Rumor: no more FourThirds for Olympus after the E-5

By PR admin | Published: July 14, 2010

Back in February Olympus America’s DSLR product manager Richard S. Pelkowsk said: “I would say that within 24 months the E system will not have a mirror box at all”. Then Olympus tried to convince everyone that the previous statement was not true and they will continue to develop “full size DSLRs” and this was the end of it.

Today Quesabesde opened up the old wound by saying that Olympus is planing to release a new camera at Photokina (E-5?) which will be the last FourThirds product in their product line. Developeing mirrorless cameras seems to be the main priority for Olympus:

“Focusing on development of cameras without a mirror and get competitive models in all market segments, including professional photography, seems to be the highest priority for Olympus”

Posted in Olympus| Tagged | 10 Comments

Sony keeps their promise with the NEX-VG10

By PR admin | Published: July 14, 2010

If you remember the Sony NEX 3/NEX5 announcement, it came with a small surprise: interchangeable lens HD camcorder with the same “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor from the NEX3/NEX5. Today Sony kept their promise and announced the NEX-VG10 – an HD camcorder with interchangeable lenses. This may be the reason why Sony was not pushing video in their DSLR line. The specs:

  • will take E-mount and A-mount lenses (with optional adapter)
  • full 1080P @ 24 Mbps
  • can be used as 14.2 MP still camera
  • comes with a 18-200mm lens
  • Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone
  • 3-inch swivel display
  • Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
  • BIONZ processor
  • SDHC / SDXC compatible
  • Price: $2000
  • Availability: September

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

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More on the “Pentax 645D coming to Europe” news

By PR admin | Published: July 14, 2010

Previous reports indicated that the price of the Pentax 645D in Europe will be 10,000 EUR. Yesterday Quesabesde attended a hands-on presentation in Spain and reported that the price may actually be lower: 8,000 EUR the body and a 10,000 EUR for a kit with the new Pentax FA 55mm f2.8 lens. Delivery is currently estimated for the end of 2010.

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RED EPIC update

By PR admin | Published: July 13, 2010

After some technical difficulties, the RED EPIC camera is back on track according to RED’s founder Jim Jannard:

“. . . . we have located the wicked, mean and nasty bug and our engineering team has put a bullet in the back of it’s head. That pesky bug has put us behind in our schedule (obviously) since it also held up the work that followed it. We are now making the type of progress we had hoped to be making a few months ago.

We have working EPIC cameras… and are adding features on a daily basis. Firmware upgrades are happening fast and furious. But please remember that we are not going to release a buggy camera with limited features this time, so keep that in mind. Lots of testing, upgrading, new features, bug patrol… and all of the above happening now. The RED ONE is now one of the most reliable cameras in the industry (after a humble beginning)… EPIC will not be a step backward.”

RED Epic will be produced in the US and is expected to be available in 5 months according again to a comment by Jim Jannard:

“if EPIC isn’t in the hands of many in 5 months, I’m in deep trouble”

You can read all Jim Jannard posts on the reduser forum here.

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Posted in Red| 5 Comments

Another Panasonic camera in the pipeline: FZ100

By PR admin | Published: July 13, 2010

The Korean Radio Research Agency has been a pretty good source of information for upcoming cameras in the past, since it has to approve electronic devices before they are officially released in Korea (see previous Samsunng NX10 and Olympus E-600 posts). Their latest entry is for a new PanasonicFZ100 camera which is expected to be a replacement for the Panasonic FZ38:

Posted in Panasonic| 2 Comments

New Fuji point and shoot cameras incoming

By PR admin | Published: July 13, 2010

Some Fuji rumors: Fuji will be announcing new point and shoot cameras on July 21st. Expected is a replacement to their current W1 3D camera, which will be known as the W3. The new version will be more compact and will have a better LCD screen.

There will also be a new F300 camera announced, and a Z700 replacement. The F300 is not a replacement for the F200 however.

Posted in Fuji| 1 Comment

Olympus patent uses eye’s position and adjustable aspect ratio to frame pictures

By PR admin | Published: July 9, 2010

The idea behind this patent filed by Olympus is that the photographer can easily adjust the aspect ratio of the viewfinder with an adjustable frame:

In addition, the patent suggest an eye detection device on the back of the camera that will follow the photographer’s eyes (similar to the current blink-detection technology) and will make the necessary adjustment when the camera is tilted in order to capture exactly what the photographer intended:

Posted in Olympus| Tagged | 3 Comments

Canon announcement next week

By PR admin | Published: July 9, 2010
Canon beanie

credit: warrenski/flickr

At the beginning of next week Canon will make new product announcement(s) in the printer, camera and camcorder categories. I have no further details at that point.

Posted in Canon| 9 Comments

New Panasonic camera was presented in Sweden

By PR admin | Published: July 8, 2010

The Italian website pmstudionews claims that Panasonic had a presentation of a new camera in Sweden (see first video on top; the video is in Italian). The details are similar to what was reported few days ago: point and shoot camera with m4/3 sensor, fixed 3x zoom  Leica lens (starting from 24mm f/2.0 on the wide angle) and some kind of a built-in optical rangefinder with wide and tele markings. A Leica version of the camera will also be available later on (maybe for Photokina).

If anyone attended this Panasonic presentation, I would like to hear more about this new camera (anonymous contact form available here).

Posted in Panasonic| 13 Comments

Some Pentax rumors

By PR admin | Published: July 8, 2010

A rather controversial post, that was deleted for unknown reasons from the PentaxForum:

“No FF plans until 2012 as 645D is filling this, Pentax may review this decision Mid – 2011.

Three new models will be announced at Photokina.

1. K7 Super – a. Upgraded AF sensor 2. manual video with 720p60. 3. Same 14mp sensor with major improvements for noise and banding.

2. K5 – Will be model between k-x & k-7. K-x with focus points, top lcd, will replace k-x next year. K-x was a “testing the waters” model it was rushed and suprised everyone for good reason!

3. Pro Model this has finally been pushed towards productions thankyou to early success of 645D. I am salivating at this model.

a. Pentax have really listened to feedback and made big changes, DFS can go bye bye for real. b. body is based on the K7 but slightly larger c. intended to compete with nikon d300s d. aimed at sports and action photographers, AF algorithms have been optimized for high speed and action (canon helped here alot). Pentax have had their 2 prototypes at the world cup this year. e. x-sync 1/250 but possibly up to 1/500 if electronic shutter is properly debugged. f. No AF motor for screwdrive g. pentax testing with 2 sensors one from canon the other from sony, both are 18mp decision is resting on final costs of production, if use canon sensor video performance same as EOS7D. g. no inbody stabilization (big shock!) but is it a coincidence sigma is releasing so many OIS lenses for pentax? h. new range of Pro* pentax zoom lenses basically DA* + OIS they will be black with red look very sexy and standout. h. single SDHC slot but optional battery grip will give second SDHC slow, pentax firmly against sdxc.”

Posted in Pentax| 3 Comments