Panasonic will have the same fate as Olympus? Probably not….but a restructure program might be started soon…

Nikkei has posted an interesting “rumor” about Panasonic plans with the Lumix camera brand:

  1. Because of the difficult environment Panasonic plans to do a “structural reform” of the business.
  2. Nikkei writes that this could end in a “collaboration with other companies“.

Sounds like there is a chance they might separate the Lumix brand into a new company with partners (like Olympus is doing). But I guess it might be a different solution: Right now the L-mount partners are allied with separate businesses and ideas. Some kind of more advanced partnership with Leica and Sigma to cut costs and develop L-mount gear together makes sense.

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via 43rumors

This is the Panasonic S5 (announcement tomorrow)

A Japanese spec sheet leaked via Nokishita. This is the google translated text:

-It is equipped with a full-size 24.2M CMOS sensor and Venus engine equipped with “dual native ISO” that responds to original color reproduction and suppresses noise to achieve excellent high-sensitivity image quality.

-While equipped with the high video performance of the S series, such as 4K60p video recording and unlimited recording time, it has achieved a highly mobile body size.

・Smooth and flexible 4K60p recording, and expressive power of 4K/FHD 10bit recording with abundant color gradation. Equipped with various video recording formats optimized for various video expressions.

・If you set 4K 60p/30p/24p 10bit, you can record a movie for about 30 minutes, and under the recommended environment, you can resume recording immediately. With 4K 30p/24p 8bit and FHD settings, you can record without time limit (with temperature limit) and support long-time uncut shooting.

・14+stop cinema camera class wide dynamic range and V-Log / V-Gamut realize high level color reproduction from highlight to shadow.

・By strengthening AF tracking and adding new “head recognition” to “face/pupil recognition”/”human body recognition”, we will continue to capture the movement of the subject while responding to the expression intention of the photographer.

・With 6.5 steps of image stabilization performance, “Dual I.S. 2” strongly assists the expression of photos and images in various shooting scenes.

-High S/N ratio and regular ISO sensitivity of 51200 provides excellent high-sensitivity endurance. The high-sensitivity image quality that can be achieved with the full-size CMOS sensor and Venus engine, beautifully depicts the subject even in the dark.

-A super-high-definition world of high-resolution mode (equivalent to 96 million pixels) that allows you to pursue details. Realizes an amazing resolution that cannot be obtained with a single shot. You can get a new photographic expression.

-Live view composite that records natural phenomena that occur in front of you with beautiful light trails. You can leave it as a photographic work without leaving the passage of time.

-Photo style that allows you to create a picture that matches your expression intention. Equipped with 9 color styles and 3 monochromes, you can seamlessly set color settings from still images to movies.

-The slow & quick mode (S & Q), which can be quickly accessed from the mode dial, can record up to 2.5 times slower at 4K, slower (60 fps), and up to 5 times slower (120 fps) at FHD while tracking AF. It can record up to 7.5 times slower (180fps).

-Equipped with a newly developed compact mechanical shutter with a maximum of 1/8000 seconds.

・About 1.84 million dot free angle monitor ・About 2.36 million dot OLED finder.

-Dustproof and splashproof specification-Robustness of magnesium alloy frame.

-Supports a new battery (DMW-BLK22) for long-time shooting and a battery grip (sold separately) (DMW-BGS5).

Canon might announce the new EOS M7 soon and then kill the system after the release :)

PersonalView shared this apparently paradox rumor: They say Canon will announce a new EOS-M7 in late 2020 and then kille the EOS-M line entirely in 2021. This is what they write:

Rumored EOS-M7 specs

  • 32mp APS-C sensor with DPAF II
  • IBIS
  • Slightly renewed DIGIC LSI
  • Cheap EVF, 2.36Mdots
  • Dual SD Cards, speed limits are same as 4 years old cameras
  • 12fps serial shooting, without AF active
  • 4K from 24p to 60p, using all APS-C sensor sampling
  • 1080p up to 120p (overheating at 120fps)
  • CLog mode for marketing purposes
  • $1599 price

Canon plans to destroy whole M lineup and all lenses as soon as 2021, but as camera had been developed for long they plan to sell it first.

Don’t know if the rumor is correct…but I know the EOS-M line makes no sense at all. Just keep the EOS-R system and cut the costs!

Sony will soon announce the new “Sony A7C” super compact FF E-mount camera

SonyAlphaRumors shared the specs of the next new Full Frame E-mount camera:

Sony A7c specs:

  • In mid September Sony will announce the new “Sony A7c” entry level Full Frame compact camera
  • similar Sony A7III specs (SAR note: I guess it means same 24MP sensor and same AF performance)
  • It has the same A7sIII fully articulating screen
  • body size of the A6600
  • The camera will be marketed for vloggers and youtubers
  • Battery is NP-FZ100,
  • USB is Type-C.
  • it has a single SD card slot
  • It has both a mic-in and a headphone jack
  • Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth
  • price will be above A7III (slightly above $2,000)
  • New lens line will be announced too: The compact lenses will have the code “V”

Is the vlogger market really the main market now?

Press text leaked: Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 Press Text – World’s First F1.0 Autofocus Mirrorless Lens

This is the press text for the new Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 lens that will be announced on Sept 3:

World’s First F1.0 Autofocus Lens for Mirrorless Cameras

As the world’s first autofocus F1.0 lens made for any mirrorless system, including full-frame, XF50mm F1.0 brings more light to the sensor than any previous XF lens, making it possible for the autofocus to operate at -7EV luminance level. The previous limit of -6EV luminance level was achieved using lenses with a maximum aperture of F1.4, X Series users now have fast and precise low-light autofocus, even in near-darkness. With the added benefits of on-sensor Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), Face/ Eye AF and a powerful DC motor, precise and fast autofocus at shallow depths of field is now a possibility.

Incredibly Shallow Depth-of-Field

The XF50mm F1.0 R WR consists of 12 lens elements in nine groups and also contains one aspherical element and two ED elements to achieve optimum control of spherical aberration. Used at or near to its maximum F1.0 aperture, XF50mmF1.0 R WR can produce an astonishingly narrow depth-of-field. Its precision-engineered, rounded diaphragm produces large, smooth bokeh for a professional look, allowing photographers to create portraits with a striking simplicity and an almost three-dimensional quality with wonderful edge-to-edge sharpness. Photographers can use this new power in selective focus to keep only the subject’s eyes in focus and make captivating close-up character studies. But it’s not just for portraits. Take this lens out onto the street or into a lifestyle session and one can turn cluttered locations into clean backdrops with unrivaled subject separation.

Great in low-light

The very wide maximum aperture on XF50mmF1.0 R WR means there are more options when it comes to making images in low-light conditions. At night, or in darkened interiors, XF50mmF1.0 R WR offers the widest apertures yet seen on an XF lens, allowing more light to be drawn in to make an image. XF50mmF1.0 R WR lens also easily achieves fast shutter speeds that freeze movement and keep ISO settings lower for detail-rich results. Alternatively, combine high ISO settings with the F1.0 aperture for incredible versatility and use in other low-light applications like astrophotography.

Precise Focus

To make the most of its super-shallow depth-of-field, focusing must be precise. As a result, XF50mmF1.0 has a focus ring that is eight times more accurate than any previous XF lens. This makes it possible to change the focus from the minimum focusing distance to infinity very precisely. For this, XF50mm F1.0 R WR uses 120o of rotation in its focusing ring to let users focus manually without error – and achieve accurate focus when using an X Series camera’s Focus Peaking and Focus Assist modes. The 120o of rotation also makes autofocus movements notably precise and deliberate, while the lens’s engineering is designed to minimise focus shift effects when making images.

Weather resistant

This lens is sealed in 11 locations to protect against moisture and dust, as well as being capable of use in temperatures down to -10°C

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via nokishita via Fujirumors