According to this Facebook comment from Fujifilm USA, the second firmware update for the X100 should be released next week:
A week ago Fujifilm Japan confirmed that they are working on a new firmware version that will address some of the firmware issues reported by owners.
Recently Nissin announced a new Di866 MARK II flash priced at $349 for Nikon/Canon and $329 for Sony. Some of the highlights are a sub flash, quieter operation, service terminal for firmware updates and more:
credit:Pentax Imaging Co.
I received some information that one year after its opening, the first Pentax store in the US is now closed as a result of Pentax dropping Willoughby’s as a dealer (the boutique was located inside Willoughby’s).
Nauticam announced a new underwater housing NA-EPL2 for Olympus E-PL2 camera. The housing has a depth rating of 100m, the price is $1750 and it will be available in July, 2011.
Update: it seems that Kelvinkamera is in even deeper troubles since (elegantly) is using photographs on their website without permission. The owner of the photograph happened to be a PhotoRumors reader.
A week ago Kelvinkamera announced their own line of Zeiss babyPrime lenses. Those are regular Zeiss lenses with a custom made housing for aperture and focusing control:
It seems that Carl Zeiss AG is not very happy with this development and released this statement few days ago:
Here are some sample images taken with Panasonic GF2 and the upcoming SLR Magic Noktor 12mm f/1.6 lens for Micro Four Thirds (prototype lens, click on photo for larger view):
Sony filed a patent (2011-107450) in Japan for a 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.2 lenses:
Sony 50mm f/1.4 lens patent
Sony 50mm f/1.2 lens patent
Phottix published this update on the delay of their Odin TTL trigger:
Team Phottix is getting a lot of email about the Phottix Odin TTL trigger for Canon.
Yes, we admit the dates we have mentioned have come and gone with the product not being released. For that we are sorry. Building a TTL control and triggering system from scratch is not an easy task (understatement).
The Odin is being tested by several professional photographers. Phottix is tweaking the hardware and software based on their feedback. We will not release and ship a product that is “buggy.” We’re not interested in making the photographers of the world our beta testers. We don’t want hundreds of firmware updates – we want to release the best product possible the first time.
During the European press introduction of the GF3, Panasonic confirmed the release of two new Micro Four Thirds lenses for 2011. No specific details were given, but both lenses are expected to be released this fall. Based on previous leaks, the two new lenses should be a bright zoom lens and a bright wide angle lens.
In an interview with Photoradar, Panasonic’s Director of DSC Business unit Ichiro Kitao confirmed their plans to split the Lumix GF line into consumer and professional cameras. Lately Panasonic was criticized that their new models had less functionality/controls than their predecessors. In the case of the GF3, a new GF model aimed at experienced photographers will be released in the future (no exact date was given).
Kitao also confirmed that Panasonic will concentrate next on bringing out a successor to the GH2 and their main challenge is improving the EVF.
