Lexar presents ARMOR GOLD SD Card with a stainless-steel construction that is 37x stronger than typical SD cards

Lexar announced the launch of an ‘indestructible’ SD card made entirely of stainless steel. Something like the Cybertruck of SD cards :)

The ARMOR GOLD SD Card with a stainless-steel construction that is 37x stronger than typical SD cards, it is designed to withstand grueling usage out in the wild while offering up to 210MB/s[1] write speed and Video Speed Class 60 (V60) to seamlessly capture 6K footage.

There is yet no info about when those cards will be available to market.

Additional note: Lots of Lexar gear has big discounts on their Amazon page (Click here) and at BHphoto.

New Ricoh GR3 successor rumors

There are rumors circulating on Weibo about the Ricoh GR3 successor coming in 2025. Please keep in mind those are NOT rumors from my trusted sources so take it with a grain of salt:

  • Ricoh GR3 will be released in 2025 but timing is unclear (might not be in Q1)
  • Might not be named GR4
  • Autofocus will be improved
  • battery life will be improved

I hope my sources will come back soon to share more details ;)

These were the ten best-selling cameras in Japan in 2024

2024 is over and BCN finally shared the accurate data showing the top 10 best selling cameras of this year:

  1. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 – 16.0% market share
  2. Canon EOS R50 – 11.6% market share
  3. Canon EOS R10 – 6.7% market share
  4. Sony α6400 – 5.8% market share
  5. Sony α7C II – 4.9% market share
  6. Nikon Z50  – 4.3% market share
  7. OM Digital Solutions OLYMPUS PEN E-P7 – 3.9% market share
  8. Nikon Zf 40mm f/2 (SE) Lens Kit – 3.4% market share
  9. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II – 3.2% market share
  10. Panasonic LUMIX G1000 – 3.1% market share

Reminder: BCN collected the real sale data of nearly half the Japanese Store.

Canon develops CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels, the largest number of pixels ever achieved in a 35 mm full-frame sensor

And we fools thought the megapixel race was over! Today Canon announced a new 410 megapixel full-frame sensor! But hand on heart, I doubt we’ll see this sensor in any future model in this range. It is more likely that it will be used in industrial applications. And why? Putting 410 tiny megapixels in such a small area creates a lot of artifacts and problems for photographers. For example, mass diffraction at medium aperture. The only way I see such high Megapixel number on ral cameras if you find a way to solve the 3-layer tech (What Sigma names Foveon). Only in that case the pixel size would be truly big enough to get rid of the artefacts.

 

Press text:

Canon develops CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels, the largest number of pixels ever achieved in a 35 mm full-frame sensor

TOKYO, January 22, 2025— Canon Inc. announced today that it has developed a CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels (24,592 x 16,704 pixels), which is the largest number1 of pixels ever achieved in a 35 mm full-frame sensor. This sensor is expected to be used in applications that demand extreme resolution in various markets including surveillance, medicine, and industry.

The newly developed CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels
The newly developed CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels

The newly developed CMOS sensor features a resolution equivalent to 24K (198 times greater than Full HD, and 12 times greater than 8K). This enables users to crop any part of the image captured by this sensor and enlarge it significantly while maintaining high resolution. While many CMOS sensors with a super-high pixel count are medium-format or larger, this extreme resolution sensor is compacted into a 35 mm full-frame format. This allows it to be used in combination with lenses for full-frame sensors, and it is expected to contribute to the miniaturization of shooting equipment. As data readout of a CMOS sensor tends to take longer as the number of pixels increases, achieving a CMOS sensor with a super-high pixel count requires advanced signal processing technology. The newly developed sensor employs a back-illuminated stacked formation in which the pixel segment and signal processing segment are interlayered and also includes a redesigned circuitry pattern. As a result, the sensor is capable of achieving a super-high readout speed of 3,280 megapixels per second, delivering video at 8 frames per second2.

This sensor3 also features a “four-pixel binning” function that virtually treats four adjoining pixels as one, thereby improving sensitivity and making it possible to capture brighter images. When this function is in use, the sensor can capture 100-megapixel video at 24 frames per second.

By leveraging the technology it has accumulated over many years as a leading imaging company, Canon has developed breakthrough products including CMOS sensors with super-high pixel count and ultra-sensitivity, and SPAD sensors, which detect faint traces of light even in dark areas. Canon will continue to advance its technology and contribute to the transformation and further development of society.

Additional information

The sensor is scheduled to be displayed at the Canon booth at SPIE Photonics West, a leading global conference for optics and photonics held in San Francisco from January 28-30, 2025.

  • 1 As of January 21, 2025 (According to a survey by Canon).
  • 2 Applies to both color and monochrome sensors
  • 3 Monochrome sensor only

Upscale Your Photos with Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.2 (New Year Deal)

Press text:

In a world where visuals dominate, high-quality images are essential for standing out. From creating professional content to sharing moments online or preserving cherished memories, the demand for high-quality images is universal. Yet, not every photo or graphic is perfect straight out of the box. This is where Aiarty Image Enhancer steps in to close the gap, a generative AI image enhancement software to denoise, deblur, generate more details, and upscale images. With its latest V3.0 update, Aiarty Image Enhancer introduces 2 new AI models and an AI Face Restoration, which recovers photorealistic facial details, making every shot usable.

3.2 Update content include 
  • Enhanced Nvidia TRT speed for faster processing.
  • Optimized Intel CPU Performance: Boosted stability and speed during inference.
  • Enhanced Detail Generation: Improved 4K, 8K, and 32K super-resolution quality.
  • Bug Fixes: Resolved occasional face restoration model loading failures.
  • Bug Fixes: Addressed the issue of face restoration prompts during single exports.
  • Default Setting Update: Max tile size set to 76, changing from Auto.

Aiarty Image Enhancer New Year Special Offer Benefits

Before we dive into the details, it’s important to highlight that Aiarty is currently offering an unbeatable New Year deal! For just $99, you can secure lifetime access for 3 PCs or 3 Macs, a 36% discount off the regular price. This one-time purchase grants you free lifetime usage and free updates—no recurring fees! Plus, enjoy the security of our 30-day money-back guarantee. And that’s not all! If you act now, you’ll also receive two incredible bonus gifts:

  • Aiarty Image Matting 1-Year License (AI-powered precise background removal and image blending)
  • VideoProc Converter (Convert between MKV, MTS, MOV, AVI, MP4, and more. Transcode H.264 and HEVC. Plus, download, compress, record, and quickly edit videos).

This is your chance to take your image and video to the next level – don’t miss out on this game-changing offer!

Aiarty Image Enhancer 3.0: A Leap Forward with Game-Changing Features

1) Two New AI Models for Enhanced Image Detail and Clarity

Aiarty 3.0 introduces More-Detail GAN v3 and AIGCsmooth v3, two powerful AI models designed to significantly improve image detail and quality.

  • More-Detail GAN v3: This enhanced version of “More-Detail GAN v2” brings improved texture stability and more precise detail generation. With this update, Aiarty can now produce images that are smoother, clearer, and more refined, offering you a more realistic and polished final product. The model excels at maintaining consistency across textures, making it perfect for professional-grade images.

  • AIGCsmooth v3: Specifically built to support AI-generated images, this new model focuses on enhancing image clarity and producing smoother, high-quality visuals. It ensures that AI-generated content looks more natural, with fewer visible artifacts, and enhances overall image quality, whether you’re working with original photos or AI-created artwork.

2) New AI Face Restoration Feature

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 introduces a powerful new AI Face Restoration feature that elevates facial details with exceptional precision and natural realism. By leveraging advanced algorithms, it addresses common image flaws such as skin blemishes, inconsistent focus, and missing features like eyebrows or teeth, all while maintaining the face’s natural appearance. The inclusion of Gradient Overlay and Routine Overlay ensures that key facial elements are enhanced with exceptional accuracy, producing a smooth, lifelike result. Whether enhancing low-resolution images, AI-generated faces, or group portraits, Aiarty’s Face Restoration delivers sharper, clearer, and more vibrant images, transforming your photos into professional-quality visuals with a realistic, fresh touch.

3) Flexible DPI Output Settings

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 now offers a range of customizable DPI output options, including 72DPI, 96DPI, 150DPI, 200DPI, 300DPI, 500DPI, and 1000DPI, giving users the flexibility to adjust image resolution according to their printing needs. This feature is especially useful for photographers and designers who need to convert digital images into high-quality prints for exhibitions, sales, or marketing materials. With these DPI settings, Aiarty makes it easier than ever to ensure your images meet the specific requirements for professional-quality prints.

Discover More of Aiarty Image Enhancer

Aiarty Image Enhancer is a state-of-the-art generative AI software that harnesses the power of advanced AI technology to denoise, deblur, upscale, and add intricate details to images, resulting in exceptional clarity and resolution. Capable of upscaling images up to an impressive 16K/32K, Aiarty effortlessly enhances AI-generated visuals, restores damaged photos, and improves low-quality JPEGs with just a few clicks. In addition to its newly introduced features, here are some standout capabilities that make Aiarty Image Enhancer truly unique:

  • AI Image Denoise: Utilizes advanced deep learning to detect and remove noise, improving image clarity under conditions like low light, high ISO, and compression artifacts.
  • AI Image Deblur: Corrects blurry, pixelated, or out-of-focus images, effortlessly transforming them into high-resolution, sharp visuals.
  • Details Generation: Enhances details in elements such as skin, hair, textures, and lines, while preserving the original integrity of the image, adding realism and depth.
  • AI Upscaling: Upscales images up to 32K without loss of quality or artifacts. It includes pre-set upscaling profiles like x1, x2, x4, x8, 1K, 2K, 4K, and 8K for easy use.
  • Hardware Acceleration: Works seamlessly with both GPU and CPU, ensuring fast and efficient performance across different systems.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with real-time previews, making it accessible for both professionals and casual users.
  • Batch Processing: Supports processing up to 3,000 images at once, saving time on large image collections.
  • Offline Processing: Allows secure image processing without an internet connection, offering enhanced privacy and reliability.
  • Format Support: Compatible with a wide variety of image formats, making it adaptable for multiple use cases.

Conclusion

Aiarty Image Enhancer V3.0 delivers game-changing upgrades, from cutting-edge AI models to advanced face restoration and customizable DPI settings, making image enhancement smoother and more precise than ever. With these powerful features, you’ll create stunning, high-resolution images in no time. Plus, with Aiarty’s unbeatable New Year Special Offer, you can get lifetime access for just $99 (a 36% discount) and score two amazing bonus gifts. Don’t let this limited-time opportunity pass you by—elevate your image quality now with Aiarty!