Bits and pieces

  • Cellphones are now up to 14 MP and can shoot HD video.
  • Samyang is going to sell prime lenses+adapter for the NX mount.
  • Lensbaby to release MicroFourThirds version in December.
Posted in Panasonic, Pentax, Red, Samyang, Sigma| Tagged | 2 Comments

Next from Samsung: NX100

Few months ago the Samsung NX5 showed up on SamsungImaging website. Today, we have a new hybrid camera Samsung NX100 showing up on Samsung’s global download center:

Based on Samsung’s current model numbering, the NX100 will probably be a high-end version of the NX10, which makes perfect sense with the upcoming Photokina show in September (companies want to show their best products at the biggest photo equipment show in the world).

Previous rumors indicated that a touch screen is a possibility.

Posted in Samsung| Tagged | 9 Comments

Some Canon rumors

Some Canon rumors:

Canon has already unofficially discontinued the Canon 50D, and will be making this official very soon, end of June or sometime in early July. Canon announcements seem to be have been moved forward then initially planned. The Canon 60D (unconfirmed model name, but will most likely be this) was originally set for Photokina/September, but now looks like it may have been brought forward. Previous rumors indicated that Canon will have an announcement in mid-July.

Canon 5D Mark III will not be announced this year.

Posted in Canon| 6 Comments

Patents from Pentax and Canon

First in line are some Pentax patents of what appears to be three lenses with a Micro-Four-Thirds mount:

  • Pentax-MFTS 17mm F2.8 AL
  • Pentax-MFTS 17mm F2.0 AL
  • Pentax-MFTS 14mm F2.8 AL

And the drawings:

The next patent is from Canon and is for a “Imaging-device cleaning apparatus” which has the shape of  a lens and attaches to the DSLR (patent application 7697063):

“An imaging-device cleaning apparatus is attached to a camera by engaging with a lens mount of the camera typically used for attaching a camera lens. The imaging-device cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle for removing dust and dirt in the vicinity of an imaging section of the camera, and a motor and a fan for supplying air to the nozzle to remove the dust and dirt from the vicinity of an image sensor of the camera.”

The last patent is for a in-camera HDR from Canon (patent application 12/630,594):

Read More »

Posted in Canon, Pentax| Tagged | 2 Comments

Ricoh to release Micro Four Thirds module for GXR ?

Johan Ericsson (in English) got his hands on an internal Ricoh document describing a MicroFourThirds module for the Ricoh GXR system:

Of course this could be one of the many prototypes that Ricoh produced in the past just to illustrate the capabilities of the system.

Posted in Ricoh| 5 Comments

Two announcement from Panasonic before Photokina

LX series listed in 2010 Lumix line-up (credit: CNet)

DSLRmagazine (in English) mentioned that there will be two waves of announcements from Panasonic in the next few months – one in mid-July and another one right before Photokina. A LX 3 replacement is on the list of expected cameras.

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 4 Comments

Samsung pancake NX 20mm f/2 lens coming soon (busted)

Update: this is a PS job, rumor is busted.

According to this forum post the new Samsung pancake NX 20mm f/2 lens should be coming soon and it should look like this:

Posted in Samsung| 7 Comments

Tamron update

This is the update I got from a reader regarding upcoming Tamron lenses:

First we will see APS-C mirrorless lenses for Sony NEX and Samsung NX. Tamron is designing 2 compact zoom and one macro:

  • Compact standard zoom: 24-50mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
  • Compact telezoom: 75-200mm f/4.5-6.3 VR
  • Macro: 90mm f/3.5 VR

Those lenses will be similar, only the NEX version will be longer.

Posted in Tamron| 5 Comments

Panasonic to have new product announcements in July

Panasonic is expected to have an announcement in mid-July.

One possibility for Panasonic could be a new GH2 camera with more advanced video features and maybe even global shutter which if true would eliminate the “jello effect”.

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 3 Comments

Tamron explores the possibility of producing Micro Four Thirds lenses

DSLR magazine wrote on their facebook wall that Tamron is exploring the possibility of manufacturing lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system:

Translation:

“Finally! Tamron begins to explore the possibility of manufacturing lenses for Micro Four Thirds system. What can I say? … I told you so!”

The only problem with this rumor is that Sony is a major shareholder of Tamron and is questionable whether they will support any m4/3 lens development (Sony owns 11.08% of Tamron).

Posted in Tamron| 4 Comments