivery time, with some stores stating at least one month.

Anyone reflexively thinking of the impact of Donald Trump's new tariffs is only partly right. Back in February at the CP+ trade fair, Sony told Petapixel that the new professional device was being snatched right out of their hands. According to the statement at the time, they simply could not produce as many cameras as they could sell. So there's no shortage, no company wants this kind of situation, especially not with a device for people who use it for their work.

The largest Alpha as a must-have for press photos

Even though many people were disappointed by what was only an evolutionary upgrade compared to the Alpha 1, professional photographers particularly appreciate the improved AI autofocus, according to Sony. When it comes to the highest possible yield of sharp images, not the last ounce of image quality, such a function is a game changer, especially for press photography. The aim is to capture exactly the one moment in a series of dozens of images that conveys the message. And since Sony has been playing with mirrorless cameras in the professional camp for the longest time, many will have been waiting for precisely this camera. And Sony's exclusive deals with Reuters and other media companies are likely to do the rest.

However, the chaos caused by the US government's tariffs across global supply chains cannot be completely wiped away. Sony has not yet made an official statement, but there are signs from other product categories of how companies are reacting. Sony has had around 600 tons of iPhones flown to the USA from India, which has a lower tariff than China. Large notebook manufacturers such as Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Dell and HP are suspending deliveries to the USA altogether in order to wait for the political situation, which is currently changing on a daily basis. However, one should not hope that the A1 II will now be more readily available or even cheaper in Europe – see demand from professionals –.

Instax 41 in a new design

Demand is also driving the market for the still strong small instant cameras. Fujifilm is the leader here with its Instax format, and the particularly compact Instax 40 is now getting a successor in the form of the Instax 41, which looks completely different. In photos, the plastic camera, which costs just 120 euros, looks downright classy: upright format, twist-out lens, non-slip surface – that's the unmistakable retro look, yet another enduring trend.

This can get on your nerves, but it's only logical, because apart from smartphones, many people, especially young people, find their way into serious photography via the Instaxe. After all, when each instant photo costs around one euro, you have to think more about the subject, image composition and perhaps even exposure. An improved viewfinder, including parallax compensation, should help with this.

Nikon's Zf learns recipes, birds and power zooms

Nikon's Zf is also retro, but only in appearance, not in function. Since its launch at the end of 2023, the full-frame camera has probably been the most uncompromising device when it comes to the look of the 1980s and operating elements of the analog era combined with modern digital technology. However, since Nikon has since launched a whole pack of new, modern cameras, the Zf is now getting a major firmware update to version 2.0.

The biggest functional change, here is the download link including a list of new features, is the support of the Nikon Imaging Cloud, including the image looks called "recipes". It is also worth noting that the digital zoom known from the larger models is now also possible with the Zf when using the entire sensor area: when filming in Full HD, you can reduce the image section by up to a factor of two at an adjustable speed. And there is also support for motorized lenses, making the Zf even more attractive for web video producers. Photographers are of course not forgotten, the AI moto detection has been supplemented by a new mode for birds.

(nie)