Sony’s next DSLR will shoot video

By PR admin | Published: May 11, 2010

This is according to Paul Genge, Sony UK’s product manager for DSLRs in an interview with AP.

Posted in Sony| 4 Comments

Sony NEX 3, NEX 5 cameras official plus a surprise

By PR admin | Published: May 11, 2010

Video of the Sony NEX press conference in Europe:

The promo video:

The surprise: In addition to the NEX 3 and NEX 5 Sony gave us another bone today – interchangeable lens HD camcorder with the same “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor from the NEX3 and NEX5:

You can see prototype pictures of the video cam here.

Sony NEX previews:

UK pricing:

  • Sony NEX-5 + 18-55mm = £550-600
  • Sony NEX-3 + 18-55mm = £450-500
  • 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom will be 500-600
  • 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens – £200-220
  • Adapter LA-EA1 for Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses will be around £150
  • Ultra Wide Converter (VCL-ECU1) and Fisheye converter (VCL-ECF1) will have a price tag around £100 each.

Official press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Sony| Tagged | 2 Comments

Here is the new Sony EVIL NEX 3 (freshly leaked)

By PR admin | Published: May 10, 2010

Full official specs:

Image Sensor: 14.2 million effective pixels.
Metering: Multi pattern, centre-weighted and spot.
Sensor Size: APS-C-sized CMOS (23.4×15.6mm).
Lens: Sony E Series mount.
Shutter Speed: 30 to 1/4000 second. Flash sync: 1/160 sec.
Continuous Shooting: seven fps.
Memory: Memory Stick PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo, SD, SDHC, SDXC cards.
Image Sizes (pixels): 4592×3056, 4592×2576, 3344×2224, 3344×1872, 2288×1520, 2288×1280.
Movies: 1280×720, 848×480, 640×480 at 30 fps.
Colour Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB.
LCD Screen: 7.5cm LCD (921,600 pixels).
File Formats: JPEG, RAW, JPEG+RAW, MPEG4.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 200 to 12,800.
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMNI, AV.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, DC input.
Dimensions: 117.2×62.6×33.4mm WHDmm.
Weight: 297 g (inc battery and card).
Price: Around AUD1000 for body and kit lens.

For more info, pictures and sample shots of the Sony NEX 3 go to Digital-Photography-School.

More pictures after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Sony| Tagged | 33 Comments

Sony α900 is now officially discontinued

By PR admin | Published: May 10, 2010

Sony α900 is listed as discontinued on Sony’s Hong Kong website:

Posted in Sony| Tagged | 4 Comments

Photo rumors from around the web

By PR admin | Published: May 10, 2010
  • New Samsung HZ50W ( model WB5500 in Europe) point and shoot camera is coming soon. The rumored specs are:
    • Samsung CMOS sensor
    • Sensor size: 1/2.33″
    • Resolution: 14.5MPx (4400×3300)
    • Pixel: 1.10um
    • Transfer rate: 15fps

Maybe the Samsung NX5 will be announced at the same time.

  • Rumored picture of Canon EOS 60D:

  • Nikon is quiet like never before 🙁
Posted in Canon, Leica, Olympus, Samsung, Sony| Tagged | 2 Comments

Future tech: Omni-Focus

By PR admin | Published: May 10, 2010

“University of Toronto, a world-leading research university, announces a breakthrough development in video camera design. The Omni-focus Video Camera, based on an entirely new distance-mapping principle, delivers automatic real-time focus of both near and far field images, simultaneously, in high resolution. This unprecedented capability can be broadly applied in industry, including manufacturing, medicine, defense, security — and for the consumer market.”

Read more about the Omni-Focus camera @ ScienceDaily. Here is a sample picture of two objects that were 1.2 meters apart and still in focus:

Posted in Future of Photo Equipment| Leave a comment

Carl Zeiss goes mobile

By PR admin | Published: May 10, 2010


I keep reading about the latest cell phone cameras news – Apple of course dominates the headlines (see next iPhone to Record 1280×720 HD Video & a new iPod touch with built-in camera), but then I noticed that the new Nokia N8 mobile phone will have a Zeiss lens for its 12 MP camera which Nokia claim to be “the biggest sensor in a mobile device” (source):

Posted in Apple, Future of Photo Equipment, Zeiss| 7 Comments

Samsung NX5 approved by the Korean Radio Research Agency

By PR admin | Published: May 9, 2010

The Korean Radio Research Agency has been a good source of information in the past since it has to approve electronic devices before they are officially released (see previous Samsunng NX10 and Olympus E-600 posts). Their latest entry is for the rumored Samsung NX5 camera:

Here are the expected Samsung NX5 specs I received few weeks ago (see previous NX5 rumors):

  • NX mount
  • 14MP CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100-3200
  • 3fps
  • Built-in flash (GN10)
  • 3″ 230K LCD display
  • Video HD720p/30fps (H.264)
  • Audio mono
  • HDMI/AV/MicroUSB connection
  • SD slot
  • Non-built in EVF, same NX10 battery, manual control
  • Prices:
    • NX5 + 30mm = $599
    • NX5 + 18-55mm non-OIS = $549
    • NX5 + 20-50mm non-OIS = $499 (late 2010)
Posted in Samsung| Tagged | Leave a comment

Ricoh P10 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VC lens for GXR released

By PR admin | Published: May 7, 2010

The rumor about this 28-300mm lens was posted here back in January. Today the lens was officially announced:

Detailed information, including MTF chart and samples can be found here.

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Ricoh| Tagged | 5 Comments

First Pentax 645D is out

By PR admin | Published: May 6, 2010

Akihabaranews (more pictures available) got one of the first first Pentax 645D units for testing. Expect detailed report from them in the next two weeks. Amazon Japan list the 645D to be available on May 30th, 2010.

Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 14 Comments

Sony NEX EVIL camera’s press event invitations are out

By PR admin | Published: May 6, 2010

Sony Hong Kong sent out an event invitation for what appears to be the official launch of the Sony NEX EVIL camera line. May 11th, 2010 was rumored few weeks ago as a potential announcement date:

“Worldwide attention debut

Anywhere beyond the imagination of the lightweight body experience quality SLR digital camera

Market, the highly anticipated Sony’s first interchangeable lens digital camera series, will be May 11, 2010 simultaneous global release, and the media are invited to bring a friend the first to feel the new series of excellent photography experience.

New series of lightweight slim design to meet the advanced shooting functions, fully meet the needs of photographers, anytime, anywhere to enjoy the fun of shooting; new series also brought the quality SLR digital cameras let you play to creativity.

In addition, the new camera series of product designers will be a special trip to attend the conference to share its unique design concept.

Friends are invited to experience the Sony media is full of unlimited creative digital imaging world. Welcome to your report / s on site to interview
Date ︰ 2010/5/11
Time ︰ 12:45”

Update: full Sony NEX EVIL camera specs:

Image Sensor – Exmor CMOS

  • 14.6 Mega Pixels (14.2M Effective Pixels)

Video

  • 1920*1080 30fps (NEX5)
  • 1280*720 30fps
  • 640*480 30fps

File format – (Still image)

  • RAW
  • RAW+JPEG
  • JPEG FINE
  • JPEG Normal

(Video)

  • MP4,AVCHD
  • Mount
  • Sony E Mount

AF

  • 11 Point

ISO

  • Auto, 100-12800

Photometry

  • 49-segment honeycomb-pattern / Central / Spot

Exposure

  • +- 2.0EV (1/3 EV Interval)

Shutter speed

  • 1/4000 to 30sec / Bulb

LCD

  • 0.92M 3.0 inch TFT LCD

Interface

  • USB 2.0 / HDMI / Video (PAL/NTSC)

Battery

  • NP-FW50

Color

  • Black, Silver, Red, Blue

Memory

  • SD/SDHC , Memory stick

Panorama

  • vertical (wide) 4912*1920 (Nor)3424*1920
  • Horizon (wide) 7152*1080 (nor)4912*1080

Via Unwire (in English)

Posted in Sony| Tagged | 5 Comments

Pentax EVIL camera maybe this year?

By PR admin | Published: May 6, 2010

AmateurPhotographer seems to think that Pentax is working on EVIL camera:

“Pentax engineers are continuing to pursue the possibility of launching a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, as the firm points to an ‘exciting’ few months ahead.”

From AP’s recent interview with Pentax UK product co-ordinator Stephen Sanderson:

“It’s quite clear that we don’t want to be seen as the same as everyone else. We would go down a different route. We are looking to grow. We want to grow. It’s going to be an exciting year. I think everybody will see a change in Pentax.”

Update: there was another interview with a Pentax executive few days ago. The key point:

  • Professional Pentax camera (higher than the K-7 model) will be released.
  • Refresh of current model(s) is expected this year (2010).
Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 7 Comments