The latest patents applications

By PR admin | Published: October 4, 2010

Olympus filed a patent application in Japan for a new 26-100mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.4 lens:

  • Patent application: 2010-217478, filled on 03/17/2009
  • Focus length: 6.06-18.76
  • Fno: 1.85-2.39 (aperture)
  • Angle of view: 78.41-27.50°
  • Back focus: 7.33-9.19mm
  • Length 60.49-62.17mm
  • Zoom 3.88x

Apple attempts to patent a smarter camera flash – the patent is about a flash redirector that will let the user select an area on the touchscreen that needs to be illuminated and the camera will make the necessary adjustments to flash only that area:

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Posted in Apple, Canon, Olympus| Tagged | 3 Comments

Rumor: Olympus EP-3 by the end of the year

By PR admin | Published: October 3, 2010

Olympus EP-3 is expected to be a major upgrade, here are some of the rumored specs:

  • 16MP sensor, supports 1080 video and up to ISO 6400, 12800 extension.
  • Articulated LCD, 3″ and 920K.
  • No built-in flash or EVF, but there are connectors for optional ones.
  • The design “lines” are closer to EPL1 than EP2. The form factor, being slim with an articulated screen, is unique. The closest thing would be a scaled-up Samsung EX1/TL500.
  • Considerable improvements in AF. A headline feature is a new dual AF (CDAF+ PDAF). The PDAF aids CDAF to decide the right focus distance reducing the typical CDAF trial-and-error, particularly helpful for AF of heavy classic 4/3 lenses, (it works MUCH BETTER than any m4/3 body with legacy 4/3 lenses, excellent w m4/3 lenses).
  • A special accessory unit comprising a hand grip + 4/3 lens adapter. The unit covers the whole front panel and almost transforms the EP3 to a classic 4/3 camera when attached.
  • Expected in November/December for the holiday shopping season, price TBA.

I even got some information that a new Olympus EP camera is currently being tested in the UK.

Posted in Olympus| Tagged | 20 Comments

Pentax will not use Samsung’s NX mount

By PR admin | Published: October 2, 2010

In another post-Photokina interview, the Head of Marketing for Pentax Imaging Systems Division Mr. Eguchi Kazumichi, made some interesting comments: while Hoya will continue to evaluate the market opportunities of a mirrorless camera, they will not use the Samsung NX mount in the future. He even went a step further by saying that Samsung did not use any of Pentax technologies in their NX line. It sounds to me that the relationship between Samsung and Pentax went sour.

Posted in Pentax, Samsung| 5 Comments

RED Scarlet to include HDRx

By PR admin | Published: October 2, 2010

Red’s CEO Jim Jannard announced on the reduser forum that they will include HDRx™ capability to their Scarlet camera. This will increase the price by $1000 and a cause a “slight delay in the program”. The price for a basic Scarlet “brain only” will now be $3,750.

Here is a short HDRx test video:

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Posted in Red| Tagged | 30 Comments

Panasonic Lumix Phone announcement coming up next week

By PR admin | Published: October 1, 2010

Panasonic published a press release for a new “Lumix Phone” (Google translation):

“Panasonic Mobile Communications, the first camera phones which bear the brand “Panasonic Lumix“ developed. Phone Lumix digital camera, the Panasonic “LUMIX” I took over the mobile phone user interface technology and high quality. Not only beautiful and easily taken, has been enhanced collaboration features unique to mobile Internet devices.”

The Lumix phone (or a prototype of it) will be announced during the Ceatec IT & Electronics Exhibition next week in Tokyo (October 5-9, 2010). Here are the basic specs:

  • 3.3-inch LCD screen with 854×480 resolution
  • “Mobile VenusEngine” for HD images
  • camera with 13MP CMOS sensor
  • microSDHC slot
  • Wi-Fi
  • DLNA support
  • size: 116×52×17.7mm, weight: 146g

All future details on the Lumix phone will be published on http://lumixphone.jp.

Via MobileCrunch

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 8 Comments

Sony A55 and A33 translucent mirror cameras can overheat during video recording, in some cases after 6 minutes

By PR admin | Published: October 1, 2010

Sony Japan has issues a statement that their latest Alpha 33 and  Alpha 55 translucent mirror cameras can overheat during video recording, in some conditions even after 6 minutes:

Yesterday Sony announced that they will be outsourcing their image sensors to Fujitsu. Not sure if both news are related.

Posted in Sony| Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lens roadmap (kind of)

By PR admin | Published: September 29, 2010
Panasonic Roadmap

credit: dc.watch

After Ricoh GXR and Sony E-mount we are continuing the roadmap series with the expected Micro Four Thirds lenses from Panasonic. The title of this unknown document says that Micro Four Thirds lenses will cover the full range from 7mm to 300mm (equivalent of 14mm-600mm in full frame). Three specific lenses listed “under consideration” are:

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 8 Comments

Phase One eliminates all rumors by confessing to new camera design

By PR admin | Published: September 29, 2010

Phase One President and CEO Henrik Håkonsson told BJP that they are working on a “brand new camera design”. No further details were provided. Their current Phase One Mamiya 645 Camera version was introduced back in 2006 (AF version) and updated in 2009 (DF version). The real news here is the new Phase One Investment Protection Plan and they decided to spice it up a little.

Posted in Phase One| 3 Comments

Think Tank Photo Sling-O-Matic 30 hands-on

By PR admin | Published: September 28, 2010

Three weeks ago Think Tank Photo announced their latest sling bag line called Sling-O-Matic. Thanks to the nice people behind Think Tank, I was able to try (exclusively?) a pre-production version of their Sling-O-Matic 30 model:

The opening is on the side which provides quick and comfortable access while the bag is on your shoulder:

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Posted in PR reviews, ThinkTank Photo| Tagged | 14 Comments

Pentax 645D coming to America

By PR admin | Published: September 27, 2010

PDNguide (link is NSFW) spoke to Ned Bunnell (President of Pentax USA) during Photokina regarding the Pentax 645D release in the US :

“We’re going to start to bring the 645D into the States in late November or early December but that’s based on availability. We’re still fighting fairly significant back orders in Japan.”

The Pentax 645D will be shown at the PDN PhotoPlus Expo in New York in October. The US price will be $9999.99 for body only.

Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 18 Comments