Rumor: Apple to buy Sony?

By PR admin | Published: October 26, 2010

Steve Jobs hinted recently that Apple could make a very strategic acquisition:

“We strongly believe that one or more very strategic opportunities may come along, that we can take, that we’re in a unique position to take advantage of because of our strong cash position”

“We would like to continue to keep our powder dry, because we do feel that there are one or more strategic opportunities in the future.”

And the rumor is that this strategic opportunity could be Sony. As a result of that, Sony stock went up but it seems that today the dust is settling down and everything is getting back to normal.

Read more on this story at Macrumors and Crunchgear.

Posted in Apple, Sony| 38 Comments

New wide angle pinhole cap for Micro 4/3 cameras

By PR admin | Published: October 25, 2010

New wide angle pinhole cap for Micro 4/3 cameras is now available – see the sample photographs after the break:

The Pinwide is the worlds widest digital pinhole cap! Because the Micro 4/3 systems have no mirror, we were able to recess the cap into the body of the camera. This allows us to get a super wide angle of 11mm – equivalent of 22mm on a 35mm camera. This super wide angle creates a beautiful natural vignette.

Read More »

Posted in Olympus, Panasonic| 5 Comments

Is this a new Canon camera?

By PR admin | Published: October 25, 2010

Update: this just in – it seems that the person holding the camera is associated with Canon.

Those pictures were taken today in New York City – they show an unidentified Canon camera housed in a sound blimp. Now, using a sound blimp (used to reduce the sound of the camera’s mirror and shutter) makes a lot of sense if you are shooting at a golf game or a theatrical performance, but on the streets of New York? Maybe they used the blimp to cover up a new Canon camera?

For comparison, this is how the back of the Canon EOS 1d Mark III and 1d Mark IV looks like:

What do you think? Is this a new Canon camera?

Full size pictures after the break. Thanks to Vlad from the PurseBlog for sending those in.

Read More »

Posted in Canon| 51 Comments

Adobe announces Lightroom 3.3 release candidate

By PR admin | Published: October 25, 2010

Adobe today announced Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 release candidates. The new versions include support for some of the latest cameras:

  • Nikon D7000
  • Nikon Coolpix P7000
  • Nikon D3100
  • Canon PowerShot S95
  • Canon PowerShot G12
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
  • Samsung NX100
  • Samsung TL350 (WB2000)

New lens profile added for:

Read More »

Posted in Adobe| 5 Comments

Samyang AE 14 mm f/2,8 ED AS IF UMC lens (F-mount) price and availability

By PR admin | Published: October 24, 2010

The new Samyang AE 14 mm f/2,8 ED AS IF UMC lens for Nikon F mount, will be available for sale in two months (December 2010 – January 2011). Recommended retail price is €329 (around $450). In the US, Samyang products can be purchased on eBay.

Posted in Samyang| Leave a comment

Samsung NX 18-55mm f/2.8 lens?

By PR admin | Published: October 23, 2010

This picture appeared in National Geographic and according to the snippet, it was captured with Samsung NX10 and 18-55mm f/2.8 lens. Samsung currently has only a 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 lens in their lineup. Samsung NX10 roadmap for 2011 mentions only a new 16mm /f2.8 and a 60mm f/2.8 lenses. Maybe a typo?

Via dpreview

Posted in Samsung| 3 Comments

Samsung’s patent for a liquid zoom lens

By PR admin | Published: October 21, 2010

US patent 7725016 from Samsung is for a liquid zoom lens. The idea behind this patent is to reduce the size and power consumption of a conventional lens. This technology could potentially be used in mobile devices:

“Consequently, the zoom camera of the disclosure has a disadvantage in that it requires a large space for the zoom operation within the camera.”

“In addition, since the motor of the camera is inevitably operated in such a way so as to push the inner and outer barrels having the plural lenses received therein to an outside of the zoom camera, loss of power during driving of the motor causes an increase in power consumption of a battery.”

“In order to solve the problems as mentioned above, a liquid lens has been developed, which occupies a small space within the mobile terminal and does not suffer from power consumption. The liquid lens comprises a electrolyte and an insulating liquid in a single lens barrel to form an interface there between, of which curvature is changed by application of voltage to the electrolyte through the lens barrel, in order to embody the zoom function.”

cross-sectional view of a liquid lens

 

Read More »

Posted in Samsung| Tagged | 5 Comments

Catching up

By PR admin | Published: October 21, 2010

It seems that all issues with the new server have been resolved. This is what you may have missed in the last few days:

  • New Zeiss lenses in 2011: 35/1.4, new 25/2.8, new wide angle lens (probably a 15mm f/4) and two lenses longer than 100mm
  • Rumor: Sony a77 coming in 2011 and with a 24MP sensor?

Read More »

Posted in Fuji, Sony, Zeiss| Tagged | 5 Comments

PhotoRumors is moving to a new server

By PR admin | Published: October 18, 2010

If you can read this post, you have reached the new dedicated PhotoRumors.com server. I do not expect any interruptions during the transfer, since I will leave the old server online for few days until all ISP propagate the DNS changes and update their routers. I have prepared several new posts and will publish them online soon.

Posted in Other| 7 Comments

Sony AF LA-EA1 adapter and new NEX firmware

By PR admin | Published: October 15, 2010

Few days ago Sony released a new firmware for their NEX line of products. Initially, I did not pay attention to any of the details, until I saw this post on PetaPixel: with the LA-EA1 adapter, Sony NEX cameras can now autofocus with A-mount lenses and the AF process can take anywhere from 2 to 7 seconds:

“With an A-mount lens attached to NEX-5/NEX-3, autofocus takes approximately 2 to 7 seconds based on Sony measurement standards. Actual AF time with A-mount lens  may vary depending on the subject and shooting conditions.”

I think it is great that Sony provides an adapter with AF support, but this is just a reminder to always read the fine print at the bottom of the page (in this case, the press release).

Posted in Sony| Tagged , | 8 Comments