Photo Rumors

Some interesting Sony links

By PR admin | Published: February 26, 2010

Slow day. Some interesting Sony links:

Some technical details on the new BSI 10.3MP sensor IMX050 from Sony

Sony bosses ‘pushing’ for 3D camera

Interesting patents from Sony and Panasonic

By PR admin | Published: February 25, 2010

Sony half-mirror/Pellix-mirror patent (US Patent Application 20100045853) – this patent will allow AF during video recording/live view:

“There is proposed a digital camera which is capable of simultaneously performing phase difference detecting AF by a phase difference detecting AF sensor and live view in which time-series images for determining a picture composition are electronically displayed on a display”

Read more on the Pellicle mirror and Pellix mirror @ Wikipedia. Canon filed a similar patent application last year. See also a related sensor phase detection patent filed by Sony last year.

Panasonic H.264 movie recording and tilt-able LCD patent (US patent application 20100033587):

“…The display unit 20 is a variable-angle monitor with which the angle can be freely changed with respect to the case 3a of the camera body 3, and the angle can be tilted upward by means of a hinge mechanism”
“…further comprising a display unit configured to display a real-time image acquired by the imaging unit in the moving picture photography mode”
“…two different methods can be used for focal point detection, namely, a phase difference detection method in which the above-mentioned focal point detection unit 5 is used, or a contrast detection method based on the image signal outputted from the imaging sensor”
“…The compression method can be, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) in the case of a still picture. In the case of a moving picture, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) is used. Also, an H.264/AVC format in which a plurality of frames of image signals are compressed together can be used.”

One of the drawings in this patent appears to be similar to the Panasonic LC1 camera:

Posted in Panasonic, Sony| Tagged Patents| 2 Comments

PMA announcements are over, Panasonic and Pentax are next

By PR admin | Published: February 25, 2010

2010 PMA show is over (see detailed report here). A lot of point and shoot cameras were released and almost nothing in the DSLR area. The stars of show, in my opinion, were the “three S”:

Sony: EVIL and a700 replacement prototypes.
Sigma: 5 new lenses, 2 DP cameras, the SD15 DSLR (after almost 2 years delay) plus maybe an EVIL camera in the future.
Samsung with its new TL500 (f/1.8 lens).

What’s next? Panasonic and Pentax:

Panasonic is expected to announce two new Lumix cameras around March 7-10, 2010:

No specs are available at that point.

Pentax is expected to announce their medium format 645D camera during the CP+ Camera and Imaging Show in Japan (March 11th-14th, 2010). This is how the teaser looks today (it is set to gradually show more details of the camera):

I did not include Olympus with their latest Fourt Thirds countdown on that list, because they removed their website (http://www.evolve.com.my/). The countdown was set to expire on February 28th, 2010 and is probably about a new website rather than a new product.

Posted in Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax| Tagged Panasonic G10, Panasonic G2, Pentax 645D| 3 Comments

Just announced: Pentax W90 and X90

By PR admin | Published: February 24, 2010

The previously rumored Pentax W90 and X90 just got released as expected. The W90 looks interesting with the LED lights around the lens.

Posted in Pentax| Tagged Pentax W90| 4 Comments

Olympus confusion: “‘We still plan to develop full size DSLRs”

By PR admin | Published: February 23, 2010

Dpreview had an interview at PMA with John Knau (US DSLR Product Manager) who tried to convince everyone that Olympus will continue to produce DSLRs despite the comments made two days ago by another DSLR Product Manager from Olympus.

Posted in Olympus| 6 Comments

Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED MC Aspherical

By PR admin | Published: February 23, 2010

The last report on the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED MC Aspherical full frame lens was for a potential delay till Q1 of 2010. The lens is now available for pre-order on eBay with Sony, Pentax, Canon and Nikon mounts (ships in April, 2010):

Posted in Samyang| 3 Comments

Tokina and Ricoh announced plans for new lenses at PMA

By PR admin | Published: February 22, 2010

Tokina announced plans for a new 16-28mm f/2.8 wide angle lens for full frame (source).

In 2010 Ricoh is planning to release a new P10 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VC lens piece for the GXR system. This lens was reported as a rumor here over a month ago. The included sensor will be back-illuminated CMOS with 10MP (same as in the Ricoh CX3 camera). The other lens will be A12 28mm f/2.5 lens with manual focus, bundled with a 12MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor. One additional accessory will also be released (source).

Posted in Ricoh, Tokina| 8 Comments

Sigma is planning to make an EVIL camera

By PR admin | Published: February 22, 2010

Dpreview just reported that Sigma has announced plans on PMA to develop a mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera with one of its Foveon sensors. Sigma is also evaluating the possibility of developing a new lens lineup for mirrorless cameras.

Posted in Sigma| Tagged Sigma EVIL| 4 Comments

Olympus E system to go 100% mirrorless in two years

By PR admin | Published: February 21, 2010

This is according to Olympus America’s DSLR product manager Richard S. Pelkowski:

“I would say that within 24 months the E system will not have a mirror box at all. Up until we launched the Pen cameras all manufacturers were doing was fitting a digital sensor in what is ultimately a film camera body – there was nothing different. But with digital and electronic technology we can make cameras so much smaller. Soon the AF system in the Pen cameras will be as fast as that in the E system DSLRs so there it will be possible to get just as good AF performance without the mirror system. We have a great range of lenses for the Four Thirds system, and they’re not going anywhere, but they will be used on smaller and lighter more modern bodies.”

Read the full story @ AmateurPhotographer