Sigma shares an update about their new Full Frame Foveon L-mount camera

Today Sigma announced three new X-mount lenses you can preorder now at BHphoto. They also shared an update about their Foveon camera project. Here is the press text:

Development status of the three-layer image sensor

Dear SIGMA customers,

First of all, thank you very much for your continued support and interest in our products.
SIGMA would like to share the development status of the three-layer image sensor as of February 2022 by the following.

The development of the three-layer image sensor is currently underway with the strong leadership of SIGMA’s headquarters in collaboration with research institutes in Japan. The stages of development can be roughly divided into the following:

● Stage 1: Repeated design simulations of the new three-layer structure to confirm that it will function as intended.
● Stage 2: Prototype evaluation using a small image sensor with the same pixel size as the product specifications but with a reduced total pixel count to verify the performance characteristics of the image sensor in practice.
● Stage 3: Final prototype evaluation using a full-frame image sensor with the same specifications as the mass products including the AD converter etc…
We believe that these three stages are necessary in the development, and we are currently in the process of creating the prototype sensor for Stage 2.

Based on the evaluation results of the prototype sensor, we will decide whether to proceed to Stage 3 or to review the design data and re-prototype “Stage 2”. When we proceed to Stage 3, we will verify the mass-producibility of the sensor with research institutes and manufacturing vendors based on the evaluation results, and then make a final decision on whether or not to mass-produce the image sensor.

Although we have not yet reached the stage where we can announce a specific schedule for the mass production of the image sensor, we are determined to do our best to realize a camera that will truly please our customers who are waiting for it, as soon as possible.

Once again, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support of SIGMA.
We will continue to strive for technological development to meet your expectations and trust.

Kazuto Yamaki
Chief Executive Officer, SIGMA Corporation

New leaked GH6 images…autofocus likely still not good enough for sports photography

 

43rumors posted a series of new leaks. An important info comes from reviewers that are testing the GH6 prototype: The autofocus performance has been improved but is still not as good as the competition. Particularly when it comes to sports photography.

The camera price has been leaked too in Canada:

These are two official product images. The GH6 will come with the 12-60mm Leica lens as standard kit lens!

 

 

Tokina has announced a new SZ 8mm f/2.8 fisheye lens for APS-C E and X mount cameras

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The product page can be found here. And this is the press text:

Tokina SZ 8mm F2.8 X FISH-EYE and SZ 8mm F2.8 E FISH-EYE worldwide sales date announcement

Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. is proud to announce the sales release of the Tokina SZ 8mm F2.8 FISH-EYE lens for Fuji X and Sony E (APS-C) camera mounts. SZ series offering a range of exciting products with specific features and valuable advantages.

Sales will commence on March 15, 2022.

The Tokina SZ 8mm F2.8 FISH-EYE is a compact and lightweight fast, ultra-wide prime, manual focus, full-frame fisheye lens designed exclusively for APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras. The line-up includes models for Fuji X and Sony E APS-C size camera mounts. Emphasized perspective and unique distortion makes this lens attractive for both still photographers and videographers.

Thanks to a compact, lightweight design and manual focus the Tokina SZ 8mm F2.8 FISH-EYE MF can be appealing to young active content creators from the price perspective. The suggested genres are landscape, nightscape, interior, architecture, street snap and pet photography. An ultra wide angle of view, unique perspective effect and a compact design allows this lens to be used for creating viral images for Social Networks such as Instagram as well as Vlogging.

Highlighted Features

  • Lightweight (280g) and compact (overall length 52mm) construction.
  • Fast f/2.8 lens for compact APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras.
  • High quality built and sophisticated exterior design.
  • Clickless aperture ring for smooth operation in video shooting.
  • Minimum focus distance of 10cm to include close-up objects in front of a wide background.
  • Detachable bayonet type hood to use with full-frame mirrorless cameras for achieving circular fisheye effect.

Look at this giant lens on the new Nubia phone

The chinese manufactuerer Nubia is about to launch this new smartphone using a giant 35mm f/1.6 lens. It’s said the lens is made by Sony and I guess it uses the 1 inch Sonys ensor too. But the lens looks so big that the sensor could be even slightly larger. But there is no mention about the sensor specs in the leaked images…

 

via camerabeta