The next two announcements: E-PL9 on Feb 7 and X-H1 on Feb 15

This is going to be a very busy month with many cameras and lenses to be announced. As next we will get the Olympus E-PL9 on February 7. The Fuji X-H1 will be announced on February 15. Here are the specs:

Olympus E-PL9

16MP Live MOS
TruePic8
New Art Filter : Instant Film
AP Mode (like in E-M10 Mark III)
3-Axis IBIS (not 5-Axis)
Auto-stitch Panorama Mode
4K Movie + Capture Still from video
Built-in pop-up flash 
3 Colors: Black, Brown, White
Wi-Fi + Bluetooth with new transfer method and transfer button
Fuji X-H1:

Fujifilm X-H1 Faster Autofocus Than Fujifilm X-T2
X-H1 will have IBIS and it will be 5 Axis In Body Stabilization
IBIS will work with all Fujinon X-mount lenses
IBIS Full sensor readout
IBIS and OIS currently do not work together
No sensor shift multishot
There will be design changes over the X-T2, such as a better hand grip
First Sketches of X-H1 – Front + Back + Top side Sketches
The X-H1 will have the 24MP megapixel X-Trans III sensor
Release first half of 2018 – Shipping in March
Will cost around $2,000
New Film simulation Eterna coming with X-H1
No Exp.Comp dial but top LCD screen like GFX
X-Processor Pro of Fujifilm X-T2 & Co
Fujifilm X-H1 same battery of X-T2, the NP-W126S
Fujifilm X-H1 same 3-Way Tilt Screen of X-T2 + Touch Function
Video Specs: 4K, 1.17x crop, 30p, 4:2:0 8 bit 200 Mbps
Internal F-Log
Headphone Jack in Body
“4K Photo” feature is a Timelapse Feature
EVF with 30%+ Higher Resolution than X-T2
Much shorter EVF black out than X-T2, basically black out free

Specs via 43rumors and Fujirumors

CIPA released the final 2017 camera shipment data: Sees increase of 4% in sales value over 2016

CIPA just released the full 2017 camera shipment results. And there are many interesting news:

1) For the first time in many years the last year wasn’t worse than the year before. The market sales value increased by exactly 4%. Honestly, I wouldn’t be too much happy about it because in 2016 we had the massive sensor shortage because of the Kumamoto Sony factory damage (caused by the earthquake).

2) DSLR sales decreased by 10% compared to 2016 but Mirrorless sales went up 40%. And I guess that in 2018 with Nikon and Canon going “serious” with mirrorless this marks the beginning of the end for the DSLR market.

Here you have the full data:

Kodak says over 40,000 investors expressed interest in their Kodakcoin cryptocurrency

Few weeks ago Kodak announced the launch of their own Kodakcoin cryptocurrency. This news made the stock value raise about 200%. But many wondered if Kodak was actually serious about this. Today Kodak issued the following statement:

Thank you for your interest in the KODAKCoin ICO. With over 40,000 potential investors expressing an interest in the ICO on www.KODAKCoin.com, we are now moving into the “accredited investor” verification phase. Given the large interest in the KODAKCoin ICO and the steps that we need to take to verify the “accredited investor” status of each interested investor, we expect this process to take several weeks.

We will be contacting all potential investors that have previously registered for the ICO shortly for additional information to confirm their “accredited investor” status. The KODAKCoin ICO is being offered pursuant to an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act of 1933 provided by Rule 506(c) of Regulation D thereunder. As a result, participation in the KODAKMRCoin ICO is open only to those investors deemed to be “accredited investors” under Regulation D (e.g., any natural person (i) whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with his or her spouse, exceeds $1 million, or (ii) who had an individual income in excess of $200,000, or joint income with his or her spouse in excess of $300,000, in each of the two most recent years, and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year). MirrorlessRumors
In addition, the KODAKCoin ICO will be offered outside the US to select non-US persons in accordance with the applicable laws of each jurisdiction where such offers and sales occur.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST MADE BY A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR TO DATE IN THE KODAKCOIN ICO IS NON-BINDING AND INVOLVES NO OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT OF ANY KIND.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING FRAUDULENT WEBSITES:

It has come to our attention that there are several spam KODAKCoin ICO websites and Facebook sites promoting and even purporting to sell KODAKCoin tokens. Please be advised that there is only one official KODAKOne and KODAKCoin Facebook page and our official ICO website is www.KODAKCoin.com. MirrorlessRumors
In addition, please be advised that any offers or sales of KODAKCoin tokens will be made pursuant only to an Offering Memorandum that will be distributed to accredited investors. Potential investors are strongly encouraged to read the Offering Memorandum in its entirety before making any investment decision with regard to the KODAKCoin tokens.

Fuji officially announces the new X-A5, X-A20 cameras and the XC 15-45 lens

Fujifilm X-A5 at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon
Fujinon XC 15-45 at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon
Fujifilm X-A20 not yet available for preorder

Fujinon XC 15-45:

Fujifilm X-A5:

Fujifilm X-A20:

  • Announced but no product page live yet. On Fuji’s Manual page the camera is listed, and it says manual available in February