Panasonic Image Sensor Roadmap: 20MP in 2012

The graph says it all:

Panasonic DSC Roadmap 2010

Industrial Sensors Roadmap after the break:

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Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 19 Comments

Rebates killed the rumors

Many manufacturers have introduced rebates programs. Usually new products are not introduced when there is an ongoing rebate campaign, which also means slow times for the rumor mill. Also, all major players are preparing for Photokina (coming up in September, 2010) and don’t want to show their cards in advance.

Here are the latest rebates:

  • Canon:

Canon 50D: $100 rebate
Canon 50D + 28-135mm: $100 rebate
Canon 50D + 28-135mm and 70-300mm: $250 rebate
Canon EOS 50D SLR Digital Camera Kit with 17-85mm Lens: $400-$500 conditional rebate
Canon EOS 50D SLR Digital Camera Kit with Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS Lens: $400-$500 conditional rebate

  • Olympus:

Olympus E620: $50 rebate
Olympus E-30: $100 rebate
Olympus E-3: $100 rebate

Image source

Posted in Canon, Olympus, Tamron| 3 Comments

The latest Photoshop CS5 video – amazing!

Posted in Adobe| 10 Comments

Fuji FinePix F300EXR and a new S-Pro series

This rumor is based on a post from the SGShoot forum:

“I have been informed by a Fujifilm rep today that the new FinePix F300EXR will be launched in the third-quarter of this year. New features include:

  • A slimmer, more compact design
  • Possibly a larger SuperCCD EXR sensor (1/1.4-inch) being used
  • Extended 1000% wide dynamic range
  • Full 1080p HD movie and photo recording and playback
  • Motion remover
  • Improved EXR interface
  • Improve Dual IS image stabilization
  • 24mm wide-angle Fujinon lens

Fujifilm Japan will cease production of F200EXR in May 2010. Also, a new S-Pro series professional camera is currently in planning:

  • Not a Micro Four Thirds camera
  • Using a 12-Megapixel APS-C SuperCCD EXR Pro sensor
  • Possibly incorporating either M-mount (Leica) or F-mount (Nikon)
  • Extended 1000% wide dynamic range
  • Full HD photos and video with HDMI connection
  • Built-in Dual IS image stabilization
  • ISO 12,8000″

Via FredMutter

Posted in Fuji| 13 Comments

The full frame AF rangefinder starting to smell

Update: this was a plain lie and a desperate move to attract traffic/publicity – as a result all references to the source were removed. Nothing to see here people, let’s move on.

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Posted in Canon| 6 Comments

New Samsung sensor with global shutter

“Two CMOS sensor on the same chip. This concept apply to 12.4MPx APS-C CMOS sensor. The sensor integrates noise reduction circuits and 4 “Digital Channels”, two for each half-sensor. Each half-sensor has 6.2MPx with a speed transfer of 8.2fps through Global Shutter, whole sensor has 12.4MPx with a total transfer rate of 8.2fps.

Both half-sensor are activate and synchronized by “Synchro-shutter” device to the same exactly time and the information from both half-sensor is drained through 4 digital channels to the image processor.

This allows:
– electronic shutter (global shutter mode)
– non-mechanical shutter
– high frame per second
– less static interference (digital channels and just 2 per half-sensor)”

Posted in Samsung| 4 Comments

New full frame digital rangefinder being tested

Update: this was a plain lie and a desperate move to attract traffic/publicity – as a result all references to the source were removed. Nothing to see here people, let’s move on.

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Posted in Canon| 29 Comments

Pentax 645D pre-orders for worldwide shipping through third party

Pentax 645D can now be pre-ordered for international shipping through the third party reseller JapanTrendShop.com.

Officially, the 645D will only be available in Japan. Some reports indicated a possible release in Poland.

Posted in Pentax| Tagged | 3 Comments

New photography related technologies

  • Some photography related technologies that made the news the past few weeks:
  • Camera with 158 lenses enters the Guinness World Records (source):

“It took the team a total of six months to finish this monster. The lenses are attached in four rows on the body of the device, which is 7.2cm high and 47cm in diameter. Each lens costs $2.10.”

  • PaPaLaB YC-3300 camera can see colors and take pictures in the same color gamut as that human’s eye – this is achieved with a special filter (source):

  • LiveLens: “combines established semiconductor and LCD manufacturing to form a unique electro-optical device containing photo-sensitive and Liquid Crystal elements”.
  • The next generation Secure Digital (SD) memory card standard will offer transfer speeds of up to 300MB a second (compared to the current 104MB/s) by using use low-voltage differential signaling. In order to implement that technology, the next gen SD cards will have an extra pin for serial transfer. External dimensions will stay unchanged (source).
  • Touchscreen AMOLED panels already available on Samsung phones (source).

“Video cameras on your cellphone could soon be good enough to record a jazz concert, a nighttime street scene, or a candlelit dinner. A Swedish start-up has created an algorithm, inspired by dung beetles, that can be integrated into camera modules to offer high-quality video in extremely low light situations.”

Posted in Future of Photo Equipment| 2 Comments

New Samsung NX 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 compact zoom lens

Samsung will announce a new 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 (non-OIS) compact zoom lens for the NX series – this was already mentioned during PMA, but now we also have a picture:
Size: 51x59mm
Weight: 164gr
The exact date of announcement was given.
Posted in Samsung| Tagged | 11 Comments