Mr. Kitazawa (head of Pentax’s camera R&D) told to the Japanese DC Magazine that Pentax will devlop a mirrorless 35mm full-frame camera and they are also thinking to make a mirrorless version of their 645D medium format camera!
Damn what a news! That made my day. I certainly hope Kitazawa will make those dream cameras become real soon :)
When it comes to mirrorless cameras the battle is not only about image quality but also about “how small” you can make the camera. DC.watch (Click here) compared the size and weight of the tiniest cameras from Pentax, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus and Sony. You see plenty of graphs and scores on their website. However RiceHigh (Click here) pointed out that the test isn’t perfect.
But my real question is, how small should a mirrorless camera be to be really pocket able? I guess it depends. Amateurs and Mass market want camera with zoom, and i that case the GF3 with the 14-42mm X pancake zoom is the only one that can be seen as very close to common compact cameras. Semi-pro and pro’s may are ok by carrying a pancake with fixed focal length and in that case the Pentax Q is definitely the smallest and lightest cam. But Why get the Pentax Q when the high end compact cameras like the Olympus XZ-1 or Canon S95 have a similar sensor size but do have a bright zoom lens?
Nikon released a new firmware update (1.10) for the J1 and V1. it brings a new pixel mapping function and support for the FT-1 adapter.
Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update download page.
Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update 1.10 download page.
Nikon 1 review at Sansmirror (Click here).
Cnet Asia (Click here) posted the Samsung NX200 review: “Though unlikely to be as popular as its peers, we think that the Samsung NX200 is a capable performer. Its new image sensor manufactured by the chaebol has given it a one stop exposure boost, resulting in better low-light performance than older NX models“.
Also Engadget (Click here) tested the NX200: “Focusing issues aside, we were generally quite pleased with the NX200. Samsung’s latest ILC offers great image quality and performance, with only a few issues.“
Photozone (Click here) tested another Samsung lens, the Samsung NX 16mm f/2.4: “The Samsung NX 16mm f/2.4 gave us quite a ride during testing – it has some bright aspects but it’s certainly not without issues.“
Ricoh GXR Leica M Mount A12 Review at ePhotozine (Click here): “The Ricoh GXR with M Mount module is a great camera to use with the camera providing quick shutter response, a good manual focusing display and a solid well designed body“.
The new Nikon 1 F-Mount Adapter is now in Stock in some stores (Example: Fotohanskeuzekamp)
We just heard form a new source that Ricoh will launch a new GXR A16 M mount that replaces the current . The A16 has the same sensor as the NEX5n, but tweaked and with no AA-filter! Shipping in early 2012 already.
P.S.: We are not talking about the just announced A16 zoom module!
As you all know Olympus is facing a serious time because of the accounting fraud accusations. Olympus shares lost almost two thirds of their value. And now Bloomberg (Click here) reports that: “Fujifilm, which makes equipment for medical scans, has been reported as a possible bidder for Japanese camera maker Olympus Corp. Yamamoto, who also is a board member at Fujifilm, declined to comment on a possible buyout of Olympus today. Fujifilm Chief Executive Officer Shigetaka Komori said last month it was too early to discuss Olympus issues while the third-party panel was still probing the fraud at the camera maker.“
As usual these are very wild rumors. So don’t care to much about it….yet.
I am sure that Pentax is/was working on an APS-C mirrorless camera but I don’t know if the plan changed after the Ricoh acquisition. Anyway, here is again a new rumor via dpreview forum: “According to my source, Pentax will release a 35mm full-frame DSLR and an APS-C EVIL (mirror-less) in 2012. No other details were given except that the source seemed to believe the full-frame model will likely use a Sony 24MP sensor.“
The new Ricoh GXR zoom module will use the same Sony NEX-5n sensor. Could be that they will use that sensor for the upcoming Pentax mirrorless camera too?
Ricoh GXR with Voigtländer Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical II test at DC.watch.
Samsung NX 60mm f/2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA review at Photozone (Click here).
Also the Samsung NX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II has been tested at Photozone (Click here).
Samsung NX 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 review at Photozone (Click here).
Fui X100 field test at TheOnlinePhotographer (Click here).
Samsung NX200 review at Letsgodigital (Click here).
Samsung NX200 image samples at Imaging Resource (Click here).
