New Dalsa 24 Megapixel sensor for the Leica M10?

A Luminous Landscape forum post (Click here) created some buzz about a possible Dalsa-Leica partnership. As you may know Dalsa announced a new 24 Megapixel CCD sensor (Click here to read the specs). And Leica is actually the only Full Frame camera maker still using CCD sensors. So how do we say…where there is smoke there is fire!

One more thing: The new Leica mirrorless system with electronic viewfinder that will be announced in September will certainly use a CMOS sensor. And I guess Sony will be the supplier for Leica…

 

via Fotoactualidad via 1001noisycameras.

Nikon 1 firmware and tests (+ Canon G1X news + iPhone book)

The Big Freeze from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.

There are plenty of new Nikon and Canon news: Andre Reid is wxperimenting with Hitchcock and the Nikon J1 with 16mm c-mount lenses (EosHD). There is also a new Nikon 1 Field Report Diary  at Outbackphoto. And if you alreayd own a Nikon 1 camera than you should know that Nikon (Click here) just released a new Nikon 1 firmware upgrade (1.11) : “An issue that sometimes caused images captured using the built-in flash to be over-exposed has been resolved“.

Techradar (Click Here) had a chat with Canon about the new Canon G1X. New G1 X Photos  have been posted at Photographyblog (Click here).

Outback photo (Click here) published a new iPhone book “The Art and Craft of iPhone Photography“. The is the currently most sold mirrorless camera :)

Fuji X PRO 1 with M-mount adapter and new full size images!

Those of you living in Japan can visit the CP+ Fuji booth in Yokohama. The picture on top shows the new Fuji X PRO 1 with M-mount adapter and attached! A full set of Fuji booth images can be seen at DC.watch (Click here).

And there is are many new Full Size X PRo 1 image samples at http://www.pbase.com/hpicckcy/fujifilm_xpro1 (via Fujirumors.com). They have been posted by Hugo Poon which says: “I’m not a reviewer and this is no review. Have to be frank, I never have the time (nor interest) to do detailed tests and comparison. My only interest in an equipment is how well it can help me capture the moment and document the familiar places that are fast changing and even disappearing… Though I had had only a couple of days to shoot with this new gear, I couldn’t be more convinced that this is Fuji’s one most powerful photo taking machine to date.
PS. Click “original” for best viewing quality. “

Not many websites posted X PRO 1 image smaples. Here is the short list: Fuji (Click here to see), Christian Fletcher (Click here),vladdodan (Click here), F64 (Click here), Focus Numerique (Click here) and Fotodigitalonline (Click here).

The question to you is:

The Fuji X PRO 1 camera can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), Epxansys US (Click here) and Expansys Canada (Click here).
in Europe at Jessops UK (Click here), eBay Italy (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here) and eBay Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 18mm f/2.0 can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 35mm f/1.4 can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).
in Asia at Amazon Japan (Click here).

The Fuji X 60mm f/2.4 macro can be preordered:
in USA/Canada at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here).

New NEX lens roadmap. And three new NEX cameras coming within 2012!!!

Sony unveiled the new NEX lens roadmap. As you see four lenses will be announced within 2012. A high magnification zoom lens, a standard zoom, a wide zoom and a fast aperture prime lens. The other four new lenses will arrive in 2013: The high quality G standard zoom lens, the Mid-magnification zoom, the mid-telephoto lens and finally a pancake lens!

But this is not enough. I have been  told by TOP-sources that Sony will launch three new NEX cameras within 2012 only! Yeah, I also think that’s a it of a madness. The Sony NEX-5n and NEX-7 are already top cameras and I don’t see any reason to announce three(!) new NEX cameras. But maybe Sony has some secret reason to do so?

P.S.: The first of the three new NEX cameras will arrive in April!!!

Pentax K-01 hands-on and new lens roadmap. Ricoh takes full control of Pentax camera division.

Engadget (Click here) tested the new K-01 and wrote that it “doesn’t feel as cheap as it looks”.

Ricoh now took full control over the Pentax imaging division. Here is the press release:

“Tokyo, February 9, 2012 – Ricoh Company, Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo, hereinafter Ricoh) announces an organizational change to its imaging system business including security system business and consumer digital camera business.

Since October 1, 2011 when PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY (President and CEO?Zenji Miura, hereinafter PRI) was established, Ricoh managed its global imaging system business under two brands, RICOH and PENTAX. Specifically RICOH brand digital cameras were designed, developed and sold by Personal Multimedia Product Company (hereinafter PMMC), an internal organization of Ricoh, while PENTAX brand digital cameras were designed, developed and sold by PRI.

In an effort to strengthen customer relationships and provide innovative products and services, Ricoh will re-organize its structure.

1.Effective date?
?April 1, 2012?plan?

2.Scope?
?Worldwide

3.New functions of each business unit?
?PRI: Consumer businesses such as digital cameras for B2C market
(This includes Ricoh development resources to improve capabilities and support
Ricoh branded cameras )
?Ricoh PMMC: B2B businesses including security system business, and imaging solutions
business for B2B market

February 9, 2012
Ricoh Company, Ltd.“

 

Meanwhile Pentax announced the new 2012 lens roadmap (via Photorumors). There will be a new K-mount pancake,a 50mm f/1.8 standard prime lens, an unspecified tele photo lens, the Pentax DA 560mm f/5.6 SMC lens (what a beast!), a Pentax D-FA 645 90mm f/2.8 SMC lens and the L to Q mount lens adapter. Clcik on pictures to enlarge:

A look on the new SIgma DP1M and DP2M cameras


Sigma has announced the DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill. Those cameras are mirrorless but not interchangeable system cameras and I thought it would be interesting to talk about one of the very few companies that is actually “trying” to develop a complete different sensor technology. Both cameras use the Foveon 15×3 Megapixel APS-C sensor. The DP1M has a fixed 19mm f/2.8 lens and the DP2M incorporates the 30mm f/2.8 lens. I found many “foveon-like” patents from Fuji, Panasonic and only but Sigma is currently the only camera manufacturer offering the technology on mass production cameras.

I really like the Foveon concept but the price of Sigma cameras are still too high. They didn’t unveil the DP1M and DP2M price yet but I expect it to be over $1000? Image samples and availability aren’t available too. So it’s quite a poor announcement with no other things to read that the press release :)

News roundup:
Photographyblog
Techradar
Electronista
Focus Numerique (french)

 

New Olympus EM-5 announced (comparison with the Fuji X PRO 1).


Finally the over-leaked Olympus E-M5 camera has been announced (Click here to read all you need to know on 43rumors). Its time for a short comparison with the other top quality mirorrless camera, the Fuji X PRO 1:
Sensor – Image quality
The Olympus E-M5 uses the same GX1 16 Megapixel sensor with some sort of tweaks like faster readout system and improved TruePic VI engine. It also uses a weak AA filter. Anyway, the X PRO 1 can deliver a slightly higher resolution because of the no Anti Aliasing filter.
Fuji wins!
Video quality:
Easy,Fuji didn’t care a lot about the video :)
Olympus wins!
Viewfinder:
The Olympus E-M5 has a 1.44 million dot pure electronic viewfinder. Due the fast sensor readout (240fps) this will reduce lagging and rolling shutter. The Fuji has that amazing hybrid viewfinder.
Fuji wins!
Autofocus:
Easy game for Olympus. They claim to have the fastest AF system of all current interchangeable camera systems. And Fuji is known for not having a super fast AF.
Olympus wins!
Body quality:
Olympus and Fuji both deliver an excellent body quality. But Olympus camera is weather sealed.
Olympus wins!
Price:
Yep the Olympus is $600 cheaper but the Fuji has a terrific image quality. So it’s difficult to find a winner here!

That is just a very basic first impression and there are many other factors to consider before to judge the new products. But let me know…