This is the new SLR Magic Noktor Hyperprime 50mm f/0.95 lens

By PR admin | Published: July 6, 2011

This is a production version of the SLR Magic Noktor Hyperprime 50mm f/0.95 lens:

It seems that SLR Magic kept the yellow/green ring on the front of the lens:

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Posted in Noktor, SLR Magic| 16 Comments

Sigma lenses have a new finish

By PR admin | Published: July 6, 2011

I received this report from reader (thanks M.) regarding a new surface finish on all new Sigma lenses:

After having introduced new lenses in 2010, Sigma also uses a new surface for their lenses. To date Sigma was known for their velvet and furry surface, but looking at the 85mm 1.4 and 70-200mm 2.8 OS for example you can see the new matte and smooth finish. After having dealt with this topic for a while I found some reports from people who recently bought some Sigma lenses new that where introduced several years ago – for example the 30mm 1.4, the 50mm 1.4 and the 10-20mm 4.0-5.6 – that also have the new matte and smooth finish. In some photo and electronic shops in Germany you can take a look at different versions of the Sigma 30mm 1.4 standing side by side inside the showcase. One with the old velvet and furry surface, one with the new matte and smooth finish. It seems that Sigma is changing their complete production regarding the finish.

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Posted in Sigma| 12 Comments

Canon is considering releasing a small mirrorless camera next year

By PR admin | Published: July 5, 2011

In an interview with Reuters, Masaya Maeda (head of Canon’s camera division) said that they are exploring the possibility of launching a compact mirrorless camera with the features and capabilities of a upmarket DSLR camera:

“We are considering the technical aspects. We will launch an interesting product next year”

In the past Canon has viciously denied the need of a mirrorless system in their current lineup.

Posted in Canon| Tagged , | 18 Comments

Win a Digital Holga Kitchen Sink Kit

By PR admin | Published: July 5, 2011

The giveaway is now closed. The winner will be announced shortly.

HolgaDirect are celebrating the recent release of Holga lenses for a range of new mounts such as those for Pentax, Olympus PEN and Lumix G cameras (see press release).

 

What can I win?

 

In this giveaway you can win a Digital Holga Kitchen Sink Kit from HolgaDirect (valued at USD 108.99). The kit contains a Holga lens for a Digital Camera plus a Wide Lens, Telephoto Lens, Close-up Lens Set, Macro Lens Set and the new Holga Fisheye for Digital. The winner can choose any of the following mounts : Nikon SLR, Canon SLR, Olympus SLR, Pentax SLR, Sony SLR, Olympus PEN, Panasonic Lumix G, Sony NEX, Samsung NX. Note that if the winner chooses a non-SLR mount (eg, Olympus PEN) then we will send the prize in two parts as the new Fisheye (FEL-HLW) for the smaller formats has not yet been released.

How do I win?

The rules are simple: leave a comment to this blog post. This giveaway will be closed in one week.

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Posted in Holga| Tagged | Comments closed

Fujifilm Finepix X100 limited edition box is out but is it real?

By PR admin | Published: July 5, 2011

Some European stores were/are selling a Fujifilm Finepix X100 limited edition box. You can see more images of the set here and here. Brandon Remler, who works for Fujifilm USA, wrote on his blog that this limited edition set is not “anything from Fujifilm“:

“Of course there is no limited edition camera set. Someone made a nice box and put the camera, case and flash in it themselves. That is smart and perhaps a good business judging by the interest in Denmark and beyond – but it’s not a new camera or anything from Fujifilm.”

What is even more interesting is the Certificate of Authenticity (see it here and here) that comes with the box and is signed by the X100 product planner and designer.

Here are two more images of the box:

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Posted in Fuji| Tagged | 14 Comments

Fujifilm may re-enter the interchangeable lens camera market, aims to become #3

By PR admin | Published: July 4, 2011

In an interview with Reuters Fujifilm’s camera division head Takeshi Higuchi said that Fujifilm may re-enter the interchangeable lens camera market with a product that is fully developed in-house (mirrorless camera and lenses). I already started receiving tips about a possible mirrorless interchangeable lens camera from Fuji.

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Posted in Fuji| Tagged , | 32 Comments

Quick weekend links

By PR admin | Published: July 3, 2011

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Posted in Apple, Fuji, Zeiss| 2 Comments

Open letter from Hoya to valued Pentax customers and partners

By PR admin | Published: July 1, 2011

This just in:

July 1, 2011

Dear Valued PENTAX Customers and Partners,

We would like to hereby inform you that we, HOYA Corporation, have made an agreement regarding the business transfer of our PENTAX Imaging System Business to RICOH Corporation today, July 1, 2011.

The effective date of the business transfer is set for October 1, 2011. The business areas to be transferred as PENTAX Imaging System Business are digital cameras, interchangeable lenses, digital camera accessories, binoculars and security-related products, including R&D, design, manufacturing and sales for those product categories.

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Posted in Hoya, Pentax, Ricoh| 12 Comments

2011 Pentax roadmap reveals no second camera but I am still a believer

By PR admin | Published: July 1, 2011

This 2001 Pentax roadmap confirms that the Pentax Q and the Pentax NC-1 are just different names for the same camera. Except the two new P&S cameras, there are no other announcements scheduled till the end of the year, but keep in mind that this roadmap is labeled “Compact Product Timeline 2011”.

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Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 10 Comments

Ricoh just bought Pentax for $124.2 million!

By PR admin | Published: July 1, 2011

“Japanese optical glass-maker Hoya said on Friday it would sell its Pentax camera business to copier and printer maker Ricoh , in a deal the Nikkei business daily said was worth about 10 billion yen ($124.2 million).”

Read the details on Reuters and also the notice of sale on Hoya’s website.

Hoya executives said publicly in the past that they would like to sell Pentax on several occasions.

Update – I just received the official press release:

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Posted in Pentax, Ricoh| 29 Comments