Sony NEX lens (E-mount) roadmap
In addition to the already existing E-mount lenses, Sony is planning to release 7 more for their mirrorless NEX system by the end of 2012:
Click on the above image for larger view of each of the lenses listed.
Hoya announced their results for the financial year ending on March 31, 2011
“Revenues from continuing operations grew 2.7% over the previous fiscal year, to 413,349 million yen and profit before tax was up 26.2% to 63,758 million yen, mainly due to an increase in orders with the recovery in the market.”
“Optics business did well this year despite temporary shutdown of the production lines due to rolling blackout after the Tohoku Great Earthquakes in March and thanks to an increasing demand for digital cameras. There are still some impacts of the disaster on our company, but except digital camera business that has difficulties in procurement of parts, our business will return toward normal by the end of May.” (according to Hoya CEO Hiroshi Suzuki)
1. The first patent (2011-064919, permalink not possible to Japanese patent database) is from Sony for the upcoming 30mm f/2.8 NEX lens:
Here are some excerpts from the patent: “In an imaging lens system which consists of a lens system of 4 group… It is a macro lens inner focus type”.
2. Sigma filed a patent in Japan (2011-059293) for what appears to be a 18-48mm lens for NEX cameras:
Back in February Sigma announced that they will start producing E-mount lenses and showed a prototype of a 30mm f/2.8 lens for NEX cameras.
Nauticam announced a new underwater housing NA-XZ1 for Olympus XZ-1. The housing is rated up to 100 meters and it will cost $950. Expected shipping date is May 16th, 2011.
More images and full press release:
Noktor’s website went back online today, few days after the news that Noktor is closign down their business. On their Twitter account they mentioned something about “SLR Magic x Noktor”:
I was busy with my Fuji X100 vs. Leica X1 review today and still have some catching up to do: in an interview today, Panasonic UK confirmed that they are working on a new, Leica branded, 25mm f/1.4 lens for Micro Four Thirds:
“Q: And there’s a new lens to go with the G3 isn’t there?
A: Yes, here’s the first working sample of the 25mm f/1.4; really eagerly anticipated and not planned for launch until the second half of this year. It will be Leica approved and branded.”
In addition to the Lumix G3 camera, Panasonic also announced another point and shoot model and a new 14MP MOS sensor for compact cameras (1/2.33 in.). The new MOS image sensor has the following features:
Panasonic announced the Lumix G3 camera today. The highlights of the new model are:
Check the latest prices on the Panasonic G3:
Image samples from the Panasonic G3 are available here and here. Full press release and some videos about the Panasonic G3 after the break:
This appears to be the first image of the Panasonic Lumix G3 camera.
Here are some additional specs:
As I mentioned already back in April, the Panasonic Lumix G3 (DMC-G3) camera will be announced tomorrow, May 12th. The G10 was already discontinued back in January of 2011 and a new replacement was expected since. The new G3 is supposed to have a brand new sensor. More info in few hours.
The new Sony 30mm f/3.5 Macro lens for E mount leaked a week ago in a recent Sony Canada price list. Here is the first image of this lens that should be announced in the next few weeks probably together with the NEX C3 and a35 camera:
I just came across this startup company called Lytro that is trying to remove “the physical constraints of camera and lens systems” by using computational photography processes:
“A Lytro camera can do things that have been considered impossible since the invention of photography. The ability to focus a picture after you take the shot is one striking example, and only the tip of the iceberg. Computational cameras will make photography dramatically simpler, higher performance, and much more fun.”
You can play with the provided simulation to get an idea of what they are trying to achieve.
