Nobody likes Pentax

By PR admin | Published: May 31, 2010

Bloomberg reports that Yutaka Yamanaka, the grandson of the Hoya Corp. founders is not happy with the $1billion purchase of Pentax and describes it as “overpriced” and “failure”. This is not really surprising and all stories about Hoya trying to sell Pentax are probably more than just a rumor (via pentaxforums).

Another Pentax related rumor: there is a thread in the PentaxForums that the 50mm lens will be discontinued this Fall and Pentax will move forward with  the 55mm model.

Posted in Pentax| 7 Comments

Fuji to release Natura Classica White Limited Edition

By PR admin | Published: May 30, 2010

First, this is a film camera and apparently a good one. It sells for $300-$400 on eBay. Fuji decided to make a limited 3000 pieces edition.

Details (computer translated):

  • Released in late June, 2010
  • Product Features “Non-flash” program made it possible to control its own exposure shooting “NP” mode features.
  • F2.8 lens and a bright, 28mm wide angle to 56mm with 2x zoom.
  • with exposure compensation function (7) NP (Photo Natural) with a release function mode.

Via Cnet

Posted in Fuji| 7 Comments

Sony NEX 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS lens coming in September

By PR admin | Published: May 28, 2010

The Sony NEX 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS lens is expected to be released on September 16th in Japan:

Via Yodobashi

Posted in Sony| Tagged | 4 Comments

Sony and Canon attempt to purchase Pentax?

By PR admin | Published: May 28, 2010

Canon and Sony may have tried to purchase Pentax at some point. Hoya’s CEO has indicated in the past that Pentax is for sell. Then there were some statements about a “deeper relationship” with Samsung. It is possible that at some point JVC attempted to buy Pentax – both companies denied it a month later. I am not surprise that different companies are taking their chance at purchasing Pentax. Please note that at this point this is just a rumor.

Posted in Canon, JVC, Pentax, Sony| 11 Comments

Sigma SD 15 delayed again

By PR admin | Published: May 28, 2010

I don’t know how to say this with a straight face but the Sigma SD 15 is delayed again – this time till the end of June.

Posted in Sigma| Tagged | 12 Comments

Panasonic to announce something next week

By PR admin | Published: May 27, 2010

Panasonic will have an announcement on June 1st or June 2nd, 2010 (depending on your location). I am still not sure what will be announced, I will look into previous rumors for clues and will post an update.

Posted in Panasonic| 8 Comments

Nauticam NA-550D underwater housing for Canon EOS Rebel T2i

By PR admin | Published: May 26, 2010

Nauticam will release an underwater housing for Canon EOS Rebel T2i:

More pictures and full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Canon, Nauticam| 7 Comments

New Rolleiflex lens at Photokina 2010

By PR admin | Published: May 25, 2010

For Photokina 2010 a new Rolleiflex 150mm f/4 HFT PQS Tele-Apogon lens for medium format cameras is expected to be announced:

Posted in Franke & Heidecke| 3 Comments

Camera concepts (part 2)

By PR admin | Published: May 25, 2010

Continuing with part 2 of the Camera concept series (camera concepts part 1 can be found here).

Sony concept camera from tecnofotografia:

Canon 3D concept from Dean Franciss:

Fleximus camera – the lens (and I guess the sensor) are mounted on a flexible tube and can be a attached to a LCD display or a viewfinder (source: Art Lebedev, see also the design process of this idea):

Read More »

Posted in Future of Photo Equipment| Tagged | 12 Comments

David Kilpatrick’s predictions on what’s next for Sony

By PR admin | Published: May 24, 2010

David Kilpatrick (the person behind the Photoclubalpha website) had this to say on the upcoming Sony products:

  • Many Sony lenses will be updated next year: the SSM & SAM lenses will stay unchanged, “but anything currently with a screw drive focus will be replaced with a motor”. In general Sony will offer more all-round zooms lenses, and will focus on fast glass, prime and special purposes lenses. Some of the expected lenses are:
    • 16-80mm with SSM (or a revised 16-105mm)
    • 10-24mm SAM
    • 18-270mm SAM OSS
    • 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SSM OSS
    • 60mm f/2 SAM
  • The Sony Alpha 7XX (750?) will have 1080i video and the same sensor as the NEX5/3, 7fps, panorama mode and wide range 3-shot HDR. The optical viewfinder will be comparable to the A700, and it will have SSS. Prototypes of the camera were shown with a CZ 16-80mm lens.

Via Photoclubalpha

Posted in Sony| 7 Comments