Well, this is a small revolution for digital photography! Finally Lytro released a real useful Light Fiel camera, the new Illum! It has a much larger 1 inch sensor (the predecessor had a 1/3 inch sensor) and an astonishing 30-250mm f/2.0 constant aperture lens!

You can get all the info and see image samples at https://www.lytro.com/

This might well become the future of photography don’t you think?

Double firmware release today:

Fuji released the X100S firmware 1.20 / X100 firmware 2.10 to add support the new TCL-X100 converter.

Panasonic improved the movie quality performance of the Nocticron lens (firmware here).

Well, the most popular mirrorless camera isn’t an OMD, a Fuji or Sony A7r. It’s the GoPro that is ALWAYS on top of the Amazon Ranking (Click here to see the list). And as you probably have heard a new 4K GoPRO is coming soon. But I guess most of us “normal” will not care as long as you can do such creative GoPRo videos like the one you see on top.

Hilarious!

This is a new lens patent describing a new EOS-M 22-46mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-63025
  • Publication date 2014.4.10
  • Filing date 2012.9.21
• Example 7
  • Zoom ratio 2.09
  • Focal length f = 22.10-34.22-45.19mm
  • Fno. 3.60-4.59-5.60
  • Half angle ? = 31.72-21.76-16.48 °
  • Image height 13.66mm
  • 65.76-62.07-64.72mm lens length
  • BF 28.16-36.88-45.09mm

Found via CanonWatch.

Lomo released the new Russar+ 20mm f/5.6 M-mount lens. It is a based on the popular original 1958 Russar lens design!

You can read the full specs, watch image samples and preorder the lens at shop.lomography.com/us/russar-plus

Today Fuji announced plenty of new accessories. The most important addition is the TCL-X100 Tele Conversion lens for the X100/X100s series. It can alreayd preorderd at BHphoto (Click here).

There are also plenty of enw X-T1 accessories:

MHG-XT Metal Hand Grip for X-T1 on preorder at BHphoto (Click here). TheGB-001 Grip strap, the X-T1 Extended eyecup EC-XT and the X-T1 Cover kit CVR-XT (all not on preorder yet).

TCL-X100 Press Release

Fujifilm is proud to announce the launch of the TCL-X100, a tele-conversion lens designed specifically for the FUJIFILM X100 and X100S cameras. The lens attaches directly onto the camera and increases picture taking versatility by multiplying the fixed focal length by approx. 1.4×, converting it from 23mm (35mm in 35mm equivalent) to a 33mm fixed focal length (50mm in 35mm equivalent).

Superb optical quality and maximum versatility

This is Fujifilm’s second conversion lens for the X100 and X100S cameras and follows on from the WCL-X100 wide-conversion lens. Both conversion lenses offer Fujifilm’s supreme optical quality and are created by the same experts who designed the X100/X100S’s lens. The TCL-X100 delivers high image quality even at the F2.0 wide aperture setting, retaining the original optical characteristics. This optical excellence is underlined by the fact that the TCL-X100 is manufactured in Japan, allowing Fujifilm engineers to guarantee precision and quality in every component. The optical construction uses four premium glass elements in four groups to keep aberrations to a minimum and also employs Fujinon’s unique Super EBC coating for outstanding results.

Image processing optimizes picture quality

Achieving the very best results from the TCL-X100 is simple; just select the ‘Tele- Conversion Lens’ option in the FUJIFILM X100/X100S’s shooting menu. To enable this extra functionality, the camera must update the firmware(X100:ver2.10 or later /X100S:ver1.20 or later) which also allows the option to be selected via the function (Fn) button. If you select ‘Tele’ in the “Conversion Lens” option, the FUJIFILM X100 and X100S cameras automatically apply image processing to shots taken using the TCL-X100, reducing image distortion, ensuring balanced illumination across the frame and reducing chromatic aberration commonly found in tele-conversion lenses. In practice, the TCL-X100 enhances the functionality of the FUJIFILM X100/X100S. Its 14cm of minimum focusing distance enables you powerful macro photography and it is also compatible with the FUJIFILM X100/X100S’s hybrid viewfinder. With the optical viewfinder (OVF) selected, icons showing the edge of the frame are displayed, while selecting the electronic viewfinder (EVF) gives users a 100% field of view.

The perfect match for the FUJIFILM X100/X100S

The design of the TCL-X100 has been carefully considered to ensure it blends seamlessly with the look and feel of the cameras. It is manufactured using the same materials, textures, colors and finishes as the X100 and X100S. Available in two colors: silver and black

Fujifilm wide conversion lens TCL-X100: key features

• Approx. 1.4× magnification factor to convert X100/X100S lens to 50mm normal angle (35mm equivalent)
• All glass optical construction using four elements in 4 groups
• Fujinon Super EBC coating
• “Made in Japan” for optimum quality
• Available in silver and black

The members of the Photokina company presented these forecast slides at an event in Tokyo (Source: DC.watch). As you can see the overall camera market is shrinking. The good news is that mirrorless is expected to have a small growth while DSLR sales will remain stable. The compact camera market will keep shrinking while the major surprise is the big increase of the premium compact camera market!

Also interesting is the expected growth of non pure camera devices:

The camera world is deeply changing. I am wondering how the photography market will be in 5 years from now!