Updated – this is a 100% hoax since the camera will be “shipped” a week form Friday – on April 1st…
This video describes “The Invisible Camera” which is a see-through plastic box with a pinhole that can completely isolate the film from the ambient light and take a correct exposure. What do you think, it this real or a hoax?
Online store listings of unannounced products are usually not very reliable indicator of what’s coming next. Here is a Norwegian online retailer that listed the Canon 7D Mark II camera with a release date of April 20, 2011. The price is
17486 NOK (3140.30 USD). The product number 3814B031 seems to be for the existing Canon EOS 7D + 15-85mm lens combo.
Maybe another April 1st joke?
The first RED Epic-M camera was shipped back in December of 2010 and got stolen a week later. Here is a closer look of the $58,000 monster (this one has a serial# 98, in case it gets stolen again):
Via Engadget
A reader sent me a tip that the Zeiss 85mm f/2.0 T* ZM Sonnar lens is no longer listed on zeiss.com website:
The Fujiguys got the first X100 with serial# 00001
Fujiguys tweeted today that the first Fuji X100 shipment has landed in the US, Canada and Australia:
The timing makes sense because B&H started taking X100 pre-orders three days ago and they usually don’t release an item for sale unless there is a shipment on the way. B&H is currently sold out and are no longer taking pre-orders. Amazon is still taking pre-orders.
AP published a statement from Rainer Fuehres (head of Canon Consumer Imaging in Europe) that Canon doesn’t really need a new mirrorless compact system camera since their current products are selling very well. He went further by saying that if Canon creates a new system camera, it will be something different:
“The idea of the compact system camera is nothing to do with whether the camera has a mirror or not, but about creating a small and more portable system. If Canon does take part I hope we won’t introduce just a me-too product, but we’ll use the opportunity to do something different.”
Nikon executive made a similar statement last year. It seems that Nikon and Canon are taking their time and are planning to bring something different to the growing mirrorless market.
A week after the disaster in Japan, the situation does not look very good. Companies continue to issue warnings about halted production and damaged plants. Fortunately there has not been any life loss reported from the major photo equipment manufacturers. Those are the latest updates:
B&H sent out the following email today to all Fujifilm FinePix X100 pre-orders:
B&H received the following note regarding availability of the Fujifilm FinePix X100 today from Fujifilm USA. We regret any inconvenience this may cause. We are mindful, though, of Japan’s human tragedy, which is ongoing and will remain so for some time. Lives are lost and families are homeless on a scale which seems, from news reports, as great or greater than any natural disaster in memory.
FUJIFILM FinePix X100 Statement
March 16, 2011. Due to the March 11th earthquake that affected northeast Japan, the factory responsible for production of the new Fujifilm FinePix X100 digital camera has been temporarily shut down due to safety concerns. FUJIFILM is currently assessing the factory conditions as well as accessibility via domestic logistics and working to determine the potential impact on the X100 market availability and initially scheduled release dates. FUJIFILM is making every effort to quickly gather the information needed to provide an accurate update to our retail partners and consumers. FUJIFILM appreciates your patience and will provide a formal update as soon as possible.
The information I received few days ago is that Sony will be releasing a new NEX 7 camera. Sony Japan already discontinued the NEX 3 model and NEX 7 is the next logical step. The new Sony NEX 7 is expected to have improved functionality across the line, no further details were provided. This is how the camera was described to me:
“When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body.”
The source went further by saying that Sony currently is not working on a full frame NEX camera.
B&H just started taking pre-orders for the Fuji X100. Based on past behavior, this indicates that shipment is expected in the next 1-2 weeks. B&H also did not have a waiting list before, so if you order now there is a good chance you may get the camera by the end of the month.
Note also that after Fuji acknowledged delays in the X100 shipment, they also temporary halted the production of the X100 in Japan. This camera will be backordered for a very long time.
Lexar announced today that they started shipping the 64 GB and 128GB SDXC memory cards that were announced during CES 2011 in January. The 128GB version will cost $279.95 and the 64GB will costs $129.
Press release and a video from the Lexar production facility:
Update: Adorama also has the LC-X100 leather case available for pre-order.
The first news is that in adition to the FinePix X100, Adorama is now taking orders also for the LH-x100 lens hood and 49mm thread adapter (you can see a picture of it here):
Today FujiFilm UK posted a press release indicating that none of the workers in the Taiwa-Cho factory were injured. There were some structural damages to the building and as a result the production of the Fuji X100 has been temporary halted:
