Canon’s patent 2012123156 adds image stabilization to the 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. Canon has filed 24-70mm f/2.8 lens patents in the past, but this is the first time they added IS to the lens design. Canon recently announced the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II lens, so another update is not likely to come out soon.
Chipworks recently took apart a Canon Rebel T4i camera and found phase detection sensors mixed among the pixels. This technology is used in the Fuji F300EXR and Nikon 1 cameras and it will probably be present in the upcoming Canon mirrorless camera.
Read more at PhotographyBay, Image Sensors World and Chipworks.
The Fuji Guys posted on Twitter the detailed specs of the upcoming two lenses for the X-Pro 1 mirrorless camera (click on image for larger view):
Ricoh filed a patent 2012128045 for 14mm f/2.5 and 19mm f/2.5 lenses (28mm and 35mm equivalent). The interesting part is that the 19mm lens is designed for an APS-C camera (the 14mm lens is for a 4/3inch sensor). It is not clear from the patent if those lenses are designed for the GXR system or for a future GR model that will come with an APS-C sensor (currently the Ricoh GR Digital IV has a 1/1.7″ CCD sensor). Rico already offers 28mm f/2.5 and 50mm f/2.5 GXR units.
A new Olympus patent 2012123340 was filed in Japan for a collapsible 25mm f/2.8 macro lens:
Update: the price of the EX2 model in the US is $499.
Today Samsung announced the the previously leaked EX2F compact camera. The specs at a glance:
Sony Japan listed the SAL 300mm f/2.8G lens ($6,998.00) as discontinued. This lens was announced in June, 2006 and Sony recently raised its price by $700. With the announcement of the 500mm f/4 lens (SAL500F40G), it will be interesting to see if Sony will refresh also the 300mm f/2.8.
Canon filed a patent 2012123155 for a 35mm f/1.4 lens:
