Three new Samsung cameras coming soon (and two NX lens reviews)

The naked NX20

Photorumors reports that at least three new Samsung NX models will arrive before the summer:
Samsung NX210 will be the same as the NX200 but with added Wi-Fi capabilities, available in April 2012
Samsung NX20, available in May 2012
Samsung NX1000 will be a cheaper NX model, available in May, 2012

As you may remind one of our sources told us that the NX20 has a retro design with 1.8M EVF, manual control and swivel amoled display. It has the same NX-200 sensor but a better processor and buffer. The retail stores price is $950 only body for NX-20. There will be two new lenses, the 16-80mm and 12-24mm and a new Flash.

I am really curious to see that camera!

New NX lens reviews:
Samsung NX 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6 ED OIS II Lens Review at ePhotozine (Click here).
Samsung 60mm f/2.8 NX i-Function Macro Lens Review at ePhotozine (Click here).

Fuji X PRO 1 review by Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake

Chris Niccolls is one of the nicest reviewers out there and he just published that Fuji X PRO 1 video review. Enjoy!
(And thanks Jordan for sending me this!)

UPDATE: Here is the link to the video on youtube.

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).

First full size Fuji X PRO 1 RAW(!) files available for you.

Some interesting news are coming from the cold Russia! Prophotos (Click here / via Fujirumors) posted a dozen of RAW files you can download right now! For the first time you can check what’s the maximum image quality possible with the Fuji X PRO 1. As the JPEG engine from Fuji is already very good I don’t expect any huge improvement. I guess you will have more visible moire effects. You can use Raw Therapee (free download) or Silkypix (free trial version) to open those files.

Direct links:
X-Pro1, ISO 200, F3.6, 1/18 s, Download RAW
X-Pro1, ISO 400, F3.6, 1/38 s, Download RAW
X-Pro1, ISO 800, F3.6, 1/75 s, Download RAW
X-Pro1, ISO 1600, F3.6, 1/160 s, Download RAW
X-Pro1, ISO 3200, F3.6, 1/320 s, Download RAW
X-Pro1, ISO 6400, F3.6, 1/640 s, Download RAW

 

UPDATE: Plenty of JPEG images are also available at Lenstip (Click here).

Canon talks about the G1X (and triple G1X review)

Techradar (Click here) interviewed MR. David Parry, from Canon UK. He explained us why they used a Four Thirds sized sensor instead of the classic and larger APS-C format: “We managed to create a four times zoom in a very compact body, and really it has the biggest sensor that we could use and also get decent coverage from the lens. If you made the sensor any bigger, the lens would have to be a lot bigger and it would be much more difficult and expensive to produce.“
I am wondering if that argument will be valid for their future upcoming mirrorless system cameras too. It almost sounds like they could really join the Micro Four Thirds system….I am joking!

And here are three new reviews and one more article:
Engadget (Click here) posted their Canon G1X review: “If you demand that an $800 camera contributes to your photography with “extras” like high ISO, interchangeable lenses or exceptional macro prowess, then the G1 X has rivals that are perhaps more worthy of your consideration. However, having used the G1 X heavily for a few days, we can look past its weaknesses — even its underwhelming battery life and uninformative OVF — and admit we’ve become quite attached to it.“
Also Photographyblog (Click here) pubslished a G1X review. According to them the image quality of the camera “matches Micro Four Thirds compact system cameras, making the G1 X a real challenger to the systems from Olympus and Panasonic in terms of image quality.”
The last review is from one of my favorite websites, TheVerge (Click here): “At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is not a camera you should buy unless you already own a DSLR. Canon reps themselves told me that if you’re debating between the G1 X and, say, a Rebel DSLR, you should buy the latter — having more lenses and more versatility is key, and the G1 X’s sensor still isn’t DSLR-sized. But if you already own the serious equipment and just want a camera you can toss into a purse or backpack without sacrificing a lot of quality, the G1 X should suit you pretty well.“
And to end, ThePhotographySchool (Click here) posted the 5 things to love and the 5 things to hate about the G1X.

Preorders are available at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

CIPA will use the term “non-reflex” to define mirrorless cameras. Sales in Germany growing much slower than in Japan.

In Japan you can get full details about the exact camera market shares. And those clearly show that almost 50% of all sold system cameras are mirrorless (the rest is DSLR). Finally we got our hands on the mirrorless sales percentage in Germany (via DC.watch). The sales share in 2011 has been 12,7%. That’s a lot less but still…the market is growing. DSLR sales have been constant the last four years but I guess in 2012 mirrorless sales will grow much faster and DSLR sales will slightly fall. That’s just my personal guess, we will see in one year if that will become true.

Mewanwhile the CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association in Japan) announced that from now on they will use the term “non-reflex” for the so-called mirror-less cameras (via DC.watch). This clearly goes against my policy :) I will always prefer the term “mirrrorless” over “compact system cameras (CSC)” or “non-reflex” or “evil” cameras.

—-

Check out the current rankings:
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon US (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon Deutschland (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon UK (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon France (Click here)

 

Massive new Fuji X PRO 1 image and video samples (Brandon Remler says it’s better than M9)

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – (Pre Production) from Michael Fletcher on Vimeo.

Brandon Remler is busy testing the new X PRO 1 and you can read his daily updates and thoughts on his website (Click here / via Fujirumors):
1) Fujifilm X-Pro1 First Day Stroll (Click here)
2) Fujifilm X-Pro1 First Night Out (Click here)
3) Full image samples (Click here)
In short he writes that “I do feel the AF speed is faster than the X100 and the file looks gorgeous. The noise levels at ISO 3200 look great to me.“. He also had the chance to make a very quick comparison with the Leica M9: “I feel the X-Pro1 is delivering a nicer color palette and I don’t want to set any precedents here – but when the tests are done I think the X-Pro1 will show a higher resolution.“
And if you want to see some image samples be sure to follow his youtube channel (Click here).
Meanwhile Fuji itself posted a set of new image samples on his dedicated X PRO 1.

Now you have plenty of images to analyze! The camera will ship in Asia first in March. Europe and USA should follow soon.

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).