Pentax announces the K-5 Silver and Optio WG-1 cameras, D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens

By PR admin | Published: February 7, 2011

The previously rumored Pentax K-5 Silver, 645 25mm f/4 lens and Optio WG-1 got released today. The only still missing camera is the Pentax RZ-18 Optio.

Full press releases after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 2 Comments

Komamura joins the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group

By PR admin | Published: February 7, 2011

Komamura Corporation also announced today that they are joining the  Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group. Komamura was founded in 1947 and was the original designer of the Horseman professional camera system (see corporate profile). Their current product line can be seen here. Komamura also imports photo equipment from Europe and the USA and are the exclusive distributor in Japan for the following brands:

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Komamura| 3 Comments

Carl Zeiss also joins the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group

By PR admin | Published: February 7, 2011

Just 3 days after Schneider-Kreuznach, Carl Zeiss also announced that they are joining the Micro Four Thirds system standard group. Back in September of 2009 Zeiss announced a Micro 4/3 versions of their Compact Prime CP.2 lenses.

Maybe after all, the m4/3 standard will survive even without the backing of the heavyweight category (Nikon & Canon). What do you think?

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Zeiss| 13 Comments

Canon announces EOS Rebel T3i, T3, EF 500mm + 600mm f/4L IS II USM and more

By PR admin | Published: February 7, 2011

canon-EOS-Rebel-T3

Canon is the first to start a series of announcements before the CP+ show starts next week:

Posted in Canon| 2 Comments

Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens price revealed

By PR admin | Published: February 6, 2011

The price of the Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens will be $4999.95 according to an online store product listing. The lens is expected to be released next week  for the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show in Japan (February 9-12, 2011) together with the Pentax RZ-18 Optio and probably few other Pentax compact cameras. At least one of the new P&S cameras will be waterproof and will have a built-in GPS.

Posted in Pentax| 4 Comments

Two new Voigtlander lenses (35mm f/1.1 and 50mm f/1.4)

By PR admin | Published: February 5, 2011

Recently Voigtlander discontinued their Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens and the rumor is that a new 35mm f/1.1 version will be added to their current Color-Skopar f/2.5 PII and the Nokton Classic f/1.4 models. A second 50mm f/1.4 lens is also in development to compliment the Nokton f/1.1

Posted in Voigtlander| 8 Comments

Results for your favorite camera of 2010

By PR admin | Published: February 5, 2011

2010 camera of the year

It has been a month since I posted the poll for your favorite camera of 2010. Almost 3000 readers voted and here are the top 3 cameras for 2010:

Read More »

Posted in Fuji, Pentax, Red, Sony| Tagged , | 11 Comments

Pentax patents telephoto lens that can be taken apart for easy transportation

By PR admin | Published: February 4, 2011

Update: Nikon has done something similar in the past.

Pentax filed a patent for a telephoto lens that can be disassembled into two or more pieces for easy transportation:

“Since lens barrel length is long and the whole weight of the lens barrel of super telephoto lenses is large, if it really which cannot separate such a lens barrel manufactures as a thing, carrying at the time of un-taking a photograph will become inconvenient. Then, after dividing a lens barrel with such a long overall length into two or more removable cylinder members, The moving mechanism for moving a moving lens group (focus lens group) and a moving lens group to the cylinder member by the side of front, If the focus ring for operating this moving mechanism is provided and the cylinder member on the backside is used as what is called an extension tube (cylinder member which does not build in a taking lens), carrying of the lens barrel at the time of un-taking a photograph will become easy.

Read More »

Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 8 Comments

Schneider-Kreuznach joins Micro Four Thirds group

By PR admin | Published: February 4, 2011

Schneider-Kreuznach, a produced of photographic lenses and other optical products announced today that they have joined the Micro Four Thirds system standard group. The CEO of the company mentioned that they are already “working intensively on a corresponding series of lenses” for the m4/3 format.

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Schneider Kreuznach| 8 Comments

Financial results from the major photography companies are out

By PR admin | Published: February 4, 2011

Hoya (Pentax):

“Net sales were up 1.5% to 108,449 million yen year-on-year, and operating income rose 4.7% to19,897 million yen. Net income was up 12.0% to 13,210 million yen, and earnings per share were 30.62 yen compared with27.24 yen in the same period last year.

The profit of the camera business also exceeded our expectations this quarter due to the channel consolidation and focused promotion of new SLR cameras; K-5 and K-r.”

Samsung:

“Samsung’s Digital Media businesses, which encompass Visual Display, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging, posted quarterly revenues of 15.97 trillion won for the October to December period, up 3 percent year-on-year. The businesses registered a loss of 0.17 trillion won despite improved performance in TV and IT products. For the full year 2010, the Digital Media businesses’ combined revenue totaled 57.26 trillion, up 12 percent from 2009, with an operating profit of 0.49 trillion won.”

Read More »

Posted in Fuji, Leica, Pentax, Samsung, Sony| 3 Comments