Fuji annnounced the new 56mm f/1.2 lens which gets priced at $999 and is available for preorder at Amazon US (Click here to grab it) and at BHphoto (Click here).

They also announced the Black X100s (preorder here) and a lot of compact cameras (full list here at Amazon).

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Press release

The XF56mmF1.2 R is less than half the size of an equivalent lens on a full-frame camera ** and offers fast, quiet autofocusing that ensures stress-free shooting for both the photographer and the model. It also delivers incredible resolving power for high quality results that are enhanced by the unique skin tone reproduction technology found in Fujifilm’s X-mount cameras. Using the XF56mm and selecting one of two PRO Negative modes from the Film Simulation menu on the camera body will ensure users can capture beautiful portraits with rich tonal gradations reminiscent of images from film cameras.

Like all other lenses in the XF line up, the XF56mmF1.2 R is designed with an impressive attention to detail. It has a design that sits comfortably in the hand and exterior features including a metal aperture ring for a premium quality feel.

Advanced optical design for professional portraits

The lens’ new optical design featuring 11 elements in 8 groups delivers impressive results. The design includes two ED (extra low-dispersion) elements and one double-sided aspherical element, plus four elements with a convex surface facing the subject, which combine to reduce spherical and chromatic aberrations. They also ensure the best possible image resolution, even when the lens is at its widest aperture of F1.2.

Image quality is further enhanced by Fujifilm’s proprietary HT-EBC coating that’s used on all lens surfaces to reduce ghosting and flare, while the seven-blade rounded diaphragm produces the creamy smooth bokeh effect that’s become synonymous with XF series lenses.
Attach the XF56mmF1.2 R lens to a body that supports the Lens Modulation Optimizer*** and picture quality leaps even higher thanks to the automatic correction of diffraction when shooting at smaller apertures.

Fast autofocus, silent operation

The XF56mmF1.2 R combines an inner focus mechanism*4 and a DC coreless motor for rapid autofocusing speeds, which are boosted further when used with a X-series camera body that supports phase detection AF. The structure and positioning of the focusing unit reduces sound and vibration for silent operation and with no lens barrel movement during focusing, the structure effectively prevents dust particles from getting into the lens and degrading picture quality.

Premium build quality

In keeping with the XF lens legacy, the 56mmF1.2 R features a durable, metal construction — including the aperture and focusing rings — to ensure a high quality feel. The aperture ring is designed to ensure it’s easy to detect ‘clicks’ between f-stops, while the focusing ring is both comfortable in use and has the perfect amount of torque so it’s simple to focus precisely.

* 35mm format equivalent
** According to Fujifilm data
*** Fujifilm X-E2 as of January 2014
*4 A mechanism that moves small elements in the middle or at the rear of the lens, while keeping the large, front elements stationery

Scroll the images on top to see the cameras and lenses.

Samsung is the first manufacturer of the year announcing a new mirrorless camera with the NX30. And there are also two new 16-50mm lenses. One is a big and lens with an amazing f/2.0-2.8 aperture lens. The other one is a 16-50mm pancake with f/3.5-5.6 aperture and Power Zoom ED OIS.

The Samsung NX30:

It has exactly the same sensor and autofocusing ot the NX300. The real highlight is that new super moveable EVF which can be pulled and tilted. Quite cool!

And as a Killer feature you will get a baby monitor function too…and yes, this is not one of my bad jokes. It really has it!

Anyway, other improvements are minor and can be read at the bottom of this post inside the official press text. By the way, there is neither a pricing nor an availability info :(

BCNranking posted the full exact single camera sales numbers for 2013. Mirrorless conquered 40% of all interchangeable camera sales. And the most sold mirrorless camera was the Sony NEX-5r.

If you sum all camera sales than you will get these market shares within the mirrorless world:

Olympus 29.1%

Sony 26.4%,

Panasonic 14.2%,

Ricoh imaging 9.8%, 

Nikon 9.34%

Canon 9.25%.

Surprised to see that Canon still has 10% share, not so far behind Panasonic!

Yu Yoshida is analyst at Credit Suisse and he debunked the mirrorless hype in his latest Interview with Reuters. The main reason why mirrorless isn’t really growing anymore is that “buyers put connectivity above picture quality” and:

Consumers don’t want to connect cameras to phones, analysts say; they want a single interface that can instantly upload photographs to social networking sites such as Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc.

Mirrorless isn’t catching up in USA and Europe because “consumers tend to equate image quality with size and heft“

And in the long term only Canon-Nikon and Sony are likely to stay in the digital camera business.

Mirrorlessrumors opinion:

I am neither a well paid analyst nor a marketing expert. But all I can say is that it’s years now that I hear that small manufacturers like Pentax, Olympus and so on will die. And it never happens. Probably because analyst tend to focus on numbers and do not see the full picture. Olympus for example keeps the digital camera business alive also because the profitable medical business can take advantage of the sensor and imaging technology coming from the camera division. And than there is that Japanese culture that doesn’t fit with the western idea that what’s unprofitable has to be sold or closed.

My guess, the Reuters analyst is plain wrong with his forecast :)

Why Mirrorless ?

What is a Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC)

and

How does it differ from a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR) ?

There is a new firmware update (ver.1.33) for Samsung NX300 since 15th of December 2013. Here is the list of improvements:

1. Remote ViewFinder – add touch AF function

2. Remote ViewFinder – add streaming quality option

3. Improved connection speed of android smart phone (Please use latest version of Upgrade Smart Camera App)

4. Improved Movie recording (Framing Mode ON)

5. Improved 60mm,85mm lens full time manual focus performance

link: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/EV-NX300ZBQUUS#firmware

UPDATE: Nicholas sent us this nice comparison image:

Fuji really is second to none when it comes to give 100% support to owners of new and old Fuji X cameras! Today they released a massive upgrade for the X-PRO1 ver. 3.10 / X-E1 ver.2.10 /  X-E2 ver.1.10 / X100S ver.1.10 (Just click on the camera name to download it).

Well done as usual Fuji!