The 51st issue of the free PhotographyBB Online Magazine is now available for download. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: PhotographyBB Online Magazine Issue 51
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Just posted: our review of Sigma’s SD1 Merrill, the company’s flagship 15MPx3 DSLR. The SD1 is the first camera to use the latest APS-C Foveon sensor, which detects three-color data at each location, giving what Sigma says is resolution equivalent to a 30MP conventional Bayer design. We’ve used both an original SD1 and SD1 Merrill, which are identical in terms of function and output, and the review reflects the behavior of the latest firmware for each. So does the no live view, no video SD1 deliver enough to carve out its own niche? . . . → Read More: Just Posted: Sigma SD1 / SD1 Merrill review Independent developer Ken Tidwell has released D3S DSLR 2.0 for iOS, another in his series of Min-U Guides to Nikon DSLRs. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: D3S DSLR 2.0 for iOS The Fujifilm FinePix XP150 is now available in the United Kingdom. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Fujifilm FinePix XP150 Launches in UK SmugMug and UK-based pro lab Loxley Colour have announced a new alliance offering a turnkey online business solution, enabling photographers to easily and cost-effectively showcase and profit from their work. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: SmugMug Teams Up with Loxley Colour The Lomo LC-Wide is a new film camera with a fixed ultra-wide lens and the ability to shoot three different formats on 35mm film. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Lomo LC-Wide The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) has honoured the Olympus E-5 with its “Best Expert DSLR” award, while the Olympus XZ-1 has been deemed the best expert compact. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Two TIPA Awards for Olympus  Take that Nikon and Sony! Canon just announced that they will join the Micro Four Thirds coalition! Canon Uruguay just released an official press release: “ Canon confirms that mirrorless has no reason at all to exist. In our opinion it’s a waste of time to develop our own CSC-ILC-Mirrorless-EVIL system. But during a latino party we had yesterday our southamerican manager told us that every second camera sold in Japan, every fourth camera sold in Europe and every fifth camera sold in US are mirrorless. So we quickly decided to join the Micro Four Thirds coalition. We still had no time to send a text message to Panasonic and Olympus to share our decision. So please guys don’t tell them anything until we made them a call. ” In a second statement Canon Japan stated that the “ first camera to be announced will be the Canononet analogue camera which will have a MFT logo on it and a built-in MFT adapter. That was the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to release a camera “. P.S.: I don’t remember, what day is today? . . . → Read More: (FT6) Canon joins Micro Four Thirds coalition! A few readers sent me the link to CNET Asia . There is an article about General Electrics who said that “ GE is looking to introduce its first Micro Four Thirds-like camera before the end of 2011 “. This doesn’t mean they will join the m43 group. They will make a mirrorless camera and stop. By the end of the year 2011 almost every big company will have their own mirrorless camera and we will finally know if some of them will join m43. Those are the companies that still have to decide what to do: – Sigma – Fuji – Canon – Epson – Cosina/Voigtländer (already in with lenses, but no details about cameras yet) Interesting to know that Epson already made a digital mirrorless (or better “rangefinder”) camera, the Epson RD-1 and Cosina is well known for their analogue BESSA cameras. Both companies are using the Leica M-mount. Sigma and Fuji officially expressed their intention to make a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. But we have no details about their strategy. I do believe that Leica, Nikon and Pentax will make their own systems and not join m43. What about Canon? They said they don’t need to develop a mirrorless camera (and they don’t think the Fuji X100 will sell well-> Source Quesabesde ). . . . → Read More: General Electrics will make “Micro Four Thirds alike” cameras…  On MirrorlessRumors.com you can see and read the specs of the new Pentax NC-1 system. The NC-1 features a 1:2.33 small sensor. If you wonder about the design of the camera it is based on the popular Pentax Auto 110 system (Click here to see camera and lenses on eBay) . Not a big deal in my opinion but I have been told that Pentax will also launch a second mirrorless system with APS-C sensor. If that rumor is true than we can exclude Pentax joining the Micro Four Thirds group. Bad news Who remains that could now join the m43 world as a camera maker? Come on Fuji! The X100 is selling like hotcakes and we want a m43 version of it! By the way, Fuji resumed the X100 production (preorders on Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay ) Reminder: Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds): FT1 =1-20% chance the rumor is correct FT2 =21-40% chance the rumor is correct FT3 =41-60% chance the rumor is correct FT4 =61-80% chance the rumor is correct FT5 =81-99% chance the rumor is correct . . . → Read More: (FT4) Pentax will not join m43 (and leaks the ugliest mirrorless camera ever made) According to PhotoRadar “ Olympus plans to release a high-performance PEN camera with touchscreen technology – possibly the PEN Pro reported earlier this month – as well as a mid-range PEN camera with a tilt screen and a PEN camera with flash in the original PEN EP-1 design . ” and they “ were told we can expect an announcement of the mid-range PEN camera possibly as soon as April. ” You already know that our sources told us there will be no(!) new PEN camera in April. We expect an Olympus announcement by end of May/early June. We are sure there will be new m43 lenses and there is also a fair chance to see he new E-P2 successor . That’s why I post the rumor with a low FT2 value. Be warned! I got some rumors about the future cameras and lenses and I am working on it. What I can say now is that there will be many new interesting Olympus products. More about that soon on 43rumors! Reminder: Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds): FT1 =1-20% chance the rumor is correct FT2 =21-40% chance the rumor is correct FT3 =41-60% chance the rumor is correct FT4 =61-80% chance the rumor is correct FT5 =81-99% chance the rumor is correct . . . → Read More: (FT2) Photoradar says there will be three new PEN cameras (the first in April)  The NAB show in Las Vegas starts on April 9. It’s the biggest show for new videocameras and accessories. Is Panasonic going to announce a new Micro Four Thirds videocamera? That’s what EosHD writes: “ A few people are telling me that Panasonic plan to show a mock up of the AF100′s successor at NAB. The model number has been set, and will be revealed along with the main specs. They’re good sources and seem to be convinced. Details are scant at the moment, and the actual release date of the finished ‘AF200′ won’t be until much later – possibly next year. ” What did I hear? Panasonic is going to announce new videocameras but I didn’t receive any info about a new Micro Four Thirds AF200. And I don’t believe there will be a succesor for a camera that is in Stock since three months only But last year a source sent me the AF100 info 2 days before the NAB show and it will might happen again! And one more news: Nigel Cooper tested the new Sony NEX-FS100 which is supposed to be the AG-AF100 main competitor. In short, he doesn’t like the camera at all! . . . → Read More: (FT2) Panasonic AF200 coming? (EosHD)  With the Micro Four Thirds AG-AF100 Panasonic delivered a potential almost perfect video camera for low-budget productions. Today Sony announced the “ NEX version “! It has the same price ($4.500) and very similar features. Read the specs at SonyAlphaRumors.com . The main advantage of the AG-AF100 is the wider range of m43 lenses and the availability of the dedicated 14-140mm video lens. But the battle started and I hope this will shake up Panasonic. We want the 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 lens now and not in a year! Some of my source can tell me WHY the lens release has been postponed? Thanks! . . . → Read More: An epic battle: Panasonic AG-F100 vs Sony NEX-FS10! (Where is the 12-50mm lens?) A few days ago we told you that Panasonic will announce their new m43 products on late April and Olympus on late May. But before that we will see new mirrorless products from Sony and Nikon. Both should announce their new cameras on April 4th. The Sony NEX-C3 should be pretty unspectacular (a warmed up NEX-3 ) and Nikon will announce their Nikon Coolpix PRO system (a 2.5 crop system?). Competition is becoming bigger and bigger (Pentax will announce their system in May). We will have mirrorless system with smaller than m43 sensors and larger than m43 sensors. This brings me to a simple question. How can m43 compete with other systems? They won’t have the smallest camera-lens system (Nikon, Pentax) and neither the best Image quality (Sony). So what features will be crucial to strengthen the m43 system? A few ideas: – More lenses, lenses and lenses! – Less redundant camera range – Bring real improvements for every new product (Don’t cheat us!). – Connectivity with social networks for low end models – APP store for m43 software. – Make an ultra-small camera and an ultra resistant high-end camera – Hybrid Viewfinder based on the Fuji X100 and Contax G2 technology (that system was able to adapt the OVF depending on the used prime lens!). See the camera on eBay (Click here) . Archieve that and you will see even more crazy eBay auctions than the one ongoing for the X100 on eBay (Click here) …They are all priced over $2000!!! Do you have some more? P.S.: Follow MirrorlessRumors.com if you want to know more about other mirrorless systems! . . . → Read More: Competition rumors: New Sony and Nikon mirrorless cameras on April 4th. How will m43 compete? A short update from our sources about the future Panasonic lenses. Panasonic should release three new and two reworked lenses within 2011. One of the new lenses is the 25mm f/1.4 that will be released soon. Another two new lenses should be announced in August (one wide angle lens and a tele lens). Two current lenses will be updated. The 7-14mm lens (with OIS) and a second lens (the source didn’t tell me what lens). Reminder: Panasonic will have an announcement in April and we hope to receive more info about that soon! Olympus will announce new lenses in late May/early June. Links: The current Panasonic 7-14mm f/4.0 at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . The current 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds lens at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . . . → Read More: (FT3) Five lenses to be announced by Panasonic in 2011 (3 new, 2 reworked) A few other sources confirmed us that Panasonic will announce the new Panasonic G3 camera and very likely also the new 25mm f/1.4 lens in late April. Before the Earthquake-Tsunami-Nuclear disaster Panasonic had the plan to ship the G3 within May. But I guess there could be now a few weeks of delay. The 25mm f/1.4 should hit the market in summer (July). A next Panasonic camera and lens announcement is scheduled for late August. Olympus has the plan to release new PRO prime lenses in late May/early July. But there could be a delay with the worldwide lens shipment. We are also not 100% sure yet if they will announce a new PEN in late May/early July. We heard there will be a E-P2 replacement but we didn’t get exact info about the final release. A new product announcement from Olympus will be made in early September (We are almost certain they will announce the high-level PEN). . . . → Read More: A roadmap reminder (When to expect the next Olympus and Panasonic announcements) Peterman’s Eye Publishing has recently kicked off its third annual travel photography photo competition. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Peterman’s Eye 3rd Annual Travel Photo Contest Image on top shows the current 26mm f/1.4 ToyLens . A short update about the upcoming new Toy Lens from SLRmagic. We have been told that it is a fast 11mm wide angle lens. Don’t know yet how fast the lens is. I guess there will be soon more news on their Twitter (Click here) . SLRmagic currently offers to manual, cheap not high quality lenses. They have the (only) advantage that you can use them without the use of any adapter: 35mm f/1.7 (Click here to see that lens on eBay) . 26mm f/1.4 (Click here to see that lens on eBay) . . . . → Read More: (UPDATE) SLRmagic 11mm Toy lens According to last minute rumors we got from our trusted sources the new Panasonic G3 will be announced in late April. Earlier rumors “speculated” with a release in late March/early April. For some reasons (earthquake?) the announcement has been delayed for a few weeks. We have been told the G3 will be in Stock in May. Take that rumor with a grain of salt even if it is coming from our very good sources. The recent earthquake disaster could change everything again and of course this doesn’t matter right now. It’s by far more important that Panasonic and Olympus employees can have the time to overcome the shock. And It’s so good to know that no Panasonic/Olympus employee has been hurt! P.S.: The 25mm f/1.4 should be announced along the G3 but unlike the Four Thirds version the lens will not be Leica branded and cost a little bit less ($700 instead of $850). Reminder: Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds): FT1 =1-20% chance the rumor is correct FT2 =21-40% chance the rumor is correct FT3 =41-60% chance the rumor is correct FT4 =61-80% chance the rumor is correct FT5 =81-99% chance the rumor is correct . . . → Read More: (FT4) Panasonic G3 and new lens release in late April An image sample I have taken with the 26mm f/1.4 ToyLens . Panasonic in April and Olympus in May/June should announce new Micro Four Thirds lenses. In the meanwhile we can have some fun with another cheap SLRmagic lens. On Twitter (Click here) they announced the testing of a new Toy lens: “ Looking for 3 volunteers to test our new Fast Wide Angle Toy Lens. Pls send us a link to your wide angle work. Top three keeps the lens! ” This is not the pre announced 12mm lens, it’s a new Toy lens. SLRmagic is currently offering one Toy lens only, the 26mm f/1.4. You can get it on eBay only (Click here) . A few image samples can be seen here at 43rumors . SLRmagic currently offers to manual, cheap not high quality lenses. They have the (only) advantage that you can sue them without the use of any adapter: 35mm f/1.7 (Click here to see that lens on eBay) . 26mm f/1.4 (Click here to see that lens on eBay) . . . . → Read More: New SLRmagic lens to be annonced soon (testers required) |
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