Zeiss Full Frame manual lenses for the new Sony FE system coming by end 2014.

I guess what we are seeing here is the official comeback of the Zeiss ZM alike manual lenses! On Zeiss’ Facebook page they just unveiled that:

We are currently working on manual focus lenses for these new full-frame CSCs. They will have an interface to provide EXIF data to the camera. They are expected to be in stores by the end of 2014. However, we cannot provide any additional infos right now.

The current Sony Zeiss FE lenses are made and designed by Sony with the quality control from Zeiss. The new manual Zeiss manual lenses will be designed straight by the German engineers!

Sounds exciting and also pity. Why let us wait one year? I want them now  :)

 

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto..
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE.
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE.

 

UPDATED: Will Nikon announce a hybrid (mirrorless?) FF camera too?

Now that’s a surprise. According to Nikonrumors there will be a new “hybrid” Full Frame camera from Nikon within the next 2-3 months! It is yet not clear if that’s a mirrorless camera and if it has an interchangeable mount. The “hybrid” could refer to a sort of hybrid viewfinder tech like the one used by Fuji’s X-PRO1. There are the possible specs:

  • 16,2MP 36×23,9 full frame sensor (same as in the D4?)
  • SD memory card
  • 2016-pixel RGB image sensor
  • 9-cell framing grid display
  • 3D color matrix metering II
  • Native ISO range: 100-12800 (incl. ISO 50 and ISO 108,200)
  • 5.5 fps for up to 100 shots
  • 3.2″ LCD screen
  • Battery:EN-EL14
  • Dimensions: 143,5 x 110 x 66,5mm
  • Weight: 765g
  • It will come with a new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens (again, not clear what mount the new lens will have)

UPDATE: False alarm! Nikonrumors corrected his rumor and now states that the Camera is an F-mount camera and not a mirrorless camera!

New Leica consumer camera coming next week (Oct 24)

leica_logo_2360

For the first time Leica is facing some competition because of the new Sony A7-A7r cameras (preorders here). And that’s actually good news for Leica lovers too. They have to innovate even faster than before to keep their exclusive market. That said Leica is also active on the consumer market. According to Photographicwanderings they will announce a new consumer camera next week on October 24. We don’t know yet what’s coming but the definitely most surprising news is the one posted by Globalpost.com. According to them Panasonic and Leica will work together on mirrorless interchangeable cameras. Does it mean Leica will join the Micro Four Thirds system?

The rumor counterattack from Fuji: Full Frame X200 coming in 2014!

The A7 is here and you can preorder it at Amazon (Click here). A great A7r test with many image samples can be read at Brian Smith‘s blog.

Now let’s talk about the funny part. Right today we have the first reliable Fuji rumor to report! The usually very reliable xjrumo (translation) site reports that FUji will launch a compact Fuji X200 Full Frame camera within 2014. And it will have on sensor stabilization and faster AF than the Sony RX1. But the key info is that this is almost certainly a fixed lens camera. If it would have an X-mount it would become a potential A7 killer because of the on sensor stabilization. let’s hope Fuji gets the message and makes it with interchangeable mount!

Also the Panasonic GM1 leaks out in all his…smalliness :)

I know I just invented a new word (“smalliness”) to describe the Panasonic GM1 MFT camera. But this is an incredibly small camera! Sexy, slim, not a plastic toy like the GF series and finally really pocketable! And that 12-32mm lens is incredibly small. It has no PZ feature but the IQ is said to be very high. Camera and Lens will be announced on Thursday!

Images via Digicameinfo