After the big price drop I reported a week ago, the Samsung NX1 camera + lens kit is now listed as discontinued at B&H:
The price of the NX1 body only actually went up in price and is now selling for $1,199 - B&H probably has only few pieces left and they are convinced they can sell them. We never saw the fire sale some were expecting.
Sony released new firmware updates (version 3.10) for their a7 product line and a6000 cameras with support for their latest lenses, phase-detection autofocus and few other minor updates. Download links:
→ Sony patented a new way to attach a better camera to a smartphone (maybe something similar to the current XQ1).
→ Canon has a patent for a 28mm f/1.4 lens.
→ Canon filed for a patent for in-camera image stabilizations.
→ Another one from Canon: moving sensor to improve contrast AF. More info available here.
→ There is also a curved sensor patent. Update: the sensor is actually flat, but the lens produces a spherical image plane. This spherical image plan is flattened out using a curved fiber bundle (image a bunch of fiber optics smashed together). It has the same purpose as a curved sensor, but the actual sensor is flat.
Canon is rumored to announce three new mirrorless cameras this year:
The official announcement is expected around September for the 2016 Photokina show.
Via CanonRumors
There are no new updates on the Konost full frame digital rangefinder camera project (konost.com), except the different color renderings that were recently posted on social media. The Konost team promised that real sample photos from their camera will be released soon:
Several readers emailed me with questions about the new regulations for carrying lithium ion batteries on airplanes. Here is a good recap on this topic:
1. Lithium ion batteries carried by passengers in their personal electronic devices, whether in their carry-on or checked baggage, are not affected by this new restriction.2. Passengers must not pack spare lithium ion batteries in checked baggage. Spares must be packed incarry-on baggage or carried on the person.
3. Lithium ion batteries may no longer be packed in baggage shipped independently as cargo.4. Lithium ion batteries in mishandled baggage, or excess passenger baggage shipped as cargo, are permitted so long as they also satisfy the requirements of points 1 and 2 above.
5. Passengers should verify local government and airline regulations which are set out in order to ensure full compliance with all applicable requirements specific to their voyage.6. The new prohibition is not voluntary and must be adhered to by all 191 State parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
More information on this topic:
The previously rumored entry level DSLR camera is now officially announced - the new Canon EOS Rebel T6 is a minor update to the previous T5 model - it has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, new Digic 4+ processor and better LCD screen. The US price is $549 or $749 for a two lens kit. The rest of the technical specifications are:
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