Fuji X100: the viewfinder

Fuji published a new chapter about the X100 viewfinder. In a nutshell:

  • “The viewfinder magnification of 0.5 is generally considered the easiest to see in the case of a camera equipped with a lens with a 35mm focal length (135 equivalent) – not too low and not too high.
  • The X100 viewfinder has a high-resolution 1,440,000-dot, 0.47-inch LCD.
  • The View finder has a shutter too: because the frame is reflected through the prism, and the subject image is passed through the prism and delivered to the viewing eye, the blocking of light from the originating subject image side would enable the use of the LCD image as an EVF (electronic viewfinder) with 100% coverage. In order to achieve this, a ‘Finder Shutter’ is necessary.”

    Posted in Fuji| Tagged | 7 Comments

    Olympus to release E-PL2 in the next 2 months?

    The latest online chatter indicates that Olympus may release a new version of their m4/3 camera line in the next 1-2 months. I do not have any further details, but the new PEN model could potentially be called E-PL2.

    The PMI 2011 show this year will take place in September (the show is usually held in February) and camera manufacturers may still make their announcements in February even without an actual show.

    The other possibility is CES 2011 (January 6-9th, 2011). In the past, CES is usually the place to announce consumer cameras but this however, may change in 2011 since PMI is still nine months away.

    FYI: in November of 2010 Olympus announced the E-PL1s which will be available only in Japan. Olympus E-PL1 was announced back in February during the PMA 2010 show. A black version of the E-P2 was announced in August of 2010.

    Posted in Olympus| Tagged | 7 Comments

    Sony patents translucent mirror for a compact camera

    Sony applied for a patent for a translucent mirror in a camera without a viewfinder. According to the patent’s summary, the composition will be done through the LCD display:

    “In recent single-lens reflex digital cameras, a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is disposed on the back of a camera body such that an image inputted to an image pickup device can be viewed using the display. For example, there has been proposed a single-lens reflex digital camera, having no optical viewfinder, that allows a user to take photographs while the user checks an image using a display disposed on the back of a camera body.”

    Read More »

    Posted in Sony| Tagged | 4 Comments

    The lens of the Fuji X100 camera

    Fuji continues to release pieces of information on the X100 camera:

    “For the X100, spherical lens elements are used as much as possible, and one double-sided aspheric lens made by a glass moulding process has been adopted as the most effective element for delivering maximum performance.

    The sensor has been specially customised just for this lens. Unlike film, the sensors of most digital cameras require incoming light to strike the sensor surface at an angle that is as perpendicular to the sensor surface as possible. Because this is difficult to achieve with a slim lens, the positioning of the microlens on the sensor of the X100 has been customised to allow the capture of light rays with up to a 20° angle of incidence.

    Read More »

    Posted in Fuji| Tagged | 12 Comments

    The first RED Epic-M has shipped

    The first RED Epic-M camera has shipped to Mark Pederson (from OffHollywood studio). The M stands for machined version that will later be followed by production EPIC-X model.

    Via Photographybay

    Posted in Red| 1 Comment

    Pentax files a patent for a DA 12-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AL WR SDM lens

    Pentax filed for a patent in Japan for a DA 12-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AL WR SDM lens:

    • Patent number: 2010-282230
    • Release date: December 16th, 2010
    • Filing date: September 10th, 2010
    • Focal length: 12.30-34.50mm
    • Aperture: 3.6-4.5
    • Angle of view: 101.2-44.0°
    • 3 aspherical elements
    • Suited for APS-C format cameras
    Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 6 Comments

    Correction

    A week ago I wrote a post about Kodak not attending PMA 2011. The initial source of this information was the PEN newsletter from December 6th, 2010:

    After some clarifications from PMA, it seems that the presented information was wrong and was referring to the PMA Australia event and not the US PMA 2011 that will take place in Las Vegas during September of 2011:

    “The event Mr. Marshall is referring to is our PMA Australia event, the “Imaging and Entertainment Expo,” June 23-26, 2011, in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Marshall does not speak for PMA, and any announcements of PMA 2011 exhibitors would originate from PMA here in Jackson, Mich.”

    Posted in Kodak| 2 Comments

    Pentax k-5 got issues, sensor issues

    Multiple Pentax k-5 owners have reported stains on their sensors. Pentax Imaging USA have acknowledged the issue and an investigation is currently ongoing:

    “I can confirm that Pentax Japan is fully aware of this situation and is diligently investigating the cause of these stains. I’d like to remind our US customers that their K-5 is covered under the 1-year warranty and that we’ll of course honor that. However, until we find out which batch(es) are affected by the stains, we recommend that photographers keep their cameras and refrain from exchanging them for another unit if purchased from an online retailer. Once we fully understand the origin of the stains and how to deal with them we will encourage affected K-5 owners to send in their cameras for warranty repair.”

    Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 21 Comments

    Latest updates for Red Epic camera

    The latest updates on the Red Epic camera in the form of a Q&A session:

    Posted in Red| 13 Comments

    Fuji X100 price revealed?

    The Canadian retailer Vistek is now listing the Fuji X100 as available for pre-order and the price is 1099 CAD (around 1091 USD). This probably confirms the previously rumored US price of 1000 USD. The release date is listed as March 31st, 2011. No US retailers are currently taking pre-orders for that camera (you can only sign up to be notified at Amazon).

    Posted in Fuji| Tagged | 30 Comments