Recently Voigtlander discontinued their Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens and the rumor is that a new 35mm f/1.1 version will be added to their current Color-Skopar f/2.5 PII and the Nokton Classic f/1.4 models. A second 50mm f/1.4 lens is also in development to compliment the Nokton f/1.1
It has been a month since I posted the poll for your favorite camera of 2010. Almost 3000 readers voted and here are the top 3 cameras for 2010:
Update: Nikon has done something similar in the past.
Pentax filed a patent for a telephoto lens that can be disassembled into two or more pieces for easy transportation:
“Since lens barrel length is long and the whole weight of the lens barrel of super telephoto lenses is large, if it really which cannot separate such a lens barrel manufactures as a thing, carrying at the time of un-taking a photograph will become inconvenient. Then, after dividing a lens barrel with such a long overall length into two or more removable cylinder members, The moving mechanism for moving a moving lens group (focus lens group) and a moving lens group to the cylinder member by the side of front, If the focus ring for operating this moving mechanism is provided and the cylinder member on the backside is used as what is called an extension tube (cylinder member which does not build in a taking lens), carrying of the lens barrel at the time of un-taking a photograph will become easy.
Schneider-Kreuznach, a produced of photographic lenses and other optical products announced today that they have joined the Micro Four Thirds system standard group. The CEO of the company mentioned that they are already “working intensively on a corresponding series of lenses” for the m4/3 format.
Full press release after the break:
Hoya (Pentax):
“Net sales were up 1.5% to 108,449 million yen year-on-year, and operating income rose 4.7% to19,897 million yen. Net income was up 12.0% to 13,210 million yen, and earnings per share were 30.62 yen compared with27.24 yen in the same period last year.
The profit of the camera business also exceeded our expectations this quarter due to the channel consolidation and focused promotion of new SLR cameras; K-5 and K-r.”
“Samsung’s Digital Media businesses, which encompass Visual Display, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging, posted quarterly revenues of 15.97 trillion won for the October to December period, up 3 percent year-on-year. The businesses registered a loss of 0.17 trillion won despite improved performance in TV and IT products. For the full year 2010, the Digital Media businesses’ combined revenue totaled 57.26 trillion, up 12 percent from 2009, with an operating profit of 0.49 trillion won.”
Concept of the JVC GC-PX1 camera was shown at CES 2011 and now it’s official, the camera will be released in Japan later this month. The price is not yet announced. The GC-PX1 will have 10x optical zoom and 36Mbps 1920 × 1080/60p full HD video shooting. In 640 × 360 resolution at 300 fps the camera will be able to too record up to 2 hours of video which is considered to be an industry record.
Detailed specs:
I received multiple emails regarding the Pentax NC-1 mirrorless camera picture and they all indicated that this is the real thing. The camera will be initially available with in one lens kit and the sensor will be 1/2.33″ in. The Pentax NC-1 will have a flash hot shoe. Announcement should be in the next 1-3 months.
The above is a picture of a Canon press invitation for February 7, 2011. Coincidentally a Canon 600D certificate dated January 25th, 2011 appeared in the Korean Research Agency:
This is is suppose to be the mirrorless interchangeable lens Pentax NC-1 camera. The image is pixelated, but you can see a built-in flash. a small grip and some kind of a selection wheel on the front. I do not know at that point the authenticity of that images, so take it with a grain of salt.
Sony US patent 7871206 is for a compact camera with foldable grip:
“Imaging apparatus, such as digital still cameras, have been reduced in size and thickness. Such an imaging apparatus includes an apparatus body having a flat, substantially box-like shape, an imaging lens provided on the front side of the apparatus body, and a display unit, such as a liquid crystal monitor, provided on the rear side of the apparatus body.
