Topaz just announced the new GigaPixel Ai (click here to see all new features with ton of examples).

Press text:

Gigapixel 8 brings powerful new models that push the limits of image enhancement, offering unmatched control for both restoration and creative upscaling. Whether you’re recovering lost details or generating imaginative visuals, Gigapixel 8 has the tools to elevate your images like never before.

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  • Redefine Model (Creative Upscaler): This new model pushes the boundaries of creative upscaling while staying true to your input image. With diffusion-based generative output and text prompts available for more specific results, this tool offers a new level of freedom for producing imaginative visuals.

• Recovery Model: This model goes beyond the capabilities of our standard models, restoring missing details in images that would have been unusable otherwise. It’s especially useful for restoring old photos, scanned images, and improving faces and text, delivering results that were previously impossible.
• Gen2 Face Recovery: With two modes—Realistic and Creative—this model offers enhanced results for faces, even in low-quality or damaged images. Whether you’re refining details to stay true to the original or creating imaginative reconstructions, this feature delivers high-fidelity, creative enhancements.

New Gigapixel Cloud Service

Alongside Gigapixel 8, we’re introducing Cloud Rendering, a credit-based, server processing option. Cloud Rendering allows anyone to offload processing tasks for faster and more efficient image enhancement, making it ideal for those with lower-powered hardware or users wanting quicker results with our Recovery or Redefine models.

Key benefits include:

• Faster processing speeds for higher-quality results
• Allows simultaneous enhancements for multiple images

Phototrend interviewed Mathilde Lécuyer, Product Manager for Lumix France, and Jérémy Hoffmann, Marketing Manager for Lumix Southern Europe. Most of the talk is about L-mount but some points are of interest for the MFT community too like the possibility of establishing a community for LUMIX Lab:

About the French photography market

• It remains a leading brand in France.
• No. 3 in the French mirrorless market.
• They are particularly strengthening their presence in the full-size market.
• Over the past 12 months, the full size segment has grown by 6% and is gaining market share.

Have Panasonic added any LUTs since the release of the S9?

• At launch, there will be around 100 LUTs available.
• We are exploring the possibility of creating a community within the application so that creators can use their own LUTs in the application.

S5 II, S5 II X, and G9 II also support Lumix Lab

• LUMIX Lab’s long-term vision is to become a truly central platform for creators, enabling them to do a variety of things.

Firmware Update Strategy

• They are very responsive to user feedback.
• Local teams in each subsidiary around the world play a key role in this process, providing direct feedback to engineers.
• Once you invest in the equipment, they promise to support you as a creator with regular updates to optimize the product.
• LUMIX does not charge creators for minor updates.

Why LUMIX S5D now?

• For those on a budget there is the S5D.
• The S5D comes with an 18-40mm kit lens, whereas the S5 had a 20-60mm.

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Summary via Asobinet

Those were the best selling cameras on September:

Kitamura:

1. Nikon Z30 double lens kit
2. FujiFilm X-H2
3. Olympus E-M10IV
4. Sony ZV-E10
5. Sony ZV-E10II
6. Sony A6700 with kit lens
7. Nikon Z fc kit
8. Sony A6700
9. Olympus E-P7 kit
10. Sony A7III

Yodobashi:

1. Canon R5II
2. Canon R6II
3. FujiFilm X-T5
4. Sony A7cII
5. FujiFilm X-T50
6. Nikon Zf
7. Ricoh GRII
8. Sony A7IV
9. DJI Osmo 3
10. Nikon Z6III

Lumix LX5 short review : Perfect EDC or waste of money?

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
On this day in 2014: The Panasonic GH4, which brought 4K to the masses, reviewed (Dpreview).
The (Misunderstood) Fall of Kodak | It Wasn’t Because of Digital Cameras | History in the Dark
RODE Announces RODECaster Video All-in-One Production Console (Explora).
What is Editorial Photography? (42West).

Plenty of news on the facebook OMD group, Panasonic FF and the GH5 group.
I kindly invite you all to follow me on Youtube, Instagram, Threads for more broader camera talk.

Was Olympus E-M1X A Mistake? Let’s Talk!

I don’t think OM Digital will ever produce a successor to the E-M1X. Robin Wong explains in this video why the E-M1X was a “mistake”. Let us know in the comments if some of you actually have the opposite opinion… that we need a new E-M1X successor!