Venus Optics announced the Flexible Macro Twin Flash KX-800: the world’s most powerful macro twin flash with flexible arms

Venus-Optics-Flexible-Macro-Twin-Flash-KX-800-Nikon-DSLR-camera
Venus-Optics-Flexible-Macro-Twin-Flash-KX-800 Venus-Flexible-Macro-Twin-Flash-KX-80
Update: a review of the Venus Optics KX-800 Macro Twin Flash can be found here.

Venus Optics, the company that launched the 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro lens few months ago (see review), announced a new Flexible Macro Twin Flash KX-800 - the world's most powerful macro twin flash with flexible arms priced at $299:

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Posted in Venus Optics | 7 Comments

DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter announced

DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter
DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter 2

DJI announced a new Phantom 3 quadcopter. Two different versions are available: with 4k video camera ($1,259) and with 1080p video camera ($999).

Here are the detailed technical specifications:

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Samyang/Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 and ED UMC MACRO lens sample images

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A new set of sample images taken with the recently announced Samyang/Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 and ED UMC MACRO lens ($549) was published online at this Korean website:

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Posted in Samyang | Tagged | 5 Comments

Canon XC10 4K camera with 1″ sensor and EOS C300 Mark II cinema camera announced

Canon-XC10-4K-camera
The previously leaked/rumored compact Canon 4k camera with 1" sensor is now officially announced:

Canon XC10


  • 1" CMOS Sensor and DIGIC DV 4 processor
  • UltraHD 4K at 29.97/25/23.98p
  • H.264 recording in MFX wrapper
  • Up to 305 Mbps 4K / 50 Mbps HD recording
  • SDHC/SDXC and CFast card slots
  • HDMI output - supports 4K monitoring
  • 10x zoom / 8.9 to 89mm focal length
  • f/2.8 to 5.6 aperture range
  • 100 to 20,000 ISO range
  • Ergonomic tilting hand grip
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Shipping starts in June 2015
  • Press release
  • Price: $2,499 (available for pre-order)

Canon also announced a new C300 cinema camera: Read More »

Posted in Canon | 27 Comments

Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 lens officially announced

Lensbaby-Velvet-56mm-f1.6-Lens
The Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 lens is now officially announced. Additional details and sample images are available on NikonRumors.

The new Lensbaby versions are now available for pre-order at B&H and Adorama.

SLRLounge published the first review of the 56mm Velvet:

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Posted in Lensbaby | Tagged | 5 Comments

Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 lens specifications

Lensbaby 55mm f:1.6 lens for Nikon and Canon cameras 2 Lensbaby 55mm f:1.6 lens for Nikon and Canon cameras
Lensbaby 55mm f:1.6 lens for Nikon and Canon cameras 3
Some additional details on the new Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 lens that will be announced tomorrow:

  • Aperture: f/1.6-16
  • 1:2 Macro
  • 56mm focal length
  • 62mm filter
  • Focusing range: 5” from front element to infinity
  • Weight: 400 grams
  • Price: $499.95, $599.95 for Velvet SE
  • Available in Canon, Nikon, Sony A and Pentax mounts (shipping starts on April 13th, 2015)
  • Mirrorless mounts including Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, Samsung NX and Fuji X will be available in early May 2015
Posted in Lensbaby | Tagged | 8 Comments

What else is new?

Samsung-NX300
→ Amazon's special deal of the day: over 5o% off the Samsung NX300 mirrorless camera.

Sony-A7-top
→ Refurbished Sony a7 cameras are now selling for $879.99.

Phase-One-iXU-180-drone-camera-80MP-CCD-sensor
Phase One announced new iXU 180 drone camera with a 80MP CCD sensor. The price is $60k.

Camera-sales-data-February-2015
→ The latest camera sales/shipment data from February 2015.

GoPro patent
New patent hints at even smaller GoPro camera.

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Posted in Fuji, Olympus, Samsung, Sony | Tagged | 7 Comments

Samsung NX3300 mirrorless camera now officially available?

Samsung-NX3300-mirrorless-camera
Samsung is not really a very secretive company - their products usually leak online months in advance. I sometimes even lose track if a certain camera is already announced or not. This is the case with the Samsung NX3300 - various pictures have been leaking online for months. The camera is now even listed on the official Samsung website, but I do not remember seeing an official announcement (the user manual can be downloaded here).

The NX3300 camera is already available for sale on newegg.com:

Samsung-NX3300-camera-for-sale
Here are all the details of the Samsung NX3300:

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Posted in Samsung | Tagged | 3 Comments