Canon patents new 300mm f/4 lens

By PR admin | Published: February 14, 2011

Canon filed a patent in Japan for a new 300mm f/4 lens:

For comparison, here is the current Canon EF300mm F4L IS USM design (1997):

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Posted in Canon| Tagged | 16 Comments

New compact camera design from Olympus

By PR admin | Published: February 14, 2011

Olympus registered a new compact camera design with the European Trade Marks and Designs office. The new point and shoot camera is similar to the Olympus SZ-10 model that was announced a week ago:

For comparison here is the Olympus SZ-10 design:

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RED “just warmed up the engine”, big surprise at NAB 2011

By PR admin | Published: February 14, 2011

The CEO and founder of RED Jim Jannard promised a “big surprise” at NAB 2011 (April 9-14). RED have “just warmed up the engine” and have big plans for the future:

In the beginning, some said that RED was a scam. Now some say that RED is a one trick wonder. I have said that “the 1st is the worst”.

So which is it? Is RED likely to last?

I guess this post is to say that we have more in development than we know what to do with. Our sensor program (the heart of a camera company) is way beyond my wildest expectations. We have stuff in the works that would scare you. I am shocked. Every day I wake up, the realities of what we dreamed are becoming a reality… and more. It is pretty surreal. EPIC (a nuclear reactor in a matchbox) is just the beginning. Hard to believe… but true.

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Posted in Red| 27 Comments

The 2011 CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show is now over

By PR admin | Published: February 13, 2011

Yesterday was the last day of the 2011 CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging show. A total of 49,368 people visited the show. Here is a recap of the main headlines from the show:

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Posted in Other| 7 Comments

Samsung NX lens lineup

By PR admin | Published: February 12, 2011

Several unreleased Samsung NX lenses appeared on a Korean forum (original source: clubnx.co.kr):

Picture above: 50-200mm, 18-200mm , 85mm f/1.4, 60mm Macro, 16mm Pancake, 20mm Pancake Silver, 20-50mm Silver (from the left, all i-Function lenses)

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Posted in Samsung| Tagged | 6 Comments

Something exciting is coming from Fuji in Fall of 2011 (Fuji S6?)

By PR admin | Published: February 11, 2011

The FujiGuys just posted this cryptic tweet about something exciting coming from Fuji in Fall ’11. Fuji S6 maybe? I’m all ears!

Posted in Fuji| Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Fuji X100 first impressions from the CP+ show floor

By PR admin | Published: February 11, 2011
Fuji X100 Rear View

credit: farwesttexasphotog (flickr)

A reader send me his first hands-on impressions with the Fuji X100 camera from the CP+show. He was not allowed to take any sample images:

  1. Three shutter sounds are programed in. They all sound HORRIBLE. Nothing like the satisfying “click” one would expect from a retro-classic camera.
  2. No front filter threads as far as I can see. Not sure what the deal is with that unless they have a non-standard mount. ND filter is built in.
  3. Focus ring rotation can be set to adjust clockwise or counter-clockwise. That’s neat.
  4. Eye point detection sensors are problematic. Moving my hand over the rear LCD activated the EVF and shut down the LCD. Placement of the eye sensors seems wrong.
  5. Menu system level 1 is a two-way tree “Camera” and “Set”. Cascades down from there. Seems like an ok user interface.
  6. I think I’d prefer a $1200 camera to feel a bit heavier. It feels too light a.k.a. cheap to me. I jokingly suggested they stick some lead weights in it… an underling scribbled some notes (!).
  7. No seals on the battery/SD card compartment or interface door. I’d expect a rubber ring as a minimum at this price point.
  8. The focus mode slide switch on the left side seems to be a weak point to me. If it’s not sealed I suspect also a point for water ingress. It’s the weakest control device on the unit IMHO.
  9. The top dials and on/off/shutter release all feel fine.
  10. The viewfinder is pretty good. It’s easy to switch from EVF to OVF.
Posted in Fuji| Tagged | 31 Comments

Voigtlander SL II Heliar Classic 1,8/75 and Nokton 1,2/35mm ASPH II lenses announced

By PR admin | Published: February 10, 2011

Voigtlander announced two new lenses today. The Voigtlander Nokton 1,2/35mm (Leica M-mount) was already reported here last week (the actual aperture is f/1.2 instead of the rumored f/1.1).

The second lens (pictured above) is a new Voigtländer SL II Heliar Classic 1,8/75mm version for Canon and Nikon:

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Posted in Voigtlander| 19 Comments

CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show Day 2 (Sony, Ricoh, Fuji)

By PR admin | Published: February 10, 2011

CP+ day two updates are coming from a PhotoRumors reader who was at the show in Yokohama, Japan:

“Show small compared to Photokina and PMA.  I think even PDN+ is bigger.  Nikon booth was a big yawn, as was Canon.  Lots of interest at the Fuji X100 stand (a 30+ minute line for hands-on look-see-touch-feel).  Sony stand was busy.  Sigma and Pentax too.”

The pictures include the upcoming Ricoh GXR with Leica-M module, various Sony NEX lenses and prototypes and the Fuji X100 camera:

Thanks B!

Posted in Fuji, Ricoh, Sony| Tagged | 2 Comments

No word on the 46MP Sigma SD1 camera

By PR admin | Published: February 9, 2011

Update: Sigma has posted some SD1 sample images on their website.

I was expecting to hear some updates on the Sigma SD1 during the CP+ show in Japan. The camera was initially scheduled to be released around February of 2011. I hope this will not turn into another almost 2 years delay like the SD15.

The Sigma SD will have a 46 MP(4,800×3,200×3 layers) 24×16mm APS-C X3 sensor and dual TRUE (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) II image processing engine. There were some rumors that Sigma is working on a full-frame version of that sensor. The SD1 will not have video, but they may consider it in future models.

Posted in Sigma| Tagged | 27 Comments