Nikon 1 V1 and J1 tested at DPreview!


Finally DPreview (Click here) posted the much expected Nikon V1 and J1 review. A must read! The cameras are amazing for shoot moving subjects in good light. And image quality is almost on par with the Micro Four Thirds cameras (and that’s also an amazing result considering the smaller sensor). But also Dpreview recognizes that the price is still too high when you compare it with other cheaper and more featured cameras like the Sony NEX-5n.

Nevertheless, at least in USA the Nikon 1 cameras are selling well (Check here the Amazon US ranking). I guess this has also to do with their strong marketing campaign and retailers network. Anyway, I am pretty sure Nikon is already preparing the launch for new Nikon 1 cameras. Can’t wait to see them!

I hope Marc Newson can make a better Pentax K design than that one :)

Our reader Charlie reminded us that Pentax has already shown a sort of K-mount mirrorless prototype at the Photokina show in 2006. I really hope the new (REAL) K-mount mirrorless camera will have a much mrge attractive design. And if the rumors are true than the Star Designer Marc Newson will be the creater of that camera and it will certainly be beautiful! For the record, he designed the Talby phone (Click here to see).

Exciting time! Pentax mirrorless, Olympus OM, Panasonic (?)….

New Fuji X PRO 1 ISO samples (+ Adorama notification and crazy belgium price)

The french website Focus Numerique (Click here) posted his first short X PRO 1 ISO test. Keep in mind that they used a pre-production camera with non finalized firmware. The conclusion from the reviewer is that up to ISO 1.600 noise is almost invisible. At 3.200 ISO grain is very fine and there is a just a little color noise. A larger chromatic noise is only visible starting from 12.800 ISO. Focus Numerique writes that they are truly impressed by that result!

A couple of days ago another french website Zone Numérique (Click here) said the price for the Fuji X PRO 1 body would be 1590 Euro. Now a Belgium store (Click here) is causing me a light heart attack by taking preorders at 1850 Euro! Hope this is not the real final price! Other preorder options are actually asking you for ZERO money while waiting for the final price info: Expansys USA (Click here), Expansys Canada (Click here), Henrys Canada (Click here) .

And after Amazon US (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) als Adorama (Click here) is offering a pure notification service.

Hot! Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera coming soon?

Our friends over at Digiaminfo got the first (exciting!) specs about the possible new Pentax mirrorless camera:

  • Pentax new mirrorless camera will be announced by CP + in February.

  • The name is K-01

  • K-mount!

  • Black & white body color (black keynote), white and black (white tone), black and yellow (based on black and white, yellow leather) three different colors.

  • The sensor is the same spec K-5 (). And same rear LCD.

  • Full HD video

  • Shutter speed to 1 / 4000 p to 30 seconds

  • Contrast AF, AF 81 Split

  • Built-in pop-up flash

  • 121mm width, 79mm height, 59mm depth

  • 560g in weight with battery

  • designed by the designer who designed talby from au (i.e. Japanese mobile phone sold in 2004)

  • it looks more like Optio than K series; not like GXR

  • comes with a new lens: DA 40mm F2.8XS

  • three lens kits with DA40XS and lenses already on market

  • mirrorless but whether there is an EVF or it is built in is not revealed

I hope my japanese readers can provide send me a better translation than Google soon :)

That camera could be a real dealbreaker!

Kodak bancrupcy is near. A bad news for every film camera owner :(

This is the kind of news we knew it would come :(
Kodak filed Chapter 11 for bankruptcy and this means that they will now try to restructure the company. You may have noticed that Kodak is suing Apple, Samsung, Fuji (and some other companies) because of patent infringement. They are trying to find some money here and there.

This is really not good news for people like me that uses Kodak film for their work (I own the ). Really a bad day for the photography history!

Here is the press release:

Read more

“Retro” NX200 to be launched on Saturday.

Photorumors got this photo of the upcoming “Retro” styled Samsung NX200 RS. It will be announced on Saturday and has exactly the same specs of the current NX200. I guess that silver top is the only thing “new” coming with the camera. And I don’t believe that alone justifies the “retro” definition.

P.S.: While the camera might be not soo exiting their lens roadmap is much better than the Sony NEX roadmap.

 

 

Olympus counterattack: Super built OM camera coming on February 8!

You want let the glory to Fuji alone? Olympus is also going to make a super quality old-styled body but unlike Fuji they will take the inspiration form their own OM camera history (). I will give you all the specs and than you can start to discuss if that camera is really going to be the first “serious” or “pro” Micro Four Thirds camera.

Olympus OM-D specs:
16 Megapixel m43 sensor optimized for High Dynamic Range
ISO 200-25.800
Built-in 1.44 Million dot electronic viewfinder (placed in the middle of the body)
Five-axis image stabilizer in body.
packed with an GN10 flash.
FAST AF and 3D tracking
610.000 dots 3 inch OLED swivel screen
Weather sealed magnesium body in classic
two kinds of leather style. black ones is more artificial, and silver ones is more natural.
Two dial button left and right beside central penta part,and another dial button side at release button.there have other one small button in left of release button.
Grip curve looks like Olympus E-P3,but this one continues to the bottom of camera,paste with leather.Leather has also paste at both side of lens mount.
Width 121mm, weighs 425g
Price: $1100
Worldwide shipment in late March

At a first glance it looks like the Olympus OM advantage over the X PRO 1 lies in: Built-in IS, weather sealed body, cheaper price, swivel screen, probably faster AF.
Fuji X PRO 1 advantages: Image quality, hybrid viewfinder.

Hot times!

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Fuji X PRO 1 preorders: Expansys USA (Click here), Expansys Canada (Click here), Henrys Canda (Click here) and Expansys UK (Click here). You can get notification at Amazon US (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).